Duties and Responsibilities

• UN Environment Programme UNEP is the leading global environmental authority that promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.
• The loss of forest, and the accompanying loss of ecosystems and the services they provide, threatens the security and livelihoods of local communities, reduces access to clean water, decreases soil productivity and accounts for 12 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years, it has become apparent that the most significant threat to the world’s remaining forests is conversion for commercial agriculture – whether from large-scale operations or smallholder farmers – as well as other non-forest use. Many of the environmental benefits of intact forest are unpriced ‘externalities’, resulting in the market mispricing natural forest assets.
• By converting forest to land and then producing tradeable commodities that the market can price, land users are able to take advantage of this perceived arbitrage opportunity. Anticipated global economic growth and changing diets will strengthen the demand for agricultural commodities and place additional pressure on forests in the foreseeable future, meaning that the pressure will get even bigger than it is today without a changing paradigm how land is managed and agricultural commodities are produced. 

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree Master’s or equivalent is required in economics and/or finance, environmental studies, business, or development studies. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least five 5 years working experience in knowledge management and/or communications ideally related to agriculture, forestry, land use finance, sustainable finance, or related topics is required. Familiarity and enthusiasm to learn more about the specific challenges of impact investing and nature-based solutions is desirable.
• Proven capacity for analysis and synthesis of complex topics for a broad range of outputs and audiences is required.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English is required Proactivity and ability to work independently in a dynamic environment is desirable