Sustainable Finance Trainee

Sustainable Finance Trainee

Position Title: Sustainable Finance Trainee

Location: The Hague, the Netherlands

The United Nations Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, and has an unparalleled global reach and the exclusive opportunity to activate a diverse network of businesses to advance sustainable development in collaboration with investors, Government, UN and civil society stakeholders.

In the 2022-2024 strategy of Global Compact Network Netherlands, the theme sustainable finance has been identified as a priority impact area. The goal is to have at least 50% of total corporate investment to be SDG-aligned by 2024.

As a trainee, you will be responsible for supporting the efforts to engage more Dutch businesses and financial institutions with the CFO Coalition for the SDGs. Also, you will analyze European and international developments on sustainable finance and connect these developments to the work of GCNL.

Candidates should have exceptional communication and collaboration skills, be passionate about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and preferentially have experience in or a strong connection to project management and sustainable finance.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Coordinate and support the efforts to engage more Dutch businesses and financial institutions with the CFO Coalition for the SDGs.
  • Support and represent the organization during in-person and virtual meetings with stakeholders, including, the design and delivery of presentations, reports and other materials.
  • Involvement with preparations for events and communication regarding sustainable finance.
  • Other duties and projects, as applicable.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Follows a relevant study.
  • Excellent communicator in Dutch and English, both verbally and in writing.
  • Practical experience with project management, and sustainable finance.
  • Flexible and service-oriented team player with can-do and eager-to-learn attitude.

DURATION

November 2022 – April 2023 (3 days per week). Option to write MSc thesis on topic internship.

COMPENSATION

€500 per month

SUPPORT

During your traineeship, you will work closely together with and you will receive professional support from Marco Swan (Sr. Program Manager) and Linda van Beek (Executive Director)

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please include the below documents in your email submission to Linda van Beek, Executive Director Global Compact Network Netherlands, beek@unglobalcompact.nl before 14 October 2022:

  • Cover letter (max 1 A4)
  • Resume

If selected for the interview round, you’ll be invited for an in-person meeting at the Malietoren (Bezuidenhoutseweg 12, The Hague) sometime between 17-25 October.

Meet the new Program Manager Business & Human Rights and Gender Equality

Meet the new Program Manager Business & Human Rights and Gender Equality

Meet the new Program Manager Business & Human Rights and Gender Equality

Global compact Network Netherlands has since 1 September 2022 a Program Manager Business & Human Rights and Gender Equality. amie will support organizations in setting and achieving ambitious human rights and gender equality goals. She does it, among other things, by guiding UN Global Compact participants in two programmes: Target Gender Equality and the Business & Human Rights Accelerator that will be launched shortly.

Jamie Holton, Program Manager Business & Human Rights and Gender Equality

My name is Jamie Holton. I am 26 years old and live in Hoofddorp. Different cultures were introduced to me at an early age. With a South African father, a Dutch mother who grew up in Libya, and relatives all over the world, I have always felt at home in an international environment. I became interested in traveling and languages at an early age. I learned German, French, Spanish at secondary school and Mandarin and Korean at university. Through these experiences, I believe that people all around the world have a lot of similarities and we can learn a lot from each other.

Jamie Holton

Jamie Holton

Program Manager Business & Human Rights and Gender Equality

During my studies at Leiden University College The Hague, Leiden University and the London School of Economics, there was a lot of attention for Sustainable Development Goals. I focussed mainly on the social issues of human trafficking, development cooperation and gender equality. In my previous roles at the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNOCHA, Save the Children and a research at NGO Publish What You Fund, I had the opportunity to concentrate on these topics. I learned that working with different types of organizations is crucial – all hands must be on deck to jointly combat human rights violations and gender inequality. The role in the UN Global Compact Network offers the opportunity to motivate and support the business community with these important goals.

I look forward to be working together with you and your organization! Feelt free to contact me via LinkedIn

How the UN Global Compact Academy is helping companies advance on key sustainability topics

How the UN Global Compact Academy is helping companies advance on key sustainability topics

How the UN Global Compact Academy is helping companies advance on key sustainability topics

More than 120,000 participants from over 7,000 companies are scaling their corporate sustainability knowledge through learning experiences from the Academy, the UN Global Compact’s premier digital learning platform.

Are you driving ambitious corporate action for the Sustainable Development Goals and looking for the latest tools and resources? Are you new to the topic of corporate sustainability and not quite sure where to begin? No matter where you are on your sustainability journey, the UN Global Compact Academy provides you with the skills and knowledge you need to move your company further in implementing the SDGs and the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact.

Who is it for?

Aligned with the UN Global Compact 2023 Strategy, the Academy is offered to all employees of the 15,000 companies participating in the UN Global Compact, including MNCs and SMEs. . Participants of the Academy span across levels of seniority and corporate functions depending on the topic and type of sessions.

Participants

Companies

Countries

Enrolments

What is available?

Choose from a wide range of innovative learning experiences on the topics of climate change, human rights, labor, SDG integration and more. Available in on-demand or live formats, the Academy offers new insights and best practices from world-class leaders, changemakers and practitioners on today’s most pressing sustainability issues. Learn at your own pace with e-learning courses, guided learning paths and more that will help you learn key sustainability concepts, anytime, anywhere.

Learning Experiences


Foundation

Gain a foundational introduction to a topic and step-by-step guides for corporate action. Everything you need to get started


Deep dives

Narrow in on a specific topic, industry, function or geography with opportunities to start applying learning within your company.


Changemaker series

Learn from, and connect with, some of the most innovative and influnetial people working in or with business to make the world a better place


In-practice exchange

Explore and learn leading practices from companies in your region

What learners are saying

Over 90% of users would recommend the UN Global Compact Academy to their colleagues. Here is what learners have been saying:

“Excellent content that offers both learning and practical tools!”

“We have gained actionable knowledge in a way that we can implement in our daily operations.”

“The Academy courses help me to understand my role in driving effective change as part of our organizational transformation.”

“Valuable information and the teaching format was easy to follow. I was able to improve my understanding and skills, and have recommended the UN Global Compact Academy to colleagues.”

Ready to explore the Academy?

Join us today to advance your sustainability journey! If you’re already a participant of the UN Global Compact, you can request an account at unglobalcompact.org/academy

Not yet a participant of the UN Global Compact? We invite you to sample one of our popular e-learning courses like Setting science-based targets or Future-proofing your small and medium-sized enterprise. Learn more about how to join the UN Global Compact here

Do you have questions about the UN Global Compact Academy? Contact the Academy team at academy@unglobalcompact.org.

Meet Board Member Titia Schutten from KPMG

Meet Board Member Titia Schutten from KPMG

Meet Board Member Titia Schutten from KPMG

KPMG is an audit and advisory firm that helps organizations build a resilient business for a more sustainable future. With their experience, technology and global alliances, they can turn insight into opportunities to accelerate sustainable business transformations and make the road to a sustainable operation that is transparent for investors, entrepreneurs and consumers.

Titia Schutten, a Board Member at Global Compact Network Netherlands, is responsible for the development and implementation at KPMG the Netherlands internal Environmental, Social en Governance (ESG) objectives based on their global Impact Plan.

“Creating a sustainable economy requires both innovation and cooperation. The UN Global Compact Network helps us to access both resources to learn and grow as well as opportunities to work together with other members.”

Titia Schutten

Titia Schutten

Advisor Corporate Sustainability, KPMG

Sustainable development goals of KPMG

KPMG wants to help shape and lead on those critical issues the world is facing and where their capabilities make a difference. They want to create inclusive and fair workplaces, drive sustainable and purposeful growth for their clients, build trust in the capital markets to spur needed innovations, empower the most disadvantaged in our communities and help preserve our planet so future generations can thrive.

“One of the pressing issues in Dutch society today is inequality of opportunities for young people to reach their full potential. KPMG is committed to making a significant contribution in this area in the coming years by economically empowering disadvantaged youth through education and employment.”

Schutten’s motivation and goals for joining Global Compact Network Netherlands as a Board Member

Schutten realizes how important cooperation on a daily basis is in order to make progress.

“Being on the board of Global Compact Network Netherlands has given me the opportunity to work with like-minded individuals from completely different sectors It has enriched my knowledge. It has made me aware of the challenges that these companies and organizations, specifically SME’s, face on their sustainability journey.“

“Creating equal opportunities for all is very close to my heart.”

Schutten has a fairly edited lifestyle, without the need for a car or to acquire a lot of stuff.

 

“Creating equal oppotunities for everyone is a topic close to my heart.” I volunteer for local projects that support women empowerment whenever I can.”

Real progress doesn’t come without change and sacrifice

Schutten’s advice to companies and young professionals: “A lesson I’m still learning every day (both at work and at home) is that real progress doesn’t come without change and sacrifice. Which means the process is really about change management. When you look at it through that lens, it makes it easier to accept resistance as simply being part of the process and to plan accordingly, whether that is resistance coming from inside yourself, or from the people around you.“

Living wage in the clothing industry: the steps you can take

Living wage in the clothing industry: the steps you can take

Living wage in the clothing industry: the steps you can take

Did you know that the makers of our clothing earn on average 45% less salary than they need to support themselves and their families? Although the problem is well known, the well-intentioned efforts and statements of brands, suppliers and their sub-suppliers have not done enough. Legislation at European level is necessary to ensure that the textile workers who ensure that we can look fashionable, will also receive a livable wage.

According to research by The Industry We Want, in many countries where the production of clothing is located, the minimum wage is on average 45% lower than necessary. This affects tens of millions of people worldwide. Too little income also leads to new problems, such as long working days, malnutrition and child labour.

The introduction of a living wage helps to raise the standard of living of workers and their families. A living wage is the minimum income for a 48-hour work week that a person needs to meet their basic needs and provide for their family. With a living wage they can pay for nutritious and healthy food, housing, clothing, medical costs, education for their children, transport, and ideally also have an opportunity to save. In addition, a living wage can be a catalyst to improve other working conditions. For example, the chance of child labor decreases if the parents in the family earn enough.

Lotte Jongstra

Lotte Jongstra

Sustainability Advisor, ASN Bank

“It is not for nothing that a living wage has been formally recognized as a human right.”

Supply chain needs to start taking responsibility

Low wages in the clothing industry are there due to competition. Countries and manufacturers want to remain attractive as production locations. Clothing brands that buy from factories control the economic strings, while the factories determine the wages of their employees. Clothing brands believe that they have little influence in the role of buyer; after all, they are not the only brand. In addition, they abide by the law. The consequence? A chain of parties that are all part of the problem and point the finger at each other.A chain of parties that are all part of the problem and point the finger at each other. The problem here is in the entire supply chain that works on our clothing. The clothing industry is highly competitive with many suppliers. For years, countless organizations and platforms have been committed to a living wage. However, this is going very slowly and the intrinsic motivation of clothing companies is a little too low. Some time ago, the European Commission published its bill on the chain responsibility of companies. I personally believe that the level of ambition lacks motivation, moreover, only applies to the large clothing companies. That is why specific European legislation is necessary to ensure that the people who make our clothes finally get what they deserve: a living wage.

 

Good clothes, fair pay: the steps you can take

In my opinion, the responsibility for a living wage lies primarily with clothing companies and less with the consumer. However, we can certainly take action.

  • First, we can buy clothing from companies who pay a living wage.
  • As European citizens, we can make our voices heard for a living wage in the production chains, through “Good clothes, fair pay”. This is a bill that requires clothing companies to ensure that their suppliers pay a living wage to their employees. “Good clothes, fair pay” is considered in the European Commission after 1 million signatures have been placed to support it.

Do you also want to help with the fight for a living wage? That can easily be done: give your online signature here to get the bill discussed in the European Commission. A small action with (hopefully) a big result!

Resources:

https://decorrespondent.nl/9571/waarom-een-leefbaar-loon-in-de-kledingindustrie-nog-altijd-een-uitzondering-is/3855846928978-066c267f

https://therightsizemagazine.nl/nieuw-rapport-toont-aan-dat-loon-kledingarbeiders-45-procent-lager-ligt-dan-leefbaar-loon/

https://www.asnbank.nl/nieuws-pers/wetgeving-leefbaar-loon-is-noodzakelijk.html

https://fashionunited.nl/nieuws/business/nieuw-rapport-loon-kledingarbeiders-ligt-gemiddeld-45-procent-onder-leefbaar-loon/2022022252749

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