Principles for Responsible Banking Civil Society Advisory Body
How the Body was Established in 2020
As committed to by the signatories to the Principles for Responsible Banking, UNEP FI has established the Civil Society Advisory Body in March 2021 to support and shape the effective implementation of the Principles, provide strategic advice, and ensure high ambition and transparency. The Civil Society Advisory Body is a unique forum for meaningful and constructive engagement between the community of PRB Signatory banks and wider civil society. For more information on the Body, please visit the Civil Society Advisory Body homepage.
2020 Process
Call for Applications: From 05 October to 15 December 2020
The UNEP FI Secretariat invited eligible organizations to apply for one of the twelve positions. Over 45 leading organizations across fields and regions applied.
Public Consultation: From 01 February to 26 February 2021
To ensure a high level of rigor and transparency for the selection process, UNEP FI organized a public consultation on the initial assessment of applicants to ensure that relevant information not duly considered could be flagged.
Final Assessment & Body Established: 16 March 2021
Following the consultation period and consideration of all inputs received, UNEP FI is publishing its final assessment and announcing the twelve Body Members.
Final 2020 Assessment
Organizations were reviewed against the published selection criteria, as detailed in the UNEP FI Banking Governance Framework, based on the information provided in their applications. Each organization was assessed based on the profile of the Institution and Representatives, and either the Regional, Stakeholder or Thematic criteria, based on the seat. Click here to see how the assessment was run, the criteria, the evaluation questions, and their relative weight.
The public consultation phase was open for 3 weeks. The secretariat received 2 responses, which did not have a material bearing on the outcome. One organization withdrew its candidacy, recognizing that its interests were already represented by another applicant. Another question was about the non-eligibility of for-profit organizations on the body. It is clear from the framework document that only non-profit organizations are eligible for the body, to avoid any potential conflict of interest.
2023 Appointment Process
Following the initial two-year term of the Principles for Responsible Banking Civil Society Advisory Body, the UNEP FI Secretariat began the re re-appointment process for the Body members. Out of the twelve civil society organizations represented on the Body, the climate seat was opened for election.
The other eleven institutions expressed interest in continuing their term on the Body, in line with UNEP FI’s Banking Governance Framework. These institutions were re-appointed on a no-objection basis:
- Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (Human Rights & Gender seat)
- Ceres (North America seat)
- Conservation International (Asia-Pacific seat)
- Fundação Getulio Vargas (Latin America seat)
- International Labor Organization (Poverty & Social Issues seat)
- International Sustainability Standards Board (Transparency & Accountability seat)
- Share Action (Europe seat)
- The European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users (Better Finance) (Retail & SME clients seat)
- The John D. Gerhart Center from the American University in Cairo (Africa & Middle-East seat)
- UNI Finance (Employees seat)
- WWF (Biodiversity & Ecosystems seat)
Call for Applications: From 06 February to 16 March 2023
The UNEP FI Secretariat invited eligible organizations to apply for the open climate seat following the procedures and assessment criteria detailed above and as set out in the UNEP FI Banking Governance Framework. Eight leading climate organizations from across regions applied. Each organization was assessed based on the profile of the Institution and Representatives, and the Climate-specific Thematic criteria.
Public Consultation: From 06 April to 14 April 2023
To ensure a high level of rigor and transparency for the selection process, UNEP FI organized a public consultation on the initial assessment of applicants to ensure that relevant information not duly considered could be flagged.
Final Assessment & Position announced: 21 April 2023
Following the consultation period and consideration of all inputs received, UNEP FI announced its final assessment, introducing the Centre for Climate-Aligned Finance established by the Rocky Mountain Institute.