The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the UN agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision  of the  Special Advisor to the Executive Director and Director (a.i), External Relations, Strategy, Knowledge, and Innovation (ERSKI) Division, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Conduct a status analysis of CIF and recommend an optimal legal framework for establishing the Fund
• Research and recommend suitable vehicle design from governance, jurisdictional and regulatory perspectives
• Define the evaluation criteria (Legal) for assessing submissions to host the Feasibility Fund;
• Define the selection and evaluation process and governance for potential candidates.
• Define the vehicle’s legal structure (i.e. donor funded Fund or Charity) that best aligns with CIF’s mission;
• Determine which jurisdiction the Vehicle is to be domiciled to optimize and facilitate fund flows from donors (direct giving, private foundations), DAFS, collaborative giving) to projects and implementing partners – taking into account: costs, regulations, transparency, tax relief structures;
• Determine what, if any, licenses or permits are required locally to implement the vehicle;
• Draft protocol which considers any potential legal risks CIF may be subject to.
• Provide a reasonable estimate for timelines, legal expense, licensing and any other pertinent workflows/requirements not defined within the scope of this ToR as they pertain to the establishment of the Vehicle. Further provide reasonable estimates for the ongoing operational overheads associated with managing the Vehicle;
• Liaise, where appropriate, with other UN facilities/agencies that operate similar vehicles, to understand key challenges.

Qualifications/special skills

• A minimum advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in sustainable urban planning, urban governance, corporate or financial law, or a related field in development studies, business administration, geography, management, or economics is required.   Other studies relevant to sustainable urban development and advising on urban planning frameworks and institutions.
• A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• 10-year relevant experience in financial law, international law, resource mobilisation, sustainability, finance, or commercial investment.
• A proven track record in international financial legal, taxation and compliance.
• Relevant knowledge of sustainable urban development project financing and development is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in spoken and written English is required. Experience of other UN languages is an added advantage.