Feasibility Fund Legal Consultant

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

The ultimate result of this consultancy is to establish a Vehicle which houses donor funding in support of the upstream preparation work performed by Cities Investment Facility (CIF) program’s Implementing Partners. The role requires the Consultant to coordinate and collaborate with multiple stakeholders from within the CIF itself, legal & tax advisors, UN-Habitat, and donors that have previously pledged funding support to the vehicle.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

2 months

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND

UN-Habitat: 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.

Cities Investment Facility: The Cities Investment Facility (CIF) is an innovative, multi-stakeholder initiative centered around unlocking private investment in sustainable urban infrastructure projects in low- and middle-income markets. While there is significant investor demand for bankable, construction-ready projects, these markets have traditionally struggled with the project preparation processes that foster investment readiness. This has resulted in an annual global infrastructure investment gap of US$3.2 trillion, with the vast majority of that in low- and middle-income countries. It is the Cities Investment Facility’s goal to significantly reduce this gap.

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:

1. Conduct a status analysis of CIF and recommend an optimal legal framework for establishing the Fund
2. Research and recommend suitable vehicle design from governance, jurisdictional and regulatory perspectives
3. Define the evaluation criteria (Legal) for assessing submissions to host the Feasibility Fund;
4. Define the selection and evaluation process and governance for potential candidates.

I. Define the vehicle’s legal structure (i.e. donor funded Fund or Charity) that best aligns with CIF’s mission; II. 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; III. Determine what, if any, licenses or permits are required locally to implement the vehicle; IV. Draft protocol which considers any potential legal risks CIF may be subject to. V. 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; VI. 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.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.