Result of Service
The successful completion of the project will deliver: • A high-level, evidence-based, system-wide assessment of innovative financing options for the UN system, informed by existing practice within and beyond the UN system and reflecting the diversity of United Nations mandates and business models. • A basis to informing subsequent HLCM follow-up, including the establishment of inter-agency working groups on innovative financing options, to be convened on the basis of the assessment findings.
Work Location
Home-Based
Expected duration
4 months
Duties and Responsibilities
ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING The CEB Secretariat is an inter-agency entity responsible for supporting the work of the CEB, the longest-standing and highest-level coordination forum of the United Nations (UN) system in the areas of programme and management. The CEB is chaired by the UN Secretary-General and is composed of the chief executives of organizations of the UN system. The Secretariat is co-located in New York and Geneva, and the Chief of the CEB Secretariat in Geneva serves as Secretary of the CEB's High-Level Committee on Management (HLCM). BACKGROUND At its 51st Session, the High-level Committee on Management (HLCM) requested the Finance and Budget Network (FBN) to commission a high-level United Nations (UN) system-wide assessment of innovative financing options, to be conducted with external expertise, and addressing the diversity of United Nations mandates and business models. The assessment is intended to inform subsequent HLCM follow-up, including the establishment of working groups on innovative financing options, to be convened on the basis of the assessment findings and taking into account the diverse mandates and business models of the UN system. The purpose of the assignment is to provide the UN system with a high-level, evidence-based, system-wide assessment of innovative financing options, informed by existing practice within and beyond the UN system. The objectives of the assessment are to identify the size of the opportunities associated with selected innovative financing options across the UN system; identify which mechanisms may be ready to scale, taking into account maturity, feasibility and relevance across different mandates and business models; identify the critical success factors that determine the viability of such mechanisms; and identify where inter-agency cooperation could accelerate progress. The assessment shall be conducted at the system-wide level and shall explicitly take into account the diversity of UN mandates, funding models, governance arrangements and operational contexts, tailoring the findings to the different categories of UN system organizations. Guidance on applying these Terms of Reference across the diversity of UN mandates and business models is provided in an annex to this ToR. The scope of the assessment shall include, as specified by the HLCM: • Private sector engagement; • Philanthropy; • Data monetization; • Crypto-currencies. In addition, the assessment may examine other innovative financing approaches of relevance to the United Nations system, to the extent that they are consistent with the objective of providing a high-level, system-wide assessment and reflect the diversity of United Nations mandates and business models. The assessment shall remain high-level and strategic in nature, and shall not involve detailed design or implementation planning for individual organizations. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The external expert shall be contractually engaged by, and formally report to, the CEB Secretariat under the overall guidance of the FBN. The findings of the assessment shall be submitted by the FBN to the HLCM, in line with established reporting arrangements. System-wide assessment of innovative financing options In carrying out the assignment, the external expert shall: • Review relevant literature, data and existing practices within the United Nations system, comparable multilateral and international organizations and relevant private-sector and cross-sector actors, as appropriate; • Analyse innovative financing mechanisms within the agreed areas, with a view to identifying the size of opportunities, maturity and scalability, including high-level considerations of potential returns relative to costs and risks; • Assess enabling conditions, risks and constraints, including legal, governance, fiduciary and reputational considerations, at a system-wide or entity level; • Identify cross-cutting success factors applicable across different mandates and business models, including factors influencing cost-effectiveness and sustainability; • Identify areas where inter-agency coordination or cooperation could accelerate progress or reduce barriers to adoption. While the focus of the assessment shall remain system-wide, the external expert may also identify possibilities at an individual organization level for illustrative purposes.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in communications, journalism, humanities, social sciences, international relations, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in innovative financing, resource mobilization, fundraising strategy, philanthropy, private-sector partnerships, or related fields is required. Demonstrated experience conducting high-level strategic assessments, policy reviews, or advisory assignments for international organizations, multilateral institutions, Non Governmental Organisation, or comparable entities is required. Proven knowledge of innovative financing mechanisms and their associated opportunities, risks, governance, fiduciary and reputational considerations is required. Experience working with the United Nations system or other multilateral organizations, and experience producing strategic reports and assessments for senior decision-makers, is highly desirable.
Languages
Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
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.