Innovative Financing Assessment

Organizational Context

The CEB Secretariat supports the UN system's highest-level coordination forum, the CEB, chaired by the UN Secretary-General. Co-located in New York and Geneva, the Secretariat facilitates programme and management coordination. This role is part of a system-wide assessment commissioned by the High-level Committee on Management (HLCM) to explore innovative financing options.

Job Purpose

This assignment aims to provide the UN system with a high-level, evidence-based assessment of innovative financing options, drawing on internal and external practices. The purpose is to identify opportunities, assess scalability, determine critical success factors, and pinpoint areas for inter-agency cooperation. The findings will inform subsequent HLCM follow-up, potentially leading to the establishment of working groups focused on these innovative financing strategies. The assessment will consider the diversity of UN mandates, funding models, and operational contexts, remaining strategic and high-level without detailed implementation planning for individual organizations.

Responsibilities

The role involves conducting a system-wide assessment of innovative financing options for the UN system. This includes reviewing relevant literature, data, and practices from within the UN and comparable organizations. The expert will analyze mechanisms in areas such as private sector engagement, philanthropy, data monetization, and cryptocurrencies, evaluating their opportunities, maturity, and scalability. Key responsibilities include assessing enabling conditions, risks, and constraints (legal, governance, fiduciary, reputational), identifying cross-cutting success factors for cost-effectiveness and sustainability, and pinpointing areas for inter-agency coordination to accelerate progress. The assessment will consider diverse UN mandates and business models, with possibilities for individual organization examples.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in innovative financing, resource mobilization, fundraising strategy, philanthropy, or private-sector partnerships is required. Demonstrated experience conducting high-level strategic assessments, policy reviews, or advisory assignments for international organizations, multilateral institutions, or NGOs is essential. Experience with the UN system or similar multilateral organizations is highly desirable.

Skills

Proven knowledge of innovative financing mechanisms, including opportunities, risks, governance, fiduciary, and reputational considerations. Experience conducting high-level strategic assessments and policy reviews. Ability to analyze diverse mandates and business models. Strong analytical and reporting skills. Fluency in English is required; knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

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