Urban Finance & Economy Specialist
Organizational Context
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) promotes sustainable urban development. The Planning, Finance & Economy Section supports urban planning, finance, and local economic development. This role is within the Urban Economy and Finance Team, supporting Turkana and Garissa Counties in Kenya as they transition refugee-hosting municipalities towards locally led service delivery and financial sustainability.
Job Purpose
This consultancy aims to provide Turkana and Garissa Counties with a clear strategy for financial sustainability in refugee-hosting municipalities like Kakuma and Dadaab-Hagadera. The specialist will diagnose financial positions, design tailored Own Source Revenue (OSR) strategies, and build stakeholder capacity. The ultimate goal is to establish a foundation for these municipalities to transition from humanitarian aid dependency to sustainable, locally led service delivery, enhancing fiscal resilience and enabling them to meet growing demands for infrastructure and services. This role is crucial for strengthening municipal finance and OSR to ensure long-term viability.
Responsibilities
The Urban Finance & Economy Specialist will conduct a diagnostic assessment of the institutional landscape, legal, policy, and administrative frameworks affecting revenue generation and service delivery in refugee-hosting areas. This includes evaluating service delivery gaps, estimating service costs, and reviewing existing revenue instruments and their performance. The specialist will analyze county assets, liabilities, revenues, expenditures, and fiscal sustainability, identifying cost-saving opportunities and financing options. A key responsibility is developing case studies on land use and value capture, assessing realistic revenue options, and recommending improvements for revenue administration. The role involves designing a tailored OSR strategy and implementation roadmap for each county, distinguishing immediate opportunities from medium-term ones. Capacity building for stakeholders and drafting a knowledge tool on municipal revenue enhancement are also core duties. The specialist will engage with various stakeholders, prepare high-quality reports and presentations, and represent the team in meetings.
Work Experience
A minimum of two years of relevant work experience in public finance, public policy, and/or local economic development is required. Experience with Own Source Revenue (OSR) or municipal finance is desirable, as is prior experience working in developing countries or with international development agencies like the United Nations.
Skills
Professionalism, conceptual and analytical skills, data collection and analysis, research, planning and organizing, teamwork, communication, and presentation skills. Fluency in English and Kiswahili is required. Knowledge of an additional UN official language is an advantage.