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CONSULTANCY JOB OPENING
Issued on: 24th March 2016

BACKGROUND
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. The Urban Economy Branch of UN-HABITAT has the mandate to promote   local capabilities of local governments to develop financial instruments to keep pace with the demands of rapid urbanization. The Urban Economy Branch has the mandate to promote plans and provide support for more efficient, socially inclusive, better integrated and connected cities that foster sustainable urban development.
The proposed program is aimed creating a mechanism (the Municipal Development Fund -MDF) within UN-Habitat to enable local governments to promote Local Economic Development projects at the critical stage of project inception.  This mechanism will foster economically viable infrastructure and assets development ventures by investing in the detailed planning and finance structuring of projects. This type of project formulation and start up investment can then serve as the basis to mobilize substantial investment funds based upon a project’s contribution to local growth and income generation potential.
This consultancy will contribute to the Branch’s support to the City Finance and Local Economic Development activities.  The consultant will provide technical assistance to the branch in crystallizing the model for this financing mechanism and in determining the conditions necessary for successful implementation. The consultant will draw upon the experience in working on revenue enhancement and income generation in local government around the world and in particular Kenya.

RESPONSIBILITIES

PART I – Municipal Development Fund                                          (total 39 days)

Activities

• Conceptualize the Municipal Development Fund
• Identify potential investors/partners in the MDF                                                      
• Document preparation with UN-HABITAT

Outputs

• Concept Paper including feasibility analysis and structure
• Identification of potential investors and conditions for investment
• Identification of potential locations and pre-conditions for investment
• Preliminary Delineation of Procedures
• Scope of projects

PART II – Revenue Enhancement Kiambu County                               (total 48 days)

Activities

• Upgrading the Revenue Enhancement Management Capacity
• Implementation of “zonation” based property tax
• Providing technical assistance for the introduction of development fees including organizational, legal and physical planning consultation
• Guiding the establishment and operations of the county assets development company and first projects

Outputs:

• Improved capacity of the interdepartmental team to implement the revenue enhancement policies that have been adopted
• Zonation maps and linkage between ICT and GIS components within the county
• A package of alternatives for upgrading on-going services and infrastructure based upon increased revenues for the pilot program and recommendations for guiding principles at the county level
• Work plan for implementation of updated zone base tax model
• Guidelines for a development tax/fee model – revenue sources
  • Legal Base
  • Delineation of the alternative implementation tracks (payment, developer implementation, privatization)
  • Financial Model
• Structuring of the  planning process as an investment
• High quality Bid (final County TOR) for infrastructure development plan
• A development strategy for the first venture (a county owned assets development project)
• TOR for full business plan for the first venture that will serve as a template for other ventures

PART III – Rapid Self-Assessment – RSA for Revenue Enhancement       (10 days)

Activities:

• Understanding the degree of political and public support
• Tax Base and Fees analysis
• ICT capacity assessment for revenue enhancement
• Organizational structure and procedural improvements needed for revenue enhancement

Outputs:

• Mobilize a county team of professionals led by public officials to undertake an analysis aimed at revenue enhancement and implementation
• Analysis of the potential of different sources for additional revenues
• Identification of  the primary resources and obstacles influencing revenue enhancement
• Initiate a process of shared understandings for transforming resources into income generating assets
• Formulation of a strategy of action – where to begin and how to begin to achieve strategic objectives to enhance revenues

PART IV – Facilitation of KMP/KRC Training Programs                           (25 days)

Activities and Outputs:

• This part of the consultancy will involve facilitation as part of the training team in the KMP program. It will include three 5 day workshops. The consultant will:
• Serve as a resource  person in the area of economic development
• Lead workshop sessions aimed at improving the capacity of planners and other

Professionals to address economic development as part of the planning process

• Help in the preparation of training materials and presentations
• The KRC consultant will work focusing on development strategy and structure for KRC-Nairobi venture and presentation at the planned conference

           a. Venture Strategy for KRC-Nairobi Project
b. Conference preparation and presentation

COMPETENCIES
Professionalism: Training and experience of working in human settlements issues with good research and analytical skills. Knowledge and experience of carrying out baseline and similar studies is essential. A good understanding of results-based management or logic models is required.Communication: Ability to articulate ideas in an effective, clear and concise style both orally and in written to staff at all levels in the organization is required; and a proven ability to prepare comprehensive, well written and accurate documents and reports is important.Planning and organizing: Ability to plan, coordinate and monitor own work in an efficient and timely manner. Identify priority activities and assignments and adjusts work accordingly. Has respect for and commitment to agreed timelines.Teamwork: Proven ability to work collaboratively across the organization with staff at different levels in a flexible manner; Working with all branches, offices and units, establish an effective working relationship that facilitates cooperation and provision of inputs. Ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity is essential.EDUCATION
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, business/public administration, community development and finance or related. Priority will be given to a PhD level consultant.WORK EXPERIENCE
The consultant should have the following competencies and experiences:

• Theoretical background and expertise on municipal finance, innovation policies, local economic development and institutional issues related to land and urban planning in Kenya.
• Extensive practical experience in the area of urban planning, an experience in Kenya.
• At least 15 years of global professional experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is required.

REMUNERATION
Payments will be based on deliverables over the consultancy period. There are set remuneration rates for consultancies. The rate is determined by functions performed and experience of the consultant. The fees will be paid as per agreement.

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Source: unhabitat.org