Legal Specialist

UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

As the United Nations’ lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas: sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience.

UNDP personnel are united by a common purpose: to help countries and communities across the world pursue peaceful, prosperous lives, lived in harmony with the planet. The Office of Legal Services in the Bureau for Management Services (BMS/OLS) provides strategic legal services of the highest standard to UNDP, UNCDF and UN Volunteers, giving pragmatic and timely legal advice that enables the right people to make good decisions.

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries. UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, both domestically and internationally, to reduce poverty and support economic development.

UNCDF’s financing models work through three main areas: (1) inclusive digital economies, which connects individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty; (2) local transitional finance, which drives structural transformation of localities through policy and regulatory reform, fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance including project finance to unlock capital flows to the local level; and (3) investment finance, which provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment of loans and guarantees to drive SDG impact and resource mobilization. UNCDF uses a combination of grants, loans, guarantees and technical assistance to support early-stage businesses, SMEs, projects, financial institutions and municipal investments.

BMS/OLS is seeking an outstanding, proactive lawyer with a strong public service background, and the capacity and commitment needed to deliver transformative impact. We are seeking colleagues who challenge, inspire, and deliver sustained results. This is a newly created position. The successful applicant will be part of BMS/OLS and will be dedicated to the work of UNCDF.
 

Under the overall supervision of the General Counsel and Director of BMS/OLS, and reporting directly to the Senior Legal Advisor and Head of P+P, the Legal Specialist provides dedicated support to UNCDF.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

• Preparing and negotiating standard and non-standard legal instruments, contractual arrangements and other agreements to implement UNCDF’s operational and programmatic activities with various development partners. 
• Preparing and negotiating legal instruments for risk-sharing activities. 
• Advising on transactions related to debt instruments, equity and other capital markets transactions, including legal review and advice on structure, definitions, term sheets, and contractual arrangements. 
• Advising on partnership agreements with public and private sector entities for financial instrument development.
• Negotiating and settling claims arising from UNCDF’s operations, legal instruments, contractual arrangements and partnerships.  
• Reviewing claims and advising on the negotiation and settlement of commercial claims and disputes involving UNDP.
• Advising on arbitration and, where appropriate, litigation of claims and disputes arising from commercial contracts.

2.    Provision of Legal advice, guidance and counsel on matters relating to the design and implementation of evolving programme initiatives, strategies and operational practices, policies and procedures, including:

• Working closely with UNDP, provide legal advice on the design and implementation of evolving programme initiatives designed to streamline UNCDF’s activities, including around engagement with the private sector. 
• Working closely with UNDP, provide legal advice on the development of new financial instruments and programmatic tools designed to expand UNCDF’s ability to be an effective partner of choice for local and global programmes and projects. These instruments and tools may include guarantees, development services (including impact advisory services, pipeline generation for investible impact projects, MSME support and acceleration, etc.), direct grants to enterprises through competitive challenge funds, matching grants, performance-based and cost-sharing mechanisms. 
• Provide legal advice on the design and review of policies and procedures, including new modalities for engaging the private sector. 
   

3.    Provision of Legal advice, guidance and counsel on partnership arrangements and donor financing agreements involving UNCDF, including:

• Preparing and negotiating partnership agreements with public and private sector entities, other United Nations entities, civil society, Members States and national authorities and institutions. 
• Reviewing deviations to standard donor financing agreements and partnership instruments.
• Drafting, review and negotiation of complex donor financing agreements and partnership instruments.
   

4.    Provision of Legal advice, guidance and counsel on institutional issues, including matters arising from UNCDF’s status, mandate and legal structure: 

• Advising on the interpretation and application of UNCDF’s constitutional documents and legal framework, in particular with respect to the privileges and immunities applicable to UNCDF. 
• Advising on UNCDF’s arrangements with other UN agencies, including the provision of services by and to UNDP, and on common issues affecting the UN system.

5.    Facilitate Training activities and knowledge management: 

• Facilitating training programmes on institutional, corporate and commercial issues for UNCDF personnel globally.
• Developing and maintaining relevant template agreements. 
• Advising on relevant policies and procedures. 
• Regularly updating the Head of P+P, the Deputy Director, and the General Counsel on assignments and legal issues, and identifying recurring issues and scope for growth and improved client service. 
• Identifying and engaging on areas where systemic or policy changes may strengthen UNCDF’s activities and/or allow internal clients to work more effectively and efficiently.

• Achieve Results – LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact  
• Think Innovatively – LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously – LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences 
• Adapt with Agility – LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination – LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results 
• Engage and Partner – LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration 
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion – LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity 
   

•  Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization´s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment

Legal – Managing client relations:

• The ability to interact with different levels of management and across different agencies and offices to obtain information, develop legal approaches, and resolve issues. This skill includes liaison with counterparts to determine the best sequence for pursuing an issue, where information maybe across different independent UN agencies.  

•  Understanding of the legal norms as applied to the United Nations in general, and to UNDP in particular. This includes an understanding of the structure, functioning and operations of UNDP within the broader UN system, the application of international treaties, including the UN Charter, GA resolutions, the relevant basic country assistance agreement) and UN system-wide legal instruments, as well as an understanding of the internal legal framework (financial regulations and rules, policies, and procedures) of UNDP.

• Understanding the legal basis for privileges and immunities, specifically the General Convention and the standard basic assistance agreements, and the application of privileges and immunities corporately. 

•  The ability to articulate and present legal analysis orally, both in a persuasive and objective format and for a variety of different audiences (e.g. governments, arbitrators, management, donors, and other partners). This skill requires an ability to identify lines of argument, anticipate counter-arguments, interact in a dynamic and engaging way about legal issues. It also requires the ability to think on one’s feet, in a solution-oriented manner, when confronted with new facts or issues within the context of a discussion or presentation.

• The ability to work with others to conclude or settle a matter. These are often soft skills and include abilities such as communication, persuasion, planning, strategizing and cooperating. In the UNDP context, this skill includes working closely with the client to understand the parameters of an acceptable solution, assisting business units in resolving commercial disputes, working with staff members or their legal representatives to resolve a grievance, claim or issue. Negotiation often involves working with people who hold differing views to arrive at an acceptable corporate solution.