Urban Finance & Economy Specialist

About the role

The Urban Finance & Economy Specialist will support UN‑Habitat’s work in refugee‑hosting counties of Kenya by strengthening local revenue systems and public finance management. Reporting to the Team Lead on Finance and Economy, the consultant will conduct assessments, design reforms and provide actionable recommendations for sustainable financing.

Key responsibilities

• Map the institutional landscape in Dadaab‑Hagadera and Kakuma, reviewing legal, policy and governance frameworks that affect revenue generation.
• Assess service‑delivery responsibilities, gaps and unfunded mandates; estimate the scale and cost of current service needs.
• Conduct literature reviews on local government finance, own‑source revenue (OSR) and land‑based finance in refugee contexts.
• Analyse existing revenue instruments across major streams, identify opportunities to improve billing, collection and enforcement.
• Evaluate county assets, liabilities, expenditures and financing gaps using PEFA methodology and propose cost‑saving and capital‑investment options.
• Develop case studies on public land use and land‑value capture, and assess realistic revenue options such as market fees, permits and commercial asset revenues.
• Design practical OSR strategies and phased implementation plans tailored to each county’s transition to the Shirika Plan.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Economics, Public Policy, Public Finance, Political Science, Development Studies or related field; a first‑level degree plus two years experience may be accepted.
• Minimum two years of relevant experience in public finance, public policy or local economic development.
• Experience with own‑source revenue, municipal finance and working in developing‑country contexts is desirable.
• Prior work with international development agencies such as the United Nations is an advantage.

Required skills