Finance Consultant

Finance Consultant

This vacancy is open to all applicants. Position Title: Finance Consultant. Duty Station City: Washington D.C. Duty Station Country: United States of America. Grade & Salary: UG (USD 22,000-26,000). Contract Type: Consultancy. Vacancy Type: Call for Application. Initial duration: 3-5 months.

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM's workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration.

Project Context and Scope

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is implementing the Diaspora Guarantee Facility (DGF) for Safe Shelters, an innovative financing mechanism that leverages diaspora contributions as a guarantee to enable Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) to provide affordable loans for resilient housing and shelter improvements in disaster-prone communities.

The model was piloted in the Philippines through the Resilient Shelter Loan initiative, which demonstrated the viability of using diaspora-backed guarantees to reduce lending risk, improve access to finance for underserved households, and support the construction and retrofitting of safer, climate-resilient shelters. The pilot engaged microfinance institutions, diaspora organizations, local governments, and technical partners in a collaborative ecosystem supporting disaster preparedness and housing resilience.

As IOM seeks to scale and replicate the model in new contexts, including potential expansion to additional countries, a comprehensive feasibility study is required to assess the model's financial sustainability, operational requirements, governance structure, legal and regulatory considerations, market demand, and scalability.

Organizational Department: Diaspora Engagement Unit, GO Washington

Responsibilities

A. Review and Analysis of Existing Model

Review project documentation, evaluations, monitoring data, financial records, and lessons learned from the Philippines pilots. Analyze the performance of the existing diaspora guarantee mechanism, including:

• Loan performance and repayment rates
• Default risk management practices
• Utilization of guarantee funds
• Cost-effectiveness
• Impact on housing resilience and financial inclusion
• Governance
• Fundraising strategies
• Blended finance mechanisms
• Scaling strategies
• Assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and limitations of the current model.

B. Market Assessment

• Assess demand for resilient shelter financing among vulnerable and disaster-affected populations.
• Perform stakeholder mapping
• Identify barriers faced by households in accessing shelter finance.
• Assess interest among diaspora communities for participation in innovative financing mechanisms.
• Identify opportunities for expanding diaspora engagement and fundraising approaches.
• Analyze the role and willingness of MFIs, banks, and other financial institutions to participate in the model.

C. Financial Feasibility Assessment

• Review the current guarantee structure to assess financial sustainability at scale.
• Assess financial models and scenarios assessing:
• Different guarantee-to-loan ratios
• Default-rate assumptions
• Fund capitalization requirements
• Associated fundraising and guarantee maintenance fees
• Fund growth strategies
• Cost-benefit analyses
• Operational cost structures
• Long-term sustainability pathways
• Assess opportunities for blended finance, impact investing, CSR contributions, philanthropic capital, and development finance partnerships.

D. Legal and Regulatory Assessment

• Review legal and regulatory requirements affecting:
• Management of guarantee funds
• Cross-border fundraising from diaspora communities
• Financial sector compliance
• Consumer protection and lending regulations
• Oversight and fiduciary responsibilities
• Identify risks and recommend governance and compliance arrangements.

E. Institutional and Operational Feasibility

• Assess institutional arrangements required for scaling the model.
• Evaluate roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, including:
• IOM
• Diaspora organizations
• MFIs and financial institutions (including MDBs, commercial banks, and national banks)
• Government agencies
• Technical partners
• Private sector actors
• Donors
• Review and recommend governance structures for management and oversight of the DGF.
• Identify operational requirements, staffing needs, monitoring systems, and risk management mechanisms.

F. Scalability and Replication Assessment

• Assess the suitability of the model for replication in new country contexts and sectors including:
• Review criteria for country selection and readiness assessment.
• Identify key success factors and risks for expansion.
• Recommend pathways for scaling both geographically and programmatically.

G. Recommendations and Roadmap

• Develop a practical roadmap for the next 3-5 years.
• Present and finalize a Feasibility Study with recommended considerations for:
• Governance structure
• Financial architecture
• Fund management model
• Business model
• Resource mobilization strategy
• Risk mitigation measures
• Partnership strategy
• Scale-up scenarios

Methodology

The consultant is expected to employ a mixed-methods approach, including:

• Desk review of project documents and relevant literature
• Key informant interviews
• Focus group discussions
• Consultations with key stakeholders and partners
• Financial and market analysis
• Legal and regulatory review

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

• Quality of the outputs produced
• Outputs listed under the section 6 should be submitted directly to the Diaspora Engagement Unit.

Expected Deliverables

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Advanced degree in finance, economics, development studies, public policy, housing finance, humanitarian action, or a related field
• Experience working with IOM is strongly preferred
• University degree in the above fields with 7 years of relevant professional experience

Experience

• Demonstrated expertise in blended finance, guarantee funds and risk-sharing mechanisms, microfinance and financial inclusion, development finance, humanitarian or resilience financing, and feasibility studies and business case development
• Knowledge of diaspora engagement and remittance ecosystems is highly desirable

Skills

• Excellent writing and communication skills with the ability to prepare clear and concise documents and presentations
• Strong facilitation abilities
• Excellent interpersonal