Result of Service

The ultimate result of the service is the effective substantive support to the Working Group in developing a consolidated set of voluntary guiding principles on responsible sovereign borrowing and lending, together with practical proposals for their implementation, supported by high-quality research, meeting documentation, stakeholder consultations, interim and final reports, and contributions to the broader debt-related mandates of the Sevilla Commitment.

Work Location

Home Based

Expected duration

Expected duration is for 12 months between 19 October 2026-18 October 2027

Duties and Responsibilities

In resolution 79/323, the General Assembly adopted the Sevilla Commitment, which sets out a renewed global framework for financing sustainable development. The Sevilla Commitment also establishes an integrated follow-up framework across all levels, with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and its Financing for Sustainable Development Office leading the system-wide coordination of follow-up. The Sevilla Commitment adopted a comprehensive package to address sovereign debt challenges, with a view to creating a development-oriented debt architecture. Actions are clustered into four key areas: i) debt crisis prevention, including strengthening debt management, transparency, and responsible borrowing and lending; ii) lowering borrowing costs and providing more comprehensive and systematic support for developing countries that, while solvent, face high debt servicing costs; iii) achieving efficient, fair, predictable, coordinated, timely, and orderly restructurings; and iv) promoting debt sustainability and credit assessments that are more accurate, objective and long-term oriented. “Responsible borrowing and lending” is a core component of the debt crisis prevention cluster. While various non-binding instruments (soft law) have been developed over the past two decades to guide borrower-lender relations, their effectiveness has been inhibited by fragmentation of efforts and limited monitoring and follow up. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda (2015) called for a global consensus on guidelines for debtor and creditor responsibilities, a mandate that has remained unfulfilled. The Sevilla Commitment takes forward the call in the Addis Agenda to revisit soft law approaches to guide borrowing and lending decisions, and commits to further strengthen them. It mandates the United Nations Secretary-General to convene a Working Group (paragraph 48 a): We request the Secretary-General to convene a working group, with the IMF and the World Bank, tasked with proposing a consolidated set of voluntary guiding principles on responsible sovereign borrowing and lending, and proposals for their implementation. The working group will work in consultation with Member States and other relevant stakeholders. Its work will build on the UNCTAD Principles on Promoting Responsible Sovereign Lending and Borrowing, the G20 Operational Guidelines for Sustainable Financing and other relevant principles and guidelines. The working group will present an update at the 2026 forum on financing for development follow-up and present its proposals to Member States at the 2027 forum. This Working Group could develop an integrated and coherent framework on borrower and creditor responsibilities that brings together, spotlights and promotes the implementation of existing principles without superseding or replacing them. Existing principles, despite their differing actors, scope, objectives, purposes and monitoring mechanisms, share common elements. These similarities provide a solid foundation for the Working Group to build upon to develop a coherent framework and make proposals to enhance adherence and implementation. FSDO will provide substantive support to this Working Group. In view of this, FSDO will engage a consultant to advise on all aspects of this substantive support and delivery of related mandates of the Sevilla Commitment. Work Assignment Under the supervision of the Chief of the Policy Analysis and Development Branch (PADB), and in close collaboration with relevant colleagues within FSDO, the consultant will be responsible for the following work assignments: 1. Substantively guide the work of the Working Group on guiding principles on responsible sovereign borrowing and lending on the issue of coverage, overlap and differences of existing principles (Sevilla Commitment para 48) a. Undertake research on existing principles on responsible borrowing and lending, analyzing and providing a substantive synthesis regarding coverage, overlap and differences of these principles, as well as their respective effectiveness in driving behavioral change of borrowers and lenders; b. Analyze international efforts to shape laws, regulations, and behaviour of private actors through soft law mechanisms in related areas, such as financial regulation, and draw lessons for the field of sovereign borrowing and lending; c. Based on the above, prepare an analysis on the existing architecture of principles and their respective effectiveness, for review by the Secretariat and Co-Chairs of the Working Group; d. Incorporating feedback, finalize the analysis to inform the deliberations of the Working Group. e. Prepare a presentation of key findings to support deliberations of the Working Group. 2. Substantively guide the work of the Working Group on guiding principles on responsible sovereign borrowing and lending on the issue of mechanisms of adherence and implementation (Sevilla Commitment para 48) a. Undertake research on methods, tools, and mechanisms – including contractual, legal or monitoring mechanisms - to enhance adherence to existing principles on responsible borrowing and lending, and advise on their respective effectiveness; b. Analyse international efforts to enhance adherence to soft law in in related areas, such as financial regulation, and draw lessons for the field of sovereign borrowing and lending; c. Based on the above, prepare an analysis on the existing architecture of principles and their respective effectiveness, for review by the Secretariat and Co-Chairs of the Working Group; d. Incorporating feedback, finalize the analysis to inform the deliberations of the Working Group. e. Prepare a presentation of key findings to support deliberations of the Working Group. 3. Substantive guidance for all meetings of the Working Group a. Advise on substantive focus of and prepare substantive preparatory documents for meetings of the Working Group and its sub-groups, including background notes and concept notes in advance of the meetings; b. Provide substantive inputs in the development of the agenda and programme of the meeting; c. Provide substantive inputs to information notes and related. 4. Preparation of the interim and final reports of the Working Group a. Under the guidance of the Co-Chairs of the Working Group, advise on substantive outlines of the interim and final reports of the Working Group; b. Based on feedback from Co-Chairs, as well as discussions of the Working Group, draft sections of the interim and final reports of the Working Group; c. Carry out substantive editing of the interim and final reports of the Working Group, ensuring consistency substantively. 5. Outreach and consultation efforts of the Working Group a. Advise on relevant stakeholders to consult on the progress and emerging recommendations of the Working Group, within and outside the UN system, and participate in such consultations to advance discussion on findings; b. Advise on and participate in briefings and consultations on the interim and final reports of the Working Group, with a view to widely disseminate its recommendations. 6. Other aspects of implementation of the debt package of the Sevilla Commitment a. Advise on substantive preparations of the UN Dialogue on debt (Sevilla Commitment paragraph 50), and contribute to substantive preparations by drafting sections of the background materials related to the work of the Working Group, notably on debt crisis prevention and responsible borrowing and lending; b. Undertake substantive background research to support the conceptualization of the chapter on debt and debt sustainability of the 2027 Financing for Sustainable Development Report; c. Draft related sections of the chapter on debt and debt sustainability of the 2027 Financing for Sustainable Development Report; d. Provide substantive inputs to other sections related of the 2027 FSDR as needed. 7. Provide Monthly progress reports at the end of each month.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in development studies, international relations, economics, finance, political science, law, or a related field is required.

Detailed knowledge of policy issues around sovereign debt, and sovereign borrowing and lending principles is required.
A publication record on sovereign debt issues is required.
A minimum of 5 years of established expertise in the field of sustainable development and/or financing for development, including financing policy and analysis.
Previous work experiences at the United Nations or another international organization in particular engaging with experts and/or member states, and preparing background documents for their consideration is desirable.
Excellent interpersonal, communication and drafting skills.

Languages

Fluency in (both oral and written) English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Consultant to provide substantive support to the Working Group on guiding principles on responsible sovereign borrowing and lending