May 19, 2021
Paid Short-term Consultancy: Investment Governance and Sustainable Development at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Key information:
- Location: Remote, with possibility of travel when circumstances allow
- Day rate: Between 350 and 450 USD per day, depending on experience
- Type and duration: Part time, fixed term consultancy for initial period of 6 months, with possibility of extension (contingent upon funding and other circumstances), starting in June or early July 2021
- Hours: Flexible to account for location/ time zone
- Application deadline: May 28, 2021
The role:
The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) is seeking a consultant to support research, organization and delivery of capacity building programs, and advisory work related to CCSI’s work on investment law and policy. The consultant will work with CCSI’s Investment Law & Policy team. The work may be completed remotely, and may include travel when circumstances allow.
The project:
The project will seek to generate dialogue and deepen understanding regarding whether and to what extent international laws governing investment can be designed to advance, rather than undermine, sustainable development within and across countries. The project has a regional focus on investment laws and policies applicable in African countries, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and at the continental level. Applicants should be familiar with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and ongoing negotiations of protocols to the AfCFTA, including on investment.
Specific activities are to be determined by needs identified during the course of the project. They may include: drafting concise policy papers and issue briefs; conducting research to inform discussion of policy options; designing and conducting workshops and trainings (remotely at first, and perhaps in-person when circumstances allow); and co-organizing multi-stakeholder webinars and events.
This project will contribute to and benefit from CCSI’s ongoing work to better understand how international investment governance affects sustainable development at global, national, and local levels, and how different investment treaty approaches can strengthen alignment between those instruments and broader economic, social, environmental, and governance objectives outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals and regional frameworks. The project will also draw from lessons learned during discussions that are taking place in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the responsiveness of international investment governance to national and international crises, and the role to be played by sustainable investment in building more resilient economies.
The details and requirements:
This is a part time, 6-month consultancy role, with the possibility of an extension (contingent upon available funding and other circumstances). Applicants should be available to begin in June or early July 2021.
CCSI is seeking consultants who:
- Have 5+years of experience working in the field of international investment law and policy;
- Have obtained a post-graduate degree or equivalent experience in a relevant subject area;
- Have a strong understanding of recent trends in investment treaty drafting and practice, including trends and practice across Africa, and of investment laws and policies applicable at REC and continental level;
- Are familiar with the status of AfCFTA negotiations and implementation; and
- Are fluent in English and, ideally, proficient in at least one other working language of the African Union (preferably French).
How to express interest:
Please submit a cover letter, CV, and a writing sample (e.g. a recent publication) in a single PDF file to Nancy Siporin <nancy.siporin@columbia.edu>
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