AIIBJP00001963

Open Job

The objective of the assignment is to provide senior-level analytical and strategic support to AIIB in undertaking a comprehensive review of its Special Funds framework and developing recommendations for its future direction.

The consultant is expected to:

Assess the effectiveness and continued relevance of the existing Special Funds framework against AIIB’s Corporate Strategy and Scale-up ambitions;

Identify structural, policy, governance and operational issues that may constrain its effectiveness including issues that may affect the Bank’s ability to raise funds;

Benchmark AIIB’s approach against relevant MDBs and international financial institutions;

Formulate strategic options for the future architecture and use of Special Funds, including options to strengthen their attractiveness to donors and support sustainable resource mobilization; and

Support the preparation and consultation of recommendations with Management and the Board.

A. Review of the Existing Special Funds Framework

Conduct a comprehensive review of AIIB’s existing Special Funds, with particular focus on the Bank’s Internal Special Funds, that is the Project Preparation Special Fund, Special Fund Window for Less Developed Members, and Project Specific Window. The review should assess the:

Objectives, relevance and utilization of the Special Funds;

Alignment with AIIB’s Corporate Strategy and evolving business needs;

Complementarity, overlaps and gaps across Special Funds and other sources of technical assistance and grants;

Resource allocation and prioritization;

Governance, policies and operational arrangements; and

Attractiveness and alignment with donor/contributor evolving demands and priorities and monitoring, reporting and results.

The review should identify both fund-specific and overall Special Fund Framework issues.

The review will also consider AIIB’s External Special Funds—funds received from external partnership facilities—and how they complement the Internal Special Funds established by the Bank. This assessment will not include a detailed review of the individual external partnership facilities.

B. Assessment of Effectiveness and Lessons Learned

Assess the overall effectiveness of the Special Funds and identify lessons from implementation, including:

Relevance and effectiveness in meeting operational needs;

Efficiency and administrative burden;

Utilization and flexibility in responding to demand;

Relevance to potential donor interests and impact on fundraising efforts;

Sustainability of funding arrangements; and

Effectiveness of governance and oversight.

C. MDB Benchmarking

Undertake targeted benchmarking of relevant MDBs and international financial institutions to identify practices and lessons applicable to AIIB, including:

Institutional architecture for special funds and equivalent or analogous mechanisms;

Resource allocation and prioritization of technical assistance and grant resources;

Governance and policy arrangements;

Linkages between technical assistance /grants and investment operations;

Approaches to earmarking and balancing contributor and institutional priorities; and

Monitoring of results and portfolio performance.

D. Future Strategic Options

Based on the review and benchmarking, develop practical recommendations for the future direction and architecture of AIIB’s Special Funds. Recommendations should take into account AIIB's institutional arrangements, operational experience and strategic direction.

E. Stakeholder Consultation

Conduct consultations with relevant internal and external stakeholders, including, as appropriate, AIIB management, operational and corporate departments, the Board of Directors, contributors, development partners, experts and peer institutions.

Prepare consultation materials, facilitate selected discussions, synthesize feedback and incorporate relevant findings into the review.

F. Management and Board Engagement

Present the analysis and recommendations in concise, decision-oriented materials for Management and Board consideration, including discussion papers, presentations, responses to comments, and final recommendations.

Support senior-level discussions on the implications and trade-offs of the proposed options.

February 2027 : Review plan agreed with AIIB team including the proposed analytical framework and methodology, key questions to be addressed, proposed benchmarking framework, stakeholder consultation approach, etc.

March 2027 : Board presentation on the review outline

April – June 2027 : Stakeholder engagement and conduct the review based on the agreed outline

July 2027 : Draft review report including preliminary recommendations and benchmark analysis

August 2027 : Final review report and recommendations agreed with AIIB team and Senior Management

September 2027 : Presentation of final review report to the Board

October – December 2027 : Advice on follow-up changes as appropriate.

Location:

The assignment may largely be undertaken remotely, with regular meetings by videoconference. The consultant is expected to make [2] trips to AIIB headquarters in Beijing to participate in selected in-person meetings, workshops, and Management or Board engagements. Travel expenses will be added separately depending on the exact trip requirement.

Coordination with AIIB Team

The Consultant will work in close coordination with the core AIIB team comprising staff from OPR and the Operational Partnership Department (OPD).

AIIB team will provide relevant data required for the review, such as fund establishment documents, existing policies, fund data, operational documents, and contributor information.

AIIB team will coordinate and facilitate access to all AIIB-related stakeholders for consultation. The Consultant may leverage external expertise or peer institution contacts as relevant.

Preliminary findings and reports prepared by the Consultant will be reviewed by AIIB team for accuracy and strategic / operational relevance.

N/A

The Consultant will work closely with the core AIIB team throughout the assignment. The work should be conducted collaboratively so that the analysis, methodology and institutional knowledge developed through the review are transferred to Bank staff.

The consultant may also be requested to conduct internal workshops or knowledge-sharing sessions.