Pathfinder International Seeks Legal Due Diligence Consultant for Climate-Health Programme in MENA
Pathfinder International has reopened its call for a Legal Due Diligence Consultant to support the development of the Sustainable Adaptation for Healthcare Advancement (SAHA) programme in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The consultant will play a key role in preparing the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Funding Proposal by assessing country-specific legal frameworks across five MENA countries.
About the SAHA Programme
The MENA region is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable areas, with rising temperatures, worsening extreme weather, and growing threats to agriculture, water security, and public health. Despite these risks, the health impacts of climate change remain deeply understudied across the region.
Pathfinder’s SAHA initiative seeks to address these gaps in Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq, strengthening climate-resilient health systems and improving community adaptation. The programme focuses on 200 health facilities across 14 districts, using a gender-responsive and community-based approach.
Core Outcomes of the SAHA Programme
The initiative aims to achieve four overarching outcomes:
- Climate-informed health early warning systems available and used at local and regional levels
- Stronger health workforce capacity to anticipate and respond to climate-related risks
- Climate-resilient health facilities and infrastructure capable of maintaining essential services
- Multisectoral community initiatives that advance climate-sensitive health outcomes
Purpose of the Consultancy
Pathfinder seeks experienced legal consultants to conduct comprehensive legal due diligence in support of the GCF Funding Proposal. The consultants will analyse regulatory requirements, institutional mandates, legal risks, and permitting constraints in the five target countries. Pathfinder may contract multiple consultants depending on expertise and country coverage.
A key component of the work will be preparing the GCF Annex 9: Legal Due Diligence Report, along with targeted inputs into other funding proposal documents.
Scope of Work
The consultant will assess national and local legal environments relevant to programme implementation, funding, partnerships, infrastructure works, procurement, and compliance with international obligations. The work will also include coordination with other technical teams and engagement with external stakeholders where required.
Key Areas of Analysis
- Legal and Regulatory Mapping
- Review laws and regulations related to public health, procurement, climate change, gender, environmental protection, pollution prevention, waste management, labour, public consultation, construction, solar PV, and international cooperation.
- Identify governmental approvals, licensing needs, tax considerations, foreign exchange controls, and institutional mandates.
- Sanctions Risk Assessment
- Evaluate UN and other sanctions applicable in Lebanon and Iraq.
- Analyse impacts on fund flows, procurement, gender considerations, site selection, and operational modalities.
- Programme Compatibility
- Assess whether proposed interventions comply with national and local laws.
- Identify permits or exemptions required to proceed with programme activities.
- Institutional and Contractual Considerations
- Review legal capacity of implementing partners to contract, receive funds, and manage donor-financed projects.
- Identify liability risks, procurement constraints, and frameworks for fund management.
- Other Legal Factors
- Analyse enforceability of foreign arbitral awards.
- Flag additional legal risks that could affect implementation across the programme lifecycle.
Recommendations and Mitigation Measures
The consultant will propose actionable steps to manage identified risks and strengthen compliance, feasibility, and operational soundness across all five countries.
Deliverables
The consultant will produce:
- GCF Annex 9: Legal Due Diligence Report covering all country-specific legal assessments
- Sanctions Risk Analysis Note addressing implications of sanctions in Iraq and Lebanon
- Legal Compliance Matrix outlining required approvals and authorities
- Risk and Mitigation List including gender and community engagement considerations
- Annexed references and supporting legal documents
Required Qualifications
Pathfinder seeks candidates with:
- 10+ years of legal advisory or due-diligence experience, ideally in development or climate finance
- Strong ability to interpret national regulatory frameworks in health, environment, labour, and governance
- Experience analysing international sanctions, especially in the MENA region
- Prior work with the Green Climate Fund or similar institutions
- Knowledge of institutional and contracting arrangements in multi-country programmes
- Expertise in legal aspects of international fund flows and enforceability of agreements
- Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills in English; Arabic proficiency is an asset
- Familiarity with at least one of the target countries and priority sectors (health, water, energy)
How to Apply
Interested consultants should submit the following to procurement@pathfinder.org by November 28, 2025 (11:59 PM Washington, D.C. time):
- Curriculum Vitae
- Completed Annex A, including daily rate
- Pathfinder Consultant Application Form (via the Pathfinder Careers Consultant Database)
Shortlisted consultants may be invited for interviews.
For inquiries, candidates may email procurement@pathfinder.org no later than November 26, 2025.
Pathfinder International looks forward to receiving applications for this critical climate-health legal consultancy.
