Consultant - Legal and Regulatory Advisor (Digital Asset Tokenization)

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is an international non-profit, research-for-development organization that works with governments, civil society, and private sector organizations to address water-related challenges in developing countries and scale up solutions. IWMI is headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and is a CGIAR research center with offices in 15 countries and a global network of researchers operating in approximately 56 countries.IWMI is implementing a regional project focused on Resilient Nature-Based Water Solutions (RNBWS) in Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, and Lebanon. Related projects are also being implemented in Iraq, Bangladesh, and Sudan. The projects include environmental, agricultural, and social interventions, including the following examples:Solar-powered irrigation systems for agriculture in EgyptA small-scale food processing enterprise supporting rural women and smallholder female farmers, known as NawallaRehabilitation of irrigation canals and springsA training manual on gender-transformative curricula, including the delivery of the associated training courseAs part of its strategy to mobilize innovative finance and scale these interventions, IWMI seeks to explore the tokenization of these assets as digital instruments. Tokenization—the process of representing ownership or value rights of real-world assets on a blockchain or distributed ledger—may offer potential pathways for attracting impact investors, improving transparency, and enabling fractional ownership.Given the nascent and evolving legal and regulatory landscape for digital assets across Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Bangladesh, and Sudan, specialized legal and regulatory expertise is required to assess feasibility, structure compliant instruments, and guide the token issuance process.OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical advisory services to the Al Murunah and Al Murunah+ projects to assess the feasibility of, and develop a business model and roadmap for, the tokenization of the projects' nature-based solution assets in Jordan, Egypt, and Palestine.The Consultant is expected to advise IWMI on the selection of assets for tokenization, identify the potential benefits and incentives of tokenization, and deliver actionable guidance on structuring compliant digital asset instruments in accordance with applicable national laws and relevant international frameworks.The assignment will be considered successful if, upon its completion, IWMI is able to make an informed Go/No-Go decision on piloting tokenization in at least one priority jurisdiction, supported by a legally compliant structuring option, a documented risk framework, and enhanced internal staff capacity to engage credibly with regulators and investors.The consultancy will also demonstrate the potential value of tokenization through the following outcomes:Improved access to impact investment: Tokenization will enable owners of assets, such as solar-powered irrigation systems, the Nawalla food processing enterprise, and rehabilitated irrigation canals, to attract a broader pool of impact investors by representing these assets as digital instrumentsFractional ownership: Tokenization enables assets to be divided into smaller, investable units, lowering the entry barrier for investors and potentially broadening the funding base significantly. This is particularly relevant to strengthening women's ownership of assets and enhancing their ability to use those assets as collateralTransparency and accountability: Blockchain-based instruments improve the traceability of how funds are utilized and how assets perform, thereby informing IWMI's engagement with future donors and investorsScalability: A proven tokenization model in Jordan, Egypt, and Palestine could be replicated in other project countries, including Iraq, Bangladesh, and Sudan, thereby multiplying its impactIntellectual property (IP) monetization: Explore how non-physical outputs, such as the gender-transformative training manual, could generate ongoing revenue through tokenized licensing and royalty structuresDUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:Task 1: Inception MeetingThe Consultant will hold a brief inception meeting with the Al Murunah/Al Murunah+ project teams to provide a baseline understanding of tokenization and the expected deliverables throughout the duration of the assignment. This meeting will also be used to test and refine the asset selection criteriaTask 2: Overall Regulatory Landscape AssessmentConduct a rapid and comprehensive review of the legal and regulatory environment for digital assets and tokenization in Jordan, Egypt, and Palestine, covering:Applicable securities, financial instruments, and fintech legislation in each jurisdictionCentral bank regulations and digital asset frameworks (including regulatory sandbox programs, where available)Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements relevant to digital asset issuanceCross-border digital asset transaction rules applicable to the three countriesGaps, risks, and enabling conditions within each regulatory environmentTask 3: Establish Asset Selection CriteriaWork with the project team to gain a better understanding of the available assets and establish a structured asset evaluation frameworkProvide an analysis and recommendations for structuring a business model for one or more of the following assets as tokenized digital instruments:Solar-powered irrigation systems: Assess options for tokenizing physical infrastructure assets (e.g., revenue-sharing tokens and asset-backed tokens)Food processing enterprise (Nawalla): Assess options for equity-like or utility token structures representing operational value or returnsSpring and/or irrigation canal rehabilitationTraining manual: Assess intellectual property (IP) tokenization options, including licensing rights and royalty structuresFor each asset, the analysis should identify the most appropriate token type (utility, security, or hybrid), legal vehicle, and jurisdiction for issuanceTask 4: Develop a Business Model for TokenizationFor the selected assets, design a business model for tokenization, followed by an online consultative meeting with the project teamDevelop a compliance framework for the digital asset issuance process, including:Investor eligibility and accreditation requirements for each jurisdictionDisclosure and prospectus obligations (where applicable)Information requirements related to the identified interventionsData protection and cybersecurity considerationsEnvironmental and social safeguard requirements linked to nature-based solutions standardsA risk register identifying key legal, regulatory, and reputational risksTask 5: Tokenization Roadmap / Implementation PlanPrepare a phased implementation roadmap for the tokenization of the identified assets, including:Recommended sequencing of asset tokenization (short-, medium-, and long-term)Priority jurisdiction(s) for piloting the first token issuanceKey milestones required regulatory approvals, and estimated timelinesGuidance on platform selection criteria (permissioned vs. public blockchain and applicable technology standards)Recommended legal documentation, including term sheets, smart contract legal wrappers, and investor agreementsPresentation of the roadmap and recommendations to IWMI, followed by the formal close-out of the assignmentDELIVERABLES:Inception Workshop and Presentation Draft - Includes an introduction to tokenization, its benefits, and how it can be applied within Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), as well as the proposed work plan, methodology, and stakeholder engagement plan for the assignmentOverall Regulatory Landscape Assessment Report (Jordan, Egypt, and Palestine) - A comprehensive assessment of the legal and regulatory landscape governing digital assets and tokenization in the three target countriesAsset Analysis and Legal Structuring Options Report - A report analyzing each asset class, the asset selection criteria, and the legal structuring options for each asset class, followed by a brief presentation of the findingsBusiness Model and Compliance Framework - Development of the tokenization business model, compliance framework, and risk register, followed by a brief presentation of the findingsTokenization Roadmap and Recommendations Report - A comprehensive implementation roadmap and recommendations report, followed by a close-out presentationRequirementsMINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIREDEssential:Advanced degree in Law, with specialization in financial law, capital markets, or technologyMinimum 7 years of professional experience in legal advisory, with demonstrable focus on financial instruments, securities law, or emerging digital asset regulationProven experience advising digital asset issuance, tokenization, or blockchain-related legal structuresDirect experience with regulatory frameworks in at least two of the three target countries: Jordan, Egypt, and PalestineStrong understanding of MENA financial regulatory environments, including securities regulators, central bank digital currency (CBDC) developments, and fintech legislationFluency in English; Arabic language proficiency is a strong advantageDesirable:Experience with impact finance, green bonds, or nature-based solution financing instrumentsFamiliarity with international digital asset standards (FATF guidance, MiCA, IOSCO frameworks) and their applicability to MENA jurisdictionsEstablished networks with relevant regulatory authorities in Jordan, Egypt, and/or PalestinePrior work with international development organizations, NGOs, or donor-funded programmesBenefitsThis is an internationally recruited consultancy position, therefore individuals with relevant qualifications and experience are encouraged to apply. The contract duration is five and a half (05.5) months.HOW TO APPLY:Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. Applications will be accepted until 24:00 IST on August 17, 2026, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Your application must include the following:Technical Proposal: A description of the proposed methodology, approach, and work plan (maximum of 5 pages). Company Profile / Individual Curriculum Vitae (CV): Demonstrating relevant experience, expertise, and qualificationsExamples of Relevant Prior Work: At least two samples of comparable assignments (e.g., legal assessments, regulatory analyses, or digital asset advisory reports)Financial Proposal: An itemized budget or daily consultancy rate, inclusive of all fees and expenses. References: Contact details of at least two clients for whom comparable assignments have been completed recentlyReceipt of all applications will be acknowledged; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical to our mission. We offer a multicultural, multicolored, multigenerational, and multidisciplinary working environment. We are committed to building an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and prioritizes gender equity. We therefore strongly encourage applications from individuals of all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, and gender identities.