Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate Results)

Job Description

Organizational Setting

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes. It advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

he Programme Management Department (PMD) is responsible for the overall lending programme of the Fund and works closely with the Strategy and Knowledge Department (SKD) to ensure IFAD’s programmes and projects are technically sound. PMD is composed of five Regional Divisions and the Operational Policy and Results Division (OPR). SKD is composed of three technical Divisions: Environment, Climate and Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG), Sustainable Production, Markets and Institutions Division (PMI) and Research and Impact Assessment Division (RIA).

Environmental and climate change issues are inseparable from IFAD’s mission to invest in rural people. IFAD’s response to these challenges is reflected in its Strategic Framework, Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (2018-2025), the Environment and Natural Resource Management Policy and its Social, Environment and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP). A key message is that IFAD’s mission of helping poor smallholder farmers inseparable from their ability to manage environmental and climate risks. IFAD is therefore continuously increasing its targets and strengthening its capacities to respond to the threats to global and country environmental commons, while promoting agriculture and rural development in developing countries, through different financial sources and instruments. In its 12th replenishment period (IFAD12: 2022-2024), IFAD has committed to ensuring that 40% of its Programme of Loans and Grants is programmed as climate finance (validated as per the MDB methodologies) and that, of IFAD12 projects approved, at least 35% will be gender transformative, 60% nutrition sensitive and 60% youth sensitive. Additionally, at least 10 projects will target indigenous peoples as a priority target group and at least 5 will do so for persons with disabilities. IFAD’s ambition on mainstreaming will be upheld or rise further in future replenishments.

Managing a growing portfolio of projects with a focus on environment and climate change (E&CC) and social inclusion, the Technical Specialist is responsible for coordinating OPR’s mainstreaming validations at design to provide quality assurance against these commitments; aggregates and interprets related data for corporate reporting to IFAD’s Executive Board and the general public; monitors and analyses the status of mainstreamed projects that are under implementation; aggregates project outcomes and impacts and recommends best practice approach and delineate lessons learned for future projects.

The Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate Results) works under the overall strategic, policy and management advice, and supervision of the Lead Advisor (SECAP), OPR, and of the Cluster Technical Lead (Environment and Climate), ECG.

Job Role

The Technical Specialist is a seasoned professional in a specialized thematic area; s/he reports either to a more senior Technical Specialist or to the divisional Director. At this level Technical Specialists independently analyse technical and policy problems of concern to IFAD, intergovernmental bodies, and national authorities and provide substantive technical input to the development of policies, technical strategies and proposals. S/He may work collaboratively with the thematic Technical Specialists, Country Directors and other staff to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support.

In particular, the Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate Results) works in close partnership with SKD, ECG division and under the direction of PMD, OPR division.

Key Functions and Results

1.TECHNICAL ADVICE: On the basis of seasoned technical knowledge and analysis of current thematic conditions, emerging development challenges and the state of rural poverty at the country, regional and global levels, the Technical Specialist provides sound technical advice to improve IFAD’s s capacity to address rural poverty, to support national programmes and to enhance IFAD’s reputation as a trusted and valued partner. Accountabilities may include:

• a. Providing technical expertise in the Identification, elaboration and assessment, in accordance with existing organization guidelines, technical opportunities, proposals and feasibility studies for development projects and programmes and monitoring their execution;
• b. Participating in country programme management teams (CPMTs) and providing technical, analytical inputs to IFAD country strategic opportunity papers (COSOPs), project designs as well as to other policy documents related to rural development and poverty reduction; and
• c. Participating in project missions as necessary and pilot methods of analysis for IFAD projects Review proposals for small and large grants as required.

2. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The Technical Specialist enhances the development of viable and sustainable policy and project development at the country-level and supports regional thematic input through seasoned technical knowledge sharing for his/her area of specialization. S/He will ensure country-level access to the latest sources of knowledge and innovation, strengthen national technical capacity and establish new knowledge and advisory partnerships. Accountabilities may include:

• a. Sharing knowledge and experiences generated through activities such as analytical studies and regional grants with colleagues in the country programme as well as the division;
• b. Conducting relevant knowledge development and dissemination with institutions outside of IFAD within the region concerned and national Institutions, disseminating knowledge and lessons learned with peers, counterparts and stakeholders through drafting of of Occasional Papers, journal articles, seminars and workshops, through electronic media (e.g. web resource platforms and social media) and the development of new knowledge products and operational tools that are informed by learning from the field; and
• c. Participating in IFAD-wide thematic discussions and developing appropriate technical and operation approaches of relevance to the country/divisional strategies and programmes.

3. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION: The Technical Specialist establishes and maintains a network of peer contacts inside and outside IFAD to keep up-to-date on activities at the country and regional levels, to support joint advocacy and for knowledge sharing to enhance the Fund’s profile as a highly competent and viable partner in development. Accountabilities may include:

• a. Building partnerships with complementary technical organizations, NGOs, and specialized departments of other development agencies as potential operational and strategic partners at regional and country levels;
• b. Strengthening IFAD’s representation and communication in technical issues (including representing IFAD at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences fora); and
• c. Mobilising new resources for IFAD, in collaboration with the RBMO, through partnerships and outreach activities.

4. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING The Technical Specialist contributes to managing the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of technical activities and components of programs/projects in order to enhance country level programme and funding decisions based on accurate technical data. Accountabilities may include:

• a. Developing monitoring and evaluation criteria for technical components of programmes and projects;
• b. Implementing performance monitoring systems and new approaches to performance monitoring; and
• c. Preparing analytical findings and reports for divisional and country-level decision making on project viability and sustainability.

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Technical Specialist is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes:

• a) People Management and evaluation of performance of consultants and staff under his/her purview.
• b) Resource Management by providing technical expertise for programme development, and Knowledge and Content Management by ensuring that (1) knowledge content within specialty/thematic area is continuously updated and available through the intranet, that (2) best practices are continuously identified, documented and made available to clients and peers through the inter-/intra-net and that (3) appropriate and up-to-date information and learning tools are available.

POSITION SPECIFICS:
6. CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT: The Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate Results) will manage the reporting and backstopping of a growing environment and climate portfolio. She/He will be dedicated to monitoring and reporting on the status of environment and climate projects that are under implementation; aggregate project outcomes and impacts; recommend best practice approach and delineate lessons learned from interventions for future projects. The Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate Results) will also be in charge of OPR validations of IFAD’s corporate mainstreaming commitments at design. This comprises the implementation of the MDB methodologies for tracking climate finance in IFAD funded projects, as well as quality assurance that new IFAD projects are upholding relevant criteria towards IFAD’s social inclusion commitments (on gender, youth, nutrition, indigenous peoples and persons with disability). The Technical Specialist is further responsible for data aggregation for corporate reporting against these high-level commitments. The position is located in OPR and jointly reports to OPR and ECG.
The incumbent will:

• Provide technical inputs to the design, start-up and implementation of climate and environment projects supported through Supplementary Funds, in particular the enhanced Adaptation for Agriculture Programme, ASAP+ (eg. concept notes, project design documents, project Logframes, preparation of TORs, data collection and analysis, review of consultant’s work);
• Lead and supervise implementation of the MDB methodologies for climate finance tracking;
• Lead and supervise implementation of the mainstreaming theme validations for social inclusion (gender, youth, nutrition, indigenous peoples and persons with disability);
• Provide input and technical advice to the strengthening of project M&E systems throughout the project life in IFAD including indicators to monitor progress on environmental sustainability and climate adaptation, including identifying experts, reviewing reports and participating in in-country review meetings;
• Monitor the risk rating of projects and provide technical advice and support in the diagnosis and trouble-shooting projects at risk from the Environment and Natural Resource Management perspective or adaptation to climate change indicators for IFAD replenishment commitments;
• Support the roll-out of SECAP 2021, especially with a view to assuring operational linkages with mainstreaming priorities across related existing and emerging corporate strategies, policies and roadmaps (e.g. Paris Alignment; Biodiversity; Indigenous Peoples; etc.).

7. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate Results) will (i) aggregate targets and results information from project portfolio for corporate and donor reporting, internal analysis and communication/advocacy purposes (e.g. RIDE, RIDE mainstreaming companion report, Climate Action Report, etc.); (ii) facilitate institutional learning and knowledge management of climate and environment project implementation; (iii) contribute, as required, to the development of updated or new corporate guidance and procedures related to environment and climate and mainstreaming more generally, including by representing ECG/OPR in inter-departmental working groups (e.g. Paris Alignment, Resilience, Biodiversity, etc).

8. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION: The Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate Results) will (a) represent IFAD in relevant regional, sub-regional and international events; (b) expand innovative partnerships with development partners to facilitate coherence with IFAD climate finance tracking; (c) play an active role in climate and environment resource mobilization efforts; (d) play an active role in partnerships that involve climate and environment related matters such as the NDC-Partnership and other relevant partnerships, including in collaboration with RBAs.

9. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING: The Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate Results) will (a) Develop, enhance and maintain internal monitoring instruments for projects (ASAP1, ASAP+, IFAD POLG with environment and climate components) and monitor their implementation status; (b) Guide development and operationalization of sound M&E systems, baselines surveys and scoping studies on climate vulnerability; (c) Assess the quality of project implementation/evaluation reports and ensure their timeliness and comprehensiveness; (d) Monitor project disbursement rates for ASAP1 and ASAP+ operations to ensure timely delivery; (e) Support impact assessment efforts as required; (f) Monitor implementation and reporting of the implementation of the Environment and Climate Strategy and Action Plan (2019-2025) and contribute to reporting under the Biodiversity Strategy (2022-2025).

Key Performance Indicators

Assignments require the provision of seasoned technical expertise and input for the full programme/project cycle as well as in knowledge sharing with peers and counterparts. The work goes beyond technical analysis and synthesis to include substantive inputs to project methodology and design of projects, knowledge sharing among peers and counterparts to enhance cooperation, complementarity and synergy and monitoring and evaluation to measure and report on lessons learned and best practices. The work is considered moderately complex requiring in-depth technical analysis and reporting. Typically operating as a technical specialist at the country or regional levels, the Technical Specialist’s work may be reviewed for technical accuracy, but more typically is reviewed for achieving the established work plan.

Working Relationships

The work relationships of Technical Specialists at this level are primarily for the exchange of information regarding development projects. Information-gathering and exchange in support of studies and thematic assignments may also include identifying reliable sources and establishing guidelines for obtaining information on national and sub-regional; conditions and to convey methodological approaches and operational experience for implementation of activities undertaken on behalf of the Fund.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 1:

• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains effective working relationships
• Communicating and negotiating - Communicates effectively; creates understanding between self and others
• Demonstrating leadership - Personal leadership and attitude to change
• Focusing on clients - Focuses on clients
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates
• Managing performance and developing staff -
• Managing time, resources and information - Manages own time, information and resources effectively
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Demonstrates sound problem-solving and decision-making ability
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Personal influence
• Team working - Contributes effectively to the team

Education:

• Level - Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php in a job related field (*):

• Areas - Agriculture, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, Environment, Economics, Political Science, Public Administration etc.

(*) Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in the IFAD’s Human Resources Implementing Procedures.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years progressively responsible experience in, and demonstrated understanding of, development initiatives in the field of specialization.
• Three (3) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Position-specific experience: Experience in fieldwork and international policy frameworks related to projects dealing with climate changes and global environment is an asset.

Languages:

• Required English (4 – Excellent)
• Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic

Skills:

• Climate Finance: Finance that aims at reducing emissions, and enhancing sinks of greenhouse gases and aims at reducing vulnerability of, and maintaining and increasing the resilience of, human and ecological systems to negative climate change impacts
• Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation)
• Analytical skills: Outstanding ability to analyse and synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources and filter out key insights and recommendations
• Adaptability: Adaptability and flexibility when facing new or unexpected situations, and to specific constraints and circumstances and managing complex processes
• Basic ICT & digital fluency: High level of digital literacy and ability to quickly get familiar with new digital tools (e.g. ability to carry out EPR data entry and extraction when budgeting; monitoring security systems, uploading content to inter/intra-net websites, etc.)
• Business acumen, private sector knowledge: Outstanding ability to synthesize and simplify complex technical information for a variety of (non-technical) audiences
• Client orientation: Strong critical thinking combined with communication skills to liaise between the business and technologies to understand business problems and needs, document requirements and identify solutions
• Corporate approach: Ability to bring in corporate vision and priorities into one’s area of work (e.g. budgeting going beyond simple budgetary considerations, taking into account strategic priorities)
• Interpersonal skills: Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with others (e.g. visitors, clients, callers, etc.), including senior individuals (e.g. high-level meeting participants)
• Problem solving: Strong systemic and structured thinking, ability to identify and dissect problems into components and formulate a comprehensive set of creative viable and sustainable solutions and strategies
• Specialized communication skills: Ability to negotiate on behalf of IFAD and drive for creative and pragmatic solutions in complex negotiations with key partners, both public and private sector
• Synthesis: Outstanding ability to synthesize and simplify complex technical information for a variety of (non-technical) audiences
• Verbal communication: Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language
• Written communication: Clear, succinct and convincing written communication in the language needed for specific role; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language (e.g. for drafting of position papers, briefings, etc.)
• Social & Environmental Safeguards: Know-how in Social & Environmental complianc as specified in the IFAD’s Social, Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP)
• Project/Programme mgmt (incl. coordination, design, development): Know-how in Project design and evaluation

Other Information

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD’s Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

In the interest of making most cost-effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful. Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation.

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