Senior Technical Specialist Environment and Climate - P4

international fund for agricultural development ifad

Organizational Setting

Effective 1 January 2025, co-terminus appointments will also be subject to a maximum total duration of seven years, including contract extensions. This type of appointment does not carry any expectation, legal or otherwise, of conversion to any other type of appointment with IFAD, regardless of the length of service.

Staff members holding an IFAD fixed-term or indefinite appointment are eligible to apply to this co-terminus position with their employment terms and conditions, including contractual status, remaining unchanged. Given that the funding of this position is strictly limited in duration and conditional on the availability of supplementary funds, should the funding finish, the position will be abolished and the staff member will be subject to the relevant provisions foreseen in the HR Implementing Procedures.

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, and advocates at local, national and international levels for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Office of Technical Delivery (OTD) is led by a Managing Director and is comprised of two (2) divisions: the Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG) and the Sustainable Production, Markets and Institutions Division (PMI).

ECG takes the technical lead to strengthen the quality of IFAD's operations and programmes ensuring that IFAD's operations are environmentally sustainable, climate change resilient, nutrition sensitive and inclusive of marginalized groups (particularly women, rural youth, Indigenous Peoples and persons with disabilities.) In addition to strengthening the technical quality of operations, ECG provides its technical expertise in corporate strategies, policy engagement, resource mobilization, knowledge generation, and partnerships.

ECG is led by a Divisional Director and is comprised of four clusters: Environment and Climate (ECC), Climate and Environment External funds (CEF), Social Inclusion (SI) and Safeguards (SECAP).

Job Role

The Senior Technical Specialist serves as IFAD's technical expert in their area of expertise. The position supports country/regional programs by providing state-of-the-art global technical advice throughout the project cycle (strategic and operational), as well as contributes to the corporate agenda, in their technical area of expertise.

The incumbent works collaboratively with the thematic Technical Specialists, Country Directors (CD)/Heads of Multi-country Offices (MCO) and other staff to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support.

The Senior Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate) GCF is an expert and knowledge builder in Environment and Climate.

1. SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVICE: The Senior Technical Specialist provides technically authoritative advice on their area of specialization to improve the capacity of IFAD to position itself as an influential global player in these domains, and to improve related national government policies and programmes and ensure IFAD is regarded as a trusted and valued partner. Accountabilities may include but are not limited to:

• Providing IFAD staff and partners with up-to-date professional advice on policy, institutional and technical issues.
• Contributing to ensure that IFAD senior management is regularly and adequately briefed to engage effectively in high level fora with policy implications for rural transformation.
• Providing senior level technical expertise.

1. KNOWLEDGE AND ADVISORY SERVICES: The Senior Technical Specialist enhances the development of viable and sustainable policies and supports regional and global thematic input through authoritative technical knowledge sharing for their area of specialization. The position will ensure access to the latest sources of knowledge and innovation, strengthen technical capacity and establish new knowledge and advisory partnerships. Accountabilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting intelligence gathering and analysis of debates relevant to inclusive and sustainable rural transformation;
• Supporting the coordination of the relevant knowledge development and dissemination with institutions outside of IFAD, within the region concerned and national Institutions, disseminating knowledge and lessons learned with external partners and stakeholders through publication of Occasional Papers, journal articles, seminars and workshops, through electronic media and the development of new knowledge products and operational tools that are informed by learning from the field.
• Participating in IFAD-wide thematic discussions and developing appropriate technical and operation approaches of relevance to the country/divisional strategies and programmes.
• Planning and leading learning events to strengthen IFAD's knowledge and capacity to engage in global debates with policy implications for rural transformation.

1. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES: Senior Technical Specialist develops and maintains a network of strategic partnerships that can help advance IFAD's mandate and messages around rural transformation in the global debate. The position develops 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:

• Building partnerships with centers of excellence, complementary technical organizations and specialized departments of other development institutions (including United Nations agencies, International Financial Institutions, bilateral cooperation agencies, non-governmental organizations, and others) as strategic partners;
• Strengthening IFAD's representation and communication in policy processes (including representing IFAD at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences);
• Developing and cultivating alliances in key global policy forums to strengthen IFAD's influence over time, with a strategic focus on specific themes in their area of specialization.

1. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING: The Senior Technical Specialist supports the Director/Lead Technical Specialists in knowledge management and other monitoring and reporting activities to enhance country level programme and funding decisions.
2. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Senior Technical Specialist is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes, among others, people management through support to recruitment of technical specialists and technical leadership/capacity development, coaching and mentoring of new and/or more junior staff, supervisory role and evaluation of performance of professionals and general service staff under their purview.
3. SENIOR ADVICE ON CLIMATE TRUST FUNDS: The Senior Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate) GCF accountabilities are:

• Providing senior technical advice and support to develop IFAD's portfolio of viable and sustainable proposals from global climate trust funds;
• Enhancing the Fund's strategic approach and engagement with global climate trust funds (GCF), building on IFAD's strengths, comparative advantages and regional and country priorities, and building coherence between IFAD's use and engagement with its multiple sources of climate finance;
• Providing IFAD staff and partners with up-to-date professional advice on policy, institutional, procedural and technical issues, in particular to enhance the quality of proposals and alignment with the various Trust Funds and IFAD policies and requirements.

1. PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT: The Senior Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate), on the basis of thematic expertise on climate change supports the IFAD local point for the relevant global Trust Fund ensuring appropriate and up-to-date authoritative technical advice to country programme and project design, development, implementation and monitoring to optimize positive programme results and contribute to IFAD's programme enhancements. In particular, accountabilities may include:

• Facilitating the targeting and programming of global climate financing in IFAD operations to enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation that also complement and diversify IFAD portfolio;
• Advising and identifying complementary and alternative sources of climate financing to meet the IFAD portfolio needs.
• Providing senior technical expertise and guidance on relevant policies and procedures to the Country Project Management Teams on how to access, programme and sequence climate financing to support IFAD commitments on climate mainstreaming.
• Providing technical support to staff, field missions and national programmes at all stages of the project cycle, including identification, preparation, design, inception, implementation and monitoring and evaluation inputs and undertaking implementation support missions, including supervision.
• In coordination with the Regional Climate Change and Environment Specialists and other Environment and Climate technical specialists, strengthening IFAD's country-level Results-Based Country Strategic Opportunities Programmes (RBCOSOPs), programmes and projects;
• Establishing, enhancing and monitoring design enhancement and project impact processes within IFAD with respect to global climate programming.
• Responding to queries regarding portfolio/project progress and lessons.

1. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The Senior Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate) GCF enhances the development of viable and sustainable policy and project development, provides up to date knowledge and best practices on climate change adaptation and mitigation to support the development of projects, and supports regional and global thematic input through authoritative technical knowledge on climate change adaptation and mitigation. S/He will access and train IFAD staff to the latest sources of knowledge and innovation, strengthen technical capacity and establish new knowledge and advisory partnerships. In particular, accountabilities may include:

• Sharing knowledge and experiences generated through activities such as analytical studies with colleagues in the country programme as well as the division; may manage selected Cooperation and Technical Assistance Grants and consultancies in support of the same.

1. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING: The Senior Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate) GCF:

• Strengthens the relationship with the relevant global climate fund, this includes representing IFAD in at international events and Board meetings, brokering of information, knowledge exchanges, positioning IFAD in the global arena, and joint advocacy to enhance the Fund's profile as a highly competent and viable partner in climate-resilient development and climate-smart agriculture.
• Builds technical partnerships particularly in support of the development and implementation of IFAD's climate change portfolio.

1. EVALUATION: The Senior Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate) GCF:

• Supports the Division in the conduct of thematic reviews of project programme performance and the functioning of the Result and Impact Management System (RIMS) in order to develop and clarify effective operational strategies and project modalities.
• Ensures IFAD is meeting the requirements set forward in agreements established between the GCF and IFAD.
• Prepares corporate reports on IFAD's relevant activities to address the relevant Climate and Environmental Funds' queries and reporting requirements.
• Supports the Director/Lead Technical Specialist in his/her reporting of the divisional plans and operational strategies to the senior management.
• Contributes to the achievement of Division Management Plan and unit work-planning and fostering an environment of learning and exchange between team members.

Key Performance Indicators

Work is intricate in that it requires consideration of a wide range of technical factors and related data. Senior Regional Technical Specialists also select and provide oversight of external consultants, participate as experts in field missions and in the servicing of intergovernmental and expert group meetings of a technical nature.

Established methods and procedures are adapted as necessary in order to achieve desired results.

Working Relationships

Maintain contacts to identify and evaluate emerging developments.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
• Communicating and negotiating - Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills
• Demonstrating leadership - Leads by example; initiates and supports change
• Focusing on clients - Contributes to a client-focused culture
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture
• Managing performance and developing staff - Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization
• Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles
• Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment

Education:

• Level - Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in the field of specialization
• Areas - Agriculture, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, Environmental studies, Climate change, Agricultural Economics, Agro- ecological production systems, food security or related field.

Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php.

Experience:

• At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible and relevant experience in, and demonstrated understanding of, development initiatives in the field of specialization
• Two (2) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Experience in developing and implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation projects and programmes. Experience with the GEF, or similar funds, and their standards, processes and systems is an asset. Experience with the GCF, and their standards, processes and systems are required. Significant experience managing large, complex, multi- partner development projects is an asset. Experience in resource mobilization and donor engagement is an asset. Experience on advocacy, in the area of food security policy or climate change is an asset.

Languages:

• Required: English (4 - Excellent)
• Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3 - Good)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in another IFAD language (Spanish, French or Arabic) is an asset.

Skills:

• Advocacy: Ability to leverage IFAD knowledge and/or communication materials to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD`s vision and strategic priorities to external actors
• Knowledge strategy & management: Extensive expertise in knowledge management & dissemination strategies
• IFAD governance & mandate: In depth knowledge of IFAD`s governance structure, mandate, strategic priorities and technical work
• Adaptability: Adaptability and flexibility when facing new or unexpected situations, and to specific constraints and circumstances and managing complex processes
• 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)
• 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.)
• Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation)
• Programme/Project development, management: Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management
• Social & Environmental Safeguards: Know-how in Social & Environmental complianc as specified in the IFAD's Social, Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP)
• Cross-cutting themes - Environment & climate change: Expertise specific to the environment and climate change cross-cutting theme (e.g. climate and environmental policy, biodiversity, agroecology)
• Cross-cutting themes - Gender and social inclusion: Expertise specific to gender and social inclusion cross-cutting theme (e.g. youth, targeting strategies)
• Cross-cutting themes - Nutrition: Expertise specific to nutrition cross-cutting theme (e.g. food systems)

Other Information

Effective 1 January 2025, co-terminus appointments will also be subject to a maximum total duration of seven years, including contract extensions. This type of appointment does not carry any expectation, legal or otherwise, of conversion to any other type of appointment with IFAD, regardless of the length of service.

Staff members holding an IFAD fixed-term or indefinite appointment are eligible to apply to this co-terminus position with their employment terms and conditions, including contractual status, remaining unchanged. Given that the funding of this position is strictly limited in duration and conditional on the availability of supplementary funds, should the funding finish, the position will be abolished and the staff member will be subject to the relevant provisions foreseen in the HR Implementing Procedures.

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.

Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements. See here.

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

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.

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 in line with its IFAD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and IFAD policy to preventing and responding to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org

• Application and Interview Preparation: Whether you're preparing your application documents or getting ready for an interview, you can book a Job Application Support session to receive tailored guidance.
• For Swiss nationals invited to the first round of the selection process (e.g., written test, interview, assessment center): Notify us at recruitment@cinfo.ch, and we will inform our HR partners in the respective organization and the Swiss Government to help increase your visibility.

Percentuale di occupazione: 80-100% / 100%