Call for Interest - Technical Specialist (Environment & Climate) - Short term Opportunity 11 Months

This call is advertised as a short-term opportunity with a duration of 11 months and expected to start shortly after selection. Should an external candidate (including consultants and staff members not meeting IFAD HR Implementing Procedures' definition of 'internal') be selected, the contract type would be that of a short-term professional (TPO). In the event an IFAD staff member, holding a Fixed Term contract be selected, the movement would be implemented as a Temporary Assignment through the applicable provisions. Applicants should verify and obtain their supervisors' support to be released. This is a short-term contract. The appointment of a short-term staff member carries no expectation of continuous employment or conversion to any other type of appointment with IFAD.

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 the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Office of Technical Delivery is responsible for providing expert technical guidance to IFAD teams engaged in the design and implementation of projects and programmes to deliver the high technical quality investments that facilitate rural transformation, and which comply with IFAD's mandate and operational policies. The Office ensures IFAD applies and disseminates state-of-the-art knowledge in its investments and evidence on strategic themes and encourages the innovative application of global knowledge and evidence in IFAD investments. This helps countries tackle complex development challenges in fostering inclusive and sustainable rural transformation including mainstreaming areas. The Office of Technical Delivery (OTD) is led by a Managing Director and is comprised of two (2) divisions: the Environment, Climate, and People Division (ECP) and the Production, Markets and Infrastructure Division (PMI).

The Environment, Climate, and Peoples (ECP) division leads the mainstreaming of cross-cutting themes of environment and climate, gender, youth, disability and indigenous peoples into IFAD's portfolio, and the implementation of social, environment and climate safeguards (SECAP), to strengthen the quality of IFAD's operations and programmes. ECP 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, and inclusive of marginalized groups (particularly women, rural youth, Indigenous Peoples and persons with disabilities). In addition to strengthening the technical quality of operations, ECP provides its technical expertise in corporate strategies, policy engagement, resource mobilization, knowledge generation, and partnerships.

The Technical Specialist supports the development and implementation of IFAD and supplementary funded projects. The incumbent provides technical input and coordination support across the environment and climate portfolio and pipeline, contributing to consistency with relevant policies and operational procedures. The incumbent supports regional and country teams throughout the project cycle, contributing to technical design, implementation, and reporting. This role focuses on operational delivery and project support, while contributing to the technical quality of operations and supporting alignment with IFAD and the Climate and Environment Funds requirements and processes.

The position is located in NEN (Rome Multi-country Office) and reports to ECP with a primary reporting line to the Regional Technical Manager - Environment and Climate ECP/NEN based in Cairo.

Duties and Responsibilities

I. Technical support to project design and implementation (~40%)

The incumbent provides specialized technical advice and contributes to the incorporation of appropriate and up-to-date technical inputs in project design, development, implementation and monitoring to optimize positive programme and project results and contribute to regional programme enhancements. Specifically:

1. Providing specialised technical support to NEN country teams, including Country Directors, and national projects at all stages of the project cycle: formulation, design, implementation support, supervision, Mid-Term Reviews (MTR) and Project Completion Report (PCR) missions;
2. Participating in Project Delivery Teams (PDTs) and providing specialised technical and analytical inputs to IFAD projects (e.g. SECAP Notes and environment/climate-related project components); and
3. Support SECAP compliance throughout the design cycle and the implementation of the SECAP Guidelines;

4. Capture and document operational lessons from implementation support and supervision missions, including good practices, recurring bottlenecks and supporting scalable climate/environment solutions across the NEN portfolio.

   Advertisement

II. Climate and Environment Funds Pipeline Development (~40%)

The Technical Specialist supports the development and consolidation of a portfolio of projects funded by the Climate and Environment Funds. Specifically:

1. Supporting, and contributing to the development of proposals for environment/climate funds (AF, GCF, GEF). These could include Expression of Interest, GEF PIFs, AF Concept Notes, and Full Proposals;
2. Liaising, as needed, with country-level focal points, designated authorities and officers in the prospective donors- Secretariats supporting the timely resolution of technical feedback and facilitating compliance with applicable requirements;;
3. Supporting the review process of proposals for environment and climate funds, working with the proposal authors to incorporate technical feedback and prepare proposals for final review and approval.

III. Contributions to ECP and NEN knowledge management (~15%)

The Technical Specialist contributes to divisional knowledge management analytical work, monitoring and reporting activities, providing specialized technical expertise . Specifically:

1. Contribute to the preparation of regular and terminal reporting to IFAD and the Climate and Environment Funds, ensuring technical consistency and compliance with funding requirements;
2. Contribute technical inputs to the preparation, monitoring and reporting of divisional plans and operational strategies;
   Provide technical advice and support to NEN country teams in policy dialogue on climate resilience, environmental sustainability, biodiversity, land and water management, and access to climate and environment finance;
3. Contribute substantive technical inputs to country strategy processes, COSOPs/COSOP updates, pipeline development and thematic policy notes by providing climate and environment inputs aligned with IFAD priorities and national commitments;
4. Provide specialised technical support to NEN in the development of monitoring and evaluation criteria for technical components of programmes and projects; contribute to the design and implementation of performance monitoring systems and new approaches to performance monitoring; and prepare analytical findings, technical assessments and recommendations to support divisional and country-level decision making on project viability and sustainability.

IV. Contingency assistance (~5%)

In addition to the above, the Technical Specialist may be assigned other related technical and programme support responsibilities by Supervisor or through the Supervisor by the relevant Country Director, as required by business needs.

Qualification and Skills Required

Education and experience

• An advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in environmental studies, natural resources management, or chemical/bio/civil/industrial engineering or related areas required. Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php.
• A minimum of five years of post-qualification relevant professional experience in the formulation, monitoring, management, supervision or evaluation of rural development or environmental or agricultural projects and initiatives required.
• Good knowledge of natural resource management, climate change and climate-related impact on rural development in the region required.
• Three years or more of professional field experience in the region an asset.
• Previous experience with design, monitoring and reporting instruments of international environment/climate funds such as GEF, AF and GCF an asset.
• Experience in designing and implementing environmental safeguards and environmental impact assessments an asset.
• Knowledge of IFAD operational modalities an asset.
• Proven ability to write and edit clear and concise technical reports and to prepare summaries/information materials for different stakeholders and audiences (management, donors, policymakers, etc.) required.

Technical/Functional Competencies

• Planner and organiser. Understands corporate objectives, effectively planning activities and projects well in advance and adjusting to changing circumstances.
• Performer: ability to work independently and under pressure to meet strict deadlines. Ability to practice good judgment and ability to decide on his/her own. Proven ability to work under tight deadlines and demonstrated capacity to multi-task. Commitment to personal performance and self-development.
• Teamwork: Capacity to foster teamwork and establish harmonious working relationship in a multicultural environment. Establishes good working relationship with clients and colleagues.
• Negotiator and communicator: Works effectively with others to meet mutual goals, negotiates to align parties, builds networks, listen and communicates effectively to engage others.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Facilitator of change: Produces adaptive change and encourages others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities.
• Analytical: Demonstrate strong analytical skills with superb accuracy and attention to detail with ability to research and synthesise data.
  

Languages and other skills:

• Full command of English and French is required, including the ability to set out a coherent argument in English and French in delivering presentations and group interactions.
• Command of Arabic language is highly desirable.
• 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
• Basic ICT & digital fluency: Expertise relevant to the specific role (e.g. in-depth, computer information systems, including micro-computer operating systems software, hardware and applications software and other office technology equipment), end-user computing configuration management
  

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 accordance with IFAD's provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD's remuneration package, please visit IFAD's compensation and benefits page on our website. 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