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 Strategy and Knowledge Department (SKD) provides expert guidance on IFAD's strategic direction, thematic priorities, and technical quality of IFAD's operations. It plays a critical role in providing technical expertise to operational teams to enhance development effectiveness, by generating and disseminating IFAD’s development knowledge and evidence on strategic themes and encouraging innovative application of cutting-edge global knowledge and evidence in IFAD investments to support countries tackle their most complex development challenges in fostering inclusive and sustainable rural transformation. SKD is composed of the (i) Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG); the (ii) Sustainable Production, Markets, and Institutions Division (PMI); and the (iii) Research and Impact Assessment Division (RIA).
ECG takes the lead in mainstreaming cross-cutting themes of environment and climate, nutrition, gender, youth, and indigenous peoples into IFAD's portfolio, to strengthen the quality of IFAD’s operations and achieve improved impacts in these areas. It contributes to the generation of evidence and knowledge on these cross-cutting themes, and facilitates their use in IFAD projects and activities. ECG also provides guidance and support to ensure the inclusion of marginalized groups, particularly women, indigenous peoples and rural youth, into IFAD operations. In addition, IFAD competitively sources and manages environment and climate change global finance, which it uses to help mainstream environmental sustainability and climate change resilience into its regular agricultural development work. Some examples are the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), the Adaptation Trust Fund and IFAD’s Adaptation For Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP).
The Environment and Climate Officer position is strategically located across all five IFAD regional divisions to provide an oversight function to the neighbouring countries and works under the overall strategic, policy and management advice, and supervision of the Division Director of ECG and the Regional Director of the Regional Divisions to which s/he is mapped. The Environment & Climate Officer may be requested to travel to neighboring countries to lend assistance with respect to the following provision.
The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Lead Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate) of the Regional Division to which s/he is mapped, with dual reporting to the Country Director/Head of the IFAD Multi Country Offices.
The Environment & Climate Officer is a seasoned professional in environment and climate domains. The position is strategically located across all five IFAD regional divisions to provide an oversight function to the neighbouring countries and provides a technical advisory role. S/he independently analyzes 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. The incumbent works in close cooperation with Technical Specialist for Youth, Indigenous peoples, Nutrition as well as with other Technical Specialists and Country Directors to ensure consistency, cohesion, and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support facilitating knowledge flows and building of communities of practice.
The Environment and Climate Officer will be responsible for working with one of IFAD's Regional divisions to support delivery on a number of fronts:
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 generatation and dissemination 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 an Analyst/Specialist in an IFAD regional centre, the Environment and Climate Officer work may be reviewed for technical accuracy, but more typically is reviewed for achieving the established work plan.
The work relationships of Environment and Climate Officers 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 regional levels; conditions and to convey methodological approaches and operational experience for implementation of activities undertaken on behalf of the Fund.
Organizational Competencies:
Level 1:
Education:
Level – Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area. (*) Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in the IFAD’s Human Resources Implementing Procedures.
Areas - environmental studies, agronomy, environmental economics, geography, climatology or rural development.
Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php .
Experience:
Languages:
English (4 - Excellent) Desirable: French, Spanish, or ArabicSkills:
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 IFAD governance & mandate: In depth knowledge of IFAD`s governance structure, mandate, strategic priorities and technical work Knowledge strategy & management: Extensive expertise in knowledge management & dissemination strategies Policy dialogue: Know-how in the representation of IFAD as a trusted and strategic partner; effective consultations with IFAD counterparts - like ministries and governmental bodies at all administrative levels, donors, civil society 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 Collaboration: Successfully work toward a common goal with others by communicating clearly, actively listening to others, taking responsibility for mistakes, and respecting different perspectives of stakeholders. Political acumen: Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice 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)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.
Applicants for vacancies in the National Professional Officer (NPO) category should be nationals of the country in which the position is located.
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.
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.
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.
This vacancy is archived.