IFAD is an International Financial Institution and a Specialized United Nations Agency whose mission is to enable poor rural people to overcome poverty. IFAD’s headquarters is in Rome, Italy.
The speed and intensity of environmental degradation and climate change present a fresh challenge that is rapidly outpacing the ability of poor rural people and societies to cope, and is increasing their vulnerability to external shocks. The key message of IFAD’s new Climate Change Strategy is that environmental management and IFAD’s mission of helping poor smallholder farmers are inseparable. The Fund’s approach has three elements: to help poor farmers build their resilience and improve their natural resource management; to help them gain from available incentives for environmental services; and to use this experience to inform a more coherent dialogue on the environment, climate, and rural development nationally and internationally.
In this context, IFAD is strengthening its staff capacity through creating Regional Climate and Environment Specialist (RCES) positions to support regional divisions. To ensure full integration of agendas, the successful applicants will be a member of both a regional division and the new Environment and Climate Division (ECD).
This announcement is for shared RCES positions in IFAD’s Asia and the Pacific; and the Near East and Northern Africa Divisions.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the joint overall supervision and strategic, policy and management guidance of the Director of the Environment and Climate Division and the respective Regional Division Directors, the incumbent will be responsible for:
- Identifying and designing GEF-funded components for IFAD-supported programmes, in coordination with the Country Program Managers (CPMs). Liaising with the GEF Secretariat and GEF agencies to ensure synergies and coordination on relevant projects to maximize opportunities under the forthcoming 5th GEF Replenishment and other GEF-managed funds.
- Providing technical support for the implementation of GEF-funded components for IFAD-supported programmes, in coordination with CPMs
- Identifying new sources of funding in the areas of environment and climate change, to complement and diversify the Regional portfolio. Where such sources are mobilized, identifying and designing components to IFAD-funded projects
- Providing technical support to ensure IFAD Regional portfolio is climate-smart - assisting in project and country strategy design teams to ensure climate and environment risks and opportunities (such as adaptation) are fully integrated into early identification and design of projects and country strategies
- As an active member of the Environment and Climate Division, the RCES will also be assigned various thematic, sector and corporate-level tasks as appropriate.
At P-5 grade, and in addition to the above, the incumbent is expected to work with greater autonomy and less supervision to achieve the following tasks:
- Design and lead the development of a regional strategy on environment and climate change that commands the support of the Regional team. This will include leading the implementation of IFAD’s Climate Change Strategy for the Division.
- Design and the lead the implementation of a strategy to significantly strengthen IFAD’s presence and impact on climate discussions as they relate to agriculture and rural development in the Region, including mobilizing the President and other members of senior management to achieve this goal. This should identify clear milestones and influence targets to shape agriculture and climate discussions in the Region.
- Identify and develop a new advisory support service for environment and climate for use in project and policy development in the Region – this should lead to new knowledge and advisory partnerships available to the Region to strengthen access to the latest sources of knowledge and innovation on climate change and the environment.
- Generate a rapid increase in available cofinancing accessible to the Regional Division, including a significant increase in the take-up of GEF components to IFAD projects – identifying at least two new funding partners to match with IFAD CPMs.
- As part of the ECD team, be called upon to lead some wider IFAD and Rome-based discussions on the development of sustainable approaches to agricultural development – helping to add a regional perspective to IFAD’s wider corporate policy development and communications efforts.
Professional requirements
Technical/functional competencies
- Teamworker: capacity to foster and coordinate teamwork; and establish harmonious working relationships in a multicultural environment.
- Self-developer/Innovator: willingness to learn, share and acquire new competencies and seek new challenges by exploring new approaches.
- Performer: Accomplishes work objectives while creating an enabling environment for staff growth and development of their knowledge and competencies in order to attain excellent standards of performance. Manages the performance of others.
- Negotiator and communicator: Works effectively with others to meet mutual goals, negotiates to align parties, builds networks, listens and communicates effectively to engage others.
- Leadership: provides a clear vision and direction to take forward the work programme
- Facilitator of change: Produces adaptive change and moves people to a place in which they are genuinely better off. Encourages others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities, facilitating the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace.
Communication
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; including the ability to set out a coherent argument in presentations and group interactions.
- Language skills relevant to the Asia and the Pacific Division or the Near East and North Africa Division would be a strong asset.
- Good working knowledge of Windows-based computing, and electronic communication.
Education and Experience
- Master’s degree or equivalent in Agriculture, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, Economics or related discipline.
- Experience of at least 8 years (10 years for P5-level) in the formulation, management and supervision of development investment programmes
- Recognized expertise (e.g. publications, positions held) and professional experience on climate change adaptation and mitigation.
- Relevant regional experience in Asia and the Pacific, or the Near East and North Africa preferable
- Professional experience in, and strong understanding of, wider environment and natural resource management for poverty reduction.
- Experience in international policy frameworks related to global environment, natural resource management and rural development is an asset.
- Project management experience of Global Environment Facility-supported projects is preferable.
Other information
Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD.
IFAD reserves the right to appoint a candidate at the appropriate level commensurate with academic qualifications, experience and competencies.
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by completing IFAD’s Personal History Form and by sending their applications to the Human Resources Division, Via Paolo di Dono 44, 00142 Rome, Italy, Fax +39-06-5043463, Email vacancy@ifad.org. Applications from women candidates are particularly encouraged.
Candidates must indicate clearly the Vacancy Number and are kindly requested not to send their application via multiple routes. Any application received by IFAD after the closing date will not be considered. 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.
