Social, Environmental and Climate Safeguards Consultant (1 position)

Duration of assignment: 6 months

I. Organizational context

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an International Financial Institution and a Specialized United Nations Agency whose mission is to enable poor rural people to overcome poverty. The Programme Management Department (PMD) is responsible for the overall lending programme of the Fund, and is composed of five Regional Divisions, the Environment and Climate Division (ECD), and Policy and Technical Advisory Division (PTA). IFAD works on the nexus of poverty, food, environment, and climate change issues. IFAD's response to these challenges is reflected in its Strategic Framework (2011-15), and the Climate Change Strategy and Environment and Natural Resource Management Policy.

In November 2013, the GEF Council requested that IFAD should come into compliance with four Minimum Standards not met under the GEF Policy on Agency Minimum Standards on Environmental and Social Safeguards. As a follow up, IFAD developed its Social, Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedures which came into effect on 1 January 2015. SECAP will allow IFAD to fully meet the requirements of the GEF Safeguard and is expected to strengthen IFAD¿s ability to carry out its unique mandate as well as increase the effectiveness and development impact of its operations. These procedures will apply to all IFAD normative work (Country Strategic Opportunity Programme - COSOPs) and field programmes and projects.

SECAP defines an operational framework for integrating social, environment, and climate aspects into IFAD operations. They set out a minimum risk assessment process that applies to all new IFAD investments and recognizes the heterogeneity of programming responses given widely different country and community circumstances. SECAP aims at building  the capacity of IFAD staff and project teams to analyses and understand key links between poverty, environmental, climate, and social issues.The challenge for IFAD is to ensure the effective operationalization of SECAP.

II. Assignment's description

The Social, Environmental and Climate  Safeguards Consultant will work under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance and supervision of the Division Director and will report directly to ECD¿s Lead Technical Specialist for Environment. S/He will work collaboratively with the five Lead Technical Specialists (for climate and environment in the Regions), the  three Adaptation Specialists, Country Programme Managers, relevant Communication and Knowledge Management Officers, and other staff as a part of an innovative and dynamic group of committee professionals.

S/He provides technical expertise and strategic guidance at the corporate level and all stages of programme design (loans, GEF, ASAP), development, monitoring and evaluation, ensuring consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support.

III. Objectives of the consultancy

The consultant will be responsible for working with  IFAD's regional divisions to support delivery on a number of fronts:

1. Environment/climate mainstreaming within the IFAD portfolio
   1. Provides advice on the effective and sustainable integration of the SECAP procedures in all new required COSOPs/projects/programmes.
2. SECAP Operationalization
   1. Reviews and assesses the operationalization of SECAP to ensure that it meets the minimum requirements of GEF¿s Environmental and Social safeguard policies and that the values, principles and standards are applied consistently in IFAD programmes and projects.
3. SECAP Technical Support
   1. Provides on time technical support and guidance on screening and classification (social, environmental and climate risk) of projects and programmes, review SECAP-related assessments based on risks, advise on the adequacy of the proposed classification and mitigation measures
   2. Provides technical support to regional divisions and project staff to strengthen environmental and social safeguard compliance, periodic monitoring of progress and reporting.
4. SECAP Training and Capacity Development
   1. Provides IFAD staff and partners with up-to-date professional advice on environmental and social standards and climate risk management in order to incorporate them into IFAD programme and project work.
   2. Develops e-learning, guidelines and other training material in order to build staff capacity in activities on environmental and social screening and climate risk analysis.
   3. Develops all reporting/communication materials related to IFAD¿s implementation of the SECAP.
5. SECAP Contribution to Knowledge Management       
   1. Develops a tracking tool on SECAP throughout the project cycle and disseminates knowledge products (including lessons learned) on environmental and social standards and climate risk management .

IV. Required expertise

Experience:

• Experience in, and demonstrated understanding of, development initiatives in rural development and climate and/or environment issues at the international level, and preferably working in an IFAD region in project design and implementation.
• Knowledge and/or experience in social and environmental safeguards.
• In-depth technical expertise, demonstrated by substantive work experience, and solid understanding of climate change issues and climate-related impacts on rural development, ideally acquired by working on climate change-related, rural development, or disaster risk reduction projects.
• Experience in international policy frameworks related to global environment, natural resource management and rural development is an asset.

Language and education requirements:

• Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in the field of specialization, e.g. environmental studies, agronomy, environmental economics, geography, climatology or rural development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is essential.

OTHER INFORMATION

Interested candidates are requested to apply by completing IFAD's Personal History Form (PHF) in English. A separate CV may be attached if you so desire, only as a supplement and not a substitute to the PHF.

THE APPLICATION SHOULD BE MADE THROUGH THE ONLINE SYSTEM ONLY.

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 participate in interviews.

Start date: as soon as possible.

Remuneration: commensurate to experience.