ย
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).
ย
Consultancies play a critical role in the execution of IFAD's mandate and our impact on the ground. Consultancies are designed for junior and senior experts whose skills are required for specific project assignments. Given the different technical and time-duration nature of assignments, IFAD is looking for consultants of varying ability and experience.
IFAD is issuing this call for interest for Consultants to enlist experts in the area of climate, environment and biodiversity in its consultant roster. IFAD is especially interested in experts with experience in the context of designing investment projects financed by multi-lateral development banks and funds (e.g. IFAD, AfDB, AsDB, EBRD, EIB, GCF, GEF, AF, IADB, IFC, IsDB, and WB) as well as mobilizing co-financing with GCF, GEF, Adaptation funds.
Rostered consultants may be engaged for brief assignments to assist in the planning, supervision, and implementation of investment projects funded by IFAD and other co-financiers across the countries within IFAD's scope, depending on the consultant's current location, expertise, and language proficiency. Compensation will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and skills, as well as the assignment's characteristics in terms of:
- Responsibilities and the level of complexity involved in the assignment.
- The specialized knowledge and expertise demanded.
Job Role ย
Organizational Competencies:
- Building relationships and team work ability, experience to engage, consult and negotiate with government and public-private actors andย work in a team
- Analytical skills: ability to analyze and synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources and filter out key insights and recommendations
- Verbal and written communication: Clear, succinct and convincing verbal & written communication; ability to write report & briefing, demonstrating leadershipย (for team leaders assignment)
- Time management: Adherence to deadlines under time constraints and pressure (e.g. to deliver project report on time)
Education:
Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://whed.net/home.php in rural development, agriculture, environment, climate economics, rural finance, development policy or related field is required.
Experience:
The ideal candidate should possess a minimum of five (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in various aspects of designing, supervising, and evaluating loan or grant projects in the domain of agriculture and rural development. Their experience should particularly highlight a strong focus on integrating environmental, climate, and biodiversity considerations into these projects. Furthermore, any additional experience related to knowledge management, conducting relevant studies, and facilitating capacity development in the context of environment, climate, and biodiversity would be highly valued.
The candidate should also have practical experience working with a wide array of stakeholders and partners, including but not limited to:- Understanding of the functioning and mandates of other international financial institutions (IFIs), Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Adaptation Fund (AF), and others.
- Proficiency in engaging with the public sector, including governments, policy development, institutions, and systems.
- Experience collaborating with non-state actors, including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), foundations, and similar entities.
- A track record of engagement with private sector actors in relevant sectors, where relevant.
Languages and country experience: will depend on region of assignment- Required level 4 (excellent) in either English, Spanish, French Portuguese, or Arabic
- Experience in at least one Region / Country covered by IFAD, preferably experience in more than one context
- Experience in fragile context (i.e environmental-climate or social fragility) is a plus
Skills:- Compulsory: experience in designing Investment Project/Programme design, implementation, supervision and/or evaluationย
- Highly preferred: Experience in design, implementation, supervision and evaluation of Climate and biodiversity Finance and public private resource mobilizationย for GCF, GEF, and or adaptation funds
- Expertise in innovative green finance mechanisms, including carbon-biodiversity credit, payment for environment services, adaptation finance, blended finance, insurance, etc.
- Expertise in public-private resource mobilization, engaging private sector in financing climate and biodiversity projects including through equity/ blending etc.
- Topical expertise on one or more topics related to climate-biodiversity- environment
- Climate Change mitigation and adaptation in the field of rural development (including on Climate Smart Agriculture- livestock-fishery, agroforestry,ย ย forestry, resilience, climate advisory services, climate insurance
- Environmental, biodiversity and natural resource management expertise: integrated landscape planning, restoration and conservation, genetic biodiversity and managing invasive species, agroecology, agroforestry, genetic diversity,
- Integrated watershed management and irrigation-water storing, green infrastructure,ย nature based adaptation,
- Resource efficiency and prevention of pollution, supporting bioeconomy and circular economy projects, renewable energy
- Green / climate resilient value chain development (including green certifications traceability etc.) and green / adaptation finance;
- Expertise in designing and implementing environmental and social safeguards
- Expertise in specific environment / climate tools appreciated for instance on use of GIS-remote sensing tools, ICT4D tools, Climate-biodiversity financial tracking, carbon and biodiversity indicators (i.e. conducting Ex-act analysis etc.)
Additional areas of interest
- Policy engagement (reviewing and contributing to NDCs, NBSAPS, other environmental and climate policy, mainstreaming environment-climate-biodiversity in agricultural biodiversity)
- Monitoring and knowledge management: reviewing and synthesizing reports, conducting environmental studies, designing environmental monitoring systems
- Additional expertise in agronomy, value chain, finance, infrastructure, community driven development, land tenure, targeting,ย gender,ย youth,ย Indigenous people or nutrition is appreciated as IFAD promotes a people driven project development and integrated approach across its mainstreaming themes
ย
Other Information
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.
Given the diverse technical nature of the assignments, IFAD is looking for consultants of varying ability above the minimum threshold stated.
Applicants to this call for interest mightย undergo a first level screening and those candidates meeting the minimum requirements will undergo a more in-depth assessment in order to be included in IFADโs Consultants Roster. Inclusion in the roster is no guarantee of assignment.ยConsultants are not considered staff of IFAD. This consultancy assignment does not carry any expectation of employment, extension or conversion to another type of contract with the Fund.
Consultants can be recruited for a maximum of 240 days in 1 calendar year and 960 days in 5 calendar years.
Key Functions and Results ย
Tasks and Responsibilities:
- Lead or participate in multidisciplinary teams to enhance environmental biodiversity and climate aspects during the identification, assessment, and preparation of IFAD investment operations related to food security, nutrition, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management, and climate change adaptation and/or mitigation. Lead or participate in multidisciplinary teams for the formulation and development of project proposals for 1) climate, green finance (GCF, GEF. Adaptation funds and other dedicated resources); 2) non sovereign operations engaging private sector (IFAD NSO window, and private sector windows of GCF, GEF etc.).
- Lead or participate in multidisciplinary teams for the implementation support and /or completion mission to IFAD programs of loans and grants and the preparation of final evaluation of investment operations.
- Lead or participate in multidisciplinary teams for the- preparation and evaluation of country strategic opportunity programs (COSOP)
- Advise governments, or provide technical expertise, in the preparation of natural resource management and climate change adaptation and/or mitigation studies and strategies, and supporting in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment plans and programmes (i.e. NDC, NbSAP).
- Lead the formulation, or formulate, and delivers monitoring and evaluation, communication and capacity development strategies and activities in the areas of natural resource management and climate change adaptation and/or mitigation.
- Prepare reports in accordance with government and financing partners requirements.
- Perform other related duties as required.