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, andย 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 IFADโs operations. It plays a critical role in providing technical expertise to operational teams to enhance development effectiveness, by generating ย and ย disseminating IFADโs 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 is composed of two clusters: (i) Environment and Climate Change Cluster; (ii) and the Social Inclusion Cluster. ECG takes the lead in integrating cross-cutting themes of environment and climate, nutrition, gender, youth, and indigenous peoples into IFAD's portfolio, with the aim of strengthening the quality and impact of IFADโs operations. ECG also contributes to the generation of evidence and knowledge on these themes, and facilitates their use in IFAD-funded projects and activities. In addition, ECG provides guidance and support to ensure the inclusion of marginalized groups, particularly women, indigenous peoples and rural youth, into IFAD operations. Addressing environmental, biodiversity and climate change issues are inseparable from IFADโs mission to overcome poverty.
The Green Jobs & Youth Officer works under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance of the Division Director and the Regional Director of the Regional Division to which they are mapped. The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Lead Regional Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate), with overall strategic guidance of the Lead Technical Specialist (Youth). ย
Position specifics: ย The incumbent may be required, but not extensively, to travel outside of their own country to perform the work of the Organization.
Job Role ย
The Global Green Jobs & Youth Officer is a seasoned professional in youth employment and green jobs, gender equality, women and youth empowerment, and social inclusion, providing 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. ย S/He generates and manages knowledge and develops partnerships to increase the social inclusion impact of IFAD's portfolio (loans, grants, and policy engagement)ย
S/He works in close cooperation with Technical Specialist for Gender, Indigenous peoples, Nutrition as well as the Environment and Climate cluster leads and other in-house 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.
Key Functions and Results ย
1.TECHNICAL AND COUNTRY PROGRAM ADVICE: Based on seasoned technical knowledge and analysis of current thematic conditions, emerging development challenges and the state of rural poverty at the assigned country level, the Global Green Jobs & Youth Officer ย provides technical advice that contributes to improving the capacity of IFAD to address rural poverty, to enhancing national government policies and programmes and to ensuring IFAD is regarded as a trusted and valued partner. S/he also provides technical advice on cross-cutting themes within her/his area of expertise. Accountabilities may include:
(a) Supporting the design and implementation of operational commitments and programs related to: i) IFADs Rural Youth Action Plan; (ii) IFAD Strategy and Action Plan on Environment and Climate Change 2019-2025(iii) IFAD's Policy on Gender Equality and Women's empowerment; (iv) IFAD Targeting Policy; (v) IFAD Policy on Engagement with Indigenous peoples;; (vi) IFAD Nutrition Action Plan; (vii) IFAD's framework for implementing transformational approaches to the mainstreaming themes; and (viii) IFAD's Social, Climate and Environment Assessment Procedures (b) Advising and technical ย backstopping on targeting and youth employment with a specific focus on green jobs, gender, indigenous peoples, and social inclusion of IFAD-financed projects and COSOPs;ย (c) Reporting on progress on targeting and youth employment, gender mainstreaming/transformation and social inclusion in projects, paying special attention to projects requesting special assistance during implementation; (d) Supporting policy engagement on gender, indigenous peoples, youth, and other social inclusion topics in the countries of the region;ย2. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING: Global Green Jobs & Youth Officer enhances the development of viable and sustainable policy and project development at the country level through seasoned ย technical knowledge sharing for her/his area of specialization. S/He will support country level access to the latest sources of knowledge and innovation, strengthen national technical capacity and establish new knowledge and advisory partnerships. S/he captures and uses more systematically IFAD's field experience to better link impact evaluation to corporate and regional M&E work and integrates impact assessments, M&E and good practice findings into corporate learning opportunities to allow for cross-regional learning. Accountabilities may include:ย
(a) Sharing knowledge and experiences generated through activities such as analytical studies and regional grants with colleagues in the country programme as well as the division;ย (b) Collecting, documenting, and to reporting on good practices and on green jobs, youth employment and empowerment;ย (c) Developing and disseminating knowledge products, operational tools and guidelines on gender, youth, and social inclusion;ย (d) Participating ย in impacts assessments of selected projects;ย (e) Developing and managing ย a network of youth and social inclusion officers/focal points from IFAD-funded projects and practitioners at regional level, and contributing to IFAD global KM processes in coordination with the youth team;ย (f) Participating in capacity development and training to support gender/youth and social inclusion project staff, national partners, and service providers by providing technical support to IFAD partners at country level and contributes to enhancing youth employment, gender and social inclusion dimensions in workshops and initiatives;ย3. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION: The Global Green Jobs & Youth Officer establishes and maintains a network of peer contacts inside and outside IFAD to facilitate strategic partnerships, ย keep up-to-date on activities to support joint advocacy at the country level and for knowledge sharing to enhance the Fund's profile as a highly competent and viable partner in development and mainstreaming cross-cutting themes into IFAD country programmes. Accountabilities may include:ย
(a) Building partnerships with the concerned political associations and coordination platforms, technical organizations, NGOs, and specialized departments of other development agencies as potential operational and strategic partners;ย (b) Strengthening IFADโs representation and communication in technical issues (including representing IFAD at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences fora);ย (c) Identifying key organizations and institutions to assist IFAD-financed projects in youth employment and green jobs assessments and social inclusion and gender analyses;ย (d) Liaising with national gender/youth and social inclusion officers/focal points, providing technical support and backstop as required; (e) Organizing country level events on IFAD-financed project experiences and results of youth employment and green jobs with the country partners;ย4. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING:ย The Global Green Jobs & Youth Officer contributes to managing the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of technical activities and components of programs/projects to enhance country level programme and funding decisions based on accurate technical data. Accountabilities may include:ย
5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Global Green Jobs & Youth Officer is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes:ย
(i) People Management and evaluation of performance of consultants and staff under his/her purview.ย (ii) Resource Management by providing technical expertise for programme development, and Knowledge Management by ensuring that (1) knowledge content within specialty/thematic area is continuously updated and available through the intranet, that (2) best practices are continuously identified, documented and made available to clients and peers through the inter-/intra-net and that (3) appropriate and up-to-date information and learning tools are available.Key Performance Indicators ย
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 sharing 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. The green jobs & youth officerโs work may be reviewed for technical accuracy, but more typically is reviewed for achieving the established work plan.
Working Relationships ย
The work relationships of the Global Green Jobs & Youth Officer 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 sub- regional conditions and ย to convey methodological approaches and operational experience for implementation of activities undertaken on behalf of the Fund.
Job Profile Requirements ย
Organizational Competencies:
Level 1:
Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains effective working relationships Communicating and negotiating - Communicates effectively; creates understanding between self and others Demonstrating leadership - Personal leadership and attitude to change Focusing on clients - Focuses on clients Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates Managing time, resources and information - Manages own time, information and resources effectively Problem-solving and decision-making - Demonstrates sound problem-solving and decision-making ability Strategic thinking and organizational development - Personal influence Team working - Contributes effectively to the teamEducation:
Level โ Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php in a job related field (*). The advanced university degree may be substituted by a first university degree and at least four (4) additional years of relevant professional experience over and above the minimum number of years of experience as stipulated below. Areas - social sciences, gender studies, sociology, economics, human or development geography, rural development, nutrition/public health, Natural Resource Management, Environment(*) Note: ย For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in the IFADโs Human Resources Implementing Procedures.ย
Experience:
At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in, and demonstrated understanding of poverty analysis, social inclusion (gender equality and women's empowerment, inclusion of youth and indigenous peoples) and improved nutrition issues in rural development initiatives. Two (2) years preferably in the United Nations or an international financial institution, or another multi-cultural organization or institution or a national organization providing support on a global scope.Position Specifics Experience:ย In-depth technical expertise, demonstrated by substantive work experience, and solid understanding of youth, indigenous peoples and social inclusion issues and impacts on rural development, ideally acquired by working on rural development or poverty reduction projects. Access to networks of technical and professional resources and expertise which can be brought to bear to IFAD's work on gender and social inclusion.
Languages:
Required English (4 โ Excellent)ย Desirable: French, Arabic, SpanishSkills:
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