Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting)

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 local, national and international levels 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 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 help 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); (ii) Sustainable Production, Markets and Institutions Division (PMI); and (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 IFAD’s 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 IFAD’s mission to overcome poverty.

IFAD has a long and well-established history of targeting poorer populations in rural areas and supporting gender equality and women's empowerment. These commitments are underpinned by the IFAD policies on targeting (2006) and gender equality and women’s empowerment (2012). Gender equality is a key principle of engagement in the 2016-2025 Strategic Framework with a clear commitment to mainstreaming gender, climate, nutrition and youth in IFAD programmes. In response to the persistent gender inequities in IFAD has committed to step up its gender agenda and mainstream gender transformative approaches at IFAD. 
  
The IFAD gender team in ECG comprises professional staff based in HQ and in the field, and general service staff. There is also a network of gender focal points covering other regional divisions as well as non-operations divisions.

The Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting) reports to the Director, Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion.

Job Role  

The Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting) technically supports country/regional programmes as well as the corporate agenda by providing state-of-the-art technical advice throughout the project cycle (strategic and operational). Within her/his areas of responsibility, the Lead Technical Specialist exercises a high degree of independence in providing reliable programme delivery. The incumbent at this level performs the full complexity range of work independently, including analysis and approval of complex and/or precedent-setting cases, with the aim of ensuring cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support.

Position specific: The Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting) aims to strengthen the quality and enhance the impact of IFAD's portfolio of country programme investments (comprising loans, grants and associated activities) in terms of technical, institutional and policy aspects at all stages of the project cycle and during country strategy development with respect to poverty targeting, gender equality and women’s empowerment, gender transformation, as well as equitable, inclusive and sustainable food systems and rural transformation. The incumbent will (i) provide operationally relevant state-of-the-art technical advice on poverty targeting, gender equality and women’s empowerment at all stages of the project cycle (identification, conceptualization, preparation, project design, implementation and completion), including support for country strategies; (ii) lead preparation of knowledge products and coordinate knowledge sharing and learning processes in an effective and systematic way, strengthen partnerships and support capacity building on poverty targeting, gender equality and women’s empowerment, equitable and inclusive food systems, and rural transformation. within IFAD (staff and consultants), with IFAD partners, with project staff, and with the interested public; and (iii) ensure effective policy engagement and advocacy through projects as well as various global and regional initiatives, networks, and partnerships in order to keep IFAD abreast of recent developments and trends, position IFAD effectively in the global arena, and enhance IFAD's profile as a competent, credible, and most trusted partner.

The Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting) manages staff (senior and junior), national officers (NOB and NOCs) and consultants for advancing the poverty targeting, gender equality and women’s empowerment, gender transformation and social inclusion agenda at global, regional, country and project levels. The incumbent works closely with the respective front office teams of ECG and the Regional Division, Country Directors (CD), Heads of Multi-Country Offices (MCOs), NOCs, ECG technical specialists, PMI technical specialists, and other staff to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical guidance Social, Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP), and programme development support. The position maybe called upon to undertake the role of Cluster Technical Lead (Social Inclusion Cluster) which includes providing input to budget requests for the cluster, managing the expenditures against allocations and ensuring the work programme of the cluster is adequately budgeted and executed.

Key Functions and Results  

1. POLICY AND STRATEGY ADVICE AND DEVELOPMENT: The Lead Technical Specialist, provides technically authoritative advice informed by empirical evidence to improve the capacity of IFAD to position itself as an influential global player in agricultural and rural development with particular emphasis on social inclusion themes. The incumbent ensures that IFAD is regarded as a trusted and valued partner of national governments and farmers’ organizations in policy dialogues and fora. Accountabilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Providing IFAD staff and partners with up-to-date, evidence-based advice on relevant investment and policy interventions related to  Youth and Social Inclusion, development, strengthening and empowerment to promote inclusive and sustainable food system transformation, value chain development, collaboration with the private sector, and rural market creation and development, among others;
• Providing evidence-informed recommendations to IFAD management on IFAD's rural development agenda using a wide range of data sources and analytical tools;
• Providing substantive support to IFAD senior management participation in high-level fora with policy implications for Youth and Social Inclusion and rural transformation, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, and preparing documents and presentations;
• Leading the preparation of technical products (e.g. complex papers, analysis, substantive sections of reports and studies) to advance IFAD’s voice in the global debate on rural transformation, social inclusion, youth empowerment, and strengthening of their role in promoting inclusive and sustainable food system transformation, greater and better collaboration with the private sector, and rural market creation and development, among others, in close collaboration within PMD and other SKD divisions.

  2. KNOWLEDGE ADVISORY LEADERSHIP: The Lead Technical Specialist, leads and contributes to the development of viable and sustainable policies, and supports regional and global thematic input through authoritative technical knowledge sharing for her/his area of specialization. The incumbent ensures access to the latest sources of knowledge and innovation, strengthens technical capacity, and establishes new knowledge and advisory partnerships on how rural institutions should be leveraged, empowered and strengthened to promote change in the rural economies and food systems in which they operate, as well as strengthens partnerships with the private sector. Accountabilities may include, but are not limited to:

  • Leading processes related to intelligence gathering and analysis of debates relevant to Youth and Social Inclusion, inclusive and sustainable rural transformation in the global debate, and facilitating knowledge sharing and experiences in this area within SKD, IFAD, and other stakeholders in the global arena;
  • Coordinating relevant knowledge development and dissemination with institutions outside IFAD, within the region concerned, and national institutions, disseminating knowledge and lessons learned with external partners and stakeholders through publication of Occasional Papers, journal articles, seminars and workshops, through electronic media, and the development of new knowledge products and operational tools that are informed by learning from the field;
  • Participating in IFAD-wide thematic discussions and developing appropriate technical and operational approaches of relevance to country/divisional strategies and programmes;
  • Planning and leadig learning events to strengthen IFAD’s knowledge and capacity to engage in global debates with policy implications for rural transformation.

    3. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES: The Lead Technical Specialist, develops and maintains a network of strategic partnerships to help advance IFAD's mandate and messages around inclusive and sustainable rural transformation in the global debate. The incumbent develops peer contacts inside and outside IFAD to develop new products and services, keep up-to-date on activities at country and regional levels, support joint advocacy, and share knowledge to enhance the Fund’s profile as a highly competent and reliable partner in development. Accountabilities may include, but are not limited to: 

     

    • Building partnerships with farmers’, producers’, and youth’ organizations, centers of excellence, complementary technical organizations, and specialized departments of other development agencies as strategic partner;
    • Promoting greater partnerships between farmers’, producers’, and youth’ organizations, and private sector and other value chain actors, including with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in rural systems, with particular focus on social inclusion themes;
    • Strengthening IFAD’s representation and communication in policy processes (including representing IFAD at international, regional, and inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences);
    • Generating new resources for IFAD through partnerships and outreach activities;
    • Identifying major opportunities, as well as serving as focal point, for strategic collaboration with centers of excellence, complementary technical organizations, private sector, MSMEs, and specialized departments of other development agencies as strategic partners;
    • Leading wider IFAD and Rome-based discussions on the development of sustainable and inclusive approaches to rural transformation as requested.

      4. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING: The incumbent supports the Director in monitoring and corporate reporting activities to enhance knowledge creation, country level programme and funding decisions.

      5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Lead Technical Specialist, is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. The incumbent acts as global anchor in charge of the overall oversight of the  Social Inclusion cluster as well as youthexpertise in IFAD. Accountabilities may include, but are not limited to:

      • Contributing to the supervision of key divisional programme activities, including key missions and other initiatives, leading and directing a team of staff, overseeing research and impact assessment activities, planning and allocating work assignments, coaching, mentoring and evaluating staff, and participating in recruitment, selection and training of new staff and in the development of training programmes;
      • Contributing to the personnel and financial management of the work unit, including the development and implementation of work plans and budgets

        Position specifics: 

        6. MAINSTREAMING POVERTY TARGETING, GENDER EQUALITY, WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT, GENDER TRANFORMATIVE APPROACHES AND SOCIAL INCLUSION IN COUNTRY PROGRAMMES AND STRATEGIES
        The Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting)  works closely with the Regional and Country Teams to mainstream poverty targeting, gender equality, women’s empowerment, gender transformation approaches and social inclusion into country programmes in all stages of the project cycle (identification, conceptualization, preparation, project design, implementation and completion), in COSOP and Concept Notes. The position (a) undertakes analysis of related challenges and opportunities, promotes the integration of global best-practices and ensures consistent application of IFAD’s SECAP procedures in country strategies, project designs and supervision/implementation support in close collaboration with Country Directors and project teams; (b) participates in missions and as appropriate the incumbent engages with government counterparts to identify investment projects and programmes that allow countries, IFAD and development partners to meet their respective global commitments related to poverty reduction, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and social inclusion; (c) leads the design of gender equity, women’s empowerment component co-financed by supplementary resources (i.e. Joint Programme Rural Women Economic Empowerment; Joint Programme Gender Transformative Approaches, Gender Transformative Mechanism) For strategic reasons and/or if, based on a planning exercise undertaken jointly between PMD and SKD, particular need arises, the incumbent may serve as Project Technical Lead for selected project designs to ensure the overall technical quality of the project design across all related technical areas, including drafting terms of reference for technical team members, ensuring the selection and over-sight of qualified technical consultants, facilitating technical inputs from other IFAD staff and/or others (e.g. centers of excellence, research institutions), ensuring the technical quality of the project design report, leading select missions and ensuring that comments provided through corporate quality enhancement and assurance processes are adequately addressed. The position participates in and/or leads supervision/implementation support/mid-term review missions, particularly for projects for which the incumbent served as Project Technical Lead during design or for projects with specific problems related to poverty targeting, gender equality and women’s empowerment specifically ensuring the implementation of IFAD”s targeting and gender strategy. The Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting) will also provide technical inputs to supervision reports, while organizing and/or contributing to training and/or capacity building of project staff and implementing partners related to poverty targeting, gender equality, women’s empowerment and social inclusion. 

        7. POLICY ENGAGEMENT, PARTNERSHIPS, AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION. The Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting) develops and maintains a network of peer contacts and partners outside IFAD to keep abreast of recent developments and trends in poverty targeting, gender equality, women’s empowerment and social inclusion and facilitates brokering of partnerships to enhance the Fund’s profile as a highly competent, credible and trusted development partner globally.  Specifically, working closely with the CDs/Heads MCOs, the Lead Regional Economist and the Lead Regional Portfolio Advisor, the position supports the development of relevant technical policies,  strategies and guides related to poverty targeting, gender equality, women’s empowerment and social inclusion linked to specific country programs. The incumbent represents IFAD in technical policy fora globally and regionally and develops and maintains strategic technical partnerships with relevant organizations (CGIAR, BMGF), development partners (e.g. Rome-based Agencies), centers of excellence, research institutions, private sector, and thematic platforms. The Lead Technical Specialist (Gender, Targeting and Social inclusion) provides strategic advice and key support to IFAD senior management regarding the implementation of, and reporting on, the targeting and gender policies as well as progress with the UN System-wide action plan on gender equality and women’s empowerment (UN-SWAP). The position engages in upstream negotiations for the mobilization of supplementary funding from Foundations and other sources, and works with ECG, OPR and OSB colleagues to report on the use of those finances. 

        📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

        ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

        8. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting) contributes to the generation and dissemination of specialized knowledge (targeting microsite), good practices (thematic newsletter) and innovations (Gender Action Learning System +) generated through IFAD’s programs of loans and grants .The incumbent engages with the Regional Technical Leads and Social inclusion staff regionally mapped to exchange knowledge and experience, synthesize best practice, and develop common strategies and policy guidance that contribute to corporate processes (gender awards). To promote cross fertilization between regions under south-south and triangular cooperation, and based on business needs, the incumbent organizes learning routes, provides technical support and facilitate exchanges related to targeting approaches and measures, mainstreaming gender equality, promoting women’s empowerment and implementing gender transformative approaches regions in areas of specific expertise to promote learning and knowledge sharing. The Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting) also contributes to identify qualified technical consultants specialized in poverty targeting, gender equality, women’s empowerment and social inclusion to be included in a corporate roster and support the portfolio. 

        9. CORPORATE ACTIVITIES: Working in close collaboration with the other ECG colleagues (Lead and Senior Technical Specialists, Junior staff and ECG front office team), PMI, RIA, Regional Division, in-house departments and other divisions, and technical specialists, the Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting) manages and contributes to corporate initiatives as required. In particular, the incumbent leads the poverty targeting and gender transformative agendas, overseas the persons with disability agenda, and supports a common corporate strategic approach on resource mobilization for the social inclusion agenda. The Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting) also leads or provides substantive inputs to corporate events (International women’s day, International Rural Women’s Day, 16 days campaign against gender-based violence), global meetings (CSW, UN SWAP annual meetings) on poverty targeting, gender equality, women’s empowerment and social inclusion (CFS). 

        10. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting) is responsible for planning and managing the priorities and activities of a team of technical specialists and consultants advancing the poverty targeting, gender equality, women’s empowerment and social inclusion work across all regions. This includes, among others, a coordination role and participation in the division’s management team meetings with other Cluster and Leads, and working closely with the ECG Division Director to plan and oversee the execution of budgets, including of agency fees mobilized from financing sources, ensuring their effective use to support country programme delivery. It also involves people management through the identification of capacity needs, support to recruitment and deployment of technical specialists for sub-regional hubs, ICOs, and PMUs where necessary, and provide technical leadership/capacity development, coaching and mentoring of new senior and/or more junior staff and consultants, supervision and evaluation of performance of professionals and general service staff under their purview. The position coordinates the participation of and provides regular over-sight of the staff and consultants under her/his management, and ensures capacity building as needed.

        Key Performance Indicators  

        Assignments require the provision of authoritative professional expertise and technical leadership at global, regional and national levels. Lead  Technical Specialists define, propose, revise and/or develop programmes or policies for the Fund, as well as represent the position of IFAD in national, regional and global fora and conferences. Innovation is required in the adaptation and development of approaches and methods to evolving technical and programmatic contexts.
        
        Work at this level is considered substantially complex and of critical concern to the Fund. In particular, analytical and advisory work requires in-depth identification and consideration of a full range of factors relevant to the examination and discussion of programme problems and policies in the solution of methodological problems or in the formulation of policy proposals and project recommendations.

        Position specific: Assignment requires the provision of authoritative professional expertise and technical leadership in poverty targeting, gender equality, women’s empowerment and social inclusion at global, regional and national levels. 

        Working Relationships  

        The work relationships of Lead Technical Specialists involves the provision of authoritative technical advice for policy, programme and strategy development, resource mobilization,and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in mission planning, technical project appraisal or the preparation of studies and reports. The position typically serves as the Fund’s senior technical advisor in the field of specialization and exercises wide professional latitude in contacts in her/his field(s), providing technical leadership and methodological guidance to management, Regional Directors/CDs/Heads MCO, national governments, development partners and other country programme staff in the technical area of specialization.

        Position specific: The Lead Technical Specialist (Gender and Targeting)

      • Represents IFAD in global and regional fora relevant to poverty targeting, gender equality and women’s empowerment, in particular the UN System Wide Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (UN SWAP); The Feminist Action Coalition for Climate Justice (FACJ); The coalition on making the food system work for women and girls. 
      • Is able to keep good relationships with staff within the social inclusion cluster, with staff form the Environment and Climate cluster and other external players specializing in poverty targeting, gender equality, women’s empowerment and social inclusion for equitable, inclusive and sustainable food systems and rural transformation. 

        Job Profile Requirements  

        Organizational Competencies:

        Level 2:

      • Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
      • Communicating and negotiating - Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills
      • Demonstrating leadership - Leads by example; initiates and supports change
      • Focusing on clients - Contributes to a client-focused culture
      • Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture
      • Managing performance and developing staff - Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization
      • Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
      • Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
      • Strategic thinking and organizational development - Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles
      • Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment

        Education:

      • Level - Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php in a job related field (*):  
      • Areas - Agriculture, Agronomy, Economics, Agricultural Economics or relevant rural development subject

         (*) Note:  For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in the IFAD’s Human Resources Implementing Procedures.

        Experience:

      • At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in, and demonstrated understanding of, development initiatives in Gender and Social Inclusion 

      • Three (3) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.

      • Position-specific experience: Authoritative technical expertise at national, regional and global level in the design, implementation, supervision, and performance monitoring and evaluation of poverty targeting, gender equality and women’s empowerment interventions or gender transformative programs in the context of agriculture, food systems, and rural transformation. Skill in the design and coordination of technical research and identification of innovative solutions to emerging issues.  Demonstrated experience in working as part of a multidisciplinary team and in working with country governments and international development partners. Experience in international policy frameworks related to global environment, natural resource management and rural development is an asset.