Multi-country Coordinator (SIFWaP) - Fixed-Term co-terminus 2 years

This  is  a  two-year  fixed-term  co-terminus  position. A co-terminus fixed-term appointment is an IFAD employment contract externally funded (supplementary funded, funded by trust funds in administration or other), strictly limited in duration to the funding of the position, where appointment and extension is conditional on the availability of resources and limited to the externally funded assignment. A co-terminus appointment shall not exceed the duration of the specific assignment and/or project outlined in the letter of appointment and does not carry any expectation, legal or otherwise, or conversion, irrespective of the length of service. There is no guarantee of renewal or conversion into another kind of contract. 

Staff members holding an IFAD fixed-term or indefinite appointment are eligible to apply to this co-terminus position with their employment terms and conditions, including contractual status, remaining unchanged. Given that the funding of this position is strictly limited in duration and conditional on the availability of supplementary funds, should the funding finish, the position will be abolished and the staff member will be subject to the relevant provisions foreseen in the HR Implementing Procedures.

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 Programme Management Department (PMD), under the leadership of an Associate Vice-President, is responsible for the overall programme of loans and grants of the Fund and is composed of five (5) regional divisions and the Operational Policy and Results Division.

Small Islands Food and Water Project (SIFWaP) is a partnership programme with the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) and the Government of New Zealand. The Project aims to support the beneficiary communities in accessing sustainable and healthy diets by strengthening household resilience to shocks. This will be accomplished by improving food, nutrition and water security, and supporting livelihood opportunities in the small island communities of the Federal state of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu.

SIFWaP is a multi-country project and will be implemented from the country’s Governments/Lead Agencies under the direct supervision of IFAD. The countries Lead Agencies will establish the National Delivery Unit (NDU) which will implement the project on behalf of the government. A central project coordination unit will be also established from IFAD which main role is to provide strong technical support to the country’s governments, Lead Agencies and NDUs on the implementation of the project. The project has a common implementation framework, with decentralized decision-making and administrative modalities, with flexibility for countries and communities to determine their own priorities and investments.

Job Role  

The Multi-Country coordination and program management for Small Islands Food and Water Project (SIFWaP) will lead and oversee the planning, implementation of the project in close coordination with 4 countries Implementing Agencies/Ministries: Resources and Development Department (FSM); Ministry of Environment, Land and Agriculture Development (Kiribati); Ministry of Natural Resources and Commerce (RMI); Ministry of Local Government and Agriculture (Tuvalu); and 4 National Delivery Units. 
The SIFWaP Coordinator will perform functions related to IFAD’s mandate of improving rural foods security, water management and nutrition with aim to enabling poor rural men and women to overcome their poverty and nutrition issues in the target countries. As PMD team member, the Multi-Country Coordinator will enhance IFAD's relationships and collaborations with the countries’ Governments through the identification of synergies and proposing coordinated strategies with multilateral/bilateral donors, development partners and civil-society organizations involved in agricultural development and rural poverty reduction. The project manager will establish and maintain counterpart contacts to promote programme and project collaboration and harmonization as well as identify financing opportunities with other donors.

Key Functions and Results  

1.    MULTI-COUNTRY COORDINATION AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: The Multi-country Coordinator will carry out the following tasks to ensure the effective management of the SIFWaP project across 4 countries:
•    Coordinate between countries Governments/Lead Agencies, National Delivery Unit (NDU) and Central Project Coordination Unit (CPCU) for the execution of activities under SIFWaP. Coordinate overall programme implementation across 4 countries with respective Governments in accordance with Annual Work Plan and Budget.
•    Develop and maintain a detailed project implementation plan and budget, including timelines, deliverables, and responsible parties.
•    Monitor project activities, progress, and expenditures, and prepare regular progress reports for project management and donors.
•    Identify and address challenges or issues that may impact the successful implementation of project activities. Establish a supervision and reporting mechanism for SIFWaP.
•    Coordinate and ensure that the consolidated Quarterly Project Expenditure Report and Progress Reports are prepared on a timely basis and submitted to concerned implementing partners, PSC, and IFAD.
•    Oversee compliance with IFAD and national government procurement processes, where IFAD funds are expected to be utilized. 
•    Lead the periodic implementation support and supervision missions of SIFWaP including discussing progress with Government partners and ensuring timely delivery of aide memoires and mission reports, in fully satisfactory IFAD standard and following the specific requirements of GAFSP Trust Fund and NZ Government. 
•    Participate as supervision team leader in all project supervisions missions including elaborating of TORs, identifying and selecting of key experts. 
•    Coordinate and provide guidance to project NDUs teams, assisting in the development and implementation of food and water security proposal and interventions under component 2 in close collaboration with Matching Grant Specialist. 
•    Oversee the implementation of investment initiatives and matching grants to ensure they are in line with the MGP guidelines and procedures.
•    Review all reports and documents provided by the SIFWaP to the IFAD and ensure their quality as required by IFAD standards.
•    Coordinate and support capacity building efforts for project staff and local stakeholders, including training workshops and knowledge sharing sessions.
•    Coordinate the development os a customized Monitoring & Evaluation Plan jointly with CPCU staff and project NDUs for each country, in alignment with SIFWaP reporting procedures.
•    Ensure compliance with project objectives, donor requirements, and relevant policies and regulations.

2.    PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND RESOURCE MOBILISATION: The Multi-country Coordinator/Project Management will carry out the following tasks to ensure the effective partnership with the project partners and resources mobilization and fundraising strategies:

•    Ensures the role of SIFWaP as a major part of IFAD’s regional Programming. Build a strong working relationship with project partners to ensure synergy of in-country activities driven by value for money.
•    Catalyzes effective partnership with a broad range of stakeholders in the target countries and not only, including government and non-governmental institutions, bilateral and multilateral financing institutions, civil society organizations, research centers and the private sector organizations that works in agriculture and food system.
•    Enhances IFAD’s relationship and collaboration with in-country partners, especially with multilateral/bilateral donors and SCOs, focusing on synergies and collaboration strategies.
•    The incumbent promotes constructive dialogues on the development of a pro-poor agriculture development and rural poverty reduction policies and in enabling the rural poor to advocate for institution transformation.
•    The incumbent participates in relevant meetings and events of interest to IFAD’s strategy on food system transformation which involve the government, donors, SCOs, etc., to render the food system transformation agenda sustainable.
•    Support climate finance, GEF, LDCF, AF, and other fund mobilisation for financing IFAD programmes in the SIFWaP countries and not only.
•    Contribute to the development of project proposals, matching grants proposal, fundraising strategies, and resource mobilization efforts.
•    Under the overall supervision of Country Director for the Pacific, the PO will ensure the effective coordination between SIFWaP and other IFAD projects and productive partnerships including FAO, MFAT, DFAT, IUCN, ADB, GGGI, and others.

3.    STAKEHOLDER COORDINATON AND REPORTING: The SIFWaP Multi-country Coordinator will carry out the following coordination tasks to ensure effective coordination and reporting amongst SIFWaP stakeholders:

•    Ensure that GAFSP and New Zealand Government requirements are met through periodic reporting, following specific indicators as established by the GAFSP and NZ agreements.
•    Ensure Project Steering Committee (PSC) is regularly briefed on all matters relating to project execution. 
•    Convene partner meetings and organize launch and other media events.
•    Organize regular briefings on project implementation progress internally as well as for external funders and stakeholders (Government Lead Agencies, IFAD Project Management Units, and other partners such as NGOs, Regional and UN agencies, etc.).
•    Play Food System Focal Point for IFAD in the Pacific and support UNCT and Pacific countries on food system transformation. Update the UN Resident Coordinator and UNCT and coordinate with broader UN family activities on food system transformation in the region.
•    Establish delivery strategy and execution and contribute to technical programming and progress reviews jointly with implementing partner and FAOUN, and track collective progress towards the achievement of project outputs and outcomes.

4.    POLICY DEVELOPMENT/KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The SIFWaP Multi-country Coordinator will carry out the following coordination tasks to ensure effective policy development and knowledge sharing and management:

•    Promote effective and constructive dialogues for the development of sustainable agriculture and rural poverty reduction policies and in enabling the rural poor to advocate for institutional transformation.
•    Catalyse evidence-based knowledge management, sharing and learning with GAFSP, NZ Government and among IFAD’s country programmes in small atolls states.
•    Ensure knowledge and information emanating from headquarters is disseminated to project management team, government, partners, and other stakeholders.
•    Facilitate learning process among project management teams and others with view to identifying effective approaches to agriculture development and poverty reduction.
•    Build capacities of management team and enhance scaling-up and replication of the successful stories.
•    Document project activities, lessons learned, and best practices for reporting and knowledge sharing purposes. 
•    Support IFAD Sub-regional Programme for the Pacific by exchanging best practices with IFAD Regional Division, PMI, ECG, COM on successful projects and programmes with focus on food, nutrition, water security and livelihood opportunities. 

5.    MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The SIFWaP Multi-country Coordinator is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources.

Key Performance Indicators  

Assignments require the provision of authoritative technical capacity. The incumbent at this level makes recommendations to senior management and senior staff in the Fund and other IFAD fora on questions related to the corporate agenda of IFAD. It requires the provision of authoritative technical expertise which is significant in projecting the Fund’s role/capacity as a reliable, viable partner in the subject area. Work is intricate in that it requires consideration of a wide range of technical factors and related data. Work at this level normally is not reviewed for technical accuracy. The incumbent thus exercises independence and initiative. 

Position specific: The SIFWaP Multi-Country Coordinator maintains the standards for IFAD’s competence in development in the assigned portfolio. The incumbent has demonstrated technical expertise and credibility in portfolio management and creates the foundation for IFAD’s capacity and reputation for programme delivery and enhances its recognition as a reliable development partner. The incumbent provides substantive support in the development of country strategy, project design, partnership building and policy development and the foundation for enhancing sustainable government strategies and policies to improve the livelihoods of the poor and other disadvantaged groups.

Working Relationships  

The work relationships involve the provision of authoritative technical advice. The incumbent serves as a senior expert on the subject matter and works with full technical independence. Contacts are with senior management, senior officers and peers within other United Nations organizations. In particular, the incumbent builds partnerships with IFIs, UN and other international organizations, including innovation incubators and accelerators to identify opportunities for and promote collaboration on innovation and technology initiatives.

Position-specific: In the context of programme development and delivery, the SIFWaP Multi-country Coordinator ensures the exchange of information, advocates for programme and policy enhancements and ensures consistency and reliability in the provision of development assistance to the government. In collaboration with other members of the UN country team, bi-lateral development agencies, NGOs and country programme counterparts, they establish and maintain relationships and projects the image of IFAD as a credible/reliable partner striving for harmonization of development activities.

Job Profile Requirements  

Organizational Competencies:

Level 1:

Education:

Education includes Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://whed.net/home.php in rural development, agriculture, forestry, water management, economics, rural finance, development policy or related field is required (*):
(*) Note:  For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in IFAD’s Human Resources Implementing Procedures. 

Experience:

Languages:

Skills:

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 accordance with IFAD’s provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD’s remuneration package, please visit IFAD’s compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements. See here.

This  is  a  two-year  fixed-term  co-terminus  position. A co-terminus fixed-term appointment is an IFAD employment contract externally funded (supplementary funded, funded by trust funds in administration or other), strictly limited in duration to the funding of the position, where appointment and extension is conditional on the availability of resources and limited to the externally funded assignment. A co-terminus appointment shall not exceed the duration of the specific assignment and/or project outlined in the letter of appointment and does not carry any expectation, legal or otherwise, or conversion, irrespective of the length of service. There is no guarantee of renewal or conversion into another kind of contract. 

Staff members holding an IFAD fixed-term or indefinite appointment are eligible to apply to this co-terminus position with their employment terms and conditions, including contractual status, remaining unchanged. Given that the funding of this position is strictly limited in duration and conditional on the availability of supplementary funds, should the funding finish, the position will be abolished and the staff member will be subject to the relevant provisions foreseen in the HR Implementing Procedures.