Adaptation Specialist P4/P5 P-1 - Environment and Climate Division

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. IFAD’s headquarters is in Rome, Italy, and is present in more than 90 countries to develop and finance programmes and projects aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and incomes.
Division Context
ECD was set up in 2010 to integrate environment and climate across IFAD’s operations and policies so they are climate-smart and environmentally sound. The Division is structured as a knowledge, skills and operational hub, sharing a network of Regional Climate and Environment Specialists with Regional Divisions.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision and strategic, policy and management guidance of the Director of the Environment and Climate Division, the incumbent in close collaboration with the ECD team, will be responsible for:

At a P4 Level:

1. Coordinating and supervising a smallholder adaption programme, including:
- facilitating overall coordination with IFAD Regional and other Divisions, and its partners
- monitoring allocations and expenditures
- reporting and review progress and impact.

2. Strengthening the climate resilience of IFAD’s financed programmes and projects through the Quality Enhancement process of Results-Based Country Strategic Opportunities Programmes (RB-COSOPs)/programmes/projects. Contribute to generating lessons from integration of the programme and CC strategy in project and programme designs;

3. Strengthening IFAD’s representation and communication on CC adaptation issues in policy dialogue/processes and strategy issues (including representing IFAD at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences fora). This also includes providing programmatic or substantive expertise on adaptation issues or holding discussions with representatives of other institutions.

4. Advise and support knowledge management on adaptation activities by: developing demand driven, adaptation tools and resources, including identifying best practices and innovation within IFAD’s portfolio and supporting IFAD’s network of Regional Climate and Environment Specialists on adaptation issues in project development. This includes strengthening and developing knowledge partnerships for obtaining state-of-the-art information on climate vulnerability in rural development and potential adaptation responses, as well as advocating smallholder adaptation at the national, regional and international levels.

5. As an active member of the Environment and Climate Division, perform other thematic, sector and corporate-level tasks as appropriate.

At P5 Level

1. Generate significant additional new resources for IFAD on adaptation, in particular for the smallholder adaptation programme.

2. Issue lead or Climate Finance in particular, facilitate and strengthen IFAD’s participation in the Green Climate Fund.

3. Corporate lead on the Global Environment Facility. This includes represent IFAD at GEF high-level; meetings, coordinating GEF reporting requirements and overall portfolio.
Education and Experience
• Master’s degree or equivalent in Agriculture, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, Economics or related discipline.

• Experience of at least 8 years (10 for P-5 level) in the formulation, management and supervision of development investment programmes.

• Professional experience in, and a demonstrated understanding (expertise and leadership for P-5 level) of both smallholder agriculture and climate adaptation - in particular on sustainable land management practices from the perspective of adaptation to climate change. This includes, but is not limited to, a solid understanding and analysis of climate data and assessing resilience of cropping system options.

• Experience in international policy frameworks related to global environment, natural resource management and rural development.

• Proven ability to mobilise supplementary funding (at P-5 level)Proven experience in the management and coordination of GEF programmes and policies (at P-5 level)
Tech/Functional Competencies
• Teamworker: Capacity to foster and coordinate teamwork; and establish harmonious working relationships in a multicultural environment.

• Self-developer/Innovator: Willingness to learn, share and acquire new competencies and seek new challenges by exploring new approaches.

• Planner and organiser: Understands corporate objectives, effectively planning activities and projects well in advance and adjusting to changing circumstances.

• Performer: Accomplishes work objectives while creating an enabling environment for staff growth and development of their knowledge and competencies in order to attain excellent standards of performance. Manages the performance of others.

• Negotiator and communicator: Works effectively with others to meet mutual goals, negotiates to align parties, builds networks, listens and communicates effectively to engage others.

• Facilitator of change: Produces adaptive change and moves people to a place in which they are genuinely better off. Encourages others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities, facilitating the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace.
Communication
• Full command of English, including the ability to set out a coherent argument in English in writing, presentations and group interactions.

• Additional IFAD language (Arabic, French or Spanish) would be a strong asset.

• Good working knowledge of Windows-based computing, and electronic communication
Other Information
Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD.

IFAD reserves the right to appoint a candidate at the appropriate grade commensurate with experience and knowledge.

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 take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

Adaptation Specialist P4/P5 P-1 - Environment and Climate Division