IFAD Change Management Specialist - Water

Vacancy announcement number:
1076

Date of issue:
01/04/2012

Deadline for applications:
01/20/2012


Policy and Techn. Advis. Div.
Organizational unit:
Level:
Duty Station:

Duration of Assignment
15 February, 2012 - 15 July 2012 (5 months)


Organizational Context

Within the Programme Management Department (PMD), the Policy and Technical advisory Division (PTA) contributes technical services to the various steps of the loans and grants project cycle: RB-COSOP, design, Quality Enhancement (QE) and implementation under direct supervision since 2008. Consequently, PTA is a repository of knowledge on robust rural and agricultural development approaches based on IFAD's own experience. On the one hand, PTA has access to IFAD experiences within the context of on-going portfolio work. On the other hand, PTA has a unique opportunity to provide knowledge at key points of the project life.

To strengthen its knowledge brokerage functions and its technical advisory services in the area of water management and irrigation, PTA is assessing the need to create a Community of Practice (CoP) for Water for Food to:

Help IFAD-funded projects and programmes to become more efficient and effective and ensure that knowledge sharing and capture is a critical and recognized component of projects and programmes;

Strengthen and forge new partnerships and strategic working relationships with development partners and, in particular, with implementers and technical experts in the water management and irrigation sectors;

Help identify relevant knowledge, leading practices, thematic expertise and innovations on water management and irrigation related issues.

Help build an international repository of knowledge around Water for Food that includes knowledge products for use by IFAD staff, IFAD partners and the general public.

This initiative is supported by newly mobilized Swiss supplementary funds. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), in partnership with IFAD, aims to strengthen water and irrigation knowledge management and build awareness of successful experiences. Both IFAD and the SDC pursue common development objectives to alleviate rural poverty and hunger, and to unleash the capacities of poor rural people, in particular, women.



As a contribution to the IFAD/SDC Water For Food project, PTA Water wishes to raise its profile throughout IFAD and implement specific knowledge management (KM) activities and initiatives. This will complement the Water For Food CoP programme and strengthen PTA's overall role as a learning and knowledge facilitator.

The strategic profile of water within IFAD has risen in prominence over the last 2-3 years. A recent qualitative analysis highlighted that almost half of ongoing projects (231) involve water as a systemic intervention. Given this, PTA Water is implementing a targeted and strategic KM programme that focuses on supporting the ongoing portfolio of water-related projects. Ultimately, this will require a significant change in the way IFAD staff collaborate on projects, as well as how staff at all levels share and contribute critical knowledge (particularly IFAD consultants).

As a complement to the KM programme and to better understand the cultural change and business transformation requirements, PTA Water is seeking a highly motivated and appropriately experienced Change Management Specialist, who will lead change management activity across PTA and manage the interface between PTA and other divisions within IFAD.



Assignment description

Under the overall supervision of Audrey Nepveu De Villemarceau, and the direct supervision of the Lead Consultant, Knowledge Management (Kim dos Santos Martins) the consultant will primarily focus on creating and implementing change management plans that minimize employee resistance and maximize employee engagement with the Water For Food KM initiative, as well as other targeted KM and PTA profile-raising activities.

The successful applicant will be required to:

Develop a change management strategy based on a situational awareness of the details of change required within PTA and the teams and/or Divisions being impacted by the change (i.e. the Water For Food CoP and related KM activities).
Identify potential people-side risks and anticipated points of resistance, and develop specific plans to mitigate or address the concerns. This includes seeing that changes are implemented in a manner that ensures all employees feel valued and appreciate the new solutions.
Develop a set of actionable and targeted change management plans - including communication plan, sponsor roadmap, coaching plan, training plan and resistance management plan.
Identify change sponsors within PTA and other IFAD divisions. Be an active and visible coach to these change sponsors.
Work with IFAD Country Programme Managers toidentify and integrate change management activities into country programmes.
Ensure that the effects of changes are monitored using targets and key performance indicators in order to identify successes and areas where further changes need to be made.
Manage communication of changes into the wider business so that optimal engagement and change acceptance is reached.
Build a capability for change including: developing training programmes that enhance problem solving, decision making, influencing, persuading and communication skills.
Develop strategic relationships and work with other Divisions and teams within IFAD, particularly the Strategy and Knowledge Management Division and the Knowledge Managers located at Divisional level, as well as Human Resources and Organizational Development specialists.
Support the Water For Food CoP initiative and related KM and PTA Water profile-raising activities, specifically from a change management perspective.



Objectives of the consultancy

The change management role will work closely with, and support, the Lead Consultant, the PTA knowledge manager and the Water For Food KM initiative.


Specifically:

Identifying the most expected and potential points of resistance to change. Developing counter strategies to reduce the resistance and address the doubts and uncertainty surrounding the change to foster a positive acceptance of change.
Identifying what changes inprocesses, procedures and practices are needed to achieve change and deliver theplanned benefits.
Liaising with IFAD programme and/or project managers to ensure a consistent approach to change management.
Ensuring that the new change initiatives introduced into the organization by PTA help to further IFAD's organizational objectives, vision, and mission.
Creating conditions for a smooth transition to changes with least resistance from IFAD employees and maximum enthusiasm to adapt to the change.
Activities and expected outputs


List of activities

In collaboration with the Lead Consultant, Knowledge Management, and the PTA Knowledge Manager:

Conduct a situational awareness assessment. Obtain a solid understanding of why there might be resistance to change and develop innovative and specific plans to mitigate.
Based on the situational awareness assessment, prepare PTA Water's change management roadmap for 2012-2014, which ensures adoption, education, and a greater understanding of the management of change across PTA and IFAD divisions (as appropriate).
Prepare PTA Water's strategic communication plan that complements the change management plan. This includes how to use IFAD's internal social media to promote change, as well as innovative ways of attracting employee attention and engagement.
Develop, monitor, and report on change management success measures.


Expected outputs

Clear articulation of the points of resistance to change within and beyond PTA.
PTA Change Management roadmap 2012-2014;
Points of Resistance roadmap and strategies to mitigate;
Actionable and targeted change management plans - including communication plan, sponsor roadmap, coaching plan, training plan and resistance management plan.
Successful design and implementation of targeted change management initiatives in two water-related projects and identification of at least four more water-related projects that would benefit from targeted change management.
Demonstrated increase in PTA Water's profile throughout (and beyond IFAD as appropriate). This includes a clear understanding of the successes and transformations brought about by the Water For Food CoP initiative and related KM activities.


Additionally:

The consultant will also prepare a consultancy final report and work log.

All documents should be provided to IFAD in English and in electronic format for future use.

Other duties as required


Education and Experience

A Bachelor's degree in business studies, psychology, management, or human resource management, as well as a qualification in Change Management e.g. Change Management certification.
At least 3-5 years' commercial experience of business change initiatives. Specifically, experience with large-scale organizational change.
Demonstrated expertise in change management, specifically of how people go through a change and the change process; experience with ADKAR is a plus.
Demonstrated experience of using appropriate analytical tools, techniques and methodologies.
Demonstrated ability with project management approaches, tools and phases of the project lifecycle.
Demonstrated ability of building and delivering a communications plan.
Strong stakeholder experience at all levels.
Problem solving and root cause identification skills.
Autonomy or capacity to work with minimum guidance, as well as demonstrated capacity to work within a team environment; and
Demonstrated ability to work with social media and understand how social media can be used as a tool to facilitate change.



Tech/Functional Competencies

Facilitator of Change - you will not only be familiar with the change management process but you will also understand the need to be flexible and creative in your approach when facilitating change.
Strategic thinker - change management can be a lengthy process so you will have the intuitive ability to identify "quick wins", as well as longer term plans and goals;
Collaborator - you will be part of a team, some of whose members work virtually, so you will need to be responsive to varying means of communication and anticipate what team members may need to know; and
Role model - you will champion IFAD's core values - Results, Integrity, Professionalism, and Respect.



Communication

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, along with the ability to design and implement compelling strategies, activities and initiatives to various audiences within IFAD;
Strong presentation and influencing skills;
A working knowledge of another official language of IFAD (Arabic, French or Spanish) is desirable but not essential; and
Sound IT skills along with a demonstrated understanding of how to use social media from a change management perspective.

Application details at:
https://job.ifad.org/index.html?Page=HRS_CE_JOB_DTL&Action=A&SiteId=1000&JobOpeningId=1076