Regional climate and environment specialist for latin america and the caribbean region

Organizational context

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.

The Programme Management Department (PMD) is responsible for the overall lending programme of the Fund, and is composed of five Regional Divisions, Environment and Climate Division (ECD) and Policy and Technical Advisory Division (PTA).

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the joint overall supervision and strategic, policy and management guidance of the Director, Environment and Climate Division and Director, Latin America and Caribbean Division, the incumbent will be responsible for:

• Identifying and designing GEF-funded components for IFAD-supported programmes, in coordination with the Country Program Managers (CPMs). Liaising with the GEF Secretariat and GEF agencies to ensure synergies and coordination on relevant projects to maximize opportunities under the forthcoming 5th GEF Replenishment and other GEF-managed funds.
• Providing technical support for the implementation of GEF-funded components for IFAD-supported programmes, in coordination with CPMs.
• Identifying new sources of funding in the areas of environment and climate change, to complement and diversify the Regional portfolio. Where such sources are mobilized, identifying and designing components to IFAD-funded project.
• Providing technical support to ensure IFAD Regional portfolio is climate-smart - assisting in project and country strategy design teams to ensure climate and environment risks and opportunities (such as adaptation) are fully integrated into early identification and design of projects and country strategies.
• As an active member of the Environment and Climate Division, the RCES will also be assigned various thematic, sector and corporate-level tasks as appropriate. 

Education and experience

• University degree in Agriculture, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management or related, complemented with training in project cycle management and project administration
• Experience of at least 8 years in the formulation, management and supervision of sustainable rural development programmes
• Strong understanding of the climate change adaptation and mitigation agenda, priorities and action plans
• Awareness of international policy frameworks related to global environment, natural resource management and rural development
• Familiarity with the GEF principles, guidelines and procedures, including GEF project cycle management
• Relevant professional experience in the region preferable

Technical/functional competencies

• Leader and team builder: Possess excellent management skills, and able to deploy these in a multicultural setting. Capacity of leading teams with clear directions and inspire them to work together to achieve objectives. Ensures team members are motivated, well managed and empowered to improve continuously, ensuring that all processes, including management, are consistently highly effective.
• Planner and organizer: Excellent judgement and ability to think strategically, assessing and responding to new challenges. Understands corporate and divisional objectives and strategies to be able to set and prioritize critical activities and assignments with multiple tight deadlines and monitor results, and measures performance takes corrective action where necessary.
• 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

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish language essential. This includes the ability to set out a coherent argument in presentations and group interactions.
• Working knowledge of Arabic or French asset
• Ability to write and edit technical reports, and to prepare summaries for policymakers and non-technical audiences.
• 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.