Call for Interest - Technical Specialist (Environment & Climate) - Short term Opportunity 11 Months [Rome, Italy]

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); Genf; On-site; CHF 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) seeks a Technical Specialist to support design, implementation and reporting of environment and climate projects across regions. The role emphasizes operational delivery, technical quality, and alignment with IFAD mandates and fund mechanisms.

The incumbent will liaise with regional and country teams, provide technical input, and ensure compliance with environmental safeguards and reporting standards while working within a dynamic,

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in environmental studies or related engineering field.
• Minimum five years of post-qualification experience in rural development or environmental projects.
• Knowledge of climate change impacts on rural development.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical input and coordination across environment and climate portfolio.
• Support regional and country teams through the project cycle with design, implementation and reporting.
• Ensure operational delivery and project support while aligning with IFAD and fund requirements.

Skills

Planner & organiser

Teamwork

Negotiation & communication

Analytical skills

multitasking

Independent worker

Interpersonal skills

Education

Master's degree in environmental studies or related engineering field

Job description

This call is advertised as a short-term opportunity with a duration of 11 months and expected to start shortly after selection. Should an external candidate (including consultants and staff members not meeting IFAD HR Implementing Procedures' definition of 'internal') be selected, the contract type would be that of a short-term professional (TPO). In the event an IFAD staff member, holding a Fixed Term contract be selected, the movement would be implemented as a Temporary Assignment through the applicable provisions. Applicants should verify and obtain their supervisors' support to be released. This is a short-term contract. The appointment of a short-term staff member carries no expectation of continuous employment or conversion to any other type of appointment with IFAD.

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 Office of Technical Delivery is responsible for providing expert technical guidance to IFAD teams engaged in the design and implementation of projects and programmes to deliver the high technical quality investments that facilitate rural transformation, and which comply with IFAD's mandate and operational policies. The Office ensures IFAD applies and disseminates state-of-the-art knowledge in its investments and evidence on strategic themes and encourages the innovative application of global knowledge and evidence in IFAD investments. This helps countries tackle complex development challenges in fostering inclusive and sustainable rural transformation including mainstreaming areas. The Office of Technical Delivery (OTD) is led by a Managing Director and is comprised of two (2) divisions: the Environment, Climate, and People Division (ECP) and the Production, Markets and Infrastructure Division (PMI).

The Environment, Climate, and Peoples (ECP) division leads the mainstreaming of cross-cutting themes of environment and climate, gender, youth, disability and indigenous peoples into IFAD's portfolio, and the implementation of social, environment and climate safeguards (SECAP), to strengthen the quality of IFAD's operations and programmes. ECP takes the technical lead to strengthen the quality of IFAD's operations and programmes ensuring that IFAD's operations are environmentally sustainable, climate change resilient, and inclusive of marginalized groups (particularly women, rural youth, Indigenous Peoples and persons with disabilities). In addition to strengthening the technical quality of operations, ECP provides its technical expertise in corporate strategies, policy engagement, resource mobilization, knowledge generation, and partnerships.

Job Role

The Technical Specialist supports the development and implementation of IFAD and supplementary funded projects. The incumbent provides technical input and coordination support across the environment and climate portfolio and pipeline, contributing to consistency with relevant policies and operational procedures. The incumbent supports regional and country teams throughout the project cycle, contributing to technical design, implementation, and reporting. This role focuses on operational delivery and project support, while contributing to the technical quality of operations and supporting alignment with IFAD and the Climate and Environment Funds requirements and processes.

The position is located in NEN (Rome Multi-country Office) and reports to ECP with a primary reporting line to the Regional Technical Manager - Environment and Climate ECP/NEN based in Cairo.

Qualification and Skills Required

Education and experience

• An advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in environmental studies, natural resources management, or chemical/bio/civil/industrial engineering or related areas required. Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php.
• A minimum of five years of post-qualification relevant professional experience in the formulation, monitoring, management, supervision or evaluation of rural development or environmental or agricultural projects and initiatives required.
• Good knowledge of natural resource management, climate change and climate-related impact on rural development in the region required.
• Three years or more of professional field experience in the region an asset.
• Previous experience with design, monitoring and reporting instruments of international environment/climate funds such as GEF, AF and GCF an asset.
• Experience in designing and implementing environmental safeguards and environmental impact assessments an asset.
• Knowledge of IFAD operational modalities an asset.
• Proven ability to write and edit clear and concise technical reports and to prepare summaries/information materials for different stakeholders and audiences (management, donors, policymakers, etc.) required.
• Planner and organiser. Understands corporate objectives, effectively planning activities and projects well in advance and adjusting to changing circumstances.
• Performer: ability to work independently and under pressure to meet strict deadlines. Ability to practice good judgment and ability to decide on his/her own. Proven ability to work under tight deadlines and demonstrated capacity to multi-task. Commitment to personal performance and self-development.
• Teamwork: Capacity to foster teamwork and establish harmonious working relationship in a multicultural environment. Establishes good working relationship with clients and colleagues.
• Negotiator and communicator: Works effectively with others to meet mutual goals, negotiates to align parties, builds networks, listen and communicates effectively to engage others.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Facilitator of change: Produces adaptive change and encourages others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities.
• Analytical: Demonstrate strong analytical skills with superb accuracy and attention to detail with ability to research and synthesise data.

Languages and other skills:

• Full command of English and French is required, including the ability to set out a coherent argument in English and French in delivering presentations and group interactions.
• Command of Arabic language is highly desirable.
• Analytical skills: Outstanding ability to analyse and synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources and filter out key insights and recommendations
• Basic ICT & digital fluency: Expertise relevant to the specific role (e.g. in-depth, computer information systems, including micro-computer operating systems software, hardware and applications software and other office technology equipment), end-user computing configuration management.