IFAD will engage a UN Volunteer Environment & Climate Officer deployed by UNDP, to work under the direct supervision of the Regional Technical Lead (Environment and Climate) for the Near East, North Africa, Central Asia and Europe Division (ECG), with dual reporting to the Head of the IFAD Multi-Country Office (MCO) in Istanbul, and the Country Directors for Bosnia Herzegovina, Georgia, Tajikistan and Türkiye.

The UN Volunteer Environment & Climate Officer is a mid-level professional with expertise in environment and climate matters who will be based at IFAD’s MCO in Istanbul and provide technical support primarily to the Bosnia Herzegovina, Georgia, Tajikistan and Türkiye portfolios, besides the broader sub-region covering Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries (ECA).

The UN Volunteer Environment & Climate Officer will independently analyze technical and policy issues of concern to IFAD, intergovernmental bodies, and national authorities while providing substantive input to the development of policies, technical strategies, proposals and Social, Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP)-related documents.

The UN Volunteer will work in close cooperation with technical specialists, among others for youth, indigenous peoples and nutrition, as well as with country directors to ensure consistency in the application of technical advice. S/he will support programme development and implementation, facilitating knowledge exchanges and the building of communities of practice.

In particular, the UN Volunteer Environment & Climate Officer will be responsible for:
i. The engagement of key partners at various levels for advancing IFAD’s and specifically the environment and climate work in the ECA sub-region;
ii. Mainstreaming environment and climate dimensions into IFAD’s projects, with a focus on the Bosnia Herzegovina, Georgia, Tajikistan and Türkiye programme of loans and grants, in addition to other countries in the ECA sub-region;
iii. Supporting the design of environment and climate grant financing from international climate funds such as AF, GEF, GCF or similar for the portfolios in the ECA sub-region;
iv. Supporting the implementation oversight of IFAD’s investment projects and the environment and climate loan/grant financing in the sub-region;
v. Providing technical expertise in the implementation and oversight of IFAD’s Social, Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP);
vi. Supporting the monitoring, reporting and evaluation functions for programmes and projects; including enhancing performance monitoring systems and new approaches to performance monitoring, preparing analytical work for divisional and country-level decision-making on project viability and sustainability;
vii. Contributing to and coordinating the knowledge management and communication on environment and climate issues for the ECA portfolio;
viii. Supporting the development and implementation oversight of IFAD-financed and managed investments on environmental and climate-related issues across the scope of the Istanbul MCO; and
ix. Any other task as assigned by the Regional Technical Lead (Environment and Climate) for the Near East, North Africa, Central Asia and Europe Division.

Key functions and results

1. TECHNICAL SUPPORT: On the basis of proven technical knowledge on climate and environment, emerging development challenges and the state of rural poverty at the assigned programme countries, the Environment & Climate Officer provides technical expertise and support in delivering IFAD’s mandate of building resilience of smallholder farmers and reducing rural poverty through IFAD’s investments. Key tasks include:
   • Providing high quality technical expertise in undertaking social, environment and climate risk assessments consistent with Social, Environment and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP); and
   • Providing high quality technical expertise and advice on environment, natural resources management and climate aspects in operations during design to ensure quality at entry and during implementation by actively participating in missions and in monitoring and evaluation for quality assurance.
2. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The Environment & Climate Officer supports the development of viable and sustainable policies/projects at country-level and provides regional thematic input through high-quality technical knowledge sharing for his/her area of specialization. S/He will ensure country-level access to the latest sources of knowledge and innovation, strengthen national technical capacity and establish new knowledge and advisory partnerships. Accountabilities include:
   • Generating analytical knowledge built on government demand to advance policy; and
   • Disseminating knowledge and lessons learned with peers, counterparts, and stakeholders through drafting of briefs, journal articles, seminars and workshops, developing evidence-based new knowledge products and operational tools.
3. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION: The Environment & Climate Officer maintains a network of peer contacts inside and out with the scope of IFAD to facilitate partnerships, be up-to-date on joint advocacy activities and share knowledge to enhance IFAD’s profile as a highly competent and viable partner. Accountabilities include:
   • Building partnerships with associations, coordination platforms, technical organizations, NGOs, specialized departments of other development agencies and other relevant entities as potential operational and strategic partners;
   • Strengthening IFAD’s work on environment and climate issues; and
   • Supporting the mobilization of new AF, GEF and/or GCF green financing to be blended with IFAD’s-funded Programme of Loans and Grants resources.
4. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING: The Environment & Climate Officer contributes to monitoring, evaluation and reporting of technical activities and components of programmes/projects to enhance country level programme and funding decisions based on accurate technical data. Accountabilities include:
   • Supporting the monitoring, reporting and evaluation functions for programmes and projects; and
   • Implementing performance monitoring systems and new approaches to performance monitoring, preparing analytical work for divisional and country-level decision-making on project viability and sustainability.

Organizational Competencies:
• Supporting building relationships – Builds partnerships and working relationships
• Communicating and negotiating – Communicates effectively; creates understanding between self and others
• Demonstrating leadership – Personal leadership and attitude to change
• Focusing on clients – Focuses on clients
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating – Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates
• Managing time, resources and information – Manages own time, information and resources effectively
• Problem-solving and decision-making – Demonstrates sound problem-solving and decision-making ability
• Strategic thinking and organizational development – Personal influence
• Team working – Contributes effectively to the team

environmental studies, agronomy, environmental economics, geography, climatology or rural development, development studies, social science, or any relevant field.

• At least 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in, and demonstrated understanding of, development initiatives in rural development and climate and/or environment issues, or relevant fields.
• Experience in the United Nations or an international financial institution, or another multi-cultural organization or institution or a national organization providing support on a global scope would be an asset.
• Position-specific experience: Technical expertise, demonstrated by work experience, and understanding of environmental management, climate change issues and climate related impacts on rural development, ideally acquired by working on climate change-related, rural development, or disaster risk reduction projects or similar.

Skills:
• Language fluency: Excellent English language skill (both verbal and written) are mandatory. Working knowledge of Russian would be an asset.
• Advocacy and knowledge management: Ability to leverage IFAD knowledge and/or communication materials and prepare such material;
• Analytical skills: Ability to analyse and synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources and filter out key insights and recommendations;
• 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;
• Collaboration: Successfully work toward a common goal with others by communicating clearly, actively listening to others, taking responsibility for mistakes, and respecting different perspectives of stakeholders;
• Programme/Project development, management: Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management;
• Social & Environmental Safeguards: Know-how in understanding and implementing social and environmental compliance;
• Internal and External Stakeholder Engagement: Build relationships within IFAD and externally to coordinate programme initiatives. Engage stakeholders to mobilize resources and align interventions with regional priorities;
• Time management: Adherence to deadlines under time constraints and pressure (e.g. to deliver governing body documents on time); ability to coordinate and manage complex workflows and in-house and external teams;
• Written communication: Clear, succinct written communication and ability to prepare reports, presentations, policy briefs, and information for diverse audiences;
• Good computer literacy: including Microsoft Office and Excel; and
• Cultural sensitivity: Awareness and understanding of different cultures, values, and perspectives, and the ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.

The UN Volunteer will be based at IFAD’s MCO within UNDP IRH premises in Istanbul.

The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials. The full entitlements at the duty station: https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service: https://explore.unv.org/cos

The Summary of UNV Entitlement (National UN Expert Volunteer): Paid local currency

• Current Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) is USD 1,904
• Private insurance: Health, dental, life and dismemberment (100%) coverage by CIGNA
As per UN’s diplomatic mission status, it is not included in National Security Institution’s (SGK) system but can be only initiated on private basis.
• Entry allowance (one-time payment): USD 400
• Exit allowance: USD 113 per month and upon the satisfactory completion of assignment
• Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month.
• Free access to different learning platforms and the UN & UNV network

Notes: 1) The allowances are in no way to be understood as a compensation, reward or salary in exchange for the volunteer work. 2) It’s important to note that UNV assignments are volunteer assignments, not employment.

The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment, and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos). Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations of the monthly post adjustment.