JOB DESCRIPTION

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationship

The position of Project Officer (Agriculture and Natural Resources) is assigned in the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office (SD2-AFNR) within the Sectors Department 2 (SD2). SD2 aims to deliver impactful sect or strategy, initiatives, and integrated solutions that advance ADB’s strategic agenda in the region. SD2, which is comprised of SD2-AFNR, the Water and Urban Development Sector Office, and the Digital Sector Office: delivers or supports sovereign, non-sovereign, and advisory operations; delivers knowledge services; supports regional departments (RDs) and resident missions (RMs) in engaging with ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs); and ensures ADB’s technical leadership internally and externally.

SD2-AFNR leads policy development and dialogue, knowledge management, project quality assurance, sector analytic work, and loan and technical assistance (TA) processing and administration in the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector.

You will be based in Pakistan Resident Mission in Islamabad.

You will have a primary reporting line to the designated Technical International staff or Director, SD2-AFNR on operational and policy-related matters and have a matrix reporting line to the Country Director, PRM on day-to-day administrative matters.

The selected candidate will be appointed with the title, “Project Officer”.

Your Role

As a Project Officer (Agriculture and Natural Resources), you will lead or contribute to the processing and administration of assigned loans, grants, and TAs, and AFNR work, covering both public and private sector operations. You will contribute to capacity building and knowledge work, handle project administration and portfolio management, and effectively liaise with government and development partner counterparts in resolving project and AFNR sector-related issues. These may include food security, climate smart agriculture, value chains (including production, distribution, storage, processing, packaging, markets), food systems, nutrition, agri-rural development-social protection, digital agriculture, and private sector engagement.

You will:

Administer loans and grants and implement TAs in the AFNR sector in the country by actively taking initiative and responsibility to engage with PRM and ADB Headquarters (HQ), government agencies, development partners (DPs), private sector partners, and other stakeholders.
Lead in or contribute to the processing of new loans, grants, and TAs, and business development in the country.
Undertake work planning, delivery, and reviews for assigned projects with the team.
Monitor the progress of assigned projects through fielding missions and reporting project progress to the management.
Prepare and update forecasts of contract awards and disbursements, identifying factors responsible for shortfalls and actions to expedite progress, and achievement of target levels where possible.
Identify issues and take actions to address them through interactions with executing agencies (EAs), implementing agencies (IAs), contractors, consultants, and project beneficiaries. You will prepare and implement measures to address the issues.
Prepare and review papers for extension of loan closing dates, reallocation of loan proceeds, changes in scope and implementation arrangements, and other project administration tasks.
Provide advice to the government agencies, relevant ministries, EAs, IAs, and sector entities on ADB guidelines on procurement, recruitment of consultants, and preparation and review of procurement documents to ensure effective implementation. .
Collaborate effectively with other Sector Offices and departments in ADB for the benefit of ADB and its clients.
Prepare Project Completion Reports and TA Completion Reports, as assigned.
Prepare inputs for sector database for portfolio management.
Support, participate, or lead in project reviews as a mission member or mission leader, as required.
Support or participate in Country/Tripartite Portfolio Review missions as a mission member, when required.
Support or participate as a mission member in missions by the Board members, Board groups and ADB management, when required.
Participate in consultations with other DPs especially in areas relating to donor coordination and harmonization in sector work and represent ADB either as a member or a co-chair in the relevant donor coordination groups.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge base of future government investment plans, development strategies, institutional structure, and policies relevant to the AFNR sector.
Assist in the formulation and implementation of the Country Partnership Strategy, relevant sector roadmaps, and annual updates. Review Independent Evaluation Department reports. Coordinate sector diagnostic in the specific areas relevant to the role.
Lead or provide support in policy dialogues with the government on policy matters and institutional issues.
Assist or lead other operational support in project administration and portfolio management, as required and reflected in the incumbent’s work plan.
Contribute to sector work for AFNR by assisting and/or leading in conducting research, updating information on the assigned sector, and preparing knowledge products.
Coordinate cross-sectoral collaboration especially with teams from private sector, social protection, transport, amongst others.
Perform other duties as assigned and reflected in staff’s workplan.
Qualifications

You will need:

Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agriculture economics, agriculture engineering, or related fields; preferably with advanced training.
At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in project management and implementation in the AFNR sector.
Strong analytical ability to undertake research and analysis, collect and organize data and information, and draft documents.
Experience and knowledge of various stages of the project cycle (project planning / feasibility analysis / detailed design / project implementation / construction supervision / contract management) is desirable.
Sound knowledge of government administrative systems and procedures.
Familiarity with accepted best practices of procurement and disbursement processes
Strong capacity for teamwork. Ability to work collaboratively with teams as a constructive team member, skills to liaise and collaborate with colleagues throughout ADB, and strong willingness and capacity to guide more junior and less experienced colleagues.
Excellent capabilities in relationship management; strong client orientation; effective communication skills; solid strong problem solving and solution-oriented approaches; and strong responsiveness, flexibility, reliability, and professionalism.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
Please refer to thelinkfor ADB Competency Framework for TL5.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements