JOB DESCRIPTION

Organizational Setting
This is a Temporary Professional Officer (TPO) position, which 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 initial duration of the assignment is 11 months.

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 Department for Country Operations (DCO) oversees the origination, design and management of IFAD investments, including sovereign and non-sovereign operations, asq well as the design and implementation of non-lending activities within country programmes, including policy engagement and SSTC. DCO is the department that primarily interfaces with governments, the private sector and other stakeholders to deliver IFAD’s programme of work and to provide oversight to ensure quality of the portfolio.

DCO is led by an Associate Vice-President and is composed of five (5) regional divisions: Asia and the Pacific Division (APR), East and Southern Africa Division (ESA), Latin America and Caribbean Division (LAC) , Near East, North Africa and Europe Division (NEN) and West and Central Africa Division (WCA), the Private Sector Operations Division (PSD), and two (2) units: the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Unit (SSTC) and the fragility unit (FRU). The Regional Division ESA is led by a Divisional Director, based in the IFAD Regional Office in Nairobi, Kenya. The Division leads on the design and delivery of IFAD country and regional programmes in ESA. The precise country coverage of the division varies across replenishment periods. The Programme Officer (PO) works under the overall policy and management guidance and direct supervision of a Country Director (P-4/P-5) or Country Director/Head of IFAD Multi-Country Office.

Position-specific:

The Increase Resilience to Climate Change of Smallholders Receiving the Services of the Inclusive Agricultural Value Chains Programme (DEFIS+) has the ambition of reducing the negative impact of climate change by applying sustainable and nature-based adaptation measures with mitigation co-benefits. Thus, DEFIS+ is a cofinancing from GCF built on positive lessons learned from past IFAD projects, and from an ongoing pro-poor agricultural investment programme, DEFIS, funded by IFAD and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and other national financiers. Total financing is USD 150 847 444 with USD 53 861 003 of total GCF funding. The objectives of DEFIS+ are to strengthen the resilience of agricultural production systems and vulnerable marginal communities to the impacts of climate change while contributing to enhance mitigation co-benefits such as GHG emission reduction, promoting intensive/improved rice farming techniques (SRI/SRA), and implementing Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA). Thus, DEFIS+ is organised around three complementary outcomes, which are strategically conceived to contribute to climate change adaptation with mitigation co-benefits.

The IFAD Madagascar office will lead the overall implementation of DEFIS+ as well as continued efforts in climate finance mobilization for the islands of the Indian Ocean (Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles) and knowledge management activities jointly with IFAD Regional Office in Nairobi and IFAD Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG) of the Office of Technicla Delivery (OTD) to implement activities connected to the GCF and other Climate Funds (Adaptation Fund, GEF, etc.).

Job Role
The Programme Officer is responsible for coordinating programme or projects within the assigned portfolio.

Key Functions and Results
1.COUNTRY STRATEGY AND COUNTRY PROGRAMME SUPPORT: The Programme Officer provides a solid understanding of international practices and of IFAD’s policies and procedures to ensure activities of a programme or project within her/his assigned portfolio enhance the related technical quality of IFAD ‘s activities within the relevant country, through effective programme (COSOP) and project (grants and loans) design, supervision, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting (PSR) and completion (PCR) activities. S/He also provides substantive contributions toward the development of advice and technical guidance in support of sustainable government strategies, policies and programmes to improve agricultural development and rural poverty reduction. The Programme Officer is further accountable for capacity building activities including identifying, analyzing, documenting, harmonizing and disseminating both national and local issues as well as conditions and best practices and lessons learned among partner development agencies. Capacity building activities will include coordinating meetings, workshops and seminars with project management teams, government, partners and other stakeholders.

2. COUNTRY OFFICE SUPPORT: The Programme Officer is accountable for day-to-day administration and reporting in support of the Supervisor and for supervision of assigned Country Programme Associate/Assistant. In addition to human resources management, s/he has accountability for financial and material resources and related processes including managing contracts for services. S/He provides inputs to budget preparation and monitors expenditures, manages contract completion and certifies payments.

3. SUPPORT TO PARTNERSHIP BUILDING: As a key PMD team member, the Programme Officer enhances IFAD’s relationships and collaborations with in-country counterparts through the identification of synergies and proposing coordinated strategies with multilateral/bilateral donors and civil-society organizations involved in agricultural development and rural poverty reduction. S/He establishes and maintains counterpart contacts to promote programme and project collaboration and harmonization as well as identifies financing opportunities with other donors.

4. POLICY DEVELOPMENT/KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The Programme Officer participates in relevant policy meetings and events of interest to IFAD’s target groups and which involve the government, donors, and civil society, including NGOs, in order to develop an enabling environment for sustainable, pro-poor development. From an international best practices perspective, s/he analyzes evidenced based recommendations from projects to link the realities on the ground and the voices of the poor with the policies and programmes of the government. S/he contributes to IFAD’s policy intelligence with regular updates and information exchange with her/his Supervisor on relevant policy discussions and ensures a continuous knowledge flow with peers in accordance with the knowledge management mechanism in place. This will serve to enhance the empowerment of the rural poor and disadvantaged so that they can enter into partnerships at all levels of policy dialogue.

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Programme Officer is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources.

Position Specific:

6. SUPPORT TO PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION of DEFIS+ Madagascar: The Programme Officer is responsible for supporting project implementation, supervision, completion, evaluation and reporting; knowledge-sharing at entity level and Project cycle management as well as support to the integration of DEFIS+ in the country programme and the overall government implementation structure in connection with the Agreement between IFAD and the GCF. They are accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of GCF resources allocated for the implementation of this initiative.

Supervise implementation of all activities related to DEFIS+ Madagascar including coordination and management of PMU, service providers, and other collaborators, and review and approval of related outputs and documents including project reporting in line with GCF procedures.
Supporting the start-up process, including the drafting and publication of a joint start-up press release on IFAD and GCF websites, and coordinating the preparation and timely submission of the annual performance reports (APRs) acceptable to GCF.
Support participating institutions (e.g. microfinance institutions, cooperatives, other farmer organizations, etc.) to develop and deploy innovative green instruments and financing approaches through a gender lens,
Regularly monitor participating institutions portfolios to ensure DEFIS+ funds are deployed/disbursed to the right cause and objectives are achieved.
Regularly monitor participating institutions to ensure compliance with agreed upon basic and specialised fiduciary standards to anable compliaince with international fiduciary standards of the Green Climate Fund(GCF).
Support a climate finance mobilization strategy in the Indian Ocean region that draws from the climate finance approach of DEFIIS+.
Support knowledge-sharing of DEFIS+ approaches and experiences
Coordinate with IFAD Regional Office and IFAD Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG) of the Office of Technicla Delivery (OTD) and support their implementation of activities to: strengthen the resilience of agricultural production systems and vulnerable marginal communities to the impacts of climate change while contributing to enhance mitigation co-benefits such as GHG emission reduction, promoting intensive/improved rice farming techniques (SRI/SRA), and implementing Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA).
Develop a pipeline of participating institutions and build their climate adaptation capacity to participate in DEFIS+.
Develop and manage relationships with key private and public sector stakeholders in the climate finance ecosystem to enhance visibility to DEFIS+ Madagascar.
Collaborate with the PMU of DEFIS and the Steering Committee (SC) and organize periodic meetings with the stakeholders.
Lead organisation of supervision and/or implementation support missions of DEFIS+ Madagascar.

Key Performance Indicators
The Programme Officer maintains the standards for IFAD’s competence in development in her/his assigned portfolio. S/He has demonstrated technical expertise and credibility in portfolio management and creates the foundation for IFAD’s capacity and reputation for programme delivery and enhances its recognition as a reliable development partner. S/He provides substantive support in the development of country strategy, project design, partnership building and policy development and the foundation for enhancing sustainable government strategies and policies to improve the livelihoods of the poor and other disadvantaged groups.

Position specific:

The Programme Officer will be accountable for the good performance of DEFIS+ and compliance with supervision and reporting requirements in line with the standards of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

S/He will also support knowledge management of CCA investments and replication; facilitate the introduction of international standards for climate change adaptation finance and support enhancing the climate change adaptation capacity of local financial institutions, small producers and agricultural micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Working Relationships
In the context of programme development and delivery, the Programme Officer ensures the exchange of information, advocates for programme and policy enhancements and ensures consistency and reliability in the provision of development assistance to the government. In collaboration with other members of the UN country team, bi-lateral development agencies, NGOs and country programme counterparts, s/he establishes and maintains relationships and projects the image of IFAD as a credible/reliable partner striving for harmonization of development activities.

Position specific:

The DEFIS+ Madagascar PO will proactively:

Engage with the GCF NDA in Madagascar on all DEFIS+-linked issues
Identify and liaise with other climate finance stakeholders and initiatives building synergies and collaborations.
Collaborate with Madagascar Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, particularly with regards to ensuring alignment and use of the GCF climate adaptation taxonomies.
Collaborate with IFAD Regional Office and IFAD Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG) to implement all elements of DEFIS+ Madagascar activities.
Coordinate periodic reporting to the GCF on DEFIS+ operations as per agreement with the GCF.
Job Profile Requirements
Organizational Competencies ¿ Level 1

Strategic thinking and organizational development: Personal influence
Demonstrating Leadership: Personal leadership and attitude to change
Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge and innovates
Focusing on clients: Focuses on clients
Problem solving and decision making: Demonstrates sound problem solving and decision-making ability
Managing time, resources and information: Manages own time, information and resources effectively
Team Work: Contributes effectively to the team
Communicating and negotiating: Communicates effectively: creates understanding between self and others
Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains effective working relationships
Managing performance and developing staff: Manages staff and teams effectively

Education:

Level – Advanced university degree

Areas – rural development, agriculture, economics, rural finance, development policy or other job-related fields.

Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php .

Work experience:

5 years of experience in development finance, climate finance, banking and/or agricultural finance, gained while working for leading international financial institutions and/or donors, with strong understanding of lending institutions and financing of climate change adaptation for smallholder farmers and agri-businesses.
Position-specific experience: Experience in management of GCF Funded-projects including administrative procedures and reporting requirements. Having this experience with IFAD will be a plus. Ability to develop network of partners in climate finance ecosystem including government agencies, financial institutions, community organizations, and NGOs, as well as fintech and agtech companies.
Location-specific experience: Knowledge of Sub-Saharan Africa (including Madagascar preferred) rural development challenges and adaptation to climate change.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Languages:

Required French and English (4 ¿ Excellent)
Skills:

Job role specific

Topical expertise – Programme Management for Agricultural Development, Expertise specific to position, e.g., in agricultural and rural development, policy-oriented, programme based pro-poor approaches, results-based agriculture rural development projects, country-specific knowledge, migration, etc.;
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;
Policy dialogue, Know-how in the representation of IFAD as a trusted and strategic partner, advocating and promoting IFAD’s mandate and vision; effective consultations with IFAD counterparts ¿ line ministries and governmental bodies at all administrative levels, donors, civil society;
IFAD¿s partners, Knowledge of IFAD’s partners’ functioning and mandate , such as the public sector (e.g. governments and policy, institutions and system), non-state actors (NGOs, CSOs, Foundations, etc.) and private sector actors;
Project/Programme management (incl. coordination, design, development), Know-how in Project design and evaluation;
Loans & grants, Know-how in designing loan and grant operations and managing loan and grant preparation process;
Initiative and good judgment, High sense of proactive initiative-taking and good judgement (including on security matters);
Interpersonal skills, Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with others (e.g. visitors, clients, callers, etc.), including senior individuals (e.g. high-level meeting participants);
Written communication, Clear, succinct and convincing written communication in the language needed for specific role ; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language (e.g. for drafting of position papers, briefings, etc.) communication,
Verbal communication, Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language communication,
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;
Position specific ¿ Level 3 Competency

Climate Finance ¿ Expertise in finance that aims at reducing emissions, and enhancing sinks of greenhouse gases and aims at reducing vulnerability of, and maintaining and increasing the resilience of, human and ecological systems to negative climate change impacts
Partnership building ¿ Ability to formulate new approaches or identify new opportunities to build relationships with both traditional and nontraditional partners, focusing on impact and results.
Rural Finance ¿ Expertise in inclusive rural finance, customer demand and capacities, financial service providers, financial systems and markets, and policy and regulations (micro-, meso- and macro-level adapted support).
Financial data integrity and financial systems ¿ know-how in systems interface control, core banking system management, data mining and analytics
Private sector investment ¿ Expertise in assessing private sector investment proposals, review of transactions and complex facilities and interventions using regular and blended finance, conducting due diligence, and recommending financial/investment decisions accordingly; Proven expertise in deploying financial instruments
Resource mobilization ¿ Know-how in resource mobilization strategies (including marketing and communication) for IFI, international public bodies and within the UN

Other Information
This call is advertised as a short-term assignment with a duration of initially 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 in the event they are selected.

IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD’s Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation in line with its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org

In accordance with IFAD’s provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD’s remuneration package, please visit IFAD’s compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements.

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

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.

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