Egypt: Environment and Climate Officer

Aug 27, 2018 | International Fund for Agricultural Development
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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 Strategy and Knowledge Department (SKD) provides expert guidance on IFAD's strategic direction, thematic priorities, and technical quality of IFAD’s operations. It plays a critical role in providing technical expertise to operational teams to enhance development effectiveness, by generating and disseminating IFAD’s development knowledge and evidence on strategic themes and encouraging innovative application of cutting-edge global knowledge and evidence in IFAD investments to support countries tackle their most complex development challenges in fostering inclusive and sustainable rural transformation. SKD is composed of the (i) Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG); the (ii) Sustainable Production, Markets, and Institutions Division (PMI); and the (iii) Research and Impact Assessment Division (RIA).

 

Post's organizational accountability

ECG takes the lead in mainstreaming cross-cutting themes of environment and climate, nutrition, gender, youth, and indigenous peoples into IFAD's portfolio, to strengthen the quality of IFAD’s operations and achieve improved impacts in these areas. It contributes to the generation of evidence and knowledge on these cross-cutting themes, and facilitates their use in IFAD projects and activities. ECG also provides guidance and support to ensure the inclusion of marginalized groups, particularly women, indigenous peoples and rural youth, into IFAD operations.

In addition, IFAD competitively sources and manages environment and climate change global finance, which it uses to help mainstream environmental sustainability and climate change resilience into its regular agricultural development work. Some examples are the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), the Adaptation Trust Fund and IFAD’s Adaptation For Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP).

The Environment & Climate Officer position is strategically located across all five IFAD regional divisions to provide an oversight function to the neighboring countries. In this context the Environment & Climate Officer provides a technical advisory role.

The Environment & Climate Officer is a seasoned professional in environment and climate domains. S/he independently analyzes technical and policy problems of concern to IFAD, intergovernmental bodies, and national authorities and provide substantive technical input to the development of policies, technical strategies and proposals.

Accountabilities/key results expected are:

  • Technical Advice
  • Knowledge Management
  • Partnership Building and Resource Mobilization
  • Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
  • Managerial Functions

The Environment & Climate Officer works under the overall strategic, policy and management advice, and supervision of the Division Director of ECG and the Regional Director of the Regional Divisions to which s/he is mapped. S/he works under the direct supervision of the Lead Technical Specialist (Environment and Climate) of the Regional Division to which s/he is mapped, with dual reporting to the Country Director/Head of the IFAD Sub-regional Hub. S/He works in close cooperation with Technical Specialist for Youth, Indigenous peoples, Nutrition as well as with other Technical Specialists and Country Programme Managers to ensure consistency, cohesion, and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support facilitating knowledge flows and building of communities of practice.

The incumbent will be responsible for working with one of IFAD's Regional divisions to support delivery on a number of fronts:

  • Strategic engagement of key partners at various levels for advancing IFAD's work in the region; 
  • Integration of environment and climate dimensions into IFAD's projects and policy dialogue at various levels;
  • Support IFAD investment project designs and facilitate the integration, where possible, of environment and climate grant financing from Trust Funds such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and Adaptation Fund (AF), Green Climate Fund (GCF) or similar Trust Funds;
  • Successful implementation of Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP), and environment and climate Trust Fund resources ;
  • Implementation and oversight of IFAD's Safeguards Policy; and
  • Support knowledge management and communications on environment and climate issues.

The Environment & Climate Officer may be requested to travel to neighboring countries to lend assistance with respect to the following provisions.

Key results expected / Major functional activities

1. Technical Advice

On the basis of seasoned technical knowledge and analysis of current thematic conditions, emerging development challenges and the state of rural poverty at the assigned program countries, the Environment & Climate Officer provides sound technical advice to improve IFAD’s s capacity to alleviate rural poverty, to support national programmes and to enhance IFAD’s reputation as a trusted and valued partner.

Accountabilities include:

  • Providing technical expertise in undertaking or overseeing the development of Environment and Climate Assessments for informing the Social, Environment and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP) related to country strategic opportunity papers (COSOPs), investment projects, and environment and climate Trust Fund projects, and policy processes;
  • Supporting project supervision, providing project implementation support where necessary, and undertaking quality assurance of monitoring and evaluation processes and results; and
  • Participating in project missions, initiatives, and environment and climate Trust Fund dialogues as necessary.

2. Knowledge Management

The Environment & Climate Officer enhances the development of viable and sustainable policy and project development at the country-level and supports regional thematic input through seasoned 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:

  • Sharing knowledge and experiences generated through activities such as analytical studies and regional grants with colleagues in the country programme as well as the division;
  • Conducting relevant knowledge development and dissemination with the concerned institutions, disseminating knowledge and lessons learned with peers, counterparts and stakeholders through drafting of Occasional Papers, journal articles, seminars and workshops, through electronic media (e.g. web resource platforms and social media) and the development of evidence based new knowledge products and operational tools; and
  • Participating in IFAD or GEF-wide thematic discussions and developing appropriate technical and operational approaches of relevance to the country/divisional strategies and programmes.

3.  Partnership Building and Resource Mobilization

The Environment & Climate Officer establishes and maintains a network of peer contacts inside and outside IFAD to faciliate strategic partnerships, keep up-to-date on activities to support joint advocacy and for knowledge sharing to enhance the Fund’s profile as a highly competent and viable partner in development.

Accountabilities include:

  • Building partnerships with the concerned political associations and coordination platforms, technical organizations, NGOs, and specialized departments of other development agencies as potential operational and strategic partners;
  • Strengthening IFAD’s representation and communication in technical issues (including representing IFAD at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences fora); and
  • Mobilising new resources for IFAD through partnerships and outreach activities.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

The Technical Specialist contributes to managing the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of technical activities and components of programs/projects in order to enhance country level programme and funding decisions based on accurate technical data.

Accountabilities include:

  • Developing monitoring and evaluation criteria for technical components of programmes and projects;
  • Implementing performance monitoring systems and new approaches to performance monitoring; and
  • Preparing analytical findings and reports for divisional and country-level decision making on project viability and sustainability.

5. Managerial Functions

The Environment & Climate Officer is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes:

  • People Management and evaluation of performance of consultants and staff under his/her purview.
  • Resource Management by providing technical expertise for programme development, and Knowledge and Content Management by ensuring that (1) knowledge content within specialty/thematic area is continuously updated and available through the intranet, that (2) best practices are continuously identified, documented and made available to clients and peers through the inter-/intra-net and that (3) appropriate and up-to-date information and learning tools are available.

Impact of Key results / Key performance indicators

Assignments require the provision of seasoned technical expertise and input for the full programme/project cycle as well as in knowledge sharing with peers and counterparts. The work goes beyond technical analysis and synthesis to include substantive inputs to project methodology and design of projects, knowledge sharing among peers and counterparts to enhance cooperation, complementarity and synergy and monitoring and evaluation to measure and report on lessons learned and best practices. The work is considered moderately complex requiring in-depth technical analysis and reporting. Typically operating as an Environment & Climate Officer in an IFAD regional or sub-regional hub, the Environment & Climate Officer's work may be reviewed for technical accuracy, but more typically is reviewed for achieving the established work plan.

 

Representation / Work relationships

The work relationships of Environment & Climate Officers are primarily for the exchange of information regarding development projects. Information-gathering and exchange in support of studies and thematic assignments may also include identifying reliable sources and establishing guidelines for obtaining information on national and sub-regional; conditions and to convey methodological approaches and operational experience for implementation of activities undertaken on behalf of the Fund.

Competencies

Organizational competencies

  • 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

Technical/Functional competencies

  • Technical environment and climate expertise in the design and coordination of technical research and identification of solutions to evolving issues.
  • Ability to share technical guidance/knowledge at the peer level.
  • Ability to develop new approaches, techniques or policies in relation to client needs.
  • Ability to develop new methodologies and techniques in the field of monitoring and knowledge management related to climate change and natural resource management
  • Clear understanding of IFAD business and market sector; appreciation of strategic implications thereof.
  • Ability to plan, lead, integrate and coordinate the work of a mid-sized team.
  • Ability to interpret data, present rational conclusions and defend recommended actions.
  • Produces well-structured, factually and analytically accurate reports.
  • Prepares presentations for board-level delivery.
  • Captures experience and knowledge from assignment for wider dissemination.
  • Effectively applies project management tools and techniques.
  • Experience in GIS, mapping or vulnerability assessments
  • Experience in monitoring an evaluation of projects and programs
  • Interdisciplinary approach to work – expert in given field, as well as able to collaborate across disciplines with experts in other areas, and to apply knowledge in areas of expertise other than their own.
  • Ability to work well with multi –cultural teams.
  • Politically sensitive.
  • Ability to set out a coherent argument in writing, presentations and group interactions.
  • Communicates effectively with different counterparts (civil society, government authorities, local communities, project staff). Listens effectively to engage others
  • Thorough knowledge of PeopleSoft ERP as well as full command of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and common Internet applications.

Minimum recruitment qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in the field of specialization, e.g. environmental studies, agronomy, environmental economics, geography, climatology or rural development. An advanced university degree may be substituted by a first university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) plus at least four additional years of relevant professional experience, over and above the minimum number of years of experience.

Experience

  • At least 5 years progressively responsible experience in, and demonstrated understanding of, development initiatives in rural development and climate and/or environment issues
  • In-depth technical expertise, demonstrated by substantive work experience, and solid understanding of 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.
  • Proven experience in negotiation, decision-making and also leading some complex project design and implementation/supervision issues
  • Access to a network of technical and professional resources and expertise which can be brought to bear to improve ASAP and GEF programming.

Language requirements

For Egypt: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic. Working knowledge of French is an asset. 

For Indonesia: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, and the prominent regional language.