Le Fonds international de développement agricole (FIDA) est une institution financière internationale et une agence spécialisée des Nations unies qui se consacre à l’éradication de la pauvreté et de la faim en milieu rural. Pour ce faire, il investit dans les populations rurales. Le FIDA finance des programmes et des projets qui accroissent la productivité agricole et augmentent les revenus ruraux, et plaide aux niveaux local, national et international en faveur de politiques qui contribuent à la transformation rurale.
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).
PMI provides technical support to IFAD Country Programs to ensure the proper application of corporate quality standards required for achieving development results and impact in key thematic areas, including food production systems (i.e. fisheries, livestock, agronomy), land, natural resources management, water and rural infrastructure, financial services, rural markets and enterprises and rural institutions. It contributes to the generation of evidence and knowledge on these themes and facilitates their use in IFAD country programs and activities.
Job Role
The Regional Technical Specialist- Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains is a professional in his/her area of expertise. S/he technically supports country/regional programs as well as the corporate agenda by providing state-of-the-art technical advice throughout the project cycle (strategic and operational).
She/he works under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance, and supervision of the Lead Global technical specialist- Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains, with dual reporting to the Regional Division Director for (Western and Central Africa-WCA). As an integral member of delivery teams, s/he works collaboratively with the thematic Technical Specialists, Country Directors (CDs)/Country Programme Officers (CPOs) and other staff to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support. The Key Results Expected/Major Functional Activities are generic and representational; the majority of which, will be performed by the Regional Technical Specialist.
Key Functions and Results
The following Key Results Expected/Major Functional Activities are generic and representational; the majority, but not necessarily all, will be performed by the Regional Technical Specialist- Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains.
1. TECHNICAL ADVICE TO COUNTRY PROGRAMMES: Based on a planning exercise undertaken jointly between PMD and SKD, and working in close collaboration with the CDs/CPOs, the Regional Technical Specialist- Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains provides authoritative technical advice to selected country programmes across the WCA region. S/he provides guidance and advice to PMI staff based in the region on technical, operational and corporate policies and procedures in the area of rural finance and value chains for the preparation of Results-based Country Strategic Opportunities Programmes (COSOP) and Country Strategy Notes (CSN). S/he serves as Technical Lead or contribute to Project Delivery teams (PDTs) for select project designs in the Region of particular complexity and/or strategic importance to which s/he is assigned, ensuring the overall technical quality of the assigned project design across technical araes focusing on Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains. This includes drafting terms of reference for technical team members, selecting and providing over-sight of qualified technical consultants, facilitating technical inputs from other IFAD staff and/or others (e.g. centers of excellence, research institutions), ensuring the technical quality of the project design report, leading select missions and ensuring that comments provided through corporate quality enhancement and assurance processes are adequately addressed. On the basis of his/her thematic expertise and skills in the area of Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains, s/he also provides and/or coordinates targeted technical support and peer review to other select project designs in the respective Region. S/he also provides technical support in her/his thematic area for selected ongoing projects in the Region, with priority given to projects for which s/he was the Technical Lead or member of PDT during design and/or projects requiring implementation support (e.g. projects-at-risk), including participation in or leading supervision, implementation support missions, as well as organizing and/or contributing to training and/or capacity building activities. S/he also provides technical inputs to selected project completion reports.
2. POLICY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS: The Regional Technical Specialist- Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains develops and maintains a network of peer contacts and partners outside IFAD to keep abreast of recent developments and trends and facilitate brokering of partnerships in the area of rural finance and value chains to enhance the Fund’s profile as a highly competent and viable development partner in the WCA region to which the Specialist is mapped. Specifically, on the basis of her/his thematic expertise and skills in Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains and working closely with the CDs/CPOs, the Lead Global Technical Specialists at headquarters, the Lead Regional Economist and the Technical Advisors on policy engagement in the AVP/PMD Front Office, s/he provides substantive policy analysis to develop technical position papers, internal briefing notes, case studies to facilitate shaping IFAD’s perspective/position, based on evidence from IFAD’s loans and grants. S/he represents IFAD in high- level technical policy fora that are of relevance for the region and the respective area of Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains, requiring authoritative voice and knowledge. S/he develops and maintains strategic technical partnerships with organizations, centers of excellence, research institutions and thematic platforms that are relevant for the region.
3. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The Regional Technical Specialist- Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains serves as a champion for knowledge management in the WCA region. S/he leads and contributes to the generation and dissemination of knowledge, good practices and innovations in her/his thematic area of Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains generated through loans and grants in the region. Based on business needs, s/he may be requested to provide technical support to other regions in areas of particular expertise to facilitate learning and knowledge sharing. S/he contributes to identify qualified technical consultants to be included in a corporate roster. S/he liaises closely with the Lead Global Technical Specialist at IFAD headquarters, as well as the CDs/RDs and/or South South Technical Cooperation and Knowledge Centers, and the Senior Regional Technical Specialists Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains on relevant knowledge management initiatives and products, including contributing to communities of practice. S/he also develops and delivers tailor-made training modules and courses related to his/her area of expertise as required.
4. CORPORATE ACTIVITIES: Working in close collaboration with the Global Technical Specialist Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains at IFAD headquarters, the Regional Technical Specialist- Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains leads and contributes to corporate initiatives of relevance for the WCA region and the respective area of Value chains and rural finance as required, as well as contributing to the development of corporate operational policies, approaches and strategies. S/he also provides substantive inputs to corporate events and technical management briefs as required.
5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Regional Technical Specialist- Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes, among others, people management through support to recruitment of technical specialists and technical leadership/capacity development, coaching and mentoring of new and/or more junior staff, supervisory role and evaluation of performance of professionals and general service staff under his/her purview.
Key Performance Indicators
Assignments require the provision of authoritative professional expertise and technical leadership at the global, regional and national levels in the arfea of Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains. Regional Technical Specialists contribute to define, propose, revise and/or develop programmes or policies for the Fund and represent the position of IFAD in national, regional as well as global fora and conferences. Innovation is required in the adaptation and development of approaches and methods to evolving technical and programmatic contexts.
Work at this level is considered of critical concern to the Fund. In particular, analytical and advisory work requires solid identification and consideration of a full range of factors relevant to the examination and discussion of programme problems and policies in the solution of methodological problems or in the formulation of policy proposals and project recommendations.
Working Relationships
The work relationships of Regional Technical Specialists involves the provision of authoritative technical advice and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in mission planning, technical project design and appraisal or the preparation of studies and reports. S/He typically provides technical leadership and methodological guidance to management, CDs/CPMs, national governments, development partners and other country programme staff in the technical area of specialization (Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains).
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
Education:
Level – Advanced university degree
Areas –finance, agricultural economics, rural development, business administration, marketing or related field.
Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php
Work experience:
- At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in the field of Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains, particularly in the formulation of technical guidance and input to development programmes and investment projects; of which at least 2 should be at the international level
- Position-specific experience: Experience in the areas of rural finance , financial inclusion, and value chain development and financing. Experience in private sector finance and climate finance using regular and blended finance solutions, conducting due diligence, and recommending financial/investment decisions accordingly is a strong advantage.
Languages:
- Required English and French (4 – Excellent)
- Desirable: Spanish or Arabic
- Position-specific requirement: good drafting skills in English and French.
Skills:
Job role specific:
- Strong technical experience in designing and implementing Rural Finance, Markets and Value Chains projects and more generally embedding rural finace and Value chain-related issues in rural and agricultural development projects;
- Experience in fragile contexts is desirable.
- Experience in the area of climatye finance, private sector finance and investment, notably 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 is a strong advantage;
- Skills in the design and coordination of knowledge products, technical proposals and identification of innovative solutions to evolving issues related to the field of value chains and rural finance.
- Ability to share technical guidance/knowledge at the governmental and peer levels as well as to inspire more junior specialists and programme staff in the development of viable programme activities.
Other Information
Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD’s Human Resources Policy, staff members are subject to the authority of the President who 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.
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
Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.
