Technical Analyst (SECAP), Rome, Italy

Job Title : Technical Analyst (SECAP) - Rome, Italy

ID : 27638

Location : ROME

Date of issue : 03/31/2025

Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 04/30/2025

Organizational Unit : Office of Develop Effectiv

Full/Part Time : Full-Time

Regular/Temporary : Regular

Assignment Duration : 2 Years

Grade : P-2

Organizational Setting

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 Office of Development Effectiveness (ODE) is responsible for managing, measuring, and strengthening the effectiveness of IFAD operations. It ensures that all the projects IFAD finances achieve their maximum development goals and that every single one serves as a learning opportunity for the ones that come after. ODE is led by a Managing Director and is comprised of four (4) units: the Operational Policy Unit (OPU), SECAP, Mainstreaming and Quality Assurance Unit (QAS), Results, Resources and Systems Unit (RRS), Impact Assessment, Knowledge Management and Innovation Unit (IKI).

The SECAP, Mainstreaming and Quality Assurance Unit (QAS) is responsible for assessing the quality of IFAD-financed sovereign and non-sovereign operations, grants, country strategies and operational strategies and policies in terms of overall quality at design and the compliance to countries' and IFAD's policies and commitments. It provides strategic support to the Operational Strategy and Policy Guidance Committee (OSC) by reviewing, clearing, and developing key documents such as Country Strategic Opportunity Papers (COSOPs), loan and grant concept notes, and operational strategies and policies for IFAD's Governing Bodies. It ensures the quality of IFAD's loans and grant programs through comprehensive reviews and clearance of design documents and President's Reports prior to their approval. Additionally, QAS incorporates SECAP's mandate of strengthening project risk management to enhance impact, long-term development outcomes, and sustainability. The unit ensures IFAD-supported projects conform to environmental, social, and climate standards as outlined in SECAP and other relevant policies, safeguarding sustainable development and compliance with ESC guidelines across all projects.

Job Role

The incumbent serves as IFAD's technical expert in their area of expertise. The incumbent supports country/regional programs by providing state-of-the-art global technical advice throughout the project cycle (strategic and operational), as well as contributes to the corporate agenda, in their technical area of expertise. Within the areas of responsibility, the incumbent exercises a degree of independence in providing reliable programme delivery. The incumbent works collaboratively with the thematic Technical Specialists, Country Directors (CD)/Head of Multi-Country Offices (MCO) and other staff to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support.

The incumbent provides reliable technical expertise and guidance on SECAP requirements at the design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluations stages of IFAD-supported projects including Non-Sovereign Operations, and initiatives supported by the Global Environmental Facility and the Green Climate Fund. S/He is a specialist and knowledge builder in her/his thematic specialization. The incumbent will also contribute to compliance monitoring and reporting on SECAP throughout the project cycle, support knowledge flows and help to instil a culture of learning on sound environmental, social and climate practices.

Key Functions and Results

The incumbent will provide reliable guidance and support to ODE's SECAP team, PDTs and Borrowers/Clients in addressing environmental, social and climate related aspects/concerns in IFAD-supported operations during the concept, design and implementation stages (throughout project lifecycle). The incumbent's core duties/responsibilities will include, among others, the following: 1. Environmental, social and climate risk management and enhancing opportunities

• Provide ESC compliance support to IFAD-supported projects and programmes, for both private and public sectors
• Address ESC compliance issues (risks and opportunities) in various IFAD operations during the concept, design and implementation stages. Includes support to validation of risk categories in project designs
• Support and guide Project Delivery Teams and Borrowers/Recipients for the preparation of SECAP studies (environmental and social impact assessments, environmental, social and climate environmental and social management systems) to ensure compliance with SECAP
• Review project draft documentation (project design reports and SECAP plans and studies) to ensure that risks have been adequately identified and appropriate resources and capacity are deployed to effectively meet SECAP requirements in project design and implementation
• Support the alignment of SECAP in selected project designs supported through supplementary funding (eg Adaptation Fund, Global Environment Fund, Global Climate Fund) and the safeguards of key partners
• Support the SECAP Redress Service (SRS) in the overall logistical management of complaints related to alleged non-compliance of IFAD-supported projects with SECAP, including complaints entry eligibility, assessment and problem solving, and support to Office of Audit and Oversight (AUO) as required for the Impartial Review Process.
• Ensure the watchlist is up to date, and that relevant actions have been implemented
• Liaise with project teams to support consistency in the integration of environmental and social safeguard requirements.

2. Policy and Compliance with ESC Requirements:

• Support the review and/or revision of specific IFAD policies, guidelines and tools, particularly where environmental, social and climate requirements apply
• Support in providing ESC guidance to project delivery teams to enhance their awareness and the capacity of the projects and programmes to comply with the SECAP
• Carry out other related assignments as required by the Lead Advisor (SECAP) and or ODE Managing Director.

3. Capacity Building and Knowledge Management:

• Track and report on projects identified as high-risk; improve knowledge management of IFAD's project lessons on the SECAP process with a view to aligning it with IFAD business processes and decentralized efforts
• Support drafting and/or improvement of SECAP reporting templates for use in implementing and monitoring requirements of NSOs
• Support the development and implementation of capacity building and training programs for staff within IFAD and in the Hubs, as well as for borrowers and recipients. This includes providing SECAP training, and developing guidance material and updating existing knowledge products
• Contribute to advocacy and knowledge development activities and building awareness around environmental, social and climate standards among staff.

Key Performance Indicators

Assignments require the provision of 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 professional 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 proficient technical analysis and reporting.

The incumbent will focus on compliance of operations with IFAD rules, regulations and policies, implementation of corporate operational strategies and monitoring and reporting on achievement of results.

Working Relationships

The work relationships of the incumbent involve the provision of technical expertise and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in mission planning, technical project design and appraisal and in the preparation of studies and reports. They serve as an expert in their field of specialization and work with technical independence in the provision of technical expertise and methodological guidance at the country level, as well as regionally as required. Contacts are with counterparts within other United Nations organizations having related programmes and with officials of governments, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, research institutes and academia.

In servicing intergovernmental bodies, expert groups and other meetings, the incumbent provides technical expertise and support for policy formulation and official conclusions in a consultative and advisory capacity; they may also be delegated with authority to provide information regarding the organization's policies, and act as the representative of the organization as needed. Contacts are maintained to identify and evaluate emerging developments.

Work at this level is characterized by client-oriented technical expertise on environmental, social and climate standards. The incumbent builds and maintains collaborative working relationships with the ODE's Policy and Results and Resources Teams, Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG), Private Sector Operations Division (PSD), Regional Teams, Project Delivery Teams (PDTs) to enhance consistency, cohesion and synergy in the provision of SECAP compliance support to project teams. In addition, the incumbent will liaise and coordinate as required with other departments and divisions within IFAD.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 1:

• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains effective 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 erCuI7o PHMNB
• Managing performance and developing staff
• 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

Education:

• Level - Advanced university degree*
• Areas - environmental sciences, environmental engineering, natural resource management, agriculture, rural development, sociology, applied social science, or other related discipline.
• Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php.

*For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in the IFAD's Human Resources Implementing Procedures.

Experience:

• At least two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience in environmental and social safeguarding, preferably in the private sector or international development organization providing support on a global or regional scope.
• Experience working in the field and in one or more of the following topics is an advantage: environmental and social governance, impact assessment, financial intermediaries, climate change and labour issues
• Full command of office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and ability to work with other relevant technology and procedures (e.g.: web-based databases and other statistical applications) to collect, organize, share and use information.

Languages:

• Required: English (4 - Excellent)
• Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic

Skills:

• Procedure adherence: Ability to strictly adhere to established, formal guidelines, including in new situations
• Data management: Data collection, cleaning, transformation and consolidation; data-base architecture & development; data presentation
• Risk management (e.g. reputational): Identification and assessment of potential liabilities and risks in IFAD's activities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties; ability to handle risks via contingency and mitigation strategies
• Strategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions
• Adaptability: Adaptability and flexibility when facing new or unexpected situations, and to specific constraints and circumstances and managing complex processes
• Client orientation: Strong critical thinking combined with communication skills to liaise between the business and technologies to understand business problems and needs, document requirements and identify solutions
• Initiative and good judgment: High sense of proactive initiative-taking and good judgement (including on security matters)
• Specialized communication skills: Ability to negotiate on behalf of IFAD and drive for creative and pragmatic solutions in complex negotiations with key partners, both public and private sector
• Synthesis: Outstanding ability to synthesize and simplify complex technical information for a variety of (non-technical) audiences
• Verbal communication: Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language

Other Information

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 IFADs 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 IFADs remuneration package, please visit IFADs compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements. See here.

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.

Long-listed candidates will be required to participate in a pre-screening interview. Short-listed candidates will be required to participate in a technical and competency-based interview and may be required to take a written test and/or to deliver a presentation.

Non-selected candidates who have been shortlisted, interviewed and found suitable in this competitive selection process may be included in IFAD's appointable roster and considered for future positions in the same job family and grade level, in line with IFAD's applicable provisions. Candidates included in the appointable roster will be notified by IFAD.