Senior Technical Specialist (AR4D) - Co-Terminus, Rome

Job Title : Senior Technical Specialist (AR4D) - Co-Terminus

ID : 30496

Location : ROME

Date of issue : 08/18/2025

Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 09/15/2025

Organizational Unit : Sust. Prd. Mkts. & Instit.

Full/Part Time : Full-Time

Regular/Temporary : Regular

Assignment Duration : 2 Years

Grade : P-4

Organizational Setting

This is a two-year fixed-term co-terminus position. A co-terminus fixed-term appointment is an IFAD employment contract externally funded (supplementary funded, funded by trust funds in administration or other), strictly limited in duration to the funding of the position, where appointment and extension is conditional on the availability of resources and limited to the externally funded assignment. A co-terminus appointment shall not exceed the duration of the specific assignment and/or project outlined in the letter of appointment and does not carry any expectation, legal or otherwise, or conversion, irrespective of the length of service. There is no guarantee of renewal or conversion into another kind of contract.

Staff members holding an IFAD fixed-term or indefinite appointment are eligible to apply to this co-terminus position with their employment terms and conditions, including contractual status, remaining unchanged. Given that the funding of this position is strictly limited in duration and conditional on the availability of supplementary funds, should the funding finish, the position will be abolished and the staff member will be subject to the relevant provisions foreseen in the HR Implementing Procedures.

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 local, national and international levels for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Office of Technical Delivery is responsible for providing expert technical guidance to IFAD teams engaged in the design and implementation of projects and programmes to deliver the high technical quality investments that facilitate rural transformation, and which comply with IFAD's mandate and operational policies. The Office ensures IFAD applies and disseminates state of the art knowledge in its investments and evidence on strategic themes and encourages the innovative application of global knowledge and evidence in IFAD investments. This helps countries tackle complex development challenges in fostering inclusive and sustainable rural transformation including mainstreaming areas. The Office of Technical Delivery (OTD) is led by a Managing Director and is comprised of two (2) divisions: the Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG) and the Sustainable Production, Markets and Institutions Division (PMI).

The Sustainable Production, Markets and Institutions Division (PMI) facilitates improved and efficient delivery of IFAD's corporate mandate, predominantly through the quality of the design and implementation of its policies, country strategies and projects. Key functions and activities of PMI include Quality Enhancement, Policy Engagement, Networking and Strategic Partnerships. PMI's technical mandate covers a range of themes, all of which are key to deliver IFAD's strategic framework, including: agronomy, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, markets and value chains, agriculture research for development (AR4D), ICT4D, inclusive rural finance (including PARM, INSURED and remittances), rural institutions and farmers organizations, rural infrastructure, water, land and natural resources management.

Position specifics: PMI is led by a Divisional Director and the incumbent will be directly supervised by the Lead Global Technical Specialist for Agronomy.

Job Role

The Senior Technical Specialist serves as IFAD

• s technical expert in their area of expertise. The position 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 their areas of responsibility, the Senior Technical Specialist exercises a high degree of independence in providing reliable programme delivery. The incumbent at this level performs the full complexity range of work independently, including the analysis and approval of complex and/or precedent setting cases with the aim to ensure cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support. The incumbent works collaboratively with the thematic Technical Specialists, Country Directors (CD)/Heads 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.

Position specifics: The Senior Technical Specialist (AR4D) is responsible for management of AR4D Grants portfolio. Specifically, this role provides the oversight and coordination of all aspects of AR4D delivery including:

• Development, management and monitoring of AR4D grants;
• Working closely with the AR4D team, PMI/ECG/GPR/PMD/FCD/FMD/LEG to review lessons from the overall AR4D programme and incorporate lessons learned as appropriate in setting progressive priorities for implementation in IFAD operations and in alignment with donor priorities;
• Provide operational leadership to IFAD in the implementation of AR4D grant operations; and
• Play a key role in the design of future AR4D programmes and ensuring that all activities are executed to a high standard, on time and on budget.
• This role is to represent IFAD and donors (with particular emphasis on the European Commission) to international audiences to ensure innovative scaling opportunities for technologies, approaches and partnerships to create impact.

Under the supervision of the Lead Global Technical Specialist for Agronomy, and Director of PMI, the Senior Technical Specialist (AR4D) will manage resource mobilization, technical oversight, judicious budgetary management and strategic partnerships to achieve and grow opportunities for the AR4D portfolio.

Key Functions and Results

1.SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVICE: The incumbent provides technically authoritative advice on their area of specialization to improve the capacity of IFAD to position itself as an influential global player in these domains, and to improve related national government policies and programmes and ensure IFAD is regarded as a trusted and valued partner. Accountabilities may include but are not limited to:

• Providing IFAD staff and partners with up-to-date professional advice on policy, institutional and technical issues.
• Contributing to ensure that IFAD senior management is regularly and adequately briefed to engage effectively in high level fora with policy implications for rural transformation.
• Providing senior level technical expertise.

2. KNOWLEDGE AND ADVISORY SERVICES: The incumbent enhances the development of viable and sustainable policies and supports regional and global thematic input through authoritative technical knowledge sharing for their area of specialization. The position will ensure access to the latest sources of knowledge and innovation, strengthen technical capacity and establish new knowledge and advisory partnerships. Accountabilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting intelligence gathering and analysis of debates relevant to inclusive and sustainable rural transformation;
• Supporting the coordination of the relevant knowledge development and dissemination with institutions outside of IFAD, within the region concerned and national Institutions, disseminating knowledge and lessons learned with external partners and stakeholders through publication of Occasional Papers, journal articles, seminars and workshops, through electronic media and the development of new knowledge products and operational tools that are informed by learning from the field;
• Participating in IFAD-wide thematic discussions and developing appropriate technical and operation approaches of relevance to the country/divisional strategies and programmes;
• Planning and leading learning events to strengthen IFAD's knowledge and capacity to engage in global debates with policy implications for rural transformation.

3. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES: The incumbent develops and maintains a network of strategic partnerships that can help advance IFAD's mandate and messages around rural transformation in the global debate. The position develops peer contacts inside and outside IFAD to keep up-to-date on activities at the country and regional levels, to support joint advocacy and for knowledge sharing to enhance the Fund's profile as a highly competent and viable partner in development. Accountabilities may include:

• Building partnerships with centers of excellence, complementary technical organizations and specialized departments of other development institutions (including United Nations agencies, International Financial Institutions, bilateral cooperation agencies, non-governmental organizations, and others) as strategic partners;
• Strengthening IFAD's representation and communication in policy processes (including representing IFAD at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences);
• Developing and cultivating alliances in key global policy forums to strengthen IFAD's influence over time, with a strategic focus on specific themes in their area of specialization.

4. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING: The incumbent supports the Director/Lead Technical Specialists in knowledge management and other monitoring and reporting activities to enhance country level programme and funding decisions.

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent 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 their purview.

Position specifics: Specifically, the Senior Technical Specialist (AR4D)'s accountabilities include, but are not limited to: 6. PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT

• Management/oversight of existing and new AR4D contribution agreements and specific grant agreements to recipient organizations,
• Overall responsibility for the full portfolio of AR4D grants - this includes the whole grants life cycle, from grant design, selection, start up, implementation through to grant closure, ensuring compliance with internal procedures and contribution agreements
• Regularly reviewing progress made by grant recipients against the agreed targets. This involves coordinating the day to day inputs of the Grants Officer and Grants and Finance Officer, and inputs from Finance and Country Programmes and Regional PMI Officers and Technical Teams to ensure smooth grant implementation,
• In consultation with GPR, manage relations with partners and grant recipients to ensure optimal performance in delivery of pipeline research projects including maintaining frequent and timely contact with grant recipients to ensure projects are implemented in accordance with annual work plans and budgets plans,
• Prepare TORs, mobilise and manage consultants and participate in project monitoring and supervision,
• Manage and provide mentorship to staff/consultants reporting to him/her, promote peer-to peer learning and facilitate training as required.
• Ensure knowledge capture through enabling collection and analysis of quality data and synthesis of reports from field research projects and preparation and dissemination of knowledge products.

7. STAFF MANAGEMENT:

• Manage the AR4D staff under their direct supervision, create supportive environment and provide direction around expected standards of professionalism and quality of outputs,
• Support the team in the delivery of programme activities, coordinate regular meetings and assist in problem solving,
• Act as a sounding board for ideas/innovation for appropriate and practical research for development activities and seek to optimise team members' professional potential,
• Undertake required human rescources tasks following all appropriate IFAD policies and procedures.

8. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND RESOURCE MOBILISATION: The incumbent develops and maintains a network of peer contacts inside and outside IFAD to keep up-to-date on technologies and approaches appropriate to AR4D, that generate incomes, protect the environment and create social equity and decent jobs 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:

• Identify and assist in the programming of new sources of funding for sustainable agricultural and food systems ti complement and diversify the AR4D portfolio
• Prepare, coordinate, revise and/or finalise selected supplementary funded concept notes and proposals and prepare project grants for approval;
• Building partnerships with EC and complementary technical organizations, CGIAR, CAADP ex pillar IV organisations, Universities, research institutes, NGOs, and specialized departments of other development agencies as potential operational and strategic partners at regional and country levels;
• Strengthening IFAD's representation and communication in policy and technical dialogue/processes and strategy dialogues (including representing IFAD at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars, conferences etc.)

9. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT The incumbent enhances the development of viable and sustainable policy and project development at the country-level and supports regional and global thematic programmes. S/He will ensure country-level specialists can access to the latest sources of knowledge and innovation, strengthen national/partners capacity and establish new knowledge and advisory partnerships. Accountabilities will include:

• Capture lessons learned and contribute to the preparation of knowledge management products, including technical documents, inputs to events and global initiatives and the organization of relevant events as needed;
• Coordinate with other operational divisions in IFAD to develop synergies between AR4D and IFAD projects in countries. S/He works closely with PMI, ECG and CDs to ensure that adapted research, participatoryand innovative approaches contribute to IFAD projects
• Shares knowledge and experiences generated through project results and activities under AR4D grants and AR4D programmes.
• Coordinates relevant knowledge development and dissemination with institutions outside of IFAD, disseminating knowledge and lessons learned with outside partners and stakeholders through publication, seminars and workshops, through electronic media and the development of new knowledge products and operational tools that are informed by learning from the field experience and
• Participating in IFAD-wide thematic discussions and developing appropriate technical and operation approaches of relevance to the country/divisional strategies and programmes.

10. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING The incumbent supports the Lead Global Technical Specialist for Agronomy and PMI Director in knowledge management and other monitoring and reporting activities to enhance IFAD programme and funding decisions as well improved results and impact monitoring.

Accountabilities will include:

• Coordinate the implementation of M&E plan with the adoption of results-based management approaches and methodologies
• Supports the supervisor and Director in their reporting of the agronomy thematic area and divisional plans and operational strategies to senior management.

Key Performance Indicators

Assignments require the provision of authoritative technical expertise in the field of specialization. The impact of work by the incumbent directly affects country programmes and contributes to regional and corporate policy and strategy. The impact on the overall IFAD country and regional programmes is significant in projecting the Fund

• s role/capacity as a reliable, viable partner in development. Work is intricate in that it requires consideration of a wide range of technical factors and related data. Senior Regional Technical Specialists also select and provide oversight of external consultants, participate as experts in field missions and in the servicing of intergovernmental and expert group meetings of a technical nature.

Work at this level normally is not reviewed for technical accuracy. Senior Regional Technical Specialists thus exercise independence and initiative in assessing needs and advising governments when on field mission. Decisions are made on the research or analytical strategies to be followed in resolving problems of concern in the technical area. Established methods and procedures are adapted as necessary in order to achieve desired results.

Assignments require the provision of professional expertise and technical experience at the global, regional and national levels. Senior Technical Specialists support the development of 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 as substantially complex and of critical concern to the Fund. In particular, analytical and advisory work requires in depth 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.

Position specifics: Specifically, the Senior Technical Specialist (AR4D) contributes to AR4D resource mobilization and the design and delivery of programmes. The impact on the overall IFAD country and regional programmes is significant in projecting the Fund's role/capacity as a reliable, viable partner in development. Senior Technical Specialists also monitor and guide the work of external consultants and participate as experts in field missions and in the servicing of intergovernmental and expert group meetings of a technical nature.

Working Relationships

The work relationships of Senior Technical Specialists involves the provision of technical advice and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in technical project design and appraisal, supervision/implementation support and in the preparation of studies and reports. The incumbent serves as an expert in the area of specialization and works with full 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 and senior officials within other United Nations organizations, IFIs governments, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, private sector research institutes and academia. In servicing intergovernmental bodies, expert and working groups and other meetings, the Senior Technical Specialist provides technical expertise and recommendations for investment, policy formulation and official conclusions in a consultative and Specialist capacity; the incumbent also may provide information regarding the organization's policies, and act as the representative of the organization. Maintain contacts to identify and evaluate emerging developments.

In participating in CGIAR and other related intergovernmental bodies, expert groups and other meetings, the Senior Technical Specialist provides technical expertise and recommendations for policy formulation and official conclusions in a consultative and advisory capacity.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
• Communicating and negotiating - Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills
• Demonstrating leadership - Leads by example; initiates and supports change
• Focusing on clients - Contributes to a client-focused culture
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture
• Managing performance and developing staff - Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization
• Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles
• Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment

Education:

• Advanced Degree from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area.
• Areas - agronomy, agriculture, environmental management and food systems, economics, geography, climatology, engineering, or any relevant rural research and development subject.

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

Experience:

• At least eight (8) years work experience in the formulation, management and supervision of research and development investment programmes, mobilization of resources and reporting to donors
• Three (4) years work experience in an international, multi-cultural organization providing support on a global scale.
• Demonstrated experience understanding issues related to sustainable agronomic systems, including the ability to set out coherent strategies in writing, through presentations and at international fora.
• Demonstrated experience in the formulation, supervision and reporting of rural development projects, including field experience in different developing countries
• Demonstrated experience of collaborating with partners with complementary comparative advantages and in negotiation, decision-making while leading complex project designs and implementation/supervision issues.
• Experience of working with academic centres of excellence, regional research and trade entities.
• Demonstrated experience in publishing peer reviewed articles and book chapters that summarise key technologies and approaches adapted to context specific and agriculturally dependent beneficiaries.
• Experience of working with EU, CGIAR, CAADP, or other multilateral or bilateral sources will be an advantage
• Good working knowledge of Windows-based computing, and electronic communication is a requirement.

Languages:

• English (4 - Excellent)
• Additional IFAD language (Arabic, French or Spanish) would be a strong asset.

Skills:

• Donor liaison: Capacity to design, implement and report research for development initiatives targeting sustainable cropping systems and stable value chains that can be scaled to achieve impact
• Partnership building: Ability to formulate new approaches or identify new opportunities to build relationships with both traditional and non-traditional partners, focusing on impact and results
• Stakeholder management: Strong alignment capabilities and consultation skills, building on effective interactions and relationships with different stakeholders (e.g. for the co-creation of communication material with member states) and ability to build and maintain a strong network (e.g. with scientists, advisory agents, development experts, journalists, media outlets, etc.)
• Strategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and assessment of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective donors and target beneficiaries
• 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.
• Planning: Know-how in the planning of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources
• Adaptability: Priority setting and flexibility when facing new or unexpected situations, and to specific constraints and circumstances and managing complex processes
• Change management: Role modelling, anticipation of key risks & conflicts and formulation of contingency plans/solutions, action-oriented
• Collaboration: Successfully work toward a common goal with others by communicating clearly, actively listening to others, taking responsibility for mistakes, and respecting different perspectives of stakeholders
• Corporate approach: Ability to bring in corporate vision and priorities into one's area of work (e.g. budgeting going beyond simple budgetary considerations, taking into account strategic priorities)
• Interpersonal skills: Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with others (e.g. visitors, clients, callers, etc.), including senior management and government officials
• 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
• 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.)
• Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on robust evidence (going beyond simple assumptions and basic data interpretation)

Other Information

Staff members holding an IFAD fixed-term or indefinite appointment are eligible to apply to this co-terminus position with their employment terms and conditions, including contractual status, remaining unchanged. Given that the funding of this position is strictly limited in duration and conditional on the availability of supplementary funds, should the funding finish, the position will be abolished and the staff member will be subject to the relevant provisions foreseen in the HR Implementing Procedures.

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, 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.

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. See here.

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.

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 IFAD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and IFAD policy to preventing and responding 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