Job Title : Call for Interest - Regional Innovation Management Specialist (GGW-RSP programme) - Short term Opportunity 11 Months
ID : 34999
Location : DAKAR
Date of issue : 04/08/2026
Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 04/21/2026
Organizational Unit : West & Central Africa Div.
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Temporary
Assignment Duration : 11 months
Grade : P-3
Organizational Setting
This Call for Interest is advertised as a short-term assignment with a duration of 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 or Indefinite 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.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a leading source of financing for agricultural and rural development in many developing countries. IFAD acknowledges that climate risks are key factors affecting rural poverty and pose significant challenges that need to be addressed. While climate change is a global phenomenon, its adverse effects are most acutely felt by poor rural populations in developing countries, whose livelihoods rely heavily on natural resources.
The Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) is an African land restoration effort aiming to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land, sequester 250 million tons of carbon, and create 10 million green jobs in rural Sahel areas by 2030. Spanning 8,000 km from Senegal to Djibouti, this intervention zone seeks to become a mosaic of sustainable agricultural systems across the 11 participating countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan).
IFAD has a long-standing tradition of investment in the 11 GGW countries, which are home to some of the world
- s poorest populations. These countries face significant challenges in agricultural production and food security and are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
In 2021, the Green Climate Fund invited IFAD to develop a Great Green Wall Regional Support Programme (GGW RSP). The RSP mandate is to broker knowledge at regional level and promote collaboration among the GGW-initiative (GGW-I) stakeholders to enhance knowledge management and exchanges to accelerate the uptake of best practices and learning and inform policy and investments across projects funded by the green funds. The RSP aims to improve knowledge management and foster exchanges across GCF projects and its accredited entities while piloting innovative digital technologies. The program focuses on two outcomes: - Outcome 3.1: Improved knowledge management and exchange to accelerate the adoption of best practices, enhance learning, and inform policy and investment decisions. - Outcome 3.2: Mapping innovative and digital transformation technologies and creating an enabling ecosystem.
Duty station: The Regional Innovation Management Specialist will be part of the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU), based in Dakar, and will report to the Senior Program coordinator.
Key Functions and Results
The Regional Innovation Management Specialist oversees the following activities pertaining to foster innovation and digital transformation: "Build a digital and innovation ecosystem,"; "Create a digital marketplace," and "Identify new opportunities for investing in climate innovation in the GGW", and works under the supervision of the Senior Program Programme Coordinator IGREENFIN, in close collaboration with IFAD Office of Development Effectiveness (ODE).
In the context of the main products offered by the Innovation Unit, the Reginal Innovation Management Specialist
- s core duties/responsibilities will include the following:
Strategy and Framework Development:
- Lead the development of a comprehensive GGW-RSP innovation strategy
- Design and implement a structured framework, procedures, and platforms for the systematic documentation, assessment, and dissemination of innovations and digital transformation technologies across adaptation projects
- Mainstream innovation and digital transformation considerations are integrated into all relevant project components, outcomes, and outputs, contributing to efficient decision-making and adaptive management
Innovation Identification and Mapping:
- Coordinate the systematic identification, stock-taking, and mapping of existing climate adaptation innovations and digital transformation technologies across GGW countries (e.g. social enterprise innovations, climate technologies; digital extension and advisory services; digital finance services; open data and geo-mapping technologies; tools and toolboxes for best practices, planning, and scaling; youth and gender-sensitive innovations)
- Proactively identify new, gender-responsive opportunities for investing in climate adaptation innovations and digital transformation within the GGW region, involving the private sector, MSMEs, cooperatives, and other relevant stakeholders
- Conduct ongoing landscape analysis to identify emerging trends, gaps, and potential areas for innovation in climate adaptation across the GGW region.
Promotion and Knowledge Sharing:
- Support the development of knowledge products (e.g., policy briefs, case studies, reports) specifically on innovations and digital solutions, showcasing their potential and lessons learned for climate adaptation
- Contribute to the project's digital marketplace, ensuring that identified innovations and digital transformation solutions are promoted and accessible for wider uptake
- Provide technical support for brokering relationships between solution providers (e.g., entrepreneurs, academia, SMEs) and project partners (GEF, GCF, and other relevant entities) at country and regional levels
- Facilitate and organize online events, expert speaker sessions, annual innovation fairs, and exchange visits to showcase specific innovations and digital transformation technologies, share expertise, and foster peer-to-peer learning among GGW stakeholders.
Capacity Development & Partnerships
- Develop and deliver training programs and workshops for GGW stakeholders (including local authorities, policymakers, project staff, field agents, academics, and private sector actors)
- Support the roll-out of "innovation observatories" sites to monitor, test, and validate innovations, potentially incorporating citizen science and participatory approaches
Innovation Grants Facility
- Contribute to the design, and supervise the implementation of the competitive innovation grants program, ensuring that grants effectively support activities that enable the adoption of climate adaptation practices and technologies, including innovation and digital transformation
- Support the development of robust selection criteria for innovation grants, ensuring gender-responsiveness and alignment with project objectives
- Contribute to the development of a comprehensive catalogue of best and most innovative adaptation solutions derived from the innovation grants
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Provide specialized inputs on innovation and digital transformation aspects for project monitoring and evaluation systems, annual reports, and project implementation reviews (PIRs)
- Contribute to impact assessment activities, particularly in evaluating the effectiveness and scalability of piloted innovations
- Ensure systematic documentation of lessons learned, success stories, and challenges related to innovation uptake and scaling up.
Job Profile Requirements
Education:
An advanced university degree in relevant discipline for the assignment (environmental management, economics, and entrepreneurship, international development, climate finance, etc.) with sound knowledge of project management and M&E.from an accredited institution listed on https://whed.net/home.php is required. Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in IFAD's Human Resources Implementing Procedures.
Experiences:
- At least five (5) years' of progressively relevant sound international professional experience in innovation management, preferably within the context of climate resilience and agricultural development.
- Knowledge of the concepts and processes of innovation, including different types (incremental, disruptive, open innovation), and their differentiated applications in various fields;
- In-depth knowledge of innovation ecosystems, and familiarity with regional and national policies that affect innovation, including funding programs, grants, incentives, and regulations;
- Proven leadership skills with a track record of successfully organizing events, fairs, or similar initiatives to foster innovation and collaboration;
- Strong analytical acumen with the ability to conduct comprehensive mapping exercises and identify high-impact investment opportunities;
- Experience in establishing and managing digital marketplaces or similar platforms at a senior level; and of Knowledge of methods and metrics for evaluating the impact of innovative projects and their replication potential;
- Proficiency in facilitating partnerships and collaborations that support innovation initiatives, and Experience building relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including start-ups, SMEs, researchers, and public sector organizations;
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to effectively convey the importance of innovation in the GGW to stakeholders and the general public, with demonstrated ability to engage effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders;
- Experience in promoting best and scalable success stories to inspire and engage the community, and engage funders effectively;
- Knowledge of the usual computer tools and software: Word/Excel/PowerPoint;
- Knowledge of IFAD procedures will be an asset;
- Experience with an international financial institution, audit firm, NGO with global outreach or other relevant institution would be an asset;
- Experience with multilateral climate funded (e.g., GEF, AF, GCF) projects is an advantage.
Languages and other skills:
- Fluency in English and French is required (4- Excellent)
Other Information
This Call for Interest is advertised as a short-term assignment with a duration of 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 or Indefinite 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.
IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on ethnic, social, or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size, or sexual orientation. This is in line with our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and our Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please refer to the UN disability-inclusive language guidelines.
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