Partnership Officer, Climate Finance

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 External Relations and Governance Department (ERG), comprising the Communications Division (COM),  the Global Engagement Partnership and Resource Mobilization Division (GPR) and the Office of the Secretary (SEC), leads IFAD’s public and political advocacy, including engagement with Member States and other stakeholders through global policy engagement and other global processes. 

The Global Engagement, Partnership and Resource Mobilization (GPR) Division has a specific focus on global engagement, partnerships (including with the private sector, foundations, bilateral and multilateral organizations), and on driving the resource mobilization efforts with traditional and non-traditional donors and partners.

Within this framework, the GPR Division addresses three main functions: (i) Global engagement and multilateral relations; (ii) South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC); and (iii) replenishment, resource mobilization and advocacy. The mission of the Global Engagement, Partnership and Resource Mobilization Division (GPR) is to enhance IFAD's contribution to inclusive and sustainable rural transformation and Agenda 2030 through strengthening global engagement, partnerships, and resource mobilization.

The Global Engagement, Partnership and Resource Mobilization (GPR) has decentralized Liaison Offices:
(a) The Americas Liaison Office (ALO) with two offices based in Washington and New York, United States of America
(b) The Saudi Arabia Liaison Office (SLO) with one office based in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(c) The Japan Liaison Office (JLO) with one office based in Yokohama, Japan

The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Chief Partnership Officer or Senior Partnership Officer..

The purpose of the Partnership Officer position is to deepen corporate level collaboration with key stakeholders and provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of assignment. S/He may also serve as focal point and resource for GPR colleagues on specific thematic areas of strategic relevance for partnership development. The Partnership Officer works within cross-functional key partner management teams to leverage relationship management skills, assets and, most importantly, professional social networks. Partnership Officers are experts in their focus areas. They provide technical expertise and develop new approaches which materially expand the range of services or programmes delivered to closely support internal and external stakeholders. Partnership Officers work collaboratively with the other colleagues across the GPR Division to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support within their assigned portfolios. The key result is to ensure greater visibility and influence for IFAD in support of its mission.

Position Specific: The Partnership Officer, Climate Finance supports IFAD’s engagement with Member states and their institutions to deepening mobilization of climate resource opportunities to be channeled to IFAD’s through the following groups-:

•    Core resources: 40% of the overall US$3.5billion programme of loans and grants for IFAD12 cycle (2022-2024) invested in climate activities;

•    2RP three-pillar umbrella programme: consolidating multiple sources of financing to small-scale producers and their communities to put in place their own locally-adapted resilience strategies against climate variability, environmental pressures, food insecurity and hunger, as well as rural poverty, instability and irregular migration. 
i.    Pillar I - enhanced Agriculture Smallholder Adaptation Programme (ASAP+)  to deliver climate finance for mitigation and adaptation to small-scale farmers, with a  resource mobilization target of US$500M in the next three years. The Partnership Officer supports IFAD’s effort to mobilize climate finance as possible under ASAP+; 
ii.    Pillar II – the Sustainability, Stability and Security (3S) Initiative in Africa: to address the interlinked issues of climate resilience, youth unemployment and irregular migration in an integrated manner by focusing on agro-ecology and degraded land areas of the continent as drivers for irregular migration and insecurity. The Partnership Officer contributes to mobilizing finance in support of the 3S objectives in consultation with IFAD’s Africa Regional Divisions, and the Environment, Climate and Social Inclusion Division (ECG); and work with other GPR’s partnership officers to mobilize relevant supplementary funding; 
iii.    -Pillar III - The Green Climate Fund’s umbrella programme for the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative (GCF-GGW UP):  supporting countries in implementing their national development plans and strategies that help to restore land, soil, agricultural production, green cover, access to markets and nutrition. Part of the GGW Initiative will be financed from the GCF but additional co-financing to the initiative may be mobilized, including through the Trust Fund. The Partnership Officer supports as required. 

•    The Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility (IPAF):  With the objective of strengthening indigenous peoples’ communities and their organizations, IPAF finances small projects that foster self-driven development. As a follow up to the outcome of COP26, IFAD is scaling up IFAP to become a main vehicle to channel climate finance to IPs either directly or through blending IFAD-finance projects The Partnership Officer contributes to mobilizing resources for IPAF in close collaboration with relevant colleagues.

•    The Private Sector Financing Programme (PSFP): to directly engage with and invest in the private sector, complementing and bringing additional value to IFAD's public sector interventions. As part of the PSFP, IFAD launched the Africa Rural Climate Adaptation Financing Mechanism (ARCAFIM). The Partnership Officer contributes to mobilizing resources under ARFAFIM in close collaboration with relevant colleagues.
 

1. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING: The Partnership Officer seeks and promotes new partnerships and resource mobilization opportunities, working with IFAD colleagues to identify needs and broker resource mobilization agreements to meet those needs. S/he receives and screens inquiries from potential collaborators and facilitates communication with appropriate IFAD staff and advocates divisional priorities. S/he scans and scouts external environment within designated focus areas for opportunities and risks and shares information in a timely fashion with relevant IFAD staff. In addition, s/he provides strategic, logistical and programmatic support to senior management and other IFAD staff in corporate engagement and interaction with assigned partners.

2. DEVELOPING AND SUPPORTING PARTNERSHIP STRATEGIES: The Partnership Officer collaborates with internal stakeholders to strengthen IFADs approach to partnerships. S/he develops annual partnership engagement and resource mobilization plans and supports the implementation of partnership strategies within assigned portfolios. In addition, s/he builds IFAD's institutional capacity and knowledge for its partnership performance and ensures the development of efficient approaches for partnership knowledge management.

3. GLOBAL POLICY ENGAGEMENT, SSTC, AND REPLENISHMENT, AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION AND ADVOCACY: The Partnership Officer is responsible for providing technical expertise to the development and implementation of corporate strategies for the engagement in global policy debates. S/he supports and contributes to IFAD's engagement in SSTC and other policy dialogues, including replenishment, resource mobilization and advocacy.

4. FOCAL POINT FOR OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, POLICY INFLUENCE AND COLLABORATION: The Partnership Officer acts as focal point for identification and pursuit of opportunities for outreach, engagement, policy influence and collaboration, including on how to anticipate and respond to partners' concerns and priorities, ensuring that IFAD's interests, perspectives, and knowledge are taken into account in relevant policy and institutional processes, and ensuring that they are fully aware of IFAD's perspectives, policies, priorities and capabilities. S/he contributes to the development and management of initiatives for high-level outreach, including for IFAD Senior Management.

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Partnership Officer is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the personal use of assigned IFAD resources, including equipment, supplies and, as applicable, staff supervised.

Position specifics: 
The Partnership Officer, Climate Finance is assigned to:  
•    Leading the work on the countries assigned, using/updating/developing country engagement plans as a guide.
•    Promoting partnership and resource mobilization opportunities opportunities (both globally and at the country level with State and non-State actors – including from the private sectors and Foundations) by supporting the related outreach, policy engagement, influence and collaboration activities; aiming at reaching Replenishments’ targets for Core resources, IPAF, 2RP and the PSFP/ARCAFIM.
•    Supporting the mobilization of supplementary funds in support of IFAD’s corporate priorities and the finalization of relevant agreements with Donors.
•    Providing logistical and programmatic support to management for the engagement and interaction with assigned partners.
•    Supporting preparation of IFAD’s Senior Management in-person/virtual visits to countries under his responsibility.
•    Developing the mapping of potential donors to the 2RP and coordinate the implementation of donor outreach in close collaboration with other partnership officers, the Environment, Climate and Social Inclusion Division (ECG), and other relevant divisions;
•    Supporting ECG in preparing IFAD’s engagement in relevant global processes, in particular UNCCD COPs.
•    Contributing to develop background information/narrative to support strategic partnerships and outreach from relevant donors including from Companies and Foundations 
•    Supporting Partnership Officers to prepare donor profiles, and analyses of 2RP, IPAF, PSFP/ARCAFIM potential donors’ ODA/climate finance priorities in and budgets. 
•    Developing targeted products and initiatives to mobilize resources and attract additional funding for IFADs strategic priorities.
•    Supporting the planning and organization of specific events and meetings with key partners and donors, including the preparation and implementation of the Advisory Committee meetings, in close collaboration with ECG
•    Contributing to reports, blogs, social media and other communication materials related to donors, and provide feedback on donor messaging, needs and perspectives.

The Partnership Officer is a seasoned professional in the field of external relations. The quality of work and external communications performed by the Officer directly impacts on the professionalism of the incumbent and the overall reputation of the GPR Division in terms of both substantive depth and adaptive relevance to emerging issues and changing client needs. S/He follows established procedures but is expected to make recommendations on strategies for engagement and communications products. The Partnership Officer is accountable for quality, substantive input and ability to project a competent and trusted image of the Fund to partners within IFAD and outside.

Position specific: 
-    Work may involve travels in IFAD Member Countries.
-    Assignment involves the management of processes as well as strategic and analytical work. 

Representational functions of the Partnership Officer are focused on establishing and maintaining relationships, building stronger relationships, identifying and pursuing of opportunities for outreach, engagement, policy influence and collaboration, and projecting the image of a credible/reliable partner. S/He resents policy positions, seeking to inform and build partnerships, within the limitations of guidelines set by the supervisor. Work relationships are established and maintained with counterparts both inside as well as outside the Fund. Exchange of information typically requires proactivity to clearly establish the policy, positions or practices of the Fund. S/He functions as a collaborative partner within the Fund to enhance partnership development and resource mobilization.

Position specific: 
Broad collaboration with colleagues within IFAD; government authorities; project staff; implementing partners; development partners and other stakeholders.
 

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
• 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 - international development, international relations, political science or related field or other job-related field

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

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in outreach and liaison and/or any resource mobilization related activities;
• Three (3) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.

Languages:

• English (4 - Excellent)
• Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3 – Good) 

Skills:

• Advocacy: Ability to leverage IFAD knowledge and/or communication materials to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD`s vision and strategic priorities to external actors
• IFAD partners: Knowledge of IFAD's partners' functioning and mandate , such as the public sector (e.g. governments and policy, institutions and system), non-state actors (NGOs, CSOs, Foundations, etc.) and private sector actors
• Resource mobilization: Know-how in resource mobilization strategies (including marketing and communication) for IFI, international public bodies and within the UN
• 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 journalists, media outlets, etc.)
• Leadership: Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective guidance to others; Ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization by acting as a role model for IFAD's core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and effective guidance to the team, strategizing the IFAD's goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all.
• Listening: Effective and active listening to others; understanding and acting upon indirect statements
• Political acumen: Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice
• Problem solving: Strong systemic and structured thinking, ability to identify and dissect problems into components and formulate a comprehensive set of creative viable and sustainable solutions and strategies
• 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.)

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.