Call for interest - 5 months Consultant - Environment, Climate and Social Safeguards, OPR

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 Programme Management Department (PMD) is responsible for the overall lending programme of the Fund, and is composed of five Regional Divisions, and the Operational Policy and Results Division (OPR). OPR’s main function is to ensure that the corporate agenda is sufficiently incorporated into country programmes and leads/contributes to and monitors achievements of assigned corporate commitments. It also oversees compliance of key operational building-blocks such as project procurement and IFAD’s Social, Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP) procedures

The updated Social, Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP) came into effect in September 2021. The SECAP Compliance Function in its Operations, Performance and Results Division (OPR) demonstrates IFAD’s commitment to ensuring that operations conform to sound environmental and social standards (ESS) as laid out in the updated SECAP and other relevant policies and strategies. The Function strengthens risk management of projects, contributes to better impact and results on the ground and long-term development impact and sustainability. The updated SECAP - which includes nine newly developed safeguard Standards and associated Guidance Notes - covers new and emerging safeguard issues such as non-discrimination, gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, labour and procurement. In this regard, SECAP is one of the important building blocks of IFAD’s approach to achieve better impact and results on the ground. The key challenge faced however, is technical capacity and resources to operationalize the updated SECAP and ensure that project designs and implementation comply with the updated SECAP. Going forward, IFAD needs to strengthen both Borrowers’ and its own capacity through targeted learning and development of knowledge products with a focus on adapting behaviours to exercise judgement based on project circumstances and risks.

IFAD is therefore seeking the services of a consultant to support the SECAP team in OPR. The position will specifically provide technical expertise in environmental, social and climate change aspects, and guidance on the implementation of IFAD’s Social, Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP), with the aim of:

(i)    supporting project teams across IFAD’s regions to develop better quality design documents,
(ii)    monitoring the application of SECAP in pipeline and active projects, reporting on high-risk and/or sensitive projects; and 
(iii)    contributing to project staff and borrower’s/recipient’s understanding of SECAP requirements over the entire project cycle. 

In addition, the consultant will conduct reviews/research on IFAD systems and PDRs to inform the biannual reports, promote awareness on safeguard compliance, contribute to enhance project teams capacity on SECAP, as well as populate the project watch list to ensure that environmental/climate risks and management measures are tracked on a continuous basis.

The consultant will provide support to the Lead Technical Specialist (SECAP) in the application of the updated SECAP, and will focus on:

• Developing SECAP knowledge products, including contributing to the SECAP bi-annual compliance reports;
• Supporting the supervision of the implementation of the SUSTAIN grant which aims at enhancing borrower capacity in the application of SECAP during implementation;
• Monitoring IFAD’s Enhanced Complaints Procedure and Incident Procedure, and anticipate issues that may lead to complaints of non-compliance with SECAP and IFAD policies;
• Contributing to the work of the Division with regard to validation of Environmental/Social and Climate risk categories and provide recommendations on compliance with SECAP and IFAD policies, and on responsive risk management measures. This includes reviewing selected project documents at the concept and design phases to: (a) liaise with project teams to support consistency in the integration of ESC safeguard requirements (b) ensure the alignment of project designs with the safeguards of key partners (AF, GCF and GEF); (c) make recommendations for risk management measures.
• Monitoring the SECAP watch list to ensure that SECAP risk rating during project implementation is at minimum moderately satisfactory, and provide support to country teams where necessary to improve performance.

In addition, the consultant will conduct reviews/research on IFAD systems and PDRs to inform the biannual reports, promote awareness on safeguard compliance, contribute to enhance project teams capacity on SECAP, as well as populate the project watch list to ensure that environmental/climate risks and management measures are tracked on a continuous basis.

By the end of the consultancy, the consultant are expected to contribute to OPR in the areas of :

(i) better quality of design documents through compliance with SECAP requirements;
(ii) better monitoring and reporting on high risk/sensitive projects including SECAP compliance; and
(iii) learning and knowledge management on safeguard issues.

The consultant will network with other IFAD Divisions and country programme staff as needed, and will provide written input as requested in line with the Division requirements for the project processing and implementation cycles.

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Lead Technical Specialist to provide technical inputs on SECAP compliance issues at all stages of the specific entry point in the project cycle.

Technical:

• Technical expertise at the country level in area of specialization, e.g. natural resource management, climate change, labour management, indigenous peoples, etc.
• Skills and proven expertise in the design and coordination of technical research and identification of solutions to evolving issues.
• Ability to share technical guidance/knowledge at the peer level
• Written and verbal communication: Clear, succinct and convincing written communication that is highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language (e.g. for drafting of papers, briefings, etc.)
• Analytical skills: Outstanding ability to analyse, synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources, and filter out key insights and recommendations

Minimum recruitment qualifications

Education:
Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in the field of specialization, e.g. Agriculture, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, Environment, or Social Sciences.

Experience:
At least 5 years of relevant experience in, and demonstrated understanding of development initiatives in the field of specialization. Experience in environment and social impact assessments and management plans. Experience in fieldwork and international policy frameworks related to project and program development for climate change and environment financing is an asset.

Language requirements:
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Working knowledge in French is desirable and another in official language (Arabic or Spanish) is an asset.

Applicants will receive acknowledgement of receipt of their submission.

Only applicants with the profiles that meet the need of IFAD will be contacted. 

Given the diverse technical nature of the assignments, IFAD is looking for consultants of varying ability above the minimum threshold stated.

Consultants are not considered staff of IFAD. This consultancy assignment does not carry any expectation of employment, extension or conversion to another type of contract with the Fund.