Regional Technical Specialist (Rural 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 Strategy and Knowledge Department (SKD) provides expert guidance on IFAD's strategic direction, thematic priorities and technical quality of IFAD’s operations. It plays a critical role in providing technical expertise to operational teams to enhance development effectiveness, by generating  and  disseminating IFAD’s development knowledge and evidence on strategic themes, and encouraging innovative application of cutting-edge global knowledge and evidence in IFAD investments to support countries tackle their most complex development challenges in fostering inclusive and sustainable rural transformation. SKD is composed of the (i) Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG); the (ii) Sustainable Production, Markets and Institutions Division (PMI); and the (iii) Research and Impact Assessment Division (RIA).

PMI provides technical support to IFAD Country Programs to ensure the proper application of corporate quality standards required for achieving development results and impact in key thematic areas, including food production systems (i.e. fisheries, livestock, and agronomy), land, natural resources management, water and rural infrastructure, financial services, rural markets and enterprises and rural institutions. It contributes to the generation of evidence and knowledge on these themes, and facilitates their use in IFAD projects and activities.

The Regional Technical Specialist (Rural Finance) works under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance, and supervision of the Lead Global technical specialist (Rural Finance), with dual reporting to the Regional Division Director for Western and Central Africa-WCA.

The Regional Technical Specialist is a seasoned professional in a specialized thematic area assigned to the deisgnated region; s/he reports either to a more senior Technical Specialist or to the divisional Director. At this level Technical Specialists independently analyse technical and policy problems of concern to IFAD, intergovernmental bodies, and national authorities and provide substantive technical input to the design and implementation of investment projects, development of policies, technical strategies and proposals. S/He may work collaboratively with the thematic Technical Specialists, Country Directors and other staff to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support.

Position specific: The Regional Technical Specialist is a seasoned professional expert in the thematic area of rural finance. He/she provides technical support to the design and implementation of IFAD’s sovereign and non-sovereign investment operations, leads or grant design and management, and perform knowledge management, partnership building and support to policy dialogue in the area of rural finance. 

1. TECHNICAL ADVICE TO COUNTRY PROGRAMMES: Based on a planning exercise undertaken jointly between PMD and SKD, and working in close collaboration with the CDs/CPOs, the Regional Technical Specialist provides authoritative technical advice to selected country programmes across the designated region. S/he provides guidance and advice to PMI staff based in the region on technical, operational and corporate policies and procedures in the specialized area for the preparation of Results-based Country Strategic Opportunities Programmes (COSOP) and Country Strategy Notes (CSN). S/he serves as Technical Lead or contribute to Project Delivery teams (PDTs) for select project designs in the Region of particular complexity and/or strategic importance to which s/he is assigned, ensuring the overall technical quality of the assigned project design across technical specialized areas. This includes drafting terms of reference for technical team members, selecting and providing over-sight of qualified technical consultants, facilitating technical inputs from other IFAD staff and/or others (e.g. centers of excellence, research institutions), ensuring the technical quality of the project design report, leading select missions and ensuring that comments provided through corporate quality enhancement and assurance processes are adequately addressed. On the basis of his/her thematic expertise and skills in the specialized area, s/he also provides and/or coordinates targeted technical support and peer review to other select project designs in the respective Region of Western and Central Africa. S/he also provides technical support in her/his thematic area for selected ongoing projects in the Region, with priority given to projects for which s/he was the Technical Lead or member of PDT during design and/or projects requiring implementation support (e.g. projects-at-risk), including participation in or leading supervision, implementation support missions, as well as organizing and/or contributing to training and/or capacity building activities. S/he also provides technical inputs to selected project completion reports.  

2. POLICY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS: The Regional Technical Specialist develops and maintains a network of peer contacts and partners outside IFAD to keep abreast of recent developments and trends and facilitate brokering of partnerships in the specialized area to enhance the Fund’s profile as a highly competent and viable development partner in the designated region to which the Specialist is mapped. Specifically, on the basis of her/his thematic expertise and skills in specialized and working closely with the CDs/CPOs, the Lead Global Technical Specialists at headquarters, the Lead Regional Economist and the Technical Advisors on policy engagement in the AVP/PMD Front Office, s/he provides substantive policy analysis to develop technical position papers, internal briefing notes, case studies to facilitate shaping IFAD's perspective/position, based on evidence from IFAD’s loans and grants. S/he represents IFAD in high- level technical policy fora that are of relevance for the region and the respective area requiring authoritative voice and knowledge. S/he develops and maintains strategic technical partnerships with organizations, centers of excellence, research institutions and thematic platforms that are relevant for the region.  

3. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The Regional Technical Specialist contributes to knowledge management in the designated region. S/he leads and contributes to the generation and dissemination of knowledge, good practices and innovations in her/his thematic area generated through loans and grants in the region. Based on business needs, s/he may be requested to provide technical support to other regions in areas of particular expertise to facilitate learning and knowledge sharing. S/he contributes to identify qualified technical consultants to be included in a corporate roster. S/he liaises closely with the Lead Global Technical Specialist at IFAD headquarters, as well as the CDs/RDs and/or South South Technical Cooperation and Knowledge Centers, and the Senior Regional Technical Specialists on relevant knowledge management initiatives and products, including contributing to communities of practice. S/he also develops and delivers tailor-made training modules and courses related to his/her area of expertise as required. 

4. CORPORATE ACTIVITIES: Working in close collaboration with the Global Technical Specialist at IFAD headquarters, the Regional Technical Specialist leads and contributes to corporate initiatives of relevance for the region and the respective specialized area as required, as well as contributing to the development of corporate operational policies, approaches and strategies. S/he also provides substantive inputs to corporate events and technical management briefs as required.  

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Regional Technical Specialist 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 his/her purview.

Position specifics:  

6. TECHNICAL ADVICE ON RURAL FINANCE TO COUNTRY PROGRAMS: Based on a planning exercise, and working in close collaboration with the CDs and CPOs, technical experts from PMI and other relevant divisions, the Regional Technical Specialist (Rural Finance) provides technical advice to selected country programmes primarily in the Western and Central Africa region in the area of rural finance, with specific emphasis on improving the access of small producers and other IFAD target groups (e.g. rural women, youth, indigenous peoples) to inclusive, affordable and sustainable rural financial services,  supporting the development or upgrading of pro-poor and inclusive agricultural/food systems, building stronger partnerships with private sector actors through the deployment of catalytic financial instruments such as guarantee funds, tri-partite cost/risk sharing financing mechanisms, value chain financing schemes, blended finance facilities and leveraging on digital technology to promote improved access to all financial services including credit, savings, insurance and payment services.

Through participation in project teams and missions, s/he provides technical leadership and advice in Rural Finance as part of rural development approaches for the preparation of project design reports and supporting documents/annexes as well as in project implementation support, preparing project supervision reports with concrete guidance and actions to improve project delivery and achievement of impacts. S/he serves as a member of Project Design Teams (PDTs) as the Project Technical Lead (PTL) for selected projects that require inputs on Rural Finance. As PTL, s/he co-leads the project design and implementation support with the CD and s/he is responsible for the technical quality of the assigned project design across all thematic areas. S/he also provides technical support in Rural Finance for selected ongoing projects, for which she may not be a member of the PDT requiring implementation support with particular challenges (e.g. projects-at-risk).   

Technical advice entails written and verbal input related new and/or effective approaches, practices and technologies that allow small-scale producers and rural communities to improve their access to more inclusive, affordable and sustainable financial services including credit, savings, insurance and payment as well as greater climate finance. Gender equality, social inclusion and opportunities for youth will be considered as crosscutting priorities as well as the use of ICT4D solutions. Particular emphasis will be on: strengthening institutional, business and financial capacities and access to markets for  small farmers and their organizations to access inclusive and sustainable financial services (including climate finance), and improve their returns from financial resources borrowed to implement income generating activities and strengthening their resilience to climate change and other shocks, promoting greater use of insurance and other risk management tools supporting climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive value chains when/where relevant; brokering partnerships with private sector actors (including public-private producer partnerships - 4Ps and attracting private investments in the value chains that result in win-win solutions for all parties) through deployment of appropriate funding schemes and instruments including value chain financing arrangements; collaborating with other experts in PMI to identify and support the development of appropriate instruments and technologies related to rural financial services, ICT4D applications, and non-sovereign private sector operations.

Assignments require the provision of seasoned 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 substantive inputs to project methodology, design and implementation, knowledge sharing among peers and counterparts to enhance cooperation, complementarity and synergy and and report on lessons learned and best practices. The work is considered moderately complex requiring in-depth technical analysis and reporting. Typically operating as a technical specialist at the country or regional levels, the Regional Technical Specialist’s work may be reviewed for technical accuracy, but more typically is reviewed for achieving the established work plan.

Position specific:  Regional Technical Specialist (Rural Finance) provides technical leadership in the area of Rural Finance.

The work relationships of Regional Technical Specialists involves the provision of technical advice for policy, projects and strategy development, resource mobilization,and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in mission planning, technical project design, appraisal or the preparation of studies and reports. S/He typically professional latitude in contacts in her/his field(s), providing technical leadership and methodological guidance to management, CDs/Head MCOs, national governments, development partners and other country programme staff in the technical area of specialization. 

Position specific:  Regional Technical Specialist (Rural Finance) working relationships are made in the area of Rural Finance.

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 from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area. (*)
• Areas -, Business, Finance, Economics etc.   
• Degree must be from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php 

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

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of rural finance, particularly in the formulation of technical guidance and input to the design and implementation of investment projects promoting improved access to finance for small producers and rural poor as well as rural SMEs involved in food systems;  
• Two (2) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Position-specific experience:  Strong technical experience in designing and implementing rural finance projects and more generally embedding rural finance-related issues in rural and agricultural development projects; Proven experience in new emerging trends such as private sector finance and investment, value chain financing, blended finance, impact private sector financing, climate finance, and/or digital financial services; Experience in fragile contexts is desirable.

Languages:

• Required English (4 – Excellent) and French (Good-3)
• Desirable: Spanish, or Arabic 
• Position-specific requirement: good drafting skills in English and French

Skills:

• 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
• 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.)
• Resources management: Know-how in the management of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources
• Adaptability: Adaptability and flexibility when facing new or unexpected situations, and to specific constraints and circumstances and managing complex processes
• Business acumen, private sector knowledge: Outstanding ability to synthesize and simplify complex technical information for a variety of (non-technical) audiences
• 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
• 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 individuals (e.g. high-level meeting participants)
• 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
• 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
• 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 hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation)
• Knowledge and Grant Management: Technical expertise in implementing and reinforcing knowledge management and grant operations principles and practices in core work streams through a combination of processes, tools and incentives, including improved visibility, relevance and accessibility of knowledge products for external audiences and in operations.
• Private Sector Investment: Expertise in assessing private sector investment proposals, review of transactions and complex facilities and interventions using regular and blended finance, conducting due diligence, and recommending financial/investment decisions accordingly; Proven expertise in deploying financial instruments
• Project/Programme mgmt (incl. coordination, design, development): Know-how in Project design and evaluation
• Rural Development: Expertise in social and economic development of rural communities in developing countries
• Rural Finance: Expertise in inclusive rural finance: i.e. pro-poor rural and agricultural financial services (including savings, credit, insurance, payments, remittances, etc.), customer demand and capacities, financial service providers, financial systems and markets, and policy and regulations (micro, meso and macro level adapted support).

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.

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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.