Global Technical Specialist (Livestock)

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. It 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, ICT4D, private sector finance 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 Global Technical Specialist-Livestock works under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance, and supervision of the Lead Global Technical Specialist- Livestock. S/he works collaboratively with the thematic Technical Specialists, Country Directors (CDs) and other staff to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support.

The Regional Technical Specialist-livestock is a professional who technically supports country/regional programs as well as the corporate poli\cies and initiatives as well as broader corporate agenda by providing state-of-the-art technical advice throughout the project cycle (strategic and operational), particulalry on specific emerging development areas such as (i) mainstreaming the One Health approach; (ii) building climate resilience of livestock systems; (iii) promoting innovative technologies aiming at reducing impact on the environment, enhancing biodiversity and better use of natural resource while sustainably intensify production of Animal Source Food (ASF). The position is based in Abidjan and has a great focus on supporting IFAD’s West and Central Africa country programs and activities, but entails also potential work on other regions given the global nature. 

Position specific: The Global Technical Specialist - Livestock is a professional expert on sustainable intensification of livestock development.  S/he technically supports country/regional programs as well as the corporate agenda by providing state-of-the-art technical advice throughout the project cycle (strategic and operational) on Livetsock issues. As an integral member of delivery teams, s/he works collaboratively with the thematic Technical Specialists, Country Directors (CDs)/Head of Multi-country Offices (MCOs) and other staff. 

1.TECHNICAL ADVICE TO COUNTRY PROGRAMMES: On the basis of seasoned technical knowledge and analysis of current thematic conditions, emerging development challenges and the state of rural poverty at the country, regional and global levels, the Global Technical Specialist - livestock provides sound technical advice to improve IFAD’s s capacity to address rural poverty, to support national programmes and to enhance IFAD’s reputation as a trusted and valued partner. Among others,the candidate will provide technical advice and support to field operations in specific emerging development areas such as (i) mainstreaming the One Health approach to ensure closer cooperation between human and animal health and with other health related sectors (i.e. social and environmental sciences and economics); (ii) building climate resilience for subsistence farmers and nomadic pastoralist communities and their livestock; (iii) sustainably intensifying livestock production while signifcantly reducing environmental impact and (iv) promoting Renewable Energy Sources (RES) technologies with the vision of de-fossilising livestock farming and ICT4 innovative technologies for natural resource management (e.g. rangeland management).
Accountabilities may include: 
a. Providing technical expertise in the Identification, elaboration and assessment, in accordance with existing organization guidelines, technical opportunities, proposals and feasibility studies for development projects and programmes and monitoring their execution; 
b. Participating in country programme management teams  and providing technical, analytical inputs to IFAD’s country strategic opportunity papers (COSOPs) and Country Strategic Notes (CSNs), project designs as well as to other policy documents related to rural development and poverty reduction; and 
c. Participating in project missions as necessary and pilot methods of analysis for IFAD projects Review proposals for small and large grants as required. 

2. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The Global Technical Specialist-livetsock enhances the development of viable and sustainable policy and project development at the country-level and supports regional thematic input through seasoned technical knowledge sharing for his/her area of specialization. S/He will ensure country-level access to the latest sources of knowledge and innovation, strengthen national technical capacity and establish new knowledge and advisory partnerships. Accountabilities may include: 
a. Sharing knowledge and experiences generated through activities such as analytical studies and regional grants with colleagues in the country programme as well as the division; 
b. Conducting relevant knowledge development and dissemination with institutions outside of IFAD within the region concerned and national Institutions, disseminating knowledge and lessons learned with peers, counterparts and stakeholders through drafting of of Occasional Papers, journal articles, seminars and workshops, through electronic media (e.g. web resource platforms and social media) and the development of new knowledge products and operational tools that are informed by learning from the field; and 
c. Participating in IFAD-wide thematic discussions and developing appropriate technical and operation approaches of relevance to the country/divisional strategies and programmes. 

3. POLICY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS The Global Technical Specialist-livetsock establishes and maintains a network of peer contacts inside and outside IFAD to keep up-to-date on activities at the country and regional levels, to support policy engagement and joint advocacy and for knowledge sharing to enhance the Fund’s profile as a highly competent and viable partner in development. 
4. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Global Technical Specialist-livetsock is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes: 
a) People Management and evaluation of performance of consultants and staff under his/her purview. 
b) Resource Management by providing technical expertise for programme development, and Knowledge and Content Management by ensuring that (1) knowledge content within specialty/thematic area is continuously updated and available through the intranet, that (2) best practices are continuously identified, documented and made available to clients and peers through the inter-/intra-net and that (3) appropriate and up-to-date information and learning tools are available.

Position specific:

5. TECHNICAL ADVICE TO COUNTRY PROGRAMMES: Based on a planning exercise undertaken jointly between the Project Management Department and SKD, and working in close collaboration with the Country Directors/Country Programme Officers, the Global Technical Specialist - Livestock provides authoritative technical advice to country programmes in the area of livestock development. S/he serves as Project Technical Lead (PTL) or contribute to Project Delivery teams (PDTs) for select project designs mainly focusing on the West and Central Africa but potentially also other regions 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 areas focusing on livestock development. 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 selected design 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 area of Livestock Development, s/he also provides and/or coordinates targeted technical support and peer review to select project designs in the respective Region. S/he also provides technical support on livestock development for selected ongoing projects, with priority given to projects for which s/he was the PTL 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. 

6. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The Global Technical Specialist - Livestock serves as a champion for knowledge management on livetsock decelopment. S/he contributes to the generation and dissemination of knowledge, good practices and innovations in her/his thematic area of livestock development generated through loans and grants or other activities 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 Global Technical Specialists 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 (specifically the Livestock for Social Development platform and the Global Livestock Alliance). S/he also develops and delivers tailor-made training modules and courses related to his/her area of expertise of Livestock Development as required. 

7. POLICY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS: The Global Technical Specialist - Livestock supports the development and maintainance of a network of peer contacts and partners outside IFAD to keep abreast of recent developments and trends and facilitate brokering of partnerships in the area of livestock development to enhance the Fund’s profile. Specifically, on the basis of her/his thematic expertise and skills in Livestock Development and working closely with the CDs/CPOs, the Lead Global Technical Specialists at headquarters, the Lead Regional Economists and other relevent Technical specialists, 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 supports IFAD in relevent policy fora that are of relevance for the region and the respective area of livestock development, requiring authoritative voice and knowledge. S/he supports strategic technical partnerships with organizations, centers of excellence, research institutions and thematic platforms that are relevant for the region. 

8. CORPORATE ACTIVITIES: Working in close collaboration with the Lead Global Technical Specialist on Livestock at IFAD headquarters, the Global Technical Specialist- Livestock leads and contributes to corporate initiatives of relevance for State Members in IFAD regions and the respective area of livestock development 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.  

Assignments require the provision of technical expertise and input for the full programme/project cycle and other relevent IFAD’s activities as well as in knowledge production  and sharing with peers and counterparts. The work goes beyond technical analysis and synthesis to include substantive inputs to project methodology and design of projects, knowledge sharing among peers and counterparts to enhance cooperation, complementarity and synergy and monitoring and evaluation to measure 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 regionally based Technical Specialist with global mandate, her/his work may be reviewed for technical accuracy, but more typically is reviewed for achieving the established work plan.

Position specific: Assignments require the provision of authoritative professional expertise and technical leadership at the global, regional and national levels in the area of llivestock development. Technical Specialists contribute to define, propose, revise and/or develop 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 of critical concern to the Fund. In particular, analytical and advisory work requires solid 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.

The work relationships of Technical Specialists at this level are primarily for the exchange of information and technical advice regarding development projects. Information-gathering and exchange in support of studies and thematic assignments may also include identifying reliable sources and establishing guidelines for obtaining information on national and sub-regional; conditions and to convey methodological approaches and operational experience for implementation of activities undertaken on behalf of the Fund.

Position specifics: The work relationships of Technical Specialists involves the provision of authoritative technical advice and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in mission planning, technical project design and appraisal or the preparation of studies and report related to livestock developments. S/He typically provides technical advice and methodological guidance to management, CDs/Head MCOs, national governments, development partners and other country programme staff in the technical area of livestock development. 

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 listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php *

• Areas – Veterinary Science, Animal Production Science, Agronomy, Agricultural economics or related field.

(*) 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 Livestock Development, particularly in the formulation of technical guidance and input to agriculture and rural development programmes and investment projects, of which at least 2 years entailing  work experience designing and implementing livestock projects in fragility-affected contexts is highly desirable. 
• Position-specific experience: The selected candidate will demonstrate knowledge on IFAD cross cutting themes related to (i) Nutrition, (e.g. agriculture food systems); (ii) Gender and social inclusion (e.g. youth, targeting strategies) and (iii) Environment and climate change (e.g. climate and environmental policy, biodiversity, agro-ecology). Experience in the areas of animal health and production; climate change, rangeland management and pastoral development; sustainable farming systems and agricultural services; livestock value chain development and financing are required.
• Working experience in specific emerging development areas such as (i) mainstreaming the One Health approach to ensure closer cooperation between human and animal health and with other health related sectors (i.e. social and environmental sciences and economics); (ii) building climate resilience for subsistence farmers and nomadic pastoralist communities and their livestock; (iii) sustainably intensifying livestock production while significantly reducing environmental impact and (iv) promoting Renewable Energy Sources (RES) technologies with the vision of de-fossilizing livestock farming and ICT4 innovative technologies for natural resource management (e.g. rangeland management) are essential requirements. Experience in international institutions and private sector in the area of animal health and production and related fields is a strong advantage

Languages:

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

Skills:

• Knowledge strategy & management: Extensive expertise in knowledge management & dissemination strategies
• Climate Finance: Finance that aims at reducing emissions, and enhancing sinks of greenhouse gases and aims at reducing vulnerability of, and maintaining and increasing the resilience of, human and ecological systems to negative climate change impacts
• Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation)
• Adaptability: Adaptability and flexibility when facing new or unexpected situations, and to specific constraints and circumstances and managing complex processes
• 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
• 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.)
• Cross-cutting themes - Environment & climate change: Expertise specific to the environment and climate change cross-cutting theme (e.g. climate and environmental policy, biodiversity, agroecology)
• Cross-cutting themes - Gender and social inclusion: Expertise specific to gender and social inclusion cross-cutting theme (e.g. youth, targeting strategies)
• Cross-cutting themes - Nutrition: Expertise specific to nutrition cross-cutting theme (e.g. food systems)
• Livestock: Expertise in Livestock development which includes issues related to animal health, animal nutrition, animal breeding, livestock value chain development, pastoral support service, and rangelands & pasture management
• Project/Programme mgmt (incl. coordination, design, development): Know-how in Project design and evaluation

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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