India
Assignment duration: 2 Years, Full Time
Grade: P-4
Close Date: 007/07/2023

Organizational Setting

This position is initially based in New Delhi and will move to the IFAD Regional Office for the Asia and the Pacific Region (location to be confirmed). 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 local, national and international levels 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 operations. It plays a critical role in providing technical expertise to operational teams to enhance development effectiveness by generating and disseminatingIFAD’s development knowledge and evidence on strategic themes and encouraging the innovative application of cutting-edge global knowledge and evidence in IFAD investments to help 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); (ii) SustainableProduction, Markets and Institutions Division (PMI); and (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-funded projects and activities.

The Senior Regional Technical Specialist - Water & Rural Infrastructure (Water & RI) works under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance, and supervision of the division Lead Global TechnicalSpecialist, Water & Rural Infrastructure.

Job Role

The Senior Technical Specialist serves as IFAD’s technical expert in their area of expertise. The position supports country/regional programs by providing state-of-the-art global technical advice throughout the project cycle (strategic and operational), as well as contributing to the corporate agenda, in their technical area of expertise. Within their areas of responsibility, the Senior Technical Specialist exercises a high degree of independence in providing reliable programme delivery. The incumbent at this level performs the full complexity range of work independently, including the analysis and approval of complex and/or precedent-setting cases with the aim to ensure cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support. The incumbent works collaboratively with the thematic Technical Specialists, Country Directors (CD)/Heads of Multi-country Offices (MCO) and other staff to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support.

Position specific: The Senior Regional Technical Specialist - Water & Rural Infrastructure acts as the global anchor in this discipline, leading as the water and rural infrastructure team, acting as the lead corporate expert in the area of Water and Rural Infrastructure and managing key programs and initiatives related to Water and Rural Infrastructure’ development, empowerment and strengthening as promoters of change in the value chains and food systems in which they operate as well as stronger partners to private sector actors. The incumbent works collaboratively with the thematic Technical Specialists covering Water and Rural Infrastructure in other areas in PMI, Country Directors (CD)/Heads of Multi-country Offices (MCO) and other staff to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support. The Senior Regional Technical Specialist Water & Rural Infrastructure also represents IFAD at the global level within their area of expertise (Water and Rural Infrastructure), and ensures knowledge flows among the regionally-mapped technical staff within the area of expertise.

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