Mission and objectives

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an International Financial Institution and a Specialized United Nations Agency whose mission is to enable poor rural people to overcome poverty and is present in more than 90 countries to develop and finance programmes and projects aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and incomes.

Context

The Programme Management Specialist will support the implementation of IFAD’s commitment to methane mitigation in the IFAD Bangladesh portfolio through the Reducing Agricultural Methane Programme (RAMP). This role will contribute to the achievement of IFAD’s objectives as part of the Global Methane Pledge partnership. IFAD is strengthening its capacity to respond to the threats to global and country environmental commons while promoting agriculture and rural development in developing countries, through different resources and instruments. The trade-off between agriculture development and climate change presents a unique challenge where the agriculture sector needs to produce more food while reducing greenhouse gas emissions caused by food production. The agriculture, forestry and land use sectors contribute 23% of total net anthropogenic emissions (IPCC, 2020). Agricultural methane emissions primarily originate from livestock and rice cultivation. Rapidly reducing methane emissions from the agriculture sector may achieve near-term gains and is an effective strategy to keep the goal of limiting warming to 1.5˚C within reach while yielding co-benefits. As part of the Global Methane Pledge partnership, IFAD is committed to prioritizing methane mitigation in its project portfolio, which already includes a significant share of activities in agricultural sub-sectors relevant to methane emissions. Identifying and building upon lessons learned to reduce methane emissions from the agriculture sector – IFAD aims to apply methods that simultaneously achieve economic development, adaptation, and methane mitigation goals.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the IFAD Country Director for Bangladesh, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Take the lead on implementation of activities under the Reducing Agricultural Methane Program (RAMP) in Bangladesh IFAD Country Office (ICO) • Work closely with the IFAD country team and consultants on the RAMP programme. • Plan and implement awareness raising and capacity building activities on the contribution of methane to GHG emissions, major sources of agricultural methane emissions and paths to methane reduction for implementing partners throughout the IFAD portfolio in Bangladesh • Identify demonstration activities suitable for pilot with a PKSF Partner Organization on Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) of rice under the ongoing IFAD projects and organize field visits and exchange of information including impact on water savings, yield, and emission reduction. • Assist in the preparation of project concept notes, design documents, and risk assessments, with a primary focus on agricultural methane reduction projects in the Bangladesh portfolio. • Prepare knowledge insights, including policy briefs and background evidence, to showcase best practices in methane mitigation that are relevant to the Bangladesh context. • Support IFAD’s engagement with the NDC Partnership and facilitate the integration of NDCs into IFAD Bangladesh Country Strategic Opportunity Paper (COSOP) • Facilitate institutional learning and knowledge management of climate and environment in IFAD funded projects in Bangladesh including sharing relevant experiences and lessons. • Act as a resource person to provide input and feedback to enhance the effectiveness of climate and environment initiatives in IFAD funded projects in Bangladesh. • Perform any other related duties as required by the Country Director.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Building Trust • Client Orientation • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Communication • Creativity • Empowering Others • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Judgement and Decision-making • Knowledge Sharing • Leadership • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity • Self-Management • Vision • Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

Dhaka is located in central Bangladesh. Not only is it the capital city, but it is also the largest in the country. It is the centre of political, cultural, and economic life in Bangladesh. The official language is Bengali, while English is the working language of UN Agencies. In recent decades, Dhaka has seen the modernization of services, communications, and public works. The city is attracting large foreign investments and greater volumes of commerce and trade. It is also experiencing an increasing influx of people from across the nation; this has reportedly made Dhaka one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Good English-speaking medical, dental services, and educational centres are available for internationals. Dhaka is connected to other cities by rail, road, and by air and internationals can move easily from one city to another. Dhaka has venerable green spaces, including many gardens and parks, historical places, and nice restaurants. The weather is tropical – hot and very humid during the summer monsoon season (April-September) and drier and cooler in the winter (October-March). Historically, Bangladesh has been a safe country for internationals so far. While Dhaka is not categorized as a hardship station, the volunteer should be prepared for limitations in freedom of movement on foot, by public transport, and to certain locations.