Senior Global Technical Specialist – ICT4D

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 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 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) Sustainable Production, Markets and Institutions Division (PMI); and (iii) Research and Impact Assessment Division (RIA).

The Senior Global 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 contributes to the corporate agenda, in their technical area of expertise. 
Within their areas of responsibility, the Senior Global 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 specifics:
The Senior Global Technical Specialist (ICT4D) serves as IFAD’s technical expert in the area of ICT4D. The incumbent supports country/regional programs in the assigned Region(s) by providing state-of-the-art technical advice throughout the project cycle (strategic and operational), and contributes to the corporate agenda, knowledge building and dissemination as well as strategy and policy setting in their area of expertise. Within the field of responsibility (ICT4D), the Senior Global Technical Specialist (ICT4D) exercises a high degree of independence in providing technical support to the design and implementation of country programme and/or investment projects.

 

1. SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVICE: The Senior Technical Specialist provides technically authoritative advice on their area of specialization to improve the capacity of IFAD to position itself as an influential global player in these domains, and to improve related national government policies and programmes and ensure IFAD is regarded as a trusted and valued partner. Accountabilities may include but are not limited to: (a) Providing IFAD staff and partners with up-to-date professional advice on policy, institutional and technical issues. (b) Contributing to ensure that IFAD senior management is regularly and adequately briefed to engage effectively in high level fora with policy implications for rural transformation. (c) Providing senior level technical expertise to the preparation of knowledge products aiming to advance IFAD’s voice in the global debate on rural transformation, in close collaboration within SKD and IFAD. 

2. KNOWLEDGE AND ADVISORY SERVICES: The Senior Technical Specialist enhances the development of viable and sustainable policies and supports regional and global thematic input through authoritative technical knowledge sharing for their area of specialization. The position will ensure access to the latest sources of knowledge and innovation, strengthen technical capacity and establish new knowledge and advisory partnerships. Accountabilities may include, but are not limited to: (i) Supporting intelligence gathering and analysis of debates relevant to inclusive and sustainable rural transformation in the global debate and facilitating knowledge sharing and experiences in this area within SKD, IFAD and other stakeholders in the global arena; (ii) Supporting the coordination of the relevant knowledge development and dissemination with institutions outside of IFAD, within the region concerned and national Institutions, disseminating knowledge and lessons learned with external partners and stakeholders through publication of Occasional Papers, journal articles, seminars and workshops, through electronic media and the development of new knowledge products and operational tools that are informed by learning from the field; (iii) Participating in IFAD-wide thematic discussions and developing appropriate technical and operation approaches of relevance to the country/divisional strategies and programmes; (iv) Planning and leading learning events to strengthen IFAD’s knowledge and capacity to engage in global debates with policy implications for rural transformation. 

3. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES: Senior Technical Specialist develops and maintains a network of strategic partnerships that can help advance IFAD’s mandate and messages around rural transformation in the global debate. The position develops peer contacts inside and outside IFAD to keep up-to-date on activities at the country and regional levels, to support joint advocacy and for knowledge sharing to enhance the Fund’s profile as a highly competent and viable partner in development. Accountabilities may include: (a) Building partnerships with centers of excellence, complementary technical organizations and specialized departments of other development institutions (including United Nations agencies, International Financial Institutions, bilateral cooperation agencies, non-governmental organizations, and others) as strategic partners; (b) Strengthening IFAD’s representation and communication in policy processes (including representing IFAD at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences); (c) Developing and cultivating alliances in key global policy forums to strengthen IFAD’s influence over time, with a strategic focus on specific themes in their area of specialization. 

4. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING: The Senior Technical Specialist supports the Director/Lead Technical Specialists in knowledge management and other monitoring and reporting activities to enhance country level programme and funding decisions.

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Senior 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 their purview.

Position specifics:

6. TECHNICAL ADVICE TO COUNTRY PROGRAMMES AND CURRENT ICT4D INITIATIVES: The Senior GlobalTechnical Specialist (ICT4D) provides technical advice to selected country programmes in the assigned Region in the area of ICT4D in agriculture, markets/value chain, rural finance and agritech. Accountabilities may include:  

• Providing technical advice in their area of technical expertise for the preparation of project design reports and supporting documents/annexes. The incumbent serves as a member of Project Design Teams (PDTs) for selected projects that require ICT4D inputs.
• Preparation of project designs, to ensure ICT4D options are considered and used, providing technical support and proposing new technologies and/or identifying the tools and technologies that can be incorporated in IFAD projects/programmes. This would involve drafting technical content contributing to the project concept note and project design report, participating in design and implementation support missions to provide technical advice and input, drafting terms of reference, selecting and providing over-sight of qualified ICT4D consultants, facilitating technical inputs from other IFAD staff and/or others (e.g. centers of excellence, research institutions).
• Providing and/or coordinating targeted technical support and peer review to other select project designs. Participating in country delivery teams and providing technical, analytical inputs to IFAD’s country strategic opportunity programmes (COSOPs) and Country Strategic Notes (CSNs), project designs as well as to other policy documents related to rural development and poverty reduction; support effective rural development projects with government and other local partners.
• Supporting country programme teams that are implementing ICT4D initiatives in their portfolio (e.g. in the area of e-market platform, financial inclusion, digitization of business plans, etc.). Coordinating with HQ staff
• Organizing and/or contributing to training and/or capacity building activities.
• Participating in project missions as necessary and pilot methods of analysis for IFAD projects; and
• Review proposals for small and large grants as required.

7. IFAD ICT4D STRATEGY PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION: IFAD’s ICT4D Strategy was approved by its Executive Board in December 2019. The Senior Technical Specialist will be guided by the Strategy to elaborate an action plan and lead on the implementation of prioritized activities in coordination with other relevant IFAD divisions and units in the assigned Region as well as in other Regions as required. 

The incumbent will carry forward PMI’s planned initiatives in the ICT4D sector (e.g. digitization of project data to attract private co-financing; potential partnerships with agricultural market platform players; etc.), and will propose new initiatives and ICT4D projects that are aligned with the ICT4D strategy in the area of rural finance, markets and enterprises, as well as partnerships with the private sector. 
The incumbent will provide technical advice on various ICT4D project proposals and initiatives that may come-up and support the corporate agenda in this sector field.  

8. POLICY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS: 
The incumbent 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. The incumbent will follow-up on existing partnership discussions with ICT companies interested in working with IFAD, as well as initiate new partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including in both the public and private sector, UN agencies, NGOs, etc. 

On the  basis  of  their  thematic  expertise  and  skills  and  working  closely  with  the CDs, the Lead Global Technical Specialist, other Technical Specialists/Advisors, and with the Lead Regional Economists, the incumbent contributes to the development of relevant technical policies and strategies linked to ICT4D. The incumbent represents IFAD in technical policy fora that are of relevance in the area of technical expertise, and develops and maintains strategic technical partnerships with organizations, centres of excellence, research institutions and thematic platforms that are relevant for IFAD.

9. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The Senior Global Technical Specialist (ICT4D) will contribute to the generation, systematization and dissemination of knowledge, good practices and innovations in their thematic area of ICT4D and ensure there is cross-fertilization across the 5 regions. through specific knowledge products, toolkits, guidelines and learning events. The incumbent maintains a global network of peer contacts and partners outside IFAD to facilitate brokering of information and knowledge exchanges. The incumbent also builds and/or maintains communities of practice as well as a roster of qualified/certified consultants with ICT4D area of expertise. 
 

Assignments require the provision of authoritative technical expertise in the field of specialization. The impact of work by the incumbent directly affects country programmes and contributes to regional and corporate policy and strategy. The impact on the overall IFAD country and regional programmes is significant in projecting the Fund’s role/capacity as a reliable, viable partner in development. Work is intricate in that it requires consideration of a wide range of technical factors and related data. Senior Regional Technical Specialists also select and provide oversight of external consultants, participate as experts in field missions and in the servicing of intergovernmental and expert group meetings of a technical nature. 

Work at this level normally is not reviewed for technical accuracy. Senior Regional Technical Specialists thus exercise independence and initiative in assessing needs and advising governments when on field mission. Decisions are made on the research or analytical strategies to be followed in resolving problems of concern in the technical area. Established methods and procedures are adapted as necessary in order to achieve desired results.

Position specifics:
The Senior Global Technical Specialist (ICT4D) is responsible for the technical quality of IFAD’s key outputs and deliverables for ICT4D, and guides the organization’s policy, partnerships, and knowledge management on these topics. The incumbent leads IFAD’s strategies/policies, tools, guidelines and databases/evidence on digitalisation. Particular key performance indicators are linked to : Improved knowledge and technical capacities of IFAD’s internal and external stakeholders to increase access and benefits from digitalisation; Increased uptake of ICT4D in IFAD’s supported programmes; High IFAD’s visibility in regional and global policy processes and networks relating to ICT4D; High quality management, design and implementation of programmes, grants and supplementary resources integrating ICT4D; Supporting the mainstreaming of climate, nutrition, gender and youth into programmes integrating digitalisation; collaborating with other experts in PMI to identify and lead the development of appropriate instruments and technologies related to ICT4D applications, partnerships with private sector and non-sovereign private sector operations; etc.; and use IFAD’s technical guidelines and related technical tools to support design and implementation of projects.  

The work relationships of Senior Global Technical Specialists involves the provision of technical advice and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in technical project design and appraisal, supervision/implementation support and in the preparation of studies and reports. The position serves as an expert in the area of agronomy and works with full technical independence in the provision of technical expertise and methodological guidance at the country level, as well as regionally as required. Contacts are with counterparts and senior officials within other United Nations organizations, IFIs governments, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations,private sector research institutes and academia. In servicing intergovernmental bodies, expert and working groups and other meetings, the Senior Global Technical Specialist provides technical expertise and recommendations for investment, policy formulation and official conclusions in a consultative and Specialist capacity; the incumbent also may provide information regarding the organization’s policies, and act as the representative of the organization. Maintain contacts to identify and evaluate emerging developments.

Position specifics:
The Senior Global Technical Specialist (ICT4D) works directly with IFAD’s country teams (Country Directors, Country Programme Officers, regional economists, portfolio advisors, etc.), other technical experts from PMI, ECG, and RIA, as well as other specialists, to lead and deliver IFAD’s programme of loans and grants, non sovereign private sector operations, reimbursable technical assistance, as well as policies/strategies, studies, guiding notes, toolkits, stocktakes, etc., related to ICT4D. The incumbent also develops working relationships and networks with other IFIs, bilateral agencies, UN organizations, private sector, NGOs, research/academia, and other development partners working in the field of ICT4D. The incumbent leads and maintains these working relationships as IFAD’s main representative and leading authority in the area of ICT4D, and is expected to work at the highest level of representation with government and non-government officials. The incumbent also guides their team in building these working relationships with internal and external partners.   
 

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

• Building relationships and partnerships – Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
• Communicating and negotiating – Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills
• Demonstrating leadership – Leads by example; initiates and supports change
• Focusing on clients – Contributes to a client-focused culture
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating – Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture
• Managing performance and developing staff – Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization
• Managing time, resources and information – Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
• Problem-solving and decision-making – Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
• Strategic thinking and organizational development – Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles
• Team working – Fosters a cohesive team environment

Education:

• Level – Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php in a job related field in a technically relevant area*

  Areas – System Engineer, Computer Science, Artificial intelligence, ICT, and related fields, etc 

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

Experience:

• At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of information and communication technologies for development with strong technical experience in advising and implementing ICT solutions in agriculture development projects, markets/value chains development, rural finance and agritech and demonstrated understanding of development initiatives in the field of ICT4D in agricultural development.

Languages:

• English (4 – Excellent)

Skills:

• 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)
• 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.)
• Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation)

Applicants should note that 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.

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. Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation in line with its IFAD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and IFAD policy to preventing and responding to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

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