(Senior) Natural Resources and Agriculture Investment Specialist – IS 4/5  

Overview
Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.

The position is assigned in the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office (SG-AFNR) within the Sectors Group (SG). SG is a single operational group comprising seven sector offices that aims to deliver impactful sector strategy, initiatives, and integrated solutions that advance ADB’s strategic agenda in the region and with ADB’s clients. SG delivers or supports the delivery of sovereign and nonsoverign, and advisory operations, and knowledge services, supports regional departments (RD) and resident mission (RM) in engaging with Developing Member Countries (DMCs), and ensures ADB’s technical leadership externally and internally.

SG-AFNR will lead the delivery of $14 billion food security ambition, and will introduce innovations, knowledge sharing and champion climate adaptation financing. It will support a high volume of operations including sovereign and non-sovereign projects across ADB’s various regions and relevant practice areas.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.
 

Job Purpose

The (Senior) Natural Resources and Agriculture Investment Specialist will lead, formulate, and articulate policy and strategies on the agriculture, food, nature, and rural development (AFNR) sector, engage developing member country (DMC) governments in policy dialogue, engage with the private sector and other industry stakeholders, and conduct ADB’s activities to support agri-food system transformation, nature capital financing, and climate-smart net zero agriculture development. He/She will lead in identifying and developing loans, grants, technical assistance (TAs) projects, and non-lending products and services, and provide technical support and backstopping to other staff. The incumbent will report to the Director of SG-AFNR and he/she will supervise National Staff and Administrative Staff.

Responsibilities

• Leads the development of strategies and operations for agri-food system transformation, with innovative financing to support green, resilient, and modernized agriculture with enhanced private sector engagement, in consultation with relevant government agencies.
• Leads the natural capital fund raising, and contributes to pipeline development and project preparation for mobilizing external funding support.
• Proactively contributes to business identification and development for agri-food system transformation and climate-food-nature nexus in DMCs including Pacific countries.
• Introduces new modalities including financial intermediary lending and blended finance facilities to address climate-food-nature nexus, including, among others, exploring debt-for-nature swap structuring, carbon finance, farmer financing facilities, incentive systems such as payment for ecosystem services and eco-compensation, and other instruments, in partnership with relevant private sector stakeholders and donors, and in close consultation with DMC stakeholders, to promote climate-smart net zero agriculture and rural development in DMCs.
• Engages in policy dialogues in DMCs for agri-food system development and transformation, and agri-food trade.
• Leads preparing and organizing joint sovereign and non-sovereign roundtables for agribusiness development in selected DMCs.
• Leads the development, processing and administration of loan, grant and TA projects in the AFNR sector in DMCs, and ensures key technical, economic, financial and crosscutting issues are incorporated into projects. Selectively supports nonsovereign agribusiness transactions under the guidance of Principal Investment Specialist in the PSOD Agribusiness Investment Team.
• Contributes to AFNR sector assessment, strategy and roadmap preparation or updating in selected DMCs, and provide inputs to Country Partnership Strategy and country programming missions.
• Contributes to SG-AFNR Communities of Practice for Natural Capital and for Agriculture Value Chain and Financing by sharing his/her expertise within SG-AFNR.
• Performs other duties that may be assigned as reflected in the incumbent’s workplan.
 

 Qualifications

Relevant Experience & Requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent in economics, finance or related fields; University degree in economics or finance or other related fields combined with at least 5 years specialized experience in similar organization/s can be considered.
• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in agriculture financing and agribusiness investment projects.
• Strong understanding and practical application of the technical, policy, institutional, and participatory principles of sustainable, integrated agriculture and rural development.
• Strong analytical abilities, multidisciplinary competence, and proven ability to organize, lead, and manage project teams.
• Broad knowledge of cutting-edge international and national policies and programs related to agri-food system transformation and climate-food-nature nexus.
• International experience working in development, with substantial experience in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors in several Asian countries; preferably in multiple Southeast Asian DMCs.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for International Staff Level 4/5.

General Considerations
The selected candidate, if new to ADB, is appointed for an initial term of 3 years.

ADB offers competitive remuneration and a comprehensive benefits package. Actual appointment salary will be based on ADB’s standards and computation, taking into account the selected individual’s qualifications and experience.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Please note that the actual level and salary will be based on qualifications of the selected candidate.

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