Senior Technical Adviser – Gender, empowerment and social inclusion for rural development

Vacancy announcement number:	11/06/P
Date of issue:	12 February 2011
Deadline for applications:	11 March 2011
Position Title:	Senior Technical Adviser – Gender, empowerment and social inclusion for rural development
Organizational unit:	Policy and Technical Advisory Division - Programme Management Department
Level:	P-5
CCOG Code:	1.A.11
Duty station:	Rome
Date of entry on duty:	As soon as possible
Duration of assignment:	3-year fixed term

Organizational context

IFAD is an International Financial Institution and a Specialized United Nations Agency whose mission is to enable poor rural people to overcome poverty. IFAD’s headquarters is in Rome, Italy, and its staff work with very poor rural people, their governments, communities and organisations in more than 80 countries to develop and finance programmes and projects aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and incomes.

The Policy and Technical Advisory Division (PTA) aims to strengthen the quality of IFAD’s portfolio of country programmes (comprising loans, grants and associated activities) as regards technological, institutional and policy aspects. The Division supports IFAD investment in developing and applying a knowledge base on pro-poor, community-led rural development. This knowledge management provides the basis for PTA’s quality enhancement of the Fund’s programmes and partnership development for rural poverty reduction.

As a Senior Technical Advisor, the incumbent will work under the management of the Director of the Policy and Technical Advisory Division (PTA).

The incumbent shall carry out the duties and responsibilities described below:

• Provide up-to-date professional advice to improve the capacity of IFAD and its partners to design, implement and monitor programmes that promote gender equality and social inclusion; are targeted to the poor, and empower local communities.
• Provide technological, institutional and operational policy support to staff, field missions and regional programmes at all stages of the country programme and project cycle, including implementation support in the thematic areas indicated.
• Pro-actively orient and manage applied research work to fill gaps and obtain feedback in knowledge in his/her professional area/domain.
• Develop tools, guidelines and advice concerning his/her area of expertise.
• Facilitate, internally and externally, cross-regional exchange of knowledge, and documentation of field tested approaches with potential for upscaling in the areas of gender equality; empowerment and social inclusion; pro-poor targeting.
• Facilitate integration of issues related to gender equality, empowerment, targeting, and social inclusion in the different thematic areas which the Division covers (including sustainable agriculture and development, natural resource management and climate change; rural infrastructures, marketing and value-chains, rural institutions and farmer organisations).
• Develop partnerships for purposes of joint advocacy and knowledge generation and sharing, and represent IFAD at international fora in her/his professional area/domain.
• Perform other related duties as may be requested by the Director of the Division.

Education and experience

• Advanced university degree in at least one of the following disciplines: Sociology, Social Anthropology, Gender in Development, Rural Development Studies, Economics, Human Geography, or related fields.
• Ten-to- fifteen years of relevant experience in rural development in developing countries.
• Professional experience in working on gender issues and in one or more of the following: gender sensitive poverty and livelihoods analysis; social inclusion and pro-poor targeting; participatory methodologies and community development; youth and indigenous people.
• Familiarity with different stages of the project/programme cycle (design, implementation, supervisions, monitoring and evaluation).
• Knowledge of current issues in agricultural and rural development.

Technical/functional competencies

• Planner and Organiser/Decision-Maker – you will have excellent judgement and the ability to think strategically, assessing and responding to new challenges in rural development. You will be able to set clear priorities within a boundless and often challenging agenda.
  
• Team Worker/Builder – you will have strong interpersonal skills, that will allow you to develop a close and effective working relationship with internal and external clients at all levels. You will have the ability both to lead and to work effectively in teams;
  
• Leader / Performer – you will have excellent management skills, and be able to deploy them in a multicultural setting. You will have the ability to inspire teams to work together to achieve stretching objectives.
  
• Negotiator and Communicator – you will have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, and the ability to present coherent and convincing strategic analysis. You will have the ability to achieve results through motivating people and influencing partners.
  
• Facilitator of Change - you will balance a responsive and proactive approach to meeting client needs, encouraging staff to understand client needs and concerns and ensuring provision of customized services and products as appropriate.
  
• Model of integrity, trustworthy and confident – you will champion IFAD’s core values - Results, Integrity, Professionalism and Respect.
  

Communication

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; including the ability to set out a coherent argument in presentations and group interactions.
• Working knowledge of an additional IFAD language (Arabic, French, Spanish).
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft packages and electronic communication.

Other information

In principle, this is a Rome based position. However, applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD. . IFAD reserves the right to appoint a candidate at the appropriate grade commensurate with experience and knowledge.

Interested candidates are requested to apply by completing IFAD’s Personal History Form (PHF) in English. A separate CV may be attached if you desire, only as a supplement and not a substitute to the PHF. The applications need to be addressed to the Human Resources Division, Via Paolo di Dono 44, 00142 Rome, Italy, Fax +39-06-5043463, Email vacancy@ifad.org. and must clearly indicate the Vacancy Number and position title. Any application received by IFAD after the closing date or not fulfilling the above-indicated requirements, will not be considered.

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.