General
Description of assignment title
IFAD Environment and Climate Officer
Assignment country
Türkiye
Expected start date
01/12/2025
Sustainable Development Goal
13. Climate action
Volunteer category
National UN Volunteer Expert
Host entity
IFAD Multi-Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Type
Onsite
Expected end date
31/12/2025
Number of assignments
1
Duty stations
Istanbul
Details
Mission and objectives
At the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), we envisage vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable rural communities where people live free from poverty and hunger. Three in four of the world’s poorest people live in the rural areas of developing countries. Most of them depend on agriculture for their livelihoods – and in turn, produce much of the food we eat. It’s not an easy job. Many rural people living in poverty face massive economic, social, and environmental challenges – from climate change and food insecurity, to inequality, conflict, and lack of access to resources. These overlapping problems cannot be solved working alone. As an assembler of development finance, we partner with governments, the private sector, civil society, and others to provide grants and concessional and low-interest loans to developing countries. This helps to address critical needs and support rural people as they lead their own development. IFAD-supported projects promote prosperity, food security, and resilience by connecting rural poor people to the finance, markets, technology, and knowledge they need to address their biggest challenges. The Near East, North Africa, Europe, and Central Asia (NEN) region stretches across three continents and a myriad of climates and landscapes, from the arid deserts of North Africa to the mountain ranges of Central Asia. Its young and dynamic population, from a wide range of cultures and socio-economic situations, has great potential to lead sustainable development.
Context
IFAD is strengthening its capacity to mobilise and manage supplementary financing alongside its Programme of Loans and Grants (PoLG) to achieve impact at scale. Among the supplementary resources being considered are IFAD Trust Funds (Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme, Rural Resilience Programme), in addition to global climate change and environment funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the Adaptation Fund (AF). IFAD will engage a UN Volunteer Environment & Climate Officer hired by UNDP, to work under the direct supervision of the Regional Technical Lead (Environment and Climate) for the Near East, North Africa, Central Asia and Europe Division (ECG), with dual reporting to the Head of the IFAD Multi-Country Office (MCO) in Istanbul, and the Country Directors for Bosnia Herzegovina, Georgia, Tajikistan and Türkiye. There is a possibility of extending this UNV assignment until the end of 2026, directly depending on high-quality deliveries, satisfactory performance, continuation of mandate, availability of funding, and operational necessity although there is no guarantee of assignment extension.
Task description
The UN Volunteer Environment & Climate Officer is a mid-level professional with expertise in environment and climate matters who will be based at IFAD’s MCO in Istanbul and provide technical support primarily to the Bosnia Herzegovina, Georgia, Tajikistan, and Türkiye portfolios, besides the broader sub-region covering Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries (ECA). The UN Volunteer Environment & Climate Officer will independently analyze technical and policy issues of concern to IFAD, intergovernmental bodies, and national authorities while providing substantive input to the development of policies, technical strategies, proposals and Social, Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP)-related documents. The UN Volunteer will work in close cooperation with technical specialists, among others, for youth, indigenous peoples and nutrition, as well as with country directors to ensure consistency in the application of technical advice. S/he will support programme development and implementation, facilitating knowledge exchanges and the building of communities of practice. In particular, the UN Volunteer Environment & Climate Officer will be responsible for: i. The engagement of key partners at various levels for advancing IFAD’s and, specifically, the environment and climate work in the ECA sub-region; ii. Mainstreaming environment and climate dimensions into IFAD’s projects, with a focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Tajikistan and Türkiye programme of loans and grants, in addition to other countries in the ECA sub-region; iii. Supporting the design of environment and climate grant financing from international climate funds such as AF, GEF, GCF, or similar for the portfolios in the ECA sub-region; iv. Supporting the implementation oversight of IFAD’s investment projects and the environment and climate loan/grant financing in the sub-region; v. Providing technical expertise in the implementation and oversight of IFAD’s Social, Environmental and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP); vi. Supporting the monitoring, reporting and evaluation functions for programmes and projects; including enhancing performance monitoring systems and new approaches to performance monitoring, preparing analytical work for divisional and country-level decision-making on project viability and sustainability; vii. Contributing to and coordinating the knowledge management and communication on environment and climate issues for the ECA portfolio; viii. Supporting the development and implementation oversight of IFAD-financed and managed investments on environmental and climate-related issues across the scope of the Istanbul MCO; and ix. Any other task as assigned by the Regional Technical Lead (Environment and Climate) for the Near East, North Africa, Central Asia and Europe Division (NEN). Key functions and results 1. TECHNICAL SUPPORT: On the basis of proven technical knowledge on climate and environment, emerging development challenges and the state of rural poverty at the assigned programme countries, the Environment & Climate Officer provides technical expertise and support in delivering IFAD’s mandate of building resilience of smallholder farmers and reducing rural poverty through IFAD’s investments. Key tasks include: • Providing high-quality technical expertise in undertaking social, environment, and climate risk assessments consistent with Social, Environment and Climate Assessment Procedures (SECAP); and • Providing high-quality technical expertise and advice on environment, natural resources management and climate aspects in operations during design to ensure quality at entry and during implementation by actively participating in missions and in monitoring and evaluation for quality assurance. 2. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: The Environment & Climate Officer supports the development of viable and sustainable policies/projects at the country-level and provides regional thematic input through high-quality technical knowledge sharing for his/her area of specialization. S/He will ensure country-level access to the latest sources of knowledge and innovation, strengthen national technical capacity and establish new knowledge and advisory partnerships. Accountabilities include: • Generating analytical knowledge built on government demand to advance policy; and • Disseminating knowledge and lessons learned with peers, counterparts, and stakeholders through drafting of briefs, journal articles, seminars and workshops, developing evidence-based new knowledge products and operational tools. 3. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION: The Environment & Climate Officer maintains a network of peer contacts inside and out with the scope of IFAD to facilitate partnerships, be up-to-date on joint advocacy activities and share knowledge to enhance IFAD’s profile as a highly competent and viable partner. Accountabilities include: • Building partnerships with associations, coordination platforms, technical organizations, NGOs, specialized departments of other development agencies and other relevant entities as potential operational and strategic partners; • Strengthening IFAD’s work on environment and climate issues; and • Supporting the mobilization of new AF, GEF and/or GCF green financing to be blended with IFAD’s-funded Programme of Loans and Grants resources. 4. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING: The Environment & Climate Officer contributes to monitoring, evaluation and reporting of technical activities and components of programmes/projects to enhance country level programme and funding decisions based on accurate technical data. Accountabilities include: • Supporting the monitoring, reporting and evaluation functions for programmes and projects; and • Implementing performance monitoring systems and new approaches to performance monitoring, preparing analytical work for divisional and country-level decision-making on project viability and sustainability.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Required experience
7 years
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
3 years
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required Russian, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable
Required education level
Master’s degree in Advanced university degree in environmental studies, agronomy, environmental economics, geography, climatology, rural development, development studies, social science, or any relevant field. The advanced university degree may be substituted by a first university degree and at least two additional years of relevant professional experience over and above the minimum number of years of experience.
Competencies and values
Organizational Competencies: • Supporting building relationships – Builds partnerships and working relationships • Communicating and negotiating – Communicates effectively; creates understanding between self and others • Demonstrating leadership – Personal leadership and attitude to change • Focusing on clients – Focuses on clients • Learning, sharing knowledge, and innovating – Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates • Managing time, resources, and information – Manages own time, information, and resources effectively • Problem-solving and decision-making – Demonstrates sound problem-solving and decision-making ability • Strategic thinking and organizational development – Personal influence • Team working – Contributes effectively to the team
Skills and experience
• Experience in environmental studies, agronomy, environmental economics, geography, climatology or rural development, development studies, social science, or any relevant field. • At least 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in, and demonstrated understanding of, development initiatives in rural development and climate and/or environment issues, or relevant fields. • Experience in the United Nations or an international financial institution, or another multi-cultural organization or institution or a national organization providing support on a global scope would be an asset. • Position-specific experience: Technical expertise, demonstrated by work experience, and understanding of environmental management, climate change issues and climate related impacts on rural development, ideally acquired by working on climate change-related, rural development, or disaster risk reduction projects or similar. Skills: • Language skills: Excellent English language skills (both verbal and written) are mandatory. Working knowledge of Russian would be an asset. • Advocacy and knowledge management: Ability to leverage IFAD knowledge and/or communication materials and prepare such material; • Analytical skills: Ability to analyse and synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources and filter out key insights and recommendations; • ICT & digital fluency: Expertise relevant to the specific role (e.g. in-depth, computer information systems, including micro-computer operating systems software, hardware and applications software and other office technology equipment), end-user computing configuration management; • Collaboration: Successfully work toward a common goal with others by communicating clearly, actively listening to others, taking responsibility for mistakes, and respecting different perspectives of stakeholders; • Programme/Project development, management: Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management; • Social & Environmental Safeguards: Know-how in understanding and implementing social and environmental compliance; • Internal and External Stakeholder Engagement: Build relationships within IFAD and externally to coordinate programme initiatives. Engage stakeholders to mobilize resources and align interventions with regional priorities; • Time management: Adherence to deadlines under time constraints and pressure (e.g. to deliver governing body documents on time); ability to coordinate and manage complex workflows and in-house and external teams; • Written communication: Clear, succinct written communication and ability to prepare reports, presentations, policy briefs, and information for diverse audiences; • Good computer literacy: including Microsoft Office and Excel; • Cultural sensitivity: Awareness and understanding of different cultures, values, and perspectives, and the ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
Area(s) of expertise
Development programmes, Agriculture, Energy and environment
Driving license
–
Other information
Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.
Living conditions and remarks
There is a possibility of extending this UNV assignment until the end of 2026, directly depending on high-quality deliveries, satisfactory performance, continuation of mandate, availability of funding, and operational necessity although there is no guarantee of assignment extension. This is a volunteer assignment, not employment. By sharing your time, energy, and talents, you can support communities in need and become part of something greater than yourself — a global movement for peace, development, and humanitarian aid. Volunteering strengthens trust, solidarity, and reciprocity among citizens, and it can promote a sense of belonging and purpose. The UN Volunteer will be based at IFAD’s MCO within UNDP IRH premises in Sisli. The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials. The full entitlements at the duty station: https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service: https://explore.unv.org/cos The Summary of UNV Entitlement (National UN Expert Volunteer): Paid local currency • Current Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) is USD 2,260 • Private insurance: Health, dental, life, and dismemberment coverage by CIGNA As per UN’s diplomatic mission status, it is not included in National Security Institution’s (SGK) system but can be only initiated on private basis. • Entry allowance (one-time payment): USD 400 • Exit allowance: USD 134 per month and upon the satisfactory completion of assignment • Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month. • Free access to different learning platforms and the UN & UNV network Notes: 1) The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the volunteer work. 2) It’s important to note that UNV assignments are volunteer assignments, not employment. The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment, and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service. For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos).
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
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