Job: Technical Adviser - Agricultural Risk Management

Location: Rome
Deadline: Wednesday, 20 November 2013

Duty Station: Rome HQ

Duration of assignment: 2-year fixed term (renewable/coterminous with the PARM funding)

Organizational Context:

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. IFAD's headquarters is in Rome, Italy, and is present in more than 80 countries to develop and finance programmes and projects aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and incomes.

Divisional Context

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.

The Platform for Agricultural Risk Management (PARM) has been formed under the impetus of its donors, IFAD, the European Commission, the African Development Bank (AFDB), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and partners in agricultural risk management (ARM) initiatives such as the World Bank (WB), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Food Programme (WFP).

PARM is a facilitative entity aiming at strengthening ARM in developing countries, in a holistic manner and on a demand-driven basis. PARM connects ARM demands in Least Developing Countries (LDCs) and Lowest Middle Income Countries (LMICs), notably from governments, farmers and consumer organisations, rural finance institutions and value-chain stakeholders, and providers of ARM services (defined as any institution designed to improve local or global knowledge and capacity to manage agriculture risk and any strategy or solution designed to mitigate, transfer or cope with agriculture risks).

PARM facilitates measures aimed at (a) risk assessment and diagnostic and stock-taking studies, (b) identification of country specific ARM tools accessible to policy makers and ARM practitioners, (c) identification, definition, selection and coordination of ARM services, (d) circulation of information between ARM practitioners, investors and the farming community and other local stakeholders and (e) designing and organising training courses on ARM for public institutions and ARM users/providers complementary with other ongoing programmes.

This facilitation of knowledge and experience exchanges will involve (a) discussions with clients at national and regional level, (b) regular dialogue and search for synergies among its donors and partners and (c) organization of focused client and service provider workshops/round tables on specific ARM issues. PARM also co-finances workshops, studies and training/capacity building programmes.

PARM is a flexible and light structure that will be managed by three professionals hosted at IFAD.

Purpose of the position

The Technical Adviser - Agricultural Risk Management will be in charge of starting up PARM operations with core clients, which consist of institutional beneficiaries in developing countries, in direct collaboration with the Senior Programme Manager of the PARM secretariat and under his/her supervision. These activities will be conducted first in Sub-Saharan Africa, in cooperation with governments of LDCs, LMICs, interested Regional Economic Communities/African Union (RECs/AU) and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).

Duties and responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior Programme Manager, PARM, the Technical Adviser (TA) - Agricultural Risk Management will assume the duties and responsibilities described below:

1. Contribute to the PARM planning and regional and country strategy and implementation process to assure coherence and operational synergies in partner engagements at international, regional and country levels. This involves inter alia coordinating the formulation and implementation of PARM's annual business plan, concrete objectives, programme of work and budget in direct collaboration with donors and partners.
2. Assist Senior Programme Manager in analysing ARM demand from clients in collaboration with donors and partners and conduct primary agricultural risk management analysis in relation with the clients¿ demand (partner country diagnostics).
3. Identify, define, select and coordinate ARM services providers in relation with the clients¿ demand and organize implementation of ARM services by third party service providers.
4. Facilitate strong relationships with main stakeholders of PARM: donors, partners, clients, service providers.
5. Ensure the visibility of PARM and IFAD and actively participate in relevant regional/global policy for a, seminars and negotiations and make evidence-based contributions to related ARM debates in light of IFAD¿s and other experiences.
6. Carry out primary agricultural risk management analyses in relation with clients¿ demand as well as identification, definition, selection and coordination of ARM service providers.
7. Supervise implementation of ARM services by third party providers.
8. Provide advice and support, as deemed appropriate, to clients in identifying additional resources to fund ARM services.
9. Contribute to effective knowledge management and the communication strategy of PARM, and support content, production and dissemination of knowledge sharing materials.
10. Facilitate proper alignment of PARM activities and resources with corporate priorities and dedicate time to collaboration with the PTA - Weather Risk Management Facility and the ECD - Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme on selected topics.
11. Any other duties as and when required by the PARM Senior Programme Manager that are in line with this position and are aimed at achieving PARM's objectives and goal.

Education and experience

• Advanced university degree in one of the following disciplines: Business administration, finance, economics, and agriculture; preferably with an MBA;
• At least 5 years of professional experience relevant to agriculture risk management;
• Experience within an international institution but also in working with the private sector in the development, implementation, monitoring, and supervision of agricultural risk management initiatives;
• Demonstrated experience and results in resource mobilization in a variety of public and private contexts;
• Familiarity with key regional and global initiatives, programmes and service providers in agricultural risk management;

Technical/functional competencies

• Results-oriented performer: ability to deliver high-quality outputs under pressure as part of a multicultural team.
• Negotiator and Communicator: works effectively with others to meet mutual goals, negotiates to align parties, builds networks, listens and communicates effectively to engage others.
• Planner and Organizer: ability to set clear priorities within a boundless and often challenging agenda with tight deadlines.
• Team worker: capacity to work in diverse, multidisciplinary team environment and to establish harmonious working relationships.
• Model of integrity, trustworthy and confident: highest standard s of personal integrity, trustworthiness, discretion and maturity.

Communication

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; including the ability to set out a coherent analysis in presentations and group interactions.
• Good working knowledge of French or Spanish.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft packages and electronic communication.

Other information

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 so desire, only as a supplement and not a substitute to the PHF. THE APPLICATION SHOULD BE MADE THROUGH THE ONLINE SYSTEM ONLY.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.

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