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 the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.
Resilience is an emerging theme of growing importance within the development space, and rightly is the new preferred paradigm amongst both development organizations and donors, especially in a post-COVID-19 world, to ensure we collectively “build back better”.
The Strategy and Knowledge Department (SKD) provides expert guidance on IFAD’s strategic direction, thematic priorities and technical quality of IFAD’s 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 support countries tackle their most complex development challenges in fostering inclusive and sustainable rural transformation. SKD is composed of the following: (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).
Post’s organizational accountability
Defining and measuring resilience is methodologically challenging. One of the most compelling features of a resilience approach is the identification of how the combined effects of climate change, economic forces and social conditions have increased the frequency of the risk exposure among vulnerable population. As a result, many measurements have been proposed in the literature and although there exists various frameworks to monitor and evaluate resilience, there is a growing need for alignment and consistency within IFAD in measuring resilience.
IFAD currently has three different approaches to resilience measurement housed within SKD. It is seeking to benchmark these approaches against international best practice, and seek alignment and coherence going forward.
Key results expected / Major functional activities
The incumbent, together with IFAD colleagues, will:
Review methodological literature on definitions and challenges for both monitoring resilience and measuring outcomes/impact, which include climate resilience but also includes resilience to other types of shocks.
Along with ECG, speak with a select set of experts in the field to understand state of the art thinking and key challenges.
Also determine key areas where resilience impact may feed into a credible methodology for private sector participation.
Review and update the resilience knowledge management products prepared by the Resilience working group
Conduct a short evidence review
Present a definition map to the Resilience Working Group and incorporate comments and feedback. The definition map should be structured to show types of definition map on the left side and the kinds of shocks that it helps measure, while also discussing key weaknesses and strengths.
In consultation with ECG staff propose a unified IFAD framework and methodology for resilience measurement at different scales while also building a protocol for measurement which includes, in a typical project/investment, what is measured, when, by whom, and what are the types of indicators do these inform to eventually help us get a set of measurement indicators that help us to understand resilience at the individual, household, project, community level but also to understand the overall impact on resilience by IFAD. This protocol should be sharply laid out and should reflect state of the art in this field.
There should be a focus on loss and damage discussions in this paper.
The overall output will be a co-authored paper (co-authored with IFAD colleagues) that will also be published as a learning paper and subsequently as a how to do note.
Impact of Key results / Key performance indicators
Conduct interviews with relevant IFAD staff to learn about IFADs current approaches
Conduct interviews with experts in the field to understand key challenges and thinking in this space
Review methodological literature and international best practice on both monitoring resilience and measuring outcomes and impacts
Conduct a review on key impact areas for private sector buy-in
Conduct a short evidence review
Propose a unified framework for IFAD to move forward
Publish a paper (including addressing comments from peer reviewers etc.) in a reputable journal, co-authored with IFAD staff, on the evidence gap and proposed best practices that come out of this consultancy.
Representation / Work relationships
The Resilience Benchmarking Consultant will work under the overall supervision, and will directly report to the Director of the Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG) and/or the delegate.
Competencies
Technical/Functional
Authoritative technical expertise in economic development particularly in areas related to inclusive and sustainable rural transformation and resilience.
Authoritative technical expertise in impact assessment using experimental/non-experimental microeconomic data.
Strong analytical skills in order to identify systematic issues, both programmatic and operational and develop viable solutions. Analytical skills are also essential for identifying opportunities to promote new strategies and initiatives with other divisions and possibly the private sector.
Skill in the design and coordination of technical proposals and identification of innovative solutions to evolving issues.
Capacity to communicate fluently, particularly on technical matters, with different stakeholders/partners in the international policy fora and to build networks.
Writes clearly, succinctly and convincingly.
Ability to share technical guidance/knowledge at the governmental and peer levels as well as to inspire other specialists and programme staff in the development of viable programme activities.
Knowledge of global frameworks, stakeholder networks and multi-sectoral platforms at all levels
Ability to design and create evidence gap maps and conduct an evidence review.
Minimum recruitment qualifications
Education
Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in economics, agricultural and natural resource economics or similar discipline, PhD is highly preferred.
Experience
At least eight (8) years of substantive and sustained work experience in development economics, resilience measurement, in the formulation of technical guidance and input to development programmes, and in international policy frameworks related to global issues. Incumbent should be able to provide 2/3 previous writing samples from published work, where they were lead author, from reputable journals.
Language requirements
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Working knowledge of another official language (Arabic, French, or Spanish) is desirable.
Other information
Applicants to this call for interest will undergo a first level screening and those candidates meeting the minimum requirements will undergo a more in-depth assessment, including written tests and interviews.
As per provisions on maximum contract duration under the Handbook on consultants and other persons hired by IFAD under a non-staff contract, the number of days in which services can be rendered in any 12-month period is limited to 240, and the number of days in which services can be rendered in any 60-month period is limited to 960.
Consultants are not considered staff of IFAD. This consultancy assignment does not carry any expectation of employment, extension or conversion to another type of contract with the Fund.
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 written tests and interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.
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