Organizational Setting

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 sustainably increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, while advocating at the local, national, and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

Two divisions, Environment, Climate, Gender, and Social Inclusion Division (ECG); the (ii) Sustainable Production, Markets, and Institutions Division (PMI), provide expert guidance on IFAD’s strategic direction, thematic priorities, and technical quality of IFAD’s operations. They play 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.

PMI facilitates improved and efficient delivery of IFAD’s corporate mandate, predominantly through the quality of the design and implementation of its policies, country strategies and projects. PMI has four main areas of support: (i) Technical support to IFAD Country Programmes to ensure the proper application of corporate quality standards required for achieving development results and impact in various thematic areas (food production systems i.e., fisheries, livestock, and agronomy, land, natural resources management, water and rural infrastructure, financial services, rural markets and enterprises and rural institutions); (ii) Knowledge Management (KM) for the generation and use of evidence and knowledge in IFAD projects and activities; (iii) Policy engagement to contribute to policy dialogue at the country level in close coordination with the Regional Divisions; (iv) Networking and strategic partnerships: PMI engages in strategic partnerships and selected policy processes pertaining to agricultural and rural development, poverty reduction and food security at country, regional or global levels.

The Sustainable Production, Markets and Institutions Division (PMI) plays a key role in delivering sound technical leadership to the IFAD investment portfolio. In particular, the PMI Land Tenure and Natural Resources Management (LT & NRM) Desk is leading IFADs work on Land Tenure and Governance, Natural Resource Management and Agroecology.

Land Tenure & Governance

IFAD is committed to promoting secure tenure and equitable rights to, and governance of, land, territories, and natural resources, as an incentive for rural communities to invest in their land and natural resources and central tenet of rural transformation. It recognises that supporting small-scale producers and rural communities in improving their livelihoods cannot be separated from the ecosystems they live in and the services they provide.

IFAD has recognized experience in participatory approaches combining formal and customary land and natural resource governance systems when working with rural communities and local governments. The basis is participatory land-use planning and building a shared vision for long-term sustainability and investments in institutions, management practices and infrastructure that supports inclusive governance and rehabilitation and sustainable use of natural resources at farm and landscape level. Adaptation to climate change and provision for food security, nutrition and incomes is an integral part of this work as well as the use of participatory map-based tools (e.g. GIS and digital tools) that can strengthen governance processes and capacities.

Climate change and migration are posing a higher strain to the access and use of land, conflicts are on the rise and adaptative governance systems need to be created where people’s rights are at its core. Rapid changing conditions for pastoralists is just one example of vulnerable groups of rural communities being impacted by climate change, land-use changes from investments and conversion of rangelands into crop farming or other activities. At the same time, land degradation and squeeze are exerting constant pressure on farmland reducing the access to land and posing new threats to rural communities.

Sustainable use of resources/ Natural Resource Management (NRM)/ Agroecology

IFAD promotes sustainable and inclusive approaches to natural resources- use, with consideration of the full range of ecosystem services provided by farmland, forests, rangeland, water bodies and other ecosystems. These ecosystem services include provisioning of food, materials, regulation of ecological processes and cultural services. IFAD promotes agro-ecological approaches to agriculture aiming to support the income, food security, nutrition and resilience of small-scale producer households and their farming systems. Agroecology reduces the use of costly and harmful synthetic agrochemicals, conserve and maximise the use of agrobiodiversity, and regenerate living soils to create synergies between crop and animal production, build climate resilience, and produce a diversity of affordable and safe food contributing to sustainable food systems. Where appropriate, a landscape scale approach is followed where the connections between forest resources, water, soils and food production are recognized and optimized. Participatory approaches such as farmer field schools, and specific focus on ensuring the rights and wellbeing of indigenous people are seen as critical elements. Increasingly, mapping and earth observation are being used to inform project identification, design, targeting of interventions, implementation and monitoring and evaluation.

Job Role

IFAD is looking for qualified, experienced, and motivated experts in the areas of Land Tenure, Land and Natural Resources Governance, Agroecology and/or Natural Resources Management to work as individual consultants and provide first-rate services to IFAD and the projects it supports. Experts may have experience in one or various of the areas of expertise mentioned above.

IFAD’s Roster serves as an intermediate between qualified experts interested in working on IFAD consultancy assignments, and technical and regional operational divisions seeking consultation. The roster assists these divisions in their search for qualified consultants, based on needs of IFADs investment project portfolio.

Key Functions and Results

This call is for experts on: Land Tenure, Land and natural Resources Governance, Sustainable Farming Practices (e.g. agroecology), and Natural Resource Management. Experts may have experience in one or various of these areas. Please note that applications for this call do not imply placement on the roster, as a selection process will follow to confirm qualifications for such placement.

Specific tasks will depend on the assignment however overall, the consultant is expected to:

• Provide inputs and guidance at senior or middle expert level to strengthen the identification, assessment and design of IFAD investment operations in his/her field(s) of expertise: Land Tenure, Land and natural Resources Governance, Sustainable Farming Practices (e.g. agroecology), and/or Natural Resource Management.
• Participate in missions to support the technical design and implementation of agroecology and natural resource management components of investment projects in agro-ecosystems across the global south.
• Participate in project design/implementation and evaluation mission supporting matters related to governance of natural resources and land tenure.
• Analyse the policy, regulatory and governance framework for access to land and other natural resource and tenure in the country, particularly in relation to vulnerable rural populations in the project intervention area and identify key points of alignment and possible opportunities and weaknesses that may be addressed by the project.
• Support in discussions with the government and other relevant actors on local and national land governance processes that strengthen small-scale producers and vulnerable rural communities resources rights and possible land transfer schemes to vulnerable groups (e.g. women, youths and land-less rural poor households) that can provide security of possession and productive use for food and nutrition security and income generation.
• Participate in project support, supervision and completion missions assessing the results and needs for possible changes in components and their implementation modality related to his/her area of expertise: Land Tenure, Land and natural Resources Governance, Sustainable Farming Practices (e.g. agroecology), and/or Natural Resource Management.
• Contribute to the mission’s aide-memoire and write relevant section of design documents in the topics of Land Tenure, Land and natural Resources Governance, Sustainable Farming Practices (e.g. agroecology), and/or Natural Resource Management.
• Develop technical notes to enhance project design or guide implementation using lessons learned linked to his/her area of expertise.
• Advise governments, or provide technical expertise, in the preparation of natural resource management studies and strategies, and in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment plans and programmes.
• Prepare reports in accordance with IFAD, government and financing partners. requirements.
• Travel and active participation in field mission will often be required.

Job Profile Requirements

Note: It is important to note that IFAD is not seeking candidates with expertise in all thematic areas outlined below. Instead, differentiated profiles suited to various potential assignments will be assessed.

Education:

Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php in a job-related field (*).

(*) Areas of study: Rural development, Land Tenure, Natural Resource Management, agriculture/agroforestry, environment, climate economics, or related field.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in design, supervision and evaluation of loan/grant projects and programs for agriculture and rural development projects focused on small-scale farmers and/or rural vulnerable communities with strong land and natural resource governance and management aspects and/or with focus on agroecology.
• Experience with International or bilateral development finance institutions or other IFAD partners: Knowledge and experience of IFAD and relevant partners’ functioning and mandate, public sector (e.g. governments and policy, institutions and system), non-state actors (NGOs, CSOs, Foundations, etc.) and private sector actors.

Skills:

Highly preferred

Languages and country experience: will depend on region of assignment.

• Required level 4 (excellent) in either English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, or Arabic.
• Experience in at least one region / country covered by IFAD, preferably experience in more than three countries.
• Experience in fragile context (i.e. environmental-climate, or social fragility) is a plus.

Other Information

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation.

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org.

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.

Consultancies play a critical role in the execution of IFAD’s mandate and our impact on the ground. Please note your application does not imply automatic placement on the roster. Applicants to this call for interest will undergo a selection process: (i) initial screening to check minimum requirements, (ii) a more in-depth assessment and/or possible short interviews. Successfully going through these steps is required to be included in IFAD’s consultants- roster. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any immediate assignment but is a pre-condition for being considered for future assignments for which a specific contracting process will be required.

Consultants are not considered IFAD staff. A consultancy assignment does not carry any expectation of employment, extension or conversion to another type of contract with the Fund. Remuneration will be in line with the standards set for UN consultants.

Given the diverse technical nature of the assignments, IFAD is looking for consultants of varying ability above the minimum threshold stated.

Consultants can be recruited for a maximum of 240 days in 1 calendar year and 960 days in 5 calendar years.

For any questions or further clarification needed about the terms of reference for the consultant roster, please feel free to contact landtenure@ifad.org