Job title: Consultant
Organisation: IFAD
Application deadlines: 17 March 2026
Contract duration: April 2026 – April 2027 (renewable based on performance and budget)
Location: Ha Noi
1. Organisational Context
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 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.
In Viet Nam, IFAD supports a diverse portfolio of projects addressing climate change adaptation, inclusive rural finance, and sustainable natural resource management. Key initiatives include CSAT (Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project), IFIA (Innovative Financial Incentives for Adaptation), CRWIS (Climate Resilient and inclusive Water Infrastructure for rural Smallholders in Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces), NBSP (Nature Based Solution for Inclusive Rural Development Project), RECAF (Achieving emission reduction in the Central Highlands and South Central Coast of Viet Nam to support National REDD+ Action Programme goals), and projects in the pipeline funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Adaptation Fund (AF).
IFAD Viet Nam mobilizes and manages multiple supplementary climate and environment funds (including GCF, Adaptation Fund, GEF, MCDF). Ongoing and upcoming initiatives—such as RECAF (REDD+ mitigation), IFIA (adaptation finance innovation), CRWIS (climate‑resilient infrastructure and agriculture), NBSP—require intensive technical support in M&E, safeguards, climate analysis, forestry/REDD+, value‑chain development, reporting, knowledge management, and cross‑institutional coordination.
To ensure high‑quality implementation, compliance with fund‑specific standards, and consistent reporting to IFAD headquarters and funding partners, the ICO seeks a full‑time technical consultant.
2. Objective of the Assignment
To provide technical, operational and analytical support to ICO‑VN in the planning, coordination, monitoring, reporting and quality assurance of all activities under the RECAF (GCF) project primarily (90% ) and also support other supplementary climate/environment funds (10%) (AF, GEF, MCDF), ensuring alignment with IFAD procedures, donor requirements, and Viet Nam’s national climate and forestry frameworks (incl. NRAP, REDD+, NDCs).
3. Scope of Work & Responsibilities
A. Technical Support – Climate, Forestry, REDD+, Biodiversity and Value Chains
- Provide specialist input on climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience, and biodiversity aligned with the thematic areas of RECAF, IFIA, CRWIS, and GEF NBSP.
- Provide technical review of project documents, AWPBs, procurement packages, ToRs, feasibility studies, and value‑chain analyses.
- Support the development and operationalization of climate‑resilient, biodiversity friendly and deforestation‑free value chains, including technical criteria, traceability approaches, and integration of REDD+ safeguard principles.
- Oversee the technical quality of activities related to:
- agroforestry systems to support local biodiversity
- community forestry / MCCFM
- PES/PFES performance‑based approaches
- climate‑resilient agricultural practices
- small‑scale climate‑smart infrastructure
- biodiversity mainstreaming in production landscapes and sectors
- Provide technical backstopping to PMUs and provincial departments on climate‑ and forestry‑related analytics, scenario assessments, and risk mitigation.
B. Monitoring, Evaluation & Results Management
- Support development, refinement and operation of project M&E systems, including:
- climate and biodiversity indicators (mitigation, adaptation, resilience, GBF Targets)
- REDD+ MRV requirements (NFMS, SIS, emission estimates)
- environmental and social safeguards monitoring
- gender, youth and ethnic minority disaggregation
- Work with PMUs to ensure data quality, accuracy, completeness, harmonization, and timely submission of progress reports.
- Provide analysis for quarterly, semi‑annual and annual reporting to IFAD, GCF, AF, GEF, MCDF.
- Support design and execution of baseline, mid‑term and final evaluations.
- Ensure integration of geospatial monitoring tools, digital data collection platforms, and participatory monitoring approaches used across the projects.
C. Support on Fund‑Specific Compliance and Reporting
- Ensure that all RECAF, IFIA, CRWIS,and future supplementary‑fund projects embedded into NBSP meet:
- GCF, AF, GEF, MCDF policies and standards
- IFAD’s SECAP/ESMS
- Viet Nam Government requirements (MARD, MONRE, PPCs)
- Draft, coordinate and quality‑assure:
- Annual Performance Reports (APRs)
- GCF Annual Performance Report (APR) annexes
- Adaptation Fund Results Framework reporting
- GEF PPGs, PIFs and CERs.
- Donor missions, completion reports, evaluation summaries
- Support compliance with safeguards, gender, and social inclusion requirements—especially FPIC, ESMPs, IPPs, and GRMs.
D. Coordination & Institutional Support
- Provide technical support to coordination between ICO, PMUs, provincial partners, national ministries (MARD, MONRE, MPI, MOF), and development partners.
- Liaise closelt with and support the Project Technical Leads (PTLs) of the various CEF projects covered, as needed
- Support the functioning of 4P platforms, provincial REDD+ mechanisms, and multi‑stakeholder coordination bodies.
- Represent ICO in technical working groups, donor coordination meetings, and supervision missions as required.
- Facilitate knowledge exchange across provincial PMUs, capitalize and document lessons learned, and support scaling strategies.
E. Capacity Development
- Deliver targeted training for PMUs and partners on:
- climate/environmental M&E
- REDD+ MRV and safeguards
- deforestation‑free value chains
- AF/GCF/GEF/IFAD reporting and compliance
- climate‑smart agriculture and forestry
- Develop training packages, checklists, templates, and guidance notes.
4. Deliverables
Core deliverables (annual)
- Annual performance report packages for each supplementary fund.
- Consolidated results‑tracking database (mitigation, adaptation, gender, safeguards).
- Quarterly technical and M&E briefs for ICO management.
- Technical review notes for project documents and procurement packages.
- Training materials and at least 4 capacity‑building events per year.
- Knowledge products (policy briefs, technical notes, case studies).
5. Qualifications & Experience
Required
- Advanced degree in climate change, forestry, environmental science, natural resource management, agricultural economics, or related field.
- Minimum 7–10 years of experience in climate financing (GCF/GEF/AF), REDD+, forestry, climate adaptation/mitigation, rural development, or related fields.
- Demonstrated experience with:
- M&E systems for climate and environment projects
- REDD+ MRV, NFMS, SIS, PES/PFES
- climate‑resilient agriculture and/or agroforestry
- value‑chain development in climate‑sensitive commodities
- Strong knowledge of Viet Nam’s NDC, NRAP, forestry regulations, and provincial planning processes (SEDP, PRAP).
- Experience working with IFAD or other multilateral climate funds (GCF, AF, GEF, WB, UNDP).
Desirable
- Experience with GIS/remote sensing applied to M&E.
- English language proficiency.
- Experience with ethnic minority engagement, FPIC, safeguards.
6. Duration & Duty Station
- Full‑time, 12 months, renewable based on performance and budget.
- Duty station: Hanoi, with frequent travel to provinces (Central Highlands, Mekong Delta, North Central, and the North).
- Reports to: IFAD Acting Country Director, with day‑to‑day oversight by the Country Programme Coordinator/Country Office.
7. Reporting & Supervision
The consultant will submit:
- Monthly progress notes
- Quarterly analytical reports
- Annual consolidated reporting package
Work will be supervised by the ICO and coordinated closely with PMUs and IFAD regional technical specialists.
Please submit your CV to [email protected] by 17 March 2026.