Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist

Asian Development Bank

Join Our Mission to Foster Prosperity in Asia

Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the future of Asia and be a catalyst for positive change? We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to become an important part of the prestigious Asian Development Bank (ADB). At ADB, our mission is simple yet powerful: to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationship

The position of Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist is assigned to the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office (SG-AFNR) within the Sectors Department 2 (SD2). SD2 aims to deliver impactful sector strategy, initiatives, and integrated solutions that advance ADB's strategic agenda in the region. SD2, which is comprised of the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office, the Water and Urban Development Sector Office, and the Digital Sector Office: delivers or supports sovereign, nonsovereign, and advisory operations; delivers knowledge services; supports regional departments (RDs) and resident missions (RMs) in engaging with ADB's developing member countries (DMCs); and ensures ADB's technical leadership internally and externally.

AFNR leads policy development and dialogue, knowledge management, project quality assurance, sector analytic work, and loan and technical assistance (TA) processing and administration in the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development sectors. You will be based at our Headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

You will report to Director, Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development and will oversee junior staff members.

Your Role

As a Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist, you will contribute and lead in the formulation and articulation of policy, strategies, projects and programs on natural resources management and biodiversity conservation in developing member countries (DMCs). You will lead in identifying, developing, processing, implementing and administering loans, grants, technical assistance (TA) projects, and provide relevant stakeholders with necessary technical support and knowledge for projects.

This role may be designated to lead portfolio management and be responsible for project reviews to ensure effective implementation, accomplishment of project and subsector results, and development impact. You will provide oversight and guidance to project teams, specifically in areas of project implementation and development effectiveness, in designing, and processing of loans, grants, technical assistance (TA) projects.

You will:

- Lead the assessment of AFNR sector development policies, strategies, and programs with a view of ensuring comparability to international best practices, smart solutions and technological advances, climate needs, and responsiveness to emerging development needs of DMCs. Based on country dialogues, prepare and implement studies to identify the emerging areas in the AFNR sector investment opportunities. Introduce effective solutions and identify appropriate modalities for ADB's assistance to DMC(s).
- Lead preparation, processing, and administration of regional and DMC specific loans, grants, and TAs in any of the following areas: natural resources management, ecosystem protection and management, biodiversity conservation, and agrifood system transformation. Agrifood system transformation may cover circular economy, agriculture and rural waste management, management of plastic use and waste in agrifood value chains, regenerative agriculture and net-zero agriculture.
- Lead conduct of policy dialogue with senior government officials and development partners to leverage policy, regulatory and institutional reforms in the AFNR sector.
- Represent AFNR and contribute to the development of Country Partnership Strategies.
- Identify and introduce innovative solutions in specific loans, grants, and TAs to address nature-food-climate nexus and scale up cross-sector approach to invest in ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, food and nutrition security for replication in SG-AFNR and beyond.
- Support the development of nature positive investments in the context of AFNR sector assessment, strategy, and road map (ASR).
- Work with regional and subregional natural resource management programs and country teams to integrate regional initiatives into country strategy and pipelines.
- Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with external partners (e.g., universities, international organizations, and private sector entities) related to agrifood system transformation for knowledge and project opportunities and fully use the strategic partnerships to generate new project ideas.
- Facilitate liaison and coordination with development agencies working on natural resource management.
- Represent ADB and participate in government and development partners' meetings and working groups and other events on AFNR for knowledge sharing and coordinating and promoting ADB's AFNR initiatives.
- Generate and disseminate knowledge solutions from ADB operations, international best practices, and country or region-specific cross-learning in the AFNR sector in nature positive investments, circular economy, agriculture and rural waste management, management of plastic use in agrifood value chains, regenerative agriculture and net-zero agriculture. Lead relevant in-house studies and knowledge generating and sharing activities and prepare knowledge products, reports, or policy briefs on these emerging areas.
- Take the role of mentor to develop capabilities/potential of reporting staff.
- Supervise and support reporting staff, including their performance and development. Ensure the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff.
- Perform other duties as assigned and reflected in staff's workplan. Qualifications
You will need:

- Master's Degree or equivalent in Civil Engineering, Climate Change, Environment or other related fields; or University degree and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered.
- At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in natural resources, management, biodiversity conservation, ecology and ecosystem restoration, agriculture and rural development, regenerative agriculture.
- International work experience working in several countries.
- Two years of relevant experience outside ADB within the past five years is required. Years as an ADB-engaged consultant or contractor are considered experience outside of ADB.
- Experience in preparing, processing and administrating projects (i.e., loans, grants, TAs) in the above-mentioned technical areas,
- Experience in coordinating with external partners, such as universities, climate and agriculture-related international organizations, and private companies for knowledge and project opportunities.
- International experience working in several countries.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
- Please refer to the link of ADB Competency Framework for Technical International Staff Level TI2.

Benefits

ADB offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary will be based on ADB's standards and comparator markets, taking into account your qualifications and experience.

- Paid leave (including parental)
- Medical and health benefits
- Life and other insurance plans
- Staff development
- Retirement plan
- Housing and education allowance (if applicable)
- Expatriate benefits (for international staff)

Additional Information

This position is crucial to the Workforce Rebalancing Framework (2022-2027), a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing ADB's in-house expertise previously sourced from the external workforce. The role seeks seasoned experts with substantial field experience capable of leading policy dialogue, and projects focused on delivering knowledge solutions. Successful candidates may occasionally undertake short-term assignments in other groups or departments when required.

This is a fixed term appointment with option to renew for an initial period of 3 years following Section 3.1 (b) of Administrative Order No. 2.01 ("Recruitment and Appointment'). This appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment. It may be extended on an exceptional basis for a further fixed period at the option of ADB. There is no limit on the number of renewals. This appointment is open to internal and external applicants.

About Us

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 69 members.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Visit ADB Careers FAQ for more information.

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Sector: Nonprofit/Community/Social Services/International Cooperation

Role: Other

Working hours (%): 80-100% / 100%

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