Technical Analyst (Junior Professional Officer Programme - Finland)
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Posted
Feb 28, 2026
Location
Remote
Type
Full-time
Mission
What you will drive
**
*
Technical Analyst (Junior Professional Officer Programme - Finland), Rome
*
-
Organization:
IFAD - International Fund for Agricultural Development -
Country:
Italy -
City:
Rome
- Office:
IFAD HQ Rome
Job Title** : Technical Analyst (Junior Professional Officer Programme - Finland)
ID : 34229
Location : ROME
Date of issue : 02/24/2026
Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 03/20/2026
Organizational Unit : Sust. Prd. Mkts. & Instit.
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Regular
Assignment Duration : 1 Years
Grade : P-2
Organizational Setting
This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme sponsored by the Government of Finland.
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.
The Office of Technical Delivery is responsible for providing expert technical guidance to IFAD teams engaged in the design and implementation of projects and programmes to deliver the high technical quality investments that facilitate rural transformation, and which comply with IFAD's mandate and operational policies. The Office ensures IFAD applies and disseminates state of the art knowledge in its investments and evidence on strategic themes and encourages the innovative application of global knowledge and evidence in IFAD investments. This helps countries tackle complex development challenges in fostering inclusive and sustainable rural transformation including mainstreaming areas. The Office of Technical Delivery (OTD) is led by a Managing Director and is comprised of two (2) divisions: the Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG) and the Sustainable Production, Markets and Institutions Division (PMI).
The Sustainable Production, Markets and Institutions Division (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. Key functions and activities of PMI include Quality Enhancement, Policy Engagement, Networking and Strategic Partnerships. PMI's technical mandate covers a range of themes, all of which are key to deliver IFAD's strategic framework, including: agronomy, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, markets and value chains, agriculture research for development (AR4D), ICT4D, inclusive rural finance (including PARM, INSURED and remittances), rural institutions and farmers organizations, rural infrastructure, water, land and natural resources management.
PMI is led by a Divisional Director.
Position Specific: IFAD is seeking the services of a Junior Professional Officer to strengthen PMI's capacity to support IFAD's Water and Rural Infrastructure (WRI) Programmes. Specifically, the JPO will provide technical expertise and support to country-level operations in selected countries and at the global level pertaining to digital solutions for water and rural infrastructure, including investment programmes and grants. The proposed JPO position financed by Finland will deepen cooperation in the areas of digital solutions for water security and water infrastructure, with focus on the mainstreaming of innovative solutions and technologies for climate resilient water management in rural development programs. The JPO will support IFAD in scaling up innovative practices and technologies for improved irrigation management, watershed planning, rural water supply systems and the digitalisation of infrastructure monitoring. This will include the integration of geospatial tools, remote sensing, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT)-based water data systems and digital platforms that enhance decision-making for farmers, public development banks and government partners. In addition, the JPO will also assist the WRI to identify, develop and implement innovative solutions for smart and resilient water infrastructure and digital solutions for water infrastructure and irrigation systems management and operation, including resource management tools (i.e. drought management and monitoring) to be tested and piloted within IFAD's operations supporting project Teams as required, including participation in project identification and design missions, as well as supporting the team in the engagement with partners from scientific, academic and private sector institutions and IFAD's participation in technical and sectorial workshops and forums as needed. The JPO will provide also support for the Knowledge Management related activities of the Water and Infrastructure desk.
Moreover, the JPO will contribute to some knowledge management activities as, South-South exchange and IFAD's participation in international platforms focused on water innovation and digital rural transformation, such as the World Water Week, the Water and Climate Coalition, UN Water Conference 2026, World Water Forum, as well as other relevant Finland-initiated platforms or initiatives on sustainable water management, diplomacy and digital governance. The JPO will also support donor reporting, policy dialogue and strengthened engagement with Finnish institutions, academia and technology providers.
In addition, the JPO will support the WRI Desk and the Lead Global Technical Specialist ( Water and Rural Infrastructure ) in the coordination of activities (with focus in innovation and innovative finance) within the UN Water Working Group and the support of the Office of the President, current UN Water Chair.
Part of the JPO's role will be to help institutionalise lessons from Finnish-supported projects and explore their integration into IFAD's country investment portfolios
-
particularly in arid, water-scarce and climate-vulnerable regions in Africa, Middle East and Asia. This includes contributing to the design of new proposals under IFAD12 and IFAD13 that promote climate-smart rural infrastructure, nature-based water management and digital advisory services for smallholders.
By supporting this position, the Government of Finland will reinforce IFAD's capacity to deliver climate-resilient water solutions, sustainable infrastructure and digital innovation for rural communities, while advancing mutual priorities on sustainable natural resources management, climate adaptation and inclusive digital transformation.
Job Role
The JPO will collaborate with other Specialists, both within IFAD and with external partners, to ensure the effective integration of sustainable feed and fodder value chain development into IFAD-supported projects and programmes. The JPO will provide sound technical analysis, advice, and operational support to water and rural infrastructure-related projects to enhance their sustainability and productivity. The JPO will contribute to country programme analysis, providing technical inputs to strengthen project design, implementation, and supervision.
Position specific: The JPO will work closely with the Lead Global Technical Specialist - Water and Rural Infrastructure in providing technical expertise and support at all stages of programme design, development, implementation, supervision, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) , as well as in knowledge management (KM) related activities. S/He will work with the thematic Technical Specialists, Country Programme Managers and other staff to ensure high quality designs, expert advice and implementation support are provided to IFAD projects and programmes in digital solutions for wat...
Profile
What makes you a great fit
**
*
Technical Analyst (Junior Professional Officer Programme - Finland), Rome
*
-
Organization:
IFAD - International Fund for Agricultural Development -
Country:
Italy -
City:
Rome
- Office:
IFAD HQ Rome
Job Title** : Technical Analyst (Junior Professional Officer Programme - Finland)
ID : 34229
Location : ROME
Date of issue : 02/24/2026
Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 03/20/2026
Organizational Unit : Sust. Prd. Mkts. & Instit.
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Regular
Assignment Duration : 1 Years
Grade : P-2
Organizational Setting
This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme sponsored by the Government of Finland.
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.
The Office of Technical Delivery is responsible for providing expert technical guidance to IFAD teams engaged in the design and implementation of projects and programmes to deliver the high technical quality investments that facilitate rural transformation, and which comply with IFAD's mandate and operational policies. The Office ensures IFAD applies and disseminates state of the art knowledge in its investments and evidence on strategic themes and encourages the innovative application of global knowledge and evidence in IFAD investments. This helps countries tackle complex development challenges in fostering inclusive and sustainable rural transformation including mainstreaming areas. The Office of Technical Delivery (OTD) is led by a Managing Director and is comprised of two (2) divisions: the Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG) and the Sustainable Production, Markets and Institutions Division (PMI).
The Sustainable Production, Markets and Institutions Division (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. Key functions and activities of PMI include Quality Enhancement, Policy Engagement, Networking and Strategic Partnerships. PMI's technical mandate covers a range of themes, all of which are key to deliver IFAD's strategic framework, including: agronomy, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, markets and value chains, agriculture research for development (AR4D), ICT4D, inclusive rural finance (including PARM, INSURED and remittances), rural institutions and farmers organizations, rural infrastructure, water, land and natural resources management.
PMI is led by a Divisional Director.
Position Specific: IFAD is seeking the services of a Junior Professional Officer to strengthen PMI's capacity to support IFAD's Water and Rural Infrastructure (WRI) Programmes. Specifically, the JPO will provide technical expertise and support to country-level operations in selected countries and at the global level pertaining to digital solutions for water and rural infrastructure, including investment programmes and grants. The proposed JPO position financed by Finland will deepen cooperation in the areas of digital solutions for water security and water infrastructure, with focus on the mainstreaming of innovative solutions and technologies for climate resilient water management in rural development programs. The JPO will support IFAD in scaling up innovative practices and technologies for improved irrigation management, watershed planning, rural water supply systems and the digitalisation of infrastructure monitoring. This will include the integration of geospatial tools, remote sensing, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT)-based water data systems and digital platforms that enhance decision-making for farmers, public development banks and government partners. In addition, the JPO will also assist the WRI to identify, develop and implement innovative solutions for smart and resilient water infrastructure and digital solutions for water infrastructure and irrigation systems management and operation, including resource management tools (i.e. drought management and monitoring) to be tested and piloted within IFAD's operations supporting project Teams as required, including participation in project identification and design missions, as well as supporting the team in the engagement with partners from scientific, academic and private sector institutions and IFAD's participation in technical and sectorial workshops and forums as needed. The JPO will provide also support for the Knowledge Management related activities of the Water and Infrastructure desk.
Moreover, the JPO will contribute to some knowledge management activities as, South-South exchange and IFAD's participation in international platforms focused on water innovation and digital rural transformation, such as the World Water Week, the Water and Climate Coalition, UN Water Conference 2026, World Water Forum, as well as other relevant Finland-initiated platforms or initiatives on sustainable water management, diplomacy and digital governance. The JPO will also support donor reporting, policy dialogue and strengthened engagement with Finnish institutions, academia and technology providers.
In addition, the JPO will support the WRI Desk and the Lead Global Technical Specialist ( Water and Rural Infrastructure ) in the coordination of activities (with focus in innovation and innovative finance) within the UN Water Working Group and the support of the Office of the President, current UN Water Chair.
Part of the JPO's role will be to help institutionalise lessons from Finnish-supported projects and explore their integration into IFAD's country investment portfolios
-
particularly in arid, water-scarce and climate-vulnerable regions in Africa, Middle East and Asia. This includes contributing to the design of new proposals under IFAD12 and IFAD13 that promote climate-smart rural infrastructure, nature-based water management and digital advisory services for smallholders.
By supporting this position, the Government of Finland will reinforce IFAD's capacity to deliver climate-resilient water solutions, sustainable infrastructure and digital innovation for rural communities, while advancing mutual priorities on sustainable natural resources management, climate adaptation and inclusive digital transformation.
Job Role
The JPO will collaborate with other Specialists, both within IFAD and with external partners, to ensure the effective integration of sustainable feed and fodder value chain development into IFAD-supported projects and programmes. The JPO will provide sound technical analysis, advice, and operational support to water and rural infrastructure-related projects to enhance their sustainability and productivity. The JPO will contribute to country programme analysis, providing technical inputs to strengthen project design, implementation, and supervision.
Position specific: The JPO will work closely with the Lead Global Technical Specialist - Water and Rural Infrastructure in providing technical expertise and support at all stages of programme design, development, implementation, supervision, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) , as well as in knowledge management (KM) related activities. S/He will work with the thematic Technical Specialists, Country Programme Managers and other staff to ensure high quality designs, expert advice and implementation support are provided to IFAD projects and programmes in digital solutions for wat...