RFPResearch Impact Specialist

The RFP Research Impact Specialist position at Alliance Bioversity & CIAT in Roana, Italy involves advancing sustainable investments through climate risk assessment and integrating gender and social inclusion in financing solutions. The role supports three key projects focused on innovative climate finance for agriculture in Pakistan, impact investing in food systems, and enhancing adaptation investments in Rwanda. The position requires developing tools and methodologies for assessing climate risks and impacts.
Research Specialist CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF)

The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT delivers researchbased solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition climate change biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.

The Alliance works with local national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean Asia and Africa and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR a global research partnership for a foodsecure future dedicated to reducing poverty enhancing food and nutrition security and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

Background on ImpactSF

The CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF) is a key technical partner for sustainable finance actors integrating sciencebased impact indicators in all areas of the investment lifecycle. This includes investment design pipeline development investment screening due diligence implementation postinvestment monitoring reporting and verification (MRV). Building off CGIAR evidence ImpactSF offers an array of datadriven solutions empowering financial institutions and investors to derisk investments by quantifying climate and environmental risks and impacts. Our goal is clear : drive investments toward climatesmart and naturepositive Food Land and Water systems.

Background on the project

The Research (Impact) Specialist will play a critical role in advancing the objectives of ImpactSF driving sustainable investments and ensuring the integration of gender and social inclusion in climatesmart financing solutions in three key projects. The project : Introduction of Innovative Climate Risk Financing Solutions in Pakistan focuses on enhancing climate awareness among financial institutions and developing innovative financing solutions for the MSME ecosystem in agriculture particularly within the mango and potato value chains. The Research (Impact) Specialist will lead the development of risk and impact assessment tools advise on the design of innovative loan bundle products and build the capacity of local financial institutions and intermediaries.

The Climate Smart Food Systems Fund is the first sciencebased impact investing initiative aimed at transforming food systems. It provides longterm debt financing to companies across the agricultural value chain. Investments undergo comprehensive climate environmental and ecological risk and impact assessments leveraging CGIAR expertise to align with the fund s Impact and Monitoring Framework. The Research (Impact) Specialist will support impact thesis development integrate gender considerations into climatesmart agriculture priorities develop Gender and Social Inclusion KPIs and oversee data collection and reporting on gender impacts of investments. The Climate Analytics to DeRisk Adaptation Investment in Rwanda project focuses on developing frameworks to derisk and enhance adaptation investments. The Research (Impact) Specialist will lead the creation of methodologies and tools to measure climate risks and impacts catering to the needs of investors banks and agrifood businesses.

About the position

Join the CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance Unit as Research (Impact) Specialist and be at the forefront of driving sustainable finance solutions for climatesmart and naturepositive investments. You ll play a pivotal role in shaping projects across global agriculture value chains working on highimpact initiatives. If you re passionate about climate resilience gender inclusion and innovative financing this is an exciting opportunity to make a tangible difference in transforming food land and water systems worldwide. This position may require regular travel within Asia and SubSaharan Africa and requires flexibility in working hours to accommodate collaboration with international partners.

Key duties & Responsibilities
• Play a key role in the design planning and organizing of work plans supporting the implementation of projects.
• Conduct research (desk reviews expert consultations surveys workshops) to support project context analysis and informing risks and design of innovative financing solutions.
• Support the development of a gender assessment methodology for integration across for ImpactSF projects.
• Design tools for preand postinvestment data collection and analysis at stages of the investment cycle.
• Support duediligence assessment and contribute to sciencebased recommendations for investments.
• Support the validation process for impact theses across investments
• Contribute to developing frameworks for assessing contextspecific climate and gender risks in investments in agrifood businesses.
• Contribute to the development and execution of monitoring reporting and verification (MRV) systems for different investments.
• Support partner engagements to ensure successful implementation and alignment with project objectives.
• Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) for each project ensuring accurate and timely submission of reports to stakeholders.
• Support ImpactSF teams activities in Asia and globally by expanding pipelines conducting impact and risk assessments for due diligence and postinvestment phases.

Requirements
• Master s degree in a relevant field such as Development Management Agriculture Environmental Science Economics.
• Proven track record of successfully designing and implementing risk and impact assessment tools methodologies and frameworks.
• Proficiency in impact measurement and management tools.
• Knowledge of climate risks climatesmart agriculture sustainable agricultural practices and food security issues.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience in impact investment and technical assistance in the agrifood sector.
• Demonstrated knowledge of gender lens investing and integration of gender in projects and investments.
• Excellent communication skills in English both written and spoken including scientific communication and report writing.
• Excellent skills in teamwork negotiation communication and diplomacy with the ability to interact courteously and effectively with people at all levels in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment including external stakeholders.
• Highly motivated and results driven taking responsibility and full ownership of projects.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse and multicultural environment.

Terms of employment

This is an internationally recruited position and will be based in Rome Italy. The initial contract will be for up to two (2) years subject to a probation period of six (6) months and is renewable depending on the performance and availability of resources.

This position is graded at BG08 level with a minimum basic annual salary of Usd 44248 per annum on a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to insurance retirement plan staff training and development paid time off and flexible working arrangements.

The Alliance BioversityCIAT is committed to fair safe and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation contributes to our excellence and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures races colors religions sexes national or regional origins ages disability statuses sexual orientations marital status and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications

Applicants are invited to visit to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number RFPResearch (Impact) Specialist as the position applied for. Application and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate s last name and first name for ease of sorting.

Applications closing date : Wednesday 12

March 2025

Please note that email applications will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about us at :

Key Skills

Laboratory Experience,Spss,Data Collection,Genetics,R,Research Experience,Statistical Software,Cell Culture,Molecular Biology,Microscopy,Research Laboratory Experience,Western Blot

Employment Type : Full Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1

Monthly Salary Salary : 44248 - 44248