| Duration of Assignment |  | 3-year fixed term
(subject to renewal) | | Organizational Context | | IFAD is an International Financial Institution and a Specialized Agency of the United Nations whose mission is to enable poor rural people to overcome poverty. IFAD’s headquarters is in Rome, Italy, and its staff work with poor rural people, their governments, communities and organizations in more than 80 countries to develop and finance programmes and projects aimed at increasing rural productivity and incomes. | | Division Context | | The Policy and Technical Advisory Division (PTA) aims to strengthen the quality of IFAD’s portfolio of country programmes (comprising loans, grants, policy dialogue and associated activities) as regards technological, institutional and policy aspects. The Division supports IFAD investment in developing and applying a knowledge base on pro-poor, community-led rural development. This knowledge management provides the basis for PTA’s quality enhancement of the Fund’s programmes and partnership development for rural poverty reduction. | | Duties and Responsibilities | | Under the general guidance and supervision of the Associate Vice-President – Programmes (AVP), Programme Management Department (PMD), the principal responsibilities of the Director are as follows:
1. Provide technical support and advice to the Senior Management of IFAD, including assistance in policy formulation and preparation of major IFAD publications.
2. Establish the objectives and priorities of the Policy and Technical Advisory Division, contribute to the preparation of PMD’s annual work plans and budgets. Coordinate PTA’s inputs into the annual corporate planning process, including a proactive role in PMD’s Management Team, IFAD’s Management Team (drawing on all Heads of Division) and the Operations Management Committee of IFAD Directors.
3. Manage PTA’s staff and consultants, including selection, recruitment, and periodic appraisal of performance. This involves around 35 IFAD staff and 10-15 consultants. PTA’s thematic areas include: agronomy; gender and social inclusion; household food security; agricultural research and technology development; sustainable livelihood approaches; organizational and institutional diagnosis; information and communication management; irrigation and rural infrastructure; rural financial services; livestock and rangelands management; economic analysis; natural resources management; rural enterprise development (including value chains and public-private sector partnerships); and, agricultural/rural development policies.
4. Play a leading role in PTA’s programme of activities, which focuses on:
i) Ensuring that the design and implementation of IFAD development activities are of high quality and impact, in terms of their technological, institutional and policy context.
ii) Contribute to IFAD’s learning, networking and innovation capacity – especially by learning from our development experiences across geographical regions, and by networking with external resource organisations and knowledge sources (includes managing IFAD's Technical Assistance Grants relating to global activities and agricultural research. PTA represents IFAD on the CGIAR Fund Council).
iii) Collate, process and disseminate focused information in terms of practical learning guidelines decision tools, quality standards, guidance notes and policy briefs for both IFAD and partner operations.
5. Represent IFAD at international fora, symposia and meetings, including those of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, UN fora, IFI meetings, etc.
6. Participate in overseas missions during project identification, formulation, appraisal and supervision on a selective basis and as agreed by the Directors of the regional divisions and the AVP of the Programme Management Department.
7. Perform other related duties as deemed necessary by the President or the AVP of the Programme Management Department. | | Education and Experience | | • Advanced university degree in a rural development discipline, economics, agricultural economics or a related field.
• At least twelve (12) years for appointment at D1 level and at least fifteen (15) years for appointment at D2 level of working experience in development, including at least five years in project management and/or a field assignment in a developing country.
• Extensive and proven managerial capacity in development related fields.
• Successful track record in building partnerships with various stakeholders.
• Experience and knowledge of rural development policies and strategies.
• Results-oriented decision making ability with an aptitude for developing practical solutions for operational challenges.
• Experience with delivering high quality and innovative rural development programmes.
• Experience in the field is essential. | | Tech/Functional Competencies | | • Recognized management skills in a multicultural setting, combined with ability to achieve results through motivating people and influencing partners.
• Sharp conceptual understanding of rural development needs aligned with IFAD’s corporate priorities and policy framework.
• Ability to inspire teams for cooperative teamwork, and outstanding achievement.
• Innovator with risk management ability and a proven track record as a successful agent of change.
• Information seeking, knowledge sharing, rigorous analytical and conceptual thinking.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work both as a team leader and player.
• Client orientation: balances a responsive and proactive approach to meeting client needs; encourages staff to understand client needs and concerns; ensures provision of customized services and products as appropriate.
• High sense of integrity, trust and confidence.
• Champion of IFAD’s values: respect for the individual, integrity, professionalism and focus on results. | | Communication | | • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including the ability to set out a coherent analysis in presentations. Working knowledge of another official language of IFAD (Arabic, French, Spanish) would be an asset.
• Strong diplomatic and communication skills and the ability to develop a close and effective working relationship with client and counterparts at the appropriate levels, demonstrated by a track record of developing and sustaining effective relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Ability to represent IFAD in international fora. | | Other Information | | Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD.
IFAD reserves the right to appoint a candidate at the appropriate grade commensurate with experience and knowledge.
Interested candidates are requested to apply by completing IFAD’s Personal History Form (PHF) in English. A separate CV may be attached if you so desire, only as a supplement and NOT a substitute to the PHF. The application should be made through the online system only. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY the instructions in “How to Apply” before you start.
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. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.
Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews. |
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Director, Policy and Technical Advisory Division D-1 to D-2 - Policy and Techn. Advis. Division
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