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Country Programme Manager P-4 - Latin America and Caribbean Division

Duty station: Field Based, Guatemala City



1. Organizational setting

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 90 countries to develop and finance programmes and projects aimed at increasing rural productivity and incomes.




2. Job purpose

Under the overall supervision and strategic, policy and management guidance of the divisional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, the incumbent will be responsible for managing the country programme(s) as assigned by the Director. He/She will report directly to the designated Sub-regional Coordinator and Country Programme Manager (P-5) for Central America on strategic and operational issues related to the assigned country responsibilities, and will provide administration and management support to the Sub-regional office for Central America.




3. Duties and responsibilities

The incumbent will be required to:

Lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD's collaboration with governments and other national stakeholders for rural poverty reduction. This will entail analysis of the dynamics of rural poverty; country-specific rural poverty reduction strategies; and the definition of IFAD's value added in this context.
Lead the design and supervision of the IFAD loan and grant financed rural poverty reduction programmes assigned by the Director and the Sub-regional Coordinator. Support their implementation with a view to maximising development effectiveness, impact and sustainable development results. Analyse relevant information and assist in the periodic evaluation of results achieved.
Lead loan and grant negotiations with the borrowing and donor governments, in accordance with IFAD's lending policies and criteria.
Play a catalytic role in the development of pro-poor rural poverty reduction policies and in enabling the rural poor to advocate for institutional transformation.
Build effective partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders in rural poverty reduction, including government and non-governmental institutions, bilateral and multilateral financing institutions, civil society organisations, research centres and the private sector.
Perform any other duties as assigned by the Sub-regional Coordinator and by the Director of the Latin American and the Caribbean Division.



4. Professional requirements

Education and experience

Minimum requirement is an advanced university degree (Master's level or equivalent) in agriculture, rural development, finance, economics, public policy or a closely related field.
At least 8 years of relevant post qualification professional experience with International Financial Institutions, the United Nations, rural development/financial institutions, international NGOs, Foundations or government services in the design and administration of rural development programmes with emphasis on rural project management , rural finance and market development.
Good knowledge of policy oriented, programme based pro-poor approaches;
Knowledge in pro-poor policy design and programme-based development approaches with International Financial Institutions/Development Cooperation agencies government agencies and international NGOs.
Field experience in a developing country would be an asset.

Technical skills and competencies

Analytical skills: you will have analytical ability and thorough understanding of socio-economic issues as well as the capacity to lead specific analytical work.

Leader and Team Worker/Builder: you will possess excellent management skills, and will be able to deploy these in a multicultural setting. You will have the capacity of leading teams and inspire them to work together to achieve stretching objectives.

Planner and Organiser/Decision-Maker: you will have excellent judgement and the ability to think strategically, assessing and responding to new challenges in rural development. You will be able to set clear priorities within a boundless and often challenging agenda with tight deadlines.




Languages and other skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish; including the ability to set out a coherent argument in presentations and group interactions. Where one of these is the first language, candidates should have working knowledge of the other. Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft packages and electronic communication.




5. 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.

Country Programme Manager P-4 - Latin America and Caribbean Division - outposted (Duty station: Field Based, Guatemala City) - deadline: 7 September 2012