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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, andย advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.
The Independent Office of Evaluation of IFAD (IOE) promotes accountability and learning through independent evaluations of IFAD's work. In line with IFAD's 2021 Evaluation Policy, IOE reports directly to the IFAD Executive Board. The IOE is seeking expressions of interest by senior consultants to contribute to the evaluations listed below planned for 2024.ย The evaluations will be conducted under the leadership of staff from IOE.
Key Functions and Results ย
Expected / Major functional activities
Support evaluations led by an IOE staff member and carried out by an inter-disciplinary team.ย The evaluation research analyst will contribute to the conduct of IOE evaluations, including project level evaluations and higher-level evaluations (e.g., country strategy and programme evaluation, evaluation synthesis reports, corporate level evaluations).
Specific tasks may include the following:
- Collect, codify and analyse documentary data and prepare written inputs for the approach paper of evaluations;
- Prepare desk review notes on specific country context, themes or projects;
- Contribute to organizing and conducting quantitative and qualitative data collection;
- Support the organization of evaluation missions, and participate, as needed, in evaluation missions and selected field work to assist with logistics and coordination, as well as the data collection process;
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data with appropriate software packages;
- Prepare written inputs such as draft technical working papers on selected themes and evaluation criteria or contributions to the main evaluation report
- Archive all documentation and analysis related to the evaluation on the IOE SharePoint environment (xDesk)
The evaluations will be conducted in accordance with IFAD's Evaluation Policy https://webapps.ifad.org/members/eb/132/docs/EB-2021-132-R-5-Rev-1.pdfย ย ย ย ย
The evaluations will follow IFAD's 2022 Evaluation Manualย ย https://ioe.ifad.org/en/w/evaluation-manual-third-edition
The evaluations will follow the UN ethical guidelines for evaluation: http://www.unevaluation.org/document/detail/2866
Examples of previous evaluations may be found in our website at the following link:ย https://ioe.ifad.org/en/Working Relationships ย
Junior consultants will be reporting to the lead evaluators in IOE. Their analysis will be based on desk reviews, interviews and on country visits, as required (to be noted: IFAD follows the directives of WHO and United Nations as to travel authorizations).ย
Job Profile Requirements ย
Competencies
Technical and functional
Knowledge of contemporary quantitative and qualitative evaluation techniques and practices, preferably in the area of evaluation of agriculture and rural development interventions.
Field experience related to agricultural and rural development is a must.
Communication skills: write clearly, succinctly and convincingly, listen and communicate to engage others.
Computer skills: full command of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and common Internet applications.
Mastery of statistical or qualitative analysis software is preferred.ย Application of information and communication technology (GIS, Artificial Intelligence) to development analysis is preferred.
Minimum recruitment qualifications
EducationAdvanced university degree (at least at the Master's level) in economics, agriculture, rural development, finance, public policy, social sciences or related studies.
ExperienceAt least 1.5 years (i.e. eighteen months) of professional experience in analytical work in international development cooperation with focus on evaluation, research, agriculture and rural development or natural resources management.
A significant part of the professional experience should have been earned in an international organization, a major NGO or a prominent think tank or academic institution.
Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
Demonstrated experience writing academic / analytical papers.
Not strictly required but preferred:ย demonstrated experience in application of Information and Communication Technology for development, for example Geographic Information System-based analysis or use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Language requirementsFull command, both written and verbal communication, in English.ย
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in French or Spanish are necessary for some evaluations and are an asset for non-country specific evaluations.ย IOE strongly encourages applications from candidates that are fully proficient in French and Spanish.
Other informationConsultants are not staff of IFAD, and this consultancy does not carry any expectation of employment with the Fund. Remuneration will be in line with the standards set for UN consultants.
Qualified candidates will be inserted in a roster, from which IOE will select on a case-by-case need.
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.ย The number of days in which services can be rendered in any 12-month period is limited to 240, and the number of days in which services can be rendered in any 60-month period is limited to 960.
IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation.
Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org