Country Programme Officer

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 Programme Management Department (PMD), under the leadership of an Associate Vice-President, is responsible for the overall programme of loans and grants of the Fund and is composed of five regional divisions, and an Operational Policy and Results Division. 

The incumbent works under the overall policy and management guidance of division Director (D1) in APR Division and the direct supervision of the Country Director/Head of MCO this CPO position is mapped under.  

Job Role  

The Country Programme Analyst is responsible for established programme/project coordination. The incumbent is expected to perform functions related to IFAD’s mandate of improving rural foods security and nutrition and enabling poor rural men and women to overcome their poverty and to overall efforts by IFAD within the UN Common System to increase capacity-building and sustainable development in developing countries.

Key Functions and Results  

1. COUNTRY OFFICE SUPPORT: The Country Programme Analyst is accountable for day-to-day support to administration and reporting in support of the CD. The incumbent provides analysis of and inputs to budget preparation, monitors expenditures and grant portfolios providing support as requested.

2. COUNTRY PROGRAMME SUPPORT: The Country Programme Analyst collects and analyzes data to acquire a basic understanding of international practices and HQ procedures to complement her/his knowledge of national practices in support of programme / project activities. The incumbent enhances the technical quality of IFAD country activities by supporting programme (COSOP) and project (grants and loans) design, supervision, and implementation and completion (PCR) activities. The Analyst specifically provides substantive contributions to monitoring and evaluation (RIMS) and reporting (PSR). The Country Programme Analyst participates in capacity building activities including support to the identification, analysis, documentation, harmonization and dissemination of both national and local issues as well as conditions, best practices and lessons learned among partner development agencies.

3. SUPPORT TO PARTNERSHIP BUILDING: As a country team member, the Country Programme Analyst supports the CO's relationships through the identification of potential partners, development initiatives and best practices. The incumbent analyzes findings in comparison with the assigned Fund strategies, identifying potential opportunities. The Analyst maintains counterpart contacts needed to promote programme and project implementation. Activities encompass tracking project/programme documentation through the project cycle, including completion.

4. SUPPORT TO POLICY DEVELOPMENT/KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: As a country team member, the Country Programme Analyst participates in relevant policy meetings and events of interest to IFAD's target groups, which involve the government, donors, and civil society, including NGOs, in order to analyze and draft reports on innovations and developments for knowledge sharing. From a national perspective and in-depth knowledge of government structure, development environment and local culture, the incumbent gathers evidenced based data from projects in support of linking the realities on the ground and the voices of the poor with the policies and programmes of the government.

5. REPORTING: The Country Programme Analyst is accountable for supporting communications with headquarters as well as the drafting regular and periodic reports and documents. Reports may include project, country office, thematic or country portfolio reports. The incumbent compiles data for and drafts the country office half-yearly and annual reports including lessons learned from design and implementation support experience as well as occasional reports and specific information and documents per request.

6. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Country Programme Analyst is accountable for IFAD core values and code of conduct, including integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources.

Key Performance Indicators  

Demonstrated technical expertise and credibility in country portfolio management creates the foundation for IFAD’s capacity and reputation for programme delivery and enhances its recognition as a reliable development partner. The Country Programme Officer maintains the standards for IFAD’s competence in development at the field level. Substantive support in the development of country strategy, project design, partnership building and policy development provides the foundation for enhancing sustainable government strategies and policies to improve the livelihoods of the poor and other disadvantaged groups.

Working Relationships  

In the context of programme development and delivery, the Country Programme Officer ensures the exchange of information, advocates for programme and policy enhancements and ensures consistency and reliability in the provision of development assistance to the government. In collaborations with other members of the UN country team, bi-lateral development agencies, NGOs and country programme counterparts s/he establishes and maintains relationships and projects the image of IFAD as a credible/reliable partner striving for harmonization of development activities.

Job Profile Requirements  

Organizational Competencies:

Level 1:

•    Strategic thinking and organizational development: Personal influence 
•    Demonstrating Leadership :  Personal leadership and attitude to change 
•    Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge and innovates
•    Focusing on clients:  Focuses on clients
•    Problem solving and decision making: Demonstrates sound problem solving and decision making ability
•    Managing time, resources and information:  Manages own time, information and resources effectively 
•    Team Work:  Contributes effectively to the team 
•    Communicating and negotiating: Communicates effectively: creates understanding between self and others 
•    Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains effective working relationships 

Education:

Education includes Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://whed.net/home.php in rural development, agriculture, economics, rural finance, development policy or related field is required (*):
(*) Note:  For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in IFAD’s Human Resources Implementing Procedures. 

In the absence of an advanced degree and additional two (2) years of professional experience is required. 

Experience:

Languages:

Skills: 
Job role specific 

•    Topical expertise - Programme Management for Agricultural Development, Expertise specific to position, e.g., in agricultural and rural development, policy-oriented, programme based pro-poor approaches, results-based agriculture rural development projects, country-specific knowledge, migration,  etc.;
•    Advocacy, Know-how in advocacy, to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD’s vision to external actors;
•    IFAD partners, Knowledge of IFAD's partners' functioning and mandate , such as the public sector (e.g. governments and policy, institutions and system), non-state actors (NGOs, CSOs, Foundations, etc.) and private sector actors;
•    Political acumen, Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice;
•    Analytical skills, Outstanding ability to analyse and synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources and filter out key insights and recommendations;
•    Project/Programme management (incl. coordination, design, development), Know-how in Project design and evaluation; 4
•    Verbal communication, Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language;
•    Written communication, Clear, succinct and convincing written communication in the language needed for specific role ; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language   (e.g. for drafting of position papers, briefings, etc.) communication,
•    Interpersonal skills, Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with others (e.g. visitors, clients, callers, etc.), including senior individuals (e.g. high-level meeting participants); 
•    Time management, Adherence to deadlines under time constraints and pressure (e.g. to deliver governing body documents on time); ability to coordinate and manage complex workflows and in-house and external teams;
•    Initiative and good judgment,  High sense of proactive initiative-taking and good judgement (including on security matters);
•    Adaptability, Adaptability and flexibility when facing new or unexpected situations, and to specific constraints and circumstances and managing complex processes;
•    Risk management (e.g. reputational), Identification and assessment of potential liabilities and risks in IFAD’s activities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties; ability to handle risks via contingency and mitigation strategies;  (e.g. reputational);

Position specific 
•    Stakeholder management, Strong alignment capabilities and consultation skills, building on effective interactions and relationships with different stakeholders (e.g. for the co-creation of communication material with member states) and ability to build and maintain a strong network (e.g. with journalists, media outlets, etc.);
•    Budgeting, resource management, Know-how in budget administration and accounting, resource allocation and planning at divisional level.

Other Information  

Applicants for vacancies in the National Professional Officer (NPO) category should be nationals of the country in which the position is located.

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.