The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group)[1] is today the leading source of development financing for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Its objective is to promote inclusive, sustainable, and climate-friendly development by providing financial and technical support for the countries that are working to reduce poverty and inequality in the region. To ensure its performance and positive impact on the development objectives, the IDB Group has an Evaluation Policy Framework (2019),[2] which guides the evaluation system, and an independent Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE) that seeks to ensure objective and impartial evaluations, as well as to promote transparency, effectiveness, and accountability in its operations.
OVE is an independent unit within the IDB Group that reports directly to the Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and for evaluations related to the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC/IDB Invest), to that institutionโs board. The OVE Director is responsible for the management of the Office, leading the formulation of strategies, the preparation and execution of the work plan, and the supervision of its results for purposes of fulfilling the IDB Groupโs Evaluation Policy Framework. In fulfilling these functions, the Director should be guided by principles of independence, objectivity, and quality of the evaluations, while also enabling a collaborative and constructive approach among evaluators and key stakeholders.
Purpose of the Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE)
โข The primary objective of a strong independent evaluation function is to improve the development effectiveness, relevance, sustainability, and efficiency of the IDB Groupโs interventions in the countries and as members of the multilateral system. In order to do so, OVEโs work contributes to both accountability for development results and continuous learning and improvement. To this end, OVE conducts independent, systematic evaluations of specific projects and programs, country programs, sector, thematic, and corporate matters, as well as oversight studies on the IDB Groupโs country strategies, performance, and development effectiveness, presenting reports containing its findings and recommendations to the Boards of Executive Directors of the IDB and IDB Invest. OVE also provides support to the Boards of Executive Directors of the IDB and IDB Invest in its oversight duty and provides inputs for Board deliberations. These outputs aim to provide useful, professional, and impartial perspectives on the performance and development effectiveness of the IDB Group, which are submitted to the Boards of Executive Directors and disclosed to the public, in accordance with the IDB and IDB Invest Access to Information Policies and the corresponding guidelines, thus contributing to institutional transparency and the learning of operational personnel and the development community at large. A central result of the evaluation function is incorporating the conclusions and findings of the evaluations into lessons learned and recommendations aimed at improving activities under way, the updating of strategies, and the design of new programs, policies, and operations. To this end, OVE promotes the establishment of a collaborative learning environment, thanks to constant feedback, while contributing to the IDB Groupโs institutional learning cycle. It is also tasked with ensuring adequate dissemination and use of lessons learned in the context of the Groupโs evaluation system. Thus, recommendations for improvement can be considered in the design, analysis, and execution of new operations, as well as in the formulation of new strategies, policies, and procedures. OVE also monitors and reports to the Boards on the actions taken by Management to implement Board-endorsed recommendations and reports annually on the progress made.
โข Ensuring the integrity of the IDB Groupโs self-evaluation system, while agreeing with Management on standards, methods, and processes, reviewing and validating selfevaluations, and periodically evaluating the adequacy and operation of the system.
โข Supporting the member countries in creating and strengthening their monitoring and evaluation capacities and systems.
Main responsibilities of the OVE Director
โข Lead and develop an independent evaluation office with relevant experience, committed to the highest quality standards, and focused on efficiency and effectiveness in the use of resources. In accordance with Bank policies, regulations, and procedures, manage OVEโs personnel, budget, and work program under the oversight of the Policy and Evaluation Committee of the IDB Board of Executive Directors (PEC). Manage the OVE budget and work program applicable to IDB Invest under the oversight of the Committee of the Board of Executive Directors of IDB Invest and in accordance with IDB Invest policies, regulations, and procedures.
โข The Director leads an Office of approximately 56 permanent and contractual employees (36 staff and 20 consultants), including research fellows, and a total 2023 budget for the Office of US$9.2 million in the IDB and US$1.5 million in IDB Invest.
โข Based on the guidance of the IDB Group Boards, prepare an ongoing multiyear work program that is flexible and timely for decision-making, setting proposed priorities for evaluation, outputs, and activities. In addition, propose annual budgets to execute the proposed work program and present both to the corresponding Boards for their consideration. During preparation of the work program, the OVE Director will contact IDB Group Management and other stakeholders to set deadlines for delivery of evaluations and outputs, among other priorities The IDB Policy and Evaluation Committee and the IDB Invest Committee of the Board of Executive Directors will be kept abreast of any changes made to the deadlines for delivery of evaluations and outputs.
โข Lead evaluations to assess whether the IDB Groupโs programs, policies, strategies, interventions, and oversight activities are producing the expected results. The OVE Director is responsible for the content, quality, and recommendations of the evaluation reports and for the timely delivery thereof within the established deadlines. These reports are presented to the respective IDB and IDB Invest Boards for their consideration and endorsement of recommendations.
โข Hold final authority and responsibility for the content, quality, and timely delivery of OVEโs outputs (their process, methodology, and recommendations), and the achievement of the Officeโs long-term goals and annual targets. Protect the independence of the evaluations and allow an adequate level of consultation with Management and other relevant stakeholders, as well as obtaining inputs from these parties.
โข Provide PEC and the IDB Invest Committee of the Board of Executive Directors with semiannual reports on work plan execution and use of financial resources, as well as an annual report on the implementation status of measures adopted by Management in response to evaluation recommendations endorsed by the Boards, according to the Evaluation Recommendation Tracking System of the IDB and IDB Invest. โข Based on the conclusions and findings of OVEโs evaluations, prepare clear and actionable recommendations for the IDB and IDB Invest Boards of Executive Directors to help improve the efficiency, sustainability, and effectiveness of the IDB Groupโs policies, strategies, programs, interventions, and activities and their responsiveness to member countriesโ needs.
โข Ensure learning and proper use of evaluation results to strengthen OVEโs own function, protocols, and products in order to continuously work to improve development results.
โข Ensure that the IDB Group applies cutting-edge evaluation methods that incorporate new technologies and are based on continuous innovation.
โข Support a learning culture based on cooperation, information-sharing, and constructive feedback within the IDB Group and with its clients.
โข Lead the Office in the dissemination of the findings and lessons learned from evaluations of operations completed in member countries in the region and in the development community in accordance with the current IDB and IDB Invest Access to Information Policies. Promote the participation of counterparts in evaluations, and promote and support capacity-building and the development of effective monitoring and evaluation systems in Latin America and the Caribbean.
โข Cooperate with the offices responsible for evaluation of other international financial institutions and development agencies, donors, and the development community at large in the search for best practices and sharing of information. Take part in external forums to represent the vision and interests of the IDB Group with respect to issues related to independent evaluation, and contribute knowledge and experience to the development of international standards.
โข To fulfill their responsibilities, the OVE Director and the team members he or she appoints will have unrestricted access to all information required to perform their work, that is, to staff, relevant meetings, and operational and policy files of the IDB Group.
โข In keeping with the regulations of the IDB Board of Executive Directors and the IDB Invest Board of Executive Directors, the OVE Director will have access to the meetings of the Committees and the Boards, and may be consulted at any time.
Reporting line
โข OVE operates under a mandate by the Boards of Executive Directors of the IDB and
IDB Invest, is independent from Management, and reports directly to the Boards. The
OVE Director will report directly to the IDB Board of Executive Directors through PEC and to the IDB Invest Board of Executive Directors through its Committee of the Board of Executive Directors.[3]
โข Although PEC is the main channel of communication between the IDB Board and the Office of Evaluation and Oversight, and the Committee of the Board of Executive Directors is the main channel of communication between the IDB Invest Board and OVE, there is also a close relationship between OVE and the Programming Committee, and when applicable, with other Committees of the Boards and the MIF Donors Committee. As part of its communication with the Programming Committee and the IDB Invest Committee of the Board of Executive Directors, OVE is responsible for providing the Committees with outputs (evaluations and reviews) of country programs in a timely fashion.
โข The annual performance review of the Director of OVE will be undertaken by the PEC Chairperson, in coordination with the Chairperson of the Committee of the Board of Executive Directors of IDB Invest, as well as with the Chairpersons of the Programming Committee and the Organization, Human Resources, and Board Matters Committee, in accordance with Bank procedures. The review will include analysis of leadership and communication skills, management of human and financial resources, and timely delivery of the work program.
โข The work of the Office and the Director will be independent of IDB Group Management. However, in carrying out this work, the OVE Director and the employees of the Office will adhere to all current IDB Group policies, procedures, and regulations, including but not limited to access to information, human resources management, financial reporting, and the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Travel and time and leave reporting for the OVE Director and staff will follow the Bankโs administrative regulations and, in the case of the Director, will be reported to the Chairperson of the IDBโs Policy and Evaluation Committee.
Managing relations with the Boards of Executive Directors and Management:
โข The OVE Director will maintain proactive, collaborative, and constructive working relationships with the Boards of Executive Directors and Management and act in furtherance of a constructive evaluation system.
โข Discussions with Management prior to, during, and following all evaluations are needed to strengthen learning and improve efforts to harmonize the evaluation function and relevance of evaluation findings.
Hiring and dismissal procedures:
โข The Director will be selected and appointed by the IDB Board of Executive Directors for a nonrenewable term of six (6) years. A Selection Panel will be established, made up of Board members and chaired by the Chairperson of the IDBโs Policy and Evaluation Committee. The selection process will be open, transparent, competitive, and merit-based. The Director will be a person of recognized competence and achievement in management in the public or private sectors with experience in the evaluation of strategy, policy, economic, business, and financing matters. The candidate may not have any interest in any operation financed by the IDB Group or any other conflict or appearance of conflict of interest.
โข As an IDB staff member, the Director will have the equivalent rank of an E3 Executive at the Bank. S/he will serve for a period of six years, subject to the Bankโs retirement age and human resource policies. At the end of the term of service, the Director will not be eligible for regular employment or reemployment in the IDB Group as a staff member or contractual employee or provide services to the IDB Group through a firm.
โข The Board of Executive Directors may terminate the employment contract before its expiration date for cause pursuant to the applicable principles and staff rules regarding contracts and termination of employment.
[1] The IDB Group includes the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC/IDB Invest), a separate public international organization which is committed to the development of Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector, and the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF/IDB Lab), which is a fund under the administration of the IDB.
[2] โEvaluation Policy Framework - IDB Group,โ July 2019, document RE-538-5, http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0002181. This document delineates and sets forth the principles of evaluation and the institutional arrangements that guide the evaluation system of the IDB and IDB Invest, in accordance with the policies, procedures, and regulations of the IDB Groupโs institutions.
[3] Standing Committees of the Boards of Executive Directors of the IDB and the IIC. Consolidated Procedures and Terms of Reference (document DR-525-59).
Key eligibility criteria:
The OVE Director should be an executive with a strategic focus, possessing the following characteristics:
โข Demonstrated knowledge of the economic, social, and cultural framework of Latin America and the Caribbean. Experience in relevant work in the region is an asset.
โข An independent thinker, with a high degree of professional integrity, having earned the respect of other professionals in the area of policy design and evaluation.
โข Sound analytical capabilities combined with experience in development and evaluation of policies and programs using impact evaluation methods applied to development, the private sector, and public policies.
โข Knowledge or experience in the area of investment and finance in the public and private sectors and with international development agencies.
โข Knowledge and experience with the work of multilateral development institutions are an asset.
โข Proven management and leadership qualities: a people manager with broad experience who models inclusive behavior, promotes diversity, and efficiently manages resources. Proven management record in similar positions, including supervision of technically strong multidisciplinary teams.
โข Demonstrated experience in prioritizing multiple tasks and meeting deadlines for outputs.
โข Effective and proactive communication skills and the ability to clearly and concisely explain complex topics.
โข Personal skills such as adaptability, resilience, teamwork, and the capacity for innovation.
โข Experience in knowledge dissemination.
โข Sound management of technological tools to support the development of his/her work, both for communication with his/her team and for process modernization.
โข Location: Based in Washington, D.C., with frequent international travel.
โข Education: At least a masterโs degree or equivalent advanced level degree in economics, finance, engineering, administration, or a related field. At least 15 years
of relevant experience, preferably with 10 years at the international senior leadership level. Academic publications in relevant fields are advantageous.
โข Languages: Advanced professional proficiency, both oral and written, in either English or Spanish is required, along with full command of the other language. Working knowledge of a third IDB Group language (Portuguese or French) is desirable.
โข Supervisory competencies:
o Acting strategically to deliver results: Deliver results for the Boards of Executive Directors of the IDB and IDB Invest that support the organizationโs strategy, mission, and vision, as well as the efficient use of resources.
o Providing advisory and development support: Develop talent through assignments, programs, and practical coaching.
o Building engagement and commitment: Set challenging targets, while acknowledging employee efforts, promoting engagement, considering multiple viewpoints, and driving a unified approach.
o Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion: Adopt an inclusive approach in the development of teams and decision-making.
o Creating efficient, versatile teams: Assemble nimble, cost-effective teams and organizations that are able to adapt to new challenges and opportunities.
o Leading change and transformation: Support risk-taking and innovation; accelerate staff and organizational transitions.
o Building partnerships: Increase impact and scalability through strategic internal and external partnerships.
Requirements