Job Title : Chief Evidence for Development Impact and Innovation Unit

ID : 34171

Location : ROME

Date of issue : 02/19/2026

Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 03/11/2026

Organizational Unit : Office of Develop Effectiv

Full/Part Time : Full-Time

Regular/Temporary : Regular

Assignment Duration : 2 Years

Grade : P-5

Organizational Setting

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 Office of Development Effectiveness (ODE) ensures that IFAD's supported projects are set to achieve their maximum impact and serve as a learning opportunity for future ones. Specifically, ODE is responsible for coordinating corporate strategy and measuring the relevance of IFADs business model in order to ensure the effective implementation of the strategy. ODE is also responsible of managing, measuring, and facilitating the effectiveness of IFAD program of work, including adequately incorporating knowledge of effectiveness and efficiency into all of its investments. Through the systematic integration of research findings, evidence-based innovations and best practices into IFAD's project design, implementation, and self-evaluation processes, the effectiveness and impact of IFAD-supported initiatives are enhanced. ODE contributes to five key corporate objectives:

  • Supporting the long-term development strategy of the institution given its mandate,
  • Curating evidence and disseminating effective programs, innovations and operational solutions for rural economies,
  • Ensuring the appropriate feedback loops work to ensure quality through the compliance of policies, standards, and lessons learned through the whole evaluation function of IFAD,
  • Driving corporate and operational effectiveness and efficiency,
  • Supporting capacity development for project management, monitoring and evaluation at the country-level

ODE is led by a Managing Director, a Deputy, Chief Strategy and Effectiveness Officer, and three units: Quality Assurance and Environmental and Social Safeguards Unit (QAS); Results, Resources and Systems Unit (RRS); and Evidence for Development Impact and Innovation Unit (EDI).

EDI strengthens IFAD's ability to curate and communicate evidence that supports country dialogue, policy influence and partnerships. Working with MDBs, the CGIAR, the RBAs, academia, the private sector, research centres and others, ODE promotes exchange of evidence and innovation for greater impact. Specifically:

  • The impact assessment function generates knowledge by systematically assessing the impact of IFAD investments and transmitting that knowledge internally within IFAD and to the outside world. The generated knowledge is also used to develop IFAD's strategies and support effective development.
  • The knowledge curation function focuses on capturing, synthesizing, and sharing knowledge generated externally and from IFAD-funded projects and initiatives, facilitating organizational learning and capacity-building.
  • The innovation function explores and promotes innovative approaches and solutions to address development challenges, driving organizational agility and adaptability.

Job Role

The incumbent technically supports country/regional programs as well as the corporate agenda by providing state-of-the-art technical advice throughout the project cycle (strategic and operational). Within the areas of responsibility, the Lead Technical Specialist exercises a high degree of independence in providing reliable programme delivery. The incumbent at this level performs the full complexity range of work independently, including the analysis and approval of complex and/or precedent setting cases with the aim to ensure cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support.

The incumbent is also an expert and knowledge builder in their thematic specialization. The incumbent provides technical expertise and strategic guidance on generating and using new ideas to enrich the knowledge base that supports the Fund's operational and policy agenda. The incumbent provides substantive contribution to understanding future trends in rural development relevant to their area of expertise, strengthening IFAD's strategic planning perspective and pro-actively fostering innovative and effective solutions to rural poverty within investment projects, country programmes, IFAD`s policy, member governments, the academic community, private sector, and public opinion in the international development community. Knowledge management at this level directly impacts on quality control and enhancement of IFAD`s programmes and partnership development for inclusive and sustainable rural transformation.

The incumbent analyses and utilizes data to enhance programme development and delivery while also assessing data needs, availability and demand by working collaboratively within ODE and with other relevant internal stakeholders and in particular the Department for Country Operations (DCO) and the Office of Technical Delivery (OTD) to evaluate data needs, leverage its use, and devise plans on how data meets operational needs. More specifically, the incumbent:

  • Leads generation/acquisition of data, knowledge, and evidence (is responsible of approaches, tools and methods) and collecting data for specific purposes (e.g. Impact Assessments).
  • Promotes a culture of innovation within IFAD and promotes the identification and scaling up of rural poverty innovations.
  • Produces and mobilizes the creation of Knowledge Products (to meet the demand of different stakeholders):
    • Developing advocacy materials for engagement of the general public (Knowledge Type 1)
    • Providing policy support outputs to foster policy and decision making (Knowledge Type 2)
    • Prepares technical documentation and policy briefs to validate need-based analytical work and innovation and contributes to the Global pool of knowledge and evidence base related to rural development and food systems transformation (Knowledge Type 3)
  • Promotes knowledge dissemination (workshops, training, technical assistance and international Conferences on knowledge and use dissemination).

Key Functions and Results

1. IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS: The incumbent provides evidence-based policy recommendations based on impact assessments and other empirical analyses to enhance IFAD's position as an influential global player in agricultural, food security, and rural development. The incumbent ensures that IFAD's operations are guided by sound economic reasoning, measuring causal impacts, and value for money of investments in agricultural and rural transformation. The incumbent positions IFAD as a global leader in the economics of inclusive and sustainable rural development.

  • Provide oversight to the design, implementation of rigorous impact assessments and applied economic analysis studies on topics related to IFAD's mandate including agricultural transformation, rural finance, climate adaptation, social inclusion, value chain, and food systems.
  • Supervise the application of experimental and quasi-experimental methods (e.g., randomized controlled trials, difference-in-differences, synthetic controls, instrumental variables, regression discontinuity) and ensure appropriate analytical design for non-experimental contexts to support IFAD's learning agenda from impact assessments and other empirical analyses.
  • Ensure methodological rigour and credibility in estimating causal impacts, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of IFAD's interventions.
  • Explore and pilot innovative approaches to support IFAD's learning agenda from impact assessments and other empirical analyses including systematic reviews, evidence gap maps, long-term geospatial impact assessments, small area estimations, among others.
  • Leading the preparation of technical products (e.g., complex papers, analysis, substantive sections of reports and studies) to advance IFAD's voice in the global debate on rural transformation, in close collaboration with other relevant divisions.
  • Provide strategic advice to Senior Management with up-to-date and evidence-based advice on relevant policy, institutional and technical matters.

2. KNOWLEDGE GENERATION AND EVIDENCE CURATION: The incumbent provides technically sound advice informed by empirical evidence to strengthen IFAD's institutional learning and knowledge base. The incumbent leads the generation, synthesis, and curation of data and evidence internal and external, ensuring that lessons from IFAD-supported operations and beyond are captured, analysed, and translated into actionable insights. The incumbent ensures that IFAD's knowledge products are timely, relevant, and accessible, enhancing the Fund's credibility as a trusted source of though leadership on agricultural and rural development.

  • Establish and manage a knowledge and evidence repository, integrating data, reports, and micro-datasets from impact assessments and empirical analyses.
  • Lead the production of systematic evidence reviews, meta-analyses, and economic syntheses on key thematic areas related to IFAD's mandate (e.g., agricultural productivity, climate adaptation economics, rural finance, value chains, women's empowerment, youth, jobs, resilience, etc.).
  • Formulate a strategy to translate technical and economic findings into actionable policy briefs, lessons papers, dashboards, and toolkits for IFAD operations and technical divisions.
  • Promote uptake of economic evidence by operational teams: integrate findings into Country Strategic Opportunities Programmes (COSOPs), project design reports, mid-term reviews, and project completion reports.
  • Lead the development of IFAD's flagship reports based on the identified themes and topics relevant to IFAD's mandate to position IFAD as a thought leader on agricultural and rural transformation.

3. KNOWLEDGE ADVISORY LEADERSHIP: The incumbent enhances the development of viable and sustainable policies and supports regional and global thematic input through authoritative technical knowledge sharing for their area of specialization. The incumbent will ensure access to the latest sources of knowledge and innovation, strengthen technical capacity and establish new knowledge and advisory partnerships. Accountabilities may include, but are not limited to:

  • Leading processes related to intelligence gathering and analysis of debates relevant to inclusive and sustainable rural transformation in the global debate and facilitating knowledge sharing and experiences in this area within IFAD and other stakeholders in the global arena.
  • Coordinating relevant knowledge development and dissemination with institutions outside of IFAD, within the region concerned and national Institutions, disseminating knowledge and lessons learned with external partners and stakeholders through publication of Occasional Papers, seminars and workshops, through electronic media and the development of new knowledge products and operational tools that are informed by learning from the field.
  • Participating in IFAD-wide thematic discussions and developing appropriate technical and operation approaches of relevance to the country/divisional strategies and programmes.
  • Planning and leading learning events to strengthen IFAD's knowledge and capacity to engage in global debates with policy implications for rural transformation.
  • Representing EDI at forums on related topics and presenting relevant contributions and impact, knowledge management, and innovation methodologies.

4. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES: The incumbent develops and maintains a network of strategic partnerships that can help advance IFAD's mandate and messages around inclusive and sustainable rural transformation in the global debate. The incumbent develops peer contacts inside and outside IFAD to develop new products and services, keeps up to date on activities at the country and regional levels, to support joint advocacy and for knowledge sharing to enhance the Fund's profile as a highly competent and reliable partner in development. Accountabilities may include, but not limited to:

  • Building partnerships with centres of excellence, complementary financial and technical organizations and specialized departments of other development agencies as strategic partner.
  • Strengthening IFAD's representation and communication in policy processes (including representing IFAD at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences).
  • Generating new resources for IFAD through partnerships and outreach activities.
  • Identifying major opportunities, as well as serving as a focal point, for strategic collaboration with centres of excellence, complementary technical organizations and specialized departments of other development agencies as strategic partners.
  • Leading wider IFAD and Rome-based discussions on the development of sustainable and inclusive approaches to rural transformation as requested.

5. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING: The incumbent supports the Managing Director in monitoring and corporate reporting activities to enhance knowledge creation, country level programme and funding decisions.

6. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. Accountabilities may include but are not limited to:

  • Contributing to the supervision of key divisional programme activities, including key missions and other initiatives, leading and directing a team of staff, overseeing knowledge management, innovation, needs based empirical analyses and impact assessment activities, planning and allocating work assignments, coaching, mentoring and evaluating staff, and participating in recruitment, selection and training of new staff and in the development of training programmes.
  • Contributing to the personnel and financial management of the work unit, including the development and implementation of work plans and budgets.

7. COORDINATION: Coordinating relevant innovation development and dissemination within IFAD and institutions outside of IFAD (including other UN entities, IFIs, academia, private sector, think tanks, and other that could contribute to the development of innovative tools to engage with Governments and the Private Sector), within the region concerned and national Institutions, external partners and stakeholders.

Key Performance Indicators

Assignments require the provision of authoritative professional expertise and technical leadership at the global, regional and national levels, in the area of specialization. The Lead Technical Specialists define, propose, revise and/or develop investment projects, programmes or policies for the Fund and represent the position of IFAD in national, regional as well as global fora and conferences. Innovation is required in the adaptation and development of approaches and methods to evolving technical and programmatic contexts. Work at this level is considered as substantially complex and of critical concern to the Fund. In particular, the operational, analytical and policy work requires in depth identification and consideration of a full range of factors relevant to the examination and discussion of programme problems and policies in the solution of methodological problems or in the formulation of policy proposals and project recommendations.

The Chief, EDI, produces high-quality outputs on key issues and effectively assists, guides and supports programme managers in meeting their objectives and outputs. The incumbent provides substantive support in the servicing of various committees and intergovernmental bodies and effectively develops staff under their supervision, including their on-going learning and development. Work at this level normally is not reviewed for technical accuracy thus the incumbent exercises independence and initiative in their scope of work. The decisions are made on the strategies to be followed in resolving problems of concern in the technical area.

Working Relationships

The work relationships of the incumbent involve the provision of authoritative technical advice for policy, programme and strategy development, resource mobilization, and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in mission planning, technical project appraisal or the preparation of studies and reports. The incumbent typically serves as the Fund's senior technical advisor/lead in the field of specialization and exercises wide professional latitude in contacts in their field(s) of specialization, providing technical leadership and methodological guidance to management, Directors, CDs, national governments, development partners and other country programme staff in the technical area of expertise.

The Chief, EDI typically serves as the Fund's advisor in the field of specialization and exercises wide professional latitude in contacts in their field(s), providing technical leadership and methodological guidance to management, national governments, development partners and other staff in the technical area of specialization.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

  • Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
  • Communicating and negotiating - Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills
  • Demonstrating leadership - Leads by example; initiates and supports change
  • Focusing on clients - Contributes to a client-focused culture
  • Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture
  • Managing performance and developing staff - Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization
  • Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
  • Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
  • Strategic thinking and organizational development - Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles
  • Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment

Education:

Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://whed.net/home.php in a technically relevant area is required (*). Areas: Agricultural economics, Resource economics, Economics or related fields (such as, but not limited to, Development economics, Statistics, or Applied mathematics). A PhD degree is highly preferred.

(*) Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in IFAD's Human Resources Implementing Procedures.

Experience:

  • At least ten (10) years progressively responsible experience in the field of specialization.
  • Three (3) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
  • Substantive and sustained work experience in development economics, in the formulation of technical guidance and input to development programmes, and in international policy frameworks related to global issues is highly desirable.
  • Track record of policy-relevant analytical work demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals the results of which have been applied, directly or indirectly, to policymaking.
  • Strong analytical skills in econometric analysis of microeconomic data and proven ability to conduct policy-relevant research.
  • Proven experience in leading high impact development policy operations.
  • Integrative capacity including the ability to situate sectoral issues within a broader development framework.
  • Demonstrated network of research collaborators and a track record of intellectual leadership and ability to integrate economic-specific knowledge and specific micro sector fields of expertise.
  • Proven expertise in data collection, analysis, and use and leveraging data to generate knowledge, foster innovation, and enhance programme and policy development and implementation.

Languages:

  • English (4 - Excellent)
  • Desirable: French, Spanish and/or Arabic (3 - Good)

Skills:

  • (Development) economics: Know-how relevant to specific role as economist, e.g. development economics, macro/micro-economic analysis, conducting of economic research and applied econometrics, etc.
  • Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation)
  • Advanced data analytics: Statistical & econometrics research, forensic and advanced data analytics / data mining
  • 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
  • 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.)
  • Strategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions
  • Resources management: Know-how in the management of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources
  • Adaptability: Adaptability and flexibility when facing new or unexpected situations, and to specific constraints and circumstances and managing complex processes
  • 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)
  • Leadership: Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective guidance to others; Ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization by acting as a role model for IFAD's core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and effective guidance to the team, strategizing the IFAD's goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all.
  • Synthesis: Outstanding ability to synthesize and simplify complex technical information for a variety of (non-technical) audiences
  • 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.)
  • Programme/Project development, management: Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management
  • Research & impact assessment: Know-how in designing, coordinating, conducting technical research & impact assessment in own thematic area

Other Information

IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

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 in line with its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

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