Job Title : Partnership Officer

ID : 34279

Location : ROME

Date of issue : 02/27/2026

Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 03/23/2026

Organizational Unit : Global Eng., Part. & res. Mob.

Full/Part Time : Full-Time

Regular/Temporary : Regular

Assignment Duration : 2 Years

Grade : P-3

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 External Relations Department (ERD) leads IFAD's external engagement through public and political advocacy, global policy engagement, partnership building, resource mobilization and strategic communications. ERD also leads IFAD's Replenishment, which is the process through which IFAD mobilizes core funding from Member States and agrees on priorities and targets for the Fund's work during each three-year replenishment period. ERD is led by an Associate Vice President and is comprised of two divisions: Global Engagement Partnership and Resource Mobilization Division (GPR) and the Communications Division (COM) and one initiative: The Food Systems Coordination (FSC).

The Global Engagement, Partnership and Resource Mobilization (GPR) Division has a specific focus on global policy engagement, partnerships (including with Member States and bilateral and multilateral organizations), and on driving the resource mobilization efforts with traditional and non-traditional donors and partners. Within this framework, the GPR Division addresses three main functions: Global policy engagement and multilateral relations; Strategic partnerships; Replenishment and resource mobilization, including supplementary funds and blended finance.

GPR is led by a Divisional Director and comprises four (4) Liaison Offices: the Americas Liaison Office which includes a presence in Washington, D.C. (ALO) and New York (NYLO); the Saudi Arabia Liaison Office (SLO); the Japan Liaison Office (JLO); and an office in Brussels (EU/BRX).

Job Role

The purpose of the position is to deepen corporate level collaboration with key stakeholders and provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of assignment. The incumbent may also serve as focal point and resource for GPR colleagues on specific thematic areas of strategic relevance for partnership development. The incumbent works within cross-functional key partner management teams to leverage relationship management skills, assets and, most importantly, professional social networks. I ncumbents are experts in their focus areas. They provide technical expertise and develop new approaches which materially expand the range of services or programmes delivered to closely support internal and external stakeholders. I ncumbents work collaboratively with the other colleagues across the GPR Division to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support within their assigned portfolios. The key result is to ensure greater visibility and influence for IFAD in support of its mission.

The incumbent is part of GPR's Global and Multilateral Engagement Unit. The goal of global and multilateral engagement is to cement IFAD's standing as an International Financial Institution and to position the Fund as a thought-leader that invests in food systems, and promotes rural transformation at the first mile, in policy processes, prioritizing high-impact platforms and strategic partnerships. The incumbent will provide technical support and collaborate at corporate level with key internal stakeholders on relationship management and thematic areas of strategic relevance for global and multilateral engagement. The incumbent will also work jointly with external partners and the envisioned portfolio will cover engagement with MDB (Multilateral Development Banks) and bilateral DFI (Development Finance Institutions) partners of IFAD.

Key Functions and Results

1. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING: The incumbent seeks and promotes new partnerships and resource mobilization opportunities, working with IFAD colleagues to identify needs and broker resource mobilization agreements to meet those needs. The incumbent receives and screens inquiries from potential collaborators and facilitates communication with appropriate IFAD staff and advocates divisional priorities. The incumbent scans and scouts external environment within designated focus areas for opportunities and risks and shares information in a timely fashion with relevant IFAD staff. In addition, the incumbent provides strategic, logistical and programmatic support to senior management and other IFAD staff in corporate engagement and interaction with assigned partners.

2. DEVELOPING AND SUPPORTING PARTNERSHIP STRATEGIES: The incumbent collaborates with internal stakeholders to strengthen IFADs approach to partnerships. The incumbent develops annual partnership engagement and resource mobilization plans and supports the implementation of partnership strategies within assigned portfolios. In addition, the incumbent builds IFAD's institutional capacity and knowledge for its partnership performance and ensures the development of efficient approaches for partnership knowledge management.

3. GLOBAL POLICY ENGAGEMENT, REPLENISHMENT, AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION AND ADVOCACY: The incumbent is responsible for providing technical expertise to the development and implementation of corporate strategies for the engagement in global policy debates. The incumbent supports and contributes to IFAD's engagement in policy dialogues, including replenishment, resource mobilization and advocacy.

4. FOCAL POINT FOR OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, POLICY INFLUENCE AND COLLABORATION: The incumbent acts as focal point for identification and pursuit of opportunities for outreach, engagement, policy influence and collaboration, including on how to anticipate and respond to partners' concerns and priorities, ensuring that IFAD's interests, perspectives, and knowledge are taken into account in relevant policy and institutional processes, and ensuring that they are fully aware of IFAD's perspectives, policies, priorities and capabilities. The incumbent contributes to the development and management of initiatives for high-level outreach, including for IFAD Senior Management.

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the personal use of assigned IFAD resources, including equipment, supplies and, as applicable, staff supervised.

The incumbent will:

  • Act as a focal point and manages institutional relations with MDBs and DFI's, assigned to them, particularly with their Partnerships Offices and other important stakeholders for IFAD, aiming for coordinated collaboration agenda's.
  • Prepare analytical reports, research, briefing notes, talking points, position papers, presentations and other materials as needed, particularly related to the MDB/DFI portfolio assigned to them. The incumbent identifies potential new MDB and DFI partner initiatives and events at all levels - national, regional and global - which provide opportunities for IFAD to promote and highlight its corporate agenda of transformative rural development.
  • Develop global and multilateral engagement plans related to prioritized MDBs and DFIs and monitor and report on their implementation, and proactively proposes mitigating actions as required.
  • Collaborate with, and collect information from, IFAD departments who lead on joint MDB/DFI working groups, technical cooperation and thematic initiatives, that IFAD is involved in.
  • Coordinate preparations of the President's, Vice President's and Associate Vice President's missions to MDB and DFI annual, or other, relevant meetings.

Key Performance Indicators

The incumbent is a seasoned professional in the field of external relations. The quality of work and external communications performed by the incumbent directly impacts on the professionalism of the incumbent and the overall reputation of the GPR Division in terms of both substantive depth and adaptive relevance to emerging issues and changing client needs. The incumbent follows established procedures but is expected to make recommendations on strategies for engagement and communications products. The incumbent is accountable for quality, substantive input and ability to project a competent and trusted image of the Fund to partners within IFAD and outside.

  • Assignment involves the management of processes with a wide array of internal and external clients and stakeholders, particularly related to IFAD's partnerships with MDB's and DFI's.
  • Work requires strategic and analytical work on international development financing, global and multilateral engagement, particularly on MDBs and DFIs, and policy processes related to IFAD's mandate.
  • Incumbent must excel in verbal and written communication skills.

Working Relationships

Representational functions of the incumbent are focused on establishing and maintaining relationships, building stronger relationships, identifying and pursuing of opportunities for outreach, engagement, policy influence and collaboration, and projecting the image of a credible/reliable partner. The incumbent resents policy positions, seeking to inform and build partnerships, within the limitations of guidelines set by the supervisor. Work relationships are established and maintained with counterparts both inside as well as outside the Fund. Exchange of information typically requires proactivity to clearly establish the policy, positions or practices of the Fund. The incumbent functions as a collaborative partner within the Fund to enhance partnership development and resource mobilization.

The quality of work and external communications performed by the incumbent impact the overall reputation of IFAD. The incumbent is thus accountable for quality, substantive technical input and ability to project a professional, competent and trusted image of the Fund to internal and external partners. The position requires high integrity, political acumen and diplomatic skills.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 1:

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

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent)

Experience:

  • At least 5 years progressively responsible experience in, and demonstrated understanding of, development initiatives in the field of specialization.
  • Three (3) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.

Languages:

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

Skills:

  • 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
  • Resource mobilization: Know-how in resource mobilization strategies (including marketing and communication) for IFI, international public bodies and within the UN
  • 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.)
  • 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.
  • Listening: Effective and active listening to others; understanding and acting upon indirect statements
  • Political acumen: Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice
  • Problem solving: Strong systemic and structured thinking, ability to identify and dissect problems into components and formulate a comprehensive set of creative viable and sustainable solutions and strategies
  • 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.)

Other Information

Applicants should note that 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 based on ethnic, social, or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size, or sexual orientation. This is in line with our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and our Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please refer to the UN disability-inclusive language guidelines.

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.

In accordance with IFAD's provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD's remuneration package, please visit IFAD's compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements.

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

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.

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