Senior Quality Assurance Specialist

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).

The Quality Assurance and Environmental and Social Safeguards Unit (QAS) ensures that operational and environmental and social safeguards guidelines and standards are adequately complied with along the project cycle: country strategies, loans, grants, implementation and completion.

The incumbent is a highly qualified professional with substantial operational experience in IFAD or similar multilateral development banks or international financial institutions. The incumbent technically supports the Chief, Quality Assurance and Environmental and Social Safeguards Unit (QAS), to ensure proper oversight and authoritative advice across the project cycle and the grants programme.

The incumbent is responsible for providing oversight and quality assurance support for country strategies, programme and project design, implementation (including restructuring) and closure, as well as grant design and alignment with IFAD's operational programme. Along with a team of Quality Assurance specialists under their supervision, the incumbent ensures that lessons learned from the project cycle are systematically captured and reflected in the knowledge management agenda of the Office of Development Effectiveness (ODE).

As an integral and senior member of the QAS team, the incumbent works collaboratively across departments and divisions to ensure the consistent application of IFAD's operational policies, standards and procedures, and to provide high-quality strategic and technical advice. The incumbent exercises a supervisory role and provides technical oversight for review work carried out by other members of the QAS team throughout the programming cycle.

The role requires continuous awareness of emerging trends and good practices, supported by active outreach and collaboration with IFI and UN counterparts.

1. STRATEGY, EFFECTIVENESS AND POLICY ADVICE: The incumbent provides strategic and technical direction to ensure that IFAD-financed programmes and projects are designed and implemented effectively and efficiently, and in compliance with applicable corporate policies, standards and procedures. The incumbent provides expert advice and guidance to management and operational staff on strategic and complex operational issues, and contributes to the continuous strengthening of IFAD's systems for quality assurance, risk management and compliance, ensuring independence, accountability and transparency throughout the project cycle.

2. QUALITY CONTROL AND ASSURANCE: The incumbent ensures the coherent and consistent application of relevant operational policies and standards in programme and project design, implementation and completion. In this capacity, the incumbent contributes to the development, organisation and application of systems and processes for high-quality, risk-based reviews across IFAD's programming cycle, including country strategy development, project design, supervision, portfolio performance review and completion.

The incumbent provides operational oversight and support services across IFAD's portfolio, ensuring appropriate fiduciary and quality controls, and consistent interpretation and application of operational procedures, guidelines and standards. The incumbent acts as custodian, within QAS, of relevant operational quality assurance procedures and tools.

3. PROJECT RISK REVIEW AND COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT: The incumbent ensures adequate compliance with IFAD's risk frameworks in programme and project design and implementation. The incumbent collaborates closely with relevant corporate functions and technical counterparts on the application of IFAD's risk approaches, and supports the review of COSOPs, concept notes, design documents, supervision reports, completion reports and other relevant documentation with respect to operational risks and compliance requirements.

4. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND LEARNING: The incumbent promotes the systematic capture, synthesis and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices derived from programme and project implementation. The incumbent contributes to the preparation of knowledge products and supports learning processes that strengthen IFAD's institutional capacity to deliver results through the consistent application of quality assurance standards and practices.

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent is accountable for integrity, transparency and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes people management responsibilities such as contributing to recruitment processes, providing technical leadership, and coaching and mentoring staff. The incumbent supervises and evaluates the performance of Professional and General Service staff under their purview and supports capacity development aligned with organisational needs.

6. NON-SOVEREIGN AND PRIVATE SECTOR OPERATIONS QIALITY ASSURANCE: When assigned responsibility for non-sovereign and private sector operations, the incumbent provides quality assurance oversight and technical advice throughout the lifecycle of IFAD non-sovereign instruments and private sector interventions, including operations involving financial intermediaries. The incumbent supports the origination, structuring, implementation and completion of operations to ensure alignment with IFAD's development effectiveness framework, operational standards and risk approaches.

The incumbent advises operational teams on intervention logic, evaluability, results measurement and risk mitigation, and ensures that development effectiveness and compliance considerations are integrated into non-sovereign operations alongside financial and operational assessments. The incumbent contributes to knowledge generation, learning and collaboration related to private sector engagement and development effectiveness.
 

The key results achieved by the incumbent have a direct impact on the compliance of IFAD operations with corporate policies, rules and procedures, the implementation of operational strategies, and the monitoring and reporting of results. Assignments require the provision of solid and authoritative technical expertise, as well as effective knowledge sharing with peers and counterparts.

The work goes beyond technical analysis and synthesis to include the development and application of quality standards and tools, evaluation of compliance, and systematic identification and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices. The work is considered complex, requiring in-depth technical and operational knowledge and strong analytical and advisory skills. The incumbent works independently and with authority, and is accountable for the quality and timeliness of outputs.

The results of the incumbent's work significantly affect the overall effectiveness of IFAD's programme of loans and grants and support the implementation of IFAD's business model and strategic priorities.
 

The incumbent  maintains professional relationships that involve the provision of authoritative technical advice, guidance and the negotiation and resolution of issues arising in the context of operational quality assurance and compliance. The incumbent works collaboratively within ODE and with other relevant IFAD divisions and departments to ensure the effective application of quality standards and procedures.

The incumbent  serves as a strategic advisor on operational quality assurance and compliance matters, combining technical expertise, operational judgement and risk awareness. The incumbent represents QAS in internal and external fora as required, contributes to dialogue on operational quality assurance practices, and maintains contacts with counterparts in other international organisations to benchmark approaches and identify emerging developments.

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:

• Level - Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent)*.
• Areas - Agriculture, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, Environment, Economics, Program Evaluation.

Degree must be an accredited institution listed on  

(*) 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 eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience in, and demonstrated understanding of, initiatives in the field of specialization.
• Two (2) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Senior expert knowledge of internationally recognized compliance, policy, legal and public procurement standards during all phases of project structuring, financing and supervision, with a particular focus on previous work on projects in the developing world.
• Extensive and relevant experience in managing and accessing critical linkages between compliance, legal requirements, safeguards, procurement and business functions.
• At least five (5) years operational experiences in the management and supervision of rural development projects/programmes.
• Strong inter-personal skills to lead a multi-stakeholder process, strong technical skills to set in motion the schedule of and the actual implementation of a strategy or policy; strong upward management skills to obtain management support on time.

Languages:

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

Skills:

• Risk & compliance: Know-how in asset liability management, risk reporting, capital adequacy, quality assurance and compliance (e.g. Anti-money laundering (AML), Know your customer (KYC) processes), etc.
• Economic analysis: Know-how in Programme/Project economic analysis
• Economic evaluation: Know-how relevant to specific role in Evaluation roles (e.g. Monitoring and managing evaluation processes and methodologies, carrying out Programme/Project evaluation, Impact evaluation, Corporate-level evaluation)
• 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
• Data management: Data collection, cleaning, transformation and consolidation; data-base architecture & development; data presentation
• 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
• Performance management: Know-how in managing performance so that staff supervised deliver on the agreed objectives and meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD. Is proficient in establishing clear performance goals (operational and behavioural) and learning plans as well as in evaluating the performance of staff against the set goals.
• Confidentiality & Discretion: Establishes self and division as trusted advisor to internal stakeholders by maintaining high level of discretion and confidentiality in assignments; demonstrates sound judgement when dealing with sensitive and/or confidential matters; drives good governance and is a "Culture Carrier" demonstrating IFAD institutional conscience through his/her work.
• Integrity and ethics: Strong emphasis on acting with honesty, not tolerating unethical behaviour, demonstrating equity, impartiality and sensitivity in exercising authority and interacting with staff, and other  stakeholders. Conduct must be guided by IFAD core values, the Code of conduct and a high sense of ethics.
• 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
• 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

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.

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