Call for Interest - Senior Advisor NSO Transformation and Implementation, Consultancy 6 Months

This position is based on a Consultant contract, with an initial assignment of six (6) months, with the potential of extension for additional 6 months.

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 the President and Vice-President of IFAD (OPV) provides strategic oversight and direction to the entire organization, including all decentralised offices, and is responsible for IFAD's strategic leadership, and all departments and offices report to it. OPV is the highest-level of political and strategic engagement with IFAD Member States, Rome-based agencies, and other UN agencies and International Financial Institutions (IFIs), leveraging the Fund's resources, knowledge, relationships and reputation to ensure IFAD achieves its mandate through IFAD-funded programmes and non-lending activities providing sustainable impact to its target groups. OPV also serves as the primary liaison with the Senior Executive Management Team and supports general governance of the organization. It leads the implementation of the strategic plan for the organization, as well as develops or champions new initiatives to improve organizational efficiency, visibility, and organization-wide leadership development.  OPV also specifically oversees the Corporate Services Support Group (CSSG) and supervises the Protocol Unit. The CSSG comprises: (a) the Office of Audit and Oversight (AUO); (b) the Ethics Office (ETH); and (c) the Planning, Organizational Development and Budget Division (POB).

The Senior Advisor Consultant works under the direct supervision of the Chief of Staff.  

This position is envisaged as a temporary Senior Advisor to the Office of the President and Vice-President (OPV), responsible for supporting the implementation, operationalisation and institutionalisation of IFAD's NSO Transformation Programme. The role is intended to provide independent, senior-level implementation support across organisational boundaries and to help ensure that the reforms arising from the NSO Core Process Redesign are successfully embedded in IFAD's governance structures, operating model, portfolio management practices, and organisational culture
 

Background

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has identified Non-Sovereign Operations (NSOs) as a strategic pillar to complement sovereign operations, mobilise additional resources, and enhance development impact in rural areas.

Recent internal and external assessments have highlighted the need to strengthen the institutional framework supporting NSOs, including governance arrangements, accountability structures, decision-making processes, portfolio supervision, risk management practices and organisational capabilities.

The NSO Core Process Redesign exercise has produced a comprehensive target operating model, including revised governance arrangements, Deal Team structures, transaction-processing methodologies, approval mechanisms, investment committee architecture, portfolio supervision processes, watchlist management procedures, and restructuring frameworks.

The next phase requires successful implementation, operationalisation and institutionalisation of these reforms across the organisation.

Experience from other multilateral development banks and development finance institutions demonstrates that the success of such transformation programmes depends not only on process redesign but also on practical implementation, leadership alignment, capability development, institutional learning and cultural change.

To support this process, IFAD may benefit from engaging a highly experienced Senior Advisor to work directly with the Office of the President and Vice-President in overseeing and accelerating implementation of the NSO Transformation Programme.

Scope of Work

A.    NSO Transformation Programme Implementation

Support implementation through monitoring and providing feedback on the redesigned NSO operating model, including:

• Deal Team structures and responsibilities;
• Project Eligibility Note (PEN) process;
•  Project Concept Note (PCN) process;
• Project Appraisal Report (PAR) process;
• due diligence and transaction management processes;
• delegated authority arrangements;
• approval pathways;
• governance documentation standards;
• implementation planning and monitoring.
• work with QAS to monitor the attainment of the KPIs

B.    Governance and Accountability Strengthening

Support implementation of governance reforms, including:

• clarification of roles and responsibilities:
• strengthening decision rights and accountability mechanisms;
• optimisation of committee structures and governance bodies;
• enhancement of transparency and consistency in decision-making;
• strengthening coordination among PSD, RMO, LEG, FCD, ODE and other participating functions.
• support OPV to understand the gaps within these divisions so that we can discuss which ways to address them

C.    Investment Committee Operationalisation

Support the finalization of the TORs, the establishment and operationalisation of the redesigned Investment Committee framework, including:

• participation as senior adviser and observer;
• identification of governance bottlenecks;
• review of decision quality and consistency;
• recommendations for continuous improvement;
• dissemination of relevant practices from peer institutions.

D.    Risk Appetite Operationalisation

Support senior management in translating strategic risk appetite into practical operating guidance through:

• development of decision-making frameworks;
• clarification of acceptable risk parameters;
• support for resolution of recurring transaction-level issues;
• strengthening consistency between governance decisions and strategic objectives.

E.    Portfolio Supervision and Portfolio Development

Support enhancement of portfolio management capabilities, including:

• supervision methodologies;
• portfolio monitoring systems;
• early warning indicators;
• watchlist procedures;
• waiver and amendment processes;
• restructuring and recovery arrangements;
• management information systems;
• portfolio performance reporting.

F.    Transition Phase Support and optimization of redesign reccomendations

Support implementation of the redesigned framework through selected pilot transactions.

Responsibilities may include:

• advising Deal Teams;
• identifying implementation challenges;
• documenting lessons learned;
• recommending process refinements;
• supporting broader institutional rollout.

G.    Organisational Change Management

Support organisational change associated with the NSO transformation programme through:

• stakeholder engagement;
• communication strategies;
• facilitation of cross-functional working groups;
• monitoring implementation progress;
• identification and resolution of implementation bottlenecks;
• support to senior management decision-making.

H.    Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer

Support institutional capability development through:

• mentoring and coaching of staff;
• participation in transaction reviews;
• support to governance bodies;
• development of practical guidance materials;
• workshops and training programmes;
• dissemination of international good practices.

I.    Strategic Advisory Support

Provide direct advice to the President, Vice-President and senior management regarding:

• NSO implementation;
• governance effectiveness;
• organisational readiness;
• portfolio quality;
• risk management;
• institutional capabilities;
• alignment with international good practice among MDBs and DFIs.

2.    Purpose of the Assignment

The Senior Advisor will support the Office of the President and Vice-President in coordinating, guiding and accelerating the implementation of IFAD's NSO Transformation Programme.

The Advisor will act as a senior implementation resource and trusted adviser to senior management, helping bridge the gap between process redesign and operational execution.

The assignment will focus on embedding the redesigned NSO operating model into IFAD's governance structures, organisational culture, investment processes, portfolio management practices and decision-making frameworks.

The Advisor will bring practical experience gained through direct involvement in private-sector investments, development finance institutions, investment governance, portfolio management and organisational transformation.

3.    Objectives

The objectives of the assignment are to:

• Successfully implement and institutionalise the redesigned NSO operating model;
• Strengthen governance, accountability and decision-making arrangements;
• Improve transaction quality and execution efficiency;
• Enhance portfolio supervision, restructuring and recovery capabilities;
• Build institutional capacity and knowledge across IFAD;
• Support leadership alignment regarding NSO strategy, governance and risk appetite;
• Support the development of a sustainable organisational culture and operating environment appropriate for private-sector operations within IFAD.
• Establish a robust and scalable platform capable of supporting future growth of IFAD's NSO activities.

Deliverables

The Advisor would be expected to contribute to:

• NSO Transformation Implementation Roadmap;
• Governance and Accountability Operationalisation Framework;
• Investment Committee Operating Guidelines;
• Risk Appetite Operationalisation Framework;
• Portfolio Supervision and Watchlist Framework;
• Restructuring and Recovery Procedures available drafts;
• Capacity Building Programme;
• Quarterly Progress Reports;
• Lessons Learned Reports from Pilot Transactions;
• Annual NSO Transformation Assessment;
• Final Programme Completion Report.

Expected Outcomes

Successful implementation of the assignment is expected to result in:

• Full operationalisation of the redesigned NSO operating model;
• Improved governance effectiveness and accountability;
• Faster and higher-quality transaction processing;
• Stronger portfolio supervision and recovery capabilities;
• Greater consistency in investment decision-making;
• Enhanced staff capabilities and institutional knowledge;
• A more robust, scalable and sustainable NSO platform capable of supporting IFAD's long-term strategic objectives.
   

Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate should possess:

• At least 25 years of progressively responsible experience in development finance, private-sector investments, private equity, investment banking, infrastructure finance or related fields;
• Extensive experience within multilateral development banks, development finance institutions or comparable organisations
• Demonstrated experience in establishing, restructuring, transforming, managing, supervising or governing non-sovereign investment portfolios, private equity funds, investment funds, financial institutions or comparable investment platforms.
• Significant experience across the full investment lifecycle, including origination, due diligence, structuring, approval, supervision, portfolio management, restructuring and recovery;
• Demonstrated experience in governance, investment committee processes, risk management and institutional strengthening;
• Proven experience supporting organisational transformation programmes, implementation of institutional reforms, and the management of organisational and cultural change;
• Strong understanding of three-lines-of-defence frameworks and investment governance arrangements;
• Experience operating effectively at Board, senior management and government levels;
• Excellent communication, facilitation and drafting skills.

Desirable qualifications include:

• Experience within institutions such as EBRD, IFC, IDB Invest, AfDB, FMO, Proparco, British International Investment or comparable organisations;
• Experience in agricultural finance, agribusiness investments, rural development, natural-resource management or climate-resilient rural infrastructure;
• Experience in emerging and frontier markets.

Other Information

Contractual Modality

Given the strategic nature of the assignment and the requirement for independence, flexibility and senior-level advisory support, the position would be structured as a Senior Advisory Consultancy reporting directly to the Office of the President and Vice-President

The role is intended to complement existing management structures and provide independent implementation support across organisational boundaries.

Given the implementation-oriented nature of the assignment, the Advisor is expected to maintain a substantial in-person presence at IFAD Headquarters and participate regularly, working groups, transaction reviews and management discussions, while also undertaking mission travel as required.

Duration

Initial assignment of six (6) months with potential extension for additional 6 months.

The first six months would focus primarily on implementing, piloting and operationalising the redesigned NSO operating model.

The second six months, if needed, would focus on institutionalising, developing capabilities, strengthening portfolio management, refining governance arrangements and assessing implementation effectiveness.