Junior Professional Officer (ESA Addis Ababa Hub & SSTC/KC) *Netherlands

Organizational context

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.

Post's organizational accountability

Under the direct supervision of the Director of Ethiopia Hub and SSTC-KC and in collaboration Country Programme Managers (CPMs), the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) will support IFAD country programmes covered by the IFAD Ethiopia Hub and SSTC-KC. The JPO will prepare an annual work programme and performance plan reviewed by the supervisor. Supervision and feedback will be provided as needed to monitor and support his/her performance and professional growth while a formal midyear and an annual reviews will be  undertaken.

The JPO will build his/her carrier development in the third and final JPO year, at HQ,  based on the experiences gained during the first two years of assignment in Addis.

Position Title of Overall Supervisor:  Director of Ethiopia Hub and SSTC-KC.

Under the direct supervision of the Ethiopia Hub and SSTC-KC or Country Programme Manager, the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) will support IFAD’s country programmes in covered by the Hub. He/She will prepare an annual work programme and performance plan reviewed by the supervisor. Supervision and feedback will be provided as needed to monitor and support his/her performance and professional growth. Mid-year review and annual review will help to analyse performance and plan personal development.

Key results expected / Major functional activities

The JPO will play a key role in supporting the Ethiopia Hub and SSTC-KC country programmes with the view to maximising their development effectiveness, impact and sustainability and with specific attention to the mainstreaming of IFAD11 priorities areas (nutrition, women, youth, climate change) in the Sahel context.

The JPO will support the CPMs and Country Teams (CT) in strategic direction, management, and supervision/ implementation support with specific focus on managing and planning for results.

In support of country programme management, the JPO will: (i) collect and analyse documentation for programme review and design; (ii)  develop, update and refine country programme result monitoring frameworks and (iii) support innovation, capitalisation, knowledge management, scaling up and policy dialogue. In particular, s/he will:

• Support the implementation readiness for start-up of new projects and completion of closing projects
• Organise and take active part in consultations with the Country Programme Management Teams
• In close collaboration with the Ethiopia Hub and SSTC-KC and CPMs, lead the organization and field work of supervision/implementation support missions and mid-term review missions in South Africa and neighbouring countries covered by the Hub.
• Carry out country and sub-regional policy analyses/socio-economic studies on key strategy and thematic areas of interest to guide IFAD's support;
• Support the organisation of sub-regional events for knowledge sharing
• For project level supervision and implementation support, the JPO will assume responsibility to provide support on the following aspects:
• Strengthening projects general management and organisation in view of increasing effectiveness and efficiency;
• Promoting a management for result approach within projects regarding agricultural development, focusing on developing viable and profitable activities for small-holder farmers and linking production to markets. Review Annual Work Plans and Budgets (AWPBs) and provide inputs to for IFAD non-objections, quality control of withdrawal applications, etc.;
• Consolidating projects Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) function,  systems and reporting including to IFAD;
• Fostering knowledge management, identification and capitalisation of best practices as well as policy dialogue function with focus on developing new support systems and tools;

• The JPO will draw of lessons from design and implementation support experiences to (i) promote in-country learning and strengthen Monitoring and Evaluation systems (projects and country programme); (ii) share knowledge within the country programme and between country programmes; and (iii) encourage knowledge sharing within IFAD and with other development partners.
• The work, which will involve management of processes as well as analytical and technical work, will require broad collaboration with colleagues within IFAD; government authorities; project staff; implementing partners; development partners and other stakeholders.

Impact of Key results / Key performance indicators

Assignments require the provision of expertise and input for the full programme/project cycle as well as in knowledge sharing with peers and counterparts.  The work requires technical analysis and synthesis to include inputs to project methodology and design of projects, knowledge sharing among peers and counterparts to enhance cooperation, complementarity and synergy and monitoring and evaluation to measure and report on lessons learned and best practices. The work is considered moderately complex requiring technical analysis and reporting. Work may be reviewed for technical accuracy, but more typically is reviewed for achieving the established work plan. 

Representation / Work relationships

At this level work relationships are primarily for the exchange of information regarding development projects. Information gathering and exchange in support of studies and thematic assignments may also include identifying reliable sources and establishing guidelines for obtaining information on national and sub-regional; conditions and to convey methodological approaches and operational experience for implementation of activities undertaken on behalf of the Fund.

Competencies

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

Minimum recruitment qualifications

• Advanced university degree in agricultural economics, economics, business management, social sciences, rural development, agriculture, rural finance, public policy or related disciplines. Expertise in one or more of the following topics would be an asset: rural finance/microfinance; value-chain development; environment and climate change, financial management, procurement, M&E.
• A minimum of two years working experience including work at field level on rural and agricultural development activities preferably in one or more countries in Africa, and has an interest in aid effectiveness and harmonisation and related reformsFull command of English
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, the ability to set out a coherent argument in English in presentations and group interactions.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft packages and electronic communication.

Other information

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD.

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

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

*ThispostisopenedinthecontextoftheJuniorProfessionalOfficer(JPO)schemesponsoredbytheGovernment oftheNetherlandsandisaddressedexclusivelytoNATIONALSOFTHE NETHERLANDS.

For    criteria    see    the    website    of    Nedworc    Foundation:    http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/Index.htm?hoofdpath=/NL/JPO/General%20Information.htm&hoofdhash

Please read the criteria and FAQ section carefully before considering applying.