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.

The Independent Office of Evaluation for IFAD (IOE) evaluates IFAD-funded projects and programmes to assess what works and what doesn’t and why, and to determine how far IFAD’s policies and strategies are successful in tackling poverty alleviation in rural areas. IOE's evaluation is based on a coherent set of evaluation methodologies. In identifying key insights and recommendations drawn from evaluation findings, IOE is also concerned, in keeping with IFAD’s disclosure policy, with communicating and sharing IFAD’s knowledge and experience of rural and agricultural development with a wider audience. Recipients of IOE’s evaluation knowledge include IFAD Management and staff, the Evaluation Committee, the Executive Board, government officials and project staff in the field, as well as the public at large.

Post's organizational accountability

The IOE Director will be responsible, among other matters, for promoting high-level accountability and learning in IFAD, and for improving the performance of the IFAD’s operations and policies. 

The main purpose of the position is to ensure that evaluation contributes to IFAD’s strategy by bringing an independent perspective to the assessment of progress in relation to IFAD’s mission, and to play a catalytic role by contributing feedback for learning and promoting accountability to improve the performance of the Fund’s operations and policies. The Fund uses this knowledge to develop even more effective pro-poor instruments and policies, to better enable the rural poor to empower themselves and overcome their poverty.

Key results expected / Major functional activities

• Lead and manage IOE as an effective, efficient and independent evaluation function of IFAD;  Develop operational policies, strategies and related instruments for the Independent Office of Evaluation  with a view to enhancing the independence and effectiveness of the independent evaluation function;  
• Ensure high-quality professional work by instituting the necessary enabling environment for and coaching of IOE staff, and setting quality standards for IOE outputs; 
• Oversee the quality control of IOE evaluation deliverables; 
• Formulate and implement the annual work programme and budget, reporting directly to the Executive Board on evaluation issues;  
• Communicate evaluation results to partners and the general public;  
• Ensure that evaluation knowledge and lessons are fed in a timely manner into key IFAD processes for the formulation of policies, strategies and operations; 
• Promote dialogue and exchanges with the management, senior IFAD officials and Executive Board members on evaluation issues of critical importance to IFAD; 
• Assist IFAD’s operations and partner countries in their evaluation capacity development; and  
• Represent IFAD in the United Nations Evaluation Group and the Evaluation Co-operation Group of the multilateral development banks. 

Competencies

Organizational

• Strategic thinking and organizational development: Strategic leadership (Level 2)
• Demonstrating Leadership: Leads by example; initiates and supports change (Level 2)
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Challenges, innovates and contributes to a learning culture (Level 2)
• Focusing on clients: Contributes to a client-focused culture (Level 2)
• Problem solving and decision making: Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact (Level 2)
• Managing time, resources and information: Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources (Level 2)
• Team Work: Fosters a cohesive team environment (Level 2)
• Communicating and negotiating: Acquires and uses a wide range of communication styles and skills (Level 2)
• Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally (Level 2)
• Managing performance and developing staff: Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization (Level 2)

Technical / functional and mangerial competencies

• Knowledge of methodologies and policies used among international development agencies for policy, programme and project evaluation and analysis.  
• Knowledge of and experience in management of evaluation programmes.
• Propensity for innovation and change and results-oriented decision making ability, with an aptitude for developing practical solutions for operational challenges. 
• Visionary: ability to promote and model vision and values; build support for mandate toward achieving a vision; and inspire others to translate vision and values into day-to day activities and behaviours. 
• Leader: ability to provide others within a clear direction; inspire staff members to perform their duties willingly, competently and enthusiastically; imaginatively direct, guide, and influence goals by mediating between individuals and the organization in such a manner that both gain maximum satisfaction; lead by example and talent; and perform a directing role and exert influence over others.  
• Negotiator and Communicator: ability to clarify situations by exploring all parties’ needs, concerns and positions; facilitate by structuring interactions towards productive conclusions, affirming what was heard and decided, encouraging expression and debate, gauging acceptance of solutions, fostering conflict resolution and seeking win-win solutions; and engage audiences, commanding attention and respect and inspiring credibility. 

Minimum recruitment qualifications

Education and Experience

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in a field related to IFAD’s work; doctorate level degree would be desirable. 
• At least fifteen (15) years -  of which at least 8 years  at a senior level - of substantive experience in formulation, management, analysis and evaluation of development programmes and policies. 
• Experience in programmes and policies supported by International Financial Institutions, the United Nations or other multilateral development agencies and/or experience working with these entities is a strong asset.
• Experience in leading, supervising and managing large teams of people with diverse cultural and academic backgrounds, preferably in an international and intergovernmental setting. 
• Successful track record in building partnerships with various stakeholders. 
• Work experience in developing countries (other than home country) in the analysis, management and evaluation of development programmes is desirable.  
• Experience in the analysis of agricultural and rural development issues and international level is desirable.  
• Substantive experience in managing leading, delivering and presenting evaluations, including in developing countries.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with governing bodies of multilateral institutions or similar governance entities is desirable. 

Language requirements:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, and the ability to prepare coherent and convincing strategic analyses. Knowledge in at least one other official IFAD language (Arabic, French, or Spanish) is desirable.

Other information

Applicants should note that the Director, IOE, is an international civil servant reporting directly to the IFAD Executive Board. The terms of employment are determined by the Executive Board. The Director, IOE, shall not be eligible for other staff positions in IFAD upon the completion of his or her term.

The IOE Director reports to the Executive Board of IFAD, while consulting and counting with the collaboration of IFAD’s management. While the IOE Director is expected to have independence of judgement in managing the Division’s deliverables, the IOE Director and staff under his/her supervision are IFAD staff members and are obligated to comply with all of IFAD’s policies and procedures, including procedures related to internal administrative processes and approvals. They are subject to all of IFAD’s HR policies and procedures, except for those expressly carved out by the Executive Board. 

The IFAD Evaluation Policy provides further clarification and guidance on the purpose and role of independent evaluation at IFAD, and of the engagement, termination, and performance review of the IOE Director: https://www.ifad.org/en/web/ioe/policy.

IFAD is committed to achieving diversity and is seeking a balanced workforce from IFAD's Member States. Women are, in particular, encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates are requested to apply by completing IFAD's Personal History Form (PHF) in English. The application should be made through the online system only. Please read carefully the instructions in 'How to Apply' before you start.

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 deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.