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CD/Head IFAD sub-regional Hub

Yaoundé

  • Organization: IFAD - International Fund for Agricultural Development
  • Location: Yaoundé
  • Grade: Senior level - P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Agriculture and Forestry
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

Vacancy Announcement Number 1981
Date of Issue 11/01/2021
Deadline for Applications 01/02/2021
Organizational Unit West & Central Africa Div.
Level P-5
Duty Station YAOUNDE'
Duration of Assignment 2 years

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

The Programme Management Department (PMD), under the leadership of an Associate Vice-President, is responsible for the overall programme of loans and grants of the Fund and is composed of five (5) regional divisions, and an Operational Policy and Results Division (OPR). Under the strategic management and policy guidance of a regional Division Director, the Country Director/Head of the IFAD Sub-regional Hub is responsible for management of an assigned portfolio of IFAD engagements with sub-regional and national counterparts, including partnership development, policy dialogue, and country programmes.

The Country Director/Head of the IFAD Sub-regional Hub is accountable for the IFAD core values of integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of the assigned portfolio. The Country Director/Head of the IFAD Sub-regional Hub’s accountabilities/key results also include advocacy for and enhancement of national government programmes that improve the access of poor rural people to natural resources; agricultural technologies; financial services; markets; employment opportunities and enterprise development. The Country Director/Head of the IFAD Sub-regional Hub additionally promotes capacity building of key government counterparts and of the rural poor in terms of the skills required for their participation in national and local policy and programming processes.

The key results expected comprise five broad thematic areas:

•  Country Strategy Management

•  Country Programme Management

•  IFAD Institutional Representation and Partnership Management

•  Contribution to Policy Leadership

•  Office Management

The Country Directors/Heads of the IFAD Sub-regional Hub are supervised by the relevant Division Director and coordinates the work of staff and non-staff based in the hub, including staff and non-staff with functions related to thematic areas.


Key results expected / Major functional activities

1. COUNTRY STRATEGY MANAGEMENT: The Country Director/Head of the IFAD Sub-regional Hub manages country strategy development for countries within the assigned portfolio of work. S/he is accountable for leading and managing the development and implementation of medium to longer- term strategies (COSOP) across the assigned portfolio of IFAD collaboration with governments and other national stakeholders for agricultural development and rural poverty reduction following the principle of ownership, alignment and harmonization. This entails analysis of the dynamics of agricultural development and rural poverty reduction; development of relevant country-specific strategies; and the definition of IFAD’s value added in this context.

2. COUNTRY PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT: The Country Director/Head of the IFAD Sub-regional Hub manages IFAD programme and related IFAD-funded projects within the Portfolio assigned by the Division  Director,  leading  the  design  and  supervision  of  the  projects  as well  as  loan  and grant negotiations, all in accordance with IFAD’s applicable policies. The Country Director/Head of an IFAD Sub-regional Hub is accountable for analysing relevant information, assisting in the periodic monitoring and evaluation of results achieved and reporting on and dissemination of findings. S/he contributes effectively to the IFAD organizational change agenda, with reference to issues related to IFAD’s direct supervision and implementation support modalities.

3. INSTITUTIONAL REPRESENTATION AND PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT: The Country Director/Head of the IFAD Sub-regional Hub serves as a designated IFAD representative in all countries within the assigned portfolio. Under the supervision of the Division Director, s/he catalyses effective partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders in agricultural development and rural poverty reduction, including government and nongovernmental institutions, bilateral and multilateral financing institutions, civil society organisations, research centres and the private sector. Additionally, s/he enhances IFAD’s relationship and collaboration with in-country partners focusing on synergies and coordinated strategies with multilateral/bilateral donors and civil-society organizations involved in agricultural development and rural poverty reduction. S/he represents IFAD on the UN Country Teams in all countries within her/his assigned portfolio, playing a central role at the country-level in actualizing the coordination of operational activities for development, and contributes to all international and national meetings/thematic groups meetings. The Country Director/Head of the IFAD Sub-regional Hub provides coordination and administrative support to Country Directors (P5) managing portfolios assigned to one of the areas covered by the respective Sub-regional Hub. S/he is also responsible for the administrative supervision and first-level operational support to the Country Programme Managers (P4) managing portfolios assigned to one of the areas covered by the respective Sub-regional Hub.

4. CONTRIBUTION TO POLICY LEADERSHIP: The Country Director/Head of an IFAD Sub-regional Hub contributes to corporate level strategy on core IFAD policy positions within the assigned portfolio, led by Division Directors. S/he maintains and promotes constructive dialogue on the development of pro-poor agricultural development and rural poverty reduction policies and in enabling the rural poor to advocate for institutional transformation. S/he regularly participates in relevant policy meetings and events of interest to IFAD’s target groups and which involve the government, donors, and civil society, including NGOs, to render the policy dialogue agenda both credible and sustainable. He/she contributes to IFAD's policy intelligence with regular updates and information exchange on relevant policy discussions and ensure proper knowledge management in place. Policy dialogue focuses on seeking to link the realities on the ground and the voices of the poor with national policies and programmes.

5. OFFICE MANAGEMENT: The Country Director/Head of the IFAD Sub-regional Hub has delegated authority to manage the Hub office, including the direct utilization of resources allocated to the Sub- regional Hub. As such, s/he is accountable for the administrative management of human resources, contracting goods and services, certifying payments within established threshold and financial management.


Impact of Key results / Key performance indicators

The Country Directors/Heads of the IFAD Sub-regional Hub deliver technical and managerial leadership to the substantive development and execution of the assigned portfolio, including providing (i) day-to-day managerial direction to Country Programme Managers assigned to one of the areas covered by the respective Sub-regional Hub and other senior staff (up to P-4 level), Programme Officers (up to P-3 level), Sub-regional Hub Country Programme Officers and Assistants; (ii) effective representation with government counterparts and other programme collaborators; and (iii) ability to anticipate and manage potential risks to the success of programmes. Externally the impact of the P-5 Country Director/Head of a Sub-regional Hub extends beyond country engagements to affect the image of IFAD across the countries covered by the Sub-regional Hub as an effective partner for realizing the Sustainable Development Goals in rural areas.

Assigned areas may include sub-regional clusters of countries or politically sensitive, high profile or highly complex countries as identified in the country classification matrix.


Representation / Work relationships

The Country Director/Head of the IFAD Sub-regional Hub serves as the IFAD spokesperson in the country concerned and, in carrying out this role and when required, draws on the advice and expertise of IFAD’s Communications Division (COM). S/he holds regular consultations with IFAD counterparts — line ministries and governmental bodies at all administrative levels, donors, civil society — to enhance the effectiveness and impact of IFAD operations. The Country Director/Head of an IFAD Sub-regional Hub also seeks to improve coordination among IFAD, the government and key development partners with a view primarily to ensuring synergy and a common approach to emerging agricultural development and rural poverty reduction strategies, policies and investment programmes. S/he serves as IFAD’s liaison with project authorities and helps in addressing administrative and programme-related substantive issues, such as targeting and identifying needs for technical backstopping. The Country Director/Head of an IFAD Sub-regional Hub proactively works with project management to ensure compliance with IFAD policies and overall orientation towards the achievement of results and impact. As the senior expert on country programme formulation and delivery, the Country Director/Head of an IFAD Sub-regional Hub’s effectiveness as an advocate and trusted counterpart substantially affects IFAD’s image as a reliable and creative partner.

Extending beyond the parameters of the portfolio assigned to the Country Director/Head of the IFAD Sub- regional Hub, and as representative of the Division, the Country Director/Head of an IFAD Sub-regional Hub leverages the impact of IFAD supported agricultural development and rural poverty reduction programmes. S/he has the authority to establish programme agreements for assigned activities within the established strategic direction of the countries assigned. S/he contributes to resolving politically sensitive and/or highly complex issues with governments and partner institutions.


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 staff and teams effectively (Level 2)

Technical/Functional:

  • Senior expert in programme development and management as well as specific expertise in rural project management and market development.
  • Extensive field experience related to agricultural and rural development.
  • Excellent knowledge of policy oriented, programme based pro-poor approaches and loan and grant preparation.
  • Capacity to communicate fluently with different counterparts (civil society, government authorities, local communities, project staff) to align parties and build networks.
  • Ability to represent IFAD as a trusted and reliable partner.
  • Communicates verbally and in writing clearly, succinctly and convincingly; listens and communicates effectively to engage others.
  • Demonstrated analytical skills in order to identify systemic issues and derive viable, sustainable solutions.

Minimum recruitment qualifications

Education:

  • Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in rural development, agriculture, economics, rural finance, development policy or other job-related fields.

Experience:

  • Ten (10) years of progressively responsible international experience in international organizations, rural development/financial institutions or government services], preferably in area of implementation and supervision of rural development programmes of which at least 4 years experience working in an international organization. Experience may include project design, development, implementation and evaluation. At least 2 years (of the total 10) experience in resource (human, financial and material) management in an international organization is an asset.

Language requirements:

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and proficiency in French. Working knowledge of another official language (Arabic or French) is desirable.

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.


This vacancy is now closed.
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