Programme Officer SMADF*

*This Vacancy Announcement is for a one year fixed term co-terminus position. Extension of contract depends on availability of fund. 

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 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 the Operational Policy and Results Division. 

The Programme Officer (Country Office- position is responsible for the overall management and coordination of the EU-funded Action 'Small and Medium Agribusiness Development Fund (SMADF) project’ in Uganda, as well as other established programmes/projects of the Country Programme as relevant. 

The Programme Officer (SMADF) works under the overall policy and management guidance and direct supervision of the Country Director, Uganda.

The position is located in East and Southern Africa Division (ESA). 

The Programme Officer SMADF is responsible for coordinating programme within the SMADF project. 

1. COUNTRY PROGRAMME SUPPORT: With particular, although not exclusive, focus on the Small and Medium Agribusiness Development Fund (SMADF) project, the Programme Officer provides a solid understanding of international practices and IFAD HQ procedures.  S/he ensures programme/project activities enhance the technical quality of IFAD country activities through effective programme (COSOP) and project (grants and loans) design, supervision, implementation, monitoring and evaluation (ORMS), reporting (PSR) and completion (PCR) activities. S/He also provides substantive contributions toward the development of advice and technical guidance in support of sustainable government strategies, policies and programmes to improve agricultural development and rural poverty reduction. The Programme Officer is further accountable for capacity building activities including identifying, analyzing, documenting, harmonizing and disseminating both national and local issues as well as conditions and best practices and lessons learned among partner development agencies. Capacity building activities will include coordinating meetings, workshops and seminars with project management teams, government, implementing partners and other stakeholders.

2. PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION (SMADF): The Programme Officer is responsible for the overall management and coordination of those SMADF activities that are in IFAD’s mandate based on the Contribution Agreement signed between IFAD and the EU. S/He is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD and EU resources allocated for the implementation of this initiative. Under this general responsibility her/his specific tasks include the following:

(i) Support the IFAD Country Director in her/his functions as Board Director of the Fund. (ii) Liaise and cooperate as necessary with the Fund Manager in all SMADF-related activities, ensuring adherence of the Fund operations with the established procedures.(iii) Supervise the BDS Management Company in the implementation of its contract for the management of BDS to investee companies.(iv) Review the annual work plans and budgets for the investment and BDS components of the SMADF;(v) Coordinate the provision of IFAD implementation support responsibilities in the BDS activities in a manner that supports the effective delivery of services to SMADF investee companies; (vi) Liaise pro-actively with the EU Delegation in Kampala in all SMADF-linked issues; (vii) Coordinate the periodical reporting to the EU on SMADF operations as per IFAD-EU Contribution Agreement. (viii) Organize and lead periodical supervision and/or implementation support missions on the SMADF, ensuring the delivery of the expected outputs. (ix) Manage, in coordination with other relevant divisions in IFAD, the impact assessment (baseline, mid-term and final impact assessment) of the SMADF investments on the ultimate target group, the rural poor. (x) Support the knowledge management function of IFAD in the SMADF operations, actively provide material for IFAD's publication channels on equity fund experiences under the SMADF. (xi) Ensure adequate visibility for the EU in all SMADF-related activities as per the IFAD-EU Contribution Agreement particularly in line with the appropriate communication and visibility plan. (xii) Carry out any other SMADF-related tasks as requested by the IFAD Country Director and (xiii) Lead coordination and management of SMADF activities, including those related to completion  and closure (latter part of management and disinvestment phase) especially final reporting including final audits, payments, contracting relevant for closing phase, final evaluation, dissemination of results during workshops, transfer of assets as applicable as outlined in Articles 2.5; 7.3; 8; 11.2 and 14.1 9 (ii) and (iii) of the EU General Conditions or as explicitly agreed with the EU Delegation in Kampala.

3. PARTNERSHIP BUILDING: As a key country team member, the Programme Officer enhances the Country Office’s (CO) relationships and collaborations with in-country counterparts, in particular, although not limited to, the European Union Delegation, through the identification of synergies and proposing coordinated strategies with multilateral/bilateral donors, civil-society organizations and private sector involved in agricultural development and rural poverty reduction. S/He establishes and maintains counterpart contacts to promote programme and project collaboration and harmonization as well as identifies financing opportunities with other donors.

4. POLICY DEVELOPMENT/KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT/VISIBILITY: As a key country team member, the Programme Officer participates in relevant policy meetings and events of interest to IFAD's target groups, with particular emphasis on those related to agribusiness development and access to financial services for agricultural and rural development, which involve the government, donors, and civil society, including NGOs, in order to develop an enabling environment for sustainable, pro-poor development. From an international best practices perspective, s/he analyzes evidenced based recommendations from projects to link the realities on the ground and the voices of the poor with the policies and programmes of the government. This will serve to enhance the empowerment of the rural poor and disadvantaged so that they can enter into partnerships at all levels of policy dialogue. Furthermore, the Programme Officer, under the leadership of the Country Director, will closely liaise with the Government and Programme staff of the EU Action to ensure full implementation of the Communication and Visibility Plan of SMADF in close collaboration with the EU Delegation. Based on knowledge created through SMADF, s/he will also provide guidance to agribusiness and access to finance related programming of IFAD and the Government of Uganda including sovereign and non-sovereign financed projects.  Furthermore, based on the overall best practices emerging in the Uganda portfolio private sector rural development activities, s/he will contribute to IFAD’s regional and global agenda of private sector development into rural development.

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Programme Officer is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD and EU resources.

The Programme Officer maintains the standards for IFAD’s competence in development in her/his assigned portfolio. S/He has demonstrated technical expertise and credibility in portfolio and fund management and creates the foundation for IFAD’s capacity and reputation for programme delivery and enhances its recognition as a reliable development partner. S/He provides substantive support in the development of country strategy, project design, partnership building and policy development and the foundation for enhancing sustainable government strategies and policies to improve the livelihoods of the poor and other disadvantaged groups.

In the context of programme development and delivery, the Programme Officer ensures the exchange of information, advocates for programme and policy enhancements and ensures consistency and reliability in the provision of development assistance to the government. In collaboration with other members of the UN country team, bi-lateral development agencies, NGOs and country programme counterparts, s/he establishes and maintains relationships and projects the image of IFAD as a credible/reliable partner striving for harmonization of development activities. 

Organizational Competencies – Level 1 
•    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 
•    Managing performance and developing staff: Manages staff and teams effectively 
 

Education: 
Level - Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) 
Areas – corporate finance; rural development, agriculture, economics, rural finance, development policy or other job related fields.

Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php.

Work experience: 

•  At least five (5) years’ progressively responsible professional experience in programme design, supervision, management and implementation as well as in financial/investment operations with public (International financial institutions, development cooperation agencies, etc.) or private sector institutions. Experience in both public and private sector is an advantage.
• At least two (2) years’ experience in working with an impact investment fund, preferably one that includes international financial institution (IFI) financing.
• Position-specific experience: Knowledge and experience of EU procedures for project financing, implementation and reporting. 

Languages: 
•    Required English (4 – Excellent) 
•    Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic 

Skills: 
Job role specific 

• Programme Management for Agricultural Development: Expertise specific to position, e.g., in impact investment funds, agricultural and rural development, policy-oriented, programme based pro-poor approaches, results-based agriculture rural development projects, country-specific knowledge, migration,  etc.;
• 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;
• Policy dialogue, Know-how in the representation of IFAD as a trusted and strategic partner, advocating and promoting IFAD's mandate and vision; effective consultations with IFAD counterparts — line ministries and governmental bodies at all administrative levels, donors, civil society; IFAD’s partners, Knowledge of IFAD's partners' functioning and mandate , such as the public sector (e.g. governments and policy, institutions and system), non-state actors (NGOs, CSOs, Foundations, etc.) and private sector actors;
• Project/Programme management (incl. coordination, design, development): Know-how in Project design and evaluation;
• Loans & grants: Know-how in designing loan and grant operations and managing loan and grant preparation process; 
• Initiative and good judgment: High sense of proactive initiative-taking and good judgement (including on security matters); 
• Interpersonal skills: Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with others (e.g. visitors, clients, callers, etc.), including senior individuals (e.g. high-level meeting participants); 
• 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.) communication, 
• Verbal communication: Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language communication,
• Time management: Adherence to deadlines under time constraints and pressure (e.g. to deliver governing body documents on time); ability to coordinate and manage complex workflows and in-house and external teams.

Position specific 

• Finance & Impact Investments: Expertise in international development finance, derivatives, debt capital markets, impact investing, blended finance, general treasury issues (e.g. correspondent banking and custody accounts), and including regulatory developments – Basel Principles, EMIR, Dodd Frank and the AIFMD
• Budgeting, resource management:  Know-how in budget administration and accounting, resource allocation and planning at divisional level;  
• Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation);
• Private Sector Investment: Expertise in assessing private sector investment proposals, review of transactions and complex facilities and interventions using regular and blended finance, conducting due diligence, and recommending financial/investment decisions accordingly; Proven expertise in deploying financial instruments.

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, staff members are subject to the authority of the President who can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. 

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.