Regional Analyst

In the context of IFAD's decentralization, this position may be based in the IFAD Regional Office for the Asia and the Pacific Region (location to be confirmed, tentatively in Beijing, China or New Delhi, India) in the future.

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 incumbent works under the under the overall policy and management guidance of the Regional Director and direct supervision of the Lead Regional Economist or Lead/ Portfolio Advisor. They work closely with OPR and RIA on M&E and data.

The position is located in a regional division and the incumbent reports to Lead Portfolio Advisor.

The Regional Analyst provides analytical and technical support, as well as creative data management solutions required for effective program management in the region. S/he provides targeted support to the documentation of lessons learned, monitoring and results reporting activities, development and dissemination of knowledge products and organization of learning events required for Knowledge Management (KM) and portfolio management in the region, as well as for knowledge sharing outside the region. As a member of the Regional Team, s/he also liaises closely with country teams on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), KM and policy analysis to enhance the standardized generation and dissemination of programme knowledge, and supports regional strategic partnership and policy agenda in the region, based on best practices. In particular, the incumbent is focused more on implementation support to project teams on the regional risk and M&E agenda.

S/he provides support to monitor progress of APR’s portfolio against corporate targets, supports country and regional teams to ensure compliance with key operational policies, procedures and guidelines, including but not limited to, the design and implementation guidelines; S/he prepares analytical findings and reporting on results for portfolio reviews. In particular, the incumbent will focus on improving project-level M&E, and liaise with relevant divisions to roll-out M&E good practices and standards in the region. S/he will support the regional team in the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned and good practices.

1.ANALYTICAL SUPPORT AND DATA MANAGEMENT: The Regional Analyst collates and analyses data to support the economic and financial status of project design reports. S/he is responsible for data analysis of country assessment reports for divisional programme/project activities in the region. S/he provides analytical inputs to corporate regional reports and documents and develops alternative and creative solutions for effective data management in the Division. S/he participates in project cycle activities and meetings, such as Project Delivery Teams and quality review meetings, as required. 

2. MONITORING AND EVALUATION AND SYSTEMATIZATION SUPPORT: The Regional Analyst works in close collaboration with the regional team to support the monitoring and results reporting activities required for Knowledge Management (KM) and portfolio management in the region, including responsibilities for ensuring compliance with procedures, knowledge management and results reporting of the regional grants programme. S/he reviews, and analyses data derived from project performance reports, and provides input to the Lead Portfolio Advisor or Lead Regional Economist on rigorous results measurement analysis and to the Regional Specialist to support development of knowledge products and documentation of lessons learned in order to reinforce M&E capabilities of PMU’s across the country portfolios in the Division. The Regional Analyst supports the effectiveness of knowledge sharing activities in the region by data collection and analysis and systematization required for portfolio management S/he simultaneously interacts closely with other regional division teams and keeps abreast of all relevant corporate changes and reforms having an impact on data management tools and categorization. S/he assists in formulating position papers, briefs, analyses and short papers on related subjects for the Director in collaboration with the Regional Specialist. 

3. REGIONAL OR COUNTRY PROGRAMME SUPPORT: The Regional Analyst drafts regular and periodic reports on project, country programme or thematic issues, including lessons learned from design and implementation support experiences. S/he will support country teams in select operational matters and cross-cutting themes through participation in field missions as determined by the Regional Team based on demand  and regional priorities. S/he will also support the Regional Team through the identification of potential partners, development initiatives and best practices and maintains counterpart contacts needed to promote programme, partnership as well as implementation support.

4. POLICY ANALYSIS SUPPORT: As a member of the Regional Team, the Regional Analyst participates in select policy meetings and events of priority interest to the region, analyses policy implications and identifies opportunities for innovations and knowledge sharing. S/he reviews programme evaluation reports, aggregates results and shares knowledge on best operational practices in collaboration with the Regional Team to improve project designs and effective delivery of programmes in the region. S/he contributes to the development of knowledge management products and organization of learning events on emerging issues, themes and innovations of particular relevance for the region in close collaboration with the Regional Specialist and relevant country teams. 

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Regional Analyst performs a coordinating role in the front office, working closely with divisional and programme staff, including Programme Liaison Associates, to ensure maximum efficiency and systematization of programme processes in adherence to corporate requirements. S/he is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources.

Compliance of operations with IFAD rules, regulations and policies, implementation of corporate operational policies and approaches, establishment of project management assessment tools and up-to-date information and learning tools. Assignment requires the provision of solid technical expertise and input for the area of her/his responsibility, as well as, in knowledge sharing with peers and counterparts. The work involves technical analysis and synthesis of data, technical inputs for systematization required for portfolio reviews, knowledge products, and effective tools for the assessment of regional portfolio performance evaluation. The work requires in-depth technical analysis and reporting.

• Undertake data analysis for portfolio trends;
• Prepare presentations for portfolio reviews;
• Lead the data validation process in APR for the annual Report on IFAD’s Effectiveness (RIDE);
• Maintain divisional performance scorecard for overview of regional progress against replenishment targets;
• Contribute to and support the compliance reviews as regards operational policies and procedures along the entire project cycle, as required;
• Represent APR in meetings as required, including but not limited to portfolio working groups and M&E working groups. 

In the context of programme development and delivery, the Regional Analyst ensures the generation and dissemination of targeted knowledge, as well as, other relevant technical information to internal and regional staff. The Regional Analyst works closely and collaboratively with the Regional Specialist and staff of the regional division and Departmental staff, and with other IFAD divisions, to ensure thorough data analysis and systematization, quality documentation and dissemination of knowledge products in support of knowledge sharing, and consistent and cohesive programme development activities in the region.

• Liaise with OPR, PMI and ECG to ensure quality of performance of M&E at project level
• Support quality assurance in respect to M&E and closely collaborates with M&E Specialists in OPR, RIA and IOE divisions by strengthening the quality of PCRs, CSPEs and other related evaluation products.

Organizational Competencies:

Level 1:

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

Education:

• Level - Advanced university degree 
• Areas - economics, business administration, management, social policy research and analysis, rural development, agriculture, agricultural economics, rural finance, development policy or related disciplines.
• Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php.

Experience:

• At least two years of progressively relevant experience is required.
• Experience in a role providing analytical support within an international financial institution, development cooperation agencies and/or the United Nations system is highly desirable.
• In addition, qualifying experience in drafting analytical documents, producing reports on tight deadlines would be an asset.

Languages:

• Required: English (4 - Excellent)
• Desirable: Arabic, French, Spanish (3 - Good)

Skills:

• Economic evaluation: Know-how relevant to specific role in Evaluation roles (e.g. Monitoring and managing evaluation processes and methodologies, carrying out Programme/Project evaluation, Impact evaluation, Corporate-level evaluation)
• IFAD 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
• Data management: Data collection, cleaning, transformation and consolidation; data-base architecture & development; data presentation
• 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
• Project/Programme management: Identification of key-priorities, ability to structure work to meet deadlines and adjustment of workplan/resource allocation when neededProgramme management: overall management of portfolio of work (including PMO interaction ) with expertise to identify dependencies or bottlenecks between projects, managing changes and risks
• 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)
• Verbal communication: Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language
• 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.)
• Topical expertise - Programme Mgmt for Agricultural Development: Expertise relevant to the specific role (e.g. For ethics office assistant, procedures outlined in the Code of Conduct, Discipline and Anti-harassment provisions of applicable rules and guidelines)

In the context of IFAD's decentralization, this position may be based in the IFAD Regional Office for the Asia and the Pacific Region (location to be confirmed, tentatively in Beijing, China or New Delhi, India) in the future.

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. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in 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.