Regional Analyst (JPO) - Netherlands JPO Programme

This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to NATIONALS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THAT APPEAR ON THE LIST OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES ELIGIBLE FOR THE DUTCH JPO PROGRAMME: http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/pdf/List%20of%20eligible%20countries%20%20November%202018.pdf
For criteria see the website of Nedworc Foundation: https://nedworcfoundation.nl/junior-professional-officers-programme/
Please read the criteria and FAQ section carefully before considering applying

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 the Associate Vice-President, is responsible for the overall programme of loans and grants of the Fund and is composed of five regional divisions and an Operational Policy and Results Division.

The Near East, North Africa and Europe Division, NEN is responsible for developing and managing IFAD’s strategy for the region as a whole (22 countries and 1 territory) and for individual countries, and within those strategies, for developing and managing its regional and country programmes. The drive towards aid effectiveness and harmonisation and support that is given to Joint Assistance Strategies, and the One UN initiative is an important focus of the Division’s work. IFAD’s goal in the regions is to enable rural poor people to gain the skills, knowledge, organization and build assets that they need to take full advantage of markets and economic   opportunities,   engage   with   service   providers   and   participate   in   local   development processes. Focus  is  increasingly  being  put  on  catalysing  private  investment,  creating  employment opportunities for rural youth and adapting to climate change.

The IFAD Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Multi Country Office (MCO) in Cairo-Egypt (the "Middle East and North Africa hub") is instrumental to achieving IFAD’s Mission to “be an effective and recognized partner for rural poverty alleviation” in line with its Vision “to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger”. The creation of the MCO follows IFAD's Corporate Decentralization Plan that puts IFAD on the cutting edge of global country-based development assistance models and international perspectives for development effectiveness (UN Reform Agenda 2030, Paris, Accra, Busan engagements and Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation).

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) MCO is characterized by fragility situations, water scarcity and climate change, high population growth, a significant youth bulge, and gender-related issues. The MCO covers the highest share of NEN countries facing conflict. Some 77 per cent of the countries under the hub are in fragile situations, including several countries hosting the largest numbers of refugees and IDPs in the world.

• Under the supervision of the Country Director / Head of IFAD MCO, the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) will receive structured guidance and supervision, on the job training, and assignments gradually providing more responsibilities;
• Work arrangements will be ensured to interact with other Country Directors and Programme Officers to gain practical job experience in development assistance under fragile settings;
• The JPO will receive clear tasks and timelines, and constant feedback will be provided throughout the assignment;
• Country Mission opportunities may be provided depending on the interest and field of expertise.

• Work closely with the country teams in the design, development, review, and publication of studies and researches related to economic, social, environmental, and political fragility in the hub portfolio;
• Provide support in collecting information and policy research on post conflict engagement, UN Reform, resilience and building livelihoods in fragile settings;
• Conduct technical analysis and research on the key drivers of fragility, and early warning systems, and contribute to the improvement of related action plans, reports, and presentation materials of the sub regional hub;
• Support engagement with other development actors, IFIs, bilateral donors, and UN agencies through organizing meetings and follow up events as required;
• Participate in the country missions if requested and perform tasks based on the mission ToRs;
• Prepare related administrative documents, Terms of Reference of studies and other deliverables under his/her responsibility.
• Draft briefing notes, communication materials and presentations to the IFAD Management Team under his/her responsibility; 

The JPO will be working on various technical areas of work:

For country programme management the JPO will:

• Collect and analyse documentation for programme review and design; develop, update and refine country programme result monitoring frameworks; and support innovation, knowledge management, scaling up and policy dialogue;
• Work closely with technical teams at the MCO and IFAD headquarters to gather and analyze technical information regarding the IFAD mainstreaming themes on gender, youth, climate change, and nutrition with respect to state fragility and conflict;(iii)  Support the implementation readiness for start-up of new projects;
• Organise and take active part in consultations with the Country Teams;
• Prepare,  Participate  and  follow-up  on  supervision  and  implementation  support  missions  of  IFAD- financed programmes;
• Draw key lessons learned and spur changes within and between country programmes to improve programme efficiency and effectiveness;
• Oversee managerial and fiduciary aspects of the programmes including drafting non-objections.

For project level supervision and implementation support, the JPO will assume responsibility for the following aspects:

• Support projects to strengthen their general management and organization, and results reporting (M&E systems) in view of increasing effectiveness and efficiency;
• Support  the  development  of  a  business  mentality  within  the  projects  regarding  agricultural development, focusing on developing viable and profitable activities for small-holder farmers and linking production to markets;
• Maintain and develop knowledge management, capitalisation of best practice as well as policy dialogue function with focus on developing new support systems and tools;
• Review Annual Work Plans and Budgets (AWPBs) and provide inputs to for IFAD non-objections, quality control of withdrawal applications, etc.

Education

• Master`s degree in public policy, development or social sciences or a related discipline;
• Part of the candidates' academic training must have taken place in a developing country that appears on the following list of eligible countries of the Dutch JPO Programme. http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/pdf/List%20of%20eligible%20countries%20%20November%202018.pdf 
  Two years of working experience in the development or humanitarian sector, preferably with International Organizations, UN Agencies, or INGOs;

Language skills

• Working knowledge of English and French

Other

• Experience in preparing workshops, presentations, and corporate documents
• Interest in working on subjects related to fragility and development assistance in the Middle East and North Africa region

Training components:

• On the job training in internal regulations, rules, procedures and standards
• Participation in mandatory trainings organised by HRD and NEN
• Participation in in-house training offered by other IFAD Divisions
• Direct coaching by the Country Director / Head of IFAD MCO

Learning elements:

• The JPO’s focus is on building his/her knowledge base of the Fund’s governing structure, mandate, long-term business strategy, organizational dynamics and culture.
• The JPO may represent the MCO on related matters at internal and external meetings and conferences as requested by the supervisor, thus gaining exposure to all facets of IFAD activities that will provide the JPO with clear and practical insights into the planning, implementation, management and administration of development activities.  
• The organisational role of the JPO will ensure that he/she gains comprehensive understanding of the working of a UN agency and Development Financial Institution.

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, the President 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

This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to NATIONALS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THAT APPEAR ON THE LIST OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES ELIGIBLE FOR THE DUTCH JPO PROGRAMME: http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/pdf/List%20of%20eligible%20countries%20%20November%202018.pdf
For criteria see the website of Nedworc Foundation: https://nedworcfoundation.nl/junior-professional-officers-programme/
Please read the criteria and FAQ section carefully before considering applying