Evaluation 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 PEOPLE WITH THE DUTCH NATIONALITY. 
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.

As per the IFAD Evaluation Policy, the Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE) reports directly to the IFAD Executive Board. The Evaluation Policy established that the evaluation function at IFAD will operate in line with internationally accepted principles for the evaluation of development assistance. Foremost among these are independence, accountability, partnership and learning. The IFAD Evaluation Policy also states that the Director IOE will ensure that IOE is staffed by independent-minded, experienced evaluators.

Under the overall policy and management guidance of the Director IOE as well as the direct supervision and guidance of either the Deputy Director or a Lead Evaluation Officer or a Senior Evaluation Officer, the Junior Professional Officer is responsible for analytical support to the full programme/project evaluation cycle of work. The Junior Professional Officer’s accountabilities/key results include:

• Conduct project completion report validations
• Contribute to the conduct of project-level evaluations
• Participate as team member in corporate or country-level evaluations or evaluation syntheses
• Contribute to IOE peer reviews
• Contribute to IOE knowledge management

• Undertake project completion report validations (PCRVs), in accordance with IFAD’s evaluation policy, evaluation manual and guidelines for PCRVs. This includes preparing concise, reader-friendly and analytically rigorous PCRVs. 
• Contribute to /lead (depending on experience), project performance evaluations (PPEs) in line with IOE guidelines for PPEs.
• Contribute to the teamwork of assigned corporate-level and country programme evaluations. Collect and analyses data, and prepare desk review notes and analysis papers, which would inform the findings of the evaluations. Participate in field visits, as needed. Support lead evaluators in raising missions, communication work, workshop organization, and identification of consultants.
• Participate in in-house strategy formulation processes, country programme management teams and other in-house platforms to ensure that lessons learned from evaluations are adopted in a timely manner in new projects, programmes and strategies.
• Participate in IOE internal peer reviews of selected evaluations. This would include reviewing the draft evaluation approach papers and reports, and providing written comments for the purpose of enhancing the overall quality of the evaluations.
• Perform other related duties as required by the Director IOE and Deputy Director, including contributing to the further development of IOE strategy, methodology and processes.
• IOE staff are accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes accountability for assigned financial and material resources and related processes including contracting.

Education and experience

• Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in rural development, agriculture, (agricultural) economics, management, statistics, rural finance, development policy or related disciplines. 
• Knowledge and experience: At least two (2) years progressively responsible professional experience in evaluation, project or country programme design, supervision with international financial institutions, development cooperation agencies. Experience in conducting evaluations will be a significant advantage. 
• Knowledge of and experience applying quantitative or qualitative data analysis techniques at an advanced level is preferred. Prior experiences in designing and using research and survey tools and experience with related data analysis software would be an advantage.

Languages and other skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Working knowledge of a second IFAD official language (French, Spanish, or Arabic) desirable.

Training components

• Junior Professional Officers are exposed to on-the-job training, including field missions, through regular mentoring and are active member of IOE’s internal teams.
• Participation in technical seminars and presentations regularly organised by IOE.
• Participation in seminars organised by IFAD.
• Junior professional officers may also be selected to attend training on evaluation methodology organized by reputed international institutions.

Learning elements

The JPO will gain exposure and experience in: 

• Assessing the design and implementation of IFAD-funded operations through a combination of interviews at the headquarters, remote interviews and in-country missions.
• Applying quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques and analysis in a rural development context.  This may include interviews, focus group discussions and mini-surveys in the field; in some cases large surveys in the field (depending on the evaluation type); as well as phone / email or internet-based surveys.
• Exposure to the writing of professional reports that adhere to high international evaluation standards
• Exposure to contemporary discussions on international development and evaluation and to the work of other international evaluations
• Exposure to diverse countries and cultural contexts
• Sharing experience with and learning from senior and junior colleagues and international thematic specialists

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 PEOPLE WITH THE DUTCH NATIONALITY. 
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.