Vice-President of IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development)

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 Office of the President and Vice-President of IFAD (OPV) oversees the Corporate Services Support Group (CSSG) and supervises the Protocol Unit. The CSSG comprises: (a) Office of the General Counsel (LEG); and (b) Office of Audit and Oversight (AUO), and (c) Ethics Office (ETH), reporting to the President; (d) Office of Strategic Budgeting (OSB); (e) Quality Assurance Group (QAG); (f) Change, Delivery and Innovation Unit (CDI); and (g) Office of Enterprise Risk Management (RMO). 

OPV provides strategic oversight and direction to the entire organization, including all decentralised offices, and is responsible for IFAD’s strategic leadership, and all departments report to it. Most importantly, OPV is the highest-level of political and strategic engagement with IFAD Member States, Rome-based agencies, and other UN agencies and IFIs, leveraging the Fund’s resources, knowledge, relationships and reputation to ensure IFAD achieves its mandate through IFAD-funded programmes and non-lending activities providing sustainable impact to its target groups. The Office also serves as the primary liaison with the Senior Executive Management Team and supports general governance of the organization. The Office of the President and Vice-President leads the implementation of the strategic plan for the organization, as well as develops or champions new initiatives to improve organizational efficiency, visibility, and organization-wide leadership development. 

The position is located in the Office of the President and the Vice-President of IFAD and reports to the President of IFAD.

The Vice-President (VP), as a senior member of the executive management team and administrative chair of all Departments of IFAD, is the Deputy Chief Executive of the Fund. The VP is responsible for achieving IFAD’s vision and mission; organizational change and corporate development by ensuring the strategic quality of IFAD’s programme of work and encouraging a focus on outputs, outcomes and results whilst encouraging innovation.  The VP provides leadership to the relevant Departments, Divisions, and Offices and ensures that high morale is maintained, paying particular attention to staff located outside headquarters. In this regard, the VP has the overall responsibility to ensure that IFAD is adequately staffed with the requisite competencies and skills to deliver its annual programme.
As the second in command of the Fund and a member of its Executive Management Committee, the Vice-President provides counsel and support to the President on IFAD’s strategic direction and all aspects of its operations and activities. The Vice-President coordinates programme delivery, financial management and resource mobilisation with relevant Assistant Vice-Presidents, through the sound management of IFAD’s resources (human, financial and material) of all Departments. The Vice-President also contributes through outreach and advocacy to strengthening the political and financial support for IFAD among Member States. 
The Vice-President champions the reform efforts of the Fund, including the drive to enhance organizational effectiveness and efficiency. The incumbent performs a key role in ensuring effective inter-departmental communication, collaboration and coordination. 
In the pursuit of maximum impact of the Fund, its ability to attract and nurture personnel is of greatest importance. The Vice-President contributes to this through effective communications with managers and staff, performance management and the chairing of certain committees such as the Indefinite Appointments Board (IAB) and the Appointments and Promotions Board (APB) as delegated by the President.
The following committees are chaired by the Vice-President:

• Operations Management Committee (OMC), which is a consultative group with regards to the Fund’s corporate policies, strategies, programme of work and budget
• Operational Strategy and Policy Guidance Committee (OSC) for Country Strategy Operational Plans (COSOPs) and Project Concept Notes for higher risk loans 
• Design Review Meeting (DRM) for higher risk loans and
• Sanctions Committee (SC). 

The Vice-President is responsible in IFAD for collaboration among the other Rome-based agencies through liaison with the Deputies of FAO and WFP.

Primary Roles and Accountabilities: 

• Work with the President in providing inspiring leadership to implement IFAD’s strategic direction in furtherance of the twin goals of eradicating food insecurity, and facilitating shared prosperity for the world’s smallholder farmers and poorest rural populations. 
• Foster an environment and culture that supports IFAD’s values of impact, integrity, fairness, courage and innovation and promotes strong performance and positive morale while ensuring the implementation and advancement of the reforms of IFAD, in particular Decentralisation 2.0. 
• Continue to focus operational culture on designing, financing and implementing impactful projects with strong developmental outcomes that enhance agricultural production and living standards and reduce poverty in rural areas, especially in the poorest and fragile countries.
• Coordinate policy and maximize synergies to further IFAD’s strategic priorities. Promote policy reforms to rural economies in countries of operations, including through the design and implementation of country strategies, in collaboration with United Nations Country Team . 
• Collaborate with IFAD Senior Management to create a common strategic outlook and ensure the organization's success in fulfilling its development mandate. 
• Ensure continuation of a strong, motivated and aligned Management team in leadership of the Fund’s strategic priorities.
• Manage IFAD’s day-to-day activities with the support of the Senior Management team. Ensure coordination and effectiveness of programme delivery, financial management and resource mobilisation with relevant Associate Vice-Presidents.
• Manage IFAD resources, human, financial and material of all Departments, for integrity, transparency, and equity. Drive budget, organizational, and operational/processing efficiencies. 
• Guide key operational and financial decisions to make sure that IFAD maintains its financial standing, its financial performance and its risk profile.
• Develop relationships and maintain an on-going dialogue with the Executive Board members. 
• Ensure that IFAD is staffed with high quality and engaged employees, empowering them to be successful in serving clients and delivering on the Fund’s mission. 
• Build and manage sound relationships with key clients, senior officials of governments, private sector organizations, other IFIs, civil society organizations and other stakeholders in support of IFAD’s strategic priorities. 
• Advocate the Organization’s policy positions and communicate IFAD’s messages at the organizational level. In order to promote organizational change and keep abreast of technology advancement the Vice-President sets clear priorities for the Departments and leads by example.

Within IFAD's overall Strategic Framework and Medium Term Plan, the VP establishes IFAD's priorities for and provides (i) leadership to all departamental level programmes, (ii) overseeing operational management activities (iii) holds accountability for a results-based approach to meeting IFAD’s vision and the mission, and (iv) identyfing and mitigating the risks. Leadership activities include the optimum utilization of human, financial, technology and material resources for the achievement of greater efficiency and effectiveness. The incumbents' impact extends beyond the successful achievement of departmental goals and objectives to include larger organizational goals and objectives in strategic planning collaboration. The expected results directly and/or indirectly benefit the ultimate stakeholders, the rural poor in developing countries and have a direct impact on the organizational reputation.

The key performance indicators for the VP includes leadership in viable strategic planning, authoritative and relevant policy development and advice, sustainable programme decisions and integrity and accountability in the planning and management of the Fund's human, financial and material resources assigned to the organization.

Within IFAD, the VP provides authoritative advice to senior management on the Fund's vision, strategic planning, policy, and programme and operational management. The incumbent is accountable for collaboration and coordination within the Fund to ensure appropriate consultation, cross-functional synergy and coordination of programme planning and activities. The incumbent oversees the day-to-day operations of the Fund, guiding and delegating as appropriate to heads of Departments or relevant directors. 
Externally the VP develops strategic partnerships and collaborative relationships with counterparts spanning a broad range of institutions including borrowers, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, UN agencies, funds and programmes, IFls, non-governmental organizations and academic  institutions  for the purpose of programme co-operation,  knowledge sharing,  policy dialogue and/or resource mobilization. The incumbent is also accountable for the provision of authoritative advice during the Operations Management Committee (OMC), Executive Management Committee (EMC) , the annual Governing Council and related subordinate bodies including the audit and evaluation committees.
The VP represents the Fund in official United Nations committees and networks, and in international financial institution, multilateral and bilateral meetings, symposia, fora and conferences upon request of the President, and builds organizational networks with peers in major private, public and international financial institutions.

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally
• Communicating and negotiating - Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills
• Demonstrating leadership - Leads by example; initiates and supports change
• Focusing on clients - Contributes to a client-focused culture
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture
• Managing performance and developing staff - Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization
• Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles
• Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment

Education:

• Level - Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php in a job related field (*)  
• Areas - economics, management, business administration, or other related field or equivalent

(*) Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in the IFAD’s Human Resources Implementing Procedures

Experience:

• At least twenty-five (25) years of progressively responsible professional experience, including management experience within an international organization, financial institution, Multilateral Development Bank, and/or the United Nations system 

Languages:

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

Skills:

• Project financial management: Excellent know-how in project financial management, e.g. internal controls, rural investments, project audit and funds flows
• Advocacy: Know-how in advocacy, to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD¿s vision to external actors
• Performance management: Know-how in managing performance, learning management, establishing learning plans and ensuring staff supervised meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD
• Stakeholder management: Strong alignment capabilities and consultation skills, building on effective interactions and relationships with different stakeholders (e.g. for the co-creation of communication material with member states) and ability to build and maintain a strong network (e.g. with journalists, media outlets, etc.)
• Resources management: Know-how in the management of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources
• Change management: Role modelling, anticipation of key risks & conflicts and formulation of contingency plans/solutions, action-oriented
• Collaboration: Successfully work toward a common goal with others by communicating clearly, actively listening to others, taking responsibility for mistakes, and respecting different perspectives of stakeholders.
• Corporate approach: Ability to bring in corporate vision and priorities into one's area of work (e.g. budgeting going beyond simple budgetary considerations, taking into account strategic priorities)
• Integrity and ethics: Strong emphasis on acting with honesty, not tolerating unethical behaviour, demonstrating equity, impartiality and sensitivity in exercising authority and interacting with staff, and other  stakeholders. Conduct must be guided by IFAD core values, the Code of conduct and a high sense of ethics.
• Leadership: Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective guidance to others; Ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization by acting as a role model for IFAD's core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and effective guidance to the team, strategizing the IFAD's goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all.
• Political acumen: Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice
• Specialized communication skills: Ability to negotiate on behalf of IFAD and drive for creative and pragmatic solutions in complex negotiations with key partners, both public and private sector
• Strategic mindset: Proactive, ongoing identification of strategic opportunities, potential synergies and partnerships
• Verbal communication: Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language

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.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation. 

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org