Job Title : Roster for Senior Specialists (Monitoring and Evaluation) in multiple duty stations
ID : 12182
Location : Date of issue : 06/01/2023
Close Date : 06/12/2023
Organizational Unit : Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Temporary
Assignment Duration : Grade : Organizational Setting
This vacancy announcement is re-opened to strengthen the pool of applications.
This vacancy announcement is to fill several vacancies at P-4 level based in IFAD field offices in Nairobi, Abidjan, Asia (Beijing/New Delhi/Hanoi) and Latin-America region (Lima/Panama City). Applicants are kindly requested to indicate their willingness to be assigned to any of the above locations when answering the “Specific expectation” question in the questionnaire.
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 (AVP), 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 (OPR).
OPR oversees operational policies and procedures, operational training through corporate learning programmes, compliance with environmental and social safeguards and project procurement policies, and operational performance monitoring and results reporting. It also manages IFAD’s self-evaluation architecture, including the interface with the Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE), and the performance-based allocation system (PBAS), and coordinates the drive for enhanced transparency and value for money. It is also responsible for overseeing corporate databases, including the Operational Results Management System (ORMS) and the Corporate Dashboard. During the project cycle, OPR plays an important role during project design as a secretariat for quality reviews, and is responsible for determining project categorization, including environmental. OPR also plays a pivotal role in coordinating the implementation of commitments emanating from replenishment consultations.
The position is located in the OPR division and the incumbent works under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance the Division Director, and direct supervision of the Lead Advisor, Policy and Results.
Job Role
The Senior Specialists are accountable for IFAD’s core values of integrity, transparency, and equity in the alignment to IFAD’s policies and procedures of the division’s programmes and projects.
The Senior Specialist (Monitoring & Evaluation) has a policy direction, supervision and coordination role, providing technical direction and policy guidance to the teams in the Regional Divisions. The position manages processes for the assessment and delivery of capacity development initiatives for IFAD staff and IFAD project personnel. The incumbent works with staff members across IFAD.
Key Functions and Results
1. OPERATIONAL DELIVERY AND POLICY ADVICE: The Senior Specialist (Monitoring & Evaluation) provides strategic and technical direction in operational delivery and policy support related to project/ programme monitoring and evaluation. The accountabilities may include: a) Bringing international best practice approaches and solutions to project/programme level Monitoring and Evaluation to IFAD and contribute substantially to the development and implementation of operational policies and procedures, ensuring that they evolve together with business needs and frontier issues on monitoring and evaluation.
b) Providing advice, guidance and support to practitioners as well as IFAD staff at country-office/hub level to interpretoperational policies, regulations and rules, and systems related to monitoring and evaluation, so that the division supports corporate goals and objectives within the overall Fund mandates and strategies.
c) Developing appropriate tools and resources for project/programme level monitoring and evaluation in IFAD (e.g. handbooks/guidelines, rosters of experts, assessment frameworks, capacity building and certification programmes, and IT tools).
d) Coordinating and contributing to the project design and implementation process.
e) Participating in project delivery teams and country management teams.
f) Leading as focal point for monitoring and evaluation and key link between corporate, field level and relevant country level results issues.
g) Developing monitoring and evaluation criteria for technical components of programmes and projects as required.
2. COMPLIANCE FUNCTION: The Senior Specialist (Monitoring and Evaluation) ensures compliances of IFAD programmes and projects to relevant policies and procedures. The position contributes to the integrity of IFAD’s results focus and proactively recommends, as appropriate, mandatory and preferred changes/adjustments in line with Development Effectiveness Framework and relevant operational policies by
(a) Ensuring compliance with key operational building-blocks related to Monitoring and Evaluation and with policies and procedures governing programme management and
(b) Working to harmonize and maintain consistency with the IFAD Evaluation Policy and the IFAD Evaluation Manual in relation to country and relevant corporate-level Monitoring and Evaluation.
3. CORPORATE MONITORING AND RESULTS REPORTING: In the context of IFAD’s self-evaluation architecture, the Senior Specialist (Monitoring & Evaluation) develops tools, and promotes corporate Monitoring and Evaluation reporting culture to ensure effectiveness at the project level by: a) Bringing project and programme level Monitoring and Evaluation issues to corporate attention.
b) Leading corporate reporting on operational performance and results, including externally to donors, external organizations and key stakeholders.
c) Developing corporate Monitoring and Evaluation guidance, strategy, criteria, systems and tools for technical components of programmes and projects.
d) Preparing analytical findings and reporting to governing bodies on divisional and country-level performance on Monitoring and Evaluation as part of the Fund’s development effectiveness framework and Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning (MEAL) Action plan.
e) Managing regular reporting on the portfolio’s Monitoring and Evaluation performance for colleagues and senior management.
f) Working closely with Regional Divisions to develop regionally specific MEAL Action Plans.
4. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Senior Specialist (Monitoring & Evaluation) is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes, among others, people management through support to recruitment of technical specialists and technical leadership/capacity development, coaching and mentoring of new and/or more junior staff, supervisory role and evaluation of performance of professionals and general service staff under their purview.
Key Performance Indicators
The key results have an impact on the compliance of operations with IFAD rules, regulations and policies, implementation of corporate operational strategies and the monitoring and reporting on achievement of results. Assignments require the provision of solid technical expertise and input for the area of their responsibility, as well as in knowledge sharing with peers and counterparts. The work goes beyond technical analysis and synthesis to include the development of knowledge products, tools and strategies, evaluation of compliance and lessons learnt and best practices. The work is considered complex; requiring in-depth technical knowledge and expertise. The position works independently and with authority, and is accountable for the results of their work.
Position specific: The Senior Specialist (Monitoring & Evaluation) has an impact on the overall effectiveness and efficiency in change management of operational policies and procedures to accompany the new organizational architecture and business model for IFAD12 and beyond. Monitoring and control system for procurement and SECAP, facilitate problem solving and monitor IFAD’s Complaints Procedure, timely and appropriate delivery of services ensures risk management, as well as client satisfaction and overall timely delivery of IFAD programmes and projects.
Working Relationships
The work relationships of the Senior Specialist involve the provision of technical advice and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in mission planning, technical project appraisal or the preparation of studies and reports. In the context of operational delivery and policy support, the incumbent maintains collaborative working relationships, both within the department, and with other relevant IFAD divisions. Representation is made in internal and external fora in the areas of operational policies, procedures and compliance functions related to Monitoring and evaluation. The incumbent engages their counterparts at the project level in the government and Project Management Unit. The Senior Specialist (Monitoring and Evaluation) serves as the senior advisor on policy development and implementation.
Job Profile Requirements
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:
Education includes Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://whed.net/home.php in Law, public procurement, public administration, finance, environment, social development or related field is required (*): (*) Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in IFAD’s Human Resources Implementing Procedures.
Experience:
- At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience in, and demonstrated understanding of, initiatives in the field of specialization. An advanced university degree may be substituted by a first university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) plus at least four additional years of relevant professional experience, over and above the minimum number of years of experience.
- Two (2) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
Languages:
- Required English (4 – Excellent)
- Desirable: French, Spanish and/or Arabic
Skills:
- Economic analysis: Know-how in Programme/Project economic analysis
- 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)
- Data management: Data collection, cleaning, transformation and consolidation; data-base architecture & development; data presentation
- Risk management (e.g. reputational): Identification and assessment of potential liabilities and risks in IFAD’s activities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties; ability to handle risks via contingency and mitigation strategies
- 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
- Adaptability: Adaptability and flexibility when facing new or unexpected situations, and to specific constraints and circumstances and managing complex processes
- Business acumen, private sector knowledge: Outstanding ability to synthesize and simplify complex technical information for a variety of (non-technical) audiences
- 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)
- 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.
- 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.)
- Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation)
Other Information
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.
This vacancy announcement is to fill several vacancies at P-4 level based in IFAD field offices in Nairobi, Abidjan, Asia (Beijing/New Delhi/Hanoi) and Latin-America region (Lima/Panama City). Applicants are kindly requested to indicate their willingness to be assigned to any of the above locations when answering the “Specific expectation” question in the questionnaire.