Senior Evaluation Officer (*This is a re-advertisement) – Rome, Italy

This is a re-advertisement of JO 17953 at P-4 level. Candidates who had already applied to JO 17953 do not need to re-apply.

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. 

In line with IFAD’s Evaluation Policy, the Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE) reports directly to the IFAD Executive Board (EB). The Evaluation Policy established that the evaluation function at IFAD will operate in line with internationally accepted principles for the evaluation of development assistance. The IFAD Evaluation Policy also states that the IOE Director will ensure that IOE is staffed by independent-minded, experienced evaluators.

The Senior Evaluation Officer works under the overall supervision and strategic, policy and management guidance of the Director, IOE, as well as the day-to-day supervision of a Lead Evaluation Officer, IOE.
 

The Senior Evaluation Officer, IOE, leads Country Strategy and Programme Evaluations (CSPEs) having a large number of complex operations.

1. EVALUATION MANAGEMENT: Senior Evaluation Officers at this level substantively contribute to IOE evaluation management activities with a view to ensuring adherence to IOE evaluation policy, quality standards and evaluation manual. Major activities include but are not limited to:
   1. Supporting the preparation of IOE’s Annual Work Programme, the conduct of internal peer reviews and the periodical review of IFAD’s evaluation methodology and processes;
   2. Contributing to the development of the evaluation methodology; and
   3. Leading, training and motivating international/national experts in the conduct of project evaluation.
2.  COUNTRY PROGRAMME EVALUATION: Senior Evaluation Officers at this level lead Country Strategy and Programme Evaluation (CSPE) activities, ensuring independence and accountability. Major activities include but are not limited to:
   1. Managing the entire evaluation process for CSPEs, including building teams of evaluation experts, production of the Approach Paper, organization of the evaluation mission, leading and being responsible for the main report, organization of in-country workshops and facilitation of the agreement at completion point on the evaluation findings and recommendations among the IFAD management and concerned governments;
   2. Participating in internal peer reviews of CSPEs; and
   3. Preparing concise, reader-friendly and yet analytically rigorous evaluation reports and presenting them in-house and to the EB’s Evaluation Committee.
       
3.  IMPACT EVALUATION: The Senior Evaluation Officer enhances IFAD’s accountability and knowledge of results at the project level by designing and conducting impact evaluations as well as preparing the final evaluation report. Assessment and documentation of results and impact are done with reference to both qualitative and quantitative information. Major activities include but are not limited to:
   1. Customizing methods and data collection tools to the specific project design and area context as well as identifying relevant impact domains and sampling areas;
   2. Overseeing the collection and analysis of primary impact data to establish evidence and illustrate the project’s contribution/successes;
   3. Leading the main mission and preparation of the final impact evaluation report; and
   4. Making recommendations for the design/re-design and implementation of on-going and future operations in the country.
       
4.  PROJECT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: The Senior Evaluation Officer contributes to accountability and learning also by   conducting project completion report validations and project performance assessments and prepare reports in accordance with the Fund’s evaluation policy and evaluation manual. Activities include but are not limited to:
   1. Managing the entire evaluation process including developing the Approach Paper, desk reviews, organizing the evaluation mission;
   2. Liaising with country programme managers (CPMs) and other concerned stakeholders, leading or contributing to the fieldwork and guiding and managing consultants including assessing their performance; and
   3. Organizing in-country workshops/meetings, and writing or contributing to the evaluation report.
       
5. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT/EVALUATION CAPACITY BUILDING: The Senior Evaluation Officer participates as requested in project development teams and policy fora to ensure that lessons learned from IFAD’s experience are incorporated in the proposed projects / programmes design and IFAD’s policy and strategy. The incumbent uses evaluation as a source of knowledge on rural development issues that must be systematically communicated and disseminated to partners and develops customized communication products, as required, to be posted on IOE’s home page.  The incumbent conducts evaluation syntheses to capitalize on existing evaluations and contemporary literature and knowledge outside IFAD. The Evaluation Senior Officer leads evaluation capacity development efforts in developing countries on a case-by-case basis.
    
6.  MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Senior Evaluation Officer is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes accountability for human resources, both staff and national/international experts, financial and material resources and related processes including contracting as required.

Working at the country level, the Senior Evaluation Officer provides technical and managerial leadership to the substantive development and execution of the assigned programme(s), including providing (i) managerial direction to international evaluation experts, evaluation officers (P-3 level), evaluation analysts (P-2 level) and evaluation assistants and (ii) effective representation with government counterparts and other programme collaborators. Externally the impact of the Senior Evaluation Officer extends beyond the scope of evaluations to enhance the continuity of IFAD’s global image as an effective deliverer of sustainable and technically sound pro-poor rural development programmes and projects. The incumbent impacts organizational relationships at an institutional level.

The Senior Evaluation Officer substantively contributes to IOE’s main objective of producing: (i) quality evaluation of the performance and impact of IFAD supported projects and programmes, IFAD’s own performance as well as that of its partners; and (ii) learning effects and recommendations through evaluation work that lead to the promotion of innovations and its scaling up and the improved performance of IFAD’s policies and strategies.
 

The Senior Evaluation Officer serves as a technical leader and focal point on evaluation programme promotion.  Combination of credible authoritative capacity with independent responsibility for originating specific evaluation initiatives creates opportunities for maintaining and expanding new client relationships. As a representative of the Division, the Senior Evaluation Officer leverages the impact of IFAD supported rural poverty reduction programmes by building effective partnerships and reaching consensus on programme initiatives with other stakeholders in rural poverty reduction. The incumbent also represents IOE in international evaluation related meetings and other external fora as required. Internally, the incumbent advocates for the institutional understanding of evaluation as both accountability and a learning process that must be conducted with an independent perspective and yet in close partnership with all partners involved.

Evaluation partners consist, inter alia, of counterparts in IFAD’s Programme Management Department, project field staff, government and non-government agencies in IFAD’s borrowing countries as well as other national and international development actors in rural development in these countries. The incumbent is expected to act as the credible voice of evaluation and assume leadership in maintaining and widening partnerships over time. In this capacity, the incumbent discharges their responsibilities by interacting with other colleagues in IOE’s team and elsewhere in IFAD and is supported with enabling instruments and resources to ensure exercising of a high degree of independence in support of a reliable delivery capacity.

Organizational Competencies – Level 2

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

Education:

Level – Advanced university degree*

Areas – Economics, Agriculture, Rural Development, Finance, Public Policy, Social Sciences or related studies.

Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php

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

Certifications:

Work experience:

• At least eight (8) years- of progressively responsible international experience in the design / implementation / supervision / evaluation of development programmes including rural development programmes. At least 3 of the 8-year experience must be in evaluation or monitoring and evaluation.
• Three (3) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Position-specific experience: Work experience should include experience in international organizations, major non-governmental organizations, rural development / financial institutions or government services. At least two years of experience in team management would be an asset.  Strong knowledge of and experience in applying contemporary quantitative and qualitative impact evaluation techniques and practices, preferably including in the evaluation of agriculture and rural development interventions. Demonstrated experience in applying contemporary quantitative and qualitative impact evaluation techniques and practices.

Languages:

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

Job role specific:

 Rural Development, Expertise in social and economic development of rural communities in developing countries;

• Programme/Project development, management, Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management;
• 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;
• 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.);
• Written communications, 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.)
• Confidentiality & Discretion, establishes self and division as trusted advisor to internal stakeholders by maintaining high level of discretion and confidentiality in assignments; demonstrates sound judgement when dealing with sensitive and/or confidential matters; drives good governance and is a “Culture Carrier” demonstrating IFAD institutional conscience through their work;
• Listening, Effective and active listening to others; understanding and acting upon indirect statements;
• Risk management (e.g., reputational), Know-how in identifying and assessing of potential legal, reputational, ethical risks and liabilities in relation to the Fund’s activities; contributing strongly to the division as second line of defence function; demonstrating ability to manage these risks by advising senior management on contingency and mitigation strategies;
• Basic ICT & digital fluency, High level of digital literacy and ability to quickly get familiar with new digital tools (e.g., ability to carry out EPR data entry and extraction when budgeting; monitoring security systems, uploading content to inter/intra-net websites, etc.)

Position specific:

• Availability to travel to developing countries will be required.
• Track record in writing professional analytical reports is required.
• Familiarity with contemporary information and communication technology for evaluation is
• a plus (e.g., GIS data analysis, application of artificial intelligence to evaluation)
• Having a track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals is a plus.

This is a re-advertisement of JO 17953 at P-4 level. Candidates who had already applied to JO 17953 do not need to re-apply.

Applicants should note that IOE staff members are subject to the IFAD staff rules, policies and procedures.  The  Director, IOE has delegated authority to make personnel and operational decisions concerning IOE staff and consultants in accordance with the provisions contained in the IFAD Evaluation Policy (2021) as well as other applicable IFAD rules, Human Resource policies and procedures.

In accordance with IFAD’s provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD’s remuneration package, please visit IFAD’s compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements.  See here.

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.

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