Director, Near East, North Africa division – D1

Organizational Setting

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 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 Department for Country Operations (DCO) oversees the origination, design and management of IFAD investments, including sovereign and non-sovereign operations, as well as the design and implementation of non-lending activities within country programmes, including policy engagement and SSTC. DCO is the department that primarily interfaces with governments, the private sector and other stakeholders to deliver IFAD¿s programme of work and to provide oversight to ensure quality of the portfolio.  

DCO is led by an Associate Vice-President and is composed of five (5) regional divisions: Asia and the Pacific Division (APR), East and Southern Africa Division (ESA), Latin America and Caribbean Division (LAC), Near East, North Africa and Europe Division (NEN) and West and Central Africa Division (WCA), the Private Sector Operations Division (PSD), and two (2) units:  the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Unit (SSTC) and the fragility unit (FRU).

The Regional Division NEN is led by a Divisional Director, based in IFAD Headquarters, Rome, Italy with multi country offices in Cairo and Istanbul and a network of in country offices where we have bigger portfolios headed by country directors or country programme co-ordinators.  The Division leads on the design and delivery of IFAD country and regional programmes in NEN.  The precise country coverage of the division varies across replenishment periods.

 

Job Role

Directors are responsible for managing a division or office. The main focus of Director positions is strategic leadership, innovation and management. Most typically as a member of a departmental management team, they are responsible for managing and supervising the delivery of a division’s programme of work within an allocated budget.

In particular, the Regional Director manages and co-ordinates the delivery of the regional portfolio and priorities and is responsible for its human, financial and material IFAD’s resources as well as managing partnerships with regional institutions and stakeholders.

 

Key Functions and Results

1.VISION AND STRATEGY: Directors at IFAD are responsible for developing and promoting a strategic vision that translates the organization’s corporate and departmental mandates, strategies, goals, and objectives into a divisional programme of work. They ensure that the division’s activities are integrated with the overall Fund mandates and strategies and participate in the design of IFAD’s strategic approaches. Directors set and communicate clear objectives and are accountable for the division being seen as a credible and trusted partner in managing for results and as an innovator in its field.

2. POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVICE: Directors provide leadership in the development and interpretation of major policies, regulations and rules, and systems that govern the work of a division and ensure they support divisional goals and objectives within the overall Fund mandates and strategies. Directors also serve as a trusted business/programme advisor with a significant role in authoritative policy advice within the Fund at the senior management level as well as in policy dialogue in their representational activities.
 
3.PROGRAME MANAGEMENT: Directors provide leadership in all phases of the division’s medium term planning and management, including operational requirements such as:

• Establishing annual work plans
• Ensuring regular programme assessment
• Identifying opportunities for innovation and implementation of best practices generated within the Fund as well as in peer organizations, both private and public
• Reviewing and innovating core processes of the division in order to achieve better efficiency and effectiveness, as well as financial sustainability, of operations
• Enhancing synergy among divisional staff and holding staff accountable for results
• Ensuring the preparation of all divisional publications, reports and governing bodies documents.

4. MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES: Directors are responsible for ensuring the transparent, equitable, and efficient management of IFAD’s resources, including human, financial, and material resources. This includes managing staff through workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, and career development. Directors are also responsible for managing the division’s budget, ensuring accountability and fiduciary integrity. Additionally, they are responsible for managing material resources and promoting knowledge and content management to achieve innovative outcomes and cost-effective processes. Directors also leverage information technology to improve business results, reporting processes, and client services 

5. REPRESENTATION AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS: Directors serve as designated representatives of the Fund. They catalyse effective partnerships with a broad range of institutions including borrowers, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, UN agencies, funds and programmes, international financial institutions (IFls), non-governmental organizations and academic  institutions  for the purpose of programme co-operation,  knowledge sharing,  policy dialogue and/or resource mobilization. Directors represent the Fund in official United Nations committees and networks, and in IFls, multilateral and bilateral meetings, symposia, fora and Global conferences upon request of the President, and build organizational networks with peers in major private, public and international institutions.

In addition, the Regional Director coordinates activities and communications among people, agencies and international organizations in the Region assigned.

Specificities of the NEN region are:

• IFAD¿s engagement in fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCAS) involves navigating multidimensional threats, including political, institutional, environmental, and social challenges. This necessitates operating in environments with high security risks and potential disruptions to operational continuity.
• Additionally, many countries in the region face high levels of debt or are in debt distress, necessitating the development of innovative financing, operational modalities and strategic alliances.

 

Key Performance Indicators

Directors establish IFAD’s priorities and provide leadership to division-level programme and operational management activities, ensuring a results-based approach to meeting assigned goals and objectives.

Leadership activities include the optimal utilization of human, financial, technology, and material resources for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Position-specific: Diplomatic acumen and strong knowledge and of the political economy of the NEN region, strong interpersonal skills to manage and build key stakeholder relationships, with government and the international finance community, and lead a team that can create, apply and share knowledge to solve complex rural development problems of the region. 

Strong and strategic networks with governments and regional institutions are particularly important for a Regional Director position particularly in a heterogenous region such as NEN. Key partners include Regional Funds such as OPEC Fund, Islamic Development Bank, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, etc. 

 

Working Relationships

Directors are responsible for building and maintaining strong working relationships both within and outside of IFAD. Internally, Directors provide strategic advice to senior management and collaborate with other divisions to ensure effective coordination of programme planning and activities. 

Externally, Directors develop strategic partnerships with a range of institutions, including borrowers, development agencies, UN agencies, and non-governmental organizations, for the purpose of programme cooperation, knowledge sharing, policy dialogue, and resource mobilization. Directors also represents IFAD in official committees, meetings, and conferences, and build organizational networks with peers in major private, public, and international financial institutions. 

DCO Directors oversee the good functioning of the Regional Office and other in country offices and have responsibility to ensure a ‘one team’ approach to operations across country offices and divisions.

In a One IFAD context with a decentralized structure, the Director will focus on ensuring consistency and alignment across IFAD¿s global offices while supporting local adaptation to regional needs. The Director will foster collaboration between headquarters and field offices and promote a unified team approach across all divisions and staff supporting delivery of regional objectives.  The Director ensures that staff are equipped with the right skills and resources to implement programs effectively in diverse contexts. IFAD emphasizes flexible leadership development, promotes employee well-being, and ensures inclusion across regions, while maintaining a unified organizational culture that drives IFAD¿s mission of rural poverty reduction.  

 

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

• 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 agriculture and horticulture, development economics, development policy, international development, political science, rural development, rural finance 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 twelve (12) years of progressively responsible professional experience in technically related area of operations in a multilateral organization or national organization providing support on a global scope, including experience in project/programme design and implementation.
• Five (5) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Demonstrated experience and ability at leading and managing multicultural teams is required.
• Knowledge and working experience in the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia is essential.

Languages:

• English (4 – Excellent)
• Either Arabic and/or French (4 – Excellent) required, with working knowledge (3 – Good) of the other considered highly advantageous.

 

Skills:

• Advocacy: Ability to leverage IFAD knowledge and/or communication materials to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD`s vision and strategic priorities to external actors
• Policy dialogue: Know-how in the effective dialogue with ministries of finance, explaining lending terms and providing advice for debt management
• 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
• Strategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions
• Planning: Know-how in the planning of human, financial and material management of IFAD resources
• 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
• 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 the work.
• 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)
• 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
• Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation)
• Programme/Project development, management: Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management

 

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 in line with its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Representatives or alternate representatives of Member States on the IFAD Executive Board, Governors or alternate governors to the IFAD Governing Council and other Member States Permanent Representatives and their Alternates to IFAD (“IFAD Member States Representatives”) who apply for or take up any type of employment with IFAD may do so only after a twelve-month period has elapsed after the effective date of cessation of their IFAD Member States Representatives responsibilities as established in the notification of termination of functions communicated through the official channel

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

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.

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

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.

 

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