Chief Evidence for Development Impact and Innovation Unit [Rome, P-5]

Chief Evidence for Development Impact and Innovation Unit (Rome, P-5)

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Roma

MXN 1.373.000 - 2.060.000

2 giorni fa

Deadline for applications

Deadline for applications: 11 March CET Rome).

Rel: VA 34171

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 Office of Development Effectiveness (ODE) ensures that IFAD's supported projects are set to achieve their maximum impact and serve as a learning opportunity for future ones. Specifically, ODE is responsible for coordinating corporate strategy and measuring the relevance of IFADs business model in order to ensure the effective implementation of the strategy. ODE is also responsible of managing, measuring, and facilitating the effectiveness of IFAD program of work, including adequately incorporating knowledge of effectiveness and efficiency into all of its investments. Through the systematic integration of research findings, evidence-based innovations and best practices into IFAD's project design, implementation, and self-evaluation processes, the effectiveness and impact of IFAD-supported initiatives are enhanced.

ODE contributes to five key corporate objectives:

• Supporting the long-term development strategy of the institution given its mandate,
• Curating evidence and disseminating effective programs, innovations and operational solutions for rural economies,
• Ensuring the appropriate feedback loops work to ensure quality through the compliance of policies, standards, and lessons learned through the whole evaluation function of IFAD,
• Driving corporate and operational effectiveness and efficiency,
• Supporting capacity development for project management, monitoring and evaluation at the country-level

ODE is led by a Managing Director, a Deputy, Chief Strategy and Effectiveness Officer, and three units:

• Quality Assurance and Environmental and Social Safeguards Unit (QAS);
• Results, Resources and Systems Unit (RRS);
• and Evidence for Development Impact and Innovation Unit (EDI).

EDI strengthens IFAD's ability to curate and communicate evidence that supports country dialogue, policy influence and partnerships. Working with MDBs, the CGIAR, the RBAs, academia, the private sector, research centres and others, ODE promotes exchange of evidence and innovation for greater impact.

Specifically:

• The impact assessment function generates knowledge by systematically assessing the impact of IFAD investments and transmitting that knowledge internally within IFAD and to the outside world. The generated knowledge is also used to develop IFAD's strategies and support effective development.
• The knowledge curation function focuses on capturing, synthesizing, and sharing knowledge generated externally and from IFAD-funded projects and initiatives, facilitating organizational learning and capacity-building.
• The innovation function explores and promotes innovative approaches and solutions to address development challenges, driving organizational agility and adaptability.

Job Role

The incumbent technically supports country/regional programs as well as the corporate agenda by providing state-of-the-art technical advice throughout the project cycle (strategic and operational). Within the areas of responsibility, the Lead Technical Specialist exercises a high degree of independence in providing reliable programme delivery. The incumbent at this level performs the full complexity range of work independently, including the analysis and approval of complex and/or precedent setting cases with the aim to ensure cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support.

The incumbent is also an expert and knowledge builder in their thematic specialization. The incumbent provides technical expertise and strategic guidance on generating and using new ideas to enrich the knowledge base that supports the Fund's operational and policy agenda. The incumbent provides substantive contribution to understanding future trends in rural development relevant to their area of expertise, strengthening IFAD's strategic planning perspective and pro-actively fostering innovative and effective solutions to rural poverty within investment projects, country programmes, IFAD`s policy, member governments, the academic community, private sector, and public opinion in the international development community. Knowledge management at this level directly impacts on quality control and enhancement of IFAD's programmes and partnership development for inclusive and sustainable rural transformation.

The incumbent analyses and utilizes data to enhance programme development and delivery while also assessing data needs, availability and demand by working collaboratively within ODE and with other relevant internal stakeholders and in particular the Department for Country Operations (DCO) and the Office of Technical Delivery (OTD) to evaluate data needs, leverage its use, and devise plans on how data meets operational needs.

More specifically, the incumbent:

• Leads generation/acquisition of data, knowledge, and evidence (is responsible of approaches, tools and methods) and collecting data for specific purposes (e.g. Impact Assessments).
• Promotes a culture of innovation within IFAD and promotes the identification and scaling up of rural poverty innovations.
• Produces and mobilizes the creation of Knowledge Products (to meet the demand of different stakeholders):
• Developing advocacy materials for engagement of the general public (Knowledge Type 1)
• Providing policy support outputs to foster policy and decision making (Knowledge Type 2)
• Prepares technical documentation and policy briefs to validate need-based analytical work and innovation and contributes to the Global pool of knowledge and evidence base related to rural development and food systems transformation (Knowledge Type 3)
• Promotes knowledge dissemination (workshops, training, technical assistance and international Conferences on knowledge and use dissemination).

Education

• Level - Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area is required (*).
• Areas - Agricultural economics, Resource economics, Economics or related fields (such as but not limited to, Development economics, Statistics, or Applied mathematics)
• A PhD is highly preferred.

Degree must be an accredited institution listed on

(*) 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 ten (10) years progressively responsible experience in the field of specialization.
• Three (3) years in a multi-cultural organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Substantive and sustained work experience in development economics, in the formulation of technical guidance and input to development programmes, and in international policy frameworks related to global issues is highly desirable.
• Track record of policy-relevant analytical work demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals the results of which have been applied, directly or indirectly, to policymaking.
• Strong analytical skills in econometric analysis of microeconomic data and proven ability to conduct policy-relevant research.
• Proven experience in leading high impact development policy operations.
• Integrative capacity including the ability to situate sectoral issues within a broader development framework.
• Demonstrated network of research collaborators and a track record of intellectual leadership and ability to integrate economic-specific knowledge and specific micro sector fields of expertise.
• Proven expertise in data collection, analysis, and use and leveraging data to generate knowledge, foster innovation, and enhance programme and policy development and implementation.

Languages

• Required English (4 - Excellent)

How to Apply

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