Director, Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE)

The Director, IOE is responsible for managing the Independent Office of Evaluation as the independent evaluation function of IFAD. The role provides strategic leadership, innovation, and management to ensure evaluation contributes to IFAD's strategy by improving policies, strategies, and operations through evidence-based analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage IOE as an effective, efficient and independent evaluation function of IFAD.
• Develop operational policies, strategies and related instruments to enhance the independence and effectiveness of the independent evaluation function.
• Ensure high-quality professional work by instituting the necessary enabling environment for and coaching of IOE staff, and setting quality standards for IOE outputs.
• Oversee the quality control of IOE evaluation deliverables.
• Formulate and implement the annual work programme and budget, reporting directly to the Executive Board on evaluation issues.
• Communicate evaluation results to partners and the general public.
• Ensure that evaluation knowledge and lessons are fed in a timely manner into key IFAD processes for the formulation of policies, strategies and operations.
• Promote dialogue and exchanges with Management, senior IFAD officials and Executive Board members on evaluation issues of critical importance to IFAD.
• Assist IFAD's operations and partner countries in their evaluation capacity development.
• Represent IFAD in the United Nations Evaluation Group and the Evaluation Cooperation Group of the multilateral development banks.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in a field related to IFAD's work; a doctorate-level degree would be desirable.
• At least fifteen (15) years of which at least eight (8) years at a senior level of substantive experience in the formulation, analysis and evaluation of development programmes and policies, especially those supported by international financial institutions, the United Nations or other multilateral development agencies.
• Experience in leading the evaluation of programmes and policies supported by International Financial Institutions, the United Nations or other multilateral development agencies and/or experience working with these entities.
• Experience in leading, supervising and managing large teams of people with diverse cultural and academic backgrounds, preferably in an international and intergovernmental setting.
• Successful track record in building partnerships with various stakeholders.
• Work experience in developing countries (other than home country) in the analysis and evaluation of development programmes is desirable.
• Experience in the analysis of agricultural and rural development issues at the international level is desirable.
• Experience in programmes and policies supported by International Financial Institutions, the United Nations or other multilateral development agencies and/or experience working with these entities is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with governing bodies of multilateral institutions or similar governance entities is desirable.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 his/her work.
• Strategy implementation: Strategic mindset and experience in strategic planning of IOE activities, ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions.
• 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).
• 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 representation of IFAD as a trusted and strategic partner, advocating and promoting IFAD's mandate and vision; effective consultations with IFAD counterparts - like ministries and governmental bodies at all administrative levels, donors, civil society.
• 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.).
• 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.
• Evaluation: Knowledge of methodologies used among international development agencies for programme and project evaluation and analysis. Knowledge of and experience in management of evaluation programmes.
• Innovation: Propensity for innovation and change and results-oriented decision-making ability, with an aptitude for developing practical solutions for operational challenges. Experience in the use of advanced technologies, including AI and advanced analytics among others.
• Visionary: ability to promote and model vision and values; build support for the mandate toward achieving a vision; and inspire others to translate vision and values into day-to-day activities and behaviours.
• Leader: ability to provide others with a clear direction; inspire staff members to perform their duties willingly, competently and enthusiastically; imaginatively direct, guide and influence goals by mediating between individuals and the organization in such a manner that both gain maximum satisfaction; lead by example and talent; and perform a directing role and exert influence over others.
• Negotiator and communicator: ability to clarify situations by exploring all parties' needs, concerns and positions; facilitate by structuring interactions towards productive conclusions, affirming what was heard and decided, encouraging expression and debate, gauging acceptance of solutions, fostering conflict resolution and seeking win-win solutions; and engage audiences, commanding attention and respect and inspiring credibility.

Skills

• Development Programme Evaluation
• Policy Analysis
• International Financial Institutions
• Multilateral Development Agencies
• Team Leadership
• Partnership Building
• Agricultural Development Analysis
• Governance Interaction
• Performance Management
• Human Resources Planning
• Financial Resource Management
• Change Management
• Risk Management
• Confidentiality and Discretion
• Strategic Planning
• Corporate Budgeting
• Advocacy
• Policy Dialogue
• Stakeholder Management
• Political Analysis
• Negotiation
• Evidence-based Policymaking
• Programme Management
• Evaluation Methodologies
• Innovation Management
• Applied Analytics
• Artificial Intelligence

Languages

English