Associate Vice-President, External Relations Department

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 External Relations Department (ERD)*, comprising the the Global Engagement, Partnership and Resource Mobilization Division (GPR) and the Communications Division (COM), leads IFAD’s engagement with Member States and other stakeholders, including through public and political advocacy, global policy engagement, partnership building, resource mobilization and strategic communications.

The Associate Vice President, ERD reports to the President of IFAD.

*The structure of IFAD is currently undergoing a recalibration process. The definite set-up of the External Relations Department is being finalized and is subject to confirmation of institutional processes requirements, which will be confirmed during the recruitment process.

Associate Vice Presidents as members of the executive management team, head the designated Department of IFAD. They have the responsibility to lead their divisions to achieve IFAD’s vision and mission.  They do so by leading on organizational change, policy making (or development) and implementation, and corporate development ensuring the technical quality of IFAD’s programme of work and encouraging a focus on outputs, outcomes and results whilst encouraging innovation. 

As the Head of the Department, the AVP, ERD provides leadership to the Department and ensures that high morale is maintained, paying particular attention to staff located outside headquarters. In this regard, the AVP has the overall responsibility to ensure the Department is adequately staffed with the requisite competencies and skills to deliver its annual programme. The AVP is also responsible for the prudent and efficient management of the financial resources made available to the Department annually. 

Under the guidance of the IFAD President, the AVP, ERD leads IFAD’s high-level political relations with donor countries and global policy processes, as well as IFAD’s global communications. The AVP, ERD also has overall leadership and oversight on resource mobilization, including by building IFAD’s global profile as an international financial institution and specialized United Nations agency and by forging relationships that support the mobilization of multiple forms of financing.   

While the majority of ERD staff are based in IFAD Headquarters in Rome, the AVP ERD also has within its purview IFAD’s liaision offices in key donor countries and communications staff based in IFAD regional offices.
 

1. STRATEGIC PROGRAMME DIRECTION AND IFAD’S MISSION: The AVP leads the work of IFAD’s ERD Department by providing strategic leadership and guidance to Division Directors and staff on IFAD’s mandate.  The AVP also guides, directs and seeks continual improvements in the organization’s external visiblity, partnerships and resource mobilization activities with governments (including IFAD’s replenishment process), the United Nations system, including Rome-based agencies, the private sector and other partners.  This is achieved by strategic engagement and partnerships with IFAD’s top donors; expanding IFAD’s global profile, visibility and influence with key external decision makers; and contributing to discussions on IFAD’s strategic direction and corporate knowledge management agenda.

They strategically lead and assume ownership of ensuring and managing appropriate internal control mechanisms for mitigating risks in line with the applicable organizational framework and policies for risk management, and in line with the mandates of the Department. 

2. ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE AND POLICY STRATEGY: The AVP acts as a champion for change, promoting and endorsing solutions to intractable challenges and has an entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch the organization and push the boundaries within the industry. They encourage evidence-based knowledge generation and its dissemination in all activities and contribute to resource mobilization activities and to evidence-based policy making at the international, national, and local level to advocate for the extreme poor and food insecure in rural areas. Furthermore, the AVP mobilises and manages supplementary funds to finance activities relevant to IFAD’s mandate. The AVP advocates the Organization’s policy positions and expands the Organization’s external visibility and positioning, including through communications of IFAD’s messages at HQ and regional levels. In order to promote organizational change and keep abreast of technology advancement they set clear priorities for the Department and lead by example.

3. CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT AND RESULTS BASED MANAGEMENT: The AVP leads and contributes to the corporate development effectiveness agenda and plans, monitors and leads IFAD’s collaboration with its institutional partners and member countries on resource mobilization and corporate partnerships, in accordance with agreed priorities, approved programme/budgets, strategic objectives and corporate policies. They promote the development of rigorous evaluations, reviews, analysis, and lessons to inform IFAD’s lending and non-lending portfolio (including country programme strategies, policy engagement initiatives, etc.), particularly on issues surrounding food security, agriculture, and rural development. The AVP oversees the development and implementation of the annual programme and budget of the Department in the context of IFAD’s Strategic Framework and IFAD Replenishment Commitments and provides guidance in the assessment and reporting of corporate impacts of IFAD’s funded projects. 

4. PARTNERSHIPS, REPRESENTATION, AND INFLUENCE: The AVP develops and maintains political and business relationships with key donor Member States and strong collaboration with strategic partner organisations, which among other partnership priorities, can help drive mobilisation of resources from the financial sector and private sector as desirable. They often represent IFAD and lead in IFAD’s external relations and outreach with the public, other donors, and client countries. They closely collaborate with other Departments in discussions and dialogue on IFAD’s overall external positioning, including in development policy issues, and lead the prioritization of IFAD’s work through engaging, convening and forging strategic partnerships with global organizations and other entities like the European Union, G7 and G20. They also cultivate relationships with civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, academia, media and think tanks, and the broader development community. They promote ideas and optimal service practice to a multi-cultural, diverse audience and set clear and challenging goals while committing the organization to improved performance; tenacious and accountable in driving results while being comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty.

5. MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES: AVPs are accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources, human, financial and material in their Department.

The key responsibilities of the Associate Vice President, ERD include:

• Leading and overseeing the department ensuring high morale and adequate staffing with the requisite competencies and skills to deliver on IFAD’s programme of work.
• Brokering high-level political access and influence within key donor countries and policy processes.
• Leading and overseeing IFAD’s global communications and public advocacy strategic approach. 
• Advocating for increased investment in agricultural development and IFAD’s reputation as a results-driven organization with a sustained focus on smallholder farmers and other poor rural producers.
• Providing strategic leadership and guidance to Division Directors and staff on IFAD’s mandate.
• Contributing to discussions on IFAD’s strategic direction and corporate knowledge management agenda.
• Leading on organizational change, policy implementation, and corporate development.
• Ensuring the technical quality of IFAD’s programme of work and encouraging a focus on outputs, outcomes, and results while encouraging innovation.
• Developing and maintaining good collaboration with strategic partner organizations.
• Managing the financial resources made available to the Department annually.
• Contributing to corporate and operational policy discussions and decisions of the Executive Management Committee (EMC).

Within IFAD's overall Strategic Framework and Medium Term Plan, AVPs are responsible for establishing priorities, providing leadership to departmental level programmes, overseeing operational management activities and ensuring a results-based approach to meeting IFAD’s vision and mission.  They also identify and mitigate risks.

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

The incumbents' impact extends beyond departamental goals and objectives to include larger organizational goals benefiting the rural poor in developing countries and impacting the organization's reputation.. 

Key performance indicators for AVPs include leadership in strategic planning, policy development and advice, sustainable programme decisions and integrity and accountability in resource management.

The AVP, ERD works with the President and the executive management team to establish departmental goals and strategies and overseeing their implementation to ensure IFAD’s sustainability in delivering IFAD-funded programmes and projects. As AVP ERD, this role has specific performance expectations on advancing IFAD’s overall global positioning, influence, and ability to mobilize resources. 

Within IFAD, AVPs provide authoritative advice to senior management on the departement's vision, strategic planning, policy, and divisional programme and operational management. They are accountable for collaboration and coordination within the Fund to ensure appropriate consultation, cross-functional synergy and coordination of programme planning and activities.

Externally AVPs develop strategic partnerships and collaborative relationships with counterparts spanning a broad range of institutions including borrowers, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, UN agencies, funds and programmes, IFls, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions for the purpose of programme co-operation, knowledge sharing, policy dialogue and/or resource mobilization. They are also accountable for the provision of authoritative advice during Executive Management Committee (EMC) meetings, the annual Governing Council and related subordinate bodies including the audit and evaluation committees.

AVPs represent the Fund in official United Nations committees and networks, and in international financial institutions, multilateral and bilateral meetings, symposia, fora and conferences upon request of the President, and build organizational networks with peers in major private, public and international financial institutions.

As a member of the Executive Management Team, The AVP, ERD supports the President and Vice President in providing vision and oversight in the area of external relations, resource and global communication.

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 (Master's or equivalent) from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php in a job related field (*):  
• Areas - economics, management, business administration, finance, diplomacy, communications, corporate governance, political sciences, international relations, international development, law or in any other relevant area.

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

Work experience: 

• At least twenty (20) years of progressively responsible professional experience, including management experience within an international Organisation, Financial Institution, Multilateral Development Bank, and/or the United Nations system.
• Substantive relevant senior level experience exceeding 15 years at an international level in an institution, which could include a multi-cultural or international organization providing support on a global scope.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with strategic vision and proven skills to manage a complex organization with staff of diverse cultural backgrounds in multiple locations. 
• Proven skills in change management, reform, organizational development and leading organizational transformations. 
• Extensive and proven managerial experience with a focus on people management. 

Position-specific experience:  Demonstrated experience mobilising various forms of support and resources from multi-stakeholders and partners, including building high-level political relations and influence within donor countries and policy processes.
 
Languages: 

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

Skills: 
Job role specific: 

• 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, staff performance evaluation and learning management, establishing clear performance objectives (technical and behavioural) and learning plans, and ensuring staff supervised deliver on the agreed objectives and meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD. 
• Verbal communication: Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language.
• Strategic mindset: Proactive, ongoing identification of strategic opportunities, potential synergies and partnerships.
• Political acumen: Ability to conduct sound political analysis and understand complex environments, providing options and advice.
• Collaboration: Successfully work toward a common goal with others by communicating clearly, actively listening to others, taking responsibility for mistakes, and respecting different perspectives of stakeholders; 
• 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.); 
• Change management: Role modelling, anticipation of key risks & conflicts and formulation of contingency plans/solutions, action-oriented. 
• Advocacy: Know-how in advocacy, to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD’s vision to external actors; 
• 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; 

Position specific:  

• Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation.
• Ability to build strategic relationships with donors, external stakeholders and other partners, including for resource mobilization.
• Ability to broker political access and build support in key countries and global fora. 
• Ability to articulate and advance policy priorities in the global development landscape. 
• Strong communicator with experience in expanding an organization’s visibility and strategic positioning. 

Applicants should note that 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.

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.

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.

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 IFAD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and IFAD policy to preventing and responding to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse

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