Background
IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency. It finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes. It advocates at local, national, and international levels for policies that enable poor rural people to overcome poverty.
Duties and functions
Reporting directly to the President of the Fund, the Chief Development Strategist will provide intellectual leadership to the professional staff of the Fund and support the mandate and work of the Fund by enhancing its capacity to engage and contribute to key international and regional policy debates on rural and agricultural development. In particular, the Chief Development Strategist will:
- keep track of important global and regional developments that have an impact on the global rural economy and which may also have implications for IFAD’s work and keep the President, senior management, and the staff apprised of such developments through regular briefs and publications.
- help ensure that IFAD policies are informed by state-of-the-art thinking and work on development issues and, in particular, on rural and agricultural development, and rural poverty.
- contribute to the knowledge management (KM) functions in the Fund by assisting in the aggregation and sharing of knowledge, both in-house and outside, on lessons of development and by disseminating such knowledge widely through learning events, symposia, and publications.
- provide leadership to the IFAD thematic group of regional and policy economists, liaising with the Assistant President (Operations) on operational and technical policy issues.
- contribute to IFAD’s advocacy work and, in particular, review and contribute to the President’s statements and speeches and provide appropriate advice.
- take part in inter-departmental working groups on strategy formulation, and policy and knowledge development; and represent IFAD in key international fora and lead IFAD’s participation in key international policy networks.
Professional requirements
- PhD in Economics or a Social Science related discipline (or equivalent body of work).
- Substantive experience at an international level in a development institution, which could include international organizations, UN agencies or other development-related organizations.
- Recognized academic authority in the areas of policies and publications relating to Agriculture and Rural Development.
- Strong speech giving/writing and report-writing experience and capabilities.
- Proven intellectual leadership in organizational knowledge management initiatives.
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by completing IFAD’s Personal History Form and sending their applications to the Office of Human Resources, Via Paolo di Dono 44, 00142 Rome, Italy, Fax +39-06-5043463, Email opvp@ifad.org. Applications from women candidates are particularly encouraged.
IFAD offers a competitive remuneration and benefits package which includes tax-free salary, dependency allowance, education grant up to university, education travel, medical insurance, home leave travel every two years, pension plan and diplomatic immunities and privileges.
Closing date: 7 August 2009
