Compensation and benefits
Compensation and benefits
IFAD offers a competitive remuneration package with salary scales and benefits in line with the United Nations common system as regulated and coordinated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC).
This overview provides the salary and benefits that fixed term and short term* candidates might expect to receive whilst working at IFAD, and contains salary and benefits calculators to aid estimates.
The following information is for indicative purposes only. The final package for a candidate will depend on the contract type, the grade level, as well as family status and benefit eligibility.
Internationally recruited staff
International Professional (P) staff are recruited internationally. They can serve in IFAD’s headquarters in Rome or in global duty stations, and are subject to reassignment both functionally and geographically. Within this category, there are five Professional levels (P-1 to P-5) and two Director (D) levels (D-1 and D-2).
The salaries of internationally recruited staff members in the Professional and Director categories are expressed in United States dollars and based on the ICSC salary scale (see here). The salary of staff in the Professional and Director categories is comprised of two main elements:
- Net base salary according to the grade; and
- “Post adjustment”: a cost-of-living supplement calculated as a percentage of the net base salary, which varies according to the cost of living in the duty station and which ensures that professional remuneration has the same purchasing power at all duty stations.
Locally recruited staff
The salary scales of locally recruited staff are determined on the basis of the after-tax salaries paid by selected employers in the locality for comparable employment. Salaries are determined and paid in the local currency.
Locally recruited staff categories are:
- National Officers
National Officers (NOs) are recruited locally for roles in IFAD field duty stations (excluding headquarters). Within this category there are four different levels, NOA, NOB, NOC and NOD. - General Service staff
General Service (GS) staff are recruited locally for functions providing administrative and support services in both headquarters and IFAD field duty stations. Within this category, there are six different levels, from G-1 to G-6.
Within-grade step increments
On the basis of satisfactory service, a “within-grade step increment”, i.e. a salary increase from one step to the next within a grade, is awarded to staff members on fixed-term appointments. New recruits are normally appointed at step 1 of the grade at which they are recruited.
Taxation
Salaries and allowances paid by IFAD to staff on fixed-term and short-term appointments are exempt from national income tax. Where member states levy income tax on salaries of IFAD staff, IFAD refunds the staff member the minimum amount of income tax payable on their IFAD derived income.
IFAD staff members may be entitled to a range of benefits, as follows:
Family allowances
Depending on the contract type, some staff may be entitled to family allowances, including dependency allowances where there is an eligible dependent spouse (or recognized domestic partner), child(ren) and, under certain conditions, secondary dependent allowance.
Education grant
Financial support to cover part of the cost of a child’s education is granted to internationally recruited staff members in the Professional and higher categories holding a fixed-term appointment, and assigned to a duty station away from their home country. The education grant consists of partial reimbursement of admissible expenses payable for the period of the child’s full-time attendance at a primary, secondary or post-secondary institution. The grant is payable for a maximum of four years of post-secondary studies or when the child reaches the age of 25, whichever is earlier.
Annual leave
Depending on the contract type, staff are entitled to up to 30 days of annual leave per year. In addition, IFAD observes 10 official holidays per year, which may differ depending on the duty station.
Home leave
Internationally recruited staff members (and their eligible family members) in the Professional and higher categories holding a fixed-term appointment serving outside of their home country may be eligible for leave to renew social, cultural and family ties in their home country. IFAD pays a percentage of the cost. The frequency of home leave depends on the duty station.
Family visit travel
In cases where eligible family members have not been able to join an internationally recruited staff member at the duty station, IFAD pays a percentage of the cost for one family member to visit the staff member at their duty station.
Parental leave
Depending on the contract type, maternity, paternity and/or adoption leave are available.
Medical insurance
IFAD staff and their eligible family members are automatically enrolled into IFAD’s medical insurance coverage scheme. The monthly premiums are shared by the staff member and IFAD, and automatically deducted from the monthly salary. Depending on the staff member’s contract type, the plan provides worldwide insurance coverage.
Retirement pension
IFAD is a member of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). Staff members on a fixed-term appointment are automatically enrolled by IFAD in the UNJSPF. A compulsory contribution is deducted from the monthly salary and an amount equivalent to double the staff member contribution is paid by IFAD to the UNJSPF on behalf of the staff member.
Appointment/Relocation travel
Internationally recruited staff members are entitled to compensation for travel and shipment on appointment to and/or change of duty station. Depending on the contract type, eligible family members (a spouse or recognised domestic partner and/or dependent children), may also be granted such compensation if they are accompanying the staff member.
Settling-in grant
A settling-in grant is payable to internationally recruited staff members with a fixed-term appointment to provide eligible staff members with a cash amount to facilitate settlement on initial appointment or upon change of duty station.
Rental subsidy
Internationally recruited staff members may qualify for a rental subsidy if they are newly arrived at the duty station and paying a higher-than-average proportion of their income on rent.
Repatriation grant, travel and shipment
These may be payable to internationally recruited staff members who have been working outside of the country of their nationality and will be leaving the country of their duty station upon separation from IFAD to take up residence in another country. Eligibility for this grant requires a minimum of five years of continuous service within the UN system.
Hardship, mobility and danger pay
A hardship allowance is granted to internationally recruited staff assigned to field duty stations with difficult living and working conditions. Where there are restrictions on bringing family members, a non-family allowance is also granted.
Internationally recruited staff may also receive a mobility incentive, established to encourage geographic movement of staff; and to a rest and recuperation break when serving in locations where the conditions are particularly hazardous, stressful and difficult.
Danger pay is a special, non-pensionable allowance payable to all staff (internationally-recruited as well as locally-recruited staff) who are required to work in locations where very dangerous conditions prevail.
Compensation in the event of illness, injury or death
Compensation will be given in the event of service-related illness, injury or death attributable to the performance of official duties.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) offers a variety of tools including a salary calculator for locally recruited staff.
Enrolment into IFAD Staff Association (ISA)
Staff members can enrol into ISA with a small contribution deducted from the monthly pay.
Rates of exchange
IFAD applies the United Nations operational rates of exchange effective on actual date of payment. These rates are subject to change in the light of developments on international financial markets.
* For more information regarding staff categories at IFAD, see here. If you wish to find out about other staff and non-staff categories, please see the following links: consultancies, the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme and the internship programme.