Job Vacancy Evaluation Officer

Vacancy announcement number:      10/25/P
Date of issue:     28 August 2010
Deadline for applications:     27 September 2010
Position Title:     Evaluation Officer
Organizational unit:     IFAD's Office of Evaluation (IOE)
Level:     P-4
CCOG Code     1.E.03
Duty station:     Rome
Date of entry on duty:     As soon as possible
Duration of assignment:     1-year fixed term
   

Background to the job

IFAD's Office of Evaluation (IOE) is independent from Management and reports directly to the Fund's Executive Board.IOE's key purpose is to conduct evaluations of the Fund's projects, programmes and strategies in line with internationally recognized evaluation principles. Foremost among these are independence, accountability, learning and partnership building.

Main purpose of the job

To contribute to enhancing IFAD's overall development effectiveness by conducting rigorous and evidence-based high quality evaluations in line with international good practice.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision and guidance of the Director of IOE, the Evaluation Officer will:

    * In accordance with IFAD's Evaluation Policy and IOE's evaluation manual lead country programme and thematic evaluations. This entails providing intellectual leadership as well as systematic management of the entire evaluation process.
    * Contribute to the undertaking of corporate level evaluations on IFAD policies, strategies and processes.
    * Build and lead multi-disciplinary teams of international and national experts required for the conduct of the evaluations, and coach and guide staff and consultants under his/her supervision.
    * Ensure adherence to IOE's methodology and evaluation standards, as captured in the evaluation manual.
    * Present analytically rigorous and reader friendly evaluation reports to the IFAD management, partners at the country level as well as the Evaluation Committee of the Fund's Executive Board.
    * Contribute to the further development of IOE strategy, methodology and processes.
    * Contribute to the IOE's knowledge management function, including timely communication and outreach of the main lessons from independent evaluation work.
    * Participate in country programme management teams and other in-house platforms to ensure that lessons learned from evaluations are adopted in a timely manner in new projects, programmes and strategies.

Qualifications and experience

    * Advanced Academic Degree in a field relevant to development.
    * Eight years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in International Financial Institutions, the United Nations, Government services related to development and/or other development agencies and institutions. A substantial part of this experience should have been in evaluation, including experience in developing countries.
    * Experience in conducting evaluations of development projects, programmes and strategies.

Required functional/technical competencies

    * Strong analytical skills and knowledge of evaluation methodologies, processes and techniques.
    * Good understanding of agriculture and rural development issues.
    * Ability to manage processes and team leader/members.
    * Independence of mind and ability/willingness to speak and write plainly and fairly.
    * Propensity for innovation and results-orientation.

Communication

    * Excellent written and verbal communication including the ability to set out a coherent argument in presentations and group interactions in English.
    * Working knowledge of either Arabic, French or Spanish would be desirable.
    * Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a team.

Other information

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD.

IFAD reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than that advertised commensurate with experience and knowledge.

Interested candidates are requested to apply by completing IFAD's Personal History Form (PHF) in English. A separate CV may be attached if you so desire, only as a supplement and not a substitute to the PHF. The applications need to be addressed to the Human Resources Division, Via Paolo di Dono 44, 00142 Rome, Italy, Fax +39-06-5043463, Email vacancy@ifad.org. and must clearly indicate the Vacancy Number and position title. Any application received by IFAD after the closing date or not fulfilling the above-indicated requirements, will not be considered.

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.

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.