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 Financial Operations Department (FOD) is a dynamic financial, strategic, and responsive business partner and service provider fully supporting IFAD in developing its financial strategy and managing its financial, investments and material resources. FOD ensures that these resources are efficiently, economically, and effectively used to achieve IFAD’s objectives in the long-term and deliver on its development commitments.

The Front Office of the FOD (FFO) leads and oversees the work of three divisions: Financial Contoller’s division (FCD), Financial Management services division (FMD) and Treasury Services division (TRE) and also liaises with other departmental front offices, and the Office of the President and Vice President and their divisions for corporate matters.

Position specific:

The front office of the Financial Operations Department (FOD) comprises a specialized development finance team which supports the AVP-FOD in (i) aligning IFAD’s operational and financial planning needs in the near and medium term, (ii) ensuring coherence and effectiveness of IFAD’s financial profile as a rated institution and (iii) playing a convergence role between the development, financial and strategic dimensions of IFAD’s operations, preserving the Fund’s reputation and sustainability. The team also coordinates with units responsible for resource mobilization, financial planning, allocation of financial resources, ongoing programme delivery in Operations and Risk Management.

The Development Finance Officer works under the direct supervision of the Lead Officer, Development Finance.

The incumbent is a member of the Development Finance Team established in the front office of the Associate Vice-President (AVP-FOD). The incumbent will take a proactive role in the day-to-day activities associated to the scope of the team. The incumbent is a seasoned professional reflecting an in-depth, broad understanding of applicable development best practices and methodologies, as well as IFAD’s financial regulations, rules, and transactional procedures in one or more financial, macroeconomic, debt management areas.

Position-specific:

1. FINANCE BUSINESS PARTNER: The incumbent is a credible, trusted partner to the Department/Division/Unit where assigned. The incumbent supports the Fund’s development finance objectives and plans as well as models a commitment to financial integrity by acting as a responsive and constructive business partner with a focus on results. The incumbent also contributes to the development, improvement and dissemination of technical policies and procedures as required. The incumbent will support the analysis and identification of practical implementation to IFAD of G20 Working Group recommendations for balance sheet optimization through innovative financing instruments.

2. CORPORATE FINANCIAL POLICY AND STRATEGY: The incumbent is a seasoned professional with the capacity to interpret and apply a broad range of industry best practice, international and IFAD policies, rules, and regulations as well as standards and techniques. The core challenge and opportunity is for IFAD to partner with MDBs, IFIs, development institutions and financial market institutions to overcome the constraints on capital mobilization, and to redesign governance, financial products, and incentive structures to achieve this goal. While the incumbent will be required to devise and apply creative solutions, oversight and accountability will be retained by the Lead Officer. Activities performed by the incumbent may include:

   • Conducting comprehensive research and advanced technical analysis to identify innovative finance opportunities in alignment with the most advanced impact investment models.

   • Performing mapping and scoping of innovative finance and development finance landscape and translate such intel into IFAD’s financial roadmap.

   • Under the leadership of the supervisor, provide inputs to the development of strategies to leverage emerging financial instruments, partnerships and platforms to mobilize innovative financing for IFAD.

   • Under the leadership of the supervisor, provide input to the development of tried and tested financial structures and financial emerging mechanisms while promoting innovative solutions to support the advancement of IFAD’s assembler of finance objectives. This action should be coupled to a strong assessment of client demand which will call for an intense collaboration with teams in charge of programme delivery.

   • Creatively and proactively support the effective utilization, implementation and management of IFAD’s existing and future co-financing facilities and partnership arrangements.

   • Ensuring compliance of the proposed financial mechanisms with relevant financial regulations, policies and reporting requirements.

   • Providing training, capacity building and follow up to relevant internal areas related to the design, marketing and implementation of financial products, programs and mechanisms.  

   • Assisting in managing and coordinating one or more co-financing facilities or partnership arrangements as may be assigned, serving as primary point of contact and representative of IFAD to the partner institutions in all matters related to the facilities in question.

   • Support the Lead Officer and Unit in Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, global and regional private businesses, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to further development of specific investment opportunities.

   • In collaboration with Communication teams, designing, maintaining, and updating all unit-specific presentations, pitch books, communication and marketing material to internal or external parties (strategic engagements, events, webinars, webpage content, impact story and messaging products).

   • Contributing actively to the development of Development Finance thought papers and other knowledge management materials, remaining ahead of market developments.

3. AGENT OF CHANGE: The incumbent understands and applies the principles of change management and proactively serves as a role model for transformation and capacity for acceptance of change. The incumbent uses a seasoned knowledge of results-based management, sustainable development financing, budgeting, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other information technology to develop, analyze and promote acceptance of innovative financing approaches. The incumbent manages change through consultations with finance colleagues and outreach to internal and external stakeholders to build understanding and to ensure open and regular communications pertaining to current and planned changes in the Fund’s financial standards, regulations, and rules. The incumbent is expected to contribute to the development of holistic reforms that would provide an opportunity to begin shifting the cultural mindset of IFAD in line with its overall strategy as assembler of finance to fulfil IFAD’s mandate.

4. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the personal use of assigned IFAD resources, including equipment, supplies and, as applicable, staff or consultants supervised.

Incumbents at this level work independently and with authority and are accountable for the results of their work and of the staff they may supervise. Based on extensive knowledge of financial principles, concepts and systems accrued through their education and experience, the incumbent independently performs a wide range of functions within their role to ensure implementation of sound financial strategies and policies. The incumbent will seek supervisory guidance for the analysis of complex and/or innovative strategies, structures and scenarios for pre-emptive input, direction, and advice, and to ensure consistency in the interpretation and application of regulations and policies at global level.

The work typically requires the identification of tasks, time-management and organization of resources needed to achieve each task, interaction with internal personnel and external counterparts, delegation of activities to supervised staff, implementation of activities, decisions, strategies (modelling, definition/amendment of policies, other documentation), analysis and reporting of results through appropriate means of communication (e.g. verbal update, memorandum, presentation, policy paper).

The incumbent’s responsibilities also include supporting the supervisor in key decision making.

The key performance indicators for the incumbent include:

• Independent and responsible performance of their tasks;

• Demonstration of the highest technical quality and accuracy for the results of their work;

• Contributing to the resolution of complex financial issues;

• Planning of resources to achieve objectives in a timely manner;

• Adopting a creative approach to problem solving;

• Showing maturity and control in difficult, unforeseen, and unusual situations;

• Showing leadership when managing and coaching supervised staff.

Internally, the incumbent will report to the Lead Officer and will interact with several stakeholders within FOD and other departments for the compeltion of their work. The incumbent will be required to interact with other departments for the planning, design and execution of fInancial instruments and structures, financial procedures and policy changes, and for financial data gathering and reporting.

The incumbent could be required to participate in senior management meetings (e.g. financial risk management committee, Audit Committee or Executive Management Committee), and deliver presentations on matters related to their function. The main points of contact are with FOD Front Office, treasury, accounting, financial management, risk management, private sector unit, resource mobilization, and programme management staff mainly at IFAD headquarters as well as in country offices.

External work relationships for the incumbent normally require exchange of information with a wide range of outside counterparts in the financial community and development finance, including UN agencies, DFIs, MDBs, rating agencies, investment banks, financial service providers and other institutions, individual professionals and vendors/suppliers.

The incumbent may represent the Development Finance Team and other organizational units at internal and external meetings, conferences and at other events as requested by their supervisor.

Organizational Competencies – Level 1

• Strategic thinking and organizational development: Personal influence

• Demonstrating Leadership:  Personal leadership and attitude to change

• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge, and innovates

• Focusing on clients:  Focuses on clients

• Problem solving and decision making: Demonstrates sound problem solving and decision-making ability

• Managing time, resources, and information:  Manages own time, information, and resources effectively

• Teamwork: Contributes effectively to the team

• Communicating and negotiating: Communicates effectively: creates understanding between self and others

• Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains effective working relationships

Education:

• Level – Advanced university degree (Masters’ equivalent) from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area.

• Areas – Finance, Business Administration or any other related fields or an equivalent professional certification.

• Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php.

Work experience:

• At least 5 (five) years of progressively relevant professional experience in a similar position and/ or a finance and debt background in International Financial Institutions, Multilateral Development Banks, investment banks/firms, or other relevant institution. The professional experience should reflect a proven track-record in areas of sourcing, structuring and closing investments, particularly in the areas of loan origination and credit analysis, structuring of financial instruments, and/or, investment funds, or guarantee funds.

• Three (3) years preferably in the United Nations or an international financial institution, or another multi-cultural organization or institution or a national organization providing support on a global scope.

• Proven experience in structuring, negotiating and implementing innovative financial instruments, products, programs and mechanisms related to leveraging resources for the public and private sectors,

• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing partnerships with financial institutions, investors, philanthropic organizations and eligible family offices.

• Strong understanding and experience in developing and implementing innovative financing instruments (e.g., credit guarantee, ESG bonds in the context of food security, carbon credit projects and catastrophe bonds, , blended finance transactions, debt swaps opportunities).

• Relevant country experience would be highly desirable.

Languages:

• Required English (4 – Excellent)

• Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3 – Good)

Skills:

Job role specific

• Knowledge and experience of public and private sector investment methodologies and Blended Finance principles.

• Strong understanding of the challenges of crowding-in financing in multi-stakeholder environments with multiple co-financing partners and complex modalities.

• Strong experience in Development Finance matters pertaining to country debt management, lending terms, income category analysis.

• Knowledge of financial policies in the areas of loan pricing, concessionality, debt management and resource allocation.

• Strong knowledge of Development economics, e.g., macro/micro-economic analysis and conducting of economic research. Know-how in applied econometrics preferred.

• Strong understanding of corporate finance and balance sheet management theories and techniques including modelling

• 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 development finance activities.

• Business acumen, outstanding ability to synthesize and simplify complex technical information for a variety of (non-technical) audiences.

• Time Management, Adherence to deadlines under time constraints and pressure (e.g., to deliver governing body documents on time); ability to coordinate and manage complex workflows and in-house and external teams.

• Problem solving, Strong systemic and structured thinking, ability to identify and dissect problems into components and formulate a comprehensive set of creative viable and sustainable solutions and strategies.

• Client orientation, Strong critical thinking combined with communication skills to liaise between the business and technologies to understand business problems and needs, document requirements and identify solutions.

• Written communication, Clear, succinct, and convincing written communication; highly professional, balanced, and diplomatic language (e.g., for drafting of position papers, briefings, etc.).

• Verbal communication, clear, succinct, and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced, and diplomatic language.

• Corporate approach, Ability to bring in corporate vision and priorities into one’s area of work taking into account strategic priorities.

• Development finance, Know-how in debt, lending terms, financial policies including pricing, concessionality and resource allocation.

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.

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 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.https://webapps.ifad.org/members/eb/134/docs/EB-2021-134-R-9.pdf ; https://www.ifad.org/documents/38711624/42415556/SEA_e_web.pdf/85275c4d-8e3f-4df0-9ed8-cebaacfab128?t=1611326846000

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. 

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.

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.