Jobs Vacancy: Country Programme Officer
Vacancy Announcement Number 1768
Date of Issue 15/05/2019
Deadline for Applications 15/06/2019
Organizational Unit East & Southern Africa Div.
Level NOC
Duty Station DAR ES SALAAM
Duration of Assignment 2 years
Organizational context
This position is only open to nationals of Tanzania.
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.
Post’s organizational accountability
The Sr CPO’s Accountabilities/key Results Are
Under the overall policy and management guidance and direct supervision of a Country Programme Manager, the Senior Country Programme Officer is responsible for established programme/project coordination.
- Country Office Support
- Country Programme Support
- Partnership Building
- Policy Development/Knowledge Management
COUNTRY OFFICE SUPPORT: The Senior Country Programme Officer is accountable for day-to-day administration and reporting in support of the CPM and for supervision of assigned Country Programme Associate / Assistant. In addition to human resources management, s/he has accountability for financial and material resources and related processes including managing contracts for services. S/He provides inputs to budget preparation and monitors expenditures, manages contract completion and certifies payments. In case of no outposted CPM, the Senior Country Programme Officer will manage day to day operations of the IFAD Country Office and represent IFAD at national level.
COUNTRY PROGRAMME SUPPORT: The Senior Country Programme Officer enhances the technical quality of IFAD country activities through programme (COSOP) and project (grants and loans) design, supervision, implementation, monitoring and evaluation (RIMS), reporting (PSR) and completion (PCR) activities. S/He also provides substantive contributions toward the development of advice and technical guidance in support of sustainable government strategies, policies and programmes in agricultural development and rural poverty reduction. The Senior Country Programme Officer discusses with clients future business development opportunities and is further accountable for capacity building activities including identifying, analyzing, documenting, harmonizing and disseminating both national and local issues as well as conditions and best practices and lessons learned among partner development agencies. Capacity building activities will include coordinating meetings, workshops and seminars with project management teams, government, partners and other stakeholders.
PARTNERSHIP BUILDING: As a key country team member, the Senior Country Programme Officer enhances the CO’s relationships and collaborations with in-country counterparts through the identification of synergies and proposing coordinated strategies with multilateral/bilateral donors and civil-society organizations involved in agricultural development and rural poverty reduction. S/He establishes and maintains counterpart contacts to promote programme and project collaboration and harmonization as well as identifies financing opportunities with other donors. S/He represents IFAD at national level events in those countries where there is no outposted CPM.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT/KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: As a key country team member, the Senior Country Programme Officer participates in relevant policy meetings and events of interest to IFAD’s target groups and which involve the government, donors, and civil society, including NGOs, in order to develop an enabling environment for sustainable, pro-poor development. The Senior Country Programme Officer provides programme/project continuity in the country as well as substantive national cultural, political and economic or other development knowledge. From this perspective his/her participation in policy dialogue pertains to analyses of evidenced based recommendations from projects, analyzing their viability, making proposals and sharing the findings. This national perspective serves to enhance the linkage between the realities on the ground and the voices of the poor with the policies and programmes of the government as well as to ensure that regional programmes benefit from local initiatives that may be replicated.
Country Programme Officers may be requested to travel to neighboring countries to lend assistance for up to but not exceeding one calendar month in a year.
- MANAGERIAL
FUNCTIONS: The Senior Country Programme Officer is accountable for
integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources
at the ICO level, regularly reporting to CPM and Divisional Director .Impact of Key results / Key performance indicators
Demonstrated technical expertise and credibility in country portfolio management creates the foundation for IFAD’s capacity and reputation for programme delivery and enhances its recognition as a reliable development partner. The Senior Country Programme Officer maintains the standards for IFAD’s competence in development at the field level. Substantive support in the development of country strategy, project design, partnership building and policy development provides the foundation for enhancing sustainable government strategies and policies to improve the livelihoods of the poor and other disadvantaged groups.
Representation / Work relationships
In the context of programme development and delivery, the Senior Country Programme Officer ensures the exchange of information, advocates for programme and policy enhancements and ensures consistency and reliability in the provision of development assistance to the government. In collaborations with other members of the UN country team, bi-lateral development agencies, NGOs and country programme counterparts s/he establishes and maintains relationships and projects the image of IFAD as a credible/reliable partner striving for harmonization of development activities.
Competencies
Organizational
- Strategic thinking and organizational development: Personal influence (Level 1)
- Demonstrating Leadership: Personal leadership and attitude to change (Level 1)
- Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge and innovates (Level 1)
- Focusing on clients: Focuses on clients (Level 1)
- Problem solving and decision making: Demonstrates sound problem solving and decision making ability (Level 1)
- Managing time, resources and information: Manages own time, information and resources effectively (Level 1)
- Team Work: Contributes effectively to the team (Level 1)
- Communicating and negotiating: Communicates effectively: creates understanding between self and others (Level 1)
- Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains effective working relationships (Level 1)
- Managing performance and developing staff: Manages staff and teams effectively (Level 1)
- Thorough knowledge of and proven experience in results based agriculture rural development projects.
- Thorough understanding of national development strategies and programmes, government structure and partner development initiatives.
- Good knowledge of pro-poor policy approaches.
- Strong analytical skills in order to identify systemic issues, both programmatic and operational, and develop viable solutions. Analytical skills are also essential for identifying opportunities to promote new strategies and initiatives with HQ, partner agencies and national government counterparts.
- Communicate effectively with different counterparts (civil society, government authorities, local communities, project staff). Listens effectively to engage others.
- Writes clearly, succinctly and convincingly in English.
- Computer skills: thorough knowledge of PeopleSoft ERP as well as full command of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and common Internet applications.
Minimum recruitment qualifications
- Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in rural development, agriculture, economics, rural finance, development policy or other job related fields. In the absence of an advanced degree and additional two (2) years of professional experience is required.
- At least five (5) years’ progressively responsible professional experience in programme design, supervision and loan/grant administration with International financial institutions, development cooperation agencies, etc.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Working knowledge of another official language (Arabic, French, or Spanish) is desirable.
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.
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.
This position is only open to nationals of Tanzania. IFAD is committed to achieving gender diversity. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.
