Country Director - P-4 (Based In Bamako)

This position is based in Bamako, Mali.

Job Role

The Country Director is accountable for the IFAD core values of integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of the assigned portfolio. Accountabilities/key results of the Country Director include advocating for and enhancing national government programmes that improve poor rural people’s access to natural resources, agricultural technologies, financial services, markets, employment opportunities, and enterprise development.

The Country Director also promotes capacity building of key government counterparts and the rural poor in terms of the skills required for their participation in national and local policy and programming processes.

The Country Director plays an active role in engaging with the private sector and other local stakeholders.

Key Performance Indicators

The Country Director provides technical and managerial leadership to the substantive development and execution of the assigned country programme(s), including providing:

• Effective country presence and representation with government counterparts and other programme collaborators;
• Day-to-day managerial direction to Programme Analysts and Officers (up to P-3 level), Country Programme Officers (CPOs), Country Programme Assistants (CPAs) and Administrative Assistants (AAs);
• The position facilitates the exchange of knowledge and experiences with other country teams under the MCO and within WCA.
• The ability to anticipate and manage potential risks to programme success;

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally;
• Managing performance and developing staff - Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization;
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles;
• Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources;
• Demonstrating leadership - Leads by example; initiates and supports change;
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture;
• Focusing on clients - Contributes to a client-focused culture;
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact;
• Communicating and negotiating - Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills;
• Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment;

Education:

Education includes Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://whed.net/home.php in rural development, agriculture, rural finance, development policy or related field is required (*):

(*) Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in IFAD’s Human Resources Implementing Procedures.

Experience:

• Experience may include project design, development, implementation or evaluation, preferably in the area of implementation and supervision of rural development programmes.
• Two (2) years (of the 8) in an international organization, rural development/financial institution or government service providing support on a global scope;
• At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience in rural development, agriculture, rural finance, development policy or other job related field;

Languages:

• Desirable: Spanish or Arabic.
• English and French (4 - Excellent);

Skills:

• IFAD partners: Knowledge of IFAD's partners' functioning and mandate , such as the public sector (e.g. governments and policy, institutions and system), non-state actors (NGOs, CSOs, Foundations, etc.) and private sector actors;
• Performance management: Know-how in managing performance, learning management, establishing learning plans and ensuring staff supervised meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD;
• Topical expertise - Programme Mgmt for Agricultural Development: Expertise relevant to the specific role (e.g. For ethics office assistant, procedures outlined in the Code of Conduct, Discipline and Anti-harassment provisions of applicable rules and guidelines)
• Risk management (e.g. reputational): Identification and assessment of potential liabilities and risks in IFAD's activities, particularly vis-à-vis third parties; ability to handle risks via contingency and mitigation strategies;
• Policy dialogue: Know-how in the representation of IFAD as a trusted and strategic partner, advocating and promoting IFAD's mandate and vision; effective consultations with IFAD counterparts - like ministries and governmental bodies at all administrative levels, donors, civil society;
• Evidence-based policy: Know-how in the formulation of concrete and actionable policy recommendations based on hard evidence (going beyond simple data interpretation)
• Project/Programme mgmt (incl. coordination, design, development): Know-how in Project design and evaluation.
• Loans & grants: Know-how in designing loan and grant operations and managing loan and grant preparation process;
• IFAD governance & mandate: In depth knowledge of IFAD`s governance structure, mandate, strategic priorities and technical work;
• Interpersonal skills: Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with others (e.g. visitors, clients, callers, etc.), including senior individuals (e.g. high-level meeting participants)

Other Information

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.

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.

Click "Apply" to read the full job description and submit your application.

Deadline for applications: 15 August 2023

Ref: VA 12709