Liaison Office Partnership Analyst, Americas Liaison Office (ALO), Washington

Job Title : Liaison Office Partnership Analyst, Americas Liaison Office (ALO) Washington, DC - USA

ID : 29481

Location : WASHINGTON

Date of issue : 06/23/2025

Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 07/22/2025

Organizational Unit : Global Eng., Part. & res. Mob.

Full/Part Time : Full-Time

Regular/Temporary : Regular

Assignment Duration : 2 Years

Grade : P-2

Organizational Setting

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 External Relations Department (ERD) leads IFAD's external engagement through public and political advocacy, global policy engagement, partnership building, resource mobilization and strategic communications. ERD also leads IFAD's Replenishment, which is the process through which IFAD mobilizes core funding from Member States and agrees on priorities and targets for the Fund's work during each three-year replenishment period. ERD is led by an Associate Vice President and is comprised of two divisions: Global Engagement Partnership and Resource Mobilization Division (GPR) and the Communications Division (COM) and one initiative: The Food Systems Coordination (FSC).

The Global Engagement, Partnership and Resource Mobilization (GPR) Division has a specific focus on global policy engagement, partnerships (including with Member States and bilateral and multilateral organizations), and on driving the resource mobilization efforts with traditional and non-traditional donors and partners. Within this framework, the GPR Division addresses three main functions: Global policy engagement and multilateral relations; Strategic partnerships; Replenishment and resource mobilization, including supplementary funds and blended finance.

GPR is led by a Divisional Director and comprises four (4) Liaison Offices: the Americas Liaison Office which includes a presence in Washington, D.C. (ALO) and New York (NYLO); the Saudi Arabia Liaison Office (SLO); the Japan Liaison Office (JLO); and an office in Brussels (EU/BRX).

The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Chief/Senior Partnership Officer, across GPR organizational units with cross-functional key partner management teams to leverage coordination, budget, travel and relationship management skills, assets and professional social networks.

Job Role

The purpose of the position is to support the office's deepening of corporate level collaboration with key stakeholders and provide and support an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of assignment. The incumbent may also serve as focal point and resource for team and broader GPR colleagues on specific thematic areas of strategic relevance for partnership development. The key result is to ensure greater visibility for IFAD and influence in support of its mission.

Incumbents are typically entry-level positions providing professional support in the design across a broad range of cross-cutting functions in the areas of global engagement, Partnership and Resource mobilization. They work collaboratively with the other colleagues across the GPR Division to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in the application of technical advice and provision of programme development support.

This position has a role that includes a focus on supporting the Washington, DC office in strengthening partnerships with Multilateral Development Bank portfolio (MDB). Specifically the incumbent will be responsible for the development and management of partnerships with the World Bank, IDB and national DFIs.

Key Functions and Results

1. ANALYSING NEW POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION OPPORTUNITIES: The incumbent receives and screens inquiries from potential collaborators and facilitates communication with appropriate IFAD staff and escalates opportunities to more senior colleagues for implementation. The position provides backstopping support to Partnership Officers, Senior Partnership Officers and Chief Partnership officers in the provision of laying down analytical groundwork by scanning and scouting the external environment within designated partnership areas for opportunities and risks, and shares information in a timely fashion with relevant IFAD staff. The incumbent also provides logistical and programmatic support to senior management and other IFAD staff in corporate engagement and interaction with assigned partners.

2. MANAGING THE DATABASE OF KEY CONTACTS AND EXPANDING DONOR BASE: The position develops and maintains knowledge and familiarity with current and prospective partners and relevant stakeholders, maintaining a database of key contacts on partnership and resource mobilization. The incumbent expands IFAD's network of key interlocutors to build stronger relationships between IFAD and interested focus areas depending on the team the incumbent is assigned to, by analyzing current trends and formulating recommendations for strategy approaches and message development to more senior level officers.

3. SUPPORTING THE OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, POLICY INFLUENCE AND COLLABORATION: The position supports the identification and pursuit of opportunities for outreach, policy engagement, influence and collaboration, and supports the development and management of initiatives for high-level outreach. The incumbent monitors the implementation of annual partnership engagement and resource mobilization plans and proactively proposes mitigating actions as required.

4. DIVISIONAL/DEPARTMENTAL OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES: The position is responsible for ensuring timely submissions by staff of reports, correspondence and documentation within stipulated deadlines, as well as adherence to corporate standards and processes. Accountabilities typically include but are not limited to:

• Coordinating work flows for divisional/departmental documents/correspondence going to or through the AVP or Division Director;
• Effecting quality checks of official documents/correspondence;
• Ensuring organization and logistics for meetings and events;
• Providing guidance on corporate administrative processes, through induction and briefing/debriefing of staff and consultants;
• Coordinating work of junior staff assigned to the office;
• Ensuring proper office management of goods and tools for an effective running office;
• Coordinating divisional travel plans.
• Recording divisional absences.

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The position is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the personal use of assigned IFAD resources, including equipment, supplies and, as applicable, staff supervised, including coordinate, evaluate and supervise interns' work schedule and availability (virtually and in person) in the office.

The incumbent works as part of the America Liaison Office based in Washington, DC. The assignment of the incumbent includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

• Foster partnerships with World Bank, the Inter American Development Bank (IADB) and other Washington DC based IFI/ DFIs.
• Coordinate preparations for Senior Management's participation in annual World Bank Meetings.
• Prepare briefing materials, talking points, and presentations for Senior Management to ensure effective representation at World Bank and IADB meetings.
• Organize and participate in workshops, seminars, and conferences to promote IFAD's partnership initiatives and strengthen relationships with the World Bank, IADB and other Washington DC represented IFI/DFIs.
• Gather intelligence related to the World Bank and IADB policy, discussions and MS engagements, and identify and pursue opportunities for joint research, project development, and knowledge-sharing initiatives with the World Bank.
• Provide administrative and logistical support for partnership-related activities, including organizing meetings, drafting correspondence, and maintaining records.
• Ensure timely and accurate documentation of partnership activities and outcomes.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the Supervisor, including special projects and initiatives that support IFAD's partnership goals.
• Provide insights and recommendations to inform IFAD's partnership strategies and initiatives.

Key Performance Indicators

The work requires analysis of current trends related to multilateral development banks and partnership opportunities. Incumbents have access to advice and on-the-job training from more senior officers.

• Assignment involves the management of processes with a wide array of internal and external clients and stakeholders.
• Work requires strategic and analytical work on international development financing, global and multilateral engagement, and policy processes related to IFAD's mandate.
• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains effective working relationships
• Communicating and negotiating - Communicates effectively; creates understanding between self and others
• Demonstrating leadership - Personal leadership and attitude to change
• Focusing on clients - Focuses on clients
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates
• Managing time, resources and information - Manages own time, information and resources effectively
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Demonstrates sound problem-solving and decision-making ability
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Personal influence
• Team working - Contributes effectively to the team

Education:

• Level - Advanced university degree from an accredited institution
• Areas - Economics, Finance, Political Sciences, or related field.

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

Experience:

• At least two (2) years of progressively relevant experience is required, including working with the World Bank or similar institutions.
• Experience in a multi-cultural organization providing analytical support is highly desirable

Languages:

• Required: English (4 - Excellent)
• Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3 - Good)

Skills:

• Advocacy: Ability to leverage IFAD knowledge and/or communication materials to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD`s vision and strategic priorities to external actors
• Partnership building: Ability to formulate new approaches or identify new opportunities to build relationships with both traditional and non-traditional partners, focusing on impact and results.
• Stakeholder management: Strong alignment capabilities and consultation skills, building on effective interactions and relationships with different stakeholders (e.g. for the co-creation of communication material with member states) and ability to build and maintain a strong network (e.g. with journalists, media outlets, etc.)
• Basic ICT & digital fluency: High level of digital literacy and ability to quickly get familiar with new digital tools (e.g. ability to carry out EPR data entry and extraction when budgeting; monitoring security systems, uploading content to inter/intra-net websites, etc.)
• Listening: Effective and active listening to others; understanding and acting upon indirect statements
• 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
• Verbal communication: Clear, succinct and convincing verbal communication; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language
• Written communication: Clear, succinct and convincing written communication in the language needed for specific role; highly professional, balanced and diplomatic language (e.g. for drafting of position papers, briefings, etc.)

Other Information

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 based on ethnic, social, or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size, or sexual orientation. This is in line with our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and our Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse . Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please refer to the UN disability-inclusive language guidelines.

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 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.

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

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.