Technical Analyst, Rome, Italy

Job Title : Technical Analyst - Rome, Italy

ID : 27468

Location : ROME

Date of issue : 03/26/2025

Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 04/20/2025

Organizational Unit : Front Office DCO

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 Department for Country Operations (DCO) oversees the origination, design and management of IFAD investments, including sovereign and non-sovereign operations, as well as the design and implementation of non-lending activities within country programmes, including policy engagement and SSTC. DCO is the department that primarily interfaces with governments, the private sector and other stakeholders to deliver IFAD's programme of work and to provide oversight to ensure quality of the portfolio.

DCO is led by an Associate Vice-President and is composed of five (5) regional divisions: Asia and the Pacific Division ( APR), East and Southern Africa Division ( ESA), Latin America and Caribbean Division ( LAC) , Near East, North Africa and Europe Division ( NEN) and West and Central Africa Division ( WCA), the Private Sector Operations Division (PSD), and two (2) units: the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Unit (SSTC) and the fragility unit (FRU).

Job Role

The incumbent provides analytical and technical support, as well as creative data management solutions required for effective program management in the department. The incumbent provides targeted support to development and monitoring of IFAD's pipeline of loans and grants, monitoring and results reporting activities, drafting and dissemination of technical analyses. As a member of the DCO Front Office, the incumbent also liaises closely with regional teams on pipeline management, monitoring of regional portfolio performance, analysis of use of resources and its effectiveness at the departmental level and dissemination of aggregated data and information. The incumbent will also work closely with all Divisions in DCO in general, and other collaborating departmental front offices to ensure proper communication flows with regard to data and analysis generated in the DCO Front Office.

The incumbent is responsible for monitoring of pipeline delivery, quality of portfolio, and reporting on progress of operational delivery in the DCO Front Office. The incumbent also plays a supporting role to the resource allocation functions in the Front Office and provides timely data and trends analysis on use of resources to support the AVP to make informed decisions.

Key Functions and Results

1. ANALYTICAL SUPPORT AND DATA MANAGEMENT: The incumbent collates and analyses data to assess the performance of IFAD's on-going portfolio. The incumbent is responsible for data analysis of data at a departmental level, with regard to portfolio performance, progress against replenishments relevant to DCO and use of departmental resources. The incumbent provides analytical inputs to corporate reports and documents and develops creative solutions for effective data management and visualisation in the Department. The incumbent supports the organisation of, and participates in quarterly portfolio reviews and meetings, Country Operations Management Team meetings and other meetings as required.

2. MONITORING AND EVALUATION AND SYSTEMATIZATION SUPPORT: The incumbent works in close collaboration with the five regional teams to support the monitoring and results reporting activities required for portfolio management in the Department, including responsibilities for ensuring compliance with procedures, departmental objectives and results reporting of the regional programme of loans and grants. The incumbent reviews, and analyses data derived from project performance reports, and provides input to the Senior Technical Advisor on rigorous results measurement analysis and to the Associate Vice-President to be updated with portfolio status and results at a Departmental level. The incumbent supports the effectiveness of knowledge sharing activities in the Department by data collection and analysis and systematization required for portfolio management. The incumbent simultaneously interacts closely with all regional division teams and keeps abreast of all relevant corporate changes and reforms having an impact on data management tools and categorization. The incumbent assists in formulating position papers, briefs, analyses and short papers on related subjects for the Associate Vice-President in collaboration with the Senior Technical Advisor.

3. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING: The incumbent contributes substantially to the planning and delivery of the divisional/departmental work plan(s) and resource management, including budget and decentralisation related tasks. The incumbent will be responsible for supporting the Senior Technical Adviser with consolidating, monitoring, and analysing departmental budget requirement and commitment trends; reviewing and analysing IFAD decentralised office staffing and programmatic performance trends for corporate reporting; coordinating and formulating departmental work plan and generating regular reviews and reports; contributing to the planning of divisional human resources especially from a decentralised office perspective.

4. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent performs a coordinating role in the front office, working closely with the departmental front office and regional front office staff, to ensure maximum efficiency and systematization of programme processes in adherence to corporate requirements. The incumbent is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources.

The incumbent is required to deliver the following specific tasks:

• Management and enhancement of the AVP Management Dashboard
• Production of monthly portfolio performance reports
• Quarterly presentation on progress against DCO and Corporate Objectives
• Organising/reporting on/following-up on quarterly regional portfolio reviews
• Portfolio performance data analysis
• Support DCO FO on disbursement envelope allocation
• Liaise with Regional Divisions to monitor programming progress and ensure that regions update GRIPS to reflect latest pipeline status
• Collaborate with and provide support to the pipeline update process related to the programme of loans and grants (PoLG).
• Support the monitoring, reporting and analysis of DCO's budget use
• Support DCO in relevant document review, data analysis for management of decentralised structure
• Monitor and report on the progress of disbursements against corporate envelopes

Key Performance Indicators

Compliance of operations with IFAD rules, regulations and policies, implementation of corporate operational policies and approaches, establishment of project management assessment tools and up-to-date information and learning tools. Assignment requires the provision of solid technical expertise and input for the area of their responsibility, as well as, in knowledge sharing with peers and counterparts. The work involves technical analysis and synthesis of data, technical inputs for systematization required for portfolio reviews, knowledge products, and effective tools for the assessment of regional portfolio performance evaluation. The work requires in-depth technical analysis and reporting.

Assignments require the provision of seasoned technical and analytical expertise, and use of Microsoft suits for aggregation and presentation of data and strong ability with Microsoft excel. Assignment also requires knowledge of project/programme cycle and as well as capacity to share knowledge with peers and counterparts. The work goes beyond technical analysis and synthesis to include substantive inputs to trends monitoring methodology, knowledge management, complementarity and synergy and monitoring and evaluation to measure and report on portfolio performance trends and best practices. The work is considered moderately complex requiring in-depth technical analysis and reporting. Typically operating as a technical analyst, the incumbent's work may be reviewed for technical accuracy, but more typically is reviewed for achieving the established work plan.

• Draft or contribute to DCO FO oral and written inputs to senior management and related committees such as the EMC;
• Contribute to and support the drafting of operational results reports;
• Lead the coordination among regional divisions for delivery of a and b;
• Represent DCO in meetings and working groups as required;
• Contribute to managing and executing the efficient allocation of and reporting on use of resources available for disbursement;
• Support the development and management of results dashboard for senior management use and coordinate with regional divisions to ensure GRIPS and ORMS are duly updated to reflect latest information.

Working Relationships

In the context of programme development and delivery, the incumbent ensures the generation and dissemination of targeted knowledge, as well as, other relevant technical information to internal and regional staff. The incumbent works closely and collaboratively with the Regional Specialist and staff of the regional division and Departmental staff, and with other IFAD divisions, to ensure thorough data analysis and systematization, quality documentation and dissemination of knowledge products in support of knowledge sharing, and consistent and cohesive programme development activities in the region.

• Represent DCO FO in working groups, IFAD management committees and intra-divisional fora on results and delivery related issues and tasks, as assigned by the supervisor.
• Represent DCO FO to present operation policies to internal and external fora, as required.
• Build regular contact with RD regional teams and specifically the Regional Economist, Portfolio Advisers and Regional Specialists.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 1:

• 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 eqjihlV PHMNB
• Focusing on clients - Focuses on clients
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge & innovates
• Managing performance and developing staff
• 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

• Education includes Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://whed.net/home.php in economics, statistics, social policy research and analysis, rural development, agriculture, agricultural economics, rural finance, development policy or related disciplines 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:

• At least two (2) years of progressively relevant experience is required.
• Experience in a role providing analytical support within an international financial institution, development cooperation agencies and/or the United Nations system is highly desirable.
• In addition, qualifying experience in drafting analytical documents, producing reports on tight deadlines would be an asset.

Languages:

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

Skills:

• Economic evaluation: Know-how relevant to specific role in Evaluation roles (e.g. Monitoring and managing evaluation processes and methodologies, carrying out Programme/Project evaluation, Impact evaluation, Corporate-level evaluation)
• 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
• Data management: Data collection, cleaning, transformation and consolidation; data-base architecture & development; data presentation
• 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
• Initiative and good judgment: High sense of proactive initiative-taking and good judgement (including on security matters)
• 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)
• 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.)
• Programme/Project development, management: Know-how in Programme/Project development, implementation, management
• 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)

Other Information

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.

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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.

https://www.ifad.org/en/careers/compensation-and-benefits https://commonsystem.org/cp/calc.asp

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