The IFAD Full-Time General Programme Officer position for 2025 offers an exciting opportunity to drive meaningful change in rural development and poverty reduction. In this role, you will be instrumental in designing, implementing, and managing projects that empower smallholder farmers and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
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As a General Programme Officer, you will collaborate with diverse stakeholders, analyze programmatic data, and provide strategic recommendations to enhance project effectiveness. This position is perfect for individuals passionate about rural development and eager to contribute to IFAD’s mission of improving livelihoods and fostering resilient communities. Join us in making a significant impact on the lives of those we serve.
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
- 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:
- Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php in rural development, agriculture, economics, rural finance, development policy, agricultural economics, development economics, environment management, bio diversity conservation, forestry, engineering, climate change, social or other relevant disciplines relevant to IFAD operations 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. Level – Advanced university degree
Experience:
- At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in rural development, agriculture, economics, rural finance, development policy or other related field.
Languages:
- Required: English and Spanish (4 – Excellent)
- Desirable: French, Arabic or Portuguese (3 – Good)
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
- Analytical skills: Outstanding ability to analyse and synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources and filter out key insights and recommendations
- 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.)
- Loans & grants: Know-how in designing loan and grant operations and managing loan and grant preparation process
- 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
- 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)
- Project/Programme mgmt (incl. coordination, design, development): Know-how in Project design and evaluation
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.
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
- 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:
- Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php in rural development, agriculture, economics, rural finance, development policy, agricultural economics, development economics, environment management, bio diversity conservation, forestry, engineering, climate change, social or other relevant disciplines relevant to IFAD operations 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. Level – Advanced university degree
Experience:
- At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in rural development, agriculture, economics, rural finance, development policy or other related field.
Languages:
- Required: English and Spanish (4 – Excellent)
- Desirable: French, Arabic or Portuguese (3 – Good)
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
- Analytical skills: Outstanding ability to analyse and synthesize qualitative and/or quantitative information from a variety of sources and filter out key insights and recommendations
- 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.)
- Loans & grants: Know-how in designing loan and grant operations and managing loan and grant preparation process
- 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
- 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)
- Project/Programme mgmt (incl. coordination, design, development): Know-how in Project design and evaluation
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.
