Call for Interest – Chief Partnership Officer, Head of New York Liaison Office (NYLO) P-5  GPR (Short term opportunity -11 months)

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), comprising the Communications Division (COM), and the Global Engagement Partnership and Resource Mobilization Division (GPR), leads IFAD’s public and political advocacy, including engagement with Member States and other stakeholders through global policy engagement and other global processes. The Global Engagement, Partnership and Resource Mobilization (GPR) Division has a specific focus on global engagement, partnerships (including with the private sector, foundations, 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 (i) Global policy engagement and multilateral relations; (ii) Strategic partnerships; and (iii) replenishment and resource, including supplementary funds and blended finance. The mission of the Global Engagement, Partnership and Resource Mobilization Division (GPR) is to enhance IFAD’s contribution to inclusive and sustainable rural transformation and Agenda 2030 through strengthening global engagement, partnerships, and resource mobilization.

The Global Engagement, Partnership and Resource Mobilization (GPR) coordinates the following decentralized Liaison Offices: (a) the Americas Liaison Office (ALO) with two offices based in Washington and New York, (b) the Gulf Liaison Office (GLO) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, (c) the Japan Liaison Office (JLO) in Yokohama, Japan, and (d) a newly established presence in Brussels (EU/BRX).

The Chief Partnership Officer, head of the office based in New York (NYLO), works under the direct supervision of the Director, GPR.

The Chief Partnership Officer is a policy and strategy leader who works across GPR teams and with other IFAD Departments to advance IFAD’s mission, strategic partnerships and policy engagement with Member States, UN entities and multi-stakeholders based in UN Headquarters and New York more broadly. The Chief Partnership Officer supports corporate goals to ensure greater visibility and influence for IFAD and increased investments in inclusive and sustainable rural transformation.

1. PROMOTING, ADVOCATING AND COMMUNICATING CORPORATE PRIORITIES: The Chief Partnership Officer has a key role in representing IFAD’s priorities externally at UNHQ and supporting information flows between New York-based processes and IFAD Headquarters in Rome. Accountabilities include: (a) Acting as key interlocutor with other UN agencies, Member States- New York-based permanent missions to the UN, and at monthly meetings of the Rome-Based Agencies in New York; (b) Providing policy advice to the Director and other senior management onstrategic priorities vis-à-vis UN engagement and partnership building with the broader UN system; (c) Overseeing advocacy and knowledge sharing within UN deliberative and policy processes, supporting the internal coordination for IFAD’s engagement; (d) Organizing and coordinating activities to secure support for, and implementing policy, to achieve the objectives of the organization; and (e) Advising on issues affecting the Fund’s external relations in New York and the broader UN.

2. LEADING GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT AND MULTILATERAL RELATIONS EFFORTS IN UN PROCESSES: The Chief Partnership Officer leads the development and implementation of corporate strategies for the engagement in UN policy debates and processes, coordinating closely with other IFAD departments and divisions as relevant. This role has a particular focus on IFAD’s engagement in the United Nations Financing for Development (FfD) processes and preparations for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (Ff4D) in 2025. The incumbent: (a) Provides thought leadership in strongly positioning IFAD within UN processes, including for the United Nations Financing for Development (F4D), and the Chief Executive Board (CEB) and UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG); (b) Leads NYLO in the monitoring and support to the UN Reform and ECOSOC Operational Activities Segment (OAS) (IFAD is a member and has a reporting obligation) and its Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) mechanism, advising on IFAD’s engagement and implications for IFAD’s work; and (c) Facilitates and promotes IFAD’s leadership and engagement and participation in key global fora, particularly around UN-centred processes such as Summit of the Future, the High-level Week of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79), as well as following HLPF, CEB (HLCP/HLCM), QPCR, CSW, UNPFII, etc.

3. MANAGING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE OF GLOBAL POLICY ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY: The Chief Partnership Officer develops and maintains a network of external peer contacts to keep up to date on activities to support joint advocacy to enhance the Fund’s profile as leading development partner. The incumbent is responsible for the delivery of various key outputs, including: (a) Ensuring increased, consistent, and strategic visibility for IFAD in its resource mobilisation efforts; (b) Positioning IFAD to exert greater influence by expanding partnerships and increasing resources for smallholders; (c) Representing IFAD amongst relevant intergovernmental organizations and international financial institutions, in particular those based in New York.

4. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Chief Partnership Officer is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes: (a) People Management through support to the recruitment of staff within the team, capacity building, coaching and mentoring of new and/or more junior staff, as well as supervision and evaluation of performance of consultants and staff under her/his purview; and (b) Resource Management, by providing strategic and technical advice for Knowledge and Content Management; (c) Information and reporting through effective engagement with internal and external clients; (d) Leading the preparation, monitoring and implementation of the team’s annual work plan and budget.

Assignments require the provision of authoritative professional expertise. The Chief Partnership Officer leads and manages the team and represents IFAD amongst intergovernmental organizations and international financial institutions based in the assigned regions. Work at this level is considered of critical concern to the Fund as it serves to improve IFAD’s partnerships, corporate outreach and engagement in the assigned regions. An inadequate handling of activities may result in damaging the credibility of the Fund with partners in the assigned regions.

Successful balancing of multiple competing priorities, including strategic planning, monitoring and participating in high-level policy dialogues, global engagement, and establishing and managing key relationships with wide array of partners, generating and organizing major strategically prioritized events, providing critical support to senior management in their engagement in priority activities at UNHQ, within UN system, and managing the office.

 

The Chief Partnership Officer serves as the Fund’s lead expert in the team and exercises wide professional latitude in developing and maintaining strategic partnerships and collaboration with key contacts in the assigned regions and with relevant agencies and organizations in order to expand partnerships and increase resources for smallholders. The incumbent acts as a credible voice of the organization and represents IFAD combining the capacity to present, identify opportunities, establish frameworks for interaction and maintain/grow relationships over time.

The Chief Partnership Officer engages with the global community, the private sector and development finance institutions, and contributes to shaping pro-poor global and regional policies, broadening IFAD visibility and helping position the Fund within the global agricultural and rural architecture.

 

Education:

• Level – Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area.
• Areas – Economics, Political Sciences, Public Policy, Public Administration, Development Studies or related field.
• Degree must be from an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php .

 

Experience:

• At least ten (10) years of progressively relevant experience is required and at least eight (8) years- experience in a multi-cultural/international organization or national organization providing support on a global scope.
• Significant experience in United Nations related organizations and/or policy processes. Previous experience at/with UN-NY desirable.
• Strong background in strategic advocacy and policy influence, with experience representing organizations at high-level international forums and in negotiations, fostering strategic alliances with key stakeholders, including governments, UN agencies, financial institutions, private sector, and other actors.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to articulate complex financial and policy issues to diverse audiences, including high-level stakeholders.
• Significant experience in resource mobilization, including the development and implementation of strategies to secure funding from a variety of sources such as bilateral donors, private sector, climate funds, and philanthropic organizations.
• Demonstrated experience and ability at leading and managing multicultural teams. Successful track record in establishing, building and managing partnerships with various stakeholders. Knowledge of development finance systems is desirable.
• Experience and knowledge of rural development desirable.

 

Language:

Required English (4 ; Excellent) 

Desirable: French, Spanish, or Arabic (3  ; Good) 

 

Skills:

• Ability to bring in diverse actors into funding strategies and projects;
• Advocacy: Know-how in advocacy, to maintain and promote constructive dialogue around IFAD’s vision 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;
• Policy dialogue: Know-how in the representation of IFAD as a trusted and strategic partner; effective consultations with IFAD counterparts – like ministries and governmental bodies at all administrative levels, donors, civil society;
• Resource mobilization: Know-how in resource mobilization strategies (including marketing and communication) for IFI, international public bodies and within the UN;
• UN and IFI documentation & processes: Knowledge of the relevant policies, rules, regulations and guidelines on document processing and distribution within the UN and other IFIs;
• 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;
• 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.);
• Strategy implementation: Ability to lead and manage the development and implementation of medium to longer-term strategies for IFAD / for respective divisions;
• Performance management: Know-how in managing performance so that staff supervised deliver on the agreed objectives and meet their development needs while meeting the needs of IFAD. Is proficient in establishing clear performance goals (operational and behavioural) and learning plans as well as in evaluating the performance of staff against the set goals;
• Change management: Role modelling, anticipation of key risks & conflicts and formulation of contingency plans/solutions, action-oriented;
• Client orientation: Strong critical thinking combined with communication skills to liaise between the business and technologies to understand business problems and needs, document requirements and identify solutions;
• Corporate approach: Ability to bring in corporate vision and priorities into one’s area of work (e.g. budgeting going beyond simple budgetary considerations, taking into account strategic priorities);
• Leadership: Group thought leader, sought out by others and providing mentorship and effective guidance to others; ability to build trust, inside and outside the organization by acting as a role model for IFAD’s core values and competencies, and to provide a clear sense of direction, mentorship and effective guidance to the team, strategizing the IFAD’s goals, giving the vision, empowering the team and ensuring a positive environment for all;
• 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;
• Specialized communication skills: Ability to negotiate on behalf of IFAD and drive for creative and pragmatic solutions in complex negotiations with key partners, both public and private sector;
• 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).

This call is advertised as a short-term assignment with a duration of initially 11 months and expected to start shortly after selection. Should an external candidate (including consultants and staff members not meeting IFAD HR Implementing Procedures’ definition of ‘internal’) be selected, the contract type would be that of a short-term professional (TPO). 

Please note that this short-term contract carries no expectation of extension, continuous employment or conversion to any other type of appointment. 

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 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.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

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 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.