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Quality Assurance Analyst

Rome

  • Organization: IFAD - International Fund for Agricultural Development
  • Location: Rome
  • Grade: Junior level - P-2, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Education, Learning and Training
    • Information Technology and Computer Science
    • Internal audit, Investigation and Inspection
    • Monitoring and Evaluation
    • Supply Chain
    • Ombudsman and Ethics
  • Closing Date: Closed

Vacancy Announcement Number 2006
Date of Issue 31/01/2021
Deadline for Applications 21/02/2021
Organizational Unit Quality Assurance Group
Level P-2
Duty Station ROME
Duration of Assignment 3 years

Organizational context

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.


Post's organizational accountability

The Quality Assurance Group (QAG) has three core functions: 

  1. To support IFAD President as Chair of the Operational Strategy and policy guidance Committee (OSC) in the clearance and further development of Country Strategic Opportunity Papers (COSOPs), loan and grant concept notes and operational strategy and policy papers for IFAD’s Governing Bodies;
  2. To support the IFAD Vice President and/or Associate Vice President PMD to ensure the quality of the loans and grants programs through review and clearance of design documents and President’s Reports prior to approval; and
  3. To deliver robust knowledge products and facilitate knowledge sharing with IFAD, based on lessons learned from all quality assurance review processes.

Under the overall strategic, policy and management guidance and supervision of the Director QAG, the Quality Assurance Analyst is responsible for analytical quality assurance support for loan and grant programmes as well as for contributing to the knowledge management agenda of QAG.

The Quality Assurance Analyst’s accountabilities/key results include: 

  • Analytical support on country strategies, loan and grant programmes  
  • Monitoring and analytical reporting
  • Knowledge Management
  • Managerial Functions

Key results expected / Major functional activities

ANALTICAL SUPPORT ON COUNTRY STRATEGIES, LOAN AND GRANT PROGRAMMES: 

  • Critically review COSOPs, loan and grant Concept Notes (CNs) and design reports presented to OSCs and/or Design Review and Quality Assurance Meetings;
  • With regard to the aforementioned, prepare QAG review note and decision memos, and conduct quality assurance reviews on final COSOPs and grant and loan funded projects and programmes before submission to the Executive Board and/or the President for consideration; and before submission to the Executive Board and/or the President for consideration.

MONITORING AND ANALYTICAL REPORTING: 

  • Contribute to QAG’s annual reporting exercises (e.g. through the RIDE, to OMC sessions, etc.);
  • Contribute to the further development of QAG’s quality assurance methods, processes and guidelines

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT:

  • In support of the QAG work on Knowledge Management, the Quality Assurance Analyst performs data collection, analyses data, prepares analysis papers and participates in the systematization of findings. S/he supports the capture of best practices and learning across the project cycle, in particular supports the production and dissemination of QAG reports and knowledge products. S/he assists in review of documentation and preparing briefs/appraisals thereof; contributes to the supervision of special corporate initiatives and liaising with the appropriate departments/divisions.
  • Performs other related duties as required by the Director QAG, including contributing to the further development of QAG processes and initiatives

MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: 

The Quality Assurance Analyst is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources. This includes accountability for assigned financial and material resources and related processes including contracting.


    Impact of Key results / Key performance indicators

    The Quality Assurance Analyst contributes to QAG’s main objective. Technical analysis and synthesis of information and data, including database management, creates the foundation of QAG’s decision-making, including the production and dissemination of QAG reports and knowledge products. S/he works as part of a team under technical supervision. The work is considered moderately complex requiring in-depth technical analysis and reporting.


    Representation / Work relationships

    The Quality Assurance Analyst ensures the exchange of technical information as well as builds and maintains collaborative working relationships with IFAD colleagues and other partners to enhance effectiveness of all review processes for COSOPs, loans, grants, and corporate policies and strategies. QAG internal partners are:

    • Colleagues in IFAD’s PMD, SKD and ERG Departments;
    • The President, Vice President and Associate Vice President PMD as Chairs of the review meetings; and
    • IFAD’s Executive Board Members, who rely on quality assurance reviews for approval of country strategies, loans and large grants.

    The Analyst will participate in selected platforms of relevance to QAG’s work, inter-alia, to build partnerships and networks, promote a culture of quality in development cooperation, as well as to share and acquire knowledge and lessons on substantive and methodological issues.


    Competencies

    Organizational

    • Strategic thinking and organizational development: Personal influence (Level 1)
    • Demonstrating Leadership: Personal leadership and attitude to change (Level 1)
    • Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating: Continuously seeks to learn, shares knowledge and innovates (Level 1)
    • Focusing on clients: Focuses on clients (Level 1)
    • Problem solving and decision making: Demonstrates sound problem solving and decision making ability (Level 1)
    • Managing time, resources and information: Manages own time, information and resources effectively (Level 1)
    • Team Work: Contributes effectively to the team (Level 1)
    • Communicating and negotiating: Communicates effectively: creates understanding between self and others (Level 1)
    • Building relationships and partnerships: Builds and maintains effective working relationships (Level 1)

    Technical/Functional:

    • Demonstrated knowledge of agricultural and rural development issues.
    • Knowledge of policy oriented, programme based pro-poor approaches, and loan and grant preparation.
    • Capacity to communicate fluently with different counterparts to share information.
    • Writes clearly, succinctly and convincingly listens and communicates effectively to engage others.
    • Computer skills: Knowledge of ERP systems is an asset, full command of office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and common Internet applications.

    Minimum recruitment qualifications

    Education:      

    • Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in field relevant to rural development, economics, agriculture, agricultural economics or related discipline. 

    Experience:     

    • At least two (2) years progressively responsible professional experience in an international agency in the field related to rural development, operations, project/programme management, policy economics and/or agriculture. Experience using tools for quantitative analysis (Excel and other tools). 

    Language requirements:     

    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Good working knowledge of another official language (Arabic, French or Spanish) is desirable. 

    Other information

    Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD.

    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

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


    This vacancy is now closed.
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