1. COUNTRY STRATEGIC PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT: The Country Director manages country strategy development for countries within the assigned portfolio of work. S/he is accountable for leading and managing the development and implementation of medium- to longer-term strategies (COSOP) for IFAD’s collaboration with governments and other national stakeholders for agricultural development and rural poverty reduction, following the principles of ownership, alignment and harmonization. This entails analysis of the dynamics of agricultural development and rural poverty reduction, the development of relevant country-specific strategies, and the definition of IFAD’s value added in this context.
2. COUNTRY PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT: The Country Director manages IFAD programmes and related IFAD-funded projects within the portfolio assigned by the Division Director, leading the design and supervision of the projects as well as loan and grant negotiations, all in accordance with IFAD’s applicable policies. The Country Director is accountable for analysing relevant information, assisting in the periodic monitoring and evaluation of results achieved, and reporting on and disseminating findings. S/he contributes effectively to the IFAD organizational change agenda, with reference to issues related to IFAD’s direct supervision and implementation support modalities.
3. INSTITUTIONAL REPRSENTATION AND PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT The Country Director serves as a designated IFAD representative at country level. S/he catalysing effective partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders in agricultural development and rural poverty reduction, including government and non-governmental institutions, bilateral and multilateral financing institutions, civil society organizations, research centres and the private sector. Additionally, s/he enhances IFAD’s relationships and collaboration with in-country partners, focusing on synergies and coordinated strategies with multilateral/bilateral donors and civil society organizations involved in agricultural development and rural poverty reduction. S/he represents IFAD on the UN Country Team, playing a significant role in coordinating operational activities for development, and contributes to all international and national meetings/thematic groups meetings. The Country Director may coordinate the operational work of the assigned portfolio with the relevant Head of an IFAD Multi-Country Office (MCO) and may provide coordination and administrative support to other Country Directors (P5) managing portfolios assigned to one of the areas covered by the respective MCO and Knowledge Centre. S/he may also be responsible for the administrative supervision and first-level operational support to the Country Directors (P4) managing portfolios assigned to one of the areas covered by the respective MCO.
4. CONTRIBUTION TO POLICY LEADERSHIP: The Country Director contributes to corporate-level strategy on core IFAD policy within the assigned portfolio, led by Division Directors. S/he maintains and promotes constructive dialogue on the development of pro-poor agricultural development and rural poverty reduction policies and in enabling the rural poor to advocate for institutional transformation. S/he regularly participates in relevant policy meetings and events of interest to IFAD’s target groups and which involve the government, donors, and civil society, including NGOs, to render the policy dialogue agenda both credible and sustainable. S/he contributes to IFAD’s policy intelligence with regular updates and information exchange on relevant policy discussions and ensures proper knowledge management is in place. Policy dialogue focuses on seeking to link the realities on the ground and the voices of the poor with national policies and programmes.
5. OFFICE MANAGEMENT: The Country Director has delegated authority to manage the country office, including the direct utilization of allocated resources. As such, s/he is accountable for the administrative management of human resources, contracting goods and services, certifying payments within established threshold and financial management.
The Country Director leads and manages the team of staff responsible for delivering country programmes, including performance evaluation and staff development of the staff members under her/his supervision.