Country Programme Assistant

**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 Programme Management Department (PMD), under the leadership of an Associate Vice-President, is responsible for the overall programme of loans and grants of the Fund and is composed of five regional divisions and an Operational Policy and Results Division.

The Country Programme Assistant (CPA) post is located in a Regional Office or in a MCO/ICO, and reports directly to the Country Director (CD)/Head of IFAD Multi-Country Office or Country director heading the office or to a Country Programme Officer (CPO) or to a Country Programme Analyst (COA).

**Job Role**:
The Country Programme Assistant is accountable for a range of administrative and programme support functions pertaining to coordination and execution of field operations.

The incumbent works collaboratively with the Regional Programme Liaison HQ and with the colleagues in the Regional Team, and with the Country Operations Analyst as relevant, to ensure consistency, cohesion and synergy in administrative and programme related matters.

Key results/major activities may include:

- Programme/Project Support (COSOPs, design, implementation, completion)
- Resource Management and Office Support
- Managerial Functions

**Key Functions and Results**:
**1. PROGRAMME/PROJECT SUPPORT**: The Country Programme Assistant ensures the availability of timely, complete and accurate information and data to support the efficient and effective delivery of IFAD-supported projects, on behalf of their assigned country teams in all project phases (COSOP, Design/Implementation/Completion) for those activities in the Region

Responsibilities may include:

- Assistance in drafting of Terms of References preparation for missions members (COSOP, design, implementation support, completion)
- Support the preparation of documents and their alignment to IFAD standards and procedures (e.g. for project design report), monitoring to ensure timely submission to internal review processes and presentation to Governing Bodies;
- Organize in-country meetings with internal and external project/programme stakeholders (e.g. project team meetings, negotiations, meetings with governments, country visits of senior management, learning events, etc.), including preparation and dissemination of relevant documentation and scouting for venues and related activities (e.g. maintaining data in IFAD corporate systems) ;
- Data base input of new investment projects/grants/programmes in IFAD's Grants and Investment Projects System (GRIPS) and Operational Results Management System (ORMS) during design stage (e.g. log frame and planned milestones) as well as entering and updating data in IFAD's Grants and Investment Projects System (GRIPS) and Operational Results Management System (ORMS), and extracting of project and country strategy information as required;
- Upload and profile required documents for records management and knowledge management purposes (e.g. in the Operations Library (ODC), on xdesk, through IFAD's electronic records management system), and share of information with project partners and other stakeholders as required.

**2. OFFICE SUPPORT**:The Country Programme Assistant ensures that the full range of activities pertaining to country programme administrative operations follow established regulations, rules and procedures.

Administrative responsibilities span travel, human and financial resources, and procurement. Responsibilities may include:

- Prepare programme related travel arrangements, including related PeopleSoft Financials Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) transactions, for staff located in IFAD's RO/MCOs/country office(s), including input of mission dates in corporate system, handling of visas and logístical arrangements, and supporting staff in being compliant with UNDSS recommendations on travel;
- Logistical assistance during recruitment processes of non-staff personnel, e.g. consultants and interns, and related procurement activities, including PeopleSoft input and data maintenance
- Carry out HR and Financials ERP related transactions and initiating payment requests;
- Support the administration and execution of allocated programme related budgets and perform the first
- level review of administrative expenditures, as required;
- Provide office assistance, dealing with routine document administration (including managing incoming and outgoing communications and maintaining office records and filing systems) as required;
- Provide background/supporting documentation upon request, formatting/drafting