Mission and objectivesThe 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.
ContextThe Department for Country Operations (DCO) oversees the origination, design and management of IFAD investments, including sovereign and non-sovereign operations, as well as the design and implementation of non-lending activities within country programmes, including policy engagement and SSTC. DCO is the department that primarily interfaces with governments, the private sector and other stakeholders to deliver IFAD's programme of work and to provide oversight to ensure quality of the portfolio. DCO is led by an Associate Vice-President and is composed of five (5) regional divisions: Asia and the Pacific Division (APR), East and Southern Africa Division (ESA), Latin America and Caribbean Division (LAC) , Near East, North Africa and Europe Division (NEN) and West and Central Africa Division (WCA), the Private Sector Operations Division (PSD), and two (2) units: the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Unit (SSTC) and the fragility unit (FRU). The Regional Division APR is led by a Divisional Director, based in the IFAD Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand. The Division leads on the design and delivery of IFAD country and regional programmes in APR. The precise country coverage of the division varies across replenishment periods.
Task DescriptionThe National UN Volunteer Specialist will operate under the overall guidance of the Regional Director and the direct supervision of the APR Administrative and Resource Analyst, with matrix supervision from the MSD (Management Services Division) Corporate Services Manager. The incumbent will work in close coordination with the MSD Administrative Pool and the APR Office Assistant to support effective administrative and operational services. More specifically: Assists in managing the flow of incoming and outgoing correspondence, e-mails and telephone inquiries by gathering background information, facilitating communication among team members, and maintaining organized filing and reference systems (both digital and physical) in line with established practices. Provides administrative and operational support to the team to help ensure the effective and compliant use of resources. This includes applying internal procedures, supporting the tracking of documents and deadlines, helping monitor progress on priority actions, and contributing to the organization of meetings, workshops and official travel. Assists in maintaining attendance and leave records, and compile information from various sources to support the preparation of briefing notes and other materials. Support the (matrix) supervisor in preparing draft responses to routine and non-routine inquiries, coordinating inputs for complex requests, and helping ensure timely submission of reports, correspondence and other documents. Review draft documents for clarity, completeness and adherence to established formats and guidelines, prepare correspondence for signature, and provide informal translation of communications when required.
Competencies and valuesโข Accountability โข Adaptability and flexibility โข Creativity โข Judgement and decision-making โข Planning and organising โข Professionalism โข Self-management
Living conditions and remarksBangkok is a well-developed duty station offering generally safe living conditions, reliable infrastructure, and wide availability of services. The city has excellent international connectivity, diverse accommodation options, and access to quality medical facilities, banking, and communications. While the cost of living varies, most essential goods are readily available. The climate is tropical and humid, and cultural awareness, particularly regarding dress and social norms, is important. Traffic congestion require normal precautions. Overall, Bangkok provides a comfortable environment but still calls for flexibility, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity in a fast-paced urban context.