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Seeks an International Professional Legal Officer (Finance and Impact Investments) with a first-level university degree in law or relevant field, an advanced degree desirable, and at least five years of international experience. Candidates must be geographically mobile and have a recognized qualification to practice law in at least one jurisdiction. No local-only restrictions identified.
Last checked: 7 hours ago
Closing date: Friday, 7 August 2026
Country: Italy
Duty station: ROME, Italy
Contract type: Full-Time - Regular
Grade: P-3 - 2 Years
Open to: Internationals
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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 Office of Legal and Governance (OLG) leads IFAD's governance dialogue with Members and provides strategic leadership and authoritative advice at the institutional level on all aspects of IFAD's work. In this manner, OLG guides the Fund's high-level strategic, corporate and operational policy discussions and decisions, protecting the institution and maximizing the impact of IFAD's investments. OLG is led by the Chief Legal and Governance Officer (CLGO) and General Counsel (GC) and is comprised of two divisions: the Office of the General Counsel (LEG) and the Office of the Secretary (SEC).
LEG provides guidance and advice to IFAD's Management and Governing Bodies on all legal aspects of IFAD's operations and administration as IFAD strives to mobilize resources for, as well as to design and implement, agricultural development and projects in its Member States. The office ensures that IFAD complies with the Agreement Establishing IFAD, Rules and Procedures of the Governing Bodies and other relevant laws and obligations and proposes new legal frameworks, instruments, and guidance that will help the organization meet new challenges with respect to designing and implementing IFAD's program of work, resource mobilization and capacity to respond to global events.
The post is at the full working level in the field of general legal services and plays an important role in supporting the legal framework of IFAD's operations. At this level the incumbent requires a complete, in-depth knowledge of the technical concepts and tools of the legal profession. They have the capacity to adapt approaches and models to meet emerging needs and to ensure the continuing relevance of LEG to the Fund and external partners.
The assigned work is accomplished mainly independently where precedent and/or practice exist, and any complex and/or sensitive issues are brought to the attention to the General Counsel (GC), a Deputy General Counsel (DGC), and a Senior Legal Officer.
1. RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS: Conducts research and analysis, and prepares studies, reports and correspondence on legal issues concerning the operations of the Fund. Provides interpretation of legal instruments, such as treaties, constitutions, statutes, rules and regulations, and other legal materials relevant to IFAD's work.
2. LEGAL ADVICE AND OPINIONS: Provides legal advice and opinions on issues concerning the operations and mandate of IFAD, and assists departments, divisions and units of IFAD on all legal matters, including advice on legal aspects of the design and implementation of projects and/or administrative law matters. Provides legal advice to internal committees and interdepartmental meetings, as well as assistance in resolving procedural and substantive issues at meetings.
3. LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS: Prepares, and reviews drafts of, legal instruments, contracts and agreements; internal rules and regulations; and other legal materials related to IFAD's operations. Performs other related duties as assigned by the GC and/or DGC, which may include legal work related to institutional, operations, financial, impact investments, corporate and administrative matters.
4. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: Shares the results of legal research and analysis with colleagues in LEG, and ensures that legal opinions and instruments prepared are readily available for use by colleagues through proper entry in the legal files and/or database of the Office, as appropriate.
5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The incumbent is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of assigned IFAD resources, including, as applicable, staff supervised.
6. FINANCE AND IMPACT INVESTMENTS: Prepares, reviews, negotiates and advises in respect of legal instruments, contracts and agreements relating to Treasury and market operations, including derivatives and associated collateral support arrangements, repo transactions, and capital market activities (including public issuances and private placements), resource mobilization instruments (including grant and member government financing arrangements), credit enhancement structures (such as partial credit guarantees) and impact investments, with a focus on fund structures.
From the perspective of a seasoned professional, the impact of the work performed has a direct effect on the professionalism of the incumbent and the overall reputation of LEG for high quality work in terms of both substantive depth and adaptive relevance to emerging issues and changing client needs. The impact of actions at this level goes beyond the division. The incumbent follows established procedures but has the ability to make proposals to enhance procedures and systems. Decisions are made on the interpretation of legal texts and the presentation of alternative courses of action to the GC and/or the DGC and the Senior Legal Officer or other requesters of legal advice. Proposals are made concerning the content and approach of research studies, and improvements to agreements, administrative policies and procedures.
Representational functions of the incumbent include participating in the negotiation of financing agreements and contracts, consulting with counterparts in other organizations related to IFAD's operations, and presenting IFAD's position in interagency meetings and working groups. The incumbent may also be asked to work on administrative law issues and negotiate contracts and/or agreements with relevant counterparts or provide assistance in legal pleadings. The incumbent also represents LEG at interdepartmental meetings.
Work relationships are established and maintained with counterparts, both inside the Fund and in government agencies and other international organizations, to discuss and provide interpretation of legal texts and to render advice and assistance in resolving procedural and substantive matters. Exchange of information typically requires proactivity to clearly establish the policy, positions or practices of the Fund.
Organizational Competencies:
Level 1:
Education:
*Degree must be an accredited institution listed on https://www.whed.net/home.php
[Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in the IFAD's Human Resources Implementing Procedures]
Certifications:
Experience:
Languages:
Skills:
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.
Representatives or alternate representatives of Member States on the IFAD Executive Board, Governors or alternate governors to the IFAD Governing Council and other Member States Permanent Representatives and their Alternates to IFAD (collectively ''IFAD Member States Representatives'') who apply for or take up any type of employment with IFAD may do so only after a twelve-month period has elapsed after the effective date of cessation of their IFAD Member States Representatives responsibilities as established in the notification of termination of functions communicated through the official channels.
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.
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 accordance with IFADs provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFADs remuneration package, please visit IFADs compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements. See here.
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.
Long-listed candidates will be required to participate in a pre-screening assessment. Short-listed candidates will be required to participate in a technical and competency-based interview and may be required to take a written test and/or to deliver a presentation.
Non-selected candidates who have been shortlisted, interviewed and found suitable in this competitive selection process may be included in IFAD's appointable roster and considered for future positions in the same job family and grade level, in line with IFAD's applicable provisions. Candidates included in the appointable roster will be notified by IFAD.
If you encounter technical issues while submitting your application, please email erecruit@ifad.org with a screenshot and a brief description of the issue.
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