IFAD Latin American staff join chorus of complaints against management mobbing

 ROME – Despite recent disclosures of rampant sexual nepotism and graft at IFAD, key decisions at the Rome based develoipment bank for small farmers still are driven by Managing Director Carola Alvarez and the influence of former Inter-American Development Bank staff grows with the recent hiring of ex IDB Rocio Medina Bolivar as the IFAD Latin America director who has “compiled a list of staff complaints in record time,”  IFAD sources say.     

 “Álvarez also influenced the hiring of the Regional Director for Latin America at IFAD, who also comes from IDB and has now compiled a list of staff complaints in record time,” a well-placed source told the Insider.

 “IFAD staff in Latin America are complaining about harassment and (Medina) promoting mobbing against people with disabilities,” the source added.

 “There is a widespread perception that key strategic decisions and senior staffing matters (including the decision on the new Managing Director who will replace Alvarez when she leaves IFAD) are being driven by Ms. Alvarez and Ms. Constanza Di Nucci, extending beyond their formal mandates,” the source added.

 “This has raised concerns among staff about governance, accountability, and the extent to which the President is exercising independent leadership over these critical institutional functions.”

 Meanwhile there is dismay among many staffers that the independence of the IFAD Staff Association which until recently was perceived as doing a good job defending employees, may have been compromised.

 “The President is an Argentinian and has been seen socialising outside the office during the weekend with Alvarez and her husband who have apparenttly promised him career advancement and protection once Alvarez leaves,” said the source, speaking on condition they not be named.

 “Alvarez and Di Nucci are pressuring the President of the Staff Association to demand Senior Management to take legal action against the Italian Insider.”

 As a result of the complaints against Alvarez for alleged abuse of authority and against her former IDB colleague Medina Bolivar for alleged mobbing, the staff association has been inundated with requests from protection for whistleblowers at the UN agency and “cannot cope,” the sources added.