Ira Vater joined the CGIAR’s Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES) in January 2014 (formerly the ISPC hosted at FAO in Rome). As the Senior Manager, SPIA Program Management Unit (PMU) she leads the SPIA PMU, holding a central role in managing the operational and financial planning, execution and tracking of the program. She also leads the compliance and optimization of procedures related to finance, HR, operations and governance. Ira works in close partnership with the SPIA Professional Team members as well as with the SPIA Chair and Members, and is part of the SPIA Management Team.

She is an experienced project manager with a demonstrated history of working in project and financial management of major multi-donor projects in a European and international context, both in the private sector and with international organizations.

Ira brings over 30 years of experience in project and financial management, first with Price Waterhouse in Brussels and then with a Rome based consultancy firm before joining FAO and the CGIAR ISPC/IAES.

Ira holds a dual German/British B.A. (Hons) degree in European Business Studies and a Master Degree from Unitelma Sapienza, Rome in International Cooperation, Finance and Development.

She holds both South African and German nationalities, and speaks fluent English, German, French and Italian.