Job Opportunities at the African Development Bank Group

African Development Bank (AfDB) - Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank's development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

SENIOR COUNTRY PROGRAMME OFFICER

Reference: ADB/17/255
Location: Regional Office
Grade: PL5
Position N°: 50093541, 50093554 & 50093627

THE COMPLEX
The Bank has reorganized and is developing the Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Complex whose major objective is to build regional capabilities and bring responsibility for client activities closer to the regions.
Five Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Hubs have been created, each run by a Director General: Southern Africa, North Africa, West Africa; East Africa, and Central Africa.

The Hiring Department
To support Programme Implementation and Monitoring, the Country Program Officer provides facilitation to review, examine and evaluate the organization's objectives, structure, procedures, policies and management systems.
This is achieved through the evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of organizational programs, applying techniques such as management, organizational analysis, methods & procedures studies.
The job also conducts planning and analyses of program and budget proposals to ensure conformity with the organization's work program, strategic focus and budgetary objectives. Periodic reports to management summarizing findings and recommendations for changes based on these analyses are undertaken.

THE POSITION
The primary role of a Country Program Officer is to ensure a healthy and performing portfolio in the assigned Country.
The Incumbent serves as the professional expert to support Country Managers with multiple work program and project activities and where required this support is extended to the Director General on Adhoc basis or as instructed.
The role requires the continuous follow-ups with relevant task managers and prepare Country or Regional Portfolio improvement plans.
As Country Program Officer, the incumbent provides advice and guides strategic planning through strategic analysis and results frameworks within the assigned country.
The incumbent supports and provides input for the design and development of work programs/projects and activities based on the approved Complex strategy and results framework and provide expertise for budgeting of resources.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the supervision of the Director General, the Country Programme Office undertakes the following duties and responsibilities:

Preparation of reports - Prepare on a quarterly basis, a summary of the Quarterly Portfolio Report prepared by the country Office CPOs for the Director General, Deputy Director General, Regional CPO and the Lead Economist.
Prepare on a monthly basis a synthesis of the implementation of the department work program and highlight the bottlenecks and proposed solutions.
Monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the monthly portfolio flashlight reports.
Budget Management - As Budget Coordinator or focal person to the department, play a coordination role for the preparation of the departmental work program and related budget jointly with Country Economists and Country Program Officers.
Coordination - Coordinate the departmental submission through the use of the BRAG tool in coordination with country office CPOs.
Coordinate overall portfolio management and operations programming.
Monitoring - Follow-up and manage portfolio and operational activities.
Follow-up on BDEV and project audit recommendations and requirements of the Board.
Project & Work Program Management - Work with Sector Experts responsible for specific projects to ensure that solution to pending projects problems are resolved, and  additionally serve as Secretary to the Country Team.
Relationship Management - Serve as a corporate relationship manager for the Bank at the level of the Regional Hub.
Serve as the focal point and spokesman on operational issues between the Regional Hub and external constituencies and borrowers.
Compliance Management - Ensure that activity reports and audit reports comply with Bank requirements and are submitted on time.
Ensure that the recommendations of supervision, portfolio review and audit missions are implemented.
Provide effective oversight to project task teams on quality and compliance with Bank operational processes and procedures (including referring them to the relevant responsible staff in fiduciary, legal, safeguards, or other specialized areas);
Oversee and support the work of Sector staff in undertaking country portfolio performance review processes with the Government and other Development Partners.
Undertake   quality control of key documents,  participate in dialogue with Government, Regional or Country Economic Communities  as required, and follow up on agreed actions;
Support the Country Manager in ensuring country office team members actions comply with Bank Ethics, Regulations, Policies and guidance.
Provide input to the preparation portfolio related to country briefs for Annual Meetings and other briefs to Management.
Coordination of Non Lending Activities
Advice the Country Manager on strategic options as required to improve revenue generation and/or cost efficiencies. Work closely with the Country Manager and provide input to the yearly business planning and budgeting process, by considering the assigned Country’s needs & advising to ensure that work programmes are well constructed and aligned with Bank’s priorities that include but are not limited to income generation & operational priorities.
Provide support in administering the Analytic and Advisory Activities and lending operations at various stages of preparation and provide inputs on such documentation. This function focuses on reviewing and assessing concept notes, draft appraisal reports, other operations documents and final outputs;

Stakeholder Management:
Under the guidance of the Country Manager, establish and, strategically manage solid working relationships with the assigned country’s government, international development agencies, clients and key stakeholders.
Support the Country Manager to manage communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover products.
Actively support the Country Manager to manage relationships with government and other Development Partners (DPs).
Advises on and lead initiatives and strategies to foster effective and strong relationships with Government, Private Sector and Development Partners.
Lead the Country portfolio performance review process with the relevant RECs/Government and other Development Partners that  include  responsibility for quality control of key documents, taking part in dialogue with RECs/Government and following up on agreed actions;
Advise the client on issues that may impact the achievement of project outcomes (including issues of sustainability and post project requirements such as maintenance).

Knowledge Management:
Actively interact with task managers/relevant Bank units and the PIUs/government agencies to share case studies, lessons learned and best practice on the portfolio management;
Provide feedback to the Country Manager on Bank policies, strategies and operational procedures, with an aim towards continuous improvement of Bank policies implementation;
Incorporate lessons learned in project development and implementation.

AfDB Visibility:
Support the Country’s efforts to improve the Bank’s visibility in the region;
Represent and provide visibility when and where required for and including through organizing/participating in high profile events such as senior level visits, interviews, seminars, business events and conferences;

Quality Management:
Focus on ensuring high quality and performance of the Country’s portfolio;
Ensure all reports and submissions are timely and of high quality;
Work jointly with relevant country teams and managers to meet KPI assigned targets; and
Play a key role and advise within the assigned Country on economic, political, social and other developments relevant to the Bank’s operations in the country.
Championing the Complex / Regional mandate and purpose – Provide a direct and indirect operational support that contributes to the Region or Country output and mandate of the Complex.

SELECTION CRITERIA
Including Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

QUALIFICATION:
Hold at least a Master’s degree (or its university equivalent) in Economics, Social Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture/Forestry, Business Administration, Public Administration and knowledge of development issues.

EXPERIENCE:
Have a minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in the formulation and implementation of policies, programs and projects either within the Bank, with a similar development institution or the public service;
Experience in the practice of procurement of goods/works, and the acquisition of consultancy services under donor funding conditions;
Experience working in a team in a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary, international and professional environment.
Relevant and required experience gained on the African continent;
Experience gained within multilateral development finance institutions.
Demonstrated experience in the preparation and/or review of operations in a multilateral financial institution;

COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE):
Behavioral Competencies:
Innovation & Creativity
Client Orientation
Excellent interpersonal skills
Excellent Communication skills
Professional Expertise
Relationship management skills
Influencing skills
Decisiveness
Takes Initiative/Spotting Opportunity/Pushing Strategy
Highly organised & structured
Technical Competencies
Business Acumen:

Comprehensively understands projects structures, including project planning, risk management strategy, issue management strategy, communication management strategy, with an acute knowledge and understanding of the elements essential for the effective delivery and measurement of development impacts through projects and programs in Africa.
Ability to identify and create meaningful linkages across sectors
Operational Effectiveness skills using all the systems, procedures and culture within the organization for required results delivery.
Implementing Strategy:

Highly developed strategic thinking skills allied to an ability to translate strategic concepts and direction into the implementation of workable and sustainable projects and programs.
Negotiation:

Highly developed negotiation skills proven to yield positive outcomes with senior counterparts, both internal and external, and understands when and how to apply tact, influence, maintain a hard line, make or break contacts, understand unwritten lines of influence and conduct oneself accordingly.
Executing for Results:

High level of expertise in managing portfolio performance
Make effective, timely and well-determined interventions for results delivery.
Ability to work under pressure in a multicultural and distributed organization.
Client and results orientation, with strong analytical and communication (both verbally and in writing) skills, responsiveness, sense of accuracy and attention to detail.
Ability to build successful teams, relationships and partnerships with a broad range of clients, internal and external, for effective delivery of results that meet the needs and long-term interests of clients within and outside the institution.
Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

Ability to provide comprehensive thought Leadership on Programme Delivery and related issues
Mentorship/Coaching Skills
People Management skills

Skills:
Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, with a working knowledge of the other.
Competence in the use of standard MS office applications (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint)

CHIEF AGRO-INDUSTRIAL OFFICER
 
Reference: ADB/17/076/2
Location: Côte d’Ivoire
Grade: PL-3
Position N°: 50091782

THE COMPLEX
The Vice Presidency for ‘Agriculture, Human, and Social Development’ is a Sector Complex focusing on two of the Bank’s Ten Year Strategy High 5s priority of “Feed Africa” and “Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa”.
The complex objectives are (i) to develop, policy and strategy; (ii) provide deep sector expertise to the Regions by gathering pools of experienced individuals who can be consulted to provide sector expertise on complex transactions; (iii) develop new financing instruments; (iv) the Vice President will act as the spokesperson to represent the Bank with external stakeholders on aspects of “Feed Africa” and Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa”.

THE HIRING DEPARTMENT/DIVISION
The Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department provides support for the delivery of Feed Africa: Strategy for Agricultural Transformation in Africa, 2016-2025.
The strategy aims to end hunger and rural poverty in the next decade through self-sufficiency in 18 priority commodity value chains specific to the continent’s agro-ecological zones.
Realizing the objectives set forth in the strategy requires increased productivity; value addition; investment in infrastructure; an enabling agribusiness environment; capital flows; and inclusivity, sustainability and effective nutrition.
The Department leads the effort to transform African agricultural systems for greater competitiveness, inclusivity and sustainability, and for enhanced job creation and poverty reduction.

THE POSITION
The Chief Agro-industries Officer assists in the implementation of Feed Africa Strategy for Agricultural Transformation in Africa 2016 - 2025. Feed Africa contributes to the fulfilment of the African Development Bank’s vision-as defined in its Ten Year Strategy and amplified in the High 5 Initiatives-of being the lead development financial institution in Africa, dedicated to providing quality assistance to Regional Member Countries in their economic growth efforts.
The Strategy seeks to transform African agriculture through 18 priority value chains and five agro-ecological zones.
The transformation will require a set of seven enablers:

Increase productivity by catalyzing the development of effective input distribution systems and reduction in post-harvest waste and loss;
Realize the value of increased production by facilitating increased investment into output markets and supporting market incentives for value addition;
Increase investment into enabling infrastructure, both hard and soft infrastructure;
Create an enabling agribusiness environment with appropriate policies and regulation;
Catalyze capital flows (especially commercial lending and private investment) to scale agribusinesses;
Ensure inclusivity, sustainability and effective nutrition beyond what the market may deliver otherwise;
Coordinate activities to kick start transformation, align activities and investments of different actors, and guide initial activities to the point where private sector actors can be crowded in.

CHIEF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST - TECHNOLOGIES FOR AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION
Reference: ADB/17/075/2
Location: Côte d’Ivoire
Grade: PL-3
Position N°: 50091786

THE COMPLEX
The Vice Presidency for ‘Agriculture, Human, and Social Development’ is a Sector Complex focusing on two of the Bank’s Ten Year Strategy High 5s priority of “Feed Africa” and “Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa”. The complex objectives are:

To develop, policy and strategy;
Provide deep sector expertise to the Regions by gathering pools of experienced individuals who can be consulted to provide sector expertise on complex transactions;
Develop new financing instruments;
The Vice President will act as the spokesperson to represent the Bank with external stakeholders on aspects of “Feed Africa” and Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa”.

THE HIRING DEPARTMENT/ DIVISION
The Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department provides support for the delivery of Feed Africa: Strategy for Agricultural Transformation in Africa, 2016-2025.
The strategy aims to end hunger and rural poverty in the next decade through self-sufficiency in eighteen (18) priority commodity value chains specific to the continent’s agro-ecological zones.
Realizing the objectives set forth in the strategy requires increased productivity; value addition; investment in infrastructure; an enabling agribusiness environment; capital flows; and inclusivity, sustainability and effective nutrition.
The Department leads the effort to transform African agricultural systems for greater competitiveness, inclusivity and sustainability, and for enhanced job creation and poverty reduction in Regional Member Countries.

THE POSITION
The Chief Agricultural Economist reports to the Director, Agriculture and Agro-Industry.
The main purpose of the Position of Chief Agricultural Economist will be to coordinate Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation and assist in the implementation of Feed Africa: Strategy for Agricultural Transformation in Africa 2016-2025.
Feed Africa contributes to the fulfillment of the African Development Bank’s vision as defined in its Ten Year Strategy and amplified in the High Five Initiatives of being the leading development financial institution in Africa, dedicated to providing quality assistance to Regional Member Countries in their poverty alleviation efforts.
The Strategy seeks to transform African agriculture through eighteen (18) priority value chains and five agro- ecological zones.
The transformation will require a set of seven enablers:

Increase productivity by catalyzing the development of effective input distribution systems and reduction in post-harvest waste and loss;
Realize the value of increased production by facilitating increased investment into output markets and supporting market incentives for value addition;
Increase investment into enabling infrastructure, both hard and soft infrastructure;
Create an enabling agribusiness environment with appropriate policies and regulation;
Catalyze capital flows (especially commercial lending and private investment) to scale agribusinesses;
Ensure inclusivity, sustainability and effective nutrition beyond what the market may deliver otherwise;
Coordinate activities to kick start transformation, align activities and investments of different actors, and guide initial activities to the point where private sector actors can be crowded in.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the general supervision of the Director, Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department, and working in close collaboration with the Division Managers and Task Managers, the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation Coordinator will coordinate the development and implementation of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation across the Bank’s Regional Member Countries.

His/her duties include the following:
Lead the implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda with regards to the flagship Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation program;
Lead the development of a coherent and pro-active Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation program framework that promotes investment into agriculture research and technology dissemination;
Liaise and work with Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research,  non- Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research key Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation partners, and National Agricultural Research Systems on Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation issues;
Liaise with the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation clearinghouse, and Project Steering Committee to ensure a smooth implementation of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation ;
Enhance quality, timeliness and integrity of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation implementation  through developing and applying controls that minimize slippages;
Develop and implement performance monitoring and evaluation systems and reporting activities (including Key Performance Indicators) to enable transparent assessment of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation outcomes and impacts, both for internal and external circulation;
Advise Regional Member Countries on increasing investment into agriculture research and technology dissemination;
Facilitate the expansion of the official partners of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation Program and promote information exchanges on Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation ;
Drive new business development and resource mobilization for Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation with sovereign, multilateral, bilateral and private sector partners;
Establish synergies between Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation and the Bank’s other flagship programmes for Agricultural Transformation in Africa: ENABLE Youth, Agropoles and Agro-processing Zones, and Agricultural Risk Sharing Facilities;
Maintain regular communication channels with program stakeholders on progress and achievement of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation as well as emerging constraints and opportunities;
Establish and maintain strategic collaboration with relevant partners in the area of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation ;
Organize Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation development seminars, make presentations, and represent the Bank in industry events; and
Undertake any other assignments as may be assigned by the supervisor.

TO APPLY
Click on Job Title below:

SENIOR COUNTRY PROGRAMME OFFICER
CHIEF AGRO-INDUSTRIAL OFFICER
CHIEF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST - TECHNOLOGIES FOR AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION

DUE DATE: 22 June, 2017