Protocol Assistant - RDGN at African Development Bank - AfDB

Reference: ADB/18/208
Location: Tunisia
Grade: GS7
Position N°: 50001405

Complex

• The President plans, supervises and manages the business of the Bank Group. Under the direction of the Boards of Directors, the President conducts the business of the Bank and the African Development Fund and manages operations and activities in accordance with the Agreements establishing the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund.
• The President supervises several Departments and Divisions including Office of the President; Independent Development Evaluation Department; Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department; Compliance Review and Mediation Department; Secretariat to the Sanctions Appeals Board; Administrative Tribunal; Office of the Auditor General; Group Risk Management Function Directorate; General Counsel and Legal Services Department; Communication and External Relations Department; Ethics Office and Office of the Secretary General & General Secretariat.

The Hiring Department

• The role of the Bank's Office of the Secretary General and General Secretariat (PSEG) is to facilitate the achievement of the objectives set out in the Bank's Ten-Year Strategy, the High 5s and the Development and Business Delivery Model, by streamlining the decision-making process of governance bodies and forging better working relationships with shareholders and host countries of the Bank.
• Office of the Secretary General and the General Secretariat: (i) the Office of the Secretary General, which is also responsible for managing the Records Management and Archives Section, the Corporate Governance Policy and Shareholder Relations Section and the Conferences and Meetings Section; (ii) Board Affairs and Proceedings Division; and (iii) the Protocol, Privileges and Immunities Division.
• The main functions of the Protocol, Privileges and Immunities Division (PSEG.2) are to provide protocol services and manage relations with the Bank Group Headquarters or host Country Offices of the Bank Group and diplomatic missions.

The Position
The mission of the Protocol Assistant is as follows:

• Receive, process and carefully verify documents to maintain and strengthen the trust of African Development Bank partners
• Ensure the careful preparation of draft notes verbales addressed to the host country and diplomatic missions in with particular attention to preserving the Bank's good image.
• Prepare administrative correspondence addressed to host country authorities taking into account local specificities.
• Manage day-to-day affairs with host country and diplomatic missions, in accordance with protocol standards and relevant instruments
• Ensure the faithful implementation of Partnership Agreements

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision and direction of the Principal Protocol Officer, the Protocol Assistant main tasks are to:

• Receive and process visa applications from staff members of the African Development Bank and their family members;
• Prepare notes verbales for visa applications;
• Send visa requests to diplomatic missions for missions, holidays, children's study trips, medical evacuation and transit stays;
• File visa documents;
• Liaise between PSEG, various ministries and other host country authorities as well as between PSEG and the various Diplomatic Missions;
• Welcome and assist the President, Elected staff, official delegations and guests of the African Development Bank at the Airport;
• Keep monthly statistics on visa activities;
• Process and follow up on visa and residence applications with relevant services;
• Ensure protocol is respected at ceremonies and events organized or co-organized by the Bank;
• Contribute to ensuring that protocol is respected at African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings and other statutory meetings. 

Selection Criteria
Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Hold at least a higher Education (Bachelor's or Master's Degree) Diploma in Diplomacy, Law and Administration.
• Possess at least five (5) years of professional experience in the area of Protocol, Public Relations or Public Administration.
• The incumbent should also have work experience in a multicultural environment.
• General knowledge of Protocol and similar experience in an intergovernmental organization
• Private-sector experience would be an added advantage.
• Possess sound knowledge of diplomatic norms and practices.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English or French with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Proficiency in the use of common Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP (or another integrated document management system or quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools) would be an added advantage.