Chief Resource Mobilization Officer, FIRM1 at African Development Bank - AfDB

Reference: ADB/19/182
Location: Abidjan, Cote d'ivoire
Grade: PL3
Position N°: 50089486

The Complex

• The Vice Presidency for Finance oversees the financial management of the Bank Group. This encompasses the Bank Group’s treasury activities including borrowings from the capital markets and investment activities; controllership functions including financial reporting and loan administration; strategic resource mobilization and the strengthening of the non-statutory financial resources and instruments; the overall asset/liability management for the Bank Group.

The Hiring Department/Division

• The Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Department is responsible for the strategic resource mobilization and the leveraging of the financial resources and instruments of the Bank Group. The department’s role is to increase the pool and types of funding available to the Bank Group’s Regional Member Countries, particularly for transformative projects in line with the Bank’s Ten-year strategy.
• The Sovereign Division is responsible for resource mobilization initiatives and partnerships with sovereign entities. It is mandated to mobilize, allocate and monitor resources for the Bank Group’s statutory capital including the African Development Fund and ensuring compliance with the African Development Fund rules and the commitments taken upon the replenishment negotiations. It leads, coordinates and supports the implementation of Highly Indebted Poor Country and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative(s).
• The Sovereign Division coordinates the Country Policy and Institutional Assessment and is responsible for the process of allocating African Development Fund resources among beneficiary countries and monitors their use in accordance with various African Development Fund policies and guidelines.
• The Division is also responsible for the required periodic reporting on the use of those Funds. The Sovereign Division also leads the partnership with sovereign entities such as bilateral aid agencies and manages most bilateral trust funds of legacy partners

The Position

• The Resource Mobilization and External Finance Department (FIRM) is responsible for the strategic resource mobilization and the leveraging of the financial resources and instruments of the African Development Bank Group. The department’s role is to increase the pool and types of funding available to the Bank’s Regional Member Countries, particularly for transformative projects in line with the Bank’s Ten-year strategy and High5s Agenda.
• FIRM.1 is responsible for fund raising initiatives and partnerships with sovereign entities, including the replenishment of the African Development Fund (ADF) and technical cooperation with legacy bilateral donors. It also coordinates the Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA), the allocation process of ADF resources among beneficiary countries (PBA) and monitors their use in accordance with the relevant ADF policies and guidelines.
• In this regard, the Chief Resource Mobilization Officer plays a central role in resource mobilization, in partnership engagement and management with sovereign partners, and in monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Under the supervision of the Division Manager, the Chief Resource Mobilization Officer will also provide advice and support to internal and external clients on a range of resource mobilization and partnership issues including but not limited to the African Development Fund, bilateral trust funds, special initiatives and any other innovative partnership mechanisms involving the Bank Group’s traditional sovereign partners.
• The Chief Resource Mobilization Officer will also be involved in the development of strategic options for positioning the Bank Group in the global aid architecture, mobilizing and deploying its resources, by contributing to the planning, conceptualization, elaboration and presentation of the Bank Group key resource mobilization and negotiation documents.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision and guidance of the Division Manager, the Chief Resource Mobilization Officer will:

• Take a leadership role in the organization and coordination of the ADF replenishment and mid-term review processes, including the management of relationships with ADF Deputies, as well as contributing to discussions, papers, presentations on the ADF’s financial and related issues (e.g., the long-term financial sustainability and capacity of the ADF, alternative sources of funding, innovative instruments, etc.);
• Take a leadership role and/or contribute to the monitoring and reporting on the utilization of the different ADF resource envelopes, in collaboration with the other relevant departments;
• Take a leadership role in working with other units in the Bank to maintain and regularly updating of the Bank’s HIPC and MDRI dossiers and related debt issues as well as arrears; leading the drafting support of periodic reports on RMCs’ sovereign debts, debt sustainability, and debt management, including those in response to requests from management, MDBs or donors.
• Lead and/or contribute to the development of strategic options for positioning the Bank Group in the global aid architecture, mobilizing and deploying its resources, by contributing to the planning, conceptualization, elaboration and presentation of the Bank Group key resource mobilization and negotiation documents;
• Play a key role in coordinating resource mobilization through co-financing, trust funds, special initiatives and any other innovative partnership mechanisms; while also promoting the utilization of mobilized resources by user Departments, monitoring their disbursement, and preparing progress reports/financial reports to the respective Donors;
• Contribute and/or participate in the organization of regular internal and external outreach events for the benefit of staff, clients and other stakeholders, to explain the activities of the different funds and key drivers of the allocation system;
• Organize business development and strategic initiatives consultations and meetings with key sovereign partners; and effectively monitor the implementation progress of any existing or new partnership agreements formalized with those partners;
• Organize high-level partnerships events and forums involving the Board Members, Senior Management and external partners;
• Provide internal stakeholders with regular information and analysis of development partner funding priorities to strengthen opportunities for target fundraising and facilitate the coordination and collaboration between Bank Group business units;
• Help organize and lead key Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) meetings and working groups of important donors and international meetings, as required;
• Contribute to the effective collaboration with other departments and complexes; and
• Help mentor junior team members.

Selection Criteria

• Minimum of a Master's degree in Finance, Economics, Development Economics, International relations and/or other relevant fields;
• A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience including in resource mobilization, project development and implementation preferably across public, private and/or non-profit sectors along with established operational track record in achieving results; (fundraising experience with international, public and private sector is a major asset);
• Proven quantitative and qualitative analytical and problem-solving skills including familiarity with financial modeling techniques; understanding underlying statistical concepts of the work; (experience in treasury, corporate finance, risk management, or accounting would be a valuable asset);
• Proven ability to take initiative, innovate, adapt and make smart decisions; to create, apply, and share knowledge; to share expertise and learning; to develop self and others; to expand networks; to be client-oriented; to collaborate within teams and across boundaries; to be inclusive and demonstrate solid corporate mindset.
• Ability to think strategically and synthesize complex issues into effective written and oral briefs;
• Ability to apply a practical approach to problem solving, produce high quality work outputs, effectively prioritize, and adaptation skills at times of competing and unexpected demands;
• Proven interpersonal, relationship building and diplomatic skills as well as a high degree of discretion and tact necessary to effectively maintain good relationships with partner countries and the Bank shareholders;
• Proven ability to identify and provide sound advice on policy and financial issues, setting priorities and weighing tradeoffs;
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English and/or French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other language; Ability to demonstrate cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Competence in the use of standard software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and knowledge of SAP.