Principal Cooperation Officer, FRMB at African Development Bank - AfDB

The Resource Mobilization and External Finance Department (FRMB) 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. FRMB plays an intermediation role to help align the needs of recipients, the Bank Group’s institutional priorities in line with the Bank’s Ten-year strategy, as well as those of its development partners through a variety of funding instruments. FRMB is also involved in outreach activities, dissemination of information to Bank staff, and participates in international development fora. It achieves its mission by mobilizing resources from, and leveraging partnerships with, sovereign and non-sovereign entities.

FRMB consists of 2 divisions. FRMB.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 bilateral donors. It also coordinates the Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA), the allocation process of ADF resources among beneficiary countries, and monitors their use in accordance with the relevant ADF policies and guidelines. FRMB.2 is responsible for fund raising initiatives and partnerships with traditional and emerging donors, and non-sovereign entities. The division is also in charge of the relationships with non-sovereign entities and institutional investors, including commercial banks, foundations and philanthropies.

• Help coordinate 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 and to senior management;
• Manage relationships with existing donors effectively and with a measure of proactivity, and convey a global view of the Bank’s operations and key priorities for funding;  
• Propose new strategic partnerships with a variety of donors in light of the TYS and operational priorities of the Bank;
• 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, including Business Opportunity Seminars for  traditional and emerging partners globally;
• Provide internal stakeholders with regular information of development partner funding priorities to strengthen 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; and
• Contribute to the effective collaboration with other departments and complexes.

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in finance, law, economics, international affairs and/or other relevant fields;
• A minimum of six (6) years of relevant experience including in project development and implementation preferably across public, private and/or non-profit sectors along with established operational track record in achieving results; (fundraising with international, public and private sector a major plus);
• 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 collaborate within teams and across boundaries; to be inclusive and exhibit good corporate citizenship.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills in English and/or French (with a working-knowledge of the other language) including the 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 adapt skills  at times to competing and unexpected demands;
• Strong 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, non-sovereign partners and the Bank shareholders;
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).