Director - Independent Review Mechanism (BIRM) at African Development Bank - AfDB

Position Number: 50092370
Position Grade: EL5

The Complex

• The Board of Directors provides oversight and strategic direction to the African Development Bank Group. It is composed of Executive Directors who are representatives of the African Development Bank member countries.
• Specifically the Board is responsible for the conduct of the general operations of the Bank, and carries out the following functions:
  • Determine the general structure of the Bank’s services;
  • Approve the financing policy and take decisions concerning loans, guarantees, equity investments and fund loans by the Bank;
  • Determine the interest rates of loans and guarantee commissions;
  • Approve the Bank’s operations program and administrative budget;
  • Prepare the work of the Board of Governors; and
  • Submit accounts and annual reports, as well as the administrative budgets for the approval of the Board of Governors.
• The Board does its work through a series of permanent Committees that review and discuss policy and program documents and make appropriate recommendations to the whole Board.
• The Independent Development Evaluation (IDEV); the Independent Recourse Mechanism (BIRM); the Secretariat to the Sanctions Appeals Board (BSAB); and the Administrative Tribunal (BATR) report to the Board.

The Hiring Department / Division

• The Independent Recourse Mechanism (IRM) is the Bank’s independent accountability mechanism and aims to provide fair, independent and effective recourse and remedy to individuals, workers and communities who are adversely impacted by AfDB-funded projects.
• It also seeks to identify potential areas via the complaints-handling process where the Bank can further strengthen its policies, procedures and/or practices in support of sustainable development, ensuring that “no one is left behind”. 
• The IRM is responsible for handling complaints from external stakeholders and investigating the Bank’s compliance with its own policies and procedures related to its operations.
• These policies include, but are not limited to, the Bank’s Disclosure and Access to Information Policy and the Integrated Safeguards System.
• The IRM’s administrative set up and functions are governed by the IRM Enabling Resolution and Operating Rules and Procedures which were initially approved by the AfDB’s Boards of Directors in June 2006 and have been revised four times since. The current IRM Enabling Resolution and Operating Rules and Procedures have been in effect since June 2021.
• The IRM has three main functions: compliance review (investigation), problem-solving (mediation) and an advisory function. The IRM also carries out outreach, capacity building and knowledge management activities.
• The compliance review and the problem-solving are stakeholder-focused and their purpose is mainly to redress harm caused to people or the environment as well as to bring a project which is subject to a complaint into compliance with the applicable Bank Group policies and procedures.
• The advisory function is institutionally focused and aims at enhancing institutional learning across the organizational structure of the Bank.
• The IRM also carries out outreach activities, which focus on enhancing the visibility of the IRM among people affected by projects (PAPs), government institutions, projects implementation units (PIUs) and civil society organizations (CSOs).

The Position

• The IRM Director administers the Independent Review Mechanism Unit. With the assistance of professional and support staff, the Director assesses and registers requests, facilitates problem-solving exercises, undertakes advisory and outreach activities, administers the Roster of Experts and reports on the IRM to the Board of Directors and the President.
• The selected candidate shall be appointed by the president with the concurrence of the Boards of Directors, for a non-renewable six (6) year term. The Director shall not have worked for the Bank Group in any capacity whatsoever for a period of at least five (5) years prior to their appointment and shall not be entitled to work for the Bank Group in any capacity whatsoever following the expiry of his or her appointment.

Key Functions
General Duties and Responsibilities:

• Be responsible for general administration of the BIRM Unit, including staff, budgets and external relations and arranging for the selection of the members to the Roster of Experts who, upon the recommendation of the President, will be appointed by the Board of Directors.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide advice and technical opinion to the President and/or the Board, as may be approved by the Board under the advisory services of IRM;
• Arrange for the selection of Experts for the Roster as required upon resignation or expiration of an Expert's term of appointment in accordance with the Bank Group's procurement rules, as applicable to the selection of consultants and prepare the President’s recommendation and reports to the Board concerning the appointment and removal of Experts;
• Establish such administrative procedures and guidelines necessary for the proper functioning of the IRM and the Roster of Experts;
• Oversee the establishment and maintenance of the Register of Request open to the public on the Bank Group’s website, which shall contain significant data concerning the delivery and registration of Requests;
• Receive and assess whether or not the requests (complaints) fall within the mandate of the IRM, and if found admissible register the requests in the Register of Requests;
• Conduct problem-solving exercises and facilitate compliance reviews;
• Ensure IRM documentary records for requests are well maintained;
• Correspond with requestors throughout complaint handling with regard to any issues and decision made;
• Ensure that all timeframes are met and approve any extensions;
• Liaise with other BIRM staff and the experts, and ensure that such BIRM staff and Experts fulfill their responsibilities generally and in accordance with any applicable Terms of Reference;
• Without prejudice to the powers of the Board and the President under these Rules, take any steps required to ensure the integrity of BIRM processes, including the replacement of any Expert whose impartiality or independence in any compliance review is in doubt;
• Provide administrative and technical support to other BIRM staff and the Experts, including without limitation, making and supervising arrangements for meetings, site visits and IRM proceedings in the Bank Group’s principal office or elsewhere;
• Administer the budgetary allocations for the BIRM;
• Oversee the establishment and maintenance of BIRM databases of consultants, mediators whose services may be called upon in connection with compliance reviews and problem-solving exercises.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• Hold At least a Master’s degree in law, social science, anthropology, sociology, development, environment, or related humanities field or a combination of related or equivalent studies/degrees;
• Advanced and specialized training certification
• Have a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant professional experience in development, environmental and social development, conflict resolution and consensus building especially in settling human and social problems in developing countries, preferably from Africa. Out of these, five (5) years must be in managerial role.
• Experience in applying relevant public participation, social policies and other relevant policies in development of projects, such as environmental conservation and resettlement of people, and a keen interest in ensuring compliance with environmental and socio-economic policies;
• Familiar with the objectives and functions of multilateral development banks and financing institutions;
• Good communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to carry out effective dialogue with stakeholders, including government officials, project affected people, civil society organizations, and Bank managers and staff;
• Innovation and Creativity: Commitment to search for and produce innovative and creative approaches to activities in order to enhance performance and create added benefits to the Bank and its clients.
• Communication: Provides clear and concise oral and written communication; presents oral information with clarity and appropriate style and adapts language and style to suit the requirements of a particular audience.
• Problem Solving: Applies business knowledge to the resolution of problems and identifies solutions to the benefit of the client (internal and external) and the organization.
• Client Orientation: Ensures that the client is considered to be of primary importance in all transactions and interactions. Strives to understand, and when appropriate, anticipate client needs, and ensures that the client receives the best possible service from the Bank.
• Team working and Relationships: Works with others to maximize the effectiveness of the team as a whole, sharing the knowledge and workload. Develops strong working relationships with colleagues and contributes to creation of a positive team environment
• Operational Effectiveness: The Commitment to ensure that full use is made of the systems, procedures and culture within the organization in order to deliver the required results.
• Ability to make sound, impartial and fair judgment.
• High dedication and ability to handle sensitive and confidential documents.
• Strong  ability to carry out effective dialogue with stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations  and non-government organizations, affected people and Bank staff.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications; knowledge of SAP is an added advantage.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other.
• Candidates for this position shall not have worked for the bank group in any capacity whatsoever for a period of at least five (5) years prior to their appointment and shall not be entitled to work for the bank group in any capacity whatsoever following the expiry of his or her appointment.