Director, Infrastructure, Cities and Urban Development, PICU.0 at African Development Bank - AfDB

Location: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

Position Grade: EL5

Position Number: 50092434

THE COMPLEX:

The Vice Presidency for ‘Private Sector Infrastructure and Industrialization’ is a Sector Complex focusing on the Bank’s TYS H5s priority of “Industrialize Africa”. The objectives of the Complex are to: (i) drive the implementation of the ‘Industrialize Africa Strategy’; (ii) provide deep sector expertise to the Regions by leveraging on experienced individuals who can be consulted on complex transactions; (iii) develop new financing instruments; (iv) act as the Bank’s Spoke person on “Industrialize Africa”. The Complex’s main functions are to: strengthen the enabling environment for private sector development, which is conducive to inclusive growth and sustainable development; support the development of reliable and sustainable infrastructure, including urban development; place renewed emphasis on industrial and trade development in order to boost structural transformation across Africa; and drive the Bank’s financial sector development by formulating tools and instruments to facilitate access to finance, including for small- and medium-sized enterprises, while also working closely with regional financial institutions.

The Complex leads the Bank’s Transport infrastructure (Road, Rails, Ports, Airports, Waterways, etc.) agenda across the continent, working closely with the Bank’s country and regional offices. The complex also leads the development and implementation of Transport development policy, Aviation framework, Public Private Partnership Framework, development of infrastructure partnership working with all other arms of the Bank.

THE HIRING DEPARTMENT/DIVISION:

The mission of the Infrastructure and Urban Development Department is to foster advancement of infrastructure and cities in Africa by detailed development of appropriate interventions which the Bank might finance on a regional, national or a continent-wide basis. The Department provides assistance to the Bank Regional Member Countries (RMCs) and the Private Sector by deploying various instruments including loans, grants, guarantees and equity participation to finance transport infrastructure and Urban Development projects and programs.

The Department provides also grants and advisory services for infrastructure project preparation and undertakes analytical and sector work to underpin lending programs and support policy dialogue with RMCs and assist them in formulating and implementing transport, and urban development sector reforms ensuring that best practices are mainstreamed in policy, planning, programming, institutional governance, and maintenance and operation.

THE POSITION:

The Director is responsible for providing leadership in Infrastructure, Cities and Urban Development. He/she provides guidance to the development and execution of Bank’s strategies, frameworks and action plans in these areas to support the implementation of the High Five Strategies. The incumbent drives the implementation of the Bank infrastructure agenda through four Divisions at Headquarters, namely (1) Transport and Logistics (2) Urban Development (3) Infrastructure Partnerships (4) Transport NSO, and five (5) regional infrastructure divisions in the Regions.

He/She will develop sector strategies and support their roll-out and execution at country or regional level, provides sector expertise on transport infrastructure (roads, ports, airports, railways, waterways, etc.), including cross-border transport infrastructure, logistics, Public Private Sector Partnership, Urban and Cities development, Private Sector financing, project preparation, etc. The Director will provide thought leadership in these sectors within the Bank and also in engagement with external stakeholders. The incumbent will provide deep sector expertise and engage experts who can be consulted by the regions to drive the delivery of the Bank’s business and its future prospective areas of intervention in the sector. The Incumbent will have the responsibility to help strengthen and maintain the Bank's understanding of the Infrastructure, Cities and Urban Development sector and its role in the development of the continent.

KEY FUNCTIONS

Infrastructure, Cities and Urban Development Strategies:

Strategies

• Lead the development and the implementation of the Bank’s Transport Infrastructure and urban development strategies, frameworks and actions plans;
• Ensure the appropriate implementation of the strategy through communication and advise to all relevant stakeholders in the Bank, particularly operations functions, and define a monitoring framework;
• Identify and develop any necessary policies to underpin the strategy;
• Consult as necessary with external partners and Regional and non-Regional Member countries on the form and efficacy of the strategy;
• Provide technical assistance to RMCs for the formulation and implementation of infrastructure policies and strategies sector reforms, and the development of vibrant infrastructure markets

Operations

• Provide strategic, policy and operational guidance towards the successful implementation of Bank operations, in support to regional and country offices
• Develop and provide sector guidance and best practices;
• Coordinate the origination and financial structuring of transport, logistics and urban development projects in RMCs in collaboration with operations staff based in the region and ensuring the optimum use of all the Bank’s financing instruments;
• Providing deep sector expertise and leadership to the Regions on complex transactions and promoting the private sector in ensuring that it plays a central role in infrastructure and maintenance provision in our Regions;
• Fostering partnerships with international and regional institutions, both public and private while mobilizing resources for projects preparation and co-financing.

Knowledge

• Generate and maintain effective partnerships with key stakeholders to ensure Worldwide expertise to support the development goals of the Bank and the continent
• Devise the Bank's contribution to key Infrastructure themes such as inclusive approach on Infrastructure Development;
• Coordinate and Lead work alongside key partners, such as other MDBs and the World Economic Forum to design Infrastructure -based programs and solutions for the economic and social infrastructure development of Africa;
• Publish major Economic Sector Works and on Infrastructure, taking into account the comparative advantage that the Bank can bring to bear to any specific subject or theme.
• Convene associated workshops/conference/forum and media events to solidify the learning across Africa.

Advisory

• Advise the President and the Vice-President on Transport and Urban development related issues in terms of Strategy, Policy and Operations;
• Represent the Bank at International, regional and national conferences and workshops on Infrastructure Development;
• Provide cutting edge advice on infrastructure investments to foster public and private partnerships and the use of all the Bank's financing instruments.

Management

• Manage the Directorate with the support of Division Managers at HQ and in the regions to meet demanding KPIs;
• Develop and safeguard the Bank's brand as a source of Infrastructure knowledge for Africa by detailing the quality of output expected from the Directorate and ensuring that it is attained;
• Manage the administrative budget for the Directorate.

COMPETENCIES (skills, experience and knowledge):

• At least a Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Transport Engineering, Transport Economics, Economics, or related discipline with solid infrastructure background.

• Have a minimum of ten (10) years of extensive and progressive experience at increasingly senior levels in the infrastructure sector, Multi-lateral Financial Institutions, with proven experience in developing countries, five (5) years of which must be at a managerial level.
• Demonstrated ability to lead sector dialogue with proven experience in providing quality policy and project advice at high levels to national governments on infrastructure issues.
• Strategic mindset; strong capacity to analyze actions from the perspectives of stakeholders and translate strategic thinking into compelling plans of reaction and to take prudent business risks to make effective, timely, and well-thought decisions;
• Evidence of ability to build and lead motivated and committed teams across functional boundaries and utilize talent and expertise of team members in a productive way.
• Demonstrated ability to present and win support for ideas; a good listener; and cultural sensitivity, commitment to diversity and capacity to initiate and manage innovations and change
• Good knowledge of financing instruments and options.
• Communicate and write effectively in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications and preferably, SAP.