Infrastructure Project Evaluation Specialist at ECOWAS Bank

Job Summary

• Reporting to the Director of Operations, Public Sector, the Infrastructure Project Evaluation Specialist will contribute to the implementation of EBID's policy in infrastructure project financing through, among other things: the preparation, evaluation and supervision of projects in the sector, advisory support to member countries and sector-country dialogue.

Duties
Duty 1: Play a key role in the development of policies and strategies for the infrastructure sector within the Bank:

• Participating in the development and review of the Bank's policies and country strategies in the infrastructure sector, in collaboration with government agencies, development partners and other relevant stakeholders;
• Conduct analytical and sectoral work to guide and support the Bank's downstream involvement in the design of projects in the infrastructure sector; and
• Advising governments on issues relating to policy and institutional reforms in the infrastructure sector, particularly in the
• areas of planning and programming, development and asset management/maintenance;

Duty 2: Leading project development and evaluation activities in the infrastructure sector:

• Provide technical advice on projects in the infrastructure sector (transport, roads, energy, water and sanitation);
• Identify suitable projects for financing in the infrastructure sector, and prepare project documents in accordance with the Bank's project cycle management procedures, assessing technical aspects and risks;
• Advise member countries on the preparation, organisation and execution of feasibility studies and assist them in drafting terms of reference; review progress reports on studies; select the components that will make up the eventual project; review and supervise the work of consultants hired by borrowers for projects/studies; and
• Leading the preparation and appraisal of infrastructure projects involving overall resource planning and technical assessment of alternative ways of shaping projects to make the optimum contribution to development objectives; preparing and processing appraisal reports including detailed assessments of technical aspects, economic and financial feasibility, environmental and social safeguards, fiduciary issues, institutional arrangements.

Duty 3: Supervising the implementation of infrastructure projects Supervise projects:

• Play a key role in monitoring project progress; monitor procurement activities for goods, works and
• services in accordance with the Bank's rules; review borrowers' bids, including tender lists, bid documents, bid evaluation reports, award recommendations and contract documents; review and analyse data submitted by the borrower; verify and approve contracts for disbursement of funds;
• Carrying out project mid-term review missions, sector portfolio review missions and country portfolio review missions and preparing the corresponding reports;
• Lead missions to prepare project completion reports; advise the Bank on lessons learned from the project that will guide future interventions in the sector and in the countries concerned; and Manage fiduciary responsibilities, including procurement, and ensure compliance with Bank guidelines and loan agreement provisions.

Duty 4: Contribute to the dissemination of best practice in the field of infrastructure:

• Create and manage a knowledge base on the infrastructure sector, keeping abreast of the latest developments in the field and issues relating to policy and planning, institutional development, design and construction, financing, operation and maintenance, and regulation; and
• Providing support to the heads of implementing agencies, in terms of advice and expertise on the various issues and priorities in the infrastructure sector, the technical aspects of projects and the Bank's rules of procedure, particularly as regards the procurement of goods and services and disbursements.

Required Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Hold an Engineering Degree in the field of infrastructure (Transport Infrastructure, Energy, Water, Sanitation, Rural Infrastructure) or any other equivalent Degree;
• At least seven (7) years' experience in the infrastructure sector and a proven ability to work on the political, institutional and financial aspects of road, transport, construction and maintenance, energy, water and sanitation infrastructure projects, management and procurement, planning and programming of capital works and maintenance;
• Proven and solid experience gained in development finance institutions in the identification, preparation, appraisal and supervision of public sector infrastructure projects or similar organisations;
• In-depth knowledge and experience of sectoral policy design, including development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
• Ability to identify and assess critical policy issues and to engage actively with governments and/or other stakeholders to develop solutions
• Strong ability to lead analysis and consultancy activities, including economic and sectoral studies, technical assistance and training and dissemination of best practice with client countries;
• Ability to lead a team of specialists and drive projects forward, often in
  collaboration with other partners; Effective consultation and advisory skills;
• Be able to communicate effectively (orally and in writing) in French and English, with a good working knowledge of the other language; and Proficiency in the use of the Bank's standard software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).

Other Requirements:

• Be a national of one of the ECOWAS Member States;
• Must not be above 45 years at the time of recruitment;
• Have sound knowledge of computer tools (Word, Excel, Access and Power Point);
• Fluent in French and/or English and/or Portuguese, and proficient in one of the other two languages.