Lead, Regional Infrastructure Operations, PICU0 at African Development Bank - AfDB

Position Number: 50093519
Location: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Position Grade: PL3

The Complex

• The Vice Presidency for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization is central to the Bank’s mission of developing the private sector, improving infrastructure and accelerating industrialization.
• The complex main functions are to:
  • Strengthen the enabling environment for private sector [and financial sector] development conducive to inclusive growth and sustainable development, 
  • Support the development of reliable and sustainable infrastructure, including cities and urban development, and
  • Place renewed emphasis on industrial and trade performance in support of structural transformation across Africa.
• The Complex leverages knowledge, co-financing, and partnerships to attract private capital and work with governments on delivering the Bank’s development agenda.

The Hiring Department:

• The Infrastructure and Urban Development Department (PICU) provides assistance to the Bank Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in the form of loans and grants to finance infrastructure projects and programs mostly in the transport sector, and urban development.
• The Department also develops non-lending knowledge products to formulate and implement transport and urban development sector policies and strategies, sector reforms to ensure best practices are mainstreamed in policy, planning, programming, institutional governance, and maintenance and operations.
• In addition, the Department provides Grants for preparation of regional infrastructure projects covering transport, energy, ICT, and water sectors, and coordinates the Bank’s Public Private Partnerships (PPP) framework, as well as a number of external strategic infrastructure partnerships for the Bank.
• The Department fosters 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 Position

• The main purpose of the job will be to lead the development and coordination of programmes, projects and activities to support the advancement and implementation of regional infrastructure projects at the continental, regional and national levels to enhance the achievement of the department’s regional infrastructure development objectives.
• The role will entail providing specialist professional advice and support to internal and external clients to successfully develop, structure and implement regional infrastructure programmes and projects, either through public finance, blended finance, or through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). 
• In addition, the incumbent will be expected to lead the Bank’s policy and strategic dialogue with internal and external partners including the AU, UNECA, RECs, and EU on the development and implementation of continental and regional infrastructure programmes and projects  such as PIDA and similar initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the Director, PICU, the Lead, Regional Infrastructure & PPP Operations will perform the following:

• Provide higher level policy & strategic advice on regional & continental infrastructure programmes and projects to Bank Management, Governments, regional organizations, and private Developers;
• Assist with developing, structuring, and preparation for investment financing of multinational infrastructure projects being led by the department in respective African Regions and countries;
• Provide support, advice and guidance to Bank Sector Departments and Task Managers on the development, structuring and implementation of PPP infrastructure projects;
• Provide advice and guidance to Regional Member Countries and Project Developers as part of the Bank’s PPP Advisory operations – technical assistance, for complex regional infrastructure projects;
• Lead the review of infrastructure project technical and financial feasibility reports to determine whether the project is best implemented as a public project of a PPP and provide necessary advice to both senior management of the Bank and to RMCs;
• Lead the preparation of recommendations for both Bank management and for external clients on recommended implementation modalities for regional infrastructure based on sound professional knowledge and experience;
• Lead the delivery and technical supervision of the provision of PPP Transaction Advisory Services to assist RMCs in the development and structuring of their PPP infrastructure projects;
• Assist the Director in coordinating and supervising staff of the department. Coach and provide professional guidance to staff. Lead and foster teamwork in the department towards the delivery of the work program;
• Provide technical support and operational guidance, to ensure the timely delivery and quality of the Banks operations, in the area of regional infrastructure and PPPs, including through the review of reports on the different stages of the operations cycle (identification, preparation, appraisal, supervision), sector studies and policy papers, as well as participation in project missions;
• Provide technical advice to the Director on on-going and potential viability of pipeline regional infrastructure projects, to be structured both as public sector investments and PPPs;
• Lead and coordinate the Department’s engagement and dialogue with regional, continental and global partners and stakeholders relating to special initiatives, programmes and undertakings in the development of regional public and PPP infrastructure;
• Provide technical advice to the Director on the Bank’s response to requests for assistance, participation and engagement with continental pan African institutions, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Infrastructure Specialized Institutions on their priority regional infrastructure programmes and projects and make recommendations to management on possible support and interventions based on sound professional assessment and judgement;
• Lead the development, preparation and review of regional infrastructure development Economic and Sector Work (ESW) and related sector studies;
• Lead and support Bank Teams working on complex regional and multinational infrastructure programmes and projects;
• Lead and coordinate the analysis of key issues and challenges in the development of regional infrastructure, and provide advice to enable resolution of challenges, and to enhance effective implementation and achievement of intended development objectives;
• Lead consultation and advisory missions to continental and regional institutions and regional member countries for dialogue as necessary on the development and implementation of regional infrastructure and PPP projects;
• Represent the Director and the Bank as required to make presentations and speeches at relevant meetings, workshops and forums, advising on the Bank’s products and areas of support, as well as professional advice on implementation of regional infrastructure;
• Share knowledge, experience and lessons learnt with external partners and stakeholders in order to improve the development and implementation of regional infrastructure programmes and projects;
• Supervise and manage external consultants engaged to support the Bank’s regional infrastructure development work in accordance with the scope of work, and the Bank’s rules and procedures, leading technical review of outputs, reports and key deliverables and recommending necessary actions.

Selection Criteria

• Hold at least a Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Transportation Economics, International Development or closely related fields;
• Hold an internationally recognized certification as a Public Private Partnerships (PPP) Professional with demonstrable experience in managing PPP operations;
• Have a minimum of Eight (8) years’ experience in infrastructure development with proven ability to work on policy, institutional and financing aspects of regional infrastructure projects, engagement and collaboration with multiple partners, contract management and procurement, planning and programming;
• Demonstrated and strong track record in identification, preparation, development, appraisal, and supervision of regional infrastructure projects in development finance institutions;
• Proven ability and experience in leading teams in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment to deliver on major infrastructure development programmes, initiatives or undertaking;
• Thorough Knowledge and Experience in Development and understanding of policymaking process; project and program design, execution, monitoring and evaluation;
• Demonstrable experience of the operational policies, procedures and practices of major bilateral or multilateral organizations in Africa;
• Ability to identify and assess critical policy issues and actively dialogue with governments and/or other stakeholders to develop solutions;
• Strong ability to lead analytical and advisory activities including economic and sector work, technical assistance and training and dissemination of best practice with client countries;
• Effective consultation and advisory skills;
• Ability to lead a team of specialists and to take forward projects, often in collaboration with other partners;
• Excellent spoken and written English; a working knowledge of French will be advantageous.
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); Knowledge of SAP.