Job Vacancies at African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

Reference: ADB/19/219/2
Location: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Grade: PL3
Position N°: 50001495

The Complex

• The Vice-Presidency, Human Resources and Corporate Services (CHVP) is instrumental in implementing the Bank’s development agenda and strategic focus.
• CHVP leads efforts to ensure the competitiveness of the Bank as the employer of choice and is responsible for providing leadership in the formulation and implementation of Bank's strategies on people, IT, general services and institutional procurements, business continuity, health and safety, and language services.

The Hiring Department:

• The primary role of the Language Services Department is to ensure and facilitate , as required by the Bank's Agreement,  written and verbal communication in the working languages of the Bank (English and French, and on occasion Arabic and Portuguese) on all issues submitted to the Senior Management and governing bodies of the Bank in furtherance of the its mission.
• In this regard, the Department accords high priority to ensuring an accurate and effective flow of communication within the Bank, and also between the Bank, its shareholders, development partners and the public at large, by providing the highest quality of translation, interpretation and terminological services to the Institution. It also seeks to promote multilingualism to enhance communication among staff and with the Bank’s clients and partners.

The Position

• Under the general supervision of the Interpretation Division Manager, the Chief Interpreter (French) will provide high quality interpretation services (simultaneous and consecutive) at high-level meetings, events and functions of the Bank and contribute to the design and implementation of quality control mechanisms for Interpretation into French.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality interpretation at meetings of the Bank, especially at statutory meetings (BOG, BOD, Bank Group Annual Meetings, ADF Replenishment, GCI) and other high-level events;
• Lead large teams of interpreters at high-level flagship events such as the Africa Economic Conference(AEC) and the Africa Investment Forum(AIF) ;
• Play a leading role in the selection of freelance interpreters in the French booth for admission into the roster of freelance interpreters in accordance with the Guidance Note on the recruitment of consultants for Language Services;
• Represent the department on the joint SNFI/CHLS committee charged with drafting and updating the Guidance Note on the recruitment of language service consultants ;
• Serve as focal point for monitoring the implementation of the Guidance Note;
• Serve as interface with PSEG which is in charge of conference infrastructure to ensure that the interpretation booths and related conference facilities are in line with industry standards and follow up on any issues and complaints relating to interpreters’ working environment;
• Participate in the recruitment of Principal and Senior Interpreters in the French booth;
• Lead and chair working groups tasked with reviewing various issues related to interpretation services, policies and guidelines, drawing on industry best practice;
• Serve on the examination panels of Interpretation Schools with particular focus on the performance of graduating students in the French booth;
• Represent the Division on various committees as determined by the Division Manager, especially in preparation of high-level events, and perform any other duties as may be required;
• Act for the Division Manager, as and when necessary. In that capacity, plan, organize and supervise the activities of the Division.

Selection Criteria

• A minimum of a Master's degree or its equivalent in Conference Interpreting, or any  other related discipline;
• At least seven (7) years of professional experience in a similar organization, with increasing levels of responsibility. Relevant and practical experience in an international organization will be an asset.
• Ability to work under pressure, with calm and serenity, setting priorities and managing multiple tasks simultaneously;
• Capacity to analyze and monitor interpreters’ working conditions and handle related complaints as well as propose adequate measures to ensure that they are fully addressed;
• Ability to contribute to strategic thinking with a view to improving interpretation and other business processes of the Language Services Department;
•  Ability to design processes and criteria to be followed for the admission of freelance interpreters into CHLS’s roster of language service professionals.
• Ability to coach and mentor less experienced interpreters with a view to enhancing their performance
• Ability to manage complex interpretation requests and scenarios.

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Reference: ADB / 20 / 042
Location: Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Grade: PL3
Position N°: 50001312

The Complexes

• The main focus of the Vice Presidency for ‘Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization’ (PIVP) is on: (i) developing the private sector; (ii) deepening the financial sector; (iii) improving infrastructure (transport, urban, ICT; cross-cutting); (iv) accelerating industrialization; and (v) boosting intra-African trade.  
• PIVP plays the lead role in: (i) preparing and supervising Non-Sovereign Operations (NSO) in PIVP Sectors; (ii) coordinating NSO processes; (iii) developing and sharing relevant Sector Knowledge; (iv) support the Regions on Sovereign sector operations; and (v) managing Complex Sovereign operations.  
• PIVP combines analytical work and policy dialogue in its sector with financing of specific operations, be they loans or equity investments.

The Position

• The Chief Investment Officer is being recruited to originate, develop, and lead the due diligence up to Board approval, financial closure and first disbursement of private sector transactions in the industries & services sectors.
• Applicants will be considered based on their specific skills, expertise and background. Depending on the profile of candidates, the position could be based in Abidjan, Tunis, Nairobi or Pretoria.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the direct supervision of the Division Manager, the Chief Investment Officer will:
• Project Development and Processing
• Liaise and coordinate with other Investment Officers and Bank staff in business development and the origination of a good quality investment pipeline.
• Proactively identify potential investment partners and opportunities based on industry experience, reputation, market potential, financial capability, and strategic fit;
• Assess the attractiveness of specific investment opportunities with a strong focus on credit quality and development impact and make recommendations management.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with other departments, clients, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to develop specific investment opportunities;
• Prepare project appraisal reports for presentation to the department, review committees, senior management and finally to the Board of Directors.
• Execute loan, [equity, and mezzanine] financings including processing mandates, conducting due diligence, structuring deals, negotiating terms and documentation, arranging syndications, and processing internal approvals.
• Coordinate with sector colleagues, the internal approvals to proactively find pragmatic solutions to emerging/specific sector challenges.
• Develop investment promotion strategies in Africa, including targeting potential investors and promoting AfDB's products and services proactively;
• Work with the legal department to ensure that all deals have appropriate legal documentation and that financial close is achieved, and hand over projects to portfolio management staff.
•  Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to develop a strong pipeline for new investment opportunities.

Design Specific Innovative Transactions, Projects And Initiatives:

• Undertakes the work on aspects of investments and industrial development and aligns them with institutional objectives.
• Works with regional teams/country offices to design and implement sector development support programs;
• Evaluate, structure, negotiate, and close new transactions, with a strong focus on credit and asset quality (include processing mandates, due diligence, negotiating term sheets and other documentation, syndications and board approval);
• Provide support to other industry and portfolio teams in processing and supervising projects

External Liaison and Knowledge Sharing:

• Contribute to the documentation of lessons learned from investment operations and emerging best practices in areas of expertise
• Participate in and contribute to information and experience sharing sessions with internal and external stakeholders
• Participate in and contribute to activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building relating to AfDB’s investments/operations, products and initiatives.
• Provide peer review to other colleagues to share industry knowledge and information on respective sector
• Provide technical leadership and support to knowledge and lesson sharing approaches and events with internal and external stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to develop specific investment opportunities;

Policy and Project Evaluation:

• Provide input and comments on project, policy and other papers related to respective sector operations and development across a range of key themes and sectors.

Strategy, Planning and Reporting:

• Participate in relevant teams for planning and programming purposes.
• Contribute to and coordinate in the investment’s inputs development of strategies at regional level
• Assist in the development of the relevant Department’s knowledge management strategy, and assist in execution of this strategy;
• Coordinate closely with social, environmental, advisory and technical assistance colleagues in order to champion AfDB’s value to our clients' businesses, find pragmatic solutions to the specific sector challenges, and achieve sustainable development impact;

Selection Criteria

• Must have a minimum of a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance or other relevant field;
• Have a minimum of Seven (7) Years professional experience in project finance, banking, consultancy, with specific experience in Africa;
• Ability for business development, structure and negotiate deals;
• Strong analytical and financial structuring skills (including financial modeling experience) and sound business judgment
• Working experience in multinational organization in Africa and/or specialized experience in similar organization/s would be considered an advantage
• Demonstrates ability to coordinate, participate in, and act as a catalyst for, strategic cross-sector dialogues within the networks, across the country, among Bank colleagues and other development institutions, governments and other organizations.
• Knowledge of economic developments and market trends in Africa
• Ability to contribute to sound decisions and contribute to the execution of the decisions
• Ability to initiate, effectively and independently interact with the senior government officials, senior management of potential clients
• Strong 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.
• Excellent problem-solving capabilities applies business knowledge to the resolution of problems and identifies solutions to the benefit of the client (internal and external) and the organization.
• Excellent organizational, administrative, and time management skills
• Proven ability to work with limited supervision and efficiently to deliver under pressure and meet tight deadlines;
• Willingness to travel extensively and geographic flexibility;
• Excellent presentation skills
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing effectively in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language;
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint)