Job Opportunities at African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

Reference: ADB/19/151
Location: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Grade: PL5
Position N°: 50093759

The Complex

• The President, plans, supervises and manages the business of the Bank Group. Under the direction of the Boards of Directors, the President conducts the business of the Bank and the African Development Fund and manages operations and activities in accordance with the Agreements establishing the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund.
• The President supervises several Departments and Units including Office of the President; Independent Development Evaluation Department; Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department; Compliance Review and Mediation Unit; Secretariat to the Sanctions Appeals Board; Administrative Tribunal; Office of the Auditor General; Group Risk Management Directorate; General Counsel and Legal Services Department; Communication and External Relations Department; Staff Integrity and Ethics Office and Office of the Secretary General and General Secretariat.

The Hiring Department/Divison:

• The purpose of the Communication and External Department is to plan, prepare and implement public relations and institutional communication programs designed to make the Bank better known by its various audiences so as to promote social and economic development in Africa, and to establish and maintain the Bank’s credibility and good reputation as Africa’s leading development finance institution.
• The Department is also responsible for enabling the Bank to understand better, how the institution is perceived both internally and externally.

The Position

• Under the general guidance and supervision of the Division Manager, Communication and External Relations - PCER.1, the incumbent will implement editing guidelines within PCER.1, as well as define an editorial policy for the Bank

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the overall supervision of the Division Manager, Communication and External Relations - PCER.1, the Communication Officer & Writer has the following responsibilities:

Writing Skills:

• Researching, writing, and editing content for online and external publication that reflects current African Development Bank practice and is of the quality and scope that meets the objectives of the Bank’s external and internal stakeholders
• Ensure that all information from organizational units is reviewed, edited and posted onto the Internet web platform and other designated channels.
• Proactively seeks to create content and information on the organization in various formats.
• Draft press releases, media-style briefs, web content, talking points, event notices and briefs in keeping with Bank style.
• Provide editorial and media coverage of high-level events, projects, programmes, initiatives and success stories for posting on the external website.
• Act as a news desk officer, researching and writing news and feature stories

Media Relations:

• Respond to requests from the media and solicit press interest in a range of Bank projects, products and issues.
• Maintain and update media contact lists/databases,
• Other communications and external relations duties as needed.

Selection Criteria

• A Master’s degree in Journalism, Communications or a related subject
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in print (news agency or publication), with at least 3 years as a news writer with strong media relations skills.
• At least 2 years’ experience in multilateral organizations
• Outstanding written and verbal skills, particularly the ability to synthesize complex messages and tailor them into simple, clear and non-academic language for different audiences.
• Excellent command of English or French; ability to write strong copy and produce well-written press releases, feature articles, and publications.
• Experience in the fields of finance, economics, agriculture or human development is welcome.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with an ability to work in a multicultural, multilingual environment.
• Ability to undertake relevant research and analysis and work in a fast-paced environment newsroom environment
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, with a working knowledge of the other. Proficiency in both languages is an asset

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Reference: ADB/19/152
Location: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Grade: GS7
Position N°: 50078463

 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. Independent Development Evaluation Department (BDEV); Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (BCRM); Secretariat to the Sanctions Appeals Board (BSAB); Administrative Tribunal (BATR) report to the Board.

The Hiring Department

• The overarching mission of the African Development Bank’s Independent Development Evaluation is to enhance the development effectiveness of the Bank in its regional member countries through independent and influential evaluations, oversight over self-evaluation processes and products, and proactive engagement in evaluation partnerships and knowledge-sharing activities.
• The core mandate of the Independent Development Evaluation Department is to conduct independent evaluation studies, provide relevant lessons, develop and harmonize standards and practices, support evaluation capacity development together with partner agencies and attest to the validity of both processes and the results of African Development Bank’s self-evaluation activities.
• The Independent Development Evaluation Department also collaborates and exchanges information with bilateral and multilateral development agencies’ evaluation departments, and undertakes joint evaluation of co-financed projects and programs.
• The Independent Development Evaluation Department has three divisions: the Infrastructure, Private Sector and Regional Integration Evaluations Division (BDEV.1), the Agriculture, Human Development, Governance, Corporate and Country Evaluations Division (BDEV.2) and the Knowledge Management Outreach and Capacity Development Division (BDEV.3). The Divisions 1 and 2 focus on undertaking evaluations whilst the Division 3 on Knowledge Management Outreach and Capacity Development.
• The BDEV.2 division is primarily responsible for evaluations related to country programs and strategies, institutional processes and reforms, as well as interventions related to the Bank's two Top priorities of "Feeding Africa" and " Improve the quality of life of African people "and the governance, out of the Top 5.

The Position

• BDEV conducts evaluation studies of the policies and operations of the African Development Bank. The main objective of the Research Assistant’s position is to provide support for these studies, normally under the day-to-day supervision of a Principal Evaluator.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the direct supervision of the Task Manager, the Research Assistant identifies sources of relevant data and information, compiles, analyses and presents this information for internal use - for the preparation of evaluation background documents and final summary reports, presentations, and dissemination products.

The incumbent undertakes the following specific duties:

• Identifying and accessing possible sources of existing information relevant to the subject of study (normally Bank Group policies, projects and programmes) and extracting the information;
• Assisting in the preparation of evaluation missions conducted by professional staff and/or consultants and participating on missions as required;
• Providing logistical support to the BDEV team during evaluation conferences and workshops both within and outside of the Headquarters;
• Identifying and contacting internal and external sources and other stakeholders to seek required information.
• Consolidating, categorizing and maintaining background information and records on relevant issues, developing related databases and information systems and updating them accordingly;
• Reporting on developments within the work programme; and
• Performing other duties as may arise.

Selection Criteria

• Holds at least a Bachelor field (such as economics, development studies, political science, international relations, business administration, policy analysis, statistics, or other related field).
• At least five (5) years of experience working in development organizations and/or in research institutions in areas related to data analysis.
• Experience working in independent evaluation function.
• Operational effectiveness.
• Problem-solving.
• Demonstrates professional expertise.
• Client orientation.
• Team working and relationship management.
• Knowledge of independent evaluation principles, standards and procedures.
• Knowledge in data analysis techniques and tools.
• Knowledge of design, implementation, management and monitoring of policies, programmes and projects.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications and preferably SAP.
• Competence in the use of quantitative / qualitative analysis tools (SPSS, STATA, Atlas.ti, nvivo, for example).