Job Vacancies at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

Position Number: 50093571
Location: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Position Grade: PL5

The Complex

• The Vice-Presidency for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery is responsible for operational relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of the Bank Group’s operational programs, and activities.
• The Vice Presidency for Regional Development will ensure that the Bank operates successfully across its Regional Member Countries and oversee the full implementation of all aspects of the Bank’s Regional Directorates. Within regional development, integration and business delivery complex the Bank has five (5) regional hubs one in each region: South Africa, North Africa, West Africa, East Africa and Central Africa. Each of the regions is headed by a Director General.

The Hiring Department

• The RDVP Front Office in charge of Portfolio Delivery and Impact (RDSA) focuses on coordinating the delivery of the Bank’s sovereign lending portfolio, strengthening its quality and impact, and reducing the share of cancellable operations, while accelerating disbursements.
• The RDSA supports and advises the VP on matters to strengthen the quality of the Bank’s portfolio in close coordination with the regional hubs to implement the Ten-Year Strategy (TYS), the High5s Agenda, and the work program of regional hubs. 
• RDSA provides strategic and operational support to the Directors General, with a view to ensuring the effective delivery of the lending program, strengthening the quality of the portfolio and maximizing the utilization of trust funds and co-financing arrangements.
• In performing this role, RDSA is expected to ensure the maintenance of a robust monitoring system, with a strategic focus on achieving the lending targets, while addressing start-up delays, slow procurement, slow disbursement, project supervision, project closure, and problematic projects.

The Position

• Under the supervision of the Director, Portfolio Delivery and Impact, the Senior Business Analyst will be an essential part of the RDVP Front Office and will work closely with the Lead Country Program Coordinators (CPCs); Lead Specialist, Budget and Results; and the Chief Program Officer and MIC TAF Coordinator.
• She/He will support the RDVP Front Office’s work program by managing all the data requirements and reporting relating to the Bank’s operations (pipeline, lending program, portfolio, etc.) across regions.
• The purpose is to ensure quality, accuracy and completeness of data, as well as to generate analytical reports that will support informed decision-making by all concerned internal stakeholders. 

Key Functions

• Collect, collate, process, provide, and maintain accurate data on the Bank’s operations across the regions (new, ongoing, and completed)
• Prepare spreadsheets for collection of data sources from regional hubs, analytical reports using Pivot tables and other data formats, and complex PowerPoint presentations using the data and graphics to be used by Senior Management. Specific attention will be put on the following data aspects related to the RDVP Complex’ Key Performance Indicators:
• Maintenance of RDVP operational performance dashboard which will include analysis of following indicators:
  • Status of Indicative Operational Pipeline (IOP)
  • Lending program processing schedules and status
  • Status of on-going projects in terms of cancellations, disbursements, unjustified special accounts, counterpart funding, project savings; and
  • Status of Project Completion Reports (PCRs) and Implementation Progress Reports (IPRs)
• Resource utilization analysis including Work Program Agreement (WPA) execution status reports, Staff analysis in relation to work program needs.
• Overall implementation status of RDVP KPIs
• Prepare regular and ad hoc reports using data sources from SAP and other dashboards on the management and performance of the portfolio, inclusive but not limited to project aging analysis, disbursement trends, loans and grants qualifying for cancellation, project completion reports and non-lending deliverables.
• Report on the accuracy and completeness of lending program and portfolio data in various corporate systems (e.g. SAP, BPPS, SRAS, etc.).
• Contribute to the preparation and monitoring of the Complex’s Annual Work Program and its regular updates using established schedules or as may be directed.
• Develop, maintain, and update data and report platforms that interface with existing corporate systems e.g. SAP, BPPS, BRAG, SRAS, etc. to seamless update data on pipeline, lending program processing, cancellable loans and grants, project completion reports due, WPA execution, etc.
• Represent RDVP front office as the key user on IT related corporate initiatives, such as Wakanda to ensure enhancing of IT systems in response to evolving operations requirements.
• Assist in the preparation of multimedia presentation of documents for Board presentation (including the preparation of charts, graphs, etc.) or any other documents as may be deemed necessary.
• Support other corporate exercises, including reporting on implementation of BDEV and audit recommendations, ADF policy commitments and GCI commitments.
• Assist with compilation and prioritization of information required to facilitate substantiated decisions or to serve as input to various documents.
• Build effective working relationships with, provide guidance to, and help strengthen capacities of Operations Assistants and Operations Data Analysts to ensure good data practices across regions and to ensure transfer of best practices across the delivery units at regional hubs.

Selection Criteria (including desirable skills, knowledge, and experience)

• At least a Master’s Degree in Information Technology, Management Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Management, or related discipline.
• Structured Query Language (SQL) Certification;
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in compiling management information, data analysis and formulation of data models
• Demonstrated experience in Data Management especially SAP in development or similar organizations
• Relevant experience with African Development Bank operations or sister multilateral development finance institutions
• Solid experience in creativity data visualization
• Experience working in a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary and professional environment.
• Comprehensive understanding of project structures, including project planning, communication management, procedures and critical success factors
• Acute knowledge and understanding of the elements essential for the effective delivery and measurement of development impacts, using data management and processing skills
• Ability to identify and create meaningful linkages across sectors to drive data management at country and regional levels
• Knowledge of the Bank’s (or other similar organization’s) systems and capabilities and ability to analyze business operations for further understanding of possible strengths and weaknesses which help to facilitate informed decision-making
• High level of expertise in data management, analysis, and visualization
• Deep knowledge of project cycle management
• Ability to make effective, timely and well-determined interventions for results delivery
• Ability to work under pressure in a multicultural and distributed organization
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other language
• Proficiency in MS Office platforms, especially pivot tables and other features of Excel and PowerPoint (up to mastery level) and expert knowledge of SAP.

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Position Number: 50067400
Location: N'djamena, Chad
Position Grade: LP5

The Complex

• The Agriculture, Human and Social Development (AHVP) Complex supports in implementing two of the five goals, namely “Feed Africa” and “Improve the Quality of Life for Africans”. The complex comprises four departments:

  • Agriculture and Agro-Industry Development (AHAI);
  • Agriculture Finance and Rural Development (AHFR);
  • Gender, Women and Civil Society; and
  • Water, Human and Social Development.

The Hiring Department

• The Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department provides support for the delivery of Feed Africa: Strategy for Agricultural Transformation in Africa, 2016-2025.
• The strategy aims to end hunger and rural poverty in the next decade through self-sufficiency in 18 priority commodity value chains specific to the continent’s agro-ecological zones. Realizing the objectives set forth in the strategy requires increased productivity; value addition/processing; investment in infrastructure; an enabling agribusiness environment; capital flows; and inclusivity, sustainability and effective nutrition.
• The Department Supports the effort to transform African agricultural systems for greater competitiveness, inclusivity and sustainability, and for enhanced job creation and poverty reduction.

The Position

• The Senior Agriculture and Rural Development Officer, who will be based in the Bank's Country Office in Chad, will contribute to the agenda for transforming agriculture in Africa.
• He/she will provide specific support to the Bank Group's operational activities in Chad, in the areas of agriculture, rural development and the environment.
• As a member of AHAI- RDGC2, he/she will also be responsible for initiating dialogue with the public authorities of the regional member countries, specifically with those of Chad, particularly with regard to the policies and activities of the African Development Bank to support national and sector policies and reforms in the field of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment.

Key Functions
Under the supervision and direction of the  Division Manager in Charge of Agriculture for the Central Africa Region, and liaising with the Country Manager for Chad, the Senior Agriculture and Rural Development Officer will perform the following functions:

Project Cycle Activities:

• Conduct operational activities for the preparation of agricultural and rural infrastructure development projects to support the agricultural policy in Chad and in other countries the Central Africa region if needed including reviewing notes, preparing of projects for Bank financing and defending projects/programmes before the Bank Board.
• Recruit consultants and/or organise and undertake field missions for the preparation, appraisal, supervision and control of Bank-financed projects and sector studies.
• Provide on a continuous basis, technical assistance and strategic advice to project management staff and professionals in Bank member countries for the proper implementation of the Bank's operational procedures for project administration.
• Organise regular meetings with project teams to ensure close monitoring of activities and resolve any operational difficulties.
• Monitor the effective completion of all project phases, including procurement management, monitoring disbursements, conducting regular audits, monitoring progress reports, etc., while ensuring compliance with the Bank’s rules and procedures.
• Coordinate with the Bank's financial department and national partners, the processing of disbursement requests, management of audit missions and monitoring of project financial implementation.
• Provide technical opinions to the Disbursement Division of the Bank on the eligibility of project expenditures.
• Review procurement files from regional member countries to ensure that they comply with the Bank Group’s procurement procedures and make proposals for actions to be taken by the Bank and the executing agencies.
• Review feasibility studies and progress reports on projects and make proposals for action by the Bank and executing agencies.
• Organise regular dialogue meetings with members of project implementation units and other development partners especially in the areas of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.
• Monitor the timely preparation and implementation of financing agreements related to Bank operations.
• Facilitate, lead, as needed, agricultural sector reviews, the preparation of agriculture and rural development projects, mid-term reviews and various missions (identification, preparation, evaluation, completion, etc.).
• Participate in Bank portfolio reviews in the country, and provide all relevant information for assigned projects.
• Prepare Project Completion Reports (PCRs) in accordance with the Bank's Operations Manual.

Knowledge Management:

• Identify and call upon, at strategic moments, key experts (individuals and institutions) in Africa to support beneficiaries in the design and implementation of projects, particularly in the field of Rural Development, the Agro-industry and the Environment.
• Contribute to the search for funding and partnerships, in order to ensure the development of knowledge and the initiation of thematic studies in the position’s sector areas.
• Contribute to fostering the creation of an environment conducive to knowledge management, including (i) providing practical assistance to implement projects to achieve the overall objectives, (ii) involving experts and resources in Africa, (iii) identifying innovative approaches, results and lessons learned from past experiences, (iv) ensuring rapid information sharing with national partners, (v) encouraging and supporting dissemination of results at level required for possible reproduction, (vi) ensuring the recruitment of consultants to undertake various knowledge management activities, etc.
• Provide technical expertise during Country Strategy Paper (CSP) preparation and review missions in the agriculture, agribusiness and environmental sectors.
• Contribute to the dissemination of information and ensure that lessons and recommendations are documented and quickly shared.

Partnerships and Dialogue:

• Represent the Bank at various meetings organised in Chad, related to the fields of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.
• Coordinate with national, regional and international partners.
• Represent the Bank in donor meetings, regional and international meetings, conferences, seminars and workshops on issues of agricultural development and natural resource management.
• Establish good communication between the different stakeholders.
• Within the Country and according to the needs, complete various dialogue and representation tasks assigned by the Country Manager.

Competencies (Skills, experience, and knowledge)

• Hold at least a Master’s Degree or equivalent Dgree in Agronomy, Rural Engineering, Natural Resource Management, or related fields.
• Have at least five (5) years of experience in the field of Rural Infrastructure and Development of Agricultural Value Chains, Formulation and Monitoring-Evaluation of Agricultural policies, or in related fields.
• Possess solid experience and proven track record in the design and execution of operations (including investment projects and operations focusing on agriculture and rural development) as well as in project management.
• Possess knowledge of the operational policies and programming practices of a multilateral organisation.
• Have a sound understanding of rural development, agribusiness, climate change and natural resource management issues in developing countries and a proven track record of the policies, procedures and operational practices of major bilateral or multilateral aid agencies in Africa, especially in Central Africa and the DRC, and be able to work effectively in all sectors.
• Exercise a true spirit of initiative, be results-oriented, and demonstrate leadership qualities.
• Possess the ability to implement innovative approaches, work autonomously and apply new methods to solving problems, while remaining effective in a dynamic, evolving and demanding institutional environment.
• Demonstrate sound critical thinking
• Possess the ability to anticipate needs and requests, and to conduct political discussions with government officials, and support strategic thinking on agricultural and rural development, agribusiness, natural resource management, the environment and climate change.
• Possess the ability to work harmoniously in a multicultural environment and to collaborate within teams and with other services.
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills in French, with a good working knowledge of English.
• Possess sound knowledge of standard applications of the Microsoft Office Suite.