Job Vacancies at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

Location: Yaounde, Republic of Cameroon

Position Grade: PL3

Position Number: 50076429

Posting Date: 21-Dec-2021

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 (i) strengthen the enabling environment for private sector [and financial sector] development conducive to inclusive growth and sustainable development, (ii) support the development of reliable and sustainable infrastructure, including cities and urban development, and (iii) 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 transport projects and programs; and non-lending knowledge products to formulate and implement transport sector policies and strategies, sector reforms to ensure best practices are mainstreamed in policy, planning, programming, institutional governance, and maintenance and operation. 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 Chief Transport Specialist will support the implementation of the Bank Group's vision for transport infrastructure and related services, and its future prospective areas of intervention in the sector.

The main work objectives of the position are the following:

1. Leading or contributing to the development of transport infrastructure and the sector as a whole, including strengthening and maintaining the Bank Group's understanding of the sector’s role in national development;
2. Lead the Preparation, supervision and implementation transport sector projects;
3. Lead donor coordination and dialogue through Country Transport Sector Working Group of development partners active in the transport sector;
4.  Mobilizing resources, particularly through co-financing and other opportunities, for targeted activities in the Bank Group’s work in the transport sector;
5. Working with the relevant national authorities and other stakeholders to advise on future investments in the transport sector by the Bank Group; and,
6. Working with other transport sector specialists in the region as well as the economists in the regional office to contribute to efforts in knowledge management so as to ensure best practices and lessons learned related to transport development, and institutional/governance approaches are mainstreamed in project design.

KEY FUNCTIONS:

Under the supervision of the Sector Director and the relevant Regional Sector Manager in the regions or Sector Manager at HQ, the incumbent will be required to:

Play a key role in the development of policies and strategies for the transport sector within the Bank and in RMCs in consultation with relevant government agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders.

• Advise Governments on issues pertaining to policy and institutional reforms in the transport sector, especially in the areas of Planning and Programming, transport network development, asset management/maintenance, and Private Sector Participation.
• Coordinate the Participation of Transport sector specialists to country and regional programming activities (CSP and RISP) and ensure that key sector issues and proposed solutions are adequately reflected in the resultant country/regional programming documents.
• Conduct analytical and sector work to inform and underpin the downstream intervention of the Bank in project and program design in the transport sector.

Lead the development of pipeline and lending program for transport projects and programs:

• Provide technical advice with particular regard to transport sector projects (roads/highways, ports, airports, inland waterways and railways), as well as other infrastructure projects;
• Identify suitable projects for inclusion in the Bank Group lending program in the transport sector and be responsible for the formulation of the project concept note identifying key development issues, project/program objectives, risks assessments, budget and timetables for management decisions;
• Advise member countries on the preparation, organization and execution of feasibility studies and assist in drafting Terms of Reference; review the progress reports of studies; select the components to comprise the eventual project; review and supervise the work of consultants engaged by the Borrowers to the assigned projects/studies;
• Lead the preparation and appraisal of transport projects and programs involving broad planning of resources and techno-judgment of alternative ways of shaping projects towards optimal contribution to development objectives; prepare and process the appraisal report involving detailed assessments of technical aspects, economic and financial feasibility, environmental and social safeguards, fiduciary issues, institutional arrangements, etc.

Lead or Coordinate the monitoring of implementation progress of on-going transport projects, programs and technical assistance funded by the Bank:

• Supervise projects; play a key role in following up the progress of projects; supervise and monitor procurement activities for goods, works and services in accordance with Bank Group’s rules; review the submissions from the Borrowers, including tender lists, bidding documents, bid evaluation reports, award recommendation and contracts documents; study and analyze data submitted by Borrower; verify and approve contracts for disbursement of funds;
• Lead or participate in project midterm review missions, sector portfolio review missions and country portfolio review missions and prepare the related reports;
• Lead project completion report mission and collect adequate data for the preparation of the Bank Group’s project completion-report; advise the Bank Group on lessons derived from the project which will guide future intervention in the sector and in the relevant countries; and
• Manage fiduciary responsibilities including procurement and ensuring compliance with the Bank guidelines and the provisions of loan/grant agreements.

Participate in sector dialogue and donor coordination activities:

• Advise regional member countries on Bank Group’s financing requirements; act as a key person to liaise with government officials and spokesman of the Bank Group in the transport sector; negotiate sensitive and delicate policy and sector reforms issues with borrowers and other parties
• Coordinate with other development partners and RMCs for consistency of approach, exchange of experiences, and continuous improvement of practices and integration of transport sector policy commitments to the management of projects.
• Collaborate with other development partners in the transport sector for consistency and harmonization of approach, exchange of experience, partnership and co-financing where appropriate.

Contribute to dissemination of best practices in Transport integrating a broad spectrum of issues:

• Play a leadership role in Developing and maintaining a knowledge base in the transport sector, keeping abreast of the latest developments and issues related to policy and planning, institutional development, design and construction, financing, operation and maintenance, and regulation;
• Provide support to heads of executing agencies, in terms of advice and expertise concerning different transport sector issues and priorities, technical aspects of projects and Bank rules of procedure, particularly relating to procurement of goods and services and disbursement; and,
• Lead outreach and advocacy activities, dissemination and knowledge building around transport sector issues.

COMPETENCIES (skills, experience and knowledge):

• Hold at least a Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Transportation Economics or related fields.
• A minimum of seven (7) years’ experience in the transport sector with proven ability to work on policy, institutional and financing aspects of transport projects, construction and maintenance, contract management and procurement, planning and programming of capital and maintenance works, knowledge of private sector participation, and the connection to economic development and poverty reduction.
• Demonstrated and strong track record in identification, preparation, appraisal, and supervision of public sector Transport & Logistics projects in development finance institutions or similar organizations;
• Thorough Knowledge and Experience in Development and understanding of policy making process; project and program design, execution, monitoring and evaluation;
• 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;
• Ability to lead a team of specialists and to take forward projects, often in collaboration with other partners;
• Effective consultation and advisory skills;
• Communicate and write effectively in either French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); Knowledge of SAP .

go to method of application »

Location: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Position Grade: PL4

Position Number: 50104474

Posting Date: 21-Dec-2021

THE COMPLEX:

The Vice Presidency for ‘Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth’ is a Sector Complex focusing on the Bank’s Ten Years Strategy, High 5s priorities of “Light up and Power Africa”. The complex’s objectives are (i) to develop policy and strategy; (ii) to provide deep sector technical expertise to the Regions by gathering pool of experienced individuals who can be consulted for their expertise on complicated transactions; (iii) to develop new financing instruments; (iv) to act as spokesperson to represent the Bank with external stakeholders on all aspects of “Light Up and Power Africa”. The Complex will focus on areas of Power systems, policy and regulation, renewable energy; and, Climate and Green Growth.

THE DEPARTMENT/DIVISION:

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Department has the broad objective of promoting the development of renewable energy - both large and small scale - and promoting energy efficiency along with clean cooking. More specifically, the department is mandated to (i) function as a one-stop source / hub for renewables programs/projects, energy efficiency and clean cooking (ii) focus on “enabling market development” with an emphasis on developing new approaches / areas (e.g. mini-grid programs, thematic or country focused funds) and play a lead role in establishing region- or country-specific programs (iii)  mobilize concessional resources as part of the structuring of blended finance solutions for projects and programs. The Department also hosts the Desert to Power (DtP) Taskforce. The DtP initiative aims to accelerate economic development in the Sahel region through the deployment of solar technologies at scale. Specifically, DtP proposes to deliver electricity to 160 million people on-grid and 90 million off-grid and to add solar energy generation capacity of up to 10 GW through a combination of public and private interventions. The initiative covers 11 countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan). The initial rollout will focus on the G5 Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger). It aims to develop and implement electrification program based on solar power generation including grid based, mini-grid and off-grid access scale up for households, social and economic infrastructure including energy for productive uses.

THE POSITION

The Energy Specialist (Desert to Power) will play a lead role across a range of activities linked to the development, financing, and deployment of renewable energy projects, including a coordinating role in the context of the Desert to Power Taskforce. The job holder will focus on (i) the identification, preparation and implementation of bankable renewable energy generation projects, including both grid-connected and decentralized technologies (ii) support the design and implementation of both public and private sector initiatives, including investment facilities; (iii) support Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in particular in the Sahel with designing investment scale-up programs to attract private sector players, along with the mobilization of concessional resources and implementation of innovative blended finance solutions; and (iv) more broadly coordinate the various activities undertaken in the context of the Desert to Power initiative.

KEY FUNCTIONS:

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Division Manager – Renewable Energy, the Principal Renewable Energy Specialist (Desert to Power) will perform the following:

• Coordinate the various activities of the Desert to Power Taskforce in mainly in Burkina Faso and in the subregion, ensure regular engagement and communication with internal and external partners including the country focal points, project implementation units and prepare regular updates on the implementation of the initiative.
• Prepare, appraise, negotiate, and supervise Desert to Power projects in Burkina Faso and the subregion.  These include solar generation plants, transmission and distribution, regional transmission interconnections, public-private partnership projects, and electricity access projects. S/he will actively participate in overseeing implementation of energy operations with the aim to enhance quality and accelerate implementation.
• Assist Burkina Faso, and regional member countries in structuring renewable energy and energy access scale-up programs, including Independent Power Producer (IPP), green mini-grids and solar home systems scale-up programs, engaging with relevant stakeholders on aspects of enabling policy and regulatory environment.
• Lead project origination and business development activities in Burkina Faso and the subregion, with a view to developing a pipeline of sustainable energy investments to which AfDB’s full range of financial instruments, including concessional finance could be applied.
• Contribute to the preparation of knowledge and analytical work for to inform country-focused strategy work as well as new operations in renewable energy.
• Undertake any other task that the Division Manager or Director may assign.

COMPETENCIES (skills, experience and knowledge)

• Hold at least a Master’s degree in Energy, Renewable Energy, Engineering, Business Administration or related subjects;
• Have a minimum of six (6) years professional experience at project level, broad knowledge of all energy sub-sectors, including renewable energy technologies and business models.
• Proven ability to interact competently with, as well as to assess and provide technical advisory services to, both public and private sector stakeholders in the renewable energy space;
• Experience in Multilateral or Development Bank / Development Financial Institutions operations, preferably in an African context, not mandatory but desirable;
• Good understanding of public and private sector financing, experience in resource mobilization and structuring of blended finance solutions.
• Experience in forging and managing relationships with a variety of stakeholders - local organizations, governments, and financing institutions.
• Demonstrated track record in the management of energy projects
• Full knowledge of the principles of project cycle and project implementation.
• Strong interpersonal and client orientation skills, with proven experience in coordinating various activities and diverse teams.
• Communicate and write effectively in French and English, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); Knowledge of SAP.