Job Vacancies at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

Position Number: 50092395
Location: Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Position Grade: EL5

The Complex

• The core mandate of the Vice Presidency (ECVP) is to lead the Bank Group on prioritizing the generation, analysis, dissemination, brokering and implementation of relevant knowledge solutions in all High-5 operational priorities and the cross-cutting themes of its Ten-Year Strategy.
• Such solutions must be a clear response to priority development challenges facing regional member countries (RMCs), individually or collectively and need to involve RMCs in both the planning and implementation of the solutions.
• The solutions include:
  • Research on major development issues facing Africa and their relation to global economic governance and other major global public goods;
  • Country diagnostics and future perspectives;
  • Policy dialogue and advisory services;
  • Economic, sector, and thematic knowledge work;
  • Improving national and sub-regional statistical systems;
  • Preparation, design and support to implementation of public financial management and Governance operations;
  • Capacity development for policy formulation and implementation;
  • Technical assistance and advice related to RMCs’ management of natural resources; and
  • Knowledge dissemination and development of national, regional, and inter-regional knowledge networks.

The Hiring Department
Overall, the main functions of the Statistics Department (ECST) are:

• The collection, processing and dissemination of statistical information gathered from national and international sources, particularly in areas of the Bank’s corporate strategy and the High-5 operational priorities across Africa;
• The standardization of statistical methods, classifications and definitions used by national agencies to benefit from the use of internationally agreed common methodologies and approaches, thus achieving economies of scale;
• The coordination of international, continental and sub-regional statistical programs and activities with other development partners;
• Technical cooperation and capacity building on statistical services in the Bank’s RMCs at their request; and
• Supporting the internal data needs of the Bank Group by compiling and disseminating statistical information for statistical activities, including on results measurement, research, policy, and financial work, among others.

The Position

• The African Development Bank Group is currently going through an exciting period of strategic and structural fine-tuning, moving towards a more collaborative, cross-cutting way of working.
• As part of that change, the ECVP Complex is leading on the repositioning of the Bank Group as an innovative and dynamic organization that works effectively as one.
• An important element of this will be to strengthen its public profile and policy impact, embedding a critical understanding of economics across all aspects of the Bank Group’s work, including in its engagements with regional member countries, as well as its external engagement with decision-makers and opinion formers and other stakeholders.
• The Director of the Statistics Department (ECST) will contribute substantially to the Bank Group’s conceptualization, design, implementation and quality assurance of all the Bank’s on statistics. Specifically, the Director of ECST will provide leadership to the Bank’s Statistics team to support effective delivery on the various functions listed above.
• The successful candidate will be part of the senior leadership in the Complex and across the Bank, play a key role in developing the public profile of the institution’s knowledge work and lead outreach to a broad range of external stakeholders while also managing a dynamic team of professionals.

Key Functions
Under the supervision and guidance of the Chief Economist/Vice President for Economics Research, Policy Dialogue and Knowledge Management, the Director will implement the following tasks:

Plan, Organize, Manage, and Supervise the Activities of the Department:

• Lead the Department, including setting goals, recruiting top notch staff and provide leadership to deliver high quality statistical products;
• Provide intellectual and strategic leadership in the development of Statistics as a continuous process across RMCs;
• Manage human and financial resources of the Department;
• Build partnerships with internal and external stakeholders and engage at the most senior levels to coordinate the Bank’s statistical activities to enable consistent monitoring and evaluation of the Bank’s strategic goals.
• Provide efficient and high-quality services to achieve the set objectives.
• Develop and significantly grow the Bank’s statistical program.
• Initiate and introduce necessary changes to ensure the Department’s activities respond to current and emerging data needs.

Plan, manage and advise on up-to-date approaches of data collection, processing dissemination and utilization to inform applied research on African development issues by the Bank Group and its Stakeholders. This involves among other issues:

• Advocate for methodological coherence through the harmonization of statistics and availing of up- to-date metadata to aid cross-country comparison of key aggregates in collaboration with other development partners and in liaison with the Operations Departments of the Bank.
• Avail and promote the necessary data dissemination tools across all RMCs and maintaining the same with a view of enabling real time sharing of development data to inform the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), (Agenda 2030); Agenda 2063, the HIGH 5s and a host of other national development initiatives across countries.
• Establish and maintain relations with other development partners involved in producing data to inform timely decision-making.
• Represent the Bank in international and regional conferences, seminars, and workshops

Work Program Validation and Execution:

• Review and validate the objectives and work program for the department, ensuring alignment to the Bank, Complex and department strategic priorities.
• Review and validate the budget, and its effective implementation.
  Report on the work program execution and propose alternative and corrective measures as needed.
• Actively contribute to the designing and monitoring of the department key performance indicators.

Technical Oversight on the Department Activities:

• Work closely with the Bank’s Regional and Sector Departments to assess priority statistical data requirements to support the Bank’s operations and analysis of the development needs of member countries.
• Manage the Bank’s resources dedicated to statistical data collection and management for increased operational and institutional efficiency in delivery of development goals, in addition to providing oversight of the implementation of the Department’s administrative budget.
• Provide the Bank and its clients with technical assistance, advisory services, and training to enhance capacity of national statistics bureaus in data collection and management for informed policy making in the RMCs.
• Work with the Africa Development Institute (ECAD) to design and implement indicators for public service delivery in the RMCs.
• Work with the Macroeconomics Policy, Forecasting and Research Department (ECMR) and the Country Economists Department (ECCE) on the production of the Africa Economic Outlook and Regional Economic Outlook reports.
• Work in collaboration with the Resource Mobilization and Partnership Department (FIRM) to identity and mobilise resources to support work program implementation in the Department. sources of funds for training.
• Oversee the preparation of monthly statistics briefs for the Bank’s Senior Management by African countries and regions to inform the Bank’s knowledge work, technical assistance and policy dialogue in the Regional Member Countries.
• Regularly publish other data updates, including Statistical Yearbook and Africa Statistics Pocketbook, as well as books and reports on statistics and statistical methods.
• Work with National Statistical Bureaus to validate and disseminate relevant data in relevant Ministries for informed policymaking in African countries.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Chief Economist/Vice President for Economics Research, Policy Dialogue and Knowledge Management.

People and Talent Management:

• Ensure the Department is strategically staffed for effective delivery of the capacity strategic of the Bank Group as defined in annual work programs of the Department.
• Build, motivate, mentor, and maintain an effective team
• Put in place, with the assistance of the Human Resource Department, talent management mechanisms, to build a talent pool for the Department and maintain effective delivery and business continuity.
• Build and maintain a network of experts and institutions to support the Bank’s data collection and data management processes.
• Oversee the development and implementation of protocols for inter-Departmental Bank-wide collaboration in data collection, data management and utilization in Africa.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Economics or other relevant discipline. A PhD will be a strong asset.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of extensive and progressive experience in the field of statistics and/or data management in a similar organization, five (5) years of which must be at a managerial level.
• Proven knowledge and experience in developing and managing big data techniques in development contexts and experience in the transforming statistical agencies and bureaus in Africa or elsewhere.
• Proven ability to build and manage international teams of experts with diverse cultural and disciplinary backgrounds.
• Strong knowledge of African economic and development issues; strategic thinking mind-set, and strong capacity to analyse situations from the perspective of stakeholders and translate strategic thinking into implementation.
• Ability to build and manage strategic partnerships with a results-oriented mind-set.
• Strong ability to translate development challenges into knowledge leverage opportunities with a solid knowledge of andragogy.
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills coupled to superior monitoring and evaluation abilities.
• High degree of diplomacy, discretion, and tact with proven ability to function under uncertainties.
• Extensive and in-depth experience on statistical and/or economic development issues in Africa.
• Strong analytical and empirical skills for interpreting data and informing decision- or policy- making.
• Familiarity with the roles of other development finance institutions in addressing the data needs for SDGs & the High 5s agendas across Africa.
• Ability to think strategically and to design long term plans and programs in line with strategic priorities.
• Good leadership skills and ability to attract, motivate and retain high quality professional staff.
• Demonstrated ability to take prudent business risks, develop innovative approaches and make effective, timely and well-determined decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to present and win support for ideas, a good listener and cultural sensitivity, commitment to diversity and capacity to initiate and manage innovations and change.
• Proven ability to build partnerships with a broad range of clients and deliver results that meet the needs and long-term interests of clients within and outside the Bank.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in French or English. Good working knowledge of both languages will be an advantage.
• Competence in the use of standard Office Suite applications.

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Position Number: 50092394
Location: Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Position Grade: EL5

The Complex

• The core mandate of the Vice Presidency (ECVP) is to lead the Bank Group on prioritizing the generation, analysis, dissemination, brokering and implementation of relevant knowledge solutions in all High-5 operational priorities and the cross-cutting themes of its Ten-Year Strategy. Such solutions must be a clear response to priority development challenges facing regional member countries (RMCs), individually or collectively and need to involve RMCs in both the planning and implementation of the solutions.
• The solutions include:
  • (i) research on major development issues facing Africa and their relation to global economic governance and other major global public goods;
  • (ii) country diagnostics and future perspectives;
  • (iii) policy dialogue and advisory services;
  • (iv) economic, sector, and thematic knowledge work;
  • (v) improving national and sub-regional statistical systems;
  • (vi) preparation, design and support to implementation of public financial management and Governance operations;
  • (vii) capacity development for policy formulation and implementation; (viii) technical assistance and advice related to RMCs’ management of natural resources; and
  • (vii) knowledge dissemination and development of national, regional, and inter-regional knowledge networks.

The Hiring Department

• The Macroeconomics Policy, Forecasting and Research Department is dedicated to the development and delivery of an effective and robust strategy for the production, brokerage and dissemination of high quality knowledge work on various economic development issues in Africa.
• The department provides technical support to the Bank’s operations in regional member countries (RMCs) through rigorous analytical work in the areas of its Ten-Year Strategy, and the High-5 operational priorities.
• Likewise, the department partners with various internal and external stakeholders to support or otherwise promote in impactful policy dialogue with decision-making bodies within and outside of the Bank.
• The activities of the department are structured around the Macroeconomic Policy, Debt Sustainability and Forecasting on one side, and the Microeconomics, Institutional and Development Impact on the other.

The Positions

• The African Development Bank Group is currently going through an exciting period of strategic and structural fine-tuning, moving towards a more collaborative, cross-cutting way of working.
• As part of that change, the ECVP Complex is leading on the repositioning of the Bank Group as an innovative and dynamic organisation that works effectively as one.
• An important element of this will be to strengthen its public profile and policy impact, embedding a critical understanding of economics across all aspects of the Bank Group’s work, including in its research projects and policy advocacy, as well as its external engagement with decision-makers, opinion formers and other stakeholders.
• The Director of the Macroeconomics Policy, Forecasting and Research Department will contribute substantially to the Bank Group’s conceptualisation, design, implementation and quality assurance of all the Bank’s knowledge work. The successful candidate will be part of the senior leadership in the Complex and across the Bank, play a key role in developing the public profile of the institution’s work and lead outreach to a broad range of external stakeholders while also managing a dynamic team of professionals.
• The African Development Bank is looking for a person with a strong economics background, who is a clear, creative thinker with developed influencing skills, who can build relationships with and influence key players across academia, private and public sectors and civil society.
• Under the overall direction of the Vice President, the overall purpose of the role is:
• To help provide strategic vision, delivery and leadership on economic policy and research at the Bank Group, and to inform and shape its work with sound analysis and direction.
• To enhance and develop the Bank Group’s external knowledge profile, its influence and impact. This will be achieved through credible and persuasive communication of the institution’s strategic ambition to key audiences: RMCs, policymakers, opinion-formers, the media, as well as other stakeholders.
• To build up, lead, manage, mentor and coach a first-rate group of research economists, statisticians and policy analysts to strengthen the capacity of the Bank on country and regional policy dialogue.

Key Functions

• Under the supervision and guidance of the Chief Economist/ Vice President for Economics Research, Policy Dialogue and Knowledge Management, the Director will perform the following duties:

Work Program Validation and Execution:

• Review and validate the objectives and work program of the Department, ensuring alignment to the strategic priorities of the department, the Complex and the Bank.
• Monitor their execution and provide guidance as needed to the teams.
• Review and validate the budget, and its effective implementation.
• Report on the work program execution and propose alternative and corrective measures as needed.
• Actively contribute to the designing and monitoring of the corporate key performance indicators.

Technical Oversight on the Department’s Activities:

• Provide the Bank Group and member countries with economic intelligence on macroeconomic developments, projections of the most widely used economic and financial variables relating to Africa's economy and Bank Group operations.
• Analyze regional member countries’ economies with emphasis on the HI-5s, using cutting-edge techniques and assessing regional and continental development strategies with particular emphasis on debt-sustainability analysis and impact of major exogenous shocks on macroeconomic aggregates and living standards.
• Conduct or participate in special studies aimed at improving the strategies and programming of Bank Group operations.
• Develop appropriate analytical tools for the purpose of streamlining Bank Economic and Sector Work on critical areas, such as macroeconomic analysis and impact evaluation of development projects.
• Coordinate the preparation of the Bank Group's flagship reports.
• Supervise the processing of the Bank's major publications, including the African Development Report, the African Development Review, and the annual statistical publication.
• Prepare and process major statements, speeches and briefs for the President and Vice-Presidents, for the high-level meetings, conferences and visits to the regional member countries.

People Management:

• Ensure the department has the appropriate skills-mix at any time for effective delivery of the objectives defined in the work program.
• Review and validate the staffing needs and build with the Human Resources department the required recruitment plans.
• Assess work performance, appraise staff potential and determine training needs.
• Put in place, with the assistance of the Human Resources department, talent management mechanisms, to build a talent pool for the department for business continuity.
• Organize effective delegation of responsibilities by empowering staff at all levels.

Relations with Stakeholders:

• Ensure effective collaboration with the other departments of the Complex.
• Work closely with operational departments to ensure relevance of knowledge and research work to the Bank’s operations and projects.
• Promote and maintain relations with institutions dealing with economic research and development policies, especially as relating to Africa.
• Serves as Acting Chief Economist/ Vice President for Economics Research, Policy Dialogue and Knowledge ManagementComplex, when required.
• Performs other duties assigned by the Chief Economist/Vice President.

 Competencies (skills, experience and knowledge)

• Hold at least a Ph.D. Degree from a reputable University in Economics or other relevant discipline.
• At least 10-15 years of relevant experience, of which at least 5 years should have been exercised at senior management level. (Prior work in multilateral, bilateral or regional development agencies a plus).
• An excellent understanding of contemporary debates in economic policy, broadly understood, both in the Africa and elsewhere, informed by both orthodox and heterodox economic theory (a plus for one with academic links with other social sciences researchers on development issues);
• Strong capacity in macroeconomic and microeconomic research with a traceable record of publications in peer reviewed reputable journals in the same field or relevant subject.
• A proven track record of conceptualizing, implementing and managing policy-oriented macro- and/or micro-economics research, including ensuring quality of high-level research output and knowledge leverage, dissemination and outreach.
• Strong familiarity with the role of other development finance institutions in facilitating economic reform knowledge and addressing poverty reduction in developing countries.
• Strong technical and quantitative skills, and in particular, the use of statistical and econometric methods in the analysis of economic development issues and in relation.
• Strong planning and organizational skills, including a proven ability to think strategically, seeing the big picture without sacrificing the details, negotiation skills and team building skills, as well as a credible ability to influence and present ideas.
• Capacity to connect, understand and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to handle the high-level demands of a complex organization, including the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Impeccable oral and written communication skills in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Competence in the use of standard Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP is highly desirable.

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Position Number: 50092397
Location: Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Position Grade: EL5

The Complex

• The core mandate of the Vice Presidency (ECVP) is to lead the Bank Group on prioritizing the generation, analysis, dissemination, brokering and implementation of relevant knowledge solutions in all High-5 operational priorities and the cross-cutting themes of its Ten-Year Strategy.
• Such solutions must be a clear response to priority development challenges facing regional member countries (RMCs), individually or collectively and need to involve RMCs in both the planning and implementation of the solutions.
• The solutions include:
  • (i) Research on major development issues facing Africa and their relation to global economic governance and other major global public goods;
  • (ii) Country diagnostics and future perspectives;
  • (iii) Policy dialogue and advisory services;
  • (iv) Economic, sector, and thematic knowledge work;
  • (v) Improving national and sub-regional statistical systems;
  • (vi) Preparation, design and support to implementation of public financial management and Governance operations;
  • (vii) Capacity development for policy formulation and implementation;
  • (viii) Technical assistance and advice related to RMCs’ management of natural resources; and
  • (vii) Knowledge dissemination and development of national, regional, and inter-regional knowledge networks.

The Hiring Department

• The African Natural Resources Management and Investment Centre (ECNR) is an interdisciplinary and primarily non-lending department of the African Development Bank with a mandate to assist the African countries maximize development outcomes derived from the full breadth of their natural renewable resource endowments (water, forestry, land and fishery) and non-renewable ones (oil, gas and minerals).
• To achieve this, the Center provides practical knowledge and expertise, advisory services, technical assistance and advocacy for improved and transparent management of the renewable and non-renewable natural resources of the Bank Group’s Regional Member Countries (RMCs).
• The Center is also the focal point for Bank Group’s collaboration activities with African governments, regional institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations (CSOs) and development partners in activities in the natural resources sector.
• The Center provides African countries with practical, solution-focused products, tools and services to increase their capacity to achieve inclusive and sustained growth through effective management of and investment in natural resources wealth by delivering practical solutions on policy, legislative and investment decisions in the sector. In this regard, the Center also acts as a trusted advisor in dialogue between African governments and private investors by providing strategic advice negotiators to ensure that the interests of RMCs are at the forefront of investment agreements.
• Internally within the Bank, the Center seeks to bring cohesion to the Bank’s strategies in natural resources sectors by providing a single lens through which the institution tackles natural resources governance.

The Position

• The African Development Bank Group is currently going through an exciting period of strategic and structural fine-tuning, moving towards a more collaborative, cross-cutting way of working.
• As part of that change, the ECVP Complex is leading on the repositioning of the Bank Group as an innovative and dynamic organisation that works effectively as one. An important element of this will be to strengthen its public profile and policy impact, embedding a critical understanding of economics across all aspects of the Bank Group’s work, including in its engagements with regional member countries, as well as its external engagement with decision-makers and opinion formers and other stakeholders.
• The Director of ECNR will contribute substantially to the Bank Group’s conceptualisation, design, implementation and quality assurance of all the Bank’s strategic work in the area of natural resources management and investment. Specifically, the Director of ECNR will lead the implementation of the Bank Group’s strategy and work program on natural resource management and investment following approval by the Bank Group’s Board of Directors in accordance with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy and its High 5 priorities, and especially the three-year business plan for capacitating regional member countries in managing renewable and non-renewable resources in order to improve development outcomes.
• The successful candidate will be part of the senior leadership in the Complex and across the Bank, play a key role in developing the public profile of the institution’s work and lead outreach to a broad range of external stakeholders while also managing a dynamic team of professionals.

Under the overall direction of the Vice President, the overall purpose of the role is:

• To help provide strategic vision, delivery and leadership on natural resource management and investment at the Bank Group, and to inform and shape its work with sound analysis and direction.
• To enhance and develop the Bank Group’s external knowledge profile, its influence and impact on the management of natural resources.
• This will be achieved through credible and persuasive communication of the institution’s strategic ambition to key audiences: RMCs, policymakers, opinion-formers, the media, as well as other stakeholders.
• To build up, lead, manage, mentor and coach a first-rate group of professionals to strengthen the capacity of the Bank Group on country and regional policy dialogue on natural resources management and investment.

Key Functions
Under the supervision and guidance of the Chief Economist/Vice President for Economics Research, Policy Dialogue and Knowledge Management, the Director will perform the following functions:

Strategy and Knowledge Leadership:

• Oversee the implementation of the Bank Group’s overall vision and strategy for assisting RMCs to better manage and harness their natural resources so as to improve the quality of life for both present and future generations
• Ensure that best expertise available in Africa and worldwide in the area of natural resource management and investment is brought to bear in the provision of customized policies for individual client countries or groups thereof.
• Advice the Bank Group’s RMCs on the design of socially desirable natural resource management and investment laws, policies, standards and related guidance (including on, but not limited to cooperation and agreements, environmental guidance, inventory standards, legislation and regulations, species and ecosystems data and information security, transfer of authority, contract negotiations and implementation, etc.)

Work Program Validation and Execution:

• Review and validate the objectives and work program for the department, ensuring alignment to the Bank, Complex and department strategic priorities.
• Monitor their execution and provide guidance as needed to the teams.
• Review and validate the budget, and its effective implementation.
• Report on the work program execution and propose alternative and corrective measures as needed.
• Actively contribute to the designing and monitoring of the department key performance indicators.

Technical Oversight on The Department Activities:

• Provide strategic guidance to the Bank through the Vice-President on Bank wide natural resources related strategies.
• Coordinate regional natural resources governance support through programs knowledge.
• Collaborate with the Director Generals to grow and meet demand for policies and projects in natural resources.
• Advise the Vice-President on the Center’s strategic and operational matters by identifying areas of support to regional member countries and regional offices.
• Support Director Generals by providing expertise, technical assistance and building knowledge dissemination of natural resources sectors at country level.
• Oversee the narrowing of knowledge and skills gaps in relevant natural resources sectors as relates to the delivery of High 5s through leadership of internal and external knowledge development initiatives.
• Lead work plans for the development of solution-oriented policy tools by ensuring the products respond effectively to natural resources development policy, legal and institutional development needs.

People Management:

• Ensure the department has the appropriate skills-mix at any time for effective delivery of the objectives defined in the work program.
• Review and validate the staffing needs and build with the Human Resources department the required recruitment plans.
• Assess work performance, appraise staff potential and determine training needs.
• Put in place, with the assistance of the Human Resources department, talent management mechanisms, to build a talent pool for the department for business continuity.
• Organize effective delegation of responsibilities by empowering staff at all levels.

Relations with Stakeholders:

• Procure adequate human and financial resources to deliver the mandate by leveraging internal resources and forging external partnerships.
• Represent the Bank at relevant platforms by articulating the Center’s value proposition and increasing the Bank’s brand visibility.
• Serves as Acting Chief Economist/Vice President for Economics Research, Policy Dialogue and Knowledge Management Complex, when required.
• Performs other duties assigned by the Vice President.

Competencies (skills, experience and knowledge)

• Hold at least a Master’s Degree in Natural Resources Management, Resource Economics, Natural Resources Policy or related disciplines. A Ph.D. degree will be a strong asset.
• Have a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant and progressive professional experience in the areas of natural resources management and policy reforms of which at least 5 years must be in managerial role. (Prior work in multilateral, bilateral or regional development agencies a plus).
• An excellent understanding of contemporary debates in renewable and non-renewable resource management policy formulation and implementation, broadly understood, both in the Africa and elsewhere, informed by both orthodox and heterodox economic theory.
• Strong familiarity with the role of other development finance institutions in facilitating prudent management of natural resource endowments in addressing poverty reduction in developing countries.
• Strong technical skills, specifically on natural resource management and investment issues as well as ability to think strategically and to design long-term plans and programs in line with strategic priorities.
• Strong strategic influencing skills and demonstrated ability to present and win support for ideas as well as a track record of application of sound and balanced judgment, even under stressful situations.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, both orally and in writing, in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Competence in the use of standard Office Suite packages. Knowledge of SAP is highly desirable.