Careers at African Development Bank (AfDB)

The principal objective of the Legal Services Department (GECL) is to protect the interests of the Bank.  In this connection, the Department provides legal services required by the entities constituting the Bank Group, and ensures that the Bank Group’s activities and operations are consistent with its constitutive documents and other applicable legal texts, as well as applicable law.  The Bank’s Regional Resource Centres were established to strengthen dialogue between the Bank and regional Governments, development partners, the private sector, and the civil society, in the design of its development policy and programs, as well as on implementation, monitoring and evaluation of transactions, projects and programs financed by the Bank, the African Development Fund (ADF) and other special vehicles such as trust funds and special funds (together, the “Bank Group”). 

Duties and responsibilities

Under the general supervision of the General Counsel, the Principal Legal Counsel will perform the following activities in connection with the operational and administrative activities of the Bank Group:

• Draft, review, negotiate and provide legal opinion on agreements, contracts and other formal arrangements for operational activities of the Bank Group with members and non-member countries, private sector entities, international organizations and governmental and non-governmental entities;
• Provide legal assistance for loans, equity investments, guarantees, grants and relatedoperations of the Bank Group, throughout the identification, preparation, appraisal, supervision and post-evaluation stages;
• Assist in the design of projects and programs from inception to completion in compliance with the Bank’s policies, rules, and guidelines as well as minimize risks that may impede the achievement of desirable outcomes;
• Participate in meetings and provide legal support to project teams including the structure of the project, type of financing instruments, terms of financing, implementation arrangements and compliance with the relevant Bank Group applicable policies, rules and regulations;
• Negotiate, draft or amend loan, equity investment, grant, guarantee and other financing and co-financing agreements with other multilateral and bilateral financial institutions;
• Provide legal opinions on the entry into force and execution of such agreements and arrangements, including the review of legal and operational documents submitted in fulfilment of loan and grant conditions;
• Provide legal support and technical assistance to regional member countries and to regional and sub-regional institutions in connection with matters pertaining to the purpose, functions and activities of the Bank and to developmental issues and activities;
• Provide legal assistance for the drafting of operational policies, directives and instructions of the Bank Group;
• Draft, revise or amend and submit to the Board of Directors of the Bank and the Fund resolutions pertaining to projects and programs and other operational matters;
• Participate in project and program appraisal missions and review project concept notes, project appraisal reports and other internal Bank project documents;
• Liaise and collaborate with staff in operations, finance and environmental and social departments to develop appropriate terms and conditions for each financing transaction, ensuring compliance with Bank’s policies;
• Advise on various administrative and human resources management matters, including the drafting, reviewing and amending of contracts and legal documents and advising on legal questions relating to administrative and personnel matters affecting the Regional Resource Centre; and
• Undertake such other assignments as required in furtherance of GECL's mandate.

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• A minimum of Master’s degree in Law, and admission to the Bar of one of the African Development Bank member countries; or
• A Bachelor’s degree with a relevant combination of academic qualification in law e.g. Juris Doctor (JD) and with admission to the Bar of one of the African Development Bank member countries;
• A minimum of six (6) years of relevant professional experience, preferably with an established international law firm, or an international financial institution with proven technical competence and experience in development law;
• Knowledge in the current trend of developments and familiarity with international law, and related matters with international organizations;
• Strong skills in preparation of complex legal documents including briefs and legal opinions and negotiation of complex projects and programmes and other transactions of a similar nature;
• Demonstrated communication, team building, inter-personal, writing and analytical skills;
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications; knowledge of SAP is a plus;
• Ability to communicate and write effectively in English and/or French. Working knowledge of the second language will be an advantage.

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The Transport and ICT Department 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, and sector reforms to ensure best practices are mainstreamed in policy, planning, programming, institutional governance, and maintenance and operation.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the general supervision of the Division Manager, the Principal Transport Engineer will have the following duties and responsibilities:

• Lead the identification, preparation, appraisal, and implementation supervision of transport projects and programs such as Roads/Highways, Airports, Railways, Ports and Waterways, and Public Transit Systems.
• Support the development of appropriate transport policies and strategies at both national and regional levels, in consultation with relevant government agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders.
• Promote the adoption of technological innovations, institutional/governance setups, financial frameworks, rules and regulations, and commercial practices incorporating private sector participation in urban transport projects.
• Lead Analytical and Advisory Activities and conduct ESW to inform and underpin the downstream intervention of the Bank in project and program design in the transport sector.
• Supervise Bank’s financed 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’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.
• Manage fiduciary responsibilities including procurement, and ensuring compliance with the Bank guidelines and the provisions of loans and grants agreements.
• Contribute to efforts in knowledge management to ensure best practices and lessons learned related to transport management, climate change, and institutional/governance approaches are reflected in transport operations.
• Conduct policy dialogue with the government in advancing policy and institutional reforms in the transport sector, especially in the areas of Planning, Programming, Governance, Regulations, asset management/maintenance, and Private Sector Participation.
• Participate in and contribute to country programming activities and ensure that appropriate projects and programs are adequately reflected in the resultant country programming documents.
• Collaborate with other development partners in the transport sector for consistency and harmonization of approach, exchange of experience, partnership and co-financing where appropriate.
• Develop and maintain a knowledge base in the transport sector, keeping abreast of the latest developments.
• Contribute to activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building around transport sector issues.

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• A minimum of a Master’s degree or its equivalent in Civil or Transportation Engineering.
• A minimum of 6  years’ experience in the transport sector with proven ability to work on (a) policy, institutional and financing aspects of transport projects, (b) road and other transport infrastructure construction and maintenance including railways, sea port and airports, (c) contract management and procurement, (d) planning and programming of capital and maintenance works. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of AfDB or similar MDBs operational policies and procedures as they relate to country programming, project design and processing, procurement, and environmental and social safeguards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a group of professionals to deliver projects and programs in an effective and efficient way;
• Competence in the use of ERP Systems (preferably SAP) and standard MS office applications (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint); with good knowledge of technical tools and software for transport project appraisals.
• High level communication and negotiation skills with excellent written and verbal communications in English. A working knowledge of French would be an added advantage.

go to method of application »

The Transport and ICT Department 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, and sector reforms to ensure best practices are mainstreamed in sector policy, planning, programming, institutional governance, and maintenance and operation.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the general supervision of the Division Manager, the Principal Transport Economist will have the following duties and responsibilities:

• Lead the identification, preparation, appraisal, and implementation supervision of transport projects and programs such as Roads/Highways, Airports, Railways, Ports and Waterways, and Public Transit Systems.
• Support the development of appropriate transport policies and strategies at both national and regional levels, in consultation with relevant government agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders.
• Promote the adoption of technological innovations, institutional/governance setups, financial frameworks, rules and regulations, and commercial practices incorporating private sector participation in transport projects.
• Lead Analytical and Advisory Activities and conduct ESW to inform and underpin the downstream intervention of the Bank in project and program design in the transport sector.
• Lead all aspects related to demand and supply analysis, regulatory assessments, and economic and financial analysis during project preparation and appraisal.
• Contribute to efforts in knowledge management to ensure best practices and lessons learned related to transport management, climate change, and institutional/governance approaches are reflected in transport operations
• Conduct policy dialogue with the government in advancing policy, regulatory and institutional reforms in the transport sector, especially in the areas market reforms, deregulation, and privatization of transport infrastructure and services.
• Participate in and contribute to country programming activities and ensure that appropriate projects and programs are adequately reflected in the resultant country programming documents.
• Collaborate with other development partners in the transport sector for consistency and harmonization of approach, exchange of experience, partnership and co-financing where appropriate.
• Develop and maintain a knowledge base in the transport sector, keeping abreast of the latest developments.
• Contribute to activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building around transport sector issues.

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• A minimum of a Master’s degree (or its equivalent) in Economics, Transport Economics, Public Policy, or related fields.
• A minimum of 6  years’ experience in the transport sector with proven ability to work on (a) policy, institutional and regulatory aspects of transport projects and programs, (b) economic and financial analysis of transport projects including railways, sea port and airports, (c) privatization, deregulation, and competition in transport services, (d) transportation market reforms. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of AfDB or similar MDBs operational policies and procedures as they relate to country programming, project design and processing, procurement, and environmental and social safeguards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a group of professionals to deliver projects and programs in an effective and efficient way;
• Competence in the use of ERP Systems (preferably SAP) and standard MS office applications (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint); with good knowledge of technical tools and software for transport project appraisals.
• High level communication and negotiation skills with excellent written and verbal communications in English. A working knowledge of French would be an added advantage.