Apply For Current Employment Opportunities at African Development Bank Group

African Development Bank Group (AfDB) – Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Division Manager – Syndications and Co-Financing (FIST1)

Position Number: 50092453
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Position Grade: PL2

The Complex

• The Vice Presidency for Finance oversees the financial management of the Bank Group. This encompasses the Bank Group’s treasury activities including borrowings from the capital markets and investment activities; controllership functions including financial reporting and loan administration; strategic resource mobilization and the strengthening of the non-statutory financial resources and instruments; the overall asset/liability management for the Bank Group.

The Hiring Department / Division

• The Syndication, Co-Financing and Client Solutions Department mobilizes and leverages resources in Africa and outside Africa for the financing of investment projects and programs; promotes the investment of public and private capital in Africa in projects or programs designed to contribute to the economic development or social progress of the Bank’s Regional Member Countries; designing innovative structured finance products and solutions for the Bank’s clients; structuring significant risk transfer instruments for balance sheet optimization or capital management; and implementing and administering co-financing facilities, local currency financing solutions and blended financing mechanisms.

The Position
The position of Division manager of Syndication and Co-Financing reports to the Director of Syndication, Co-Financing and Client Solutions Department and has the overall responsibility to:

• Provide centralized syndication and co-financing for the entire Bank Group in the public and private sectors for lending operations
• Establish the African Development Bank as the leading arranger of syndication and co-financing in Africa;
• Supervise the effective implementation of various in house co-financing facilities and design and negotiate new co-financing agreements;
• Mobilize funding from all external investors – commercial banks, Development Finance Institutions, Export Credit Agencies, Pension Funds, etc. – to leverage the development impact and the effective deployment of the Banks’s risk capital;
• Mobilize resources from the many development partners and other related agencies with whom the African Development Bank has ongoing syndication or co-financing relationships or with whom  Memorandums of Understanding have been signed;
• Institutionalize blended finance in the Bank while working with the resource mobilization department to attract concessional and grant resources to support the Bank’s blended finance action plan;
• Integrate syndication and co-financing into operations, so that the mobilization of external funding becomes the standard business model;
• Support investment officers and task managers in identifying co-financing opportunities and promoting the unit’s products to borrowers / sponsors;
• Assist with the structuring and pricing of proposals by feeding back market intelligence;
• Enable the Bank to manage its existing portfolio of assets through secondary sales/securitizations and any other balance sheet optimization mechanism.

Key Functions
Under the general supervision of the Director, the duties and responsibilities of the Division Manager include:

• Lead the syndication process for transactions where the Bank is appointed lead or co-lead arranger and execute A/B loan co-financing and development finance institution syndications, sharing responsibilities, as appropriate, with co-arrangers.
• Assist in formulating the design and implementation of a syndication and co-financing strategy and associated guidelines to ensure a fully integrated function with the Bank’s operations while aligning with market best practices.
• Provide solutions to fund-raising and resource mobilization issues for operations and develop new mobilization approaches/products and partners.
• Proactively engage and provide structuring guidance to Investment Officers and Project Officers, and actively participate in the presentation of co-financing options and proposals, and mandate letters to clients, emphasizing the benefits of syndication and co-financing.
• Collaborate, among others, with the operations teams (Public and Private)/Financial Control/Financial Treasury, Financial Management, Legal and other departments of the Bank to build capacity to act as an agent for all B-loans, syndications of development finance institutions and other co-financing.
• Establish and implement a blended financing strategy to mobilize concessional financing in accordance with the MDB Working Group’s blended financing principles.
• Establish, operationalize and implement co-financing agreements and build working relationships with the broadest range of public and commercial co-financiers.
• Lead the development and adaptation of financial policies, strategies and programs applicable to the department’s activities in order to catalyze the use of concessional and non-concessional financing in Bank projects.
• Provide market intelligence and financial market analysis within the organization with respect to pricing, practices and trends, and develop and leverage relationships with co-lenders (commercial banks, IFIs/DFIs, institutional investors). This includes working closely with and providing data to the Credit Risk Committee for review.
• Establish and implement an insurance system to enhance the credit-worthiness of Bank operations at origination.
• Develop internal operational processes and procedures for the department, as well as financial instruments and performance indicators to encourage, integrate, and scale up co-financing, syndication, and mobilization activities.
• Provide overall guidance and leadership in the management and development of the Bank Group’s current and future financial products.  This includes innovating and staying current with the various financial products available in the multilateral landscape and maintaining leading edge skills and capacities through continuous engagement with the market.
• Create and maintain sustainable partnerships with a wide range of investors, including interfacing with DFIs, institutional investors, commercial and investment banks.
• Provide leadership in the development of the Syndication and Co-Financing division business and work closely with the Director and the other Manager to raise the profile of the Department’s activities, both externally and internally.
• Assume the duties of Acting Director, as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• Have at least a Master’s Degree in Economics, Finance and/or Business Administration or a related field.
• Have at least eight (8) years of relevant experience in reputable financial institutions. At least five (5) years of this experience must have been acquired at the managerial level. A track record of direct responsibility for at least 5 successfully executed syndication/co-financing deals is required
• Have sound knowledge of market instruments and sources of market financing (sovereign bond financing, municipal/sub-sovereign financing, syndicated loans/infrastructure financing), other financing sources and risk management/hedging products.
• Have good knowledge of fundraising and on-lending activities in capital market development, especially in Africa.
• Excellent knowledge of financial issues faced by sovereign and non-sovereign clients in developing countries and policies related to the Bank’s mandate.
• Broad knowledge of capital markets and proven knowledge of project finance and the use of risk mitigation instruments to catalyze private capital.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the major risk transfer instruments including, but not limited to, insurance, asset sell down, funded and unfunded risk participation, and their impact on balance sheets.
• In-depth knowledge of structured finance, with the ability to provide innovative financing solutions to various stakeholders.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity and decisiveness, including taking responsibility and holding others accountable for results.
• Ability to set strategic direction and ensure its implementation.
• Be highly customer-focused, with the ability to build strong relationships and interact effectively with customers and business contacts at a management and team level.
• Possess strong experience in investment and development banking and have worked on projects for the private sector, public entities, utilities/infrastructure authorities and governments.
• Have strong, proven written communication and presentation skills.
• Proven experience in leading large and complex teams, supporting and coaching department staff, and building teams.
• Have good business acumen and decision-making skills.
• Have good problem-solving skills
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Proficiency in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); proficiency in SAP is highly desirable.

Application Closing Date
23rd August, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: This position is classified international status and attracts international terms and conditions of employment.

Job Title: Principal Strategy and Policy Officer – Infrastructure and Private Sector

Position Number: 50068544
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Position Grade: PL4

The Complex

• The Senior Vice-Presidency complex (SNVP) is responsible for supporting the President in the day-to-day management of the Bank Group to achieve it strategic objective, and drive performance culture that will align all processes and systems to deliver high impact results.
• The SNVP will provide effective leadership and exceptional coordination to ensure implementation and monitoring of key corporate decisions as well as the identification of necessary corrective measures and actions.
• The SNVP leads senior management discussions, decisions-making process and the implementation of key board and management decisions.

The Hiring Department

• The Strategy and Operational Policy Department (SNSP) plays a key role in shaping a corporate vision and a strategic perspective for the African Development Bank as well as developing the operational policies aimed at guiding the Bank’s agenda.
• The primary roles of the Department are: (i) to develop and help maintain (along with other units) corporate strategies and operational policies necessary for the Bank to deliver according to the spirit of its Charter and in line with the Bank’s 2023-2032 Strategy, the High 5 priorities, and other strategies; (ii) to play a prominent role in keeping the Bank a strategy-focused organization in line with its policies; (iii) to support the Bank in raising its profile and engaging strategically at international fora, as well as to foster cross-fertilization and greater coordination with other MDBs ; and, (iv) to lead the Bank in the development of a new culture of innovation and change, including the incubation of new financial/non-financial  products and business lines.

The Position
The key objectives of the position of the Principal Strategy and Policy Officer will be to:

• Provide support to the Bank’s operations, with particular focus on private sector and infrastructure.
• Contribute to SNVP efforts to ensure policy and strategic focus in decision-making across the various Departments, and the improved alignment of resources with strategic priorities, with a focus on private sector and infrastructure issues.
• Provide strategic and technical guidance on Bank’s operations and documents (i.e. Project Concept Notes (PCNs), Project Appraisal Reports (PARs), Country Strategy Papers (CSPs), and Regional Integration Strategy Papers (RISPs), among other.

Key Functions
Under the supervision of the Manager, Operational Strategies and Policies, the Principal Strategy and Policy Officer will perform the following:

• Participate as part of the core SNSP team in corporate strategy development and its subsequent monitoring, updating and refinement in line with sustainable lending and resource options.
• Conduct or facilitate policy analysis to ensure coherence of advice to country programmes (CSPs), project design and implementation support.
• Lead in the preparation of specific analytical products that are conducive to a better understanding of the policy agenda that underpins African Development Bank projects.
• Conduct or facilitate policy analysis of the different dimensions of infrastructure to ensure coherence of advice to country programmes (CSPs), project design and implementation support.
• Support operational sector departments in developing, and consolidating sector-specific strategies and policies.
• Contribute to the preparation of the mid-term reviews and periodical and special updates and reports.
• Contribute to the preparation of Board documents on selected process enhancement recommendations.
• Support the formulation of the strategic policy objectives, ensure alignment with the strategic planning orientation and the Bank Strategy.
• As part of the core SNSP team, ensure that all new policy proposals and strategic initiatives are aligned with the Bank’s planning directions and strategy, including the High 5s and the TYS 2023-2032.
• Provide support to the office of the President as required, in particular on recent policy developments, and on the Bank’s response to emerging international issues.
• Provide, as requested, up to date research on environment and business trends and keep up to date on new ways of doing strategic planning.
• Participate (on behalf of the SNSP Department) to the preparation of selected Bank’s country and regional strategies and mid-term reviews.
• Serve as a focal point on issues related to infrastructure and private sector to internal and external constituencies and expert strategy groups.
• Other duties as required by the Department.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• Hold at least a Master’s Degree in Economics, Macroeconomics or Development Economics, Finance, Strategic Management, Engineering or related development fields and a broad knowledge of development issues.
• Have a minimum of six (6) years of relevant experience, specifically hands-on experience in the development of strategic documents and policy guidelines in the areas of infrastructure development, private sector development, or related areas. A proven combination of hands-on operational experience with solid analytical skills.
• Good understanding of development economics and specificities of Regional Members Countries.
• Experience with multilateral development banks and international organizations is an asset.
• Having private sector experience will be an added advantage.
• Solid experience in leading and coordinating the development of corporate policies, strategies and other directional documents.
• Experience and exposure to infrastructure and private sector policy and operational issues, and ability to provide advice, assistance, and coaching on strategy and policy concerning infrastructure and private sector-related issues.
• Ability to think laterally and independently.
• High-level skills in communication and negotiation as well as the 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.
• Ability to work collaboratively with several teams of multi-cultural backgrounds, both internally and externally to the Bank.
• Ability to manage multiple and simultaneous and shifting demands, priorities, and tight deadlines.
• The following competencies of innovation, creativity, communication, client orientation, problem-solving, team working, and relationships, and operational effectiveness are desired of the candidate.
• 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 MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint) and preferably SAP.

Application Closing Date
16th August, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: This position is classified international status and attracts international terms and conditions of employment.

Job Title: Principal Agronomist

Position Number: 50094577
Location: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Position Grade: PL4

The Complex

• The Vice-Presidency for ‘Agriculture, Human, and Social Development’ is a Sector Complex focusing on two of the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy High 5s priority of “Feed Africa” and “Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa”. The Complex comprises five departments: (i) Agriculture and Agro-Industry Development; (ii) Agriculture Finance and Rural Development; (iii) Gender, Women and Civil Society; (iv) Water Development and Sanitation; and (v) Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development.

The Hiring Department

• The Department of Agriculture and Agroindustry (AHAI) of AFDB has the responsibility of the 2nd priority of Bank’s TYS High 5s, which is called “Feed Africa”, the Strategy for agricultural transformation, aiming at allowing the continent to become a net food exporting region while using industrialization to add value to process foods and exports commodities; to help to end extreme poverty, and eliminate malnutrition.
• The Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) is a special fund established by the African Union member states during the 2006 African Green Revolution Summit in Abuja. The AFFM is and managed by the African Development Bank, housed within AHAI Department.
• The overall objective of the AFFM is to improve agricultural productivity by providing the financing required to boost fertilizer use in Africa to achieve the target of 50 kg of nutrients per hectare, as mandated by the Abuja Declaration.
• The AFFM developed its 2022-2028 Strategic Plan, designed around three strategic pillars (i) Strengthening the fertilizer sector through access to finance; (ii) Supporting the development of viable policy reforms to improve production, trade and utilization of fertilizer; and (iii) Facilitating smallholder farmers’ access to inputs and technical assistance.

The Position

• The Agronomist will support the AFFM in achieving projects’ objectives of sustainable and profitable increases in agricultural productivity and product quality, while ensuring soil health, environment and social safeguards.
• As part of AFFM secretariat, the staff will be supported by the Bank’s relevant Divisions at the headquarters and at the country level.

Key Functions
The specific responsibilities include, but not limited to:

• Oversee agricultural aspects of the AFFM funded projects, Communicating – giving / exchanging ideas, advising, explaining – within the Bank, different donors and partners.
• Lead the implementation of agriculture productivity and soil health initiatives by supervising and supporting AFFM’s projects executing agents and partners, to ensure that projects result in economically, environmentally and socially sustainable impact.
• Ensure that projects adopt the 4R approach (right source, right rate, right time, and right place) best management practices (BMPs) adapted to local conditions that will maximize agronomic use efficiency of nutrients and improve crop productivity.
• Provide recommendations for agriculture technologies, fertilizer application; prioritize/promote the use of specialized/specific fertilizer including organic matter on selected crops.
• Support capacity strengthening of AFFM projects beneficiaries, including among others, actors in the fertilizer distribution, smallholder farmers (via Farmer’s cooperatives/ village-based grouping), field extensionists etc.
• Participate actively as task manager and/or member of project team in all the activities of projects cycle (identification, preparation and appraisal, supervision, and evaluation); collect relevant information and data, as a member of project team, with a view to carrying out the technical analysis.
• Assist in establishing a results-based monitoring and evaluation system that tracks, in a timely manner, improvements in food productivity and soil health against AFFM’s annual and medium-term plans and ensure consistency for the services provided to countries and companies.
• Collaborate with AFFM/AfDB or any entity commissioned by the Bank during the process to collect project baseline data, on key project performance indicators including among others status on crops grown, yields realized, inputs used and level of input application etc.
• Serve as AFFM focal point for all agronomic aspects relating to AFFM projects; assist countries and AFFM partners in productivity and soil health studies, feasibility studies, soil and fertility analysis, in collecting, analyzing data and disseminating relevant information.
• Participate in drafting terms of reference for studies proposed for AFFM financing and participate in the evaluation and processing, and supervision of related projects and activities.
• Conduct field missions to identify, prepare, evaluate and / or oversee the implementation and monitoring of AFFM projects, programs to support the implementation of the AFFM strategic plan and the Bank’s Feed Africa Strategy.
• Maintain good relationship with executing agencies, research institutions, scientists, specialized institutions and/or technical service providers that are involved in the AFFM programs/projects/activities.
• Monitor project implementation by recipients, provide required technical assistance and follow up project periodic reporting.
• Contribute to implementation of other activities in the AFFM annual work program; contribute to AFFM periodic reports and annual report.
• Review studies and progress reports on projects and make proposals for actions to be taken by the AFFM and the executing agencies.
• Undertake any other assignment relevant to the successful implementation and performance of the AFFM.

Competencies (skills, experience and knowledge):

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics or any other related discipline.
• Have a minimum of six (6) years of relevant experience with particular expertise in fertilizer industry, crop productivity, soil sciences (fertility and health) in Africa.
• Must have proven experience with agricultural productivity, quality improvement and sustainable land use.
• Ability to apply systems perspectives to plant analysis, soil fertility management and soil health issues.
• Capable of providing methodological backstopping for agricultural innovation pilots and tests.
• Has experience with innovative agricultural community-based, participatory, field-oriented research and extension approaches (farmer field schools, farmer research and extension groups, participatory variety selection, multi-locational trials, etc.).
• Can deliver training sessions on agronomy to AFFM projects beneficiaries, develop and elaborate user-oriented field notes and leaflets (for extensionists, farmers, cooperatives, Etc.).
•  Ability to build partnerships, possess experience working with Government organization, private Sector, national/international development agencies, research institutions, with a good understanding of key players in the fertilizer sector in Africa.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in multi-cultural environments and in interdisciplinary team to be creative and innovative, with a demonstrated Integrity and ability to work in team.
• Ability to produce well researched documents and communicate in one of the Bank’s two official languages of English or French. Capacity to use both will constitute an added advantage.
• Proficiency in the use of standard Microsoft software, especially MS Office environment.
• A track record in successful development and implementation of donor funded projects.

Application Closing Date
18th August, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• This advertisement is posted by the african development bank (afdb) on behalf of affm, which is the employer for this position. engagement as staff of affm does not offer any expectation for future employment as staff in the african development bank. this is a project staff position and comes with a fixed-term contract.
• Should you encounter technical difficulties in submitting your application, please send an email with a precise description of the issue and/or a screenshot showing the problem to: HR Direct HRDirect@AFDB.ORG

Job Title: Chief Legal Counsel – Public Sector Operations, Policy and Governance Division

Position Number: 50093772
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Position Grade: PL3

The Complex

• Under the direction of the Board of Directors, the President conducts the business of the Bank and manages operations and activities of the Bank in accordance with the Bank’s constitutive documents.
• The President plans, supervises and manages the business of the Bank Group.
• In particular, the President supervises several Departments and Units including Office of the President; 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 & General Secretariat.

Department / Division

• The role of the General Counsel and Legal Services Department (PGCL) is to deliver legal advice and services to the statutory organs of the Bank Group (the “Bank”): Boards of Governors, Boards of Directors, their subsidiary committees, to the President and the committees of Senior Management, to Regional Directorate Hubs, and more generally to the whole Bank.
• The General Counsel and Legal Services Department’s role is also to protect the interest of the Bank from legal liability and, as necessary, to ensure that the Bank Group is properly and efficiently represented in cases filed against or brought by the Bank.
• The principal objective of the Public Sector Operations, Policy and Governance Division is to provide legal support, advice, and services in connection with public sector transactions of the Bank, the African Development Fund, and other special vehicles such as trust funds, special funds, facilities and other special resources. In addition, the Division provides legal assistance on operational policies, and governance, environmental and procurement related matters as well as all aspects of the business of the Bank Group requiring legal analysis and legal input.

The Position

• The Chief Legal Counsel – Public Sector Operations, Policy and Governance Division is a skilled team leader in the Division.
• The Chief Legal Counsel is responsible for ensuring compliance of public sector operations with applicable Bank’s rules and policies as well as providing sound analysis on legal issues and operational policies.
• He/she also supervises, mentors and coaches other legal counsels in the Division, as required.

Key Functions
Under the supervision and guidance of the Division Manager, the Chief Legal Counsel Public Sector Operations, Policy and Governance Division will:

• Ensure compliance of projects and other operational activity with applicable Bank’s rules and policies.
• Draft and negotiate financing agreements including loan agreements, grant agreements, guarantee agreements, counter-indemnity agreements and co-financing agreements with other lenders.
• Prepare and issue legal opinions on agreements, contracts and other formal arrangements for operational activities of the Bank Group and Special Funds with members and non-member countries, international organizations and governmental and non-governmental entities.
• Provide legal assistance throughout the identification, preparation, appraisal, supervision and post evaluation stages of public sector operations.
• Provide specific legal assistance with respect to complex and innovative transactions.
• 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 projects, type of financing instruments, terms of financing, implementation arrangements and compliance with the relevant Bank Group applicable policies, rules and regulations.
• Provide timely and effective legal support, advice and services in connection with public sector transactions and project implementation for loans, grants and other formal arrangements for the operational activities of the Bank Group in line with the applicable Bank policies, rules and regulations.
• Review legal and operational documents submitted with respect to the fulfilment of conditions precedent to effectiveness of loan and grant agreements and conditions precedent to disbursement of loans and grants and provide the relating legal opinions.
• Draft and/or review operational policies, directives and guidelines of the Bank Group and Special Funds.
• Provide legal assistance in operations-related implementation activities of bilateral and multilateral cooperation arrangements related to public sector operations.
• Draft Board resolutions pertaining to public sector projects and programs.
• Supervises, mentors and coaches other legal counsels in the Division, as required.
• Attend meetings of the Boards of Directors and their Committees, as well as Senior Management Committees to represent the General Counsel or the Division Manager, as directed;
• Act as Officer-in-Charge of the Division in the absence from office of the Division Manager; and
• Undertake such other assignments as required by the Division Manager or the General Counsel.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• Hold a Master’s Degree in Law or a Juris Doctor (JD), and admission to the Bar of one of the African Development Bank member countries;
• Have a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in similar jobs in a law firm, a financial institution or a multilateral organisation.
• High level skills in communication as well as the ability to build partnerships with a broad range of clients and deliver results that serve to meet the Legal Services Department’s work program.
• Seasoned knowledge in the current trends of development and familiarity with development and international finance.
• Having private sector experience will be an added advantage, in particular in the structuring and negotiations of guarantees and complex and innovative financing transactions.
• Strong skills in preparation of complex legal documents including briefs and legal opinions and leading the negotiation of complex projects.
• Effective advisory skills that facilitate clients’ objectives and help resolve their legal questions.
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues.
• Ability to lead independently and supervise a multicultural team.
• Solid experience in applying legal knowledge to deliver full scope of strategic legal services.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, with a good working knowledge of the other.
• Ability to work under pressure and cope with several simultaneous demands.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications. Knowledge of SAP is an asset.

Application Closing Date
19th August, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: This position is classified international status and attracts international terms and conditions of employment.