Senior Technical Assistance Officer at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

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: Senior Technical Assistance Officer - PINS1

Reference: ADB/17/519/2
Location: Côte d’Ivoire
Grade: PL5
Position N°: 50050477

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/Division

• The role of the Bank’s Non-Sovereign Operations and Private Sector Support Department of the Bank (PINS) is to promote private sector in Regional Member Countries, ensuring that it plays a central role in laying the foundations in the development role of the Bank, in line with the Bank’s 10 Year Strategy and HI 5 initiatives.
• As part of the PINS Department, the Strategy and Transaction  Support  Division is responsible for preparing strategies, policies, guidelines, and analytical tools relevant to the sector; it also ensures global client management and undertakes specialized assignments for the Regions, providing ad hoc advice on transaction bankability, structuring, Project Modelling and designs and implements technical assistance for Private Sector operations.

The Position
The main responsibilities of  the position holder are:

• Providing support in preparation and monitoring technical assistance transactions within the Bank,
• Updating, Operating and Managing the Technical Assistance Platform,
• Designing and originating technical assistance operations to support PSD in Transition States,
• Conceptualizing technical assistance operations to promote business development,
•  Developing a framework for business advisory services for Non-sovereign operations within the Bank.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Division Manager - Strategy and Transaction  support, the Senior Technical Assistance Officer will perform the following:
• Provide guidance on the design and implementation of technical assistance projects, related initiatives, programs and services, through regular outreach to NSO Sector teams with a view to strengthening the development outcomes and feasibility of NSOs.
• Contribute to the preparation and implementation of technical assistance projects originated by NSO and other Departments of the Bank on a demand-driven basis;
• Participate, on an ad-hoc basis, in the technical review of identified technical assistance  proposals to be financed through managed trust/special funds, ordinary resources and captive facilities;
• Train staff in the utilization of the platform and data entry
• Administrate daily  the Technical Assistance web based Platform and provide user support;
• Design and originate TA projects for PSD in fragile countries
• Provide expert inputs on technical assistance to inform the Bank's country assistance and other development strategies, plans, programs and projects.
• Monitor, coordinate and provide inputs from PINS perspective to the private sector -related technical assistance activities led by other units across the Bank
• As needed, reach out to the Bank’s administrators of internally managed donor facilities to mobilize transaction-level financing for technical assistance projects.
• On an ad-hoc basis provide updated status and forecast information on operational and fiduciary matters TA activities funded by Bank managed trust funds.
• Contribute to the preparation of briefs on private sector technical assistance, matters for senior management, for the Bank's annual report, etc.
• On a periodic basis, consolidate portfolio and work-program status and outlook information as part of departmental and corporate reporting requirements;
• Contribute to the preparation of workshops and internal trainings to NSO Departments and other Bank staff on technical assistance operational approaches and methodologies.
• Organize information sessions and seminars on TA support functions and services
• Prepare knowledge papers and required TA reports
• Provide guidance to Task Managers on TA design and implementation.

Selection Criteria
Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Hold at least a Master’s degree (or its university equivalent) in Finance or  Economics or related field
• Have a minimum of six (05) years of relevant professional experience in the Bank or a similar institution and/or in strategic consultancy, in particular in SME development and technical assistance.
• Having public and public sector exposure will be an added advantage
• First-hand knowledge and proven experience in private sector development in Africa with exposure to fragile situations.
• Strong experience with trust funds and donor funded operations.
• Sound knowledge of technical assistance products for private sector development.
• Experience with SME training and capacity building
• Ability to respond swiftly to new situations and to anticipate new issues;
• Proven ability to acquire new skills (particularly in legal, investment, risk capital, technology and innovative sectors)
• Capacity to adapt to the rapidly evolving needs of the Bank’s NSOs ecosystem.
• Solid negotiation skills, diplomacy and credibility to deal with internal and external clients at all levels.
• Operational effectiveness
• Innovation and creativity
• Problem-solving
• Communication
• Team working and relationship
• Client Orientation
• Excellent spoken and written English or French languages, preferably with a working knowledge of the other.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications; Knowledge of SAP is advantageous.

Application Closing Date
19th July, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online