EOI - Portfolio Monitoring and Management Consultant 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: EOI - Portfolio Monitoring and Management Consultant to support the NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF) Special Fund - PICU

Location: Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Consultant Type: Individual Consultant
Job Family: Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization;

Objectives of the Assignment and Scope of Work
The objectives of the assignment are to: 

• Lead and oversee portfolio management, ensuring effective support systems, timely disbursements, facilitating grant supervision, monitoring and grant closure; 
• Lead the transition to the digitalization of the NEPAD-IPPF portfolio and processes; Contribute to pipeline development and project preparation activities; 
• Provide research and analysis of information, data, and statistics, and maintain and updating the related tools and databases; 
• Facilitate the production of NEPAD-IPPF led analytical and knowledge work on project development as well as enhance its knowledge base; 
• Provide strategic support to the NEPAD-IPPF. 

Specific Duties
The specific duties of the consultant will be as follows:
Portfolio management, monitoring & Results:

• Support the call for proposals process and participate in project review and screening of full proposals
• Work closely with project NEPAD-IPPF Task managers to prioritize information required to facilitate substantiated decisions or serve as input for the constitution of the portfolio and project annual work program
• Collect, provide and process structured data on the Fund’s infrastructure-related operations (including outputs and outcomes, financing sources and data, alignment with strategies, etc.) 
• Coordinate the preparation and monitoring of the Fund’s annual work program and provide regular updates based on the established processing schedule
• Track active portfolio issues (Start-up delays, supervision delays, disbursements delay, projects qualifying for cancellation, slow disbursements, etc.)
• Support Task managers in monitoring project progress through desk reviews and prepare relevant reports including the quarterly portfolio report, Project Completion Reports, as well as periodic implementation progress report in accordance with AfDB’s guidelines
• Keep Task managers informed of any delays, challenges, or risks to the smooth advancement of the NEPAD-IPPF portfolio
• Support, in collaboration with the Task managers, quality enhancement, risk management and project implementation issues
• Review periodic reports (including but not limited to quarterly, mid-year, and annual) to ensure compliance with project implementation timelines, highlighting any implementation issues and challenges
• Monitor the achievement of NEPAD-IPPF project results, and improve the collection of relevant NEPAD-IPPF results data
• Provide advice on improving project performance using monitoring findings
• Monitor project results during financial close and implementation stage
• Lead analytical work on portfolio trends, and draw and share lessons from the portfolio analysis
• Participate in dialogue with stakeholders on NEPAD-IPPF projects 
• Lead portfolio review meetings, including portfolio review meetings with project executing agencies, and discuss challenges and constraints to project implementation, while supporting the implementation of actions that will put projects on track.
• As portfolio management focal point, participate in project supervision missions as required
• Provide  technical  inputs  on  monitoring  and  reporting  parameters  to  improve  planning, programming and implementation of NEPAD-IPPF programs

Project Management:

• Participate in the NEPAD-IPPF’s pipeline development activities
• Manage the preparation of NEPAD-IPPF’s specific infrastructure projects as assigned from time to time, ensuring the projects meet the Fund’s criteria and processed through the project cycle
• Support Task managers in advancing NEPAD-IPPF projects through the project cycle, in areas of procurement, developing and executing work plans, legal processing, project supervision and completion, disbursement, and reporting in collaboration with relevant AfDB’s departments to ensure timely effectiveness of grant agreements and disbursement in line with targets set across the portfolio
• Support NEPAD-IPPF secretariat in the procurement processes, preparation and review of Terms of References (TORs), and draft contracts of service providers
• As a member of Project Appraisal Teams on new NEPAD-IPPF projects, share lessons learnt from NEPAD-IPPF portfolio with a view to improving the design, preparation and implementation of projects to strengthen the quality of the portfolioat entry
• Liaise with internal (e.g. other departments and trust funds) and external stakeholders (e.g. other agencies supporting related projects) to ensure effective coordination of NEPAD-IPPF projects with other ongoing related activities in the relevant countries and regions and to explore opportunities for collaboration
• Coordinate the implementation of the NEPAD-IPPF digital portfolio platform and lead the transition to the Fund’s full digitalization
• Lead the implementation of the NEPAD-IPPF risk screening framework and project selection criteria
• Play an active role in the organization of trainings towards internal (within AfDB) and external partners (RECs/Specialized Institutions, Project Executing Agencies) on: (i) NEPAD-IPPF’s funding application form and associated requirements; (ii) NEPAD-IPPF’s risk screening framework and project selection criteria

Knowledge Management and Coordination:

• Play a leading role in the development and implementation of NEPAD-IPPF’s research and knowledge management strategies
• Carry-out  research  and  prepare  briefs  on infrastructure-related issues  (including  project preparation)
• Carry out analytical tasks and research on a wide range of operational, country and regional infrastructure sector-related issues, and generate knowledge materials to be disseminated and published on the NEPAD-IPPF website
• Coordinate the development and implementation of the NEPAD-IPPF knowledge generation work program
• Stay tuned with the market trend on project preparation and infrastructure development to develop sector specific knowledge products that will enhance the visibility of the Fund
• Coordinate and liaise with Task managers and constantly keep up-to-date with the latest knowledge and data on infrastructure-related operations
• Interact with project Task managers and project executing agencies to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices in portfolio and best practices in portfolio management
• Serve as a focal point for questions related to NEPAD-IPPF program and operations including the digital portfolio platform and project selection criteria
• Manage a central repository for all projects and project information and undertake quality control of key documents

Strategic Support:

• Support the implementation of the NEPAD-IPPF Strategic Business Plan (SBP) 2022-2026
• Support the development of NEPAD-IPPF policy/strategy/procedures development, review and implementation
• Contribute to the development of medium and long-term strategies and action plans to improve the quality of the NEPAD-IPPF’s Portfolio
• Participate in missions and dialogues on continental strategic initiatives pertaining to NEPAD-IPPF mandate such as the second phase of the PIDA PAP (PIDA PAP2)
• Contribute to the resource mobilization activities of the NEPAD-IPPF including providing inputs in proposals, reports and other documents.

Deliverables and reporting:

• The assignment will be carried out under the overall supervision of the African Development Bank’s Infrastructure Partnerships Division (PICU.3). The Consultant will work on a day-to-day basis and guidance of and shall report to the Division Manager, Infrastructure Partnerships Division (PICU.3). The following outputs are expected to be delivered:
• Weekly portfolio monitoring dashboards
• Quarterly portfolio reports highlighting portfolio issues, bottlenecks and outcomes
• Contributions/inputs into the NEPAD-IPPF work program, annual and mid-year reports, including portfolio analysis
• Inputs into project reports (Project Appraisal Reports, Implementation Progress Reports, Project Completion Reports, etc.)
• 2 knowledge/research products developed and disseminated
• A completion report at the end of the assignment outlining all deliverables achieved and further work necessary

Duration and place of the assignment:

• Timeline: The assignment will be undertaken for a period of 12 months starting August 2023. The contract could be renewed upon satisfactory performance.
• Location: The consultancy requires regular full-time presence in the Bank’s offices with a provision of 2 days of accrued leave per month, but will remain home-based as long as the Bank staff work from home.
• Travel: The assignment will entail travel for official duty as may be assigned from time to time. All travel will be done in line with the Bank’s policies and procedures and the Consultant is required to strictly adhere to Bank travel rules. 
• Equipment: The Bank will supply equipment (computer) to facilitate work for the long term and access to Bank systems (Baobab, SAP, BPPS etc.) as authorized by the Manager and in line with Bank rules.

Qualifications and Experience Required
The prospective candidate should have the following qualifications and experiences:

• Citizenship of one of the Bank member countries
• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Statistics, Finance, International Development, or any relevant discipline
• At least 6 years of professional experience including relevant experience in the field of infrastructure project preparation and infrastructure operations planning, as well as project and portfolio management and/or of special (or trust) fund operations
• Experience in developing research and knowledge projects in Africa, particularly at least one of the following sectors: Energy, Transport, ICT, and Water
• Good working knowledge of operations, particularly the information required for project cycle activities and portfolio management, planning, work programs, budget preparation and financial management of AfDB or similar organizations
• Experience in procurement and project studies (in at least one of the following 4 sectors: Water, ICT, Energy, Transport) following the procedures of multilateral development banks Client and results-oriented, with strong analytical and report preparation skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills, application of business knowledge to the resolution of problems and identification solutions
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues
• Demonstrated ability to establish plans and priorities and advance initiatives with energy and commitment
• On-hand exposure to statistical and econometric analysis with strong command of statistical and econometric tools
• Expresses complex concepts, thoughts and ideas clearly through visual representation using judgment in the choice of angle for analyzing and displaying data, elements of correlation and trends requiring attention, choice of formats and visualization effects
• Excellent IT, communication and presentation skills, with proven ability to communicate effectively in English or French, with a good working knowledge of the other language
• Proficiency in personal computer and Microsoft products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook

Remuneration

• The remuneration will be in line with the Bank’s guidelines on remuneration of consultants.
• The consultant shall be paid a total monthly lump sum, comprising fee, subsistence, and other incidentals, for the duration of the assignment commensurate with the number of years of work experience.
• The Bank will cover economy class travel costs for the consultant who needs to travel to take up duty, and if relevant, any field mission costs as per its Travel Policy.
• The consultant will be responsible for obtaining personal health insurance at their own cost.

Application Closing Date
23rd June, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications / Proposal to the attention of:
Ms. Essui Viviane Kouadjo
African Development Bank
Email:e.kouadjo@afdb.org

And copy to:
Mr. Epifanio Carvalho De Melo
African Development Bank
Email: e.carvalhodemelo@afdb.org

Click here for more information

Click here for the Job Description (PDF)

Note

• Any questions and requests for clarifications may be sent to: e.kouadjo@afdb.org9.
• Eligibility criteria, the establishment of the short-list, and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s Rules and Procedures for the Use of Corporate Consultants.
• Please note that interest expressed by a Consultant does not imply any obligation on the part of the Bank to include him/her in the shortlist.

Establishment of the shortlist
A shortlist of three to six individual consultants will be established at the end the request of expressions of interest. The consultants on the shortlist will be judged on the following criteria based on their updated CV and motivation letter:

• General qualifications and adequacy for the proposed assignment 25%
• Relevant experience in the area of expertise of the assignment as described in the Terms of Reference (and understanding of the Terms of Reference if required) 60%
• Experience with the Bank or other international donors 10% 
• Language proficiency 5%.