Principal Sanitation Specialist – AWF 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: Principal Sanitation Specialist – AWF

Position Number: 50090574
Location: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Position Grade: PL4

Key functions

• Develop the AWF portfolio in line with the AWF strategy through identifying projects and conducting dialogue with governments, river basin organisations, local governments, utilities, private sector and NGOs, among others.
• Supervise AWF’s sanitation portfolio ensuring that project objectives are met particularly with regard to financing of follow-up investments.
• Develop knowledge products to disseminate AWF’s impact and lessons learnt.

Responsibilities

• The Sanitation Specialist will be responsible for supporting the development of the AWF portfolio, with a focus on sanitation.
• S/he will be responsible for managing a portfolio of projects and will ensure that project objectives are met in an efficient and sustainable manner.
• S/He will undertake various activities, which among others, include:

Supervise AWF sanitation portfolio:

• Lead the thematic project identification and preparation including assessment of concept notes, preparation for/guidance during orientation events and preparation of full proposals.
• Recruit consultants and/or organize and undertake project preparation missions as necessary to finalize the preparation of the Project Appraisal Reports and support the review process to approval by the relevant authorities.
• Ensure that grant agreements are signed promptly after approval as well as timely achievement of grant effectiveness.
• Provide on-going assistance to Recipients in understanding and applying AWF’s operational procedures relating to grant administration as well as the rules and procedures for the procurement of goods, works and services.
• Work with AfDB’s Financial Department in processing disbursement requests by providing up-to-date information on spending categories, established list of goods, works and services, contracts, entry into force of grant agreements, authorized signatories, extension of closing dates, managing grant savings and any revisions and modifications thereof.
• Undertake desk and field supervision to ensure that projects are well implemented, are accomplishing the intended objectives and recommend any necessary corrective measures.
•  Conduct regular meetings with team members to assess status of projects and also to make necessary changes and improvements, where necessary, to achieve the expected results.
• Ensure efficient achievement of all the project milestones including project evaluation, regular audits, knowledge synthesis and timely monitoring and reporting on project progress and completion, problems experienced and solutions to all stakeholders.
•  Support arrangements for project evaluation.

Develop Knowledge Products:

• Contribute to knowledge management including: (i) providing hands-on support to Recipients in implementing projects to achieve the overall goals; (ii) establishing and maintaining an E-network for sharing knowledge and providing back-stopping support; (iii) linking projects to the sanitation experts in Africa and ensuring effective support; (iv) looking out for key approaches, findings and lessons and ensuring prompt sharing among the Recipients; (v) encouraging and supporting dissemination of findings at national level for possible replication; (vi) preparing project synthesis reports and sharing them identified audiences; (vii) ensuring effective recruitment of consultants to undertake various Knowledge Management (KM) activities; (viii) managing the annual peer-to-peer review events; etc.
• Ensure coordination with sanitation partners in Africa (and elsewhere), and represent AWF in donor meetings, regional and international meetings, conferences, seminars and workshops on sanitation development issues.
• Establish and maintain active communication between the different stakeholders and work with them to ensure that they are adequately informed on portfolio progress.

AWF Administration/Liaison:

• Contribute to the preparation of the AWF Annual Report, and the Annual Work plan and budget as required.
• Respond to requests for information from the AWF Co-ordinator and the AWF team at HQ in a timely manner.
• Participate in the co-ordination and organisation of AWF activities and participate in specific AWF events as required
• Undertake assignments as may be required by the AWF Co-ordinator from time to time

Requirements

• Hold at least a Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Sanitation and Hygiene, or related discipline.
•  A minimum of 6 years of relevant experience related to project management, sanitation policy and strategy development, preparation and management of non-sewered sanitation and reuse projects preferably in urban and peri-urban settings
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues
• Ability to work independently with little supervision as well as part of a multicultural team
• Ability to influence and participate effectively in actions to drive change
• Ability to be flexible, open minded with integrity.
• Client and results oriented individual demonstrating “a can do attitude”
• Good understanding of sanitation issues, trends and opportunities in Africa.
• Ability to identify and articulate policy and technological issues and to provide sound advice.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex issues and communicate them effectively orally and in written briefs.
• Experience in delivering high quality operational products and services (research advice, sectoral studies and review; projects).
• Good communication skills and ability to build effective working relationships in a diverse multicultural environment.
• Experience with International Development Financing Institutions in developing countries including a satisfactory knowledge of their operational policies and procedures.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP is desirable
• Excellent spoken and written English or French, with a working knowledge of the other language
• Competence in the use of the standard Microsoft software applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and SAP.

Application Closing Date
14th February, 2025.

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