How to Apply for The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Recruitment

• 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 objectives are: (i) to develop, policy and strategy; (ii) provide deep sector expertise to the Regions by gathering pools of experienced individuals who can be consulted to provide sector expertise on complex transactions; (iii) develop new financing instruments; (iv) the Vice President will act as the spokesperson to represent the Bank with external stakeholders on aspects of “Feed Africa” and Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa”.

The Hiring Department / Division

• The role of the Gender, Women and Civil Society Department is under the Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex focusing on the Bank’s TYS High 5s priority of “Feed Africa” and “Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa”. Furthermore, “Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa” will be operationalized with focus on Gender, Women and Civil Society.
• The Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Program is a flagship program of the Bank that aims to bridge the gender gap in access to finance and unleash women’s entrepreneurial capacity across the continent. AFAWA’s holistic approach focuses on 3 pillars: (a) access to finance, leveraging AfDB’s various instruments such as lines of credit, equity investments and risk sharing mechanisms, (b) technical assistance, to financial institutions as well as women entrepreneurs, and (c) policy dialogue to reform the legal and regulatory frameworks affecting women businesses.

The Position

• The Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Program Coordinator reports to the Director Gender, Women and Civil Society Department.
• The AFAWA Program Coordinator will be responsible to manage the AFAWA initiative and ensure that AFAWA’s development goals are met in delivering transformative financing for women owned enterprises with a special focus on small and medium scale enterprises.
• He/She will also coordinate the work of other members of the AFAWA Team (including decentralized staff), and work closely with other relevant Departments and Sectors to ensure effective implementation of AFAWA across all the Bank’s operations.

Key Functions
Under the strategic guidance and oversight of the Director Gender, Women and Civil Society Department, The AFAWA Coordinator will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the AFAWA Program, which includes:

• Support the delivery of AFAWA’s vision and objectives, including under each of the High 5 Agenda.
• Engage with internal and external partners and integrate the AFAWA key performance drivers across Bank operations.
• Coordinate all Bank-wide activities related to AFAWA i.e. financing mechanisms; technical assistance, policy dialogue and knowledge management.
• Work closely with the Gender, Women and Civil Society Department, at all levels, to harmonize the integration of the Gender Agenda and women’s financial inclusion in particular, in Bank’s operations, programs, and policy dialogue.
• Develop Monitoring & Evaluation methodologies and produce regular reports for dissemination to Committees, Board, cross-departments and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate co-financing and resource mobilization activities in close collaboration with the Bank’s Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Department.
• Prepare and manage the AFAWA Team’s annual work plan and budget, in line with AFAWA business plan and strategy, as agreed by Senior Management.
• Supervise and mentor the AFAWA Team, including staff, consultants and technical assistants.
• Serve as one of AFAWA’s spokespersons by clearly articulating its broad goals and objectives and being a voice on key issues related to women’s business enterprises in Africa.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• Hold at least a Master’s Degree in one or more of the following areas: Finance Economics, International Relations, Development Studies, Public Policy, Business Administration; Relevant qualification in development project management and project finance, in Small & Medium Enterprise-size finance, gender financing and financial inclusion is a plus.
• Have a minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience and expertise in (i) producing financial and non-financial/advisory services strategies and operations in Africa, particularly in business banking, Small & Medium-size Enterprise sector finance and financial inclusion and/or (ii) producing gender-sensitive financial inclusion strategies and programs, specifically working on women’s economic empowerment in rural areas and women in business; (iii) mobilizing resources and engaging with the donor community; of which three (3) years in a management position.
• Experience working with African financial and private sector stakeholders (policy makers, regulators, financial institutions, multinationals, Small & Medium-size Enterprise sectors).
• Experience working with a Development Finance Institution (DFI) is a plus.
• Experience in resource mobilization and public-private partnership development
• Track record of engaging with African governments, companies, civil society and development institutions.
• Proven ability to manage high performing teams to achieve visionary and challenging goals and ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Proven interpersonal skills and ability to mobilize diverse and multicultural teams & partners for delivery.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English and/or French, with a strong working knowledge of the other, ability to manage a bilingual team.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP is desirable.

Position Number: 50078315
Position Grade: PL4

The Complex

• The Vice-Presidency for ‘Power, Energy, Climate Change and Green Growth’ (PEVP) is a Sector Complex focusing on the Bank’s first High-5 priority – “Light up and Power Africa” – in particular, through public and private investments, technical assistance and capacity-development support in the areas of power systems (generation, transmission and distribution), policy and regulation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change and green growth.

The Department / Division

• Situated within PEVP, the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Department (PERN) has the broad objective of promoting the development of renewable energy – both large and small scale – also including energy efficiency and clean cooking activities.
• More specifically, the department is mandated to (i) function as a one-stop source / hub for renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean cooking programmes/projects (ii) focus on accelerating “market development” with an emphasis on developing new approaches / areas (e.g. mini-grid programmes, thematic or country focused funds) and play a lead role in establishing region- or country-specific programmes (iii)  mobilise concessional resources as part of the structuring of blended finance solutions for projects and programmes.
• The Renewable Energy Funds (PERN.3) Division leads the implementation of specific initiatives in the area of renewable energy – in particular fund investments and fund management. Specifically, PERN.3 manages the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) Special Fund operations entailing technical assistance and concessional investments across its three focus areas – Green Mini-Grids, Green Baseload and Energy Efficiency – and plays a lead role, together with other PEVP units, in the origination, appraisal and supervision of equity and debt fund investments in the renewable energy and energy access space.

The Position

• The Principal (Renewable Energy) Investment Officer will support and assist across a range of activities linked to the origination, financial structuring, and implementation of renewable energy projects – particularly in the decentralized renewable energy space – and support the implementation of SEFA private sector activities and initiatives.
• The job holder will focus on (i) the identification, preparation, and implementation of renewable energy and energy access projects or initiatives, such as equity funds or corporate platforms, covering solar home systems, mini-grids, commercial and industrial (C&I) solar and independent power producers); (ii) leadership and/or support to the implementation of SEFA blended finance transactions;  and (iii) portfolio management of projects under the responsibility of PERN.3; and (iv) support to any other priorities assigned by management.

Key Functions
Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Division Manager – Renewable Energy Funds, the Principal (Renewable Energy) Investment Officer will perform the following:

• Support the identification and development of a robust renewable energy pipeline, including both grid-connected and decentralized projects, as well as financial intermediaries in the equity and debt space.
• Lead/support the structuring of renewable energy and energy access scale-up programs involving public and private sector participation.
• Lead the preparation, due diligence/appraisal, negotiation/closing, and supervision of renewable energy projects, with a focus on decentralized energy (solar home systems, mini-grid and C&I space).
• Develop innovative and appropriate financial structures for complex transactions, including through the blending of concessional/climate capital with commercial funding.
• Support the development of financial solutions and instruments to overcome identified bottlenecks to the scale-up of renewable energy in Africa.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, especially regional renewable energy and energy access developers and sponsors, utilities, corporates, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to develop specific investment opportunities.
• Supervise existing portfolio of investments in closed-ended equity and debt funds, ensuring strong synergies with Bank activities at the country and project levels, including co-financing opportunities.
• Lead/Participate and manage project teams, mentor and develop junior staff, advise management, share knowledge and ideas, to ensure strong and effective internal cooperation and delivery of results.
• Perform any other duty assigned by the Division Manager or Director.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• At least a Master’s Degree in Economics, Finance, Business, Engineering, Energy and/or a professional qualification such as Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Chartered Accountant (ACCA) or related subjects.
• Have a minimum of six (6) years professional experience at project level, broad knowledge of various energy sub-sectors, including renewable energy technologies and business models.
• Deal structuring and closing experience in project and/or corporate finance transactions in Africa, ideally with some exposure to asset-backed financings, capital markets transactions and guarantees.
• Experience in Multilateral or Development Bank / Development Financial Institutions operations, preferably in an African context is an added advantage
• Experience with investing through intermediaries, notably private equity funds, debt funds and commercial Banks is an added advantage.
• Experience in climate finance mobilization and blended finance structures and solutions.
• Full knowledge of the principles of project cycle and project implementation;
• Strong interpersonal and client orientation skills, with proven experience in building and managing teams.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing effectively in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language.

Application Deadline: Not Stated

How to Apply: Use the link below to apply: