Director - Transition States Coordination Office 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: Director - Transition States Coordination Office

Reference: ADB/18/205
Location: Côte d’Ivoire
Grade: EL5
Position N°: 50092553

The Complex

• The Vice Presidency for ‘Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery ‘responsible for operational relevancy, efficiency and effectiveness of the Bank Group’s operational programs, and activities.
• The VP-RDVP will ensure that the Bank operates successfully across its RMCs and will oversee the full implementation of all aspects of the Bank’s Regional Directorates.

The Hiring Department/Division

• The Transition States Coordination Office (RDTS) is responsible for leading and implementing African Development Bank Group (the Bank) Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in its Regional Member Countries. It coordinates the Bank’s work on addressing fragility and building resilience, including activities of all fragility and resilience professionals stationed in the various Regional Hubs or Country Offices.
• Over the past decade, Africa has seen enormous growth and transformation that has expanded opportunities and improved living conditions for millions of people. More than two-thirds of African countries have strengthened their quality of governance, improved basic services, and expanded economic opportunities. Yet, there are significant risks that this momentum could be undermined by important pressures - continuing patterns of exclusion and poverty, unemployment, high migration, rapid urbanization, climate change and poor management of natural resources - that  threaten to overwhelm existing institutional capacities for managing political, economic, social and environmental challenges.
• These pressures are making every single African country more vulnerable. RDTS aims to place the Bank at the center of Africa’s efforts to address fragility and pave the way for a more resilient and inclusive development trajectory. A major part of RDTS’ activities involves the identification of the main drivers of fragility, including economic, social, political and environmental dimensions, and how the Bank’s programs and projects can contribute to equity and inclusive development. Central to RDTS engagement is the systematic application of a fragility lens to identify, respond to and prevent fragility and to build resilience and focus the Bank’s engagement in the areas where it can have the biggest impact.

The Position

• The Bank Group's approach and the specific activities undertaken by the TSCO are aligned with the Bank's Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience (2014 - 2019) and is tailored to fit the application of the High 5s Agenda in specific country context and regional dynamics, along the fragility continuum.
• Understanding the drivers and dynamics of fragility, being able to strategically mitigate the risks of violence and conflict, providing support to countries in fragile situations, and engaging Regional Member Countries (RMCs) and partners in dialogue through new and innovative channels are essential for a results-driven Bank.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as Head of the TSCO and is the Bank-wide focal point for all policy and strategic engagement matters related to transition states;
• Oversee the updating of the Bank's strategy for addressing fragility and building resilience, operational guidelines and management of the TSF in light of the new development and business delivery model;
• Oversee the resources of the TSF and report on its utilization;
• Support strategic dialogue within the Bank and externally on policy frameworks that foster peace and state-building, good governance and inclusive growth, and prevention of future crises;
• Advance the aid and development effectiveness agenda in line with the Busan New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States;
• Spearhead the Bank's convening role in transition states, and support regional hubs and country offices on the same;
• Provide situation updates and briefs for Management and the Board on the rapidly changing political, economic and social environments;
• Manage Bank-wide responses to external requests for information on issues pertaining to transition states;
• Represent the Bank effectively in national and regional conferences, as well as in workshops and training seminars on issues pertaining to state fragility, poverty and conflict;
• People management;
• Lead TSCO to provide efficient and high quality services and to achieve business objectives; manage human and financial resources of the office competently;
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Selection Criteria
Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• At least a Master's degree in Economics, Politics, Development Management and/or other Social Sciences or related disciplines;
• A minimum of 10 (ten) years of relevant and progressive experience in fragile and conflict-affected situations in Africa, of which 5 years of a managerial role;
• Must have sound knowledge of the development challenges posed by Africa's fragile and conflict- affected countries, and should have demonstrated operational work experience in support of the recovery and development efforts of fragile states;
• Ability to provide diagnostics tools and guidelines for the application of fragility lens in Bank operations;
• Understanding of the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States;
• Demonstrable understanding of Africa's economic and development challenges, sub-regional and regional development issues, and analysis and policy formulation; knowledge of the practices of major bilateral and multilateral partner development agencies in African countries is an added advantage;
• Ability to coordinate and effectively communicate the Bank's advocacy role, voice and visibility on issues pertaining to fragility, conflict and development in Africa;
• Ability to lead the preparation and dissemination of knowledge products, fragility and resilience tools/guidelines that would inform the Bank's work and policies in transition states;
• Ability to build strong strategic partnerships on policies and resource mobilization;
• Proven leadership and team building skills; results oriented and ability to work in multi-cultural environment;
• Strategic positioning of the Bank's work on fragility in the discourse on fragility and resilience building in Africa;
• Communicate and write effectively in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications and preferably SAP.

Application Closing Date
17th November, 2018.

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