Chief Industrial Policy 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: Chief Industrial Policy Officer

Position Number: 50066478
Location: Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Position Grade: PL3

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, strengthen the enabling environment for private sector (including financial sector) development conducive to inclusive growth and sustainable development, support the development of reliable and sustainable infrastructure, including cities and urban development and 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 and Division

• The role of the Bank’s Industrial and Trade Development Department is to promote the implementation of the Bank’s 10 Year Strategy and HI 5’s initiatives with special emphasis on the Industrialize Africa strategy.
• The Department leads the Bank’s activities in the area of industrial policies, ICT, trade and investment climate, and private sector investments in industry and services.
• In line with the Bank Ten-Year Strategy, and consistent with the Bank’s Industrialization Strategy for Africa, the Industrial Development Division drives the Bank’s interventions through the implementation of priority programs to scale-up and accelerate industrial transformation in Africa.
• Through strategic partnerships with other co-financiers, the Private Sector, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO),the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Union Commission (AUC) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Division actively seeks to support governments in adjusting their national industrial policies, identifying potential sectors for industrial development and investment, and providing support for value chain development, advisory and technical assistance as well as operational support through sectoral expertise to operational teams in Regional Hubs.
• This will cover operations, advisory and technical assistance pertaining to industry clusters, investments in Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and linkage projects, technical assistance for Public-Private Partnership-targeted projects and special initiatives and activities dedicated to promoting strategic partnerships. In addition, the Division strives to facilitate government and private sector dialogue to foster coordination between all the industrialization stakeholders.

The Position

• The Chief Industrial Policy Officer will assume a leadership role and ensure technical soundness of the Bank’s lending and non-lending activities in the Industrial sector, in relation with the Bank’s Industrialization Strategy.
• He/She will provide in-depth technical and sectoral expertise towards ensuring that the Bank effectively supports Regional Member Countries (RMCs) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in their efforts to restructure their economies and accelerate industrial transformation to strengthen productivity.
• The incumbent is responsible for providing advice and developing technical assistance and lending operations to governments, institutions and regulatory bodies in the areas of private sector and industrial development, in relation to the Bank’s Industrialization Strategy.
• He/She will forge and lead strategic partnerships with relevant international organizations and development financiers active in charge of industrial development.

Key Functions
Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Manager Industrial Development Division (PITD1), the incumbent will perform the following:

• Coordinate/lead the identification, development and implementation of complex sovereign operations on industrial development, including investment projects, results-based financing operations, budget support/program-based operations and institutional support projects at country and regional levels. Provide expertise and guidance towards ensuring improved management of projects facing implementation issues.
• Ensure quality at entry of industrialization operations, including ensuring key technical, financial and crosscutting issues are incorporated into projects to ensure expected impact and Results
• Lead technical and advisory support to governments of RMCs and RECs in championing and driving competitive, market-responsive, private sector led industrialization of economies, geared to strengthening the participation of RMCs’ economies in global value chains as suppliers of higher-value intermediate and final products.
• Mobilize resources to carry out non-lending technical assistance activities
• Coordinate/work with regional delivery units and other divisions in the implementation of the Industrialize Africa Strategy, focusing on flagship programs; fostering successful industrial policies, promoting and driving enterprise development, promoting strategic partnerships and  supporting governments in developing efficient industry clusters across Africa.
• Coordinate and/or collaborate with other Bank entities, often in a leadership role, in the preparation and review of policies, briefs, strategies and various economic and sector work and reports on industrialization issues.
• Coordinate contributions and provide technical inputs on industrialization in the preparation and implementation of Country Diagnostic Notes (CDNs), Country Strategy Papers (CSPs), and Regional Integration Strategy Papers (RISP) Country Portfolio Reviews.
• Participate in relevant country and regional teams for planning and programming purposes.
• Lead partnerships and maintain strong relationships with clients, other co-financiers such as the World Bank and European Union, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Union Commission (AUC) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to develop joint operations and initiatives.
• Participate in and contribute to activities for advocacy, dissemination and knowledge building relating to AfDB’s investments/operations, products and initiatives.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• Hold at least a Master's Degree in Economics, Public Policy, Industrial Policy, International Trade, Business Administration or related fields.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in a similar institution and/or solid experience in industrial development;
• Strong understanding of Africa’s industrial structure coupled with practical experience in high-level policy dialogue.
• Ability to develop new business, structure and negotiate operations;
• Demonstrates ability to coordinate, participate in, and act as a catalyst for, strategic dialogues within sector networks, across the country, among Bank colleagues and other development institutions, governments and other organizations.
• Proven ability to work with limited supervision and efficiently to deliver under pressure and meet tight deadlines;
• Experience with multilateral development institutions in developing countries is highly desirable;
• Experience in developing countries is highly desirable
• Demonstrate negotiation and consensus-building, communication and problem-solving skills;
• Demonstrate client-focus, be able to work in a team and maintain good relationships;
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, with a working knowledge of the other;
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint). Knowledge of SAP is desirable.

Application Closing Date
8th June, 2022.