Long-term Consultant Under UMDF - PICU (EOI) 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.

The Infrastructure and Urban Development Department (PICU) invites applications for the position below:

Job Title: Expression of Interest for Long-term Consultancy under the Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF) - PICU

Location: Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Consultant type: Individual Consultant

Objectives of the Assignment

• The UMDF is a new trust fund that began operations in 2020, with technical assistance for investment project preparation, and designing and piloting the African Cities Program, a comprehensive approach to provide intensive support along all three outcome areas of the Fund to selected municipalities across the continent.
• After the success of the first phase of its African Cities Program (ACP), the Bank plans to roll-out the program to at least 40 cities until 2027 while also increase its support to urban investment project preparation under its Project Preparation Facility (PPF).
• The objective of the consultancy is to support the operationalization, coordination and roll-out of the Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF), with a particular focus on the Project Preparation Facility (PPF) and African Cities Program (ACP).
• The consultant will strengthen the UMDF’s engagement in project origination, conceptualization and preparation in existing and future PPF/ACP partner cities,
• strengthening the network approach, knowledge management and technical assistance.
• The consultant is expected to provide technical contributions to sustainable urban development planning in partner cities.
• S/he is expected to also support the quality control of externally provided services and outputs, and support direct delivery of outputs, knowledge management products and events, contributing to the overall Bank and Fund success in technical assistance interventions at national and city level.
• The Consultant will work primarily but not exclusively on UMDF beneficiary cities and UMDF institutional development.

Description

• The African Development Bank hereby invites Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in the following Assignment: Long-term (12 month) consultancy in the Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF) Secretariat.
• The services to be provided under the Assignment include:
  • Support the operationalization, coordination and roll-out of the Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF), with a particular focus on the Project Preparation Facility (PPF) and African Cities Program (ACP);
  • Provide technical contributions to sustainable urban development planning in partner cities;
  • To also support the quality control of externally provided services and outputs, and
  • Support direct delivery of outputs, knowledge management products and events, contributing to the overall Bank and Fund success at national and city level in the urban sector.
• The Urban Development and Infrastructure Department invites Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the above-described services. Interested Consultants shall provide information on their qualifications and experience demonstrating their ability to undertake this Assignment (documents, reference to similar services, experience in similar assignments, etc.).
• The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a shortlist and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Procurement Policy for Recruitment 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.
• The estimated duration of services is 12 months, with the option of renewal upon satisfactory performance and availability of funds. The position is located Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. The estimated starting date is 1 March 2023.

Main Activities and Deliverables

• The consultant is expected to oversee the prospective and active portfolio of UMDF technical and financial assistance to support the successful roll-out of two main instruments under the UMDF Business Plan 2023-2027, the PPF and ACP.
• The assignment as outlined above can be further broken down into three main activity streams with indicative deliverables.
• The nature of the assignment, supporting the evolving UMDF and African Cities Program however means that activities and deliverables might change based on evolving trends and learnings in this new area, flexibility and responding to such a dynamic environment is desirable and the Consultant is invited to actively contribute to the programmatic and institutional development based on his/her experience.

Operationalization of the UMDF Project Preparation Facility:

• The consultant is expected to (support) dialogue with partners, cities, various Bank units to develop and mature a pipeline of technical and financial assistance for investment project preparation.
• The consultant will support building the UMDF pipeline through partner dialogue, research, and systematic follow-up to emerging activities related to the PPF. Activities will include:
• Dialogues with project proponents, national and local governments, bank divisions to the identify, mature and supervise development of the fund's project portfolio,
• Development of presentations, project, syntheses, knowledge products,
• The development of promotional materials and advocacy,
• Contributing to background research and concept note development, and
• Supporting the planning and delivery of events with existing and new partners, all with a focus on francophone Regional Member Countries.

Indicative deliverables:

• Development and application of management and oversight tools for the PPF.
• Development of pipeline tracking and oversight tool(s).
• Drafting presentations, prepare and facilitate dialogue calls and missions, including systematic follow up notes and communication.
• Technical review and written inputs to project documents (concepts, project briefs, project information memoranda, PCN, PAR and related studies) in the transport, water, energy and waste, environment and sanitation sectors, in collaboration with sector departments.
• Drafting and providing written inputs to UMDF institutional documents like methodologies, strategies, concept papers and notes.
• Documentation of PPF experiences from Africa and from other regions, best practices and lessons learned.
• Conduct research and/or compile data, analyses for internal or external usages.

Operationalization of the African Cities Program:

• Support the roll-out of the ACP in at least 40 cities across Africa, with a focus on the systematic continuous selection of cities, the delivery of City Action Plans and networking and learning activities that lead toward improved capacities of partner cities under the ACP to plan, identify and manage investment projects. Typical responsibilities will include:
• respond to city expression of interest to join the ACP,
• Plan, facilitate and document networking activities and events between partner cities and institutional partners,
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders to advance activities and outputs in ACP partner countries and cities.

Indicative deliverables:

• Prepare and facilitate dialogue with partner cities and stakeholder to select partner cities to the ACP.
• Draft procurement and guidance documents for service providers to deliver key activities and outputs under the ACP, with a special emphasis on City Action Plans.
• Technical and editorial review of city diagnostics and action plans, other city-level outputs and materials,
• Provide guidance notes, and/or facilitate dialogue (calls, events) to harmonize city deliverables across participating cities, while at the same time coordinating with local stakeholders document advancements.
• Develop and curate a range of promotional, advocacy and knowledge materials, develop content and relevant inputs into funding proposals and concept notes and project development documents focusing on the UMDF Cities Program partner cities.
• Support identification and maturation of investment project concepts from ACP cities towards UMDF (preparation) and Bank financing (appraisal)
• Provide written input to AfDB project concept notes development proposals
• Contribute to UMDF fundraising proposals

Reporting

• The LTC will be a member of the Urban and Municipal Development Fund Secretariat, under the overall guidance of the Director, of the Infrastructure and Urban Development Department (PICU) and/or the Director’s designee.
• Day-to-day supervision will be assured by the UMDF coordinator.
• The position is based in the Bank HQ in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Duration of the assignment

• The duration of the consultancy is twelve (12) months, with the option of renewal subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds

Qualifications and Experience

• Have at least a Master's Degree in an Urban Development related field, Civil Engineering or related discipline
• Preferably four (4) years of relevant and practical work experience in, or with, African Cities, or urban development related institutions. Experience with Multi-Lateral Development Banks or an international organization will be a plus.
• Strong customer service and organizational skills, ability to perform a variety of tasks, pay attention to detail and work with a multidisciplinary team.
• Perfect command of the standard software applications (MS Office, Virtual Meeting software, online collaboration applications).
• Good coordination skills - methodical and self-organized.
• Demonstrable commitment to delivering excellent customer service
• Flexibility to adapt, positive attitude towards change, and a constructive and creative approach to problem solving.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing in French and / or English

Application Closing Date
16th February, 2023 at 23:59 hours Abidjan local time

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Expressions of interest by E-Mail, preferably in PDF to the address below and specifically mentioning “Expression of Interest for Long-term consultancy under the Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF).”
Attn: Marcus MAYR
Email: [email protected]
Cc:
Mrs. Yene O. OUATTARA-COULYBALY
Email: [email protected]

Click here for more information

Click here for the Job Description (PDF)

Establishment of the Shortlist
A shortlist of 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 resume:

• Level and focus of formal education: 20%
• Demonstrated knowledge about African Urban Development: 20%
• Language and communications: 20%
• Work experience, preferably with MDBs, relevant to the mission: 40%

Note: Interested Individual Consultants may obtain further information at the address below during the Bank’s working hours: 9am to 5pm, Monday – Friday (UTC).