EOI - Operations Performance Consultant - RDGW 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: Expressions of Interest:  Operations Performance Consultant - RDGW

Location: Home-based, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Consultant type: Individual Consultant
Job family: Other
Department issuing the request: RDGW
Place of assignment: Home-based, the consultant will telecommute until normal business resumes. Thereafter, will be based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Duration of the assignment: 6 calendar months
Tentative Date of commencement: April 2023

Background

• The Bank has a large presence across Africa with over 35 Country Offices (COS).
• The COS are organized around five Director General Regional Departments (RDs) for each of the five regions of Africa, RDGC (Central Africa), RDGN (North Africa), RDGE (East Africa and the Horn), RDGS (Southern Africa) and RDGW (West Africa), and include Nigeria Country Office (RDNG).
• The RDGW covers the following fourteen (14) countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote-d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
• RDGW is responsible for the development and supervision of a pipeline of sovereign and non-sovereign operations for West Africa’s agriculture, environment, power, social, transport and water sectors.
• The RDGW portfolio, the Bank’s largest, is facing a number of challenges and has a large number of flagged operations in the Bank’s Portfolio Flashlight Report.
• Close monitoring and follow-up and the rigorous application of the Bank’s quality assurance and results tools is needed to improve the quality of the portfolio. RDGW is therefore recruiting experienced Consultants to help improve the quality of its portfolio.

Duties, Responsibilities and Expected Achievements

• The purpose of this consultancy is to improve the efficiency of the work of RDGW and its units, to support the new RRS platform, including new quality assurance tools and the full use of the results reporting system, support Bank’s staff and management, and to help RDGW management identify and focus on where to act for improved delivery.
• A special authorization will have to be given to the Consultant to access the bank’s systems.
• The Consultant's duties will also include monitoring of flagged projects and follow up of cancellable projects. More specifically, the objectives assigned to this mission are to: 

General Portfolio 

• Performance1.Assist in the identification of problems related to the Bank's portfolio performance and service delivery, and promptly undertake appropriate actions;
• Liaise with relevant field offices and sector departments on operational issues, especially those concerning portfolio coordination and monitoring;
• Focus on seeking effective solutions/responses to issues relating to the countries under his/her coverage in coordination with relevant sector departments;

Supervision / Completion Reports:

• Provide support to Task Managers on the use of the Results Reporting System (RRS) and ensure data consistency and integrity; 

IPR:

• Monitor quarterly mission programs especially those related to Implementation of Performances Reports 

(IPRs):

• With a focus on priority Sectors/Countries, follow up with Sector Operations Assistants (SOAs) and/or Task Managers (TMs) on timely entry of Result Matrices (RMs), Implementation Performance Reports(IPRs) and Project Completion Reports (PCRs) in the RRS system;  

PCR:

• Monitor quarterly mission programs especially those related to PCRs;8. Ensure that the completion missions of these projects have been carried out and that the PCRs are drafted,  submitted and validated in RRS with a special focus on delayed  PCRs;
• Update  the projects due for PCRs  list  and  follow  up  on  projects  with  Closing Date Expired, Projects that close in 6 months to monitor if there will be an extension or if the PCR will actually be carried out; Flagged/Cancellable Projectsa) Flagged Projects
• Regularly monitor cancellable/flagged projects and update action plans in the Regional Dashboard with the sector TMs and Operations Assistant to get these projects out of the flagged status;

Cancellable Project:

• Follow up on cancellable projects, especially those whose Closing Date Expired or Undisbursed Balance is below the Minimum Threshold;
• Assist TMs/CPOs to effectively cancel balance in SAP and have it approved; 
  In coordination with the Financial Control Department(FIFC), organize training of ask managers on the cancelation process when possible;

Others:

• Provide support to the Delivery Uniton documents search, data collection and analysis; 
• Undertake any other task/assignment as assigned by the Senior Management;
• Prepare analytical quarterly reports on portfolio performance.

Management / Supervision of the Consultancy:

• The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Director General and the Deputy Director General.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Hold at least a  Master's Degree or its equivalent in Statistics, Economics, Finance, Development Studies or other related disciplines
• A  minimum of seven (7) years of  relevant  professional  experience  development cooperation  gained in an International Organization including  experience related  to project design, development issues, data analysis and information systems
• Knowledge of operational policies, procedures, and review processes  of  multilateral development banks or other development agencies
• Excellent technical and analytical skills
• Ability to design from data and report innovative solutions or options for improvement
• Ability to produce high-quality work on a variety of issues within very short deadlines and make effective judgment calls
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Good knowledge of IT tools and computer skills (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.);
• Knowledge of SAP and RRS Systems would constitute a significant advantage;

Duration and Location of the Assignment:

• The consultancy is expected to start in March 2023 and will cover a period of 6 months.
• He/Shewill be based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Remuneration for the Assignment

• Remuneration will be commensurate with experience, in line with the Bank’s compensation guidelines. 
• The consultancy fees will be paid on a monthly lump sum basis.
• For candidates who need to travel to take up this assignment, a round-trip economy class air ticket with the shortest route will be provided.
• The candidate will be responsible for obtaining personal health insurance at his/her own cost.
• The consultant will be eligible for travel expenses  (air ticket, hotel accommodation and per diem) while assigned on a Bank mission during the duration of the contract.

Application Closing Date
20th March 2023 at 17:00 GMT(Abidjan Local Time).

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their Expressions of Interest to: [email protected] 

Click here for more information

Click here for the Job Description (PDF)

Application and Evaluation Process
A  shortlist of three to six individual  Consultants will be drawn up following the call for expressions of interest. Consultants will be evaluated according to the following criteria based on their updated CV

• General qualifications and adequacy for the proposed Assignment 30%
•  Similar experience in the area of expertise of the Assignment as described in the Terms of Reference 30%
• Experience with the Bank 20%
• Language proficiency 10%
• Knowledge of the Region 10%
• Total 100%