EOI - Integrity Specialist for EU Projects - PIAC 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: Integrity Specialist for EU Projects - PIAC

Location: Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Consultant type: Individual Consultant
Department issuing the request: Office of Integrity & Anti-Corruption (PIAC)
Duration of the assignment: Six (6) months, with possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance.
Tentative Date of commencement: Monday 15 May 2023
Detailed Terms of Reference for the assignment: Integrity Specialist for EU funded projects

The Hiring Department and Division

• The Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (PIAC) has the objective of protecting the Bank’s corporate image and reputation, and improving the continent’s investment climate through the deterrence, prevention and reduction of fraud, corruption, staff misconduct and other harmful practices within the Bank Group.
• PIAC has the overriding mandate to undertake unhindered investigations into allegations of corruption, fraud and other malpractices in Bank Group financed operations and to conduct investigations into allegations of misconduct involving staff members of the Bank.
• PIAC is responsible for developing proactive preventive measures to mitigate integrity risks and mainstream Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter Financing Terrorism (CFT) and Counter Illicit Financial Flows (CIFFs) in the Bank’s internal operations, through various policies such as:
  • Bank Group Policy on the Prevention of Illicit Financial Flows 2017 - Strategic Framework and Action Plan on the Prevention of Illicit Financial Flows in Africa (extended to 2023)
  • Integrity Due Diligence Policy
  • Non-Sovereign Operations (2016).
• PIAC also has the mandate to develop and implement policies, tools and proactive measures to prevent fraud, corruption and misconduct. In this context, PIAC maintains the highest standard of professional proficiency and integrity; and is guided by ethos of confidentiality and due diligence.
• The Integrity and Prevention Division (PIAC.1) is responsible for the prevention mandate of the Office. To achieve its mandate, the Division is directly supervised by a Manager, who reports to the Director. Its main activities are to:
  • Develop and implement tools and proactive measures, including campaigns and outreach programs, to train and assist operational staff and other partners of the Bank Group, in order to proactively reduce integrity violations, misconduct, fraud or corruption within Bank Group-financed Operations; Conduct fraud and corruption awareness and publicity programs in Regional Member Countries (RMCs), as well as relevant training of Bank employees and external partners.
  • Develop and maintain knowledge management database and information sharing networks for best practices and lessons learned in integrity, prevention, detection activities and investigations of misconduct;
  • Provide expert advice to management and field offices on significant integrity concerns and assess whether potential risks are acceptable to the Bank Group, in accordance with the Bank Group’s procedures and guidelines.
  • Develop tools to enhance due diligence practices and recommendation of measures or institutional reforms to close loopholes, in order to ensure compliance with Bank Group policies and applicable international conventions;
  • Develop and maintain risk assessment strategies and processes to strengthen and reduce vulnerability;
  • Provide policy support in the review and development of the Department’s (PIAC) internal procedures and manuals, including management of sanctions and cross-debarment issues, maintenance of PIAC database of sanctioned and cross-debarred entities.
  • Assess compliance with conditions for non-debarment and release from debarment in line with imposed sanctions; In consultation with the Investigations Division (PIAC.2), provide support for maintenance of PIAC’s records management system and sanctions and cross-debarment activities; Also, in consultation with the Investigations Division (PIAC.2), prepare key performance indicators, work plans, progress reports, and the PIAC annual reports.
  • Monitor and report regularly to the Director, on planned activities and programs developed for prevention work, as well as performance of any other tasks as instructed by the Director, in consultation with the Investigations Division (PIAC.2), and;
  • Review of proposed transactions or investigations to ensure that operations financed by the Bank Group comply with Bank Group policies and applicable international conventions.

Objectives of the Assignment

• The Integrity and Prevention Division requires the services of an individual Specialist Consultant to support the team in developing and implementing Tax Due Diligence (TDD), Integrity Due Diligence (IDD), and Anti-Money Laundering/Combatting Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) measures in EU co-funded projects and operations and supporting training and capacity building for staff and consultants.
• The assignment aims mainly to ensure that the Bank will meet its obligation regarding the EU Restrictive Measures (EURM) in the framework of EU co-funded projects.

Main Activities and Deliverables
The services expected to be provided in the context of this assignment include but are not limited to the following:

• Perform screening for hits against sanctions lists, including the EU Sanctions List, on direct and indirect beneficiaries of EU co-funded projects.
• Assist in developing and drafting TDD and IDD procedures to ensure that international best tax standards are adopted in relevant Bank group operations.
• Advise operational teams on implementation of TDD AML/CFT, and IDD in EU co-funded operations/projects through providing integrity opinions and advisory services to operational departments.
• Perform TDD AML/CFT, and IDD assessments on EU co-funded projects and prepare reports on the assessment.
• Analyse complex company and project structures to identify risks and recommend mitigating and preventive measures to address tax and integrity related risks.
• Support development and delivery of training for staff and key stakeholders to foster understanding of TDD AML/CFT, and IDD.
• Participate in and contribute to multilateral initiatives and discussions on TDD AML/CFT, and IDD.
• In terms of deliverables, the consultant shall produce an activity report at the end of each month and at the end of the assignment.

Administration/reporting:

• The Consultant will work with the PIAC Team under the general guidance of the Director of PIAC and the direct supervision of the Division Manager in charge of the Integrity and Prevention (PIAC.1).

Duration of the assignment:

• The assignment will be for a duration of six (6) calendar months tentatively commencing on 15 May 2023, with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance.
• The assignment requires the Consultant to be based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and regular full-time presence in the Bank’s offices.

Qualifications and Experience Required
Prospective candidates are required to have the following minimum requirements:

Essential:

• A Master's Degree in the Social Sciences, Law, Taxation, Anti-Corruption, Compliance, Risk Management and related disciplines.
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in International Financial Institutions, accounting, audit, law firms, banks and similar institutions with minimum of 5 years spent assessing complex project or company structures on tax, AML/CFT and integrity matters
• Must be a citizen of one of the Bank’s member countries;

Desirable:

• Experience in an international development organization will be an added advantage.

Competencies:

• Expert knowledge of international tax best practice standards, cross-border taxation, transfer pricing, international tax structuring, tax due diligence and AML/CFT and integrity due diligence
• Professional certifications in accounting, taxation, risk, money laundering prevention or fraud prevention will be an added advantage.
• Solid experience in drafting policies, guidelines, questionnaires, and compliance procedures
• Excellent command of the English or French language (written and spoken) with an ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently
• Experience in developing and delivering trainings
• Excellent interpersonal and client service skills with the ability to work in a multi-cultural context
• Strong organizational skills with an ability to work under time pressure and respond to ad hoc shifts in priorities
• Highly developed personal integrity, strong values, and ethics.

The Eligibility Criteria

• The establishment of a shortlist and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Rules and Procedure for Acquisition of Consulting Services funded by the Administrative or Capital Expenditure Budget. 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.
• Candidates who meet the required profile and are interested in this assignment are encouraged to submit an updated Curriculum Vitae to the email address provided.

Remuneration

• The consultant will be paid a competitive monthly lump sum during the duration of the assignment, comprising fee, subsistence, and other incidentals commensurate with the number of years of work experience, in accordance with the Bank’s remuneration guidelines for consultants.
• The consultant will be responsible for his/her own health insurance and accommodation costs.
• No additional benefits or per diem will be paid.
• However, the Bank will cover full costs of any required missions and provide per-diem in accordance with rules governing consultant mission travels.

Application Closing Date
30th April, 2023.