Consultant, The Gambia, Preparation of the Country Strategy Paper (CSP 2021-2025) Mid-Term Review (MTR) - 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: The Gambia, Preparation of the Country Strategy Paper (CSP 2021-2025) Mid-Term Review (MTR) - RDGW

Location: Home based
Consultant Type: Individual Consultant
Department Issuing the Request: West Africa Regional Department (RDGW)
Nature of Assignment: International Individual Consultant (The Gambia)
Duration of the Assignment: Four (04) months (June 2023 to October 2023)
Job Family: Other

Brief Description of the Assignment

• The purpose of the assignment is to prepare a comprehensive CSP MTR for The Gambia to draw strategic policy interventions taking into account the lessons learned from portfolio implementation and the specificity of the country context in order for the Bank to remain relevant.
• The CSP MTR it will be an opportunity to assess progress in the implementation of recommendations from CODE during CSP 2021-2025. The CSP MTR exercise will also serve as a guide for the Bank's engagement with the Government of The Gambia over the medium-term.

Introduction / Background

• Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Gambian economy was performing well. GDP growth was robust, fiscal performance was improving due to strong revenue collection and expenditure control measures. Inflation and business sentiment remained favourable, enabling monetary policy easing and contributing to the buildup of international reserves.
• Nonetheless, the repercussions of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the lingering effects of COVID-19 and tightening international financial market conditions have brought severe macroeconomic risks and undermined fiscal reforms in The Gambia.
• The Gambia's GDP growth reached 6.2% in 2019, despite rainfall deficit which reduced agricultural output by 10%. Growth drivers included reliable power supply, lower interest rates, and continued strong tourism and other services, complementing the impetus from the public investment program.
• After a muted 0.6% growth in 2020 impacted by the COVID-19 shock, the economy recovered to 4.3% in 2021 and 4.4% in 2022, driven by agriculture, construction, and tourism, on the supply-side, and private investment on the demand-side. GDP growth is projected at 5.2% in 2023 and 5.6% in 2024 driven by agriculture, construction, energy, and tourism. Downside risks are linked to uncertainties about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, tighter international financial market conditions, and climate change.
• These shocks could weaken economic recovery, intensify fiscal pressures, and affect the debt profile.
• The African Development Bank (the Bank) together with other development partners have been supporting The Gambia’s development priorities underscored in its development frameworks including the National Development Plan, NDP, 2018-2021 and its operational priorities.
• The Bank’s Country Strategy Paper (CSP, 2021-2025) for The Gambia was approved in July 2021. The strategy is anchored on a single Priority Area of modernization of agricultural value chains for inclusive growth.
• The strategy aims to address fragility drivers and lay the foundations for socioeconomic transformation and build resilience through the creation of decent jobs for the youth and women.
• The Gambia’s CSP 2021-2025 is aligned with The Gambia's NDP 2018-2021 extended to 2022 to run along with the COVID-19Recovery Plan, the Bank's Ten-Year Strategy (TYS) 2013-2022 and its High-5s operational priorities

Objectives of the Assignment

• The purpose of the assignment is to prepare a comprehensive CSP MTR for The Gambia to draw strategic policy interventions taking into account the lessons learned from portfolio implementation and the specificity of the country context in order for the Bank to remain relevant.
• The CSP MTR it will be an opportunity to assess progress in the implementation of recommendations from CODE during CSP 2021-2025 discussion which called for the need to: (i) focus on a single priority area of modernization of agricultural value chains; (ii) assist the country mitigate the high risk of debt distress by adopting sound public debt management strategy and enhancing domestic resource mobilization.
• The CSP MTR exercise will also serve as a guide for the Bank’s engagement with the Government of The Gambia over the medium-term. It will provide an analysis of The Gambia’s socio-economic situation and prospects and discuss the policies that need to be implemented to accelerate inclusive growth and achieve the Bank's High-5s.
• The proposed work will use existing national and sectoral reports as well as international data to generate a succinct story of The Gambia's growth and sectoral performance and identify emerging issues going forward.
• The CSP MTR will underscore the enablers and binding constraints to inclusive growth and social transformation as well as the areas on which the Bank should focus its interventions over the remaining period of implementation of the strategy.

Main Activities and Deliverables

• Prepare as well as collate macroeconomic and sector inputs and the draft CSP MTR for The Gambia. The consultant will ensure that the CSP MTR guideline is followed and that all required inputs are included and updated.
• Collect all available information considered necessary for the preparation of the CSP MTR, notably: (i) recent political developments, (ii) economic context and prospects, (iii) sectoral context (e.g., in agriculture and blue economy, energy, transport, natural resources, digital economy, financial sector, private sector, and regional integration), (iv) latest developments on the social context, (v) country strategic framework, (vi) aid coordination, harmonization and bank's positioning, and (vii) assessment of the country's strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and challenges.
• Assess the CSP implementation and the results achieved at MTR with emphasis on: (i) approved Bank group resources versus planned IOP; (ii) project implementation progress, (iii) results achieved on the lending program (outputs and outcomes) at MTR versus planned targets in the CSP performance matrix, (iv) results for non-lending program at the MTR; (v) Bank's contribution to the High 5s and cross-cutting issues, and (vi) progress towards the Paris, Busan, and Accra principles.
• Assist in conducting the Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR) and including the rolling out of the CPPR Portfolio Quality Questionnaire, and CPPR workshop.
• Analyze and document the lessons learned from the implementation of the CSP 2021-2025 at MTR and draw specific recommendation for the Bank, the Government and Development Partners.
• Assist in the design of the Bank strategy for the remaining period of the CSP, placing emphasis on: (i) relevance of the strategy, objective, and priority areas for Bank's support, (ii) strategy and main expected results, (iii) indicative lending and non-lending program, (iv) priority areas for country dialogue, (v) financing of the strategy, (vi) implementation arrangements, monitoring, and evaluation; (vii) identified risks and mitigation measures.
• Review and finalize draft sector/thematic sections prepared by the Bank's sector departments.
• Apply comments from the Bank team to revise and update the entire report to ensure coherence of the storyline, interlinkages, and data consistency within and across the different chapters and sections. Revise and update the draft CSP MTR following any additional team comments.

Reporting Requirements:

• The successful consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Director of the Country Economics Department (ECCE) and Division Manager, ECCE1.
• The Consultant will be supported by the Country Economist under the overall technical supervision of the Lead Economist.

Duration of the Assignment

• The service, under this assignment is expected to be completed within a period of four (04) months from June 2023 to October 2023.
• The consultant will need to commit effort equivalent to three (03) person months for this assignment.

Duty Station:

• The consultant may work from home or any other location.
• No mission is envisaged in carrying out the activities under this assignment.

Qualifications and Experience Required

• Education: At least a Master's Degree or its equivalent in Economics, Statistics, Social Sciences, Business Administration or related field.
• A PhD in the related fields will be an advantage.

Work Experience:

• At least 8 years of relevant professional and practical experience in policy analysis and developing diagnostics or strategy documents, preparing technical and analytical reports in related areas is required;
• At least 5 years of demonstrable experience in undertaking similar assignments for international organizations, public sector or large private sector organizations is required;
• Demonstrable understanding of the socio-economic landscape and current policy dynamics of The Gambian economy is desirable;
• Knowledge of and working on similar assignments in other developing countries will be an advantage.

Languages:

• The working languages of the AfDB are French and English.
• For this task, fluency in English with good verbal and written skills is required; knowledge of the other is desirable;

Other Skills:

• Capacity to deliver output in a timely manner and ability to use relevant computer packages (especially proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Econometric modelling packages - e.g., EViews, STATA, GAMS, etc).

Application Closing Date
2nd May, 2023 at 17:00 (GMT)
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