EOI - Junior Consultant - AHAI at 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:  EOI - Junior Consultant on Operational Support to Implementation of Dakar 2 Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts - AHAI

Location: Remote
Consultant type: Junior Consultant
Department issuing the request: Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department
Duration of the assignment: 06 months
Tentative Date of commencement: 1st July, 2023
Job family: Agriculture, Human and Social Development

Brief Description of the Assignment

• Following Dakar 2, the African Development Bank (AfDB) seeks to hire two junior consultants to provide operational support to Regional Managers and Task Managers within the Agriculture and Agro-Industry (AHAI) on the implementation of Dakar 2 Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts.
• The primary objective of the junior consultant’s assignment is to support Feed Africa Operations in the regional hubs countries on the design and implementation of new investment project and sector budget support operations related to Dakar 2 Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts.
• The junior consultants will collect data, conduct analytics in support of evidence-based interventions in the sector, participate in project design and implementation working closely with the regional sector managers in the region and the AHAI Lead, Partnerships and Coordination.

Background

• The Feed Africa Strategy (FAS) of the African Development Bank (2016-2025), also known as Feed Africa was conceived in October 2015 at a High-Level Meeting of senior public and private sector leaders held in Dakar, Senegal, and approved for implementation by the Board of Directors of the Bank May 2016.
• The Strategy seeks to transform African agriculture into a competitive, inclusive, and agribusiness-oriented sector that creates wealth, improves lives, and secures the environment through an agricultural commodity value chains approach.
• The Feed Africa Strategy (FAS) aims to end hunger and rural poverty and reduce food imports on the African in ten (10) years from the year of its inception (2016).
• After seven years of implementation of Feed Africa, it became evident that unlocking the agricultural potential of the continent by delivering climate smart agricultural technologies to millions of farmers and the creation on an enabling environment of rural infrastructure and policy incentives is possible in a short period of time through strong political will and investment by Governments, Development Partners and the private sector.
• A High-Level Summit of 34 African Heads of State, 75 Ministers and 12 Heads of Development Partner organization was held in Dakar January 22-27, 2023 to mobilize political, financial and technical support for agricultural transformation on the continent at scale. Dakar 2, as the meeting was also known as, held 41 Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compact boardrooms to discuss previously prepared documents that outlined production targets for key agricultural staples, a road map to reach those targets, and enabling policies, including support to all actors in agricultural commodity value chains.
• To ensure accountability of results, a Presidential Delivery Council, to oversee implementation of the Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compact, was proposed.
• Following Dakar 2, the African Development Bank (AfDB) seeks to hire two junior consultants to provide operational support to Regional Managers and Task Managers within the Agriculture and Agro-Industry (AHAI) on the implementation of Dakar 2 Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts.

Objective of the Assignment

• The primary objective of the junior consultant’s assignment is to support Feed Africa Operations in the regional hubs countries on the design and implementation of new investment project and sector budget support operations related to Dakar 2 Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts.
• The junior consultants will collect data, conduct analytics in support of evidence-based interventions in the sector, participate in project design and implementation working closely with the regional sector managers in the region and the AHAI Lead, Partnerships and Coordination.

Scope of Work
The scope of work will include the following activities:

• Support the delivery of lending programme from data collection and analysis, identification, preparation, appraisal and launching, effectiveness, disbursement, implementation support until completion.
• Work closely with the AHAI Programme coordinator and regional delivery team to maintain an updated list of agriculture projects pipeline (at least 3 years rolling list) specifying their processing schedule from identification to Board approval, synchronizing with AHAI and RDG Indicative Operations Programme (IOP).
• Work closely with Task Managers to ensure the realization of the key performance indicators (KPIs) sector in terms of portfolio quality and performance, and business delivery
• Compile and maintain an update portfolio database of the division (lending and non lending operations, trust funds, special initiatives, co-financing).
• Work with Task Managers to ensure regular and timely supervision and completion reporting of all agricultural operations in the region.
• Work with Task Managers with regards to M&E data collection, cleaning, and analysis, and their uploading into the Department M&E system, including implementation of an automated monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) ICT-Based platform.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual performance progress reports.
• Maintain the online database that will serve as a repository for program M&E activities documents, data, reports and related records; and files and essential partners or entities across the Feed Africa portfolio.
• Prepare briefs, talking points and background papers, literature review, data collection, analytics and other required documentation.
• Participate in division meetings and prepare minutes and correspondence as requested;
• Undertake any other assignment as determined by AHAI management in conjunction with
• AHAI Division Managers and Task Managers

Expected Deliverables

• Contributions to a pipeline of Dakar 2 investment project and budget support operations
• Contributions to Project Implementation Progress and Completion Reports (IPR and PCRs)
• Implementation of an automated monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) ICT-Based platform.

Duration Of Contract:

• The two junior consultants will serve in this capacity for an initial period of six months renewable based on performance; the assignment is expected to start no later than 01 July 2023.

Qualifications
The consultant will have:

• Preferably a Master's Degree or equivalent in Agricultural Economics, Development Economics, Science, Humanities, Business Administration, or other relevant discipline.
• Less than 35 years of age and be a citizen of a member country (regional or non-regional) of the Bank.
• Knowledge of agricultural sector development, agricultural entrepreneurship, and food supply chains in Africa.
• Good knowledge of the Bank’s standard software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and web tools), proficiency in website management will be a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and an ability to work within tight deadlines. A commitment to excellence in order to meet high quality standards expected internally and externally.
• Mastery of English or French, both written and oral; ability to effectively communicate both internally and externally.
• The ability to work collaboratively with teams.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to prepare well detailed reports on program/project activities.
• Self-motivated with strong sense of initiative and, demonstrated ability to efficiently manage and perform multiple tasks under pressure.

Experience:
Essential:

• At least 2 years and a maximum of 4 years of relevant work experience (including professional internships).
• Experience in the Feed Africa flagship focus areas with different stakeholders, including development partners, government, private sector and agripreneurs.
• Prior experience in a multilateral bank of similar development agency will be an advantage.

Location:

• The Consultant will work remotely for the duration of the contract. But will be required to travel

from time to time as required
Reporting Requirements:

• The Consultant will report directly to the Director, Agriculture and Agro-Industry of to AHAI Staff

designated by the Director.
Evaluation Criteria of Offers
The evaluation criteria for the offers are as follows:

• (General qualification for tasks to be performed - 25%
• Specific experience on the tasks to be performed - 50%
• Knowledge of the African region - 10%
• Experience with development organizations - 5%
• Proficiency in French or English - 10%

Remuneration
Remuneration will be commensurate with experience, in line with the AfDB compensation
guidelines. The candidate will be responsible for obtaining personal health insurance at his or her own cost. The coverage should include all medical expenses, including those resulting from illness or injury incurred during the duration of the assignment.

Application Closing Date
28th June, 2023 (17H00 - Abidjan Time).