Special Envoy Recruitment - Middle East & North Africa (Mena) and Gulf Region 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: Special Envoy - Middle East & North Africa (Mena) and Gulf Region

Position Number: 50091209
Location: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Position Grade: EL4

The Complex

• The President, plans, supervises and manages the business of the Bank Group. Under the direction of the Boards of Directors, the President conducts the business of the Bank and the African Development Fund and manages operations and activities in accordance with the Agreements establishing the ADB and the ADF.
• The President supervises several Departments and Units including Office of the President; Independent Development Evaluation Department; Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department; Compliance Review and Mediation Unit; Secretariat to the Sanctions Appeals Board; Administrative Tribunal; Office of the Auditor General; Group Risk Management Function;  General Counsel and Legal Services Department; Communication and External Relations Department; Staff Integrity and Ethics Office and Office of the Secretary General & General Secretariat.

The Hiring Department

• The Office of the President assists the President in planning, supervising and managing the business of the Bank Group.
• The Office monitors, coordinates and supervises the implementation of various Bank programs including administrative issues relating to Directors reporting to the Office of the President; prepares and organizes the President’s missions and represents the Bank, in line with the President’s instructions, at international conferences and meetings and on working missions to member countries; prepares and organizes meetings with Bank’s Senior Management, and facilitates follow-up on the decisions of these meetings; reviews, evaluates and gives advice on communication and interaction between the Presidency and the various organs of the Bank; provides advice on communication and interaction between the Presidency and various stakeholders of the Bank; ensures the effective and timely implementation of Board and Management decisions; provides effective administrative and logistic support to facilitate implementation of the President’s programs; and prepares, monitors and submits summaries of audit reports to the President and follows up on the implementation of the recommendations of the reports.

The Position
The Special Envoy for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Region will report directly to the President and will be a member of the senior leadership in the Cabinet Office of the President and will:

• Advise the President on strategic issues related to management of relations with the MENA and Gulf Region shareholders and stakeholders, particularly in mobilizing political support for the Bank’s resource mobilization initiatives; other corporate priorities; implementation of strategy and on actions required.
• Assist the President on outreach strategies with the MENA and Gulf Region, for resource mobilization and communicate Bank policy and strategies to these key stakeholders in MENA and Gulf Region on behalf of the President and the Bank.
• Represent the President in meetings and missions, as required.

Key Functions
Reporting to the President, the Special Envoy leads and coordinates the entire Shareholders relations in the MENA and Gulf Region in support of the President, in the following areas:

• Supporting the President’s outreach to the MENA and Gulf Countries to mobilize political and financial support for the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund, including expanding membership at the Bank and the Fund.
• Forge strong strategic partnerships with financial institutions in the MENA and Gulf region, especially the Arab Coordination Conference, to expand financial partnerships and co-financing of programs in Africa.
• Support outreach on re-channeling of concessional financing and other instruments, including special drawing rights (SDRs) towards the advancement of the work and operations of the African Development Bank Group.
• Forge strong engagement for promoting and fostering public-private partnerships for mobilizing investments into Africa.
• Assist the President in any other areas of strategic engagements to advance the work and operations of the Bank.
• Maintain an overview of emerging global and regional trends, as well as their potential impact on, or opportunities for the Bank, and advise the President on actions needed with regards to the MENA and Gulf Region shareholders and stakeholders.

Competencies (Skills, Experience & Knowledge)

• At least a Master's Degree in Economics, Finance, Law, Social Sciences or related fields.
• At least ten (10) years of relevant professional experience in management within the Bank or a similar development institution, in Government services or the private sector.
• In-depth knowledge of international relations and resource mobilization issues and policies. A sound understanding of the Bank’s mission, strategic priorities and objectives.
• Experience in policy advisory work, resource mobilization or state level negotiations at a senior level.
• Demonstrated track record of working effectively across institutional boundaries and resolving differences by determining needs and forging solutions that benefit all parties.
• Ability to make technical recommendations with excellent analytical skills.
• Ability to investigate and analyse information and draw conclusions.
• Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
• Knowledge of applicable legislation, standards, policies and procedures within areas of expertise or specialisation.
• Knowledge and understanding of institutional policies and procedures and the regulatory environment within which they operate.
• Knowledge of the strategic goals, objectives, structure and operations of the Bank.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work across institutional boundaries with various teams
• Ability to collaborate with a highly diverse Board of Directors and Senior Management teams and responsive to needs of multiple stakeholders, with excellent negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of scheduling, planning and coordinating of interrelated activities within the Complex.
• Polyvalent experience for coordinating various sectors covered by the President.
• Ability to analyse complex information and understanding multi-sector work.
• Ability to think strategically and to timely offer advice on operational matters.
• Strong conceptual and analytic skills in pro-actively identifying substantive issues and assessing their impact in terms of short- and long-term consequences to Bank.
• Leadership – Knowledge resources and Analytical Power.
• Strategic influencing, negotiation and convening skills.
• Tact and diplomacy.
• Effective communication skills.
• Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Social Intelligence (SQ).
• Practical creativity and entrepreneurial drive.
• Ability to work in teams, foster team spirit and a sense of commitment in stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate and write effectively in English or French, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Competence in the use Microsoft Office and other standard software used in the bank such as Word, Excel, Access and Power Point, and other Bank integrated document management system.

Application Closing Date
27th September, 2023.