Senior Human Capital Development Economist 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: Senior Human Capital Development Economist

Position Number: 50064101
Location: Cotonou, Benin
Position Grade: LP5

The Complex

• The Vice Presidency for ‘Agriculture, Human, and Social Development’ is a Sector Complex focusing on the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy High 5s priority of “Feed Africa” and “Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa”.
• The complex objectives are (i) to develop policy and strategy; (ii) provide deep sector expertise to the Regions by gathering pools of subject matter experts who can be consulted to provide sector expertise on complex transactions; and (iii) develop new financing instruments.
• The Vice President will function as the spokesperson to represent the Bank with external stakeholders on aspects of “Feed Africa” and “Improve Quality of Life for the People”.

The Hiring Department

• The Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department (AHHD), within the Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex (AHVP), spearheads the achievement of the High 5s on “Improving the Quality of Life of People in Africa” and contributes to the other High 5s.
• The Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department (AHHD), within the Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex (AHVP) contributes to the achievement of the High 5 “Improving the Quality of Life of the People of Africa” and contributes to the other High 5s through the Bank’s three strategic work streams (i) The Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa (SQHIA) 2022-2030 (ii) The Skills for Employability and Productivity in Africa Action Plan and (iii) The Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy 2016-2025. The Department has four regional sector operations (i) West Africa and Nigeria (AHHD0_RDGW_RDNG), (ii) East Africa (AHHD.1); (iii) Southern Africa (AHHD.2); and (iii) North and Central Africa (AHHD.3).

The Hiring Division

• The incumbent will be based in the Benin Country Office, supporting the programming, lending, and portfolio management of Human Capital Bank operations in Benin and other countries in West Africa. In this role, the incumbent will work under the supervision of the Benin Country Manager as well as the Sector Manager for West Africa and Nigeria who reports to the Director, Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department.

The incumbent’s main responsibilities include:

• Conduct technical and sectoral studies for the preparation of Country Diagnostic Notes and Country Strategy Plans (CSPs) with Human Capital as a priority in Benin and other countries in West Africa.
• Develop a lending and pipeline program for the delivery and co-financing of bankable human capital development projects in Benin and other countries in West Africa.
• Support country managers as a deep sector expert on human capital development, providing technical assistance and policy advice to Regional Member Countries.
• Supervise and manage the portfolio of human capital operations as approved by the Board, ensuring portfolio quality key performance indicators are met each year.
• Support high level missions, preparation of senior management briefs and implementation of special initiatives as may be assigned by the sector and country managers.

The Position
Under the supervision of the Sector Manager, West Africa and Nigeria, in consultation with the Benin Country Office Manager, working together with units in the Bank’s ecosystem, the incumbent’s duties include:

• Support the Bank’s country dialogue and business development missions under the leadership of sector and country managers.
• Plan and manage economic sector work to effectively contribute to Country Diagnostic Notes and Country Strategy Plans (CSPs) for business development dialogue on human capital projects.
• Contribute to the midterm and end of term Country Strategy Paper (CSP) Completion Reports and Country Portfolio Performance Reviews (CPPR).
• Plan, conduct supervision mission and deal with human capital development project management issues to meet the Bank’s key performance indicators on portfolio management.
• Contribute to audits and progress review meetings for the indicative operating program (IOP), lending program and active portfolio management.
• Facilitate strategic, technical assistance and co-financing partnerships with multilateral development banks and other cooperating partners to increase the scale and impact of Bank projects.

Competencies (Skills, Experience, and Knowledge)

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in one of the following disciplines: Economics, Economic planning, Finance, Business Administration, Skills development, Youth employment, Entrepreneurship, Poverty reduction or related fields.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in planning, administration, or project management of economic, finance and social development initiatives.
• Strong research/analytical skills in one of the following areas: skills development and youth employment development policy formulation, project management, or donors’ coordination, with ability to strategically and rapidly analyse and integrate diverse information from varied sources into conclusions and
  recommendation.
• Ability to understand complex problems in education, skills development, youth employment, gender, population, and poverty related aspects, to identify key issues and recommend pragmatic solutions.
• Good knowledge of the education, skills development, youth employment, gender, population and poverty related aspects and human development issues, particularly in West Africa.
• Strong understanding of multi-sector approaches and gaps in education, skills development, youth employment, gender, population and poverty related aspects and social development.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in preparing, evaluating, and managing the implementation of donor-funded projects.
• Knowledge of the practices of major bilateral and multilateral agencies, development partners in the country will be an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in French. A working knowledge of English would be an added advantage.
• Competence in the use of SAP packages, MS Office software is required.

Application Closing Date
23rd July, 2024.