Chief Sanitation Officer - AWF 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: Chief Sanitation Officer - AWF

Position Number: 50088562
Location: Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Position Grade: PL3

The Complex

• The Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex (AHVP) leads in implementing two of the five priority areas “High 5’s”, namely “Feed Africa” and “Improve the Quality of Life for Africans”. 
• The Complex comprises five departments: (i) Agriculture and Agro-Industry Development; (ii) Agriculture Finance and Rural Development; (iii) Gender, Women and Civil Society; (iv) Water Development and Sanitation; and, (v) Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development. 
• The complex objectives are (i) to develop, policy and strategy; (ii) provide deep sector expertise to the regions and (iii) develop new financing instruments.
• The Vice-Presidency for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery (RDVP) is responsible for operational relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of the Bank Group’s operational programs and activities. 
• The RDVP ensures that the Bank operates successfully across its Regional Members Countries (RMCs) and oversees the full implementation of all aspects of the Bank’s Regional Directorates.

The Hiring Department / Division

• The Water Development and Sanitation Department (AHWS) is part of the Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex. 
• The Department is responsible for the coordination of the Bank’s water development and sanitation-related activities to enhance synergies and contribute to achievement of all High5s (Power and Light Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life).
• The AHWS leads the scaling-up of the Bank’s contribution to Africa’s efforts to attain water security and sanitation for sustainable socio-economic transformation. The Department is also responsible for the origination of Non-Sovereign Operations (NSOs). 
• It also supports regions concerning complex projects. 
• Through its divisions: AHWS.l, AHWS.2, AHWS.3 for Water Security and Sanitation in Africa, and the African Water Facility (AWF), the AHWS Department supports regional hubs in the development and promotion of knowledge, approaches and tools for green and inclusive water security and for improved sanitation.

Hiring Division

• The African Water Facility (AWF) is an initiative of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) to mobilize resources to finance water sector facilitation and investment activities in Africa. The AWF has been established within the context of the Africa Water Vision and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
• The African Development Bank is managing the AWF on the request of AMCOW. The resources of the AWF are primarily allocated to: water resources projects and programmes focused on improving the enabling environment for sustainable national and regional water resources management, preparing projects and programmes for immediate capital investments, and providing resources for strategic and small-scale investments. 
• The AWF plans, organizes and carries out activities related to projects and programs cycle activities (identification, preparation, appraisal implementation and supervision) in the above areas, in all African countries; undertakes studies on issues regarding the water sector development and related areas; provides advice and technical assistance to African countries; and ensures coordination and synergy with other partners and donors in the water and sanitation sector in Africa. In 2024 the Bank approved the creation of a dedicated urban sanitation financing window set up within the AWF, under the Africa Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative (AUSII). 
• The AUSII window will support inclusive urban sanitation projects through grant financing, TA support and deployment of concessional and blended finance instruments and guarantees.
• The AWF is recruiting the Chief Sanitation Officer who will mainly support the management and delivery of the sanitation portfolio of the of the AUSII Window and support the Facility in the implementation of other strategic activities.

Key Function

• Take proactive role in developing the AWF sanitation portfolio in line with the AWF strategy and AUSII workplan through identifying projects and conducting dialogue with governments, local governments, utilities, private sector and NGOs, among others.
• Manage, oversee and supervise the implementation of AUSII annual work plans/ AWF’s sanitation portfolio and projects, ensuring that work plan, programme and project objectives are met.
• Support senior management in engagements with external and internal partners, making the case for increased financing and investment for Africa’s sanitation sector, developing tailored reports and presentations as required.
• Lead and manage the implementation of innovation in the Facility’s sanitation work, including innovations in technology, operational modalities and financing mechanisms.
• Originate and manage the Development of knowledge products to disseminate AUSII’s/ AWF’s analytical work, results and impact of its interventions, and lessons learnt.
• Lead the implementation of AUSII/ AWF strategic actions, taking guidance and direction from senior management.
• Prepare the required project documentation during the identification, preparation and implementation phases of the project cycle
• Coordinate with other departments of the Bank in implementation of AUSII/ AWF plans
• Represent the AWF externally and at international events, promoting work of the AWF and AUSII accordingly
• Develop and maintain relations with key stakeholders and donors of AWF and AUSII

Duties and Responsibilities

• The Chief Sanitation Officer will be responsible for leading the development of the AUSII/ AWF portfolio, with a focus on urban sanitation, both sewered and non-sewered sanitation and providing necessary support to other members of the team. 
• S/he will be responsible for managing a portfolio of projects and will ensure that project objectives are met in an efficient and sustainable manner. 
• S/He will undertake various activities, which among others, include:

Manage and Supervise AWF sanitation portfolio:

• Lead the thematic project identification and preparation including assessment of concept notes, preparation for/guidance during orientation events and preparation of full proposals.
• Organize and undertake project preparation missions as necessary to finalize the preparation of the Project Appraisal Reports and support the review process to approval by the relevant authorities.
• Involve AWF and Bank staff or recruit consultants for specific tasks that are not covered by the chief sanitation specialist
• Ensure that grant agreements are signed promptly after approval as well as timely achievement of grant effectiveness. Also ensure timely delivery of other relevant project reports
• Provide on-going assistance to Recipients in understanding and applying AWF’s operational procedures relating to grant administration as well as the rules and procedures for the procurement of goods, works and services.
• Create understanding and commitment of the Recipient on the urban sanitation challenges and possible solutions to overcome these challenges
• Provide ongoing assistance to implement the AUSII financing instruments including concessional and blended finance, and guarantee functions.
• Able to incorporate and reflect cross cutting issues as gender equality and climate resilience adequately into the AUSII/ AWF portfolio
• Work with AfDB’s Financial Department in processing disbursement requests by providing up-to-date information on spending categories, established list of goods, works and services, contracts, entry into force of grant/ financing agreements, authorized signatories, extension of closing dates, managing grant savings and any revisions and modifications thereof.
• Oversee and undertake desk and field supervision to ensure that projects are well implemented, are accomplishing the intended objectives and recommend any necessary corrective measures.
• Conduct regular meetings with team members to assess status of projects and also to make necessary changes and improvements, where necessary, to achieve the expected results.
• Ensure efficient achievement of all the project milestones including project evaluation, regular audits, knowledge synthesis and timely monitoring and reporting on project progress and completion, problems experienced and solutions to all stakeholders.
• Lead and Support arrangements for project evaluation.
• Lead and provide technical guidance to structuring grant projects, provide inputs to AUSII financing interventions, provide guidance to conceptualise sanitation policy, governance and institutional studies
• Provide assistance to develop partnership and cooperations with other sanitation actors in Africa with specific focus for co-financing and downstream investments
• Lead providing regular updates on the portfolio progress to the AWF management and ensure all inputs to the digital transformation of the AWF

Develop Knowledge Products:

• Contribute to knowledge management including: (i) providing hands-on support to Recipients in implementing projects to achieve the overall goals; (ii) establishing and maintaining an E-network for sharing knowledge and providing back-stopping support; (iii) linking projects to the sanitation experts in Africa and ensuring effective support; (iv) looking out for key approaches, findings and lessons and ensuring prompt sharing among the Recipients; (v) encouraging and supporting dissemination of findings at national level for possible replication; (vi) preparing project synthesis reports and sharing them identified audiences; (vii) ensuring effective recruitment of consultants to undertake various Knowledge Management (KM) activities; (viii) managing the annual peer-to-peer review events; etc.
• Ensure coordination with sanitation partners in Africa (and elsewhere), and represent AWF in donor meetings, regional and international meetings, conferences, seminars and workshops on sanitation development issues.
• Establish and maintain active communication between the different stakeholders and work with them to ensure that they are adequately informed on portfolio progress.

AWF Administration/Liaison:

• Contribute to the AWF Annual Report, and the Annual Work plan and budget as required.
• Respond to requests for information from the AWF Co-ordinator and the AWF team at HQ in a timely manner.
• Participate in the co-ordination and organisation of AUSII/ AWF activities and participate in specific AUSII/ AWF events as required
• Support the AUSII/ AWF resource mobilization activities
• Undertake assignments as may be required by the AWF Co-ordinator from time to time.

Selection Criteria

• Hold at least a master’s degree in either of civil engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Waste Water Engineering, Sanitation and Hygiene, or related discipline.  Combination of a master’s degree in economics, and/or finance with a degree in a relevant technical field will also be considered.
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience related to project management, sanitation policy and strategy development, preparation and management of non-sewered sanitation and reuse projects preferably in urban and peri-urban settings and City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation approach.
• Knowledge and some experience on sanitation financing instruments including concessional and blended finance, and guarantee products will be an added advantage for the position.
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues
• Ability to lead a core sanitation team with supervision as well as part of a multicultural team and ability to work independently.
• Ability to influence and participate effectively in actions to drive change
• Ability to be flexible, open minded with integrity.
• A team player who likes to operate in a team and sees the achievements as a team effort
• Client and results oriented individual demonstrating “a can do attitude”
• Good understanding of sanitation issues, trends and opportunities in Africa.
• Ability to identify and articulate policy and technological issues and to provide sound advice.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex issues and communicate them effectively orally and in written briefs.
• Experience in delivering high quality operational products and services (research advice, sectoral studies and review; projects).
• Good communication skills and ability to build effective working relationships in a diverse multicultural environment.
• Experience with International Development Financing Institutions in developing countries including a satisfactory knowledge of their operational policies and procedures.
• Experience working with private sector, and/or investment financiers will be an added advantage
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP is desirable
• Excellent spoken and written English or French, with a working knowledge of the other language
• Competence in the use of the standard Microsoft software applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and SAP.

Application Closing Date
16th May, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online