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 81 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. In order to sharply focus the objectives of the Ten-Year Strategy (2013 – 2022) and ensure greater developmental impact, five major areas (High 5s), all of which will accelerate our delivery for Africa, have been identified for scaling up, namely; energy, agro-business, industrialization, integration and improving the quality of life for the people of Africa.

THE POSITION:

• The Senior Program Support Officer of the Joint Secretariat Support Office (PJSS) is part of the Office of the President Complex (PCSC). The position is located within Ethiopia Country Office (COETH), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• The incumbent provides policy and program to the Joint Secretariat Support Office while facilitating the Bank and PJSS`s interface with the African Union Commission and leverage synergies among the three institutions.
• The incumbent supports the PJSS to co-ordinates, monitor and supervises all Bank financed AU programs or projects, to expedite implementation in accordance with the Bank`s procedures, rules, and regulations,
• The incumbent supports the Bank and PJSS’s contributions in the generation and application of new knowledge relevant to the Bank’s Strategy, High 5’s and Africa’s development agenda.

KEY FUNCTIONS:

Under the general guidance and supervision of the Director PJSS, the Senior Program Officer will perform the following duties and responsibilities:

Facilitating High Level Dialogue

• Support the Lead Program Co-ordinator to organise High-Level Consultative Meetings between senior management of the Bank, AUC, including the President and the Chairperson/Deputy Chairperson as well as between the Bank’s Vice Presidents and Commissioners;
• Support the Lead Program Co-ordinator to organize High-level consultative and bi-lateral meetings between the President and the Chairperson of AUC and Bank (the Principals), including preliminary dialogue, prepare the concept note, briefs and facilitate the meeting, reports and prepare joint communique;
• Facilitate dialogue and advocacy to mainstream the Bank’s initiatives into the AU agenda, as well as reinforcing the Bank’s visibility;
• Facilitate high-level dialogue and consultative meetings between the Bank’s President and the Chairperson/Deputy
• Chairperson of the AUC as well as between the Bank’s Vice Presidents and AUC Commissioners;
• Facilitate the participation of the President and Senior Management in all AU Summits, including Mid-Year Coordination
• Meetings (MYCMs) between the AU, the RECs, and the Regional Mechanisms;
• Undertake technical engagements and prepare necessary briefs to facilitate the President’s Participation in all AU Summits and Meetings as well as Bank participation in all Major AU Events critical for the Bank’s work;
• Follow-up and coordinate the implementation of resolutions, directives, and guidelines of the AU Summits, Mid-Year Co-ordination Meetings, and other major events of the AUC
• Follow-up on key action points or decisions emerging from senior management’s attendance to AU and MYCM Summits, and ensure follow-up/implementation by relevant Bank Departments and AUC Commissions;
• Represent the Bank in important meetings of the AU, its Organs, and Specialized Agencies, and effectively articulate the Bank’s interests and contributions to such meetings;
• Engage in preliminary dialogue to support the development of AU-related projects, programs, and initiatives;
• Coordinate the preparation of regular briefing notes and reports on joint AU and AfDB initiatives to be shared with the Bank’s senior management;
• Strengthen ongoing partnerships between the Bank and the AUC and provide advice on strategic and emerging policy issues;
• Work with the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA) Secretariat in identifying and discussing issues of importance to
• Africa’s development within a global context; and
• Provide regular updates to the President and Senior Bank management on emerging issues requiring policy discussion and strategic level attention.

Coordination and Mainstreaming the High 5s in Agenda 2063

• Engage in technical dialogue and advocacy with the AUC to mainstream the Bank’s initiatives into the AU agenda, as well as reinforcing the Bank’s visibility;
• Support the operationalisation of the existing co-ordination platforms through regular consultative or Technical Working
• Group (TWG) meetings to ensure alignment of the High 5s to Agenda 2063 and its flagships;
  Coordinate with key departments of the Bank to ensure effective participation, coordination, and information sharing;
• Participate in Agenda 2063 Reports Preparation – TWG meeting and 1- Core Drafting Team meetings; contribute to dialogues, providing substantive technical inputs, review indicators to ensure alignment with the High-5s priorities;
• Support mainstreaming of the Bank`s achievements and results of the High-5s at all levels of the Agenda 2063 Continental Report;
• Track and report on the implementation of joint programs and initiatives; contribute to strategic dialogue with the AU commissions, relevant departments, prepare reports or briefs;
• Work closely with all the departments of the Bank and AUC to ensure Coordination, Alignment and Mainstreaming of the High 5s in Agenda 2063 and its flagships;
• Build strong working relationships with the relevant departments and divisions of the Bank and AUC;
• Serve as the Lead of the Secretariat for the Technical Working Group responsible for Agenda 2063 domestic resource mobilization
• Follow-up on key action points or decisions to be implemented by Bank Departments and AUC Commissions;
• Prepare regular briefing notes and report on joint initiatives to the Principals.
• Participate in Agenda 2063 Reports Preparation, TWG meeting and Core Drafting Team meetings;
• Contribute to dialogues, providing substantive technical inputs, review indicators to ensure alignment with the High-5s priorities, mainstream achievements and results of the High-5s at all levels of the continental report;
• Contribute to strategic dialogue with the AU commissions and relevant departments, prepare reports or briefs.
• Engage in dialogue and advocacy with the AUC to mainstream the Bank’s various initiatives into the AU agenda, as well as reinforcing the Bank’s visibility;
• Support the operationalisation of the existing PJSS coordination platforms, through regular consultative or technical working group (TWG) meetings, to ensure alignment of the High 5s with Agenda 2063;
• Coordinate with key departments of the Bank to ensure effective participation, coordination, and information sharing;
• Lead and coordinate the Bank’s participation in the preparation of Agenda 2063 progress report meetings; and

Program Support

• Work closely with the Bank’s Regional Integration Coordination Office (RDRI) to provide strategic support on the implementation of critical AU flagship programs and initiatives such as the AfCFTA, the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), or the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM);
• Participate in selected regional and country team meetings to ensure alignment with AU strategies and programs;
• Monitor and provide oversight to all AUC Bank financed on-going and pipe-line projects and projects;
• Develop and implement a results-based management system to ensure alignment with work plans, planning and management cycle.
• Provide strategic program support and leadership to all the AUC Bank financed projects and program including identification, preparation, appraisal, and implementation;
• Serve as Focal Point for all AUC Bank financed ongoing and pipeline projects and program, including participation in regional and country team meetings to review PCN, PAR, etc;
• Coordinate and monitor the Bank’s special projects and initiatives; and
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the President.

COMPETENCIES (Qualifications, Experience & Skills):

• At least a Master’s degree or its equivalent in the economics, politics, international relations, rural/development studies, law, management, or related social sciences and interdisciplinary studies;
• An excellent understanding of contemporary debates in political economy, broadly understood, both in the Africa and elsewhere, informed by both orthodox and heterodox socioeconomic and political and/or diplomatic theory;
• Strong familiarity with the role of other development finance institutions in facilitating socioeconomic reform and addressing poverty reduction in developing countries;
• Have a minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in addressing challenges in developing countries, preferably gained in regional, continental or international development agencies working in or in Africa or in public service;
• Solid understanding of regional integration and the workings of supranational organizations, (knowledge and/or experience with the workings of the AU, African RECs, and other regional mechanisms would be a plus);
• Strong planning and organizational skills, including a proven ability to think strategically, seeing the big picture without sacrificing the details, proven negotiation skills and team building skills, as well as a credible ability to influence and present ideas;
• Capacity to connect, understand and influence stakeholders at all levels;
• Demonstrated leadership experience and ability to handle the high-level demands of a complex, multinational, multicultural organization, including the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines;
• Strong capacity to analyse actions from the perspectives of stakeholders, and to translate strategic thinking into compelling action plans;
• Demonstrated ability to take prudent business risks and make effective, timely and well-determined decisions;
• Ability to plan and manage staff to achieve high quality results and encourage innovation in an open team-based environment, inspiring trust and influencing, and resolving differences across organizational boundaries;
• Impeccable oral and written communication skills in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language;
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software applications (Office suites, Enterprise Resource Planning; Collaboration Suites).