Director, Asia External Representation Office (PEXT) at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Full Time

Job Title: Director, Asia External Representation Office (PEXT)

Position Number: 50092381
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Position Grade: EL5

The Complex

• The Presidency Complex (URPR) comprises the Office of The President of the Bank Group and all corporate offices, departments and other organisation units that are directly subordinate to the Presidency in administrative as well as functional terms.
• The President, in the capacity of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bank Group, is mandated to provide competent strategic management of the Bank Group and all its resources towards the fulfilment of the Bank Group’s purpose of contributing to economic development and social progress of Regional Member Countries.
• The Presidency Complex provides day-to-day and medium-term corporate leadership and executive oversight, maintains communication with the Bank Group’s Member Countries, and supports the Boards of Directors in the conduct of their statutory roles.
• In addition, the Complex provides legal and regulatory oversight on the conduct of the Bank Group’s business and integrated risk management of Bank Group operations, oversees corporate communication with a range of internal and external stakeholders, promotes integrity, transparency and the highest ethical standards and norms among Bank Group personnel in the conduct of their work, and assures the security of the Bank Group’s personnel, premises and physical assets, information and data in all locations where the Bank Group operates. Furthermore, the President’s Complex is also involved in catalysing investment from various sources in line with the operational priorities of the Bank Group.
• The President directly supervises several departments and units including Office of the President; the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department the Office of the Auditor General; the Group Risk Management Directorate; the General Counsel and Legal Services Department; the Communication and External Relations Department; the Staff Integrity and Ethics Office; Office of the Secretary General & General Secretariat; the Africa Investment Forum; the Joint Secretariat Support Office and; the Asia External Representation Office.

The Hiring Department

• The Asia External Representation Office, based in Tokyo, Japan enables the Bank to engage more actively with key stakeholders in its Asian member countries (China, India, Japan, and South Korea) and other countries in Asia with a view to enhancing dialogue and promoting innovative approaches to mobilize necessary resources to support the implementation of the Bank’s Strategy and Africa’s development agenda.
• The principal objectives of the External Representation Office revolve around three areas, namely: (i) external partnership and dialogue, (ii) knowledge dissemination and exchange, and (iii) business and investment promotion.

The Position

• Under the overall guidance of the President and the administrative supervision of the Director General of Cabinet, the Director oversees and manages the delivery of the work program and activities of the Asia External Representation Office.
• As part of his/her functions, the Director is charged with the responsibility to ensure that the Office can:
  • Foster dialogue and promote partnerships on aid, trade and investment with major constituencies;
  • Increase awareness of the Bank’s strategies, policies and activities;
  • Implement multi-constituency outreach programs; and
  • Promote a better understanding of Africa’s development challenges and opportunities.
• Key target institutions and entities include national authorities, official development partners and assistance organizations, private sector and business community, business organizations, universities, research institutes, think tanks, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and youth associations.

Key Functions
External Partnership and Dialogue:

• Represent the Bank and lead regular dialogue and contacts and strengthen the Bank’s brand with, amongst others, Government officials, aid agencies, development partners, diplomatic missions, and other key constituents among Member Countries in Asia – China, India, Japan, and South Korea, as well as other potential member countries within the region;
• Lead innovative and strategic partnerships arrangements, including trust funds, co-financing, technical cooperation and knowledge partnerships;
• Represent the Bank in aid coordination meetings with donors and development partners;
• Build and maintain a network of high-level contacts with key constituencies (congressional/parliamentary representatives, academics, business communities, local and international media, etc.);
• Promote the African perspective in Asia and also business and investment from Asia to Africa;
• Ensure regular and social media coverage, e.g. TV, newspapers, journals, Facebook, twitter, etc. to raise awareness about the Bank’s work and Africa’s development.

Knowledge Dissemination and Exchange:

• Oversee the organization of seminars/webinars, conferences and workshops on African development issues, business and investment opportunities in African countries and partnerships with the Bank to increase awareness and deep understanding about them;
• Support the identification of opportunities for leveraging Asian skills and transfer of knowledge;
• Oversee the organization of targeted information sessions with the general public (i.e., local and international media, civil society and NGOs, youth Groups, academics and universities, and the private sector, etc.);
• Maintain a fully operational virtual information resources as PEXT’s website to encourage a better and clearer public understanding of the Bank’s activities and policies and African development issues; and
• Maintain an operational platform, with videoconferencing and communication facilities, for information sharing and exchange as well as for increasing awareness and deep understanding about African development challenges and opportunities within the Asian region.

Business development and Investment Promotion:

• Oversee the organization of business promotion seminars/webinars and disseminate information on Bank’s projects, policies and processes, with emphasis on the High 5s including procurement and bid tendering information, for general public disclosure through the website and other vehicles;
• Maintain a business center offering free consultation and advice about business, investment and co-financing opportunities with the Bank; procurement guidelines; consultant employment guidelines; standard tender document specifications; operations processes and technical cooperation programs;
• Provide access to information on the Bank’s project cycle to facilitate better understanding of how the Bank’s operations in Regional Member Countries lead to business opportunities for general suppliers of goods, services and know-how; and
• Organize, coordinate and participate in targeted trade promotion, business and investment promotion seminars/webinars, workshops and roadshows, including the Bank Bond (AfDB Bond) issuance and investment activities and providing investors and potential ones with relevant information on business and investment opportunities.

Leadership and Management:

Manage the staff and activities of the Asia External Representation Office.

• Coordinate the preparation, submission and delivery of the Office’s work Program and budget;
• Ensure sound human resource management in the Office, including timely planning, recruitment, performance appraisal and staff development, and directly supervise the staff of the Office; and
• Ensure sound financial management in the Office, including systematic budget preparation, execution and reporting, contributing to corporate strategic goals and communicates the Bank’s vision and ensures that the Office staff work in alignment with the Bank’s values and to strengthen the Bank’s brand.

Competencies (skills, experience and knowledge)

• Hold at least a Master’s degree from a recognized university and with demonstration of excellent performance in the Social Sciences (Economics, Political Science, Sociology or inter-disciplinary combinations thereof), Business Administration, Development, Finance, Statistics, Operations Management or related disciplines;
• A minimum of ten (10) years of extensive and progressive experience in the relevant areas of responsibilities, five (5) years of which must be at a managerial level. A solid knowledge and experience in the Bank’s business is required.
• A solid knowledge and good grasp of the political economy as well as the socio-economic and development issues in Africa. Demonstrated motivation and commitment to the development of Africa;
• A strategic mindset and the capacity to steer the Bank’s agenda while empowering staff during a phase of institutional transition towards greater country focus of the Bank’s activities;
• Possess the necessary team skills required to lead complex programs; strong capacity to analyze actions from the perspectives of stakeholders and translate strategic thinking into a compelling plan of action;
• Ability to provide strategic advice to the Bank on emerging financial and development issues, as well as corporate issues;
• Demonstrated ability to take prudent business risks and make effective, timely and well-determined decisions;
• Demonstrated ability to present and win support for ideas; a good listener; with cultural sensitivity, commitment to diversity and capacity to initiate and manage innovations or change;
• Strong communication skills and the ability to develop partnerships with a broad range of clients, as well as to deliver results that meet the needs and long-term interests of clients within and outside the Institution. (Preference of candidates demonstrating very strong outreach skills and experience in Asian member countries);
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrix management environment, both as team leader and team member;
• Ability to deal sensitively in a multi-cultural environment and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues;
• Excellent written and verbal communications in English or French, with a working knowledge of the other language;
• In-depth knowledge of the African continent and its development issues, challenges and opportunities;
• In depth knowledge of development experiences and technologies/innovations in the Asian member countries, which can be utilized for sustainable and inclusive growth of Africa;
• Extensive working experiences and human network with key stakeholders in the Asian member countries including congressional/parliamentary representatives, national authorities, official development partners and assistance organizations, capital markets, private sector and business community, business organizations, universities, research institutes, think tanks, NGOs, CSOs and youth associations;
• Excellent communication capacity of the Asian languages of member countries as well as a deep knowledge and understanding of their markets.  In particular, strong communication skills in Japanese would be a plus. A good understanding of social/cultural environments in the Asian member countries would be a strong asset;
• Demonstrates integrity, sound judgment, and highest ethical standards; and
• Competence in the use of standard Desktop Office and videoconferencing applications. Knowledge of enterprise software is desirable.

Application Closing Date
18th May, 2023.

Note: This position is classified international status and attracts international terms and conditions of employment.