Principal Social Development Officer at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Full Time

Job Title: Principal Social Development Officer

Position Number: 50067581
Location: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Employment Type: Full-time

The Complex

• The Vice Presidency for ‘Agriculture, Human, and Social Development’ is a Sector Complex focusing on the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy High-5 priorities 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 experienced individuals who can be consulted to provide sector expertise on complex transactions; (iii) develop new financing instruments; (iv) act as the spokesperson to represent the Bank with external stakeholders on aspects of “Feed Africa” and “Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa”.

The Hiring Department

• The Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department, within the Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex will spearhead the achievement of the High 5s on “Improving the Quality of Life of People in Africa” and contribute to the other High 5s. The Department has three divisions (i) Education and Skills Development Division, which focuses on scaling-up the Bank’s support for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and higher education in skills development; (ii) the Public Health and Social Security Division which primarily focuses on health system strengthening and social protection and nutrition; and iii) the Regional Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Division, which covers the central and northern regions of the Bank and focuses in these regions on the Bank’s support to regional member countries in the areas of technical and vocational education and training (TVET); higher education with a focus on skills development; and health system strengthening and social protection and nutrition.
• The regional division is dedicated to building a project pipeline, lending and portfolio management for all social sectors (education, health, social protection, youth employment) in the countries of the central and northern regions. It also handles client relations coordination and partnerships in these countries.
• The Regional Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Division focuses on human capital development, vocational training, job creation, empowerment and poverty reduction, health system strengthening and social protection and nutrition for improved and sustainable quality of life and livelihoods of populations in the central and northern regions. In these regions, it also:
• Leads the development and promotion of Bank’s policy and strategy work so that operations which are identified, developed and executed by the regions and effectively implement the Bank’s relevant sector policies and strategies.
• Provides technical guidance/advisory services and expertise to regional hubs by generating relevant knowledge and gathering a pool of experienced individuals who can be consulted to provide technical advice on human capital development.
• Fosters strategic partnerships with regional and global partners to leverage resources into the human and social development sectors. It also directly contributes to the work of the various initiatives and trust funds hosted under the Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department; and provides expertise to support the Vice President’s role as the Bank’s spokesperson to external audiences, and;
• Ensure the coherence of Bank activities in human and social development including health system strengthening and social protection and nutrition in the central and northern regions.

The Position

• The African Development Bank’s country office in DRC (COCD) was created to strengthen dialogue between the Bank and the government, development partners, private sector and civil society, particularly regarding the development of Bank policy and programmes, as well as the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Ten-Year Strategy (2024-2033) and the five major operational priorities (High 5s). COCD’s mission also includes supporting the Bank Group’s operational departments regarding the launch and monitoring of projects and programmes conducted in DRC with a view to improving portfolio quality and strengthening the identification process, participatory approach and regional integration.
• The DRC is implementing a full-fledged sector programme in social development, covering, more specifically, aspects of education, health and poverty reduction.
• The approach adopted under the programme calls for a deeper and more comprehensive donor-government partnership. The post holder will be responsible for providing advice on and monitoring activities in the social and human development sector conducted in the country.
• The Principal Social Development Officer reports to the Regional Sector Manager – Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Division (AHHD3). He/she will support the Bank’s programme concerning the social sector portfolio and policy dialogue on human capital development particularly in the areas of technical and vocational education and training (TVET), higher education and skills development for employability, health system strengthening and social protection and nutrition, and assumes the following responsibilities:
• Be responsible for mainstreaming human development aspects in sector projects with emphasis on skills development, youth and women’s employability and social inclusion, as well as aspects of health system strengthening and social protection and nutrition and integration of gender and youth dimension at all stages of the project cycle (from identification to completion);
• Provide technical strategic guidance/advice to the Country Office on integration of skills, employment, health system strengthening social protection and nutrition and human capital development in general across Bank operations.
• Act as the Bank’s focal point for operations and activities related to the Social Sector portfolio, education and skills development, employment, health system strengthening and social protection and nutrition and human development in general.

Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Regional Sector Manager in charge of Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development for the central and northern regions, and in consultation with the Country Manager for DRC and other Division Heads and Project Managers based at Headquarters and regional offices (RDGC and RDGN), the post holder will assume, among others, the following functions and responsibilities:

• Collect baseline information and undertake analytical work in social sectors, namely education/skills development, health system strengthening and social protection, nutrition, gender, youth, population welfare and poverty reduction, for better prioritization within the country’s development programme, and serve as advisor to the Country Manager and Bank management on general policy issues within their sector of intervention.
• Facilitate the launch of social projects in DRC and the administration of loans for these projects.
• Ensure supervision of the implementation of social projects funded by the Bank Group in DRC.
• Participate in various Social Sector Working Group activities and related development partner coordination meetings, particularly activities conducted under the poverty reduction budget support mechanism, key national processes and initiatives, including budget, public expenditure reviews, workshops and seminars on social aspects, all with the aim of informing and advising the Country Manager and Bank management on appropriate measures.
• Participate in the preparation of project completion reports.
• Tasks manage selected socio-economic/education/skills development, health system strengthening and social protection, nutrition as well as other related human development projects; monitor the implementation and results of approved projects and ensure their execution in accordance with the terms of the financing agreement and the Bank’s rules and procedures;
• Initiate and participate in the formulation, preparation, appraisal, negotiations, follow-up, launching, supervision and post-evaluation missions
• Ensure inclusion of all socio-economic aspects in projects, assessing their socio-economic impact and monitoring their implementation.
• Lead social and/or human development sector identification and development of the pipeline and lending programme for the country regarding social protection and nutrition, skills, health system strengthening, jobs and human capital in general.
• Review project and technical documents from the Department and other operational departments and provide technical guidance and advice regarding gender mainstreaming, inclusion of skills, jobs and human development in general.
• Conduct technical, sectoral studies and analysis in preparation of Bank group lending for social protection and nutrition, education, health system strengthening and skills for human capital development in productive sectors.
• Contribute to the preparation of Country Strategy Papers and Portfolio Review reports, with emphasis on education and skills development for employability and gender equality.
• Lead in the development of strategic partnerships (including public-private partnerships with the productive sectors) in education around the core areas of TVET, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), STI and the use of digital technologies and health system strengthening and social protection and nutrition.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with private-sector institutions, multilateral/bilateral partners, and government institutions to develop build a solid pipeline of social/education and skills investment opportunities in social/education and skills as well as health system strengthening, social protection and nutrition.
• Providing technical leadership, support in the framework of approaches and knowledge-sharing events and lessons with internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead the dialogue on skills development, employment, health system strengthening, social protection and nutrition and human development during aid coordination meetings and with relevant government institutions.
• Represent the Bank at meetings and participate in dialogue on strategy development related to the social sector portfolio, education, employment, health system strengthening, social protection and nutrition and human capital.
• Establish and manage partnerships with other multilateral and bilateral development institutions and the private sector on aspects related to education, skills, employment, health system strengthening, social protection and nutrition and human capital and collaborate with experts from these institutions.
• Recruit and supervise the work of consultants on various Bank related operation missions and assignments.
• Periodically disseminate key information on gender dimension, education, health system strengthening, social protection and nutrition and vocational training to raise awareness among Bank staff.
• Carry out any other technical tasks and coordination as required by the Sector Manager or the Director of the Department.

Competencies (skills, experience and knowledge)

• Hold at least a Master’s Degree in education, development economics, sociology, labour economics, social sciences or related fields
• Have a minimum of six (6) years of relevant professional experience in the areas of education, development economics, development finance and implementation of human capital development sector policies.
• Strong research/analytical skills in one of the following areas: social development policy formulation, project management, or donor coordination, with ability to strategically and rapidly analyse and integrate diverse information from varied sources into conclusions and recommendations.
• Solid experience in project-cycle management (identification, preparation, appraisal, implementation and completion).
• Ability to understand complex problems in the field of education, gender and human development, social development, health system strengthening, and social protection and nutrition, in order to identify key issues and recommend pragmatic solutions.
• Good knowledge of issues related to social development, education and skills development system, health system strengthening, social protection and nutrition and human development in the country.
• Good understanding of multi-sectoral approaches and gaps in technical vocational education and training; higher education and skills development, health system strengthening and social protection and nutrition.
• Demonstrable knowledge of analysis and formulation of policies in sectors.
• 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 good working knowledge of the  English language will be an added advantage.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate a spirit of creativity and initiative.
• Integrity and ability to work in a team and a proven capacity to lead a team.
• Ability to deliver high-quality work within very tight deadlines.
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, SAP).

Application Closing Date
28th March, 2025.