Chief Lusophone Compact Program Coordinator at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Full Time

Job Title: Chief Lusophone Compact Program Coordinator

Position Number: 50076314
Location:  Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Position Grade: PL3

The Complex

• The Vice Presidency for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialization (PIVP) is central to the Bank’s mission of developing the private sector, improving infrastructure, and accelerating industrialization. PIVP leads the implementation of the Industrialize Africa High 5 while playing a leading role in collaboration with RDVP on the Integrate Africa High 5.
• The Complex’s main functions are to (i) strengthen the enabling environment for private sector development, conducive to inclusive growth and sustainable development, (ii) support the development of reliable and sustainable infrastructure, including urban development, (iii) place renewed emphasis on industrial and trade performance in support of structural transformation across Africa, and (iv) drive the Bank’s financial sector development agenda.
• The Complex leads the Bank’s Non-Sovereign Operations in these areas, as well as selected complex Sovereign Operations. The Complex leverages knowledge, co-financing, and partnerships to attract private capital and work with governments on delivering the Bank’s development agenda.

The Lusophone Compact Initiative:

• The Development Finance Compact for Portuguese-Speaking Countries of Africa (“Lusophone Compact” or “Compact”) is an initiative launched in December 2018 after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the African Development Bank and the Governments of Angola, Cabo-Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe. The Lusophone Compact is established on three anchors; (i) Risk mitigation instruments to unlock investments, (ii) Financing for Investments, and (iii) Technical Assistance for private and PPP projects.
• The Lusophone Compact serves as a strategic development framework/vehicle for accelerated inclusive, sustainable, and diversified private sector-led growth in the Portuguese-Speaking Countries of Africa (PALOP), by crowding in private sector driven investments targeting transformative investment opportunities. The design of the initiative emphasizes the need to deepen economic cooperation among Lusophone countries while simultaneously strengthening their integration within their respective geographic blocs, as well as linkage to intra-regional and global trade value chains.
• The Lusophone Compact is governed by three Committees, coordinated by the Bank: i) the Steering Committee, which gathers Governors from all the participating countries and decides on the overarching framework of the Lusophone Compact; ii) Standing Committee, which convenes focal points from the participating countries and discusses the Work Program and pipeline for the LC; and iii) the Local Standing Committees, which gathers focal points from the country, the Bank and Portugal

The Position

• Under the overall supervision of the Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialization, with a dotted accountability to the relevant country managers and Deputy Director Generals, the Chief Lusophone Compact Program Coordinator will work in close collaboration with the Bank’s various complexes, country offices and investment officers within the framework of the Bank’s OneBank approach, and partners to ensure the smooth monitoring implementation of the Country-Specific Compacts and implementation of the Lusophone Compact work program, to increase the Bank’s support to private sector operations in the  PALOP.
• S/he is expected to coordinate and facilitate the identification, preparation, appraisal, approval of investment projects and support programs under the Lusophone Compact.

Within the overall objective, the purpose of the position is to:

• Prepare the Lusophone Compact Annual Work Program and Annual Reports;
• Lead the workflow of the monitoring and governance structure of the Compact, including the organization of the Compact Steering Committee and Standing Committee meetings, as well as facilitation of engagement with partners under the Lusophone Compact Technical Committee;
• Coordinate the delivery of Compact non-sovereign operations work program, including IOP development and lending. S/he will also have to monitor and keep track of sovereign operation to ensure delivery of the Lusophone Compact program objectives for the PALOP countries and  alignment with the Bank’s High 5s priorities, as well as the respective Country Strategy Papers (CSPs) and Regional Integration Strategy Papers (RISPs);
• Work with the Bank’s complexes to develop synergy in the Bank’s work that would ensure country-specific private sector issues are incorporated in the Bank’s Sovereign Operations upstream policies, regulatory and business environment activities for enhanced private investment attraction to PALOP countries;
• Mobilize and leverage the range on instruments offered by the Bank, Portugal, and partners under the Compact for its investment projects and support programs;
• Lead and coordinate the Compact Technical Assistance, including pipeline development, portfolio management, reporting, and fundraising;
• Coordinate closely with the Syndication and Client Solutions to effectively execute Compact investment projects eligible for Lusophone Compact Guarantee;
• Work with Resource Mobilization team to mobilize resources for the Compact investment pipelines;
• Demonstration of Compact value-added to stakeholders in the PALOP, Portugal, Partners as well as within the AfDB;
• Develop and manage relationships with the Compact’s partners and members, and other stakeholders, including governments, private companies, and potential partners, demonstrating the value-add of the Lusophone Compact in the acceleration of private sector development and regional integration of the PALOP countries;
• In close coordination with relevant Country Managers and DDGs, represent the Compact externally, especially investor forums, and development partners, with the aim of developing new partnerships to support the Compact;
• Train and support Bank staff who will be mainstreaming the Compact.

Key Functions

• Chief Lusophone Compact Program Coordinator will be responsible for:
  • Compact Governance – Under the leadership of the Vice President for Corporate Services and Human Resources and supervision of the Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, the Chief Lusophone Compact Program Coordinator will be in charge of preparation, execution, and follow-up to the main governance functions of the Compact. S/he will prepare the annual meeting of the Compact Steering Committee and the two annual meetings of the Compact Standing Committee.
• The tasks will include, but are not limited to:
  • Lead in the preparation of the agendas and invitations;
  • Presentation of the annual work program;
  • Manage relationship with representatives of the Portuguese Government, as guarantor, Compact countries and other Compact partners and donors;
  • Gather inputs from the PALOP and Partners Country Focal Points and AfDB Country Managers regarding the implementation progress of the country-specific Compacts, to be presented at the Compact Standing Committee and Steering Committee meetings;
  • Follow-up with all members to ensure all necessary actions are taken, including approval of minutes.
• Compact Annual Work Program – Under leadership of the Vice President for Human Resources, and supervision of the Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, the Chief Lusophone Compact Program Coordinator in consultation with all stakeholders at the AfDB, Compact countries members and Partners, the Coordinator will lead preparation of Annual Work Program (described in the Compact MOU, Article 5.03). Provide annual report to the Steering Committee and Board, and regular updates and briefs to the VP and Compact Chair. The Annual Work Program shall also be aligned with the six Country Specific Compacts. Subject to modification, Annual Work Program is to be presented to the Compact Standing Committee for approval each year.
• Compact Investment Pipeline development and portfolio management – Under the leadership of the Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialization, and in conjunction with other AfDB parties, the coordinator will a) manage and maintain the pipeline and b) select the projects for AIF presentation within that pipeline.
• The Coordinator will work closely with the Investment officers, the AfDB country managers and the representatives of Portugal and Partners to seek practical solutions that will identify and advance these projects. In addition, Coordinator shall support business development related activities in the PALOP, and Portugal, such as investment forums.
• Cross-Leveraging of AfDB and Portugal Risk Mitigation and Financing Tools – the Coordinator shall work with the Portuguese authorities, Partners and the relevant AfDB Syndication and Client Solutions to find practical ways to cross-leverage the existing and new tools (including Portuguese Lusophone Compact guarantee program for projects in the PALOP) for application to private sector and PPP projects under the Compact.
• The foregoing would include using AFDB Partial Risk Guarantees or Partial Credit Guarantees for Compact’s projects; mobilising special funds and trust funds for technical assistance and project preparation; applying Portugal’s guarantees to reduce AfDB exposure on a project or country basis; and developing synthetic tools that harness the synergies between each side’s financing instruments.
• The focus will be on clear, measurable results that can advance the pipeline of Compact investment projects during the five-year initial life cycle of the agreement.
• Other Functions in Support of Compact Implementation – The Coordinator shall undertake other tasks needed to ensure Compact implementation, as directed by the Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialization in consultation with the relevant Country Managers and DDGs.
• These functions may include, but are not limited, to the following:
  • Stakeholder discussions in the six PALOP and Portugal to facilitate Compact implementation, in particular with respect to the technical assistance projects and policy initiatives;
  • Compact workshops for investors and lenders in the PALOP and Portugal;
  • Compact-related support for the AfDB PALOP country managers, as requested;
  • Internal support for AfDB departments, trust funds, etc. related to the use of guarantees and financing tools under the Compact;
  • Outreach to other development partners who may be interested in supporting or joining the Compact, notably the Development Finance Institutions, Brazil and Institutional Investors
  • Presenting the Compact to external audiences at industry and regional conferences.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• A minimum of Master’s Degree in Economics, International Economics, Industrial Economics, Development Economics; Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in project and corporate finance, advisory, blended finance, policy and strategy, resource mobilization, business development and management consulting.
• Have a minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional experience in the formulation and implementation of policies, programs and projects either within the Bank or with a similar development institution or the public service.
• Demonstrable proficiency in the application of private sector development diagnostic tools and financial de-risking instruments.
• Good knowledge of concessional financing, innovative financing instruments and mechanisms globally.
• Excellent analytical skills and strong experience in development economics, development studies in Africa or any related field.
• Strong familiarity with the Bank’s structure and instruments.
• Familiarity with strategies, policies, procedures, and practices of multilateral development institutions.
•  Strong client relationship management skills, with an existing network of relevant top-level contacts in the member countries, partners, and potential partners and/or demonstrated ability to build such a high-level network.
• Outstanding and proven track record of performance in investment and Technical Assistance activities.
• Ability to build successful relationships across the One Bank matrix.
• Ability to develop innovative solutions to the PALOP country-specific needs jointly with the Bank’s relevant complexes.
• Ability to work under pressure due to multiple and shifting demands, priority, and deadlines
• Excellent coordination and capacity to work with different stakeholders.
• Good knowledge of the economies of the six PALOP countries and Portugal as the Compact development partners; in particular, of the existing cooperation framework and of the opportunities for enhanced cooperation having regard to the private sector.
• Sound knowledge of the strategies, practices, and experiences of multilateral cooperative agreements and of the Bank’s lending instruments.
• Relevant field experience in economic development undertakings and results monitoring in the six PALOPs countries.
• Strong leadership and people management skills; as well as the ability to influence without executive authority and diplomacy skills.
• Previous work experience in a multilateral institution would be preferable and added value.
• Strong communication, report writing and presentation skills in English and Portuguese with good working knowledge of French and Spanish.

Application Closing Date
16th June, 2022.

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