Division Manager – Microeconomic, Institutional and Development Impact Division at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Full Time

Job Title: Division Manager – Microeconomic, Institutional and Development Impact Division

Position Number: 50092400
Location: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Position Grade: PL2

The Complex

• The core mandate of the Vice Presidency (ECVP) is to lead the Bank Group on prioritizing the generation, analysis, dissemination, brokering and implementation of relevant knowledge solutions in all High-5 operational priorities and the cross-cutting themes of its Ten-Year Strategy. Such solutions must be a clear response to priority development challenges facing regional member countries (RMCs), individually or collectively and need to involve RMCs in both the planning and implementation of the solutions.
• The solutions include:
  • Research on major development issues facing Africa and their relation to global economic governance and other major global public goods
  • Country diagnostics and future perspectives
  • Policy dialogue and advisory services;
  • Economic, sector, and thematic knowledge work
  • Improving national and sub-regional statistical systems;
  • Preparation, design and support to implementation of public financial management and Governance operations
  • Capacity development for policy formulation and implementation
  • Technical assistance and advice related to RMCs’ management of natural resources
  • Knowledge dissemination and development of national, regional, and inter regional knowledge networks.

Department / Division

• The Macroeconomics Policy, Forecasting and Research Department (ECMR) is dedicated to research on major development issues facing Africa and their relation to global economic governance and other major global public goods.
• It provides economic research intelligence to support the Bank’s operational effectiveness in the regional member countries through rigorous micro-and macro-economic policy analyses, policy dialogue and technical assistance implemented in collaboration with other Departments in the Economic Governance and Knowledge Management Vice Presidency (ECVP) Complex, and other Sector Complexes of the Bank Group to enhance the operational effectiveness of the Bank in achieving the High 5s.
• The activities of the Department are structured around the Macroeconomic Policy, Debt Sustainability and Forecasting on one side, and the Microeconomics, Institutional and Development Impact, on the other.
• The Microeconomic, Institutional and Development Impact Division (ECMR.2) focuses on microeconomic research designed to improve the effectiveness of the Bank’s Operations.
• The Division leads the Bank’s assessments of development additionalities of projects and provision of knowledge solutions to improve the development effectiveness of infrastructure development, private sector development, industrial organizations, governance, competitiveness & investment climate, agriculture, institutions, and regional integration to across all the Bank’s High 5s priorities. ECMR.2 is the institutional anchor for the ex-ante Additionality and Development Outcomes Assessment (ADOA) and Impact Evaluation (IE) of the Bank’s operations. Thus, it is a key element of the Bank Results Framework and the primary tool for mainstreaming Development Outcomes in the Bank’s operations.
• The Division works in close collaboration with the Sector Complexes of the Bank Group including Agriculture and Human Development (AHVP); Power, Energy, Climate Change, and Green Growth (PEVP); Industrialization and Private Sector Development (PIVP); Regional Integration and Trade (RDVP) and the Natural Resources and Investment Centre (ECNR), among others.

Key Functions
Under the supervision and guidance of the Director of the Economics Policy, Forecasting and Research, (ECMR), the Manager of Microeconomic, Institutional and Development Impact Division (ECMR.2) will be responsible for:

• Designing and undertaking a program of sector specific research and analyses on key micro-economic development issues across the High-5s priorities of the Bank Group to support productive infrastructure investments in African countries.
• Providing technical support and advise to project assessment teams and support to operations through the ex-ante assessment of Additionality and Development Outcomes Assessment (ADOA) and Impact Evaluation of the Bank’s operations.
• Providing leadership and inspiration in undertaking quality research and analyses in Africa’s economic development, with emphasis on microeconomics and development impact analysis in the Bank, which aims to enhance the scope and standards of Bank operations, economic and sector work and policy dialogue with RMCs.
• Raising the Bank’s capacity to pose crucial issues in Africa’s development and to devise solutions through the production of flagship reports and working papers dedicated to these issues.
• Providing technical inputs to the Bank Group flagship reports and economic and sector works as may be assigned by the Director of ECMR or the Vice President ECVP.
• Provide regular economic intelligence reports and briefs to Senior Management as may be assigned.
• Participate in the Bank’s technical assistance and policy dialogue in relevant sectors as may be assigned.

Key Functions
Under the supervision of the Director of the Macroeconomics Policy, Forecasting and Research, (ECMR), the Division Manager Microeconomic, Institutional and Development Impact Division (ECMR.2) will:

• A- Work program validation and execution of the Division’s activities:
  • Review and validate the objectives and work program for the division, ensuring alignment to the Bank, Complex and department strategic priorities.
  • Review and validate the budget, and its effective implementation.
  • Develop and monitor key performance indicators to drive the Division’s performance.
  • Making assessments in the recruitment of qualified staff for the Division.
  • Assessing work performance, appraising staff potential and determining training needs.
  • Monitoring implementation of the Division’s work program and introducing changes where necessary to ensure that work program objectives are met.
• B-Plan, manage, organize and undertake activities relating to the conduct of research on Microeconomics, Institutional and Development Impacts in accordance with the High 5s. These involves:
  • Lead research analysis and other analytical work on microeconomic issues related to the High 5s to inform Regional Member Countries and Bank Group operations.
  • Lead analysis to support Bank’s operations through the ex-ante assessment of Additionality and Development Outcomes Assessment (ADOA) and Impact Evaluation exercises.
  • Lead required revisions of the ADOA Framework on the basis of implementation experience and lessons learned from other Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).
  • Play a leadership role in the provision of advice to other project and policy work of the Bank to ensure that it is in line with current development thinking and practices in regard to Non-Sovereign Operations.
  • Provide analysis of Regional Member Countries’ economies using appropriate tools and techniques and assessing regional and continental development strategies.
  • Contribute to the development and preparation of Department research output and flagship publications, including the Africa Economic Outlook Reports (AEOs), the Regional Economic Outlook Reports (REOs), Country Focus Reports (CFRs), and other special initiatives of the Bank Group as may be assigned.
  • Provide regular economic intelligence reports and briefs to Senior Management as may be assigned.
  • Promote collaborative work and maintaining good relations with institutions dealing with economic research and development policies, especially as they relate to Africa.
  • Facilitate the generation, dissemination and sharing of knowledge on African development issues through major reports and publications and participate in international and regional seminars and organize relevant Bank-sponsored workshops and training programs.
  • Work with the African Development Institute (ECAD) to promote stronger linkages with African Universities and research organizations as well as other research institutions elsewhere and with partner institutions such as the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the World Bank/IFC, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to undertake collaborative research programs where feasible, and to exchange data sets.
  • Assist the Chief Economist’s office in advising the President and Senior Management of the Bank on socio-economic, sustainable development finance, additionality, development outcomes, and impact evaluation issues in Africa.
  • Review and clear major statements and briefs prepared for the President and Senior Management by the Division on all microeconomic issues.
  • Provide guidance and mentorship to staff in the Division and those in other complexes undertaking economic and sector works focusing on microeconomics, institutions and development impact.
  • Manage human and financial resources to ensure that the core activities of the Division are not constrained.
  • Establish effective collaboration with other Bank units, international agencies as well as with bilateral development partners in seeking solutions to Africa’s development
• C-People and talent management:
  • Ensure the division has the appropriate sector specialists for each High-5 priorities and the skills-mix required to deliver transformative impacts at all times for effective delivery of the objectives defined in the work program.
  • Assess work performance, appraise staff potential, and determine training needs.
  • Put in place, with the assistance of the Human Resources department, delivery accountability and talent management mechanisms, to build a talent pool for the department for business continuity.
• D-Represents the Bank in international and regional conferences, seminars and workshops where necessary or as delegated by the Senior Leadership of the Bank and ECVP/ECMR Management.
• E-Performs other tasks as requested by the ECVP/ECMR Management and senior management of the Bank.

Competencies (Skills, Experience And Knowledge)

• Hold at least a Master’s Degree in Economics, Finance or related discipline. A Ph.D. degree in these areas will be an added advantage.
• Have a minimum of eight (8) years’ experience in microeconomic issues related to High-5 sectors; project analysis and/or monitoring and evaluation, or sector operations is required.
• Publication record in international peer reviewed journals, or proven record of publications of reports, working papers, and books focusing on microeconomic issues related to development finance, infrastructure development, private sector development, industrial organizations, governance, competitiveness & investment climate, agriculture, institutions, and regional integration.
• A good understanding of the Bank or similar organizations’ operations and Environmental & Social policy requirements.
• Strong knowledge and background in the use of statistical and econometric methods and packages in development economics and microeconomics research as well as theoretical knowledge to develop and implement research programs.
• Proven ability to build and lead a team of motivated staff and utilize the talents and expertise of team members in a productive way.
• Capacity to initiate and manage innovation and change in matrix organizations.
• A strong drive for results, an ability to carry out swiftly and efficiently numerous competing demands, and capable of managing competing priorities.
• Ability to lead high level policy dialogue, prepare and make presentations to high level officials.
• Proven ability in development policy research and analysis of economic conditions that are of relevance for the High 5s (Bank priority areas).
• Ability to design and conduct multi-disciplinary research projects/programs
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Competence in the use of leading econometrics software packages and in Microsoft Suites (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access).

Application Closing Date
16th June, 2023.

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