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 (2023-2032) and ensure greater developmental impact, five major areas, all of which will accelerate our delivery for Africa, have been launched, namely; i) Light up and Power Africa, ii) Industrialize Africa, iii) Integrate Africa, iv) Feed Africa, and v) Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. The Bank is seeking to build a management team that will lead the successful implementation of this vision.
THE COMPLEX:
The Vice-Presidency for ‘Agriculture, Human, and Social Development’ is a Sector Complex focusing on two of the Bank’s Ten Year Strategy High 5s priority of “Feed Africa” and “Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa”. The Complex comprises five departments: (i) Agriculture and Agro-Industry Development; (ii) Agriculture Finance and Rural Development; (iii) Gender, Women and Civil Society; (iv) Water Development and Sanitation; and, (v) Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development.
THE HIRING DEPARTMENT/UNIT:
The Department of Agriculture and Agroindustry (AHAI) of AFDB has the responsibility of the 2nd priority of Bank’s TYS High 5s, which is called “Feed Africa”, the Strategy for agricultural transformation, aiming at allowing the continent to become a net food exporting region while using industrialization to add value to process foods and exports commodities; to help to end extreme poverty, and eliminate malnutrition.
The Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) is a special fund established by the African Union member states during the 2006 African Green Revolution Summit in Abuja. The AFFM is and managed by the African Development Bank, housed within AHAI Department. The overall objective of the AFFM is to improve agricultural productivity by providing the financing required to boost fertilizer use in Africa to achieve the target of 50 kg of nutrients per hectare, as mandated by the Abuja Declaration.
The AFFM developed its 2022-2028 Strategic Plan, designed around three strategic pillars (i) Strengthening the fertilizer sector through access to finance; (ii) Supporting the development of viable policy reforms to improve production, trade and utilization of fertilizer; and (iii) Facilitating smallholder farmers’ access to inputs and technical assistance.
THE POSITION:
The Senior Finance, Administration and Resources Management Officer will provide support to the AFFM with execution of its finance, administration and resources management tasks required for efficient and effective management of the AFFM.
The position will support the planning, implementation and reporting for the donors, governing council and the Bank to ensure good governance, resources mobilization and fulfilment of the Bank’s trusteeship responsibility.
As part of AFFM secretariat, the staff will be supported by the Bank’s relevant Divisions at the headquarters and at the country level.
KEY FUNCTIONS:
The specific responsibilities include, but not limited to:
Financial management
- Prepare annual and medium-term budgets for AFFM work programs, according to the available budget.
- Design financial monitoring tools and oversee all AFFM financial expenditure in accordance with approved budget, work programs and procedures.
- Capture the AFFM financial flows in and out of the fund, reconcile and analyse the financial statements and accounts and liaise with the Financial Control Department of the Bank in preparing the AFFM financial statements.
- Ensure that all AFFM and Bank information management systems (IMS) are regularly updated to reflect the true financial status of the AFFM and its projects, and regularly prepare reports to update the management on the financial status of AFFM.
- Support AFFM donor reporting as fulfilment of part of the grant conditions.
- Contribute to the resource mobilisation activities of the AFFM including providing inputs in the proposals, reports and other documents.
- Support the conduct of the AFFM annual external and internal Audits.
Projects management
- Contribute to the activities of projects cycle (identification, preparation and appraisal), take a proactive role to ensure ‘Quality at Entry work’ in assessing the adequacy of the funding recipients’ financial management systems and their ability to manage and monitor AFFM financed projects. This includes among others budgeting, policies and procedures, internal control systems, accounting, financial reporting and auditing.
- Liaise with the appropriate staff and departments in acquiring necessary opinion, clearances, and project approvals, and coordinate the preparation of legal agreements of the approved projects, in collaboration with task managers and the Bank’s legal department.
- Coordinate disbursements in accordance with projects legal agreements, and as per recommendations from task managers.
- Oversee the review and provision of opinions on the procurements and financial management of projects and programs as documented in projects appraisal reports and other relevant documents to ensure consistency and enhance the quality of projects/program from the financial management perspective.
- Carry out supervision work to ascertain projects financial performance by checking the proper functioning of financial management systems, including the review of projects periodic financial reports.
- Assess the financial reporting and management of projects and advise on any improvements to be applied.
- Assess the selection and engagement of external auditors for AFFM funded projects, ensuring their suitability including their independence, and competence to perform.
Administration and procurements
- Contribute to all aspects of the AFFM policy/strategy/procedures development, review and implementation.
- Support AFFM secretariat in the procurement processes, prepare and review of Terms of References (TORs), draft contracts, and ensure proper management of service providers and consultancy contracts.
- Liaise with the appropriate procurement units in obtaining necessary clearances, opinion and make all the necessary follow up.
- Prepare the documents and follow-up the recruitment process, provide support on staffing issues in consultation with concerned Departments.
- Lead the organization of the AFFM workshops, trainings, meetings, Governing Council meetings, and other any other event.
- Ensure the proper management of the AFFM documents, address the internal requests (President, Vice-presidents, Directors), and the reporting process to the various governance structures (Complexes, Governing Council, Board of Directors).
- Ensure quality control over the AFFM publications, letters and activities through reviews and contributions.
- Contribute to the AFFM annual work program, annual and periodic reporting as fulfilment of part of the mechanism’s conditions.
- Perform any other tasks related to the advancement of the objectives of the AFFM, as requested by the AFFM Coordinator.
COMPETENCIES (skills, experience and knowledge):
- Hold at least a master’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related discipline.
- A professional accounting certification/qualification (CPA, CA, ACCA or equivalent) would be a plus;
- Have a minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in areas relevant to the assignment;
- Experience in project or portfolio management and/or special / trust fund operations at the Bank or any other public or private development organization, would be a strong advantage;
- An understanding of the project cycle management and demonstrated experience in providing guidance and advice on the application of project cycle management systems within the context of results-based management approaches;
- Proven ability to conceptualize, design and implement financial management and procurements systems suitable for a Fund that operates in conformity with stated instruments and in accordance with the Bank’s policies and guidelines;
- Proven experience in designing financial proposals to donors;
- Knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards, International Public Sector Accounting Standards and International Standards on Auditing;
- Analytical capabilities and skills to deal with financial management issues, especially in advising applicants and recipients on the design and implementation of acceptable financial management systems;
- Excellent organizational skills; Ability to prioritize own work program and ability to deliver assignments in a timely and efficient manner;
- Very good interpersonal skills; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations in a multicultural environment;
- Excellent written and verbal communication in English or French with a working knowledge of the other language;
- Competence in the use of Bank standard software, and ability to help organize data and information retrieval systems; knowledge of SAP is desirable.
THIS ADVERTISEMENT IS POSTED BY THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (AFDB) ON BEHALF OF AFFM, WHICH IS THE EMPLOYER FOR THIS POSITION. ENGAGEMENT AS STAFF OF AFFM DOES NOT OFFER ANY EXPECTATION FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT AS STAFF IN THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK.
THIS IS A PROJECT STAFF POSITION AND COMES WITH A FIXED-TERM CONTRACT.