African Development Bank for a Principal Investment Officer

African
Development Bank (AfDB) – 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 80 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.

We
are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job
Title: Principal
Investment Officer
Reference: ADB/17/345

Location: Côte d’Ivoire

Grade: PL4
Position N°: 50069787

The
Complex

The
Vice-Presidency for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization
is central to the Bank’s mission of developing the private sector,
improving infrastructure and accelerating industrialization.
The
complex main functions are to:

Strengthen
the enabling environment for private sector [and financial sector]
development conducive to inclusive growth and sustainable development,
Support
the development of reliable and sustainable infrastructure, including
cities and urban development, and
Place
renewed emphasis on industrial and trade performance in support of
structural transformation across Africa.

The
Complex leverages knowledge, co-financing, and partnerships to attract
private capital and work with governments on delivering the Bank’s
development agenda.

The
Hiring Department/Division

The
role of the Bank’s Private Sector Development Department is to promote
private sector in Regional Member Countries, ensuring that it plays a
central role in laying the foundations in the development role of the
Bank, in line with the Bank’s 10 Year Strategy and HI 5 initiatives.
As
part of the Private Sector Development Department, the Strategy and
Transaction Support Division is responsible for preparing strategies,
policies, guidelines, and analytical tools relevant to the private sector
development; it also ensures global client management and undertakes
specialized assignments for the Regions and the Sectors.
It
also provides ad hoc advice on transaction bankability and structuring of
transactions.

The
Position
The purpose of the job is as follows:

Promote
private sector development in North Region (RDGN) through financing
private enterprises, and projects, in the sectors of Manufacturing,
Agriculture and Service (MAS), which are technically feasible, financially
and economically viable, and environmentally sound and create optimum
added value, without sovereign guarantees in accordance with sound banking
principles.
Provide
technical assistance and advisory services aimed at preparing and/or
supporting private sector operations.
Act
as a catalyst in mobilizing domestic and foreign resources for investment
in the private sector through co-financing operations with other
institutions, commercial banks and Export Credit Agencies.

Duties
and Responsibilities
Under the general guidance and supervision of the Division Manager, the
Principal Investment Officer will perform the following duties and
responsibilities:

Participate
in or lead the planning and execution of promotion and project
identification missions in North Region (RDGN). Such missions normally
lead to the development of a pipeline of bankable projects, technical
assistance programs and potential advisory services to be considered by
the Bank.
Participate
in and lead the preliminary evaluation of project proposals and assess
their feasibility for financial assistance and/or technical support by the
Bank.
This
involves the initial screening of project applications, carrying out desk
reviews and evaluation of feasibility studies, preparing preliminary
evaluation notes for presentation to the various Committees for inclusion
in the pipeline, and writing project concept notes submit to clearance for
full appraisal or fact-finding missions.
Participate
in and lead the planning and execution of appraisal and fact-finding
missions. This includes developing terms of reference for the mission and
for short-term consultants to be engaged for the mission; coordinating the
work of the mission team which usually includes professional staff from
other departments within the Bank; carrying out independent research on
the investment climate, project sponsors, management, economic, financial,
marketing, technical, environmental and legal aspects of the project.
Prepare
and lead the preparation of project appraisal reports for presentation to
the various review committees and finally to the Board of Directors.
This
usually involves working with the investment analysis and modelling team
to build and use the appropriate models for carrying out financial and
economic analysis of the project; developing recommendations and
justifications for the investments and defending these to the various
levels of decision makers.
Ensure
that all conditions precedent first disbursement have been fulfilled on a
timely basis and all fees are billed and collected from clients.
Process
and oversee the first disbursement to projects and ensure a smooth
transition of primary responsibility for the project to the portfolio
management team. Thereafter, assist the portfolio management team to
ensure effective monitoring and supervision of the originated projects in
the portfolio.
The
work also includes assessing the risks of projects and advising sponsors
on appropriate mitigating measures; structuring/restructuring projects to
minimize financial risks; participating in negotiations, and where
relevant conducting preliminary negotiations with sponsors on financing
terms and legal conditions for the proposed investment/loan by the Bank.
Develop
relationships within the Bank and with other institutions involved in
private sector development (exchange of information on projects, policies,
operational experience etc., identification of co-financing opportunities,
organization of joint promotional activities etc.); Represent the Bank at
and participate in seminars, workshops and conferences dealing with
private sector issues.

Selection
Criteria
Including Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Hold
at least a Master’s Degree or its equivalent in Business Administration,
Finance, Banking or related areas.
Have
a minimum of six (6) years of professional, relevant experience, ideally
in an international investment bank, commercial bank or private equity
firm.
Having
private sector experience will be an added advantage.
Disciplined
approach whilst maintaining creativity and lateral thinking for effective
problem solving;
Sense
of initiative and innovation in proposing solutions to client needs.
Highly
motivated, committed to highest ethical standards.
Excellent
organizational, administrative, and time management skills with proven
ability to work promptly and efficiently under pressure and meet tight
deadlines.
Strong
financial and credit skills; demonstrated ability to structure a variety
of complex financial instruments (debt and sub debt).
Knowledge
of the Manufacturing, Agriculture and Service (MAS) sectors; equity
investment and/or project finance; investment transaction experience in
Africa.
Ability
to build partnerships and deliver results that meet the needs and
long-term interest of clients within and outside the institution.
Ability
to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build
effective working relations with colleagues.
Strong
interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills.
Sound
business judgment in identifying potential business partners.
Ability
to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French,
preferably with a working knowledge of the other.
Competence
in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).
Knowledge of SAP is desirable.