Principal Environmental and Social Audit Specialist, PAGL2

• Grade : PL4 
• Position No. : 50067064 
• Posting Date: 04/24/2026 
• Closing Date : 05/14/2026 

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THE BANK:

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 (2024 – 2033) and ensure greater developmental impact,  four cardinal points, all of which will accelerate our delivery for Africa, have been identified for scaling up, namely; enhancing access to capital; reforming and consolidating the continent’s financial systems, institutions and talent to assert Africa’s global agency; harnessing the demographic transformation for economic development; and building climate-resilient infrastructure and robust value addition to natural resources.

THE COMPLEX:

The Presidency Complex (URPR) comprises the Office of The President of the Bank Group and all corporate offices, departments and other organization units that are directly subordinate to the Presidency in administrative as well as functional terms. The President, in the capacity of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bank Group, is mandated to provide competent strategic management of the Bank Group and all its resources towards the fulfilment of the Bank Group’s purpose of contributing to economic development and social progress of Regional Member Countries.

The Presidency Complex provides day-to-day and medium-term corporate leadership and executive oversight, maintains communication with the Bank Group’s Member Countries, and supports the Boards of Directors in the conduct of their statutory roles. In addition, the Complex provides legal and regulatory oversight on the conduct of the Bank Group’s business and integrated risk management of Bank Group operations, oversees corporate communication with a range of internal and external stakeholders, promotes integrity, transparency and the highest ethical standards and norms among Bank Group personnel in the conduct of their work, and assures the security of the Bank Group’s personnel, premises and physical assets, information and data in all locations where the Bank Group operates. Furthermore, the President’s Complex is also involved in catalysing investment from various sources in line with the operational priorities of the Bank Group.

The President directly supervises several departments and units including Office of the President; the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department the Office of the Auditor General; the Group Risk Management Directorate; the General Counsel and Legal Services Department; the Communication and External Relations Department; the Staff Integrity and Ethics Office; Office of the Secretary General & General Secretariat; the Africa Investment Forum; the Joint Secretariat Support Office and; the Asia External Representation Office.

THE HIRING DEPARTMENT:

Office of the Auditor General provides independent, objective assurance and consulting services designed to add value and improve the Bank’s operations. It also assists the Bank to accomplish its strategic objectives by bringing a systematic and disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes. The Office of the Auditor General is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling a broad, comprehensive program of auditing and consulting/advisory services both internally and externally including, without limitation, all projects, and programs of the Bank group.

THE POSITION:

The African Development Bank (AfDB) seeks a dedicated Environmental and Social (E&S) Audit Specialist to strengthen its internal audit capabilities concerning environmental and social safeguards. Embedded in the Office of the Auditor General, this role is pivotal in supporting the delivery of risk-based internal audits that assess the governance, effectiveness, and compliance of E&S systems across the Bank’s portfolio of public and private sector projects. The position requires significant experience conducting E&S audits or assessments, along with familiarity with the Bank’s Integrated Safeguards System (ISS) or equivalent frameworks from other Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).

KEY FUNCTIONS:

Under the supervision and guidance of the Division Manager, the Principal Environmental and Social Audit Specialist will:

1. Lead and Support Environmental and Social Audits: Contribute to the planning, coordination, and execution of environmental and social (E&S) components of internal audits across Bank-financed operations, including public and private sector projects. Ensure these audits address the design, implementation, and effectiveness of safeguards systems.
2. Assess Compliance with Safeguards Requirements: Monitor and evaluate whether Bank operations are aligned with the environmental and social provisions outlined in project financing agreements, including Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), and relevant national legislation.
3. Review Environmental and Social Risk Management Systems: Assess the adequacy and effectiveness of environmental and social risk management frameworks across Bank-financed operations.
4. Conduct Project Site Visits: Participate in audit field missions to verify the application of E&S safeguards on the ground, engage with stakeholders, and gather field-based evidence to inform audit findings and recommendations.
5. Prepare Reports and Provide Recommendations: Prepare clear, objective, and timely audit documentation, including aide-mémoires, draft and final reports. Formulate practical and results-oriented recommendations for addressing E&S safeguard issues and monitor the implementation of agreed actions.
6. Offer Technical Advisory Support: Provide technical input on E&S safeguards to internal audit teams, operational departments, and management. Offer guidance on good practices, emerging issues, and risk mitigation strategies during project design, supervision, and evaluation stages.
7. Contribute to Audit Methodology and Capacity Building: Lead the development of tools, checklists, and frameworks to support the integration of E&S safeguards into the Bank’s audit approach. Deliver or support capacity-building sessions, workshops, and onboarding for staff on E&S audit processes.
8. Knowledge Sharing and Professional Engagement: Stay abreast of developments in audit and safeguards practice. Share knowledge within the team and across the Bank through briefings, training events, peer learning, and participation in relevant professional forums.
9. Mentorship and Team Development: Provide coaching, direction, and technical support to less experienced internal auditors in the conduct of E&S-related assignments, ensuring adherence to professional standards and timelines.
10. Other Duties Assigned: Undertake any other relevant tasks assigned by the Division Manager or Auditor General in support of the Bank’s internal audit and oversight functions.

COMPETENCIES: (skills, experience and knowledge)

Education:

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Social Science, Natural Resource Management, or a very closely related field.
• A recognized audit or safeguards-related certification (e.g., Certified Internal Auditor, ISO 14001 Auditor, Other Multilateral Development Banks Performance Standards training) is highly desirable.

Professional Experience:

• At least six (6) years of progressive experience conducting environmental and/or social audits, due diligence, or compliance reviews in development projects.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating project compliance with Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), labor and working conditions, and stakeholder engagement.
• Preferably experienced within multilateral development banks, international donor agencies, consulting firms, or government institutions.

Key Competencies:

Technical Safeguards Expertise

• Deep understanding of environmental and social safeguard policies and risk management approaches, including cross-cutting themes such as biodiversity, gender, climate risk, labor rights, and community health and safety.
• Proven ability to assess the design and implementation of safeguard measures and analyze their effectiveness in achieving compliance.

Audit and Risk-Based Thinking

• Strong grasp of audit methodologies and internal control systems, including risk-based planning, control effectiveness testing, root cause analysis, and the formulation of practical recommendations.
• Experience applying audit principles to E&S safeguards and working across diverse sectors and geographies.

Field Verification and On-Site Engagement

• Demonstrated ability to participate in or lead audit field missions, including physical site inspections and direct engagement with Project Implementation Units (PIUs), executing agencies, local authorities, and affected populations.
• Ability to navigate field challenges in both low-capacity and fragile contexts.

Data Analytics and Tools

• Familiarity with audit management platforms (e.g., Teammate, Pentana, Audit board) and data analysis tools (e.g., ACL, Power BI, Excel).

Institutional Systems Knowledge for E&S Management

• Strong familiarity with how institutions manage environmental and social safeguards through dedicated systems, including project risk categorization, review and approval of safeguards instruments, and ongoing monitoring and reporting. Experience working with institutional-level environmental and social management systems (e.g., AfDB’s Integrated Safeguards Tracking System (ISTS), or equivalent ESMS platforms) to navigate project-level documentation and identify systemic weaknesses, compliance gaps, or control inefficiencies.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to translate complex findings into clear, concise reports and presentations.
• Skilled in presenting audit observations to internal stakeholders and external partners in a constructive and solutions-oriented manner.
• Fluency in English or French is required, with a working knowledge of the other language.

Professionalism and Teamwork

• High ethical standards, integrity, and objectivity.
• Strong organizational skills, good judgment, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments.
• Willingness to mentor junior staff and contribute to knowledge sharing across the department and Bank-wide.

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THIS POSITION IS CLASSIFIED AS INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT AND ATTRACTS INTERNATIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT.

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Applicants who fully meet the Bank's requirements and are considered for further assessment will be contacted. Applicants should submit a concise Curriculum Vitae (CV) and any additional documents that may be stated as required. The President of the African Development Bank reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level.  The African Development Bank is an equal opportunities employer. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. http://www.afdb.org

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The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) does not ask for payments of any kind from applicants throughout the recruitment process (job application, CV review, interview meeting, and final processing of applications). In addition, the Bank does not request information on applicants’ bank accounts. The African Development Bank Group declines all responsibility for the fraudulent publications of job offers in its name or, in general, for the fraudulent use of its name in any way whatsoever . 

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“Please note that the Bank does not accept dual nationality. Therefore, you are required to declare the nationality you would like to be considered by the Bank throughout your career, if hired. Please upload supporting Government issued IDs such as passport, National Identity Card or Certificate etc.”