Sanitation Specialist (TA), AWTF

• Grade : PL4 
• Position No. : 50090574 
• Posting Date: 01/14/2025 
• Closing Date : 02/13/2025 

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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 delivers financial and technical support for transformative projects that significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth. To sharply focus the objectives of the Ten Year Strategy (2024 – 2033) and ensure a more significant developmental impact, five major areas, all of which will accelerate our delivery for Africa, have been identified for scaling up, namely energy, agro-business, industrialisation, integration and improving the quality of life for the people of Africa.

THE COMPLEX:

The Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex (AHVP) leads in implementing two of the five priority areas “High 5’s”, namely “Feed Africa” and “Improve the Quality of Life for Africans”. 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 complex objectives are (i) to develop, policy and strategy; (ii) provide deep sector expertise to the regions and (iii) develop new financing instruments

The Vice-Presidency for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery (RDVP) is responsible for operational relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of the Bank Group’s operational programs and activities. The RDVP ensures that the Bank operates successfully across its Regional Members Countries (RMCs) and oversees the full implementation of all aspects of the Bank’s Regional Directorates.

THE HIRING DEPARTMENT:

The Water Development and Sanitation Department (AHWS) is part of the Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex. The Department is responsible for the coordination of the Bank’s water development and sanitation-related activities to enhance synergies and contribute to achievement of all High5s (Power and Light Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life). The AHWS leads the scaling-up of the Bank’s contribution to Africa’s efforts to attain water security and sanitation for sustainable socio-economic transformation. The Department is also responsible for the origination of Non-Sovereign Operations (NSOs). It also supports regions concerning complex projects. Through its divisions: AHWS.l, AHWS.2, AHWS.3 for Water Security and Sanitation in Africa, and the African Water Facility (AWF), the AHWS Department supports regional hubs in the development and promotion of knowledge, approaches and tools for green and inclusive water security and for improved sanitation.

THE HIRING DIVISION:

The African Water Facility (AWF) is an initiative of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) to mobilize resources to finance water sector facilitation and investment activities in Africa. The AWF has been established within the context of the Africa Water Vision and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The African Development Bank is managing the AWF on the request of AMCOW. The resources of the AWF are primarily allocated to: water resources projects and programmes focused on improving the enabling environment for sustainable national and regional water resources management, preparing projects and programmes for immediate capital investments, and providing resources for strategic and small-scale investments. The AWF plans, organizes and carries out activities related to projects and programs cycle activities (identification, preparation, appraisal implementation and supervision) in the above areas, in all African countries; undertakes studies on issues regarding the water sector development and related areas; provides advice and technical assistance to African countries; and ensures coordination and synergy with other partners and donors in the water and sanitation sector in Africa. The AWF currently manages a portfolio of more than €200 million spread all over Africa. 

The AWF currently manages a €200 million project portfolio shared all over Africa. The AWF is recruiting a Sanitation Specialist who will mainly support the management of the growing sanitation portfolio of the AWF.

Key Functions:

• Develop the AWF portfolio in line with the AWF strategy through identifying projects and conducting dialogue with governments, river basin organisations, local governments, utilities, private sector and NGOs, among others.
• Supervise AWF’s sanitation portfolio ensuring that project objectives are met particularly with regard to financing of follow-up investments.
• Develop knowledge products to disseminate AWF’s impact and lessons learnt.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Sanitation Specialist will be responsible for supporting the development of the AWF portfolio, with a focus on sanitation. S/he will be responsible for managing a portfolio of projects and will ensure that project objectives are met in an efficient and sustainable manner. S/He will undertake various activities, which among others, include:

Supervise AWF sanitation portfolio

• Lead the thematic project identification and preparation including assessment of concept notes, preparation for/guidance during orientation events and preparation of full proposals.
• Recruit consultants and/or organize and undertake project preparation missions as necessary to finalize the preparation of the Project Appraisal Reports and support the review process to approval by the relevant authorities.
• Ensure that grant agreements are signed promptly after approval as well as timely achievement of grant effectiveness.
• Provide on-going assistance to Recipients in understanding and applying AWF’s operational procedures relating to grant administration as well as the rules and procedures for the procurement of goods, works and services.
• Work with AfDB’s Financial Department in processing disbursement requests by providing up-to-date information on spending categories, established list of goods, works and services, contracts, entry into force of grant agreements, authorized signatories, extension of closing dates, managing grant savings and any revisions and modifications thereof.
• Undertake desk and field supervision to ensure that projects are well implemented, are accomplishing the intended objectives and recommend any necessary corrective measures.
•  Conduct regular meetings with team members to assess status of projects and also to make necessary changes and improvements, where necessary, to achieve the expected results.
• Ensure efficient achievement of all the project milestones including project evaluation, regular audits, knowledge synthesis and timely monitoring and reporting on project progress and completion, problems experienced and solutions to all stakeholders.
•  Support arrangements for project evaluation.

Develop Knowledge Products

• Contribute to knowledge management including: (i) providing hands-on support to Recipients in implementing projects to achieve the overall goals; (ii) establishing and maintaining an E-network for sharing knowledge and providing back-stopping support; (iii) linking projects to the sanitation experts in Africa and ensuring effective support; (iv) looking out for key approaches, findings and lessons and ensuring prompt sharing among the Recipients; (v) encouraging and supporting dissemination of findings at national level for possible replication; (vi) preparing project synthesis reports and sharing them identified audiences; (vii) ensuring effective recruitment of consultants to undertake various Knowledge Management (KM) activities; (viii) managing the annual peer-to-peer review events; etc.
• Ensure coordination with sanitation partners in Africa (and elsewhere), and represent AWF in donor meetings, regional and international meetings, conferences, seminars and workshops on sanitation development issues.
• Establish and maintain active communication between the different stakeholders and work with them to ensure that they are adequately informed on portfolio progress.

AWF Administration/Liaison

• Contribute to the preparation of the AWF Annual Report, and the Annual Work plan and budget as required.
• Respond to requests for information from the AWF Co-ordinator and the AWF team at HQ in a timely manner.
• Participate in the co-ordination and organisation of AWF activities and participate in specific AWF events as required
• Undertake assignments as may be required by the AWF Co-ordinator from time to time

SELECTION CRITERIA (including desirable skills, knowledge and experience):

• Hold at least a Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Sanitation and Hygiene, or related discipline.
•  A minimum of 6 years of relevant experience related to project management, sanitation policy and strategy development, preparation and management of non-sewered sanitation and reuse projects preferably in urban and peri-urban settings
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues
• Ability to work independently with little supervision as well as part of a multicultural team
• Ability to influence and participate effectively in actions to drive change
• Ability to be flexible, open minded with integrity.
• Client and results oriented individual demonstrating “a can do attitude”
• Good understanding of sanitation issues, trends and opportunities in Africa.
• Ability to identify and articulate policy and technological issues and to provide sound advice.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex issues and communicate them effectively orally and in written briefs.
• Experience in delivering high quality operational products and services (research advice, sectoral studies and review; projects).
• Good communication skills and ability to build effective working relationships in a diverse multicultural environment.
• Experience with International Development Financing Institutions in developing countries including a satisfactory knowledge of their operational policies and procedures.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP is desirable
• Excellent spoken and written English or French, with a working knowledge of the other language
• Competence in the use of the standard Microsoft software applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and SAP.

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The African Development Bank (AfDB) on behalf of the African Water Facility (AWF) is posting this advertisement. The post advertised is for AWF and not the AfDB, and does not offer any expectation of recruitment as a staff member of the AfDB.
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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.”