REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

ZIMBABWE COUNTRY OFFICE (COZW)

Expressions of interest are invited for the following suitably qualified and experienced Individual Consultant position :

Title of Assignment Consultant – Country Program Officer (CPO).
Type of Contract Individual Consultant
Brief Description of the Assignment The main objective of this assignment is to support the implementation of the 2020 COZW work programme and portfolio management.
Division Issuing Request Zimbabwe Country Office (COZW)
Department Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery-South (RDGS)
Duty Station Harare, ZIMBABWE
Duration of Assignment Six (6) Calendar Months
Tentative Commencement Date 1 April 2021

ELIGIBILITY :

  1. The position is open to nationals of one of the Member Countries of the African Development Bank Group. Interested applicants are encouraged to send an updated Curriculum Vitae and samples of past professional assignments, noting level of involvement and impact. These samples should either be hyper-links on the internet of attachments not exceeding a total of 5 MB ;
  1. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The call for proposal will require the same elements as the expression of interest. Both expression of interest and proposal may be submitted in either English or French language ;
  1. Candidates are  encouraged  to  register  in  the  AfDB’s  Consultant  Database  (DACON) https://www.afdb.org/en/projects-and-operations/procurement/consultancy-services-dacon, if they have not yet done so. Newly registered on DACON, please communicate the processing number after your DACON registration to the e-mail addresses below, so that your registration can be followed up and confirmed. Registration on DACON requires Internet Explorer (exclusively).
  1. The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a short list and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Rules and Procedures for the Use of Consultants, available on the Bank’s Website.(https://www.afdb.org/en/projects-and-operations/procurement/frequently-asked-questions/acquisition-of-consultancy-services-individual-consultants). Please note that interest expressed by a Consultant does not imply any obligation on the part of the Bank to include him/her in the shortlist ;
  1. Expressions of interest must be received by e-mail at the addresses below no later than 19th March 2021 at 3 pm GMT and should mention COZW Consultant – CPO – in the subject line of the email. If you do not receive a confirmation, email by 22 March 2021 pm UCT, your EOI might have not been received and you are invited to contact us by email for follow-up.

Applications to be submitted by EMAIL to         Ms. Fortunate MANUHWA [email protected]

TERMS OF REFERENCE :

CONSULTANT- COUNTRY PROGRAMME OFFICER :

INTRODUCTION :

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is the premier multi-lateral development finance institution fostering economic growth and social progress in Africa. The AfDB’s overarching goal is to reduce poverty, improve living standards by mobilizing resources in and outside Africa, and provide financial and technical assistance for development projects and programs in Africa.

The consultant will carry out the responsibilities of a Country Program Officer (CPO). He/She will monitor all the work program implementation in the assigned country, using the Country Dashboard and any other tracking information systems that provide detailed statistics. He/She will prepare monthly senior management reports in coordination with sector Task Managers (TMs) and the RDGS Regional Program Coordinator (RPC). The consultant will also provide support in ensuring quality assurance of all documentation and related correspondence while ensuring compliance with the Banks’ Operational Policies and Procedures that contribute towards executing strategy within the assigned region.

SCOPE OF WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

Reporting to the Country Manager and working closely with internal and external stakeholders.

The incumbent’s role include but not limited to :

  • Prepare Country Portfolio Performance Reports (CPPR) and Country Performance Improvement Plans (CPIP) ;
  • Prepare COZW Quarterly Portfolio Reports ;
  • Represent the COZW as Focal point for all portfolio-related meetings called at the Region/ Headquarters ;
  • As Budget Coordinator to COZW, play a coordination role for the preparation of the departmental IOP (work program) and related budget jointly with field office Country Economists and CPOs ;
  • Prepare on a monthly basis a synthesis of the implementation of the COZW work program and highlight the bottlenecks and proposed solutions ;
  • Monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Flash Light Report ;
  • Coordinate the departmental submission to Board Rolling Agenda (BRAG) in coordination with the RPC ;
  • Provide leadership and technical support to the Team Assistant for the preparation and the monthly updating of the processing schedule and mission programs ;
  • Assist the Regional Programme Coordinator and the Lead Economist in following the efficient implementation of the lending and non-lending operations approved by the Board and included into the Country Strategy Papers (CSPs) ;
  • Follow-up and manage portfolio and operational activities ;
  • Follow-up on OPEV and project audit recommendations and requirements of the Board ;
  • Contribute to preparation of country briefs for Annual Meetings and other briefs to Management ;
  • Contribute to coordinate overall portfolio management and headquarter programming in collaboration with the RPC ;
  • Follow up and report on aid coordination in concerned countries to ensure harmonization and development effectiveness of Bank’s operations and its adherence to the core principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (2005) and the Accra Agenda for Action (2008) ;
  • Act as the focal point for the Zimbabwe portfolio and serve as the central repository of all information on the Bank’s portfolio across the country ;
  • Work with Sector Experts responsible for specific projects to ensure that solution to pending projects problems are resolved, and will serve as Secretary to the Country Team ;
  • Undertake launching missions to countries in concert with sector experts ;
  • Ensure that activity reports and audit reports comply with Bank requirements and are submitted on time ;
  • Ensure that the recommendations of supervision, portfolio review and audit missions are implemented ;
  • Serve as a Readiness Review focal point as is the case for all CPOs.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS :

  1. At least a Master’s degree (or its university equivalent) in Economics, Social Sciences, Policy, Engineering, Agriculture/Forestry, Business Administration, Public Administration and knowledge of development issues ;
  2. Preferably a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in the formulation and implementation of policies, programs and projects either within the Bank, with a similar development institution or the public service ;
  3. Ability to build and manage operational teams, creating, and enabling work environment ;
  4. Ability to communicate and defend or orally and in writing difficult issues and positions (in hostile environment as necessary) to senior Bank management, government officials ;
  5. Familiarity with and experience in the practice of procurement of goods/works, and the acquisition of consultancy services under donor funding conditions ;
  6. Capacity to coordinate (Tasks, Missions, Projects, Programs): Routinely divers, highly complex/sensitive tasks ;
  7. Ability to operate effectively in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with clients and colleagues ;
  8. Ability to work in a fast paced environment and produce quality work in a short time, within deadlines and under pressure.

DURATION AND LOCATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT :

The Consultant will commence the assignment in April 2021. The assignment is expected to last for a period of six (6) calendar months. The assignment will take place at the Bank’s Zimbabwe Country Office, requires full-time presence in the Bank’s offices and may require occasional mission travel.

REMUNERATION :

The Consultant will receive a monthly all-inclusive fee to be negotiated upon contract signature, and in compliance with the Bank’s established remuneration scale, considering requisite qualifications and experience. No additional benefits or per diems will be paid while in Harare. The Bank will cover full costs of any required missions and provide per-diem in accordance with rules governing consultant mission travel. The Consultant is responsible for his/her own health insurance and accommodation costs.