African Development Bank  - the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. T

POSITION : Chief Risk Sharing Facility Investment Officer

DESCRIPTION

• Lead support and expertise to regional directorates for risk sharing facilities operations with solutions to reach smallholder farmers, productive enterprises (particularly women and youth);
• Monitor and report on the implementation of the risk sharing facilities instruments and their contribution to Feed Africa and action plan.
• Lead strategic partnerships with countries to establish risk sharing facilities that meet the requirements of financial institutions and commercial banks to lend along the 18 key priority agricultural value chains;
• Create and manage a strong portfolio of risk sharing facilities agricultural clients, investors along key value chains and achieve sustainable development impact;

Responsibilities

The technical oversight:

• Support existing risk sharing facilities investments including strategic and value-add activities with portfolio company management and co-investors;
• Partners with other International Finance Institutions, investors, including venture capital, private equity firms and strategic investors;
• Agree upon blended finance arrangements for investments and technical assistance for implementation upon consultation with concerned Regional /hubs, country offices;
• Enhance project implementation quality, timeliness and integrity through developing and implementing controls that minimize slippages;
• Develop and implementing performance monitoring and evaluation systems and reporting activities (including Key Performance Institutions) to enable transparent assessment of risk sharing facilities outcomes and impacts, both for internal and external circulation;
• Lead the conceptualization and guide the implementation of risk sharing facilities for Agropoles and Agro-industrialization and other value chain development projects, as a means to crowd in additional funding for these projects.
• Identify opportunities to support the Regional Directorates and country teams for risk sharing facilities, value chain arrangements  (agricultural finance and innovative financing) ,
• Execute strategic opportunities in risk sharing facilities financing through private sector companies and investment / impact and investment funds / equity funds (agricultural finance and innovative financing);
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of risk sharing facilities and liaise extensively with potential clients on the African continent and beyond;

People management:

• Guide a team of professional level and support staff in providing efficient and high quality services that support the business. Set realistic performance goals and motivate team members to meet them, both for individual staff and for the team as whole;
• Assess the training needs of staff in the Regional Directorates and Country Offices, monitor and evaluate their performance, and recommend personnel actions to the Division Manager;
• Be a collaborative member of the Divisional Team, contribute and share expertise and input and foster a collegial environment.
• Build strong relationship management and understand the business needs to assist in developing practical and effective solutions;

Leadership:

• Manage the efficient use of the financial and human resources.  On the technical front the work requires analytical and strategic skills, as well as personal knowledge and practical experience in the main areas of Bank intervention.
• Ensure high-quality output within available resources, by making the best use of its human, financial and technological assets, and by monitoring and enforcing efficiency targets;
• Supervise complex project identification, preparation and appraisal for Bank Group financing and verify quality of the projects;

Corporate Communication:

• Ensure effective communication between the Management and staff of the Bank, the authorities of member countries, officials from other organizations;
• Monitor best practice in the field and, as appropriate, liaise with counterparts in other organization.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor

Selection Criteria

• Networking ability to build successful relationships and partnerships with a broad range of clients, internal and external, for effective delivery of results.  Prudence and skill in identification of such relationships and partners based on meeting the needs and long-term interests of clients within and outside the institution.
• Deep understanding of value chains implementation.
• Ability to identify and create meaningful linkages across sectors to drive development impact at a country and regional level.
• Ability to provide enabling environment for staff members performance; to communicate clearly and concisely, in giving instructions;
• Communicate and write effectively in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP is desirable.
• Hold at least a Master's degree or its equivalent in in Agriculture, Agriculture Economics, Finance, , or closely related disciplines with strong notions in finance and investment;
• Have a minimum of seven (7) years relevant professional experience in the area of finance in an international multilateral institution;
• Sound Experience with International Development Financing Institutions in developing countries including a satisfactory knowledge of their operational policies and procedures;
• Comprehensively understands projects structures, including project planning, risk management strategy, issue management strategy, communication management strategy, lessons learned and handover, and other critical success factors, strategies, policies, procedures and practices of other similar institutions.
• Highly developed strategic thinking skills allied to an ability to translate strategic concepts and direction into the implementation of workable and sustainable projects and programs.
• Proven leadership in matters relating to rural development such as policy dialogue, technical review of reports and consultation with other financiers, among others.
• Knowledge of Africa and the rural development needs, opportunities, development challenges and possible solutions;
• Knowledge in the execution of debt and equity investments in the assigned sector projects and program;
• Ability to develop risk sharing facilities and other de-risking products for agriculture;