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

POSITION : Chief Agricultural Economist  

DECSRIPTION 

• The Agriculture Finance and Rural Development Department works closely with the Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department and the Regional Directorates to provide support for the delivery of Feed Africa: Strategy for Agricultural Transformation in Africa, 2016-2025.
• The core mandate of Agriculture Finance and Rural Development Department is to develop the strategy of the Bank related to agricultural and rural finance and rural development, represent the Bank with external stakeholders, provide sector expertise to the regions by gathering experts who can be consulted by operations and closing the financing gap for private sector-led development of agricultural value chains.
• The Department is to mobilize and deploy the required expertise; and, provide support the design and implementation of agricultural finance and rural development operations for key commodity value chains. 
• The Agriculture Finance and Rural Development Department is structured into two Divisions: (i) Agriculture and Rural Finance Division; and (ii) Rural Infrastructure Development Division.

The Rural Infrastructure Development Division has the following deliverables:

• High-quality and Innovative Instruments for Rural Infrastructure Integrated into Projects
• Practical Implementation Arrangements with Key Implementing Partners
• Knowledge Management of Rural Infrastructure Best Practices
• Enabling Environment and Alliances with Key Stakeholders
• Monitoring of Performance and Recommendations for Corrective Actions

The Position

• The Chief Agro-Economics coordinates Agropoles and Agro-Industrial Zones and assists in the implementation of Feed Africa: Strategy for Agricultural Transformation in Africa 2016 - 2025. Feed Africa contributes to the fulfilment of the African Development Bank’s vision - as defined in its Ten Year Strategy and amplified in the High 5 Initiatives - of being the lead development financial institution in Africa, dedicated to providing quality assistance to Regional Member Countries in their economic growth efforts. 
• The Strategy seeks to transform African agriculture through 18 priority value chains and five agro-ecological zones.
• The transformation will require a set of seven enablers:
  • Increase productivity by catalyzing the development of effective input distribution systems and reduction in post-harvest waste and loss;
  •  Realize the value of increased production by facilitating increased investment into output markets and supporting market incentives for value addition;
  • Increase investment into enabling infrastructure, both hard and soft infrastructure;
  • Create an enabling agribusiness environment with appropriate policies and regulation;
  • Catalyze capital flows  (especially commercial lending and private investment) to scale agribusinesses;
  • Ensure inclusivity, sustainability and effective nutrition beyond what the market may deliver otherwise;
  • Coordinate activities to kick start transformation, align activities and investments of different actors, and guide initial activities to the point where private sector actors can be crowded in
• The Agropoles and Agro-Industrial Zones Initiative is one of the flagship programs identified in the Agricultural Transformation in Africa Agenda which seeks to support or create agro-industrial clusters: a concentration of producers, agro-industries, traders and other private and public actors engaged in the agri-food industry and inter-connecting and building value networks, either formally or informally, addressing common challenges and pursuing common opportunities.

Responsibilities
Under the general supervision of the Director, Agricultural Finance and Rural Development Department and working in close collaboration with the Division Managers and Task Managers, the Agropoles and Agro-Industrial Zones Coordinator will coordinate the development and implementation of Agropoles and Agro-Industrial Zones in the Bank’s Regional Member Countries. 

Duties include :

• Establish and maintain strategic collaboration with relevant partners in the area of agropoles and agroindustry and post-harvest losses;
• Organize Agropoles and Agro-Industrial Zones business development seminars, make presentations, and represent the Bank in relevant events; and
• Undertake any other assignments as may be assigned by the Director of Agriculture and Agro-Industry.
• Lead the implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda with regards to a robust agropoles, agro-industrial, and agri-business regime across Regional Member Countries;
• Lead the development of a coherent and pro-active agropoles and agro-industrial zone strategy and program that promotes innovative and transformative approaches to sustainable agroindustry development;
• Lead Economic and Sector work to orient the Agricultural Transformation Agenda intervention in the area of Agropoles and Agroindustry development in Africa;
• Work closely with the Bank’s private sector and the financial inclusiveness departments for a robust agropoles and  agro-industrial zone environment with the associated financial support;
• Assist Regional Member Countries in the identification, preparation and appraisal of Agropoles and agro-industrial zone sub-sector operations with a focus on commodity value addition and post-harvest losses reduction;
• 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 indicators) to enable transparent assessment of Agropoles and Agro-Industrial Zones outcomes and impacts, both for internal and external circulation;
• Work with regional member countries to promote export promotion potentials and enhance import substitution ;
• Drive new business development and resource mobilization for agropoles and agro-industries with relevant departments of the Bank as well as sovereign, multilateral, bilateral and private sector partners;
• Establish synergies between the Agropoles and Agro-Industrial Zones Program and the Bank’s other flagship programs for Agricultural Transformation in Africa: ENABLE Youth, Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation, and Agricultural Risk Sharing Facilities;
• Maintain regular communication channels with stakeholders on progress and achievement of Agropoles and Agro-Industrial Zones as well as emerging constraints and opportunities;

Selection Criteria

• Manage multiple, simultaneous and shifting demands/ priorities under tight deadlines and coordinate the work of others.
• Build partnerships with a broad range of clients and deliver results that meet the needs and long-term interests of clients within and outside the Bank.
• Ability to take initiative, innovate, adapt and make smart decisions; to create, apply, and share knowledge; to share expertise and learning; to develop self and others; to expand networks; to collaborate within teams and across boundaries; to be inclusive and exhibit good corporate citizenship.
• Communicate and write effectively in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Competences in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).
• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Agricultural Engineering Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Agricultural Sciences, or related fields.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience, (five (5) of which should be in multilateral development institutions) in manufacturing, agro-processing and industrialization.
• Experience developing and managing Agropoles and Agro-Industrial Zones.
• Experience working in project development and implementation in agriculture and agribusiness.
• Strong competence in investment appraisal and financial modelling in the agricultural and agribusiness sectors.
• Experience working in Africa is a must.
• Ability to lead colleagues to achieve defined objectives in international multicultural contexts.