Manager, Agriculture Research, Production and Sustainability, AHAI2 at African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

 THE POSITION:

The Manager for Agriculture Research, Production and Sustainability reports to the Director, Agriculture & Agro-industry department. He/She is responsible for providing leadership and supervising the staff and activities for implementation of the African Development Bank’s Feed Africa Strategy. The Agriculture Research, Production and Sustainability Division promotes a sustainable and resilient agriculture transformation for food security under climate change. The transformation will require a set of seven enablers:

1. Increase productivity by catalyzing the development of effective input distribution systems and reduction in post-harvest waste and loss;
2. Realize the value of increased production by facilitating increased investment into output markets and supporting market incentives for value addition;
3. Increase investment into enabling infrastructure, both hard and soft infrastructure
4. Create an enabling agribusiness environment with appropriate policies and regulation;
5. Catalyze capital flows (especially commercial lending and private investment) to scale agribusinesses;
6. Ensure inclusivity, sustainability and effective nutrition beyond what the market may deliver otherwise; and
7. 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 main work objectives to be achieved by the Division are:

1. To scale-up adoption by farmers of climate smart agriculture technologies and best practices;
2. To disseminate proven agricultural transformation technologies that are tailored for the African context;
3. To transform public and private sector investments in food systems to make them productive, equitable, and sustainable by fast-tracking digital solutions.
4. To mainstream land governance in all phases of the investment projects.
5. To bring nutrition at the high-level agenda in Africa.
6. To mobilize private and climate finance additional resource to support African agriculture adaptation.
7. To publish analytical reports and economic sector work related to the above.

Duties and responsibilities

The Manager for Agriculture Research, Production and Sustainability, under the oversight of the Director Agriculture & Agro-Industry Department, manages staff of the Division and plans, organizes, supervises and directs the work to ensure efficient and effective Bank Group assistance. Specifically, the Manager:

Specific accountabilities of the function

1. Provide specialist, pragmatic, effective and timely advice to Division staff, on analytical issues relevant to the work program, the budget. the preparation and implementation of the work program. This could include overseeing case studies, representation of the Complex and the Bank in major gatherings and/or any other assignment pertinent to the job;
2. Provide leadership to Division staff, including those leading the implementation of the following flagships in the division: ((a) Climate smart agriculture (CSA), (b) Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), (c) Digital Agriculture, (d) Land Governance and ( e) African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN);
3. Provide advice and guidance to Division Staff for conducting dialogue with RMCs and for mobilizing resource for projects preparation and implementation;
4. Design and deliver solutions that increase the ability of the individuals, Division staff and across the Bank to effectively deliver their respective programs, in line with their key performance indicators;
5. Provide assistance and coaching for staff members requiring capacity strengthening and training interventions to ensure they improve engagement and them to model organizational behaviours and improve technical competence;
6. Work with other Divisions across the Complex to lead complex and innovative project cycle management activities;
7. Establish effective partnerships with internal, external stakeholders, including other development partners, using a range of communication and facilitation skills, in view of efficiency in the work program delivery process;
8. Review policies, practices and procedures as necessary to identify and scope areas for improvement.
9. Lead and implement change in a way that engages clients and improves service delivery;
10. Work within the Complex to support the implementation of organizational change process;
11. Represent the division, department, the Complex and the Bank at major climate smart agriculture gatherings;
12. Ensure delivery and promotion of the strategic aims of the Bank’s Feed Africa Agenda;
13. Promote the creation of a fully conducive and inclusive work environment.

Detailed activities in relation with the accountabilities of the function

• Sector Analysis and Programming

1. Contribute to the preparation of the Departmental annual work program and budgets according to the priorities set forth by the Country and Regional Divisions;
2. Prepare Annual Division Report detailing achievements, constraints and outlook;
3. Contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal by providing input for the streamlining of Departmental and Bank interventions in the sector;
4. Participate in the preparation of Results Based Country Strategy Papers and multi-sector portfolio review in Regional Members Countries to ensure its consistency with sector work and other crosscutting profile review towards selection of key pillars for Bank intervention;
5. Participate in the review of policies, strategies, procedure and guidelines for Bank’s intervention in the agricultural and agro-industry sectors and related activities;
6. Contribute to the development of appropriate strategies for intervening in the agricultural and rural development sector in line with Country Strategy Papers and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper for the various Regional Members Countries;
7. Serve as a base for sector knowledge building and dissemination by initiating sector studies and
8. Assist in the creation of networks and partnerships relevant to agriculture and agro-industry.

• Co-financing and Aid-Coordination

1. Represent the Bank in donor meetings aimed at reviewing borrowers’ priorities for sector investment programs and agree on various sectorial issues, policies and strategies, as well as cofinancing arrangements;
2. Propose projects and programs to be co-financed with other donors;
3. Participate in the Bank’s representation at regional and international meetings, conferences, seminars and workshops dealing with issues concerning the sectors’ development and related areas;
4. Develop partnerships with Breton Wood institutions, United Nations agencies, bilateral agencies, research institutes, Non-Governmental Organizations and relevant regional and sub-regional bodies for the realization of the Department’s strategic plan.

Selection Criteria

1. Hold at least a Master’s degree or equivalent degree in Agriculture Science/Environmental engineering/Natural Resources Management or related discipline.
2. At least eight (8) years of relevant and progressive experience, five (5) of which should be in multilateral development institutions in Agriculture, climate smart agriculture and / or natural resources management as a professional and three (3) years of which should be at a managerial level.
3. Proven experience in Agriculture Development under climate change and Natural Resources Management in Africa applied to deliver the entire scope of the Bank’s Feed Africa strategy.
4. Experience in climate finance mobilization for cofinancing agriculture projects is desirable.
5. Knowledge of operational policies, rules, procedures and practices of the Bank or comparable institution;
6. Ability to provide enabling environment for staff members performance; delegate authority  and to assign work to staff members
7. Experience in delivering high quality operational products and services (economic analyses, research advice, sectoral studies and evaluation) in support of the Bank’s work.
8. Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues and staff members of the Division.
9. Communicate and write effectively in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
10. Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP is desirable.

To apply for this position, you need to be national of one of AfDB member countries.

Applicants who fully meet the Bank's requirements and are considered for interview will be contacted. Only online applications submitted with a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) and copies of the required degrees will be considered. The President, AfDB, 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.

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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