Operations Officer (Project Staff)

• Position title: Operations Officer (Project Staff)
• Grade: PL-5
• Position N°: N/A
• Reference: ADB/13/TA/---
• Publication date: 21/10/2013
• Closing date: 30/10/2013

Objectives

The overall goal of the Congo Basin Forest Fund (CBFF) is to alleviate poverty and address climate change through reducing the rate of deforestation. Its purpose is to provide grants to eligible entities for activities that: 1) slow and eventually reverse the rate of deforestation in the Congo Basin; 2) provide support mechanisms which conserve the forests; 3) maintain benefits to local communities; and 4) mobilize additional financial resources to support required actions.

Duties and responsibilities

List the major responsibilities of the position, beginning with the most important one, and explaining how each is achieved. Begin each duty statement with a verb. Miscellaneous tasks which take only a small portion of time can be grouped and listed together:

Under the overall supervision of the CBFF Coordinator and day to day supervision of the Resident Representative, the Operations Officer will act as a Task Manager and contribute to the effective delivery of the CBFF’s programme in designated countries within the Congo Basin. He/She will contribute to the strategic planning and monitoring of the CBFF programme, the establishment of a portfolio of projects that collectively contribute towards achieving the CBFF programme, grant management operations of selected projects, and in the communication and networking initiatives of the CBFF. These responsibilities will be undertaken within the context of the CBFF strategies and work plans, Operational Procedures and Bank’s policies and procedures. Specific duties and responsibilities include:

Strategic Planning and Monitoring:

• Contribute to the development of appropriate strategies, for endorsement by the GC, that define a coherent and pro-active CBFF programme that promotes innovative and transformative approaches to reducing deforestation and degradation (e.g.REDD), mitigating climate change, and reducing poverty within forest-dependent populations, with a particular emphasis on the application of livelihoods and rural development frameworks and approaches;
• Contribute to the establishment of a monitoring and evaluation systems and a results-based framework, drawing on rural development and livelihood tools and methods, to enable assessment of CBFF outcomes and impact against targets and corresponding indicators, and propose studies intended to establish baselines and assess change/progress;
• Contribute to the preparation of annual reports and issue-specific reports detailing achievements, opportunities and constraints;
• Contribute to the application of livelihood and rural development tools and methods to inform the planning and monitoring of CBFF’s programme, with due consideration to indigenous populations, vulnerable groups and gender equity.

Projects and Grants Management

• Contribute to the building of a coherent portfolio of projects/ programmes that individually and collectively contribute to achievement the CBFF strategies and objectives, particularly with regards to livelihoods and rural development within the context of implementing REDD, sustainable forest management and poverty reduction initiatives;
• Assist eligible institutions in the Congo Basin countries in the preparation of project proposals and advise them in utilizing CBFF resources;
• Participate in the review of project concepts and proposals from eligible institutions and proposals identified by the Secretariat and Governing Council, using the criteria developed by the CBFF Secretariat;
• Collaborate with the Fund Management Agent, the CBFF partners, and/or contracted agents in undertaking grant management functions of small and medium size grants implemented by NGOs/CBOs;
• Facilitate, and where required lead, internal reviews of projects and programs proposed for funding, including close collaboration with COMIFAC national coordinators;
• Undertake field missions to monitor projects/ programs implementation or cause such missions to be undertaken by the secretariat, partners and/or contracted agents;
• Facilitate the preparation of Grant Agreements, in collaboration with relevant CBFF’s and Bank’s staff, for project proposals endorsed by the Governing Council.
• Review requests from grantees regarding procurement of services, goods and works and make proposals for the Secretariat action;
• Review disbursement applications and progress reports, in collaboration with relevant CBFF’ and Bank staff, and make proposals for the Secretariat action;
• Contribute to grant administration activities in collaboration with the other CBFF’s and Bank’s specialists;
• Contribute to the preparation of the annual work plan budget of the CBFF;

Communication and Networking

• Engage regularly in dialogue and exchanges with CBFF Secretariat CPO and other staff on the appraisal, supervision and monitoring of CBFF projects;
• Coordinate with the Bank’s relevant regional offices, the Natural Resources Management and Environment Division in OSAN, and other relevant Divisions.
• Develop partnerships with donor institutions, NGOs, Civil society regional networks and regional partner institutions of COMIFAC;
• Participate in relevant national and regional meeting, conferences, seminars, workshops related to the Congo Basin and forestry/ climate change related issues; and
• Any other duties relevant to the successful functioning of the CBFF as may be required.

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• A minimum of Master’s degree in economics, agro-economy, rural  development or equivalent disciplines ;
• At least five (5) years of professional working experience, of which at least 5 in management of development projects, preferably in rural development, forestry and / or environment. Additional experience in preparing programs and projects, project monitoring and supervision, and result based project management systems would be an advantage;
• Working experience and demonstrated ability to use analysis and planning tools and approaches in rural development and livelihood improvement, in natural resources management, vulnerable local communities, and communities dependent on naturel resources are essential.
• Knowledge of development issues relating to rural development in Central Africa or any other forestry region, in particular with development or conservation organizations would be an advantage;
• Demonstrated capacity and ability to understand and solve complex project management problems;
• Result-oriented, client oriented, team player, demonstrated ability to work in multicultural environment and maintain effective working relations with colleagues, good interpersonal relations;
• Excellent self-organization skills, ability to prioritize own tasks in the work program, and timely delivery;
• Demonstrated ability to take initiatives, to synthetize, to conceptualize complex issues and to write reporting documents;
• High degree of tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal clients and stakeholders at all levels;
• Computer literate and competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access, SAP, and PowerPoint).
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills in French with working knowledge in English.

This is a position for a Project staff and it is therefore, not a regular position of the African Development Bank.  The contract for this assignment is subject to different terms.

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Operations Officer (Project Staff) (331 KB)

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

• Submitted by: Amir Zahir, Division Manager, CHRM.1
• Approved by: Joseph Oluwafemi Badaki, Director, CHRM

Only applicants who fully meet the Bank's requirements and are being considered for interview will be contacted. Applicants will only be considered if they submit an online application, and attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV). The AfDB President reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level. The African Development Bank is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply: www.afdb.org/jobs