Principal Evaluation Officer at African Development Bank

• Position title: Principal Evaluation Officer
• Grade: PL-4
• Position N°: NA
• Reference: NA
• Publication date: 25/11/2014
• Closing date: 12/12/2014

Objectives

The core mandate of the Bank’s Independent Development Evaluation is to conduct independent evaluation studies, provide relevant lessons, develop and harmonize standards and practices, support evaluation capacity development together with partner agencies and attest to the validity of both processes and the results of self-evaluation activities.

Duties and responsibilities

The incumbent reports to the Division Manager of the Country Strategy and Corporate Evaluations Division of the Bank's Independent Development Evaluation Function. S/he will work in a team or lead complex evaluation studies and conduct country and regional strategy and program evaluations, real-time evaluations and corporate evaluation of AfDB’s policies, strategies, and operational effectiveness. In particular:

1. Conduct evaluations of the Bank’s projects, programmes, sector assistance, country strategies, policies and cross-cutting themes that are impartial, independent, transparent, credible and meet professional evaluation standards as well as professional standards in the area of specialization (*)

• Carry out evaluations of projects (or cluster of projects), programmes, policies and cross-cutting themes: define the objectives, scope, questions, method and analytical approach, lead the evaluation process, engage and manage key evaluation stakeholders including Bank management and staff, launch and undertake evaluation field missions, prepare and discuss with high level Government officials, make recommendations.
• Prepare clear and concise evaluation reports for the Board of Executive Directors and other relevant stakeholders on evaluation findings, conclusions, lessons learned and recommendations; Prepare written responses to questions raised by the Board members.
• Prepare supporting material for the dissemination of evaluation findings and results.
• After evaluation completion, continue engagement with stakeholders to ensure that evaluation recommendations are used, including follow up and reporting on recommendations’ implementation.
• Ensure that evaluations take into account cross cutting issues including gender equality, green and inclusive growth, and give attention to gender equality and diversity issues in the composition of evaluation teams and the conduct of evaluations.

2. Sectoral Meta-evaluation and Evaluation Syntheses

• Collect and analyse existing evaluation information from other development agencies/research centres and academia and consider lessons that could be applied to the Bank.
• Develop research protocols for how information will be sifted and organized to synthesize the lessons.
• Work with and manage the analytical inputs of specialists in the area of evaluation syntheses and systematic reviews. Help to distil lessons and communicate these with stakeholders throughout the Bank.

3. Disseminating of evaluation results and lessons learned and implementation follow-up of IDEV recommendations

• Draft and finalize technical papers on specific evaluation issues/questions and on thematic or impact studies in the field of expertise and draft papers on best practices and ensure their dissemination through IDEV newsletters and other evaluation bulletins and magazines.
• Participate in review, analysis, and in commenting on documents prepared by other Units of the Bank (such as: Issues Papers, Supervision Reports, Appraisal Reports, Country Strategy Papers, Country Portfolio Performance Reviews, etc.) to ensure that lessons of experience are duly incorporated in design and implementation of Bank Group operations.
• Represent as needed IDEV in internal Bank fora in order to ensure that relevant and useful lessons of experience in the country or the sector are reflected into the design and future implementation of the projects or programmes.

4. Cooperation and Coordination with Evaluation Experts from other Multilateral and Bilateral Development Institutions

• Participate as a team member in joint evaluation missions of co-financed projects/programmes with other aid agencies, in joint training seminars/workshops on evaluation systems, and develop cooperation partnerships with bilateral and multilateral Evaluation Units in development agencies and with counterparts in regional member countries.
• Assist regional member countries in establishing and enhancing their development project/programme monitoring and evaluation capabilities.

(*) Areas of specialization in IDEV correspond to Bank Group core priorities and areas of special emphasis as defined in its Ten-Year Strategy 2013-2022.

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

Professional and Academic Skills Requirements:

• At least a Master’s degree in economics, social sciences or other relevant discipline;
• A minimum of 6 years’ experience in evaluation or related field; equivalent combination of education and broad knowledge of evaluation aspects gained and additional academic work or courses on concepts and methodologies for evaluating development effectiveness will be an advantage.

The Principal  Evaluation Officer must be able to demonstrate:

• Ability to carry out high level evaluations of Bank’s interventions, policies and cross-cutting themes and to lead and monitor the work of professional evaluation teams.
• Ability to keep abreast of latest developments in evaluation thinking and practice, and contribute to high professional standards for the evaluation function; Ability to apply evaluation knowledge and methods to broader operational policies and strategies.
• Ability to work under stress due to multiple, simultaneous demands, priorities and deadlines; heavy workloads; and undertaking frequent travel.
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrix management environment, both as team leader and team member, and a commitment to teamwork; Ability to build effective working relations and professional networks with clients and colleagues in a multi-cultural and diverse environment.
• Good knowledge of qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Integrity and honesty in relationships with all stakeholders
• Excellent communication skills orally and in writing in English and/or French with a working knowledge of the other; Ability to explain and defend difficult issues and positions to subordinates and colleagues, as well as other evaluation stakeholders.
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint).

Apply online

Apply for this position 

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

• Submitted by: Division Manager, CHRM 1
• Approved by: 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