Principal Country Program Officer (Based in Sudan) - Country & Regional Department

Grade: PL-4
Position N°: NA
Reference: AB/2011/175
Publication date: 27/10/2011
Closing date: 25/11/2011

Objectives

Duties and responsibilities

Under the general supervision of the Director of the Regional Department, the Country Program Officer (CPO) will have the responsibility for portfolio coordination, issues and problems in the countries covered by OREB. The major role of the CPO will be country programming, as well as portfolio management coordination and monitoring, with the view to enhancing the quality of portfolio. This will involve effective administrative follow-up on operational activities, coordination between the Regional Department, the Sector Departments, the Financial Control Department (FFCO) and the Procurement and Fiduciary Services Department (ORPF), as well as the Country Teams concerned. The CPO will have the responsibility for Country Portfolio Performance Reviews (CPPR), follow up on Operations Evaluation Department (OPEV) and project audit recommendations. He/she will have a mastery of the country’s portfolio and will have responsibility for preparing the country briefs for Annual Meetings and as may be requested by Senior Management for other meetings.

Specific Duties

Actively coordinate management of and monitor the Bank’s portfolio in the assigned countries, as well as regional projects implemented by Regional Economic Communities, in collaboration with the Sector Departments.
Maintain effective communication with the Sector Departments and other relevant units in the Bank, to ensure a coordinated approach in the implementation of the Bank’s Strategy and Lending Operations in assigned countries.
Liaise and communicate with the Field Offices and Sector Departments on operational issues, particularly those pertaining to country programming, portfolio coordination and monitoring.
Remain effectively informed of, and effectively communicate to Management about operational relations and developments with other partners.
Identify and initiate prompt actions to address portfolio performance and ADB service delivery problems as they arise.
Responsible for obtaining effective solutions/responses to issues raised by the assigned countries and partners in coordination with concerned Sector Departments.
Take the lead in the preparation of Country Portfolio Performance Reviews, in collaboration with the Country Economist, the Sector Departments and the Financial Control Department (FFCO).
Undertake analytical work that will lead to the development of a pipeline of investment projects and improve the quality of on-going operations.
Follow up on OPEV and project audit recommendations and requirements of the Board.
Ensure that activity reports and audit reports comply with Bank requirements and are submitted on time
Ensure the recommendations of supervision, portfolio review and audit missions are implemented.
Work with Sector experts responsible for specific projects to ensure that solutions to pending projects problems are resolved; serve as Secretary to the Country Team.

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

At least a Master’s degree (or its university equivalent) in a relevant development discipline.
Preferably a minimum of six (6) years of relevant professional experience in the formulation and implementation of policies, programs and projects either within the Bank, with a similar development institution, in public service or in the private sector.
Proven ability to monitor programs and to ensure quality of portfolio/program performance.
Ability to address issues of portfolio management across sectors.
Familiarity with and experience in the practice of procurement of goods and works and the acquisition of consultancy services under donor funding conditions
Client and results oriented individual, with strong analytical and communication (both verbally and in writing) skills, sense of accuracy and attention to detail.
Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues.
Ability to communicate and write effectively in English and/or French, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).