African Development Bank Group (AfDB) – Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Expressions of Interest: Senior Consultant – AHHD
Location: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Consultant Type: Individual Consultant
Duration: One (1) month starting in June 202 with a possibility of renewal based on demonstrated performance
Expected Start Date: 1st July 2023
Job Family: Agriculture, Human and Social Development
Background
- Senior Consultant to support the Human Capital Youth and Skills Department’s West Africa Region and Nigeria Office on Public Health, Nutrition and Social Protection.
- The African Development Bank (here in referred to as the “Bank”) is the premier multi-lateral development finance institution fostering economic growth and social progress in Africa.
- The Bank’s primary goal is to reduce poverty and improve living standards by mobilizing resources in and outside Africa and providing financial and technical assistance for development projects and programs in Africa.
- The Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department (AHHD), within the Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex (AHVP) spearheads the achievement of the High 5-5 priority on “Improving the Quality of Life for the People of Africa” and contributes to the other High 5s1 through the Bank’s three strategic work streams (i) The Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa (SQHIA) 2022-2030 (ii) The Skills for Employability and Productivity in Africa Action Plan and (iii) The Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy 2016-2025.
- The department also hosts various pertinent initiatives and trust funds, including the Banking on Nutrition (BON) initiative. The AHHD West Africa and Nigeria Division (RDGWN) supports countries in the West African Region and Nigeria on human capital development through investments in education and skills development, creation of quality jobs and strengthening health systems.
- Under the recently approved Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa, the Bank seeks to support Regional Member Countries (RMC’s) in their efforts to accelerate the development of quality health infrastructure in Africa, and to ensure that individuals and communities receive the health services they need without financial hardship.
- Through the implementation of this strategy, the AHHD is supporting increased availability of primary health care infrastructure for under-served populations; secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities; and diagnostic infrastructure.
- In addition, the Bank will: i) support improved information and communications technology connectivity; ii) promote regional collaboration on shared health challenges and the
- harmonization of health policies and regulations; and iii) promote the development of knowledge work, policy dialogue and provide technical assistance, in partnerships with other health sector actors.
- This support will focus on promoting effective health financing strategies including public-private partnerships, expansion of health insurance to secure affordable access for low-income households to ensure that the Bank’s investments are well-utilized, equitable and sustainable.
Context:
- Despite recent progress, child and maternal mortality remain high in many African countries. With just 15% of the global population, Africa accounts for 50% of global deaths from communicable diseases.
- Poor health outcomes reflect a lack of access to quality health services: a third of Africans live more than two hours away from health services, and there are severe shortages in hospital beds, medical equipment, and drugs. In addition, health crises, which are increasing in frequency, have emerged as a major source of shocks and fragility in Africa. The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed serious shortcomings in national health systems including gaps in health infrastructure.
- Africa faces major deficits in financing for health infrastructure. The $4.5 billion in capital expenditure currently made by Africa governments each year is far below the estimated $26 billion in annual investment needed to meet evolving health needs over the next decade.
- While COVID-19 has highlighted the need for greater investment, the crisis has also left African countries with severely constrained resources and rising indebtedness.
- Donor support for health infrastructure has been declining steadily in recent years, and there are major gaps in the support available for new secondary and tertiary infrastructure.
- African countries will therefore need additional support to meet their health infrastructure, as well as assistance with mobilizing funding from private investments.
Terms of Reference
- In line with its mandate, the AHHD is seeking to strengthen its mandate and expand its portfolio in Public Health, Nutrition and Social Protection in the West African Region and Nigeria through evidence-based policy dialogue with RMCs and Business development.
- This mandate will also include building strong relationships with the Regional Economic Blocks to promote regional collaboration on shared health challenges; development of knowledge works; and the establishment of a strong and competitive business footprint for the Bank across the region in both the public and private health sector.
- The AHHD seeks to recruit a senior consultant to provide analytical and operational support for the implementation of the Bank’s Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa in the West African Region and Nigeria which covers 14 countries2.
- Under the guidance of the AHHD West Africa and Nigeria Division Manager, the consultant will work closely with the rest of the team to deliver on the objectives of the Strategy within the broader mandate of Human Capital Development including skills and jobs.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the consultant will include analytical and operation support in assignments related, but not limited to:
Economic Sector Work and Policy Dialogue (30%):
- Economic and Sector Work (ESWs) to inform country dialogue and policies to improve the quality of health infrastructure, strengthen digital health, leverage private sector resources for health infrastructure, catalyze the setup of Public Private Partnerships for health infrastructure and ensure that infrastructure investments result in sustainable improvements in quality health services.
- Analyses of the health systems in the countries in the region and in particular collecting, and analyzing data on demographic trends, health outcomes, diagnostic infrastructure, health infrastructure, digital health as well as health financing and equity indicators.
- Analyses of the sectoral trends in the RDGW/N countries in comparison to regional and global trends in relation to commitments such as the AU Agenda 2063 and SDGs to inform discussions on interventions required to catalyze progress towards Universal Health Coverage and attainment of goals on health, nutrition, and social protection.
- Close monitoring of the emerging sectoral issues within the national health system strengthening plans of RMCs and alignment to the Bank’s role.
- Quality and in-depth diagnostics to inform the Regional Integration Strategic Paper (RISP), Country Strategic Papers (CSPs) and project identification and preparation.
Business and Pipeline Development (70%):
- High-level policy dialogue with borrowers and other agencies involved in the health sector.
- Missions to identify, prepare, appraise, and launch health projects/programs for Bank-financing for public and private sector and provide recommendations regarding the amounts, terms, and conditions of the loan.
- Technical supervision of on-going health projects/programs by:
- Monitoring procurement of goods and services and advising executing agencies on related Bank procedures;
- Reviewing design and tender documents.
- Supervising the work of consultants and contractors.
- Providing assistance to the loan administration department on disbursement related issues.
- Ensuring that beneficiary countries submit quarterly project progress reports and audit reports regularly.
- Preparing project completion reports and drawing lessons for future bank group interventions.
- Preparing and monitoring portfolio performance reports for the health sector.
- Evidence-based technical guidance to RMCs on health, nutrition, and social protection to support business development and quality implementation of Bank supported projects. In addition, develop and maintain partnerships with other sector actors to promote functionality of the Bank’s investments in the sector.
- Mobilization of private sector financing for health, nutrition and social protection through the identification and development of relationships with potential sponsors and financiers.
- Under the Bank’s role as an Implementing Entity (IE) for the Pandemic Fund for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PF/PPR), support discussions with RMCs to inform the design, development, and implementation of Pandemic Fund-financed projects in RMCs to leverage additional financing to complement the Bank’s support on health infrastructure. This will involve working closely with the Pandemic Fund Secretariat.
Perform other related administrative or technical duties such as:
- Drafting responses for management’s signature on health-related issues.
- Attending Country Team, working groups, senior management committee, loan negotiations and board meetings.
- Liaising with other multilateral and bilateral institutions such as: EU, EIB, IDRB, WORLD BANK, WHO, UN and regional institutions -AU, ECA in the context of the Bank’s operations.
- Representing the Bank at seminars and conferences concerning health sector activities.
- Supporting the coordination of Division activities.
- Performing other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Deliverables
- 5 CDNs in each of the selected 5 countries. This is the outcome of the economic and sector work for business development dialogue.
- Identify at least 3 bankable projects – the result of country dialogue should lead to at least 3 projects.
- Contribute to 3 Project Concept Notes (PCNs) for 2024/2025 lending program – once the 3 projects are identified; the consultant should make a key contribution to the drafting of PCNs working closely with task managers.
- Support the design, development, and implementation of 2 Pandemic Fund financed projects.
- In addition to the preparation of the main reports and briefing notes related to the above specified scope of work, the consultant will submit a monthly report on activities and assignments carried out during the period.
At the conclusion of the assignment, the Consultant’s outputs will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Professional competence
- Analytical, reasoning, organizational and communication skills
- Reliability, timeliness, proactiveness and organization
- Quality of work produced
Required Skills and Experience
The consultant shall demonstrate appropriate qualifications and skills necessary for the assignment as described above:
Qualifications:
- Hold at least a Master’s Degree from a recognized university and in a related field (Health and Safety Engineering, Public Health, Health Economics, Economics of Service Delivery, Medical and Health Services Management).
- Citizen of a member country (regional or non-regional) of the Bank.
Experience:
- Have a minimum of fifteen (15) years relevant experience in policy and strategy development and conducting analysis of health systems and programs in Africa.
- A strong background in health infrastructure and engineering will be an added advantage.
- Strong analytical and quantitative skills as demonstrated by the production and or contribution to analytical reports/publications; At least 3 years of relevant work in West Africa is an added advantage.
- Experience in leveraging private sector resources, designing, and developing private sector operations and setting up public-private partnership in health will be an advantage.
- Use of quantitative methods to develop data collections tools and review, evaluate, survey, and improve local, regional, or international health program operations.
- Working effectively with multi-stakeholders of the Bank including governments, public sector institutions, private sector, and multilateral institutions.
- Use of logical analysis and evaluation skills to provide sound advice.
- Experience in the setup of highly innovative solutions to respond to challenges in the health including health infrastructure deficits, digital health, nutrition, and social protection sectors.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders such as public private partnerships including within a multisectoral context.
- Experience working with multilateral development bank operations would be an added advantage.
- Experience in project monitoring and evaluation to assess progress and develop timely course corrective actions to achieve desired outcomes.
- Evidence of development and dissemination of knowledge sharing products to promote learning.
- Deep knowledge of the international development architecture particularly in health, nutrition, and social protection.
Skills:
The Consultant will also be required to have the following attributes:
- Team player with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a cross-cultural setting.
- Communicate and write effectively in French. A strong working knowledge of English will be an advantage.
- Ability to deliver messages accurately (both written and verbal) and appropriately to various audiences.
- Mastery of infographics in data presentation.
- Ability to work on multiple assignments within tight timelines and deliver at pace without compromising quality.
- Competence in the use of standard MS Office and virtual work applications
Application Closing Date
15th June, 2023 at 17h00 local time.
Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Expressions of Interest to:Ms. Teresa Sarr-Kone via: n.sarr-kone@afdb.orgusing the Job Title as the subject of the mail.
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Click here for the Job Description (PDF)
Note
- Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the Bank’s Procurement Policy and Procedure for Corporate Consultants Recruitment.
- The Bank is under no obligation to shortlist any consultant who expresses interest.
- A shortlist of three to six individual consultants will be established at the end the request of expressions of interest.
- The consultants on the shortlist will be judged on the following criteria on the basis of their updated resume.
- Interested Individual Consultants may obtain further information at the email address below during the Bank’s working hours: from 09 :00 to 17 :00 hours.