Chief Advisory and Compliance Officer, BCRM at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

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: Chief Advisory and Compliance Officer, BCRM

Reference: ADB / 20 / 143
Location: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Grade: PL3
Position N°: 50102219

The Complex
The President, plans, supervises and manages the business of the Bank Group. Under the direction of the Boards of Directors, the President conducts the business of the Bank and the African Development Fund and manages operations and activities in accordance with the Agreements establishing the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund

The President supervises several Departments and Units including Office of the President (PRST0); Independent Development Evaluation Department (BDEV); Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department (PIAC); Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (BCRM); Secretariat to the Sanctions Appeals Board (BSAB); Administrative Tribunal (BATR); Office of the Auditor General (PAGL); Group Risk Management Directorate (PGRM);  General Counsel and Legal Services Department (PGCL); Communication and External Relations Department (PCER); Staff Integrity and Ethics Office (PETH) and Office of the Secretary-General & General Secretariat (PSEG).

The Hiring Department
The Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (BCRM) is the organizational unit that administers the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) which is one of the accountability instruments of the African Development Bank.

The mandate of the IRM is to handle complaints submitted by people who are or are likely to be adversely affected by any of the Bank Group financed operations due to the African Development Bank non-compliance with its own policies and procedures. The IRM examines requests relating to non-compliance with the Bank Group safeguards policies. The IRM handles complaints relating to both public and private sector operations.

The IRM has three main functions: compliance review (investigation), problem-solving (mediation) and advisory function. The IRM also carries out outreach, capacity building and knowledge management activities. The compliance review and the problem-solving are client-oriented and their purpose is mainly to redress harm caused to people or the environment as well as to bring a project which is subject to a complaint into compliance with the applicable Bank Group policies and procedures.

The advisory function is institutionally focused and aims at enhancing institutional learning across the organizational structure of the Bank. It is carried out through spot-check advisory review of project compliance and advisory services to Bank Management. The outreach activities focus on enhancing the visibility of the IRM among people affected by projects (PAPs), government institutions, projects implementation units (PIUs) and civil society organizations (CSOs).

Finally, the IRM documents knowledge and disseminates information on emerging trends and new development issues arising from compliance reviews and problem-solving for purposes of promoting a culture of compliance in the Bank.

The Position

• The position of Chief Advisory and Compliance Officer is to support the Director of BCRM in the administration of the BCRM
• The Chief Officer will coordinate all the advisory work and support the compliance review, spot-check reviews, problem-solving, outreach and knowledge Management functions and assist the Director in various areas listed under the Duties below.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision and guidance of the Director, the Chief Advisory and Compliance Officer will:

Advisory Services:

• Provide technical advice and support to the Director when providing advisory services to Management.
• Prepare draft advisory notes for the Director.
• Coordinate with the Director and the IRM Experts to prepare advisory notes reflecting cumulative lessons learned by the IRM from compliance review, problem-solving and spot-check exercises.
• Liaise with the BCRM Outreach, Communication and Knowledge Management Officer in all activities relating to the institutional learning from the BCRM advisory work.
• Provide technical support to the Director of BCRM in compiling and analysing projects’ data and consolidating BCRM staff and IRM Experts’ input in preparation of IRM advisory notes.
• Supervise staff, consultants, interns, and short-term staff designated to work on advisory work.
• Prepare annual planning of advisory work including coordinating input by BCRM staff and IRM Experts.
• Coordinate periodic and annual reporting on performance of the IRM advisory work to measure progress of milestones and design actions to enhance performance.
• Coordinate preparation of templates for all requests received from Bank staff seeking BCRM independent opinions and advisory services including screening whether the project’s subject of these requests involve any complaints handled by BCRM or other Independent Accountability Mechanisms of sister Multilateral Development Banks.

Advising, Guiding and Supporting Line Management:

• Provide technical support to the Director in all matters pertaining to the IRM activities from assessment, conceptualization to reporting.
• Prepare legal and policy interpretations to support the Director’s decisions on Requests as well as other matters pertaining to the IRM activities.
• Provide guidance to BCRM staff and ensure quality of their input to BCRM/IRM work program.
• Keep the Director informed of key developments pertaining to the IRM work including emerging trends and practices.
• Act as the focal point of BCRM pertaining to Bank-wide activities including policy updates, staff recruitments or any other exercises determined by the Director.
• Provide support to the Director in the recruitment of BCRM staff and the IRM Experts.
• Provide support to the Director in the procurement of Consultants.

Implementing the Work Program:

• Reference will be made to the IRM Rules in the implementation of the aforementioned duties and responsibilities.
• Advise on and interpret Bank Group operational policies and procedures applicable to the IRM functions.
• Consolidate the IRM work program and report on performance on a quarterly and annual basis.
• Coordinate technical aspect of the BCRM work programs and budget administration to identify the needs for resources, skills as well as achievements and slippages of work programs.
• Preparing reports on the performance of the work programs, assisting the division of roles among other BCRM staff and supervising the quality of staff input.

IRM Review:

• Contribute to overall review of the proposed amendments to the IRM Establishing Resolution and the Operating Rules and Procedures during the quadrennial mandatory reviews of the IRM.
• Conduct benchmarking analysis with other Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) to enrich the reviews.
• Supervise BCRM staff input to the IRM review assignment to ensure quality and consistency.
• Provide legal opinion to the Director about the review and supporting the Director in planning presentation of recommendations resulting from the review to the Boards of Directors.

Supporting Role:

• Support problem-solving activities, compliance reviews, spot-check reviews, outreach, capacity building, and knowledge management activities.
• Support the BCRM Case Management and Advisory Officer to prepare draft Notice of Registration of Requests/Complaints for consideration by the Director of BCRM.
• Draft and provide technical advice in formulation of BCRM internal guidelines.
• Represent BCRM in taskforces to update Bank Group policies and procedures, as may be assigned by the Director.

Selection Criteria

• Hold at least a Master’s Degree in Law, International Development, International Relations and / or Public Policy, or other relevant disciplines
• Have a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience with international organizations, MDBs, law firms or ministries of justice, or Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs).
• Experience working on development issues and projects with multilateral development Banks (MDBs), particularly in Africa, or experience with the functions of the IAMs
• Working experience with Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) with practical experience in the development of work programs, follow-up on implementation and performance reporting.
• Solid experience in providing advisory or technical opinions on matters associated with international development projects and programs.
• Ability to analyse and synthesis lessons learned, emerging trends, issues, and systemic concerns in development activities and report them in form of advisory notes.
• Ability to identify and report on pitfalls and risks inherent in the design and implementation of development projects and programs particular on social and environmental issues and interpreting them based on the applicable policies and procedures.
• Results-oriented.
• Effective analytical and advisory skills.
• Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive issues in complex institutional settings in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to work independently with very minimum supervision.
• Ability to make professional judgements and to contribute to positive change.
• Ability to initiate ideas to resolve complex issues or improve performance.
• Ability to supervise teams and coordinate complex multi-tasks assignments.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications; knowledge of SAP is an added advantage.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other.

Deadline: 4th November, 2020.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online