AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT N° ADB/09/059
Position:
PRINCIPAL COUNTRY PROGRAM OFFICER (ORNA)
Grade:
PL-4
Position n°:
0835
Department:
COUNTRY REGIONAL DEPARTMENT NORTH 1 (ORNA)
Supervisor’s Name and Title:
Director, ORNA
Closing Date:
April 22, 2009
Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the general supervision of the Director of the Country Regional Department, the Country Program Officer (CPO) will have
the responsibility for portfolio coordination in a country or countries and the overview of country portfolio issues and problems.
The major role of the CPO will be country programming, as well as portfolio management and supervision. This will enhance the
quality of the portfolio management and administrative follow-up on operational activities, as will also as enhance the
coordination between Country and Sector departments and the Financial Control Department (FFCO), as well as the
effectiveness of the Country Teams concerned. The CPO will have responsibility for country portfolio reviews and 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 monitor and manage 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.

Back up Directors when they are based in the field, and liaise and communicate with the Field Offices and Sector
Departments.

Build and maintain effective professional communications and relations with development partners.

Stay effectively informed, and effectively communicate to headquarters about operational 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.

Take the lead in the preparation of Portfolio Reviews in collaboration with the Country Economist.

Follow up on OPEV and project audit recommendations and requirements of the Board.

Prepare country briefs for Annual Meetings and other briefs to Management.

Coordinate portfolio management and country programming, and in particular identification and portfolio review missions.

Act as the focal point for the portfolio in each country and serve as the central repository of all information on the Bank’s
portfolio and other activities in the country of responsibility.

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.

Serve as focal point and spokesperson on operational issues in country of responsibility for external constituencies and
borrowers.

Undertake launching missions to countries in concert with Sector experts.

Ensure that activity reports and audit reports comply with Bank requirements and are submitted on time;

Ensure that the recommendations of supervision, portfolio review and audit missions are implemented.
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).
Submitted by:
Benson MAINA, Ag. Division Manager, CHRM.1
Date :
Approved by:
Daniel TYTIUN, Director, CHRM
Date :
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 (preferably electronically, to: recruit@afdb.org ) a fully completed Personal History Form (PHF), available from the
Bank’s web site, and attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) indicating date of birth and nationality. The President, ADB, 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