Deadline: 24 February, 2021

Location: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

African Development Bank (AfDB) is seeking to fill the role of Chief Agro Industry Officer, Agriculture and Agroindustry Department.

AfDB’s mission is to spur sustainable economic development and social progress in its regional member countries (RMCs).

Responsibilities

• Promote agro-industrial development across the continent in the context of the Feed Africa Strategy
• Support the design of agro-industrial clusters/corridors in the regional member countries, with reference to establishment of agricultural SMEs, agro industries, cottage industries and addressing postharvest losses (PHL) issues
• Orchestrate business development initiatives across the continent towards developing pipeline of profitable and competitive agricultural value chains in RMCs towards export promotion and import substitution regime
• Coordinate the formulation of public and private partnerships (PPP) in agricultural value chains and Special Agro-Industrial Zone (SAPZ) development
• Provide sector expertise to the regional hubs of the bank on agro-industrial development
• Collaborate with the private sectors in the RMCs to develop country and regional agriculture value chains that integrate input supply, agricultural production, harvesting, transportation, storage, marketing and distribution (including export) for greater value addition, improved quality, reduced postharvest losses and reliability of product supply to consumers
• Coordinate studies and analyse them within the framework of the Feed Africa Strategy to identify bankable projects, industries, policies and priorities
• Conduct economic and sector work (ESW) that will guide and support both public and private sector investments in agricultural value chains
• Coordinate and undertake sector and policy dialogues with both public and private sector officials on agro-industry and cluster development at continental, regional and country levels
• Facilitate the development of coherent programmatic approaches on agro-industrial development in line with the bank’s agenda based on identified needs, priorities and demands of regional member countries
• Lead in designing and recommending technical services to increase the quality and sustainability of agricultural infrastructure projects intended to scale up production, processing and postharvest handling of agricultural commodities
• Coordinate support to bureau of standards in RMCs, regional and continental bodies to ensure the quality and standards of products meet export, regional and international standards
• Support borrowers and project executing agencies in the understanding and applications of AfDB’s rules of procedures
• Lead field missions to supervise project implementation and follow up on bank sector studies, monitor procurement and disbursement applications and reporting systems to ensure they are consistent with bank’s rules of procedures
• Coordinate the production of project completion reports (PCRs), monitor and produce portfolio performance reports for assigned projects, and produce supervision mission reports and summaries
• Support task managers to identify/predict technical constraints that militate against smooth project implementation and advise on appropriate remedial actions
• Lead in preparing and reviewing reports and documents in the subject matter as requested by senior management

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Food Technology, Food Science and Technology, Nutrition, Engineering, Agribusiness/Agriculture, Agro Industry, or a related field
• Possession of PhD will be a plus
• Seven years, minimum, of relevant experience with five years, minimum, in development bank/multilateral development institutions
• Demonstrable experience in leading teams and mentoring colleagues in professional and organisational matters
• Broad knowledge of agricultural commodity value chains, especially in target commodities/operations promoted in the Feed Africa Strategy
• Operational experience in most regional member countries, including states in transition
• Ability to communicate effectively in either English or French
• Good mastery of standard computer applications (Microsoft Office) with knowledge of SAP a plus

To apply and for more information, click here.

Photo source: Rwanda Government