Fragility and Resilience Assistant at African Development Bank

The Transition States Coordination Office (RDTS) is responsible for leading and implementing African Development Bank Group (the Bank) Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in its Regional Member Countries. It coordinates the Bank’s work on addressing fragility and building resilience, including activities of all fragility and resilience professionals stationed in the various Regional Hubs or Country Offices. Over the past decade, Africa has seen enormous growth and transformation that has expanded opportunities and improved living conditions for millions of people. More than two-thirds of African countries have strengthened their quality of governance, improved basic services, and expanded economic opportunities. Yet, there are significant risks that this momentum could be undermined by important pressures—continuing patterns of exclusion and poverty, unemployment, high migration, rapid urbanization, climate change and poor management of natural resources—that threaten to overwhelm existing institutional capacities for managing political, economic, social and environmental challenges. These pressures are making every single African country more vulnerable. RDTS aims to place the Bank at the center of Africa’s efforts to address fragility and pave the way for a more resilient and inclusive development trajectory. A major part of RDTS’ activities involves the identification of the main drivers of fragility, including economic, social, political and environmental dimensions, and how the Bank’s programs and projects can contribute to equity and inclusive development. Central to RDTS engagement is the systematic application of a fragility lens to identify, respond to and prevent fragility and to build resilience and focus the Bank’s engagement in the areas where it can have the biggest impact.

THE POSITION:

The Fragility and Resilience Assistant is required to work with a high degree of tact and sensitivity for confidential and strategic issues. The incumbent will be required to support the Department on its work related to fragility and resilience. Specific tasks would include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provide a wide range of assistance to the Fragility and Resilience Team in implementing its work program.
• Act as focal point for the Department and follow up on matters relating to dissemination of the Bank’s work on Fragility and Resilience.
• Maintain records of the Department’s activities.
• Perform any other duties reasonably requested by management.

Duties and responsibilities

• Support the analytical work undertaken by the Fragility and Resilience Team;
• Support the experts in discussions and negotiations with potential partners in order to foster business relationships with the Bank;
• Provide support in the management of the Transition States Coordination Office webpage and share drive and contribute to the dissemination of reports related to the Bank’s activities in addressing fragility and building resilience;
• Participate in the preparation of multiple events involving RDTS and support in the organization and coordination of meetings with other departments and complexes and with external clients and partners;
• Assist with the procurement of services and supplies for events through requests for quotations and their assessment;
• Perform any other reasonably justified task requested by management.

Selection Criteria
Skills, Experience and Knowledge

• Hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or BAC+4 or Maîtrise in Administration, Project Management or other related disciplines;
• Have a minimum of four (4) years of experience in a relevant area;
• Good planning skills, with excellent levels of initiative, organization and leadership.

Behavioral Competencies

• Communication and Intercultural sensitivity;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Client orientation;
• Team work;
• Tact
• Technical Competencies
• Ability to understand and follow instructions from Management;
• Ability to provide support to Management and Task Managers;
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, Access and Power Point); knowledge of SAP;
• Organizational skills, ability to multitask, and attention to detail;
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, with a working knowledge of the other language