The Position
Under the supervision of the Division Manager,
Education and Skills Development and working closely with internal and external
stakeholders, the Senior Education Economist will identify, design and support
the implementation of human capital development, notably higher education, TVET
and skills development programs/projects, policies and studies. She/he will be
the focal point for the Bank’s operations and activities on human capital
development in Kenya and East Africa. He/she will promote activities related to
improving demand responsiveness of the education and training system to the
skills needs of the labour market and for job creation on the continent. This
aligns with the Bank’s Skills for Employability and Productivity in Africa
(SEPA) Action Plan (2022-2025). SEPA aims to contribute to building a critical
mass of innovative, productive and skilled workforce to drive economic
transformation and job creation in Africa through two mutually reinforcing
areas of intervention: (i) Expand infrastructure necessary for the development
of demand-driven skills, and (ii) Strengthen enabling environment for skills
development.
This is a national position based in the East Africa
Regional Office (RDGE-Nairobi) of the African Development Bank Group.
Key Functions and Responsibilities
Supporting Bank Operations (Business development)
Initiate and engage in high-level dialogue with
governments and sector players on human capital development to identify sector
priorities and develop a pipeline of potential lending operations. Create
awareness of Bank instruments and opportunities among regional member countries
and private sector players. Support RDGE and AHHD in analysing requests for
financing from Regional Member Countries in light of the priorities identified
by the Bank.
Lead the human capital development dialogue with
respective country managers, country program officers and country economists
while developing country strategy papers to ensure prioritisation and inclusion
of human capital projects in the rolling pipeline.
Identify, prepare and appraise human capital
development projects, notably higher education, TVET and skills development,
for Board approval in collaboration with the Borrowers and relevant Bank
departments. Facilitate negotiations for loan agreements in preparation for
Board submissions.
Support NSO portfolio development and management in
the education and skills development sector at the county and regional levels
Identify opportunities for co-financing of projects
from other Bank instruments such as Trust Funds and other external bilateral
and multilateral partners on human capital development.
Identify and seek opportunities for financing
non-sovereign operations such as public-private partnerships (PPP) and private
sector operations on human capital development.
Lead in integrating human capital development in
other sector operations such as transport, energy, water, agriculture and
general budget support operations. Provide technical expertise in identifying,
preparing, and implementing identified integrated projects.
Supporting Bank Operations (Portfolio management)
Follow up on signature and effectiveness of approved
projects with the National Treasury/ Ministries of Finance in collaboration
with the country program officers to facilitate timely project start.
Organize orientation of new Project Teams from the
Borrowers and Project launches to facilitate effective project implementation.
Lead on project implementation, supervision, mid-term
reviews and project completion reviews of approved operations on human capital
development, in line with the Bank’s operations manual
Facilitate field supervision of projects in
collaboration with the Executing Agencies and relevant Bank departments at
least every six months to identify and address emerging challenges. Prepare
aide-memoires, implementation progress reports, back to office reports and
follow up on agreed actions from supervision missions.
Review project procurement documents and processes in
collaboration with the Bank Procurement Officers, in line with the Bank
procurement policy and procedures and facilitate the issuance of no objections
on time in line with the delegation of authority matrix. Provide technical
support to implementing agencies on preparing terms of reference and bidding
documents.
Assist Governments and implementation agencies in
utilising and justifying revolving funds and other disbursement activities.
Follow up for timely submission of quarterly progress
reports, environmental and social mitigation plan reports, updated procurement
plans annual audits from respective Executing Agencies.
Draft communication to respective governments on
audit findings following reviews by the financial management department, in
line with the Bank’s Delegation of Authority Matrix. Follow up on
implementation of audit recommendations by the Executing Agencies.
Lead on record keeping and management for all
assigned operations on human capital development through Bank systems such as
SAP, RASME. Facilitate access to documents and information for critical Bank
processes such as internal audit, and IDEV reviews.
Support documentation of human-interest stories and
best practices from projects for inclusion in relevant sector and Bank reports
and to increase visibility of Bank investment on human development.
Seek opportunities for collaboration with other
ongoing Bank-financed projects within the sector. Participate in country and
sector portfolio review meetings and provide input on assigned projects.
Non-lending support/Knowledge work
Undertake analytical work and provide technical
guidance in human capital development and social development in general and
provide guidance to AHHD and other Bank units on the integration of human
development within Bank operations.
Lead in economic sector work on human development in
collaboration with country economists to provide data for key processes such as
preparation and completion of country strategy papers, country portfolio
investment analysis, economic outlooks and preparation of new sector
operations. Facilitate dissemination of findings internally and externally.
Participate in country team meetings, provide
technical input on projects, and participate in peer review of project concept
notes, appraisal reports, completion reports, and other studies. Review and
give opinions on documents, studies and other reports by the Bank.
Provide input on Bank documents, studies and
processes such as AHHD monthly and annual reports, Bank annual reports and
other documents as requested occasionally. Support the preparation of briefing
notes, talking points and status reports for management.
Work in collaboration with operations assistants and
country program officers to ensure budget allocation for critical processes
such as missions and project preparations in SRAS.
Seek opportunities to collaborate with other
development partners on human capital development to identify synergies, best
practices, co-financing, increase visibility of Bank support and avoid
duplication of investments. Represent the Bank in sector development partner
coordination for a and where possible, seek to chair the technical working
groups occasionally.
Maintain close engagement and collaboration with
relevant government ministries at strategic levels, participate in policy
dialogue and key processes such as review of country and sector strategies.
Represent the Bank at technical meetings and key
events on human capital development.
Lead in identifying, recruiting and managing
consultants as appropriate.
Undertake any other duties as may be assigned by the
Manager AHHD1/Director General RDGE.
Competencies (skills, experience and knowledge):
Hold at least a master’s degree in education/
economics/ social work/ business economics/ business administration/
development studies or its equivalent in a related field;
Extensive experience in technical vocational and
higher education and skills development;
Have a minimum of five (5) years relevant
professional experience in vocational education and skills development,
program/project design and management, with specific expertise in
implementation and management of donor-funded projects in infrastructure development
for the education and skills development;
Previous experience working in multilateral financial
institutions or similar large organizations and performing such roles as
project preparing, appraising, supervising or implementing donor-funded
projects;
Proven planning and organizational skills, with the
ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze and integrate diverse
information from varied sources into conclusions and recommendations;
In-depth knowledge of job-related social, economic
and environmental development issues in the African region;
Proven ability to interact competently with
Government and donor agencies on issues relating to aid coordination;
Having private sector experience will be an added
advantage;
Ability to work in a team and work in a multicultural
environment;
Ability to work effectively in partnership with
clients and seek feedback to improve work processes;
Communicate verbally and write effectively in English
or French, with a good working knowledge of the other language; and
Competence in using standard Microsoft Office
applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP is desirable.
How To Apply
