Chief Evaluation Officer Job

* Position title: Chief Evaluation Officer
* Grade: PL3
* Position N°: 007
* Reference: ADB/10/109
* Publication date: 10/08/2010
* Closing date: 21/09/2010

Objectives

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is a leading development institution in the continent, focused on promoting economic development and poverty reduction. It engages with the full range and complexity of development challenges in Africa. Core operational priorities include infrastructure, governance, regional integration, and engagement in fragile states.
Duties and responsibilities

The incumbent reports to the Division Manager, Project and Program Evaluation Division of the Operations Evaluation Department. S/he will:

Lead/Conduct and manage private sector operations evaluations that are impartial, independent, credible and meet professional standards and ensure that evaluations are useful and address strategic issues.

* Develop and review policies, guidance, systems, procedures and tools related to private sector operations evaluation.
* Plan and carry out high level evaluations of the Bank’s private sector interventions, policies, sectoral strategies and cross-cutting themes, ensuring that such evaluations meet relevant good practice and evaluation quality standards
* Plan, lead and supervise professional evaluation teams (including both staff and consultants) undertaking private sector operations evaluation activities;
* Develop/adapt methodological approaches and ensure that appropriate and up-to-date evaluation approaches and methods are applied; and participate from time to time in MDB-ECG benchmarking exercises
* Plan and manage utilization of human and financial resources allocated to each evaluation, and monitor and report on the use of resources
* Guide Evaluation Officers in the preparation of review notes on private sector operations expanded supervision reports, and independent evaluations, including synthesis reports, sector and thematic reviews and evaluations, , reviews of operations processes and corporate evaluations;
* Provide guidance to Staff and other stakeholders, including RMC private sector representatives, to ensure that the OPEV’s approach is aligned with the MDB Evaluation Cooperation Group Good Practice Standards, the Bank’s private sector policies and strategies, ;
* Collaborate with the Division Manager in the quality control of OPEV products to be submitted to the Board Executive Directors;
* Carry out peer review to ensure that evaluations conducted by other OPEV staff meet high professional standards in line with AfDB Evaluation policy;
* Prepare clear and concise evaluation reports to the standard required by the Bank’s Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE), concisely presenting evaluation findings, lessons, conclusions and recommendations;
* Ensure that evaluations take into account cross cutting issues including gender equality, environmental protection and poverty reduction, and give attention to gender equality and diversity issues in the composition of evaluation teams and the conduct of evaluations.

Promote the evaluation function in the Bank and Regional Member Countries (RMCs) and ensure that evaluation results are made widely known.

* Ensure effective and appropriate communication of evaluation findings, lessons, conclusions and recommendations to the relevant stakeholders;
* Lead or manage review, analysis, and commenting on documents prepared by Private Sector Department and other Units of the Bank to ensure that lessons of experience are duly incorporated in the design of Bank Group policies and operations;
* Represent OPEV in the relevant fora within the Bank to ensure that relevant and useful evaluation lessons are reflected in policies and strategies;
* Prepare evaluation summaries and presentations for wide communication of evaluation results
* Organize meetings, workshops and other discussion fora to establish dialogue on evaluation results;
* Develop assessment tools and provide assessments of various policy, operations or technical papers to be considered by OPEV, in particular seeking to ensure that evaluation results are taken into account in the Bank’s policies and operations;
* Represent OPEV in relevant conferences, workshops, seminars etc within the Bank and elsewhere, seeking to ensure that evaluation perspectives and results are given due consideration;
* Arrange/contribute to evaluation training and evaluation capacity building in the Bank and in RMCs, including preparation of suitable training material.

4. Effectively manage human and financial resources in OPEV

* Assist the Division Manager and senior management team in developing OPEV’s work programme and managing OPEV’s human and financial resources
* Select and supervise evaluation consultants, ensuring that reports and other products are delivered on time and meet professional standard;
* Help assist in coaching staff in line with the Banks performance management system.,

5. Contribute to cooperation and harmonisation in development evaluation

* Cooperate with evaluation units in other MDBs and development agencies, and with professional evaluation bodies, with a view to promoting effective collaboration and harmonization of private sector operations evaluation.

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

Professional Skills Requirements:

* At least a Masters degree in economics, financial analysis or other relevant discipline or equivalent combination of education
* A minimum of seven (07) years experience in private sector operations evaluation or related field; a successful broad knowledge of all aspects of private sector project management and evaluation, will be an advantage

General Competencies The work demands intellectual leadership and ability to apply evaluation knowledge and methods to broader operational policies and strategies.
The Chef Evaluation Expert must be able to demonstrate:

* An overview of the Bank Group’s policies and operations and a sound knowledge of social and economic development in Africa.
* An ability to analyze evidence rigorously and form independent judgments on complex issues based on analysis
* Sensitivity and diplomatic skills to handle sensitive issues effectively and successfully manage difficult discussions with staff and stakeholders.
* Highly developed communication skills (in English or French with good knowledge of the other language), orally and in writing, to explain and defend difficult issues and positions to senior Bank management, Board Members, government officials, private sector representatives, etc.
* Ability to operate effectively in a matrix management environment, both as team leader and team member, and a commitment to teamwork
* Ability to build and have effective working relations and professional networks with clients and colleagues in a multi-cultural environment and to manage diversity constructively
* Leadership skills (with regard to staff, evaluations studies, missions, and other evaluation activities)
* Computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint; Knowledge of using SAP is desirable


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.