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Head of the Asia External Representation Office (Hasro) – Tokyo Office

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  • Grade: EL-5
  • Position N°: NA
  • Reference: ADB/11/190
  • Publication date: 18/11/2011
  • Closing date: 16/12/2011

Objectives

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is Africa’s premier multilateral development finance institution that has a composition of 53 African member countries and 25 non- African countries from Asia, Europe, North and South America. The mission of the Bank is to further the economic development and social progress of African countries, individually and collectively, to contribute to poverty reduction on the continent. The Bank has its Headquarters in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. From February 2003, the Bank’s headquarters have temporarily moved to its Temporary Relocation Agency (TRA) in Tunis, Tunisia.

The Tokyo External Representation Offices (EROs) will enable the Bank to engage more actively with key stakeholders in member countries and other countries in Asia with a view to enhancing dialogue and promoting innovative approaches to mobilize necessary resources to support the implementation of the Bank’s medium-term Strategy and Africa’s development agenda. The principal objectives of the Tokyo External Representation Offices lie within three generic areas, namely: (i) External Partnership and Dialogue, (ii) Knowledge dissemination and Exchange, and (iii) Business and Investment Promotion.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the general guidance of the President and the direct supervision of the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Head of the Tokyo External Representation Office (HASRO) oversees and manages the delivery of the work programme and activities of the Office for Asia. As part of his/her functions, the Head is charged with the responsibility to ensure that Office can: (i) foster dialogue and promote partnerships on aid, trade and investment with major constituencies; (ii) increase awareness of Bank’s strategies, policies and activities; (iii) implement multi-constituency outreach programmes; and (iv) promote a better understanding of Africa’s development challenges and opportunities. Key target institutions and entities include: national authorities, official development partners and assistance organizations, private sector and business community, business organizations, universities, research institutes, think tanks, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and youth associations.

Specifically, the Head of HASRO is responsible for:

External Partnership and Dialogue

  • Representing the Bank and leading regular dialogue and contacts with, among others, Government officials, aid agencies, development partners, diplomatic missions, and other key constituents among Member Countries in Asia – as Japan, South Korea, China, and India, as well as other potential members countries like Singapore and Australia.
  • Leading innovative and strategic partnerships arrangements, including trust funds, co-financing, technical cooperation and knowledge partnerships;
  • Representing the Bank in aid coordination meetings with donors and development partners;
  • Building and maintaining a network of high-level contacts with key constituencies (congressional representatives, academics, business communities, local and international media, etc.);
  • Ensuring regular media coverage, e.g. TV, newspapers, and journals to raise awareness about the Bank’s work and Africa’s development.

Knowledge Dissemination and Exchange

  • Overseeing the organization of seminars, conferences and workshops on African development issues, business opportunities in African countries and partnerships with the Bank to increase awareness about them;
  • Overseeing the organization of targeted information sessions with the general public (i.e. local and international media, civil society and NGOs, youth Groups, academics and universities, and the private sector, etc.);
  • Ensuring the set up of a fully operational virtual information resources as ERO’s web site to encourage a better and clearer public understanding of Bank’s activities and policies and African development issues
  • Ensuring the establishment of a fully operational platform, with video-conferencing and communication facilities, for information sharing and exchange as well as for increasing awareness about African development challenges and opportunities within the regions of their locations.

Business development and Investment Promotion

  • Overseeing the organization of Business Opportunities Seminars and disseminate information on Bank’s projects, policies and processes, including procurement and bid tendering information, for general public disclosure through the website and other vehicles;
  • Ensuring the set up of a business center offering free consultation and advice about business and co-financing opportunities with the Bank; procurement guidelines; consultant employment guidelines; standard tender document specifications; operations manual; technical cooperation programs;
  • Ensuring access to information on Bank’s project cycle to facilitate a better understanding of how Bank’s operations in RMCs lead to business opportunities for general suppliers of goods, services and know-how;
  • Coordinating and participating in targeted trade promotion and investment opportunity seminars, workshops and road shows, including Treasury bonds issuance and investment activities and providing potential investors with relevant information on investment opportunities.

Leadership and Management

  • Managing the staff and activities of the Asia Representation Office;
  • Coordinating the preparation, submission and delivery of the work programme and budget;
  • Ensuring sound human resource management in the Office, including timely planning, recruitment, performance appraisal and staff development; and directly supervise the staff of the Office;
  • Ensuring sound financial management in the Office, including systematic budget preparation, execution and reporting;Contributing to corporate strategic goals and communicates Bank vision and ensures that Office staff work in alignment with Bank’s values and to strengthen Bank’s brand;

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

  • Minimum Masters degree or its university equivalent in a relevant development field;
  • A minimum of ten (10) years of extensive and progressive experience in the relevant areas of responsibilities, 5 years of which must be at a managerial level. A solid knowledge and experience in the Bank’s business is required;
  • A solid knowledge and good grasp of the political economy as well as the socio-economic and development issues in Africa. Demonstrated motivation and commitment to the Development of the African continent;
  • A strategic mindset and the capacity to steer the Bank’s agenda while empowering staff during a phase of institutional transition towards greater country focus of the Bank’s activities;
  • Possess the necessary team skills required to lead complex programs; strong capacity to analyze actions from the perspectives of stakeholders and translate strategic thinking into a compelling plan of action;
  • Demonstrated ability to take prudent business risks and make effective, timely and well-determined decisions;
  • Demonstrated ability to present and win support for ideas; a good listener; with cultural sensitivity, commitment to diversity and capacity to initiate and manage innovations or change;
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to develop partnerships with a broad range of clients, as well as to deliver results that meet the needs and long-term interests of clients within and outside the Institution. Preference will be given to candidate demonstrating very strong outreach skills and experience;
  • Ability to operate effectively in a matrix management environment, both as team leader and team member;
  • Ability to deal sensitively in a multi-cultural environment and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues;
  • Excellent written and verbal communications in English or French, with a working knowledge of the other language;
  • In-depth knowledge of the African continent and its development issues, challenges and opportunities;
  • Demonstrates integrity, sound judgment, and highest ethical standards;
  • Internal network in Asia, especially in East Asia; knowledge of the Asian culture;
  • Excellent written and speaking knowledge of Japanese language, plus a good knowledge of Japanese market. A good knowledge of other Asian languages and markets would be a plus;
  • Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint). Ability to provide strategic advice to the Bank on emerging financial and development issues, as well as corporate issues;

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