Chief Evaluation Officer - Operations Evaluation Department (OPEV)

• Position title: Chief Evaluation Officer - Operations Evaluation Department (OPEV)
• Grade: PL-3
• Position N°: NA
• Reference: ADB/13/029
• Publication date: 11/02/2013
• Closing date: 27/02/2013

Objectives

The core mandate of the Bank’s Evaluation Department is to conduct independent evaluation studies, provide relevant lessons, develop and harmonize standards and practices, support evaluation capacity development together with partner agencies and attest to the validity of both processes and the results of self evaluation activities.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the general supervision of the Director of OPEV, the job holder will perform the following duties and responsibilities:

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

• Plan and carry out high level evaluations of the Bank’s interventions, policies and cross-cutting themes, ensuring that such evaluations meet relevant Private sector evaluation quality standards.
• Plan, lead and supervise professional evaluation teams (including both staff and consultants) undertaking evaluation activities.
• Develop/adapt methodological approaches and ensure that appropriate and up-to-date evaluation approaches and methods are applied;
• Plan and manage utilization of human and financial resources allocated to each evaluation, and monitor and report on the use of resources. giving due attention to efficiency and economy.
• During the evaluation process, engage regularly Bank’s Management and staff both at headquarter and field office level.
• Guide Evaluation Officers in the preparation of high level evaluations, including (i) definition of the approach paper, preparation of the portfolio, quality-at-entry, literature and policy reviews, as well as case studies, and writing-up of final report, (ii) activities linked to the procurement and management of consultants.
• Provide guidance to Staff and other stakeholders, including RMC representatives, to ensure that the OPEV’s approach is aligned with the Bank’s overall policies and rules, including commitments under the Paris Declaration and other high-level agreements on harmonization and management for results, and lead dialogue in these areas when appropriate.
• Develop and review policies, guidance, systems, procedures and tools related to Private sector high-level evaluations, in collaboration with the Lead expert.
• Carry out peer review to ensure that evaluations conducted by other OPEV staff meet high professional standards in line with AfDB’s Evaluation Policy.
• Prepare clear and synthetic evaluation reports, including a summary version to the standard required by the Bank’s Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE), concisely presenting evaluation findings, lessons, conclusions and recommendations.

2. 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 Country and Sector Departments 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 and in the design and implementation of projects or programmes.
• Prepare evaluation summaries and presentations for wide communication of evaluation results.
• Organize meetings, workshops and other discussion fora to establish dialogue on evaluation results.
• Prepare oral or written answers to enquiries about OPEV’s evaluation work.
• 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.

3. Effectively manage human and financial resources in OPEV

• Assist the Division Manager and senior management team in developing OPEV’s work programme.
• Assist the Division Manager and senior management team in planning 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;
• Supervise and coach staff in line with the Banks performance management system, ensuring that clear objectives are set, performance targets are met, and that training and development needs are addressed.

4. 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.

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• At least a Master’s degree in Economic Finance, Financial Market Analysis or other relevant discipline or equivalent combination of education.
• A minimum of seven (7) years’ experience in conducting evaluations of private sector evaluations with broad knowledge and experience of evaluation approaches and methods.

The work demands intellectual leadership and ability to integrate evaluation knowledge and methods to broader operational private sector development policies, strategies and operations.

The Chief Evaluation Officer must be able to demonstrate:

• An overview of the Bank’s operations evaluation policy and evaluation activities, a sound knowledge of social and economic development in Africa.
• Ability to carry out high level evaluations of Bank’s interventions, policies and cross-cutting themes and to lead and monitor the work of professional evaluation teams.  
• Excellent professional networks in order to provide sound advice for the OPEV Director and, on occasions, the Bank’s senior management, and Board members; ability to keep abreast of latest developments in evaluation thinking and practice, and set high professional standards for the department.
• Ability to work under stress due of multiple, simultaneous and shifting demands, priorities and deadlines; heavy workloads; and undertaking frequent travel.
• Good knowledge of qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Sensitivity and diplomatic skills to handle sensitive issues effectively and successfully manage difficult discussions with staff and stakeholders.
• 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)
• Integrity and honesty in relationships with all stakeholders.
• Highly developed communication skills orally and in writing in English and/or French with a working knowledge of the other to explain and defend difficult issues and positions to senior Bank management, Board Members, government officials, private sector representatives.
• Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint).

Document download

Chief Evaluation Officer - Operations Evaluation Department (OPEV) (181 KB)

Apply online

Apply for this position

To apply for this position, you need to be national of one of AfDB member countries.

• Approved by: Opare Clement Ag Director, CHRM

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 an online application, and attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV). The AfDB President 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: www.afdb.org/jobs