AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK GROUP GENDER, WOMEN AND CIVIL SOCIETY DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT – TRUST FUND COORDINATOR

We have the pleasure to inform you that the Gender Women and Civil Society Department of the African Development Bank (“AfDB” or the “Bank”) will require the Services of a Program Manager hereafter the ‘Consultant” to assist in the establishment and management of Gender Equality Trust Fund as part of the AFAWA programme.

The estimated duration of services is six (6) months and the estimated starting date is December 23rd, 2019.

Appendix 1 contains the Terms of Reference (TOR) indicating the scope of the assignment to be undertaken as well as the services required from the selected Consultant. You are kindly requested to comment on the TOR (in no more than 1 page) for the proposed assignment, present your practical experience and updated Curriculum Vitae. You are also requested to present your financial proposal regarding fees.

Appendix 1 contains the Terms of Reference (TOR) indicating the scope of the assignment to be undertaken as well as the services required from the selected Consultant. You are kindly requested to comment on the TOR (in no more than 1 page) for the proposed assignment, present your practical experience and updated Curriculum Vitae. You are also requested to present your financial proposal regarding fees.

The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a short list and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Rules and Procedure for Acquisition of Consulting Services funded by the Administrative or Capital Expenditure Budget. Please, note that interest expressed by a Consultant does not imply any obligation on the part of the Bank to include him/her in the shortlist. The proposals to be submitted by the consultants shall be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

A shortlist will be established at the end the request of expressions of interest. Only the proposals scoring 70 points or above shall be considered for this assignment. All the consultants shall be ranked and the highest ranked consultant will be selected for the said assignment if his/her fees are within budget limits.

The consultant shall bear all his/her insurance and medical costs for the duration of his/her services.

The consultant shall take steps to obtain the visas or certificates of residence required to perform his/her duties and fulfill his/her obligations under this contract. The Bank will assist the consultant in these tasks whenever necessary.

Interested Individual Consultants may obtain further information at the email address below during the Bank’s working hours: from 09 :00 to 17 :00 hours

You are kindly requested to submit your proposal in writing by Wednesday December 18, 2019 2019 before 17:00 (Abidjan time) to the addressee mentioned in paragraph 9 below clearly mentioning ‘Individual Consultant – Trust Fund Coordinator’

Kindly submit your proposal, at the venue indicated for the submission of proposals before the specified closing date above. Any proposal received after the closing date shall be rejected. Your proposal should be submitted (emailed) at the following address:

Attention: Vanessa MOUNGAR

African Development Bank

Director of Gender & Civil Society Department

CCIA Building, 13th Floor, 13 N

Abidjan- Côte d’Ivoire

Email addresses : a.hamza@afdb.org , d.elhassan@afdb.org and cc : r.ijimbere@afdb.org

The AfDB looks forward to receiving your proposal and thanks you in advance for your consideration of this request for proposals.

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANCY SERVICES

The hereby invites Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in the following

Assignment : Trust Fund Coordinator

1. Background :

One third of all women worldwide are excluded from the formal financial system. In developing countries, the women-led Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) financing gap amounts to $1.48 trillion. This gap is more acute in Africa where more than 70% of women are financially excluded. An estimated $42 billion gap exists between men’s and women’s access to finance for entrepreneurship across business value chains. The financing gap for women in agriculture alone is $15.6 billion.

If women, who are more than half of Africa’s total population – can transform their livelihoods, then Africa’s economies can be transformed. As entrepreneurs, women create jobs, generate income, and boost revenue while reducing inequalities and poverty. In many emerging economies, women are starting businesses at a faster rate than men.

Despite successes achieved through past programmes and initiatives, significantly more resources are required to open access to finance and to create a more favourable enabling environment for African women-owned businesses. The limited involvement and participation of the public and private sector in women’s enterprises in Africa and the lack of coordinated action prevent women from becoming fully empowered. Supporting women entrepreneurs and catalysing private investment are crucial measures to spur inclusive African economic growth. Partnership between the public and private sector are needed to implement initiatives enabling businesses, strengthening regulatory environments and promoting investment in women’s enterprises.

To address these challenges, the African Development Bank (The Bank) created the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA), a pan-African programme with the primary objective of bridging the finance gap for women in Africa and releasing their entrepreneurial capacity and potential. The AFAWA programme is unique in that it offers a multi-dimensional approach to remove the constraints that women entrepreneurs face in Africa. In addition to leveraging all the Bank’s financial instruments, it will provide a risk-sharing mechanism, exclusively dedicated to women’s enterprises. Additionally, the programme will provide technical assistance to financial institutions, capacity building to women-owned enterprises, and policy dialogue with African governments and other stakeholders to promote women-friendly business policies and reform policy and regulation in Africa. AFAWA will act as a catalyst for market forces to bridge the finance gap.

The AFAWA programme will use three delivery channels to reach its objectives :

• A risk-sharing facility, in conjunction with Africa Guarantee Fund for SMEs (AGF), to introduce a pan-African first loss risk-sharing facility which will reduce market risk perceptions about women’s enterprises, and release over $3 billion of funding through the private sector for women’s enterprises over the next five years ;
• Equity investment in funds focused on women’s enterprises ;
• Lines of credit (including trade finance lines of credit) to African financial institutions, of which a significant part will be exclusively dedicated to on-lending to women’s enterprises.

AFAWA’s primary end beneficiaries will be African women’s enterprises across the continent, often neglected by the traditional financial system.

To address the constraints imposed by the lack of available statutory resources to accelerate progress on gender equality – especially in accessing productive resources, markets and services – AHGC is establishing a Gender Equality Multi-Donor Trust Fund (GETF). The GETF will also complement the programmatic work of AHGC, specifically by serving as the platform for channeling resources for AFAWA and other related women empowerment and enabling environment work to promote the Bank’s vision on gender parity throughout the African continent. Ultimately, GETF will play a key role in contributing to the Bank’s strategic goal of inclusive growth through private sector development and direct enhancement of skills of women and girls for economic participation.

Under the supervision of the Coordinator, the Consultant – to be based at the AfDB Headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire – will carry out the following activities: (i) draft overall strategy, development, delivery and implementation of the GETF activities and mandates, (ii) provide policy and advisory services to AFAWA (iii) liaise, develop partnerships, and support entities in the implementation of the GETF; and (v) all other relevant tasks as may be assigned from time to time.

2. Objectives of the Assignment :

The overall objective of the assignment is to support the effective operationalization of the AFAWA engagement through resources of the GETF.

The objectives of the assignment include :

1. Plan and coordinate all activities related to smooth operationalization of GETF  ;
2. Coordinate between AFAWA team, Bank departments, and the GETF technical committee ;
3. Develop and continuously update overall program work plan and ensure reporting as according to the operational guidelines of the TA ;
4. Liaise with existing and potential MDTF donors to mobilize additional resources for GETF strategies; and oversee and manage the provision of administrative support to the GETF, and including preparation of all related reports and meetings ;
5. Supporting the management of the grant-making process and the administration of the portfolio of grant-funded activities to ensure alignment with strategic goals and oversight of fiduciary, social and reputational matters ;
6. Effective communication and representation of GETF to various audiences, including key stakeholders, clients, beneficiaries, public, internal and external partners ;
7. Ensure monitoring and evaluation with recommendations to ensure quality implementation.

3. Deliverables :

The following deliverables are expected from the Consultant :

• Develop and finalise operational guidelines that ensure effective implementation ;
• Strategic plan on programme implementation on fund administration and management ;
• Draft and coordinate fund deliverable reports ;
• Regular strategic advice on implementation.

4. Reports / Progress Activities :

The consultant will submit a monthly report detailing the activities carried out and the status of each aspect of the fund.

5. Qualifications :

• Advanced university degree in Economics, Finance, Social Policy or other relevant discipline ;
• Minimum of 5 years relevant work experience, preferably with the African Development Bank, with a focus on innovation ;
• Recognized experience in the development, design and/or implementation of programs focused on women or gender equality, especially linked to Bank operations ;
• Demonstrated experience in project coordination and management within bilateral organisations, or multilateral organisations ;
• Proven record of management and ability to effectively lead and manage teams and to manage programs with a strategic vision and strong operational focus ;
• Must be a results-driven, strategic planner and implementer, adept at building consensus to move projects from concept to implementation ;
• Knowledge of the practices of major bilateral and multilateral partner development agencies in African countries is an added advantage ;
• Proven capacity to deliver output in a timely manner and ability to use relevant computer technology ;
• Client and results-oriented with strong analytical and communication (verbal and written) skills, sense of accuracy and attention to detail ;
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues ;
• Excellent inter-personal, organizational capacity and communication and writing skills ;
• Fluency in English and/or preferably French; with working knowledge of either ;
• Competent in the use of standard software applications (MS Word, Power Point, Excel) ;
• Good verbal and writing skills ;
• Be a national of one of the member countries of the Bank.

8. Duration and Location of the Assignment :

This is a six (6) month consultancy, beginning on 15th December 2019 with possibility of renewal. The Consultant will be based in HQ, with possible frequent travel.

9. Remuneration :

The consultant will receive a monthly lump sum. No additional benefits or per diems will be paid. The consultant is responsible for his/her own health insurance and accommodation costs. The Bank will cover full costs of any required missions and provide per-diem in accordance with rules governing consultant mission travel.

10. Administration/Reporting :

The Consultant will submit a monthly report detailing the activities carried out and the status of each activity. S/he will formally report to the identified task manager in the Gender and CSOs Directorate.

11. Eligibility :

• The position is open to nationals of one of the Bank Group’s Member Countries of the African Development Bank ;
• Interested applicants are encouraged to send a Cover letter and an updated Curriculum Vita ;
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.