Recruitment of a Senior Finance and Budget Management Expert

Job Description

EOI – Recruitment of a Senior Finance and Budget Management Expert – AU Peace Fund Unit – PJSS

A. Background Objectives

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) hereby invites qualified individual consultants to submit Expressions of Interest for the role of Individual Consultant, Senior Finance and Budget Management Officer for the African Union Peace Fund Secretariat.

The Ethiopia Country Office (COET) works collaboratively with the Joint Secretariat Support Office (PJSS) of the African Development Bank to enhance strategic partnership, collaboration, and coordination with the African Union Commission (AUC), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and other key Humanitarian, Development, and Peacebuilding (HDP) actors in the country. This has contributed to strengthening coordination and collaboration, harnessing the comparative advantages of stakeholders to collectively address challenges to regional peace and security and promote crisis prevention. Through effective coordination and communication with the AUC and the relevant partners, the COET will ensure synergies between the Bank’s efforts to promote long-term resilience and regional initiatives led by the AUC to sustain peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and the broader East Africa region.

The Technical Assistance [TA] Project to the AUC for Promoting Regional Stability and Crisis Containment in the Horn of Africa: Strengthen the AUC’s readiness to respond effectively and in a timely manner to regional crises and promote conflict prevention. It will increase the AUC’s capacity to detect, anticipate, and prevent socio-political and violent conflicts in the region. In particular, this TA will provide technical and human resources better to integrate prevention into the AUC’s crisis response approaches, thereby minimizing risks to the Bank’s operating environment. By optimizing its capacity for crisis prevention and mediation, the AUC will be better positioned to leverage and actualize the resources of the AU Peace Fund to address the multiple crises in the Horn of Africa.

To this end, the Joint Secretariat Support Office (PJSS) is seeking an individual consultant to provide a wide range of assistance to the Project Implementation Team for the execution of its work program, including financial and workflow management, office administration, resources management, and analytical work, in accordance with the defined scope and deliverables. The successful consultant must also possess practical experience in fund management secretariat work, preferably gained with an international organization or the private sector. S/He will serve as an interface, contributing to and promoting joint planning, harmonized reporting, and collective engagement at strategic platforms.

B. Scope of work

Provide technical and intellectual support in the management of various elements related to the area of expertise.

• Identify best practices and monitor the effectiveness of the Peace Fund’s support to the AU.
• Assist in the development of strategies and contribute to their implementation.
• Contribute to the development of guidelines, policies, and manuals that can guide programmes, system improvement initiatives, and overall decision-making by higher management in the respective area of expertise.
• Provide support to the implementation of initiatives related to the area of specialization.
• Assist in the organization of thematic networks and make contributions during consultations and meetings.
• Contribute to the development of materials and provide necessary training and support to Organization Units as required.

C. Deliverables Expected

Effectively develop the Peace Fund’s annual budgets and heads of line function departments.

• Guide departments in developing quality budget plans and financial expenditure reports on time.
• Carry out supervision to ensure that project financial management systems are functioning appropriately, including a periodic review of project financial management reports for financial performance.
• Oversight on departmental expenditure in accordance with the approved budget and work plan, and compliance with the Financial Rules and Regulations and the Peace Fund Operations Manual.
• Work closely with the Senior Risk and Compliance Officer, reviewing audited financial statements received, monitoring project compliance with financial covenants, ensuring communication with the project implementers for audits, and advising as appropriate.
• Prepare monthly management reports, including expenditures by project and other financial information, in a timely and accurate manner for submission to the Director and the Executive Management Committee.
• Preparation of quarterly financial reports for submission to the Audit Committee (the Audit Committee is a sub-committee of the Board).
• Presentation of the audited annual financial reports for submission to the Board of Trustees.
• When required by the Board of Trustees, organize the Audit Committee meetings and provide technical support to Board members in those meetings.
• Prepare quarterly and semi-annual Peace Fund budget performance reports for submission to the Bank Board of Trustees and AU Policy Organs through the Permanent Representative Committee and Peace and Security Council.
• Represent the Secretariat on the Board of Surveys
• Represent the Secretariat on the Peace Fund Internal Budget Committee
• Timely submission of the monthly activity report to the Bank is a prerequisite to the consultant’s monthly lump sum payment.

D. Duration and Timetable for the Assignment

The Consultant will be initially hired on a full-time basis for six (6) months. The Consultant will receive a monthly lump sum, following a satisfactory performance review of the tasks executed. The Bank’s guidelines on remuneration of consultants will apply, based on the candidate’s qualifications and years of experience. The Consultant is responsible for their own health insurance and accommodation costs.

E. Bank Contribution and Institutional Arrangement

The Joint Secretariat Support Office (PJSS) invites Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the above-described services. Interested Consultants shall provide information on their qualifications and experience demonstrating their ability to undertake this Assignment (documents, reference to similar services, experience in similar assignments, etc.).

F. Duty Station

The Consultant will be physically located in the Peace Fund Secretariat of the African Union Commission or within the Ethiopian Country Office (COET) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The consultant may be required to travel for missions and work-related engagements as needed. The Bank will cover the full costs of any required trips or missions, if needed, and provide a per diem in accordance with the rules governing consultant mission travel.

G. Essential Specialized Skills/Knowledge/Competencies

The Consultant should have a Master’s degree with a minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in finance and financial management, or a Bachelor`s Degree with a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in finance and financial management.

• Professional certifications in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline. Membership of an internationally recognized professional accounting body (CA, CPA, ACCA, CIMA, etc.)
• Practical experience in fund management secretariat work, preferably gained with an international organization or the private sector.
• Experience with AUC and AfDB financial and administrative processes would be an advantage.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English. Working knowledge of French will be an added advantage.
• The Consultant should have demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills
• The Consultant should have sound planning and organizational skills
• Ability to delegate the appropriate responsibility, accountability, and decision-making authority with regard to performance management and professional development
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages, fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

H. Supervisor

The Consultant will work under the guidance and supervision of the Director of the Peace Fund Secretariat and the Director of the Joint Secretariat Support Office (PJSS). A monthly report highlighting the progress made, key challenges, and other relevant updates should be submitted directly to the Director of the Peace Fund Secretariat.