African Natural Resources Center: Natural Resource Economist/Consultant

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Immeuble CCIA, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

African Natural Resources Center

E-mail: M.HARRATHI@AFDB.ORG         Telephone: +225 27 20 26 32 13

Department issuing the request: AFRICAN NATURAL RESOURCES CENTER

Position: Individual Consultant

Place of assignment: Home based work with possible travels

Duration of the assignment:  6 months

Tentative Date of commencement: December 2021                      

Deadline for applications:  26^th November 2021

Applications to be submitted to: Promise Aderibigbe (P.ADERIBIGBE@AFDB.ORG )

                                                  With a copy to: Maali Harrathi (M.HARRATHI@AFDB.ORG) 

Any questions and requests for clarifications may be sent to: Maali Harrathi  (M.HARRATHI@AFDB.ORG)

TERMS OF REFERENCE 

NATURAL RESOURCES ECONOMIST/CONSULTANT

November 2021 

1. BACKGROUND

The AfDB Ten Year Strategy and the High 5s identify natural resources as a critical factor in the transition to green growth in Africa.  In response to the challenges facing sustainable management African natural resources, the AfDB created the African Natural Resources Centre (ANRC) in 2013, housed in the Chief Economist/Economic Governance and Knowledge Management Complex (ECVP). The Centre provides advisory services and technical assistance to the Bank’s Regional Member Countries (RMCs) to harness their natural resources for sustainable development. The scope combines renewable (water, forestry, land and fishery) and non-renewable (oil, gas and minerals) resources.

The Centre’s Policy Analysis Division provides a systemic, integrated lens on the management of renewable and non-renewable natural resources for sustainable development. This is achieved through high-quality research and policy analysis, policy advocacy and knowledge dissemination, technical assistance and capacity building for the Bank’s RMCs in the following thematic areas: natural resource economics, natural resource conservation, natural resource planning and natural resource governance.

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

2.1 In order to bolster the Policy Analysis Division during a period of staff transition, the ANRC is seeking a Natural Resource Economist/Consultant to support its workstreams on knowledge generation, policy dialogue, capacity building and country support, as well as providing cross-cutting advice on economic policies to enhance natural resource management in the AfDB’s Regional Member Countries.

2.2 Under the direct supervision of the Division Manager, Policy Analysis in the ANRC, the consultant’s task will specifically include:

• Supporting the production of knowledge and advisory products on natural resources policies, investments and guidelines for the Bank’s RMCs;
• Contributing to the drafting of analytical reports, policy briefs and discussion papers on various themes in natural resources economics and management;
• Supporting the design, administration and implementation of projects and programmes by the Division;
• Supporting the Division’s partnership activities for joint programmes and projects with external partners through the coordination of knowledge, technical inputs and policy advice on various themes in natural resources economics and management.
• Providing internal advice to the Division and Centre to strengthen the economic and analytical content of knowledge products;
• Participating in ANRC’s knowledge dissemination agenda, in particular by contributing to the organisation of policy dialogue and advocacy activities;
• Supporting the Division’s resource mobilisation efforts by contributing to the design of funding proposals that enhance the investment climate for natural resources projects and good governance of natural resources;
• To support the ANRC’s role in the Bank’s operations, providing technical inputs into natural resources-related operations and the preparation of strategic briefs and documents.
• Other administrative duties as designated by the Division Manager.

1. REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Required criteria for the assignment are:

• Masters’ degree in economics, international development, natural resource management, law, public policy, or related disciplines. A PhD is an advantage.

• 4 years of relevant experience on policy analysis and research, with a specific focus on natural resource economics and/or natural resource management, accumulated in the public or private sectors, research institutes, academia and think-tanks.

• Experience in providing knowledge and advisory services on natural resource management; experience in assessment and appraisal of natural resource projects (whether public or private) is an advantage;

• Strong knowledge of economic policy issues in Africa’s natural resources sector, and a good understanding of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) domain in natural resources management;

• Strong quantitative and analytical skills in the use of data and statistics for policy analysis in the natural resources sector. Demonstrated proficiency in the use of standard statistical and econometric software for research and analysis;

• Proven skills in drafting high-quality analytical reports, ideally through a track-record of academic and policy research; 

• Self-starter and critical thinker willing to adapt new approaches to enhance the ANRC’s analytical work on natural resources management in Africa;

• Good communication skills in English and/or French, with working knowledge of the other language;

• Experience of working with multilateral and bilateral donors and other development organizations, with direct experience of working with the African Development Bank an advantage;

• Experience in facilitating missions, meetings and workshops is an advantage.

1. CONSULTANT SELECTION

The Consultant will be selected in accordance with the African Development Bank’s Implementation Manual relating to the Procedures for Acquisition of Consulting Services funded by the Administrative or Capital Expenditure Budget of the Bank Group. Candidates shall be evaluated based on the following technical criteria:

5. WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

The natural resources economist/consultant will report to the Division Manager, Policy Analysis, ANRC. The position will be based in Abidjan for the duration of the assignment, with remote working conditions under the AfDB’s COVID-19 guidelines. Travel to other countries for project missions may be required.

The African Development Bank conditions for retaining short-term consultants will apply. 

6. CONTACT DETAILS

African Natural Resources Centre (ANRC) | African Development Bank (AfDB)

Jean-Paull II Av., 01 BP 1397, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Applications, including a CV and cover letter should be sent to Promise Aderibigbe (P.ADERIBIGBE@AFDB.ORG ) with a copy to Maali Harrathi (M.HARRATHI@AFDB.ORG)

Appendix 1:

Please attach an updated Curriculum Vitae on the basis of the template below:

MODEL CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)

Title of the Assignment:

Department:

Surname:                                                                               First Name:

Birth Date:                                                                             Nationality:

Address:                                                                               Country:

Telephone:                                                                            E-mail:

Key Qualifications:

Please provide (i) a summary of your experience and training highlighting the most relevant for the proposed assignment, and (ii) the responsibilities which you exercised. Utilise one half-page maximum.

Education (University Level and above only):

Professional Training:

Employment Record:

Begin with your most recent employment.  For each job since your Masters’ Degree achievement, please indicate:

• Name of the Employer
• Type of Activity/Business of the Employer
• Title / Function
• Place of Employment
• Brief Description (three lines maximum) of main accomplishments and responsibilities 

Reference:

Please indicate the name and address of three persons with no family relationship with yourself, familiar with your character and titles.

I hereby certify that the responses which I provided above are all, to the best of my knowledge, true, complete and accurate. I acknowledge that an inaccurate statement or essential omission in a personal declaration or another document required by the African Development Bank might result in the rejection of my application, termination of my Contract or any other administrative sanction by the Bank. The African Development Bank may verify any statements which I made in this application.

Date: ____________

Signature: