| Job Description: |
Objectives The Independent Review Mechanism has been established for the purpose of providing people likely to be adversely affected by a project financed by the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, the Nigeria Trust Fund and other Special Funds administered by the Bank with an independent mechanism through which they can request the African Development Bank Group to comply with all its own policies and procedures. The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) combines compliance review and problem-solving functions to be undertaken in accordance with the established Operating Rules and Procedures for the mechanism. The Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU), which administers the IRM, is the first point of contact with the Requestors (Complainants). The CRMU Director, with the assistance of professional and support staff, assesses and registers requests, facilitates problem-solving exercises, undertakes outreach activities and administers the Roster of Experts consisting of three external experts appointed by the Boards of Directors on a 5 year non-renewable term. Upon the authorization by the President or the Boards of Directors, the IRM Experts will form Compliance Review Panels to undertake independent compliance reviews of projects. The Director is expected to have thorough knowledge of and experience in handling complex environmental and socio-economic problems related to development projects and ensuring compliance with institutional policies and procedures. S/he shall be able to work independently from the Bank’s management and have relevant administrative experience from international organizations and good leadership skills in managing people, budgets and external relations. The Director reports administratively to the President of the Bank Group, and functionally to the Boards of Directors for projects approved by the Boards and to the President for projects under consideration for financing by the Bank Group Duties and responsibilities The major responsibilities of the Director CRMU include:: - General administration of the CRMU, including staff, budgets, external relations and arranging for the selection of members to the Roster of Experts who upon the recommendation of the President will be appointed by the Boards of Directors;
- Receiving and assessing whether or not the requests (complaints) fall within the mandate of the IRM, and if found admissible register the requests in the Register of Requests, which is available on-line under www.afdb.org/irm ;
- For requests registered for problem solving, together with CRMU staff, and in complex cases with external assistance from mediators, undertaking problem solving exercises by using different techniques such as independent fact finding, mediation, conciliation and dialogue facilitation, including use of best customary practices;
- For requests registered for compliance review, together with the members of the IRM Roster of Experts undertaking eligibility assessment of requests and making recommendations to the President or the Boards as the case may be of whether or not a compliance review is warranted; If a recommendation of a compliance review is accepted by the President or the Boards, the compliance review will be undertaken by a Review Panel comprising the IRM Experts, while CRMU will provide administrative and technical support to the Panel;
- Monitoring the implementation of agreed action resulting from problem solving exercises or compliance reviews;
- Undertaking outreach activities to sensitize Bank staff, project affected people and civil society organizations on the Independent Review Mechanism;
- Preparing reports related to the different functions of the IRM, including ensuring that the reports are translated to the official languages of the Bank and distributed to the President, the Boards, the requestors and other relevant parties as defined in the IRM Operating Rules and Procedures (available in the website www.afdb.org/irm );
- In consultation with the IRM Experts, preparing annual reports describing the activities of the IRM and lessons learned including identifiable trends and challenges relating to the activities of the Bank Group that have emerged from the IRM’s problem solving exercises and compliance reviews;
- Cooperating and coordinating with other multilateral development banks and financing institutions with similar independent review mechanism on co-financed projects under review or problem solving by the IRM;
Selection Criteria Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience - At least a Master’s degree in law, social science, anthropology, sociology, development, environment, or related humanities field or a combination of related or equivalent studies/degrees;
- At least ten (10) years of relevant professional experience in environmental and social development, conflict resolution and consensus building especially in settling human and social problems in developing countries, preferably from Africa;
- Experience in applying relevant public participation, social policies and other relevant policies in development of projects, such as environmental conservation and resettlement of people, and a keen interest in ensuring compliance with environmental and socio-economic policies;
- Familiar with the objectives and functions of multilateral development banks and financing institutions;
- Ability to make sound, impartial, fair and independent judgment;
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to carry out effective dialogue with stakeholders, including government officials, project affected people, civil society organizations, and Bank managers and staff;
- Competence in the use of other Bank standard software applications (Word, Access and PowerPoint), SAP desirable.
- Proficiency in English and/or French, with a working knowledge of the other language;
- Applicants for this position shall not have worked for the Bank Group in any capacity two (2) years prior to being appointed. The appointment will be made by the President of the Bank Group with the concurrence of the Boards of Directors. The term of the Director is five (5) years, renewable only once for a similar period but not exceeding the retirement age of the Bank.
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