IDB2532 - Manager, Regional Hub of Rabat, Morocco

To cover the Bank’s operations in the countries of Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.

Regional hub covers Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya

General Responsibilities

Relationship Management, Member Country Partnership Strategy (MCPS) and Business Development

• Leverages Economic Research and Institutional Learning unit and prepares research and analytical work to enhance understanding and proposes solutions to the development challenges facing IDB member countries
• Prepares economic outlook reports on IDB member countries
• Serves as a focal point and ‘resource center’ for all matters related to countries under the coverage of the unit
• Enhances productive interactions and strengthens/ maintains relationships with stakeholders in the countries and with national, regional and international development agencies
• Represents the Bank in events such as coordination and consultation meetings and conferences in close collaboration with DG Global Practices and the Chief Economist
• Seeks support of Economic Research & Institutional Learning unit and undertakes country and regional level economic work, monitors country development performance, and identifies country issues, needs and priority areas for interventions that can have a potentially large impact on the country’s development
• Interacts with key public and private-sector counterparts in member countries to identify needs and development priorities in countries handled by the unit
• Conducts country policy dialogue and leads the development/ processing of MCPSs with due reference to strategies developed by Member Countries (e.g. PRSPS, UNDAF), donors and development agencies, IDB’s own economic research, the Country Strategy unit and the Bank’s pillar strategies
• Interacts with key public-sector and private-sector counterparts in countries and external developers to identify potential projects in line with MCPS for IDB involvement
• Maintains and updates operational work plans for the countries handled and ensures alignment with MCPS
• Adjusts and tailors work programs based on lessons learned from implementation of past projects
• Prepares country profiles, assessment reports, country papers and briefs
• Serves as regional communication focal point throughout the project lifecycle, engaging with developer, government and non-government entities in the region in liaison with the Communication and External Relations unit in the Complex of the Vice President of Partnership Development
• Manages the IDB Merit & MSc Scholarship Programs for Member Countries, Scholarship Program for Muslim Communities in non-member Countries and the community development program to build capacity for students and graduates
• Supports and establishes Education Trusts in Muslim communities in non-member countries for the recovery and recycling of scholarships to sustain the program in the long run
• Assists in establishing IDB Alumni Associations to undertake community service projects
• Coordinates with Resilience and Social development units and also the unit responsible for microfinance for facilitating projects under their work programs
• Builds and networks with internal and external stakeholders i.e. IDB Governor Offices, Counterpart Organizations and other partners for the implementation of the relevant programs
• Prepares and negotiates Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between IDB and reputable universities (and with Ministries of Higher Education in member countries) to promote cooperation on joint-scholarship program to place students/scholars on free or cost-sharing  exchange programs

  Project Appraisal, implementation and closure   

• Liaises with the respective Global Practice sectoral leads for technical assistance in all aspects across a project lifecycle
• Conducts rigorous project appraisals in line with operation manual guidelines and the applicable policies/ procedures of the Bank
• Incorporates suggestions of respective DG Global Practices and Chief Economist sector teams to further refine the project appraisal document prior to its submission for approval
• Continues engagement and relationship with country project team and discloses project approval status in line with IDB’s disclosure policy
• Conducts formal negotiation with country project team to align on project design and approach, capturing changes to project during processing lead time and ensuring complete alignment in project approach prior to escalation for board approval
• Undertakes quality reviews and clearance of tender documents and bid evaluation reports/ contracts related to the approved projects  review and clear disbursement requests and resolve procurement and other related issues as they arise
• Plans and prepares a project supervision timeline to conduct supervisory missions for existing projects
• Liaises with procurement, financial management and execution agencies to ensure procurement and financial management are in line with the policies of the Bank
• Ensures smooth disbursement by resolving any roadblocks in the disbursement process
• Coordinates with IDB’s Project Procurement unit and Project Financial Management unit on the related matters to ensure procedures are in line with the Bank’s policies and guidelines
• Supervises running projects through planned missions, pro-actively identifies issues and problems, prepares and effectively implements action plans to resolve issues promptly
• Provides periodic updates on the status of the implementation plan
• Prepares project completion reports with the assistance of key stakeholders upon completion of each project 
• Highlights problems, issues faced, actions taken and lessons learned
• Liaises with sectoral teams, and the Knowledge Management and Institutional Learning unit to record lessons learned and produce debrief reports
• Monitors the operational cycle of projects and recommends necessary operational policies/ procedural improvements to Operations Quality and Results unit
• Proactively monitors the project portfolio, identifies any implementation roadblocks and provides recommendations to address the roadblocks
• Proactively engages with member countries where cancellation or reappraisal/ rescheduling of projects is required

Leadership  Responsibilities

• Coordinates provision of advisory services and technical guidance in matters related to regional hub of Rabat to IDB organizational units
• Provides motivational and inspirational leadership for the unit, and communicates to direct reports clear performance expectations
• Manages the performance and resources of the unit through delegation of responsibility, setting stretch objectives and providing regular feedback on results at a unit level, promptly addressing areas of underperformance
• Monitors and assesses the skills and capabilities of the unit, and determines the actions needed to increase the unit's impact
• Supports filling in key capability gaps of teams through capacity development and recruiting efforts
• Coaches, mentors and develops the direct reports and the top talent/ high potential staff
• Acts as a role-model to communicate to the unit’s staff IDB's values and leadership competencies and provides direction and support in times of change