Senior Legal Counsel, ALSF

• Position title: Senior Legal Counsel, ALSF
• Grade: PL-5
• Position N°: NA
• Reference: NA
• Publication date: 28/04/2015
• Closing date: 19/05/2015

Objectives

African Legal Support Facility (ALSF): ALSF is hosted at the African Development Bank in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The ALSF's main objectives include: (i) assisting African Governments in defending against litigation brought against them by vulture funds (and other such entities); (ii) providing legal advisory services to African Governments in the negotiation of complex commercial transactions relating to extractive resources, infrastructure, PPPs, debt, and related commercial agreements; (iii) capacity building for lawyers related to the above; and (iv) development of knowledge products. The institutional structure of the Facility consists of (i) the Governing Council, (ii) the Management Board, and (iii) a Director. 

The Corporate secretary shall provide members of the Governing Council and Management Board with key information, documentation and legal advice on a timely basis to enable them to make informed decisions. The Corporate secretary will also serve as the institutional memory of the Facility and should advise the Director on all matters related to the work of the Board and the Council. The suitable qualified consultant shall assist the Corporate Secretariat division in i) legal advisory and ii) institutional and corporate secretarial services.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Corporate Secretary of the ALSF, the incumbent will be responsible for the following activities in connection with the activities of the ALSF:

• Draft preliminary legal documents required for the effective operation of the ALSF’s institutional matters as well as related to agreements or contracts to be concluded on behalf of the ALSF and furnish key information, documentation and legal advice as required;

• Drafting and/or reviewing or finalising important documentation related to the activities of the institution including the annual report and other progress reports;  

• Assist in membership issues, matters concerning Law of the Treaties, as well as in managing correspondence with Member States of the Facility and Participating Institutions as well in responding to any queries from  senior government officials representatives of such Member States/Participating Institutions as they relate to the Facility;

• Regularly liaise and interact with senior government officials in order to follow up on membership matters including the completion of the procedure to join the ALSF.

• Assist in ensuring the organization of the archive of the institutional files in an efficient and executive manner;

• Assist in organizing meetings of the statutory organs of the Facility, drafting and preparing relevant documents including memoranda, minutes or resolutions;

• Ensuring that, if required, legal documents presented to the Management Board and Governing Council are accurately translated into the official languages of the Facility in a timely fashion;

• Assisting in preparing reports to donors and other development partners;

• Assist in recruiting external consultants;

• Liaising with donors, partners and external consultants as and when needed; and

• Undertaking such other assignments as required in furtherance of the ALSF's mandate.

Selection Criteria

Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• A Minimum of a Master’s degree or its university equivalent in Law plus admission to the Bar of a member Country of the AfDB.


• Citizenship of a Country member of the AfDB.


• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience including in international public law and in matters pertaining to the law of the Treaties as well as in corporate business law. 


• Experience in the organization and conduct of corporate and high level meetings, Protocol questions and activities and matters related to international relations and ALSF activities.   


• Experience working for an established law firm or as in-house counsel for international financial institutions will be an advantage.


• Demonstrated effective coordination skills and an ability to work under pressure in a multicultural environment to complete multiple tasks and meet deadlines.


• Excellent written and oral skills in English and/ or in French with a working knowledge of the other language. 


• High level of integrity, moral values, discretion and confidentiality.


• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft IT software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Apply online

Apply for this position

To apply for this position, you need to be national of one of AfDB member countries.

Only applicants who fully meet the Bank's requirements and are being considered for interview will be contacted. Applicants will only be considered if they submit an online application, and attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV). The AfDB President reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level. The African Development Bank is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply: www.afdb.org/jobs