Technical Advisor (Seconded Expert on Sustainable Infrastructure Investments – Build4Skills) Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (Bd4) 

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federal enterprise working worldwide in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. The African Development Bank (AfDB)’s Ten-Year Strategy (TYS) 2024-2033 was approved to accelerate Africa’s development by supporting Regional Member Countries (RMCs) invest in sustainable infrastructure and strengthen knowledge solutions. The TYS has identified ‘Investing in Youth’ as a cross-cutting priority, with TVET skills as one key area of emphasis to enhance youth productivity and employability. In line with the objectives of the TYS and Cardinal Point No 3 on Harnessing Demographic Transformation for Economic Development, the Bank is rolling out the application of the Youth, Skills and Jobs Accelerator across all operations to maximize the sustainability and impact of investments.  In the spirit of partnership, GIZ is seconding a Regional Technical Advisor to AfDB to operationalize the Build4Skills approach—integrating work‑based learning and TVET into large infrastructure operations and leverage the model to support the roll out of the Youth, Skills and Jobs Accelerator.

Complex: The Vice Presidency for Agriculture, Human, and Social Development (AHVP) supports the Bank’s focus on the following 5 operational areas: (1) Human Capital, Youth and Skills development, (2) Agriculture & Agro-Industry development, (3) Agricultural Finance & Rural development, (4) Water and Sanitation development and (5) Gender, Women and Civil Society. The complex objectives are four-fold: (i) to develop policy and strategy; (ii) provide deep sector expertise to the regions by gathering pools of experienced individuals who can be consulted to provide sector expertise on complex transactions; (iii) develop new financing instruments; and (iv) represent the Bank in external stakeholders’ engagements

Department: The Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department (AHHD), within the Agriculture, Human and Social Development (AHVP) Complex spearheads the implementation of the

 Bank’s TYS cross cutting priority on ‘Investing in Youth’ and Cardinal Point No 3 on Harnessing Demographic Transformation for Economic Development.  The Department has three divisions (i) Education and Skills Development Division, which focuses on scaling-up the Bank’s support to Higher Education (HE) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), (ii) Public Health, and Social Protection Division focusing on strengthening inclusive access to quality healthcare and social protection and (iii) The Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development division focusing on North and Central Africa regions. The departments oversee the implementation of the Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa (2022-2030), the Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy 2016-2025 extended to 2026 and the roll out of the Youth, Skills and Jobs Accelarator. It also hosts the Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi Donor Trust Fund, the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Lab (E-Lab) and Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Advice - North Africa (EINA) Platform.

Agriculture, Human, and Social Development (AHVP): Within AHVP, the secondee will mainly collaborate with water and sanitation department (AHWS) which is mandated to provide support the RMCs and regional cooperation and integration organizations to achieve their visions, goals and objectives relating to water security and adequate sanitation for all. The Secondee may also collaborate with other AHVP departments on infrastructure projects.

Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth (PEVP): The PEVP complex focuses on mobilizing public and private investments, technical assistance, and capacity building to support the development of power systems infrastructure. Collaborating departments will include: (i) Power Systems Development (PESD) responsible for power systems development and (ii) the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (PERN) that focuses on promoting sustainable energy solutions.

Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialization (PIVP): The PIVP focuses on, among others, developing the private sector, improving infrastructure (transport, urban development, and ICT) and accelerating industrialization. The Infrastructure and Urban Development Department (PICU), that finances transport projects and programs, will be one of the collaborating departments.

The Fiduciary and Inspection department (SNFI) under the Senior Vice Presidency Office that is responsible for procurement and fiscal management in Bank operations. The Fiduciary & Inspection Department (SNFI) under the SNVP is responsible for designing fiduciary (FM & Procurement) policies. The SNFI has four (04) divisions including two (02) for procurement and two (02) for financial management (FM) whose main activities are to provide support to operations complexes for ensuring that project’s fiduciary arrangements comply with Bank Fiduciary (Procurement and FM) policies and procedures and contribute to effective delivery and value for money in Bank -financed projects.

The Secondee will work 50% of his time on B4Skills and 50% on the roll out of the Youth, Skills and Jobs Accelerator. In this regard, the secondment has the following objectives:

• Support the integration of the Build4Skills approach into AfDB-financed infrastructure projects.
• Strengthen capacities in AfDB and Regional Member Countries (RMCs) to implement the Build4Skills approach and apply the Youth, Skills and Jobs Accelerator to infrastructure investment projects and Programs. 

5.     Tasks and Responsibilities

• Operational support: Identify, design, and support implementation of at least three pilot operations applying Build4Skills (from concept to site‑level trainee deployment).
• Policy dialogue and capacity development: Deliver internal clinics and RMC workshops on embedding skills development in infrastructure Programs.
• Procurement integration: Draft standard clauses and guidance to include work‑based training/TVET criteria in procurement plans, SPNs, RFBs/RFPs, and evaluation.
• Knowledge and portfolio support: Curate lessons from ongoing Build4Skills Africa activities (e.g., Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, Kenya) and produce short guidance notes and toolkits.
• Support the evaluation of Bank ongoing TVET support operations to identify and document the successes and the areas where improvement is needed.
• Stakeholder coordination: Convene contractors, training institutions, and employers to structure apprenticeships/internships aligned to project timelines.
• Monitoring and reporting: Align project indicators to the Youth, Skills and Jobs Accelerator and contribute to semi‑annual progress reports.

6.     Duration of the Secondment

The assignment will take 24 months, and it will be based at the African Development Bank headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The assignment will involve travel to RMCs as required (with initial focus on Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire and Kenya). The GIZ office charged with hiring the secondee is the GIZ Country Office Côte d’Ivoire.

7.     Secondee Profile (Skills, Experience, And Knowledge)

• Holds at least a master’s degree level or equivalent in economics, development studies, education, engineering, or closely related fields.
• Has not less than (06) years of relevant experience in international cooperation with multilateral development banks.
• Has not less than (06) years record of experience in the fields of TVET, skills development, and labour market integration including in Africa.
• Has experience working with the private sector on internship and apprenticeship for TVET students and with the public sector on TVET related reforms.
• Is familiar with sustainable infrastructure development and/or MDBs procurement procedures.
• Has experience working on TVET curricula that include entrepreneurship, digital and tech while also responding to the needs of youth that are neither in education, employment, or training.
• Has experience supporting the setting up of data and information management systems for tracking TVET graduate employability.
• Shows strong commitment to search for and produce innovative and creative approaches and willingness to capitalize and share knowledge with colleagues to create added benefits to the Bank and its clients.
• Shows team working skills and the ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional dimensions in the cultural and professional context of the Bank and the regional Member Countries.
• Willingness to travel regularly within the region, including to Kenya and Senegal.
• Proficient communication skills in French and English required.

8.     Reporting

 The secondee will be hosted by the Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department (AHHD) and report administratively to the Director, AHHD and functionally to Lead Expert Human Capital Youth and Skills Development /Manager West Africa and Nigeria based in HQ. On technical matters related to TVET the Secondee will coordinate closely with Division Manager, Education and Skills Development). For programme‑related tasks, the secondee will consult with the GIZ Build4Skills Programme Manager (HQ) and relevant GIZ country teams.

• Work‑based training criteria and standard clauses integrated into AfDB procurement guidance and sample bidding documents.
• Practical Guideline illustrating entry points for Build4Skills within the Youth, Skills, and Jobs Accelerator (≤10 pages).
• Three (3) Build4Skills pilot operations launched and supported in Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire and Kenya through design and implementation.
• Guidance Note(s) on how the Build4Skills can leverage national procurement policies to promote local employment, local sourcing of materials, use of locally registered subcontractors, and ensure value bids include skills transfer plans, sustainability measures and use of national procurement systems in line with the Youth, Skills and Jobs Accelerator.
• Evaluation report of AfDB ongoing TVET support operations.
• Capacity development sessions delivered for AfDB staff on skills integration in procurement and project design. Relatedly, materials archived on the Bank’s knowledge platform.
• Participation in the organisation of two (2) international events to present GIZ–AfDB collaboration, results and lessons learnt on Build4Skills and Youth, Skills and Jobs Accelerator.
• Semi‑annual progress reports summarizing results, lessons, and next steps.
• Enhanced cooperation between GIZ, AfDB, and partner countries in promoting TVET through infrastructure development.
• Document lessons learned for application of the Build4Skills and Youth, Skills and Jobs Accelerator to more Bank projects in transport Energy and water, sanitation.

10.   Ethics, Safeguards, and Inclusion

 All activities shall align with AfDB policies and safeguards, including gender equality, social inclusion, and DO NO HARM principles. Apprenticeships and site‑based training must comply with national labor laws, occupational safety standards, and child‑protection norms.

You are kindly requested to submit your CV and cover letter as one document (PDF) 

Application deadline: 18.05.2026

GIZ is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity.

All qualified candidates, regardless of disability, age, sex, ethnicity, race and religion are encouraged to apply.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.