The African Development Bank (AfDB) is Africa’s premier financial institution, established in 1964 with a powerful mission: to spur sustainable economic development and social progress across its member countries. Headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the Bank has 81 member countries—54 of them from Africa and 27 from across the globe—making it a truly pan-African and international institution.
AfDB plays a central role in mobilising financial resources for development projects that have a measurable impact on the ground. Whether it’s funding large-scale infrastructure, supporting agricultural innovation, promoting gender equality, or tackling climate change, the Bank’s initiatives are focused on transforming lives and economies across the continent.
Through innovative financing models, technical assistance, and policy support, the Bank works with governments, the private sector, and international partners to drive inclusive growth and reduce poverty. It’s not just a bank—it’s a development engine.
Working at AfDB means joining a team of professionals who are deeply committed to excellence, integrity, diversity, and impact. Staff members operate in a highly dynamic, multicultural environment where big ideas are turned into real solutions.
Whether you’re experienced in finance, project management, communications, or data analysis, AfDB offers roles that combine purpose with professional growth. Let’s explore these roles.
Principal Program Officer
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Department: The Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department (AHHD)
Qualifications:
Hold at least a Master’s degree in Economics, Finance or related discipline.
Have a minimum of six (6) years of relevant professional experience in the formulation and
implementation of strategies, policies, programs and projects either within the Bank or with a similar
development institution.
Demonstrated ability to ensure that the client (internal or external) is considered of primary importance in all transactions and interactions.
Ability to build successful teams, relationships, and partnerships with a broad range of clients, internal and external, for effective delivery of results that meet the needs and long-term interests of clients within and outside the institution.
Responsibilities:
Coordinate the preparation of the three-year pipeline for both sovereign and non-sovereign financing to support the implementation of the Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy (JfYA), Skills for Employability and Productivity in Africa (SEPA) Action Plan, Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa (SQHIA), and Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Action Plan.
Coordinate the timely preparation, delivery, and results reporting of the department’s annual work program, including the processing of PCNs, PARs, IPRs, and PCRs, and ensure adherence to high-quality standards and compliance with Bank policy in line with annual performance objectives.
Coordinate the implementation of the human capital and social development portfolio, monitor its performance against annual corporate targets, track management actions for addressing bottlenecks to improve portfolio health, document lessons and prepare regular reports to inform decision making.
Short Term Staff – Protocol Assistant
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Department: The Protocol, Privileges and Immunities Division
Qualification
Hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations, Social Administration Business Administration, or a related field. A certificate of training in protocol and/or diplomacy or people’s relations will be an advantage.
Have a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in an international organisation or private sector.
Proof of citizenship or evidence of permanent residency or work authorisation in the proposed country of employment.
A good knowledge of Bank rules, policies, and procedures, headquarters, and other established agreements
Competence in the use of Bank standard software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access). Knowledge of SAP is an added advantage.
Responsibilities
Assist in the drafting of and reviewing of diplomatic correspondences in accordance with internationally accepted protocol standards.
Ensure appropriate dispatch of all diplomatic correspondences using appropriate diplomatic channels.
Assist and follow up on dispatched correspondences as may be relevant to the specific subject.
Track, update, and keep an updated summary of diplomatic correspondence processed by the division.
Assist in the follow of the Member States Engagement process, including updating a database of Chiefs of Protocol and Focal Points in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Finance, respectively, of the Bank’s regional member countries.
Assist in maintaining an updated database of Heads of Missions of the Bank’s member countries accredited in Cote d’Ivoire.
Chief Sanitation Officer – AWF
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire Department: The Water Development and Sanitation Department (AHWS)
Qualification:
Hold at least a master’s degree in either of civil engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Waste Water Engineering, Sanitation and Hygiene, or related discipline. Combination of a master’s degree in economics, and/or finance with a degree in a relevant technical field will also be considered.
A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience related to project management, sanitation policy and strategy development, preparation and management of non-sewered sanitation and reuse projects preferably in urban and peri-urban settings and City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation approach.
Knowledge and some experience on sanitation financing instruments including concessional and blended finance, and guarantee products will be an added advantage for the position.
Responsibilities:
Lead the thematic project identification and preparation including assessment of concept notes, preparation for/guidance during orientation events and preparation of full proposals.
Organize and undertake project preparation missions as necessary to finalize the preparation of the Project Appraisal Reports and support the review process to approval by the relevant authorities.
Involve AWF and Bank staff or recruit consultants for specific tasks that are not covered by the chief sanitation specialist
Ensure that grant agreements are signed promptly after approval as well as timely achievement of grant effectiveness. Also ensure timely delivery of other relevant project reports
Senior Communications Officer, IDEV.3
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Department: Independent Development Evaluation (IDEV)
Qualification:
Holds at least a Masters’ degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Social Sciences, or related fields.
A minimum of five (5) years’ professional experience in communicating on international development (for example in international NGOs, bilateral or multilateral development organisations, International Financial Institutions, or governments).
Experience working on conception, design, packaging and dissemination of knowledge products to a variety of audiences and understanding of channels of dissemination.
Experience in various forms of communications production and marketing, such as publications, Internet communication strategies, blogging, and (online) campaigning.
Responsibilities:
Plan and lead internal and external communication efforts to strengthen awareness of evaluation activities and knowledge and raise the profile and visibility of IDEV and of evaluation in general.
Co-develop and implement an internal and external knowledge management and communications strategy and action plan for IDEV, aiming at both the internal Bank audience as well as the external audience/general public.
Produce and disseminate various communications materials on IDEV’s work, including stories and news, articles, outreach and publicity materials, briefings, press/media kits, media advisories, press releases, statements, speeches, fact-sheets, videos, podcasts, animations, and write ups about events and outcomes of IDEV, its partners, and the Bank’s client countries, for a variety of channels including the intranet and Internet websites, blogs, e-news, media and other communication channels, in accordance with AfDB guidelines.
Coordinator, Africa Water Facility
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Department: The African Water Facility (AWF)
Qualification:
Hold at least a Master’s degree in either of the following areas: Water Resources Management, Engineering, Water Supply and Sanitation; Development Economics, or closely related disciplines.
Have a minimum of eight (8) years of extensive and progressive experience in an internationally recognized financial or development Institution or similar to the Bank, three (3) years of which must have involved managing and/or supervising teams.
Having private sector experience will be an added advantage.
Familiarity with the work of other multilateral and bilateral development finance institutions is a plus.
Experience in water sector development and policy support in Africa; and in knowledge management and preparation of analytical work is a plus.
Responsibilities:
Implement the Bank’s mandate and commitment for the African Water Facility.
Supervise African Water Facility’s staff and activities.
Ensure coordination and synergy with all partners and donors.
Monitor and analyse economic developments in regional member countries and advise the Director on issues relating to water sector development.
Principal Environmental and Social Audit Specialist
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Department: The Office of the Auditor General
Qualifications:
A minimum of a Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Social Science, Natural Resource Management, or a very closely related field.
A recognized audit or safeguards-related certification (e.g., Certified Internal Auditor, ISO 14001 Auditor, Other Multilateral Development Banks Performance Standards training) is highly desirable.
At least six (6) years of progressive experience conducting environmental and/or social audits, due diligence, or compliance reviews in development projects.
Demonstrated experience evaluating project compliance with Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), labor and working conditions, and stakeholder engagement.
Responsibilities:
Lead and Support Environmental and Social Audits
Assess Compliance with Safeguards Requirements
Review Environmental and Social Risk Management Systems
Conduct Project Site Visits
Prepare Reports and Provide Recommendations
Offer Technical Advisory Support
Senior Agriculture and Natural Resource Managment Officer
Location: Accra, Ghana
Department: The Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department
Qualifications:
Hold At least a postgraduate master’s degree in agriculture/rural development or related discipline.
At least five (5) years of relevant and diverse professional experience in agricultural and rural sector development as well as in project design and management,
Full understanding of the principles of project cycle and project implementation as applicable in the regional member countries (RMCs) is required for portfolio management.
Reponsibilities:
Ensure that the Bank’s agriculture portfolio remains of good quality.
Contribute to the Preparation of Country Strategy Paper, with particular reference to agriculture and rural development.
Formulate, evaluate and supervise projects, lending proposals, feasibility studies and sector work
Chief Quality Officer, SNDR3
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Department: The Department for Development Impact and Results
Qualifications:
Hold at least a master’s degree in business administration, economics, development studies or related disciplines.
Have a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in project preparation and implementation and/or portfolio management in multilateral development institutions.
Strong knowledge and practical experience of operations policies, procedures, quality management systems and review processes of multilateral development banks or other development agencies.
Familiarity with and practical experience of monitoring, evaluation, results and learning approaches in the international development context. Experience in data analytics would be an asset.
Responsibilities:
Support the Bank’s strong focus on the quality of its operations and therefore their development impact, through quality assurance and enhancement activities.
Design, develop and improve on new and existing quality assurance tools and quality management systems in the Bank.
Build and disseminate operations related knowledge, including on the effective use of quality assurance tools, and on the drivers of quality and results in Bank operations.
Senior Media Relations Officer, PCER1
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Department: The Communication and External Relations Department
Qualifications:
Hold at least a Master’s or equivalent degree in Journalism, Communications, Social Sciences, Literature or equivalent related field;
Professional training in communications-related fields: social media and web editing, among others is desirable;
A minimum of 5 (five) years of professional experience in public relations, media or communications working in an international organization, government, NGO or a reputable private sector organization. The person should have hands-on experience in media relations, development communication, corporate communication and executive communication. A deep knowledge of the region’s media and political landscape is essential;
Experience with communication agencies would be an added advantage;
Responsibilities:
Maintain and enhance Bank’s credibility and reputation through strategic initiatives;
Create and maintain crisis communication protocols and rapid response procedures;
Working closely with principal regional communication officers, monitor and analyse media coverage and prepare impact reports, holding statements and scenario plans;
Working closely with the Resource Mobilization Department (FIRM), identify and forge global strategic partnerships to improve dialogue and outreach within non-regional member countries;
Note: To apply for this position, you need to be national of one of AfDB
Pro Tips:
Highlight international or cross-cultural experience: AfDB is a multinational institution—any global exposure or multilingual ability is a big plus.
Use the STAR method in your application: For competency-based assessments or written responses, structure your answers using the Situation–Task–Action–Result format.
If you passionate about contributing to Africa’s development and looking to take your career to the next level, The African Development Bank (AfDB) is in need of your skills and expertise. This could be your chance to step into a meaningful, global career that makes an impact. Visit AfDB official website now and apply.
