Description
| Application Close Date | 2026-02-03 |
|---|---|
| Engagement Type | Individual Consultant |
| Job Family | 4.Investment |
| A. Background Objectives | A.1 African Water Facility The African Water Facility (AWF) is a Special Fund of the African Development Bank Group, created in 2004 by the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW). It is Africa’s only project preparation facility dedicated to water and sanitation, mobilizing financial and technical resources to enhance water security. The African Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative (AUSII), an urban Sanitation focused investment initiative, operationalized in 2024, shall be instrumental with concessional and blended finance and guarantees from 2026 in addition to project preparations. Since 2006, AWF has financed 148 projects in 52 countries with €221.6 million in grants, leveraging €2.1 billion in downstream investments—a ratio of 1:29. It provides grants of €50,000–€5 million for feasibility studies, pre-investment activities, and catalytic interventions that promote private sector participation and accelerate projects to financial close.A.2 Rationale for Private Sector Engagement Closing Africa’s $30 billion annual water and sanitation financing gap requires stronger private sector participation. Currently, private investment accounts for just 9% of water sector financing—compared to 87% in telecommunications and 45% in power—revealing significant untapped potential. Public finance alone cannot achieve SDG 6 or the AMCOW Ngor Declaration target of universal water and sanitation access by 2030.The low level of private sector investment in the water and sanitation sector is driven by perceived and actual risks, inadequate financial structuring, limited understanding of risk mitigation instruments, and weak capacity among project sponsors and implementers. Addressing these barriers requires targeted interventions including: (a) mobilizing commercial and concessional/ blended finance; (b) providing sophisticated financial structuring services; (c) deploying risk-reducing instruments such as guarantees, insurance, and viability gap funding; (d) driving innovation and technology adoption; (e) improving efficiency and service delivery; and (f) building markets through SMEs and PPPs.A.3 Objectives of the Assignment The overall objective is to lead AWF’s engagement with the private sector to unlock investment in the water and sanitation sector across Africa.The specific objectives are: 1. NSO Pipeline Development: To identify and develop a pipeline of 10 projects that can be financed through AfDB’s private-sector (NSO) window. 2. Financial Structuring and Transaction Support: To provide intensive financial structuring and transaction advisory support to 10 high-priority projects, including advanced financial modeling, risk assessment, and facilitation of access to innovative financing mechanisms and risk mitigation instruments such as viability gap funding, partial guarantees, , and results-based financing. 3. Resource Mobilization: To lead the capitalization of AWF Special Fund by mobilizing USD 60-80 million in matching funds from development partners, climate funds, and other investors. 4. Development of Investment Toolkits for AWF Program Countries: To develop standardized investment and PPP toolkits, including contract templates, financial models, risk assessment frameworks, and performance standards, to reduce transaction costs and accelerate project implementation. 5. Capacity Building: To design and oversee a comprehensive capacity-building program on private sector investment, financial planning and structuring, risk mitigation, performance monitoring and contract management, and regulation for at least 200 stakeholders including AWF Task Managers, AWF staff, governments, utilities, and the private sector. |
| B. Scope of work | The Senior Consultant will undertake the following major tasks: 1. NSO Pipeline Development: • Identify water and sanitation projects within AWF’s portfolio that have potential for private sector financing through the AfDB Non-Sovereign Operations (NSO) window and investment financing of the AUSII operations. • Conduct preliminary assessments to determine NSO eligibility criteria, including commercial viability, creditworthiness, and bankability requirements. • Develop a prioritized pipeline of at least 10 projects suitable for NSO financing, with detailed profiles outlining project structure, financing requirements, and risk mitigation strategies. • Facilitate coordination between AWF and AfDB’s NSO operations to advance promising projects toward financing approval. 2. Financial Structuring and Transaction Support for Priority Projects: • Identify and select 10 high-priority water and sanitation projects from AWF’s portfolio that require transaction support. • Provide comprehensive financial structuring and transaction advisory, including advanced financial modeling, risk assessment, and bankability enhancement. • Design and deploy risk mitigation instruments including partial credit guarantees, currency hedging, viability gap funding, and other de-risking mechanisms tailored to each project’s risk profile. • Facilitate access to innovative financing mechanisms (Viability Gap Financing, Guarantees, Results-Based Financing, blended finance structures) to de-risk investments and to improve the attractiveness of the investment to private sector investors • Support private sector engagement through matchmaking, tender preparation, and negotiation support. 3. Operationalization of the AUSII Investment Financing • Marketing and outreach support to position the AUSII instrument with potential partners, investors, development finance institutions, and investment funds, including preparation of pitch materials and engagement strategies with capitalization of EUR 30 million for the operations of concessional and blended finance and guarantees. • Investment mobilization support, assisting in the identification, engagement, and onboarding of public and private capital into the AUSII financing operations – at least EUR 100 million • Structuring private sector investments in urban sanitation, including support for deal structuring, risk allocation, and financial models to crowd in private participation specifically with concessional and blended finance and guarantees – at least 2 projects • Support the AUSII coordination team in fund management of investment financing in terms of the assessment of investment proposals and support in preparation of required documents for processing of the Bank’s approval4. Resource Mobilization for AWF Special Fund: • Develop and implement a comprehensive resource mobilization strategy, including mapping potential funders and preparing investment case materials. • Actively engage and negotiate with co-financiers, including DFIs, climate finance facilities, and foundations, to secure contributions. • Structure matching fund contributions and prepare contribution agreements. 5. Development of PPP Toolkits: AWF Program Countries • Assess existing PPP and investment frameworks in AWF program countries to identify gaps and best practices. • Develop a comprehensive toolkit with standardized contract templates (e.g., Management Contracts, Concessions, BOTs etc.), financial models, risk matrices, performance standards, and evaluation metrics. • Create step-by-step guidance on PPP procurement, financial structuring, and transaction processes. 6. Capacity Building Program: • Conduct capacity needs assessment among target groups (AWF Task Managers, AWF staff, government officials, utilities, SMEs). • Design a modular training curriculum covering private sector investment, financial planning and structuring, risk mitigation, performance monitoring and contract management, and regulation. |
| C. Deliverables Expected | The consultant will be responsible for the following key deliverables over the 12-month period: • Inception Report with a detailed work plan and methodology (Month 1). • Quarterly Progress Report: A brief and concise report on all the following broad heads including fund raising starting from month 6. Additionally other submissions as specified below. • Resource Mobilization Strategy and Quarterly Progress Reports on fundraising efforts (Month 3 and ongoing). • Financial Structuring and Transaction Advisory Reports for each of the 10 priority projects, including financial models, risk assessments, risk mitigation strategies, and financing proposals (Months 6-12). • NSO Pipeline Report detailing at least 10 projects suitable for NSO/ AUSII financing, including project profiles, eligibility assessments, and coordination notes with AfDB NSO department (Month 11). • Finalized Investment and PPP Toolkit, including templates, financial models, risk frameworks, standards, and user guides in English and French (Month 7). • Capacity Building Program Materials and a Final Program Evaluation Report documenting outcomes and lessons learned, with specific focus on AWF Task Manager and staff training (Months 9-11). • Final Comprehensive Report summarizing all achievements, challenges, and recommendations for AWF (Month 12). |
| D. Duration and Timetable for the Assignment | 12 months with possible extension thereafter |
| E. Bank Contribution and Institutional Arrangement | • Bank Contribution: The African Development Bank will provide office space at its headquarters in Abidjan, access to its IT network, and relevant administrative support. Reimbursable costs, such as pre-approved mission travel and workshop organization expenses, will be covered in accordance with the Bank’s policies.• Institutional Arrangement: The Senior Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the African Water Facility. The consultant will collaborate closely with AWF Task Managers, AWF staff, AfDB’s Non-Sovereign Operations (NSO) and Water and Sanitation (AHWS) departments, AMCOW, and other development partners. |
| F. Duty Station | The primary duty station will be Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, at the AfDB Headquarters. The assignment involves extensive international travel. |
| G. Essential Specialized Skills/Knowledge/Competencies | Educational Requirements: • A Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field is essential. • Professional qualifications such as CFA or MBA in finance are desirable. Professional Experience: • A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in investment finance, including infrastructure project finance, transaction advisory, and resource mobilization. • At least 5 years of specialized experience in the water and sanitation sector, including private sector participation models. • A proven track record of successfully mobilizing resources and closing infrastructure transactions, preferably in Africa. • Experience working with multilateral development banks (MDBs) or development finance institutions (DFIs) is essential. Technical Competencies: • Deep expertise in infrastructure finance, advanced financial modeling, and bankability assessment. • Strong understanding of PPP frameworks, risk mitigation instruments (guarantees, viability gap funding), blended finance structures, and project finance. • Demonstrated experience in deploying risk mitigation instruments and structuring complex financing arrangements. • Knowledge of water and sanitation sector challenges and investment requirements. • Understanding of performance monitoring, contract management, and regulatory frameworks. Core Competencies: • Exceptional written and oral communication skills. • Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and project management capabilities. • Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and relationship-building skills to engage with high-level stakeholders. • Proven ability to train and build capacity of diverse stakeholders. Language Requirements: • Fluency in English (written and spoken) is mandatory. • A strong working proficiency in French is highly desirable. |
| H. Supervisor | The consultant will report directly to the Coordinator of the African Water Facility (AWF). |
Consultancy Input Days
261.00
Qualifications
| Qualification | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Regular Consultant | |
| Less than 32 years old at the time of signing the contract and during contract execution | No |
| Master’s Degree | Yes |
| Years of Experience | 15 years |
