The African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) is an international organisation established by a Treaty in 2008. The Facility is housed by the African Development Bank. Its membership is open to (a) All AfDB Member States (b) other states (c) AfDB and (d) other international organisations or institutions. ALSF’s main objectives include: (i) assisting AfDB’s Regional Member Countries (RMCs) address litigation brought against them by vulture funds (and other such entities); (ii) creating an avenue for AfDB’s RMCs to access technical advice when negotiating complex commercial transactions (especially in the area of infrastructure and natural resources); and (iii) investing in and organizing the training of legal counsel from participating RMCs to equip them with legal expertise necessary to better represent their countries.

The Governing Council is made up of representatives of the Facility’s member states, the Bank, and other international organizations. Its functions include determining and approving policy, appointing the Management Board, authorizing replenishments of resources, and appointing external auditors. The Management Board comprises five (5) persons appointed by the Governing Council and is responsible inter alia for approving the annual budgets and annual work programs, issuing By-laws, rules and regulations, and making decisions necessary to ensure the efficient and effective operations of the Facility, and overseeing the management of the Facility’s Endowment Fund and exercising of such powers as shall be delegated to it by the Governing Council.

The ALSF exercises both advisory and operational functions and responsibilities and renders legal support, advice and services in connection with all aspects of its business including drafting all legal instruments required for the operational activities of the institution and provision of legal opinions for its organs (Management Board and Governing Council).

THE corporate affairs division 

The Corporate affairs division manages and coordinates relationships with the Governing Council, the Management Board, Members of the Facility and the donors. It is also in charge of Human resources management that includes recruitments. It is responsible for all legal document of the Facility including drafting key donor agreements.  The corporate affairs division also provides linkage with the key departments of the AfDB with respect to implementation of the Hosting Agreement as well as Institutional consultants such as the current one. The Corporate Secretary heads the Corporate Affairs Division and shall provide members of the Governing Council, and Management Board and Director with key information, documentation and legal advice on a timely basis to enable them to make informed decisions.

 THE POSITION:

The Corporate Affairs Division Manager supervises the work of the Counsels in the Division and is responsible for their coaching and performance management.

Under the supervision of the Director of the Facility, the Corporate Affairs Division Manager shall perform highly specialized legal functions requiring minimum supervision and is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the day-to-day functioning of the General Secretariat of the Facility related to the services provided by the ALSF to RMCs. In addition, the Manager shall perform other duties which include but are not limited to the following:

• Providing advisory services to the Director of the Facility and senior management on the one hand and ensures consensus building – formal and informal – with respect to Management Board matters;
• Providing administrative support and secretarial services to the Management Board and Governing Council;
• Supervising activities relating to reproducing, publishing, storing and distributing of Facility’s internal documents;

• Ensuring management and safe-keeping of vital records; and planning and supervising the translation of all official documents and interpretation services for meetings of the Management Board and Governing Council;
• Interpreting texts of the Facility concerning operations of the Facility;
• Coordinate, give guidance and quality control in all project done by Division Counsel or Consultants;
• Provide supervision in the negotiation and implementation of bilateral and multilateral cooperation arrangements;
• Ensure quality control as well as compliance with the Facility’s policies and procedures as well as make proposals to the 
Director for the resolution of any issues encountered;
• In consultation with the Director, conceive and prepare the budget of the Division and controls the general administrative, strategic policy directions and orientations of the Division;
• Oversee the conception and review by counsel of legal documentation, including term sheets, loan agreements, common terms agreements, inter-creditor agreements, security documentation, assignment agreements, shareholder agreements, subscription agreements, information memoranda, as well as other documentation depending on the nature of the project and the type of financing;
• Assure the quality control of the work of the Division from the technical, administrative and resources point of view, as well as establishes the priorities of the Division and resolves any conflicts that may arise among subordinates;
• Supervise counsel’s work on the drafting of Board’s resolutions and documents, including the financial terms of the operations and other salient terms, and participates in meetings of the Management Board;
• Supervise the development and negotiation of financing agreements and prepare other legal documents required as part of the legal due diligence;
• Assist in the procedure for recruitment of Law firm to assist a beneficiary Country; Liaise with recruited Law Firm, negotiate fees arrangements and ensure external counsel’s assistance monitoring;
• Assign work in the Division among counsel;
• Evaluate staff performance and provides the Director with necessary information on staff confirmation following probationary period and contracts renewals;
• Coordinates the work products of each counsel with that of the operational division of the Facility; and
• Undertake other major legal assignments as required by the Director.

SELECTION CRITERIA (Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience)

• Holds At least a Master’s Degree in Law, (with an emphasis on International Law), or a first degree plus a relevant combination of relevant academic qualification in law (ie: Juris Doctor (JD)) plus admission to the Bar in a Member country of the African Development Bank;
• A minimum of eight (8) years’ relevant experience, preferably with an international organization, law firm or working for the judiciary system of a Member country, with solid practical knowledge of international administrative and international financial transactions;
• Proven competence in International Corporate and Administrative Law, Development and Public International Law;
• Strong skills in preparation of complex legal documents including briefs and confidential legal opinions, preparing certificates, leading the negotiation of complex projects and programs and other transactions of a similar nature;
• Capacity to conceive and supervise the negotiation of complex legal documents of all manners and form that balances the standards and norms of outside parties with the unique requirements of the Facility;
• Ability to manage multiple, simultaneous and shifting demands, priorities and tight deadlines.
• High level skills in communication and negotiation as well as the ability to build partnerships with a broad range of clients and deliver results that meet the needs of the Director and the Facility.
• Possess a versatile multi-disciplinary skills-set, leadership skills, an ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and effective communication, team building, inter-personal, problem solving skills, writing and analytical skills;
• Excellent negotiation skills and demonstrated ability to work under pressure and deliver within tight deadlines;
• Ability to communicate and write effectively in English and/or French. A working knowledge of French will be an added advantage; and
• IT Competence in the use of standard software such as MSWord, Power Point, Excel and Internet Explorer
• Possess a high level of integrity, moral values, discretion and confidentiality
• Willingness to undertake periodic travel

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