About Afreximbank: African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade.
For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries to effectively participate in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2023, Afreximbank’s total assets and guarantees stood at over US$37.3 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$6.1 billion. The Bank disbursed more than US$104 billion between 2016 and 2023. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure, (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
Job Purpose:
The role is responsible for the Export Development Finance and Advisory business segment of the Bank. Acting as the custodian of the Export Related Project Financing solutions, Programmes and Initiatives and providing specialist expertise to the team at the Head Office and field teams based in Regional Branch offices.
Core Responsibilities:
- Export Related Project Financing and Special Programmes & Initiative
- Drive the financing and implementation of projects/programs that relate to Light Manufacturing, Industrial Platforms and Service Exports, Agro-processing and Agro-Allied in key markets across Africa.
- To be the custodian of the Bank’s menu of Export Development financing programs and products. In this regard, the Director will ensure that products are dynamic and respond to changes in the global environment and are well tailored to meet demands of African corporate entities and financial institutions.
- Propose and design new programs to assist the Bank in the promotion of Light Manufacturing (textile, pharmaceutical, white goods manufactures), Industrial Platforms (industrial parks, export processing zones, special economic zones) and Service Exports (i.e. tourism, hospitality (hotels and resorts), healthcare services etc.), Agro-processing and Agro-Allied manufactures across Africa.
- Oversee the structuring and completion of Export Related Projects and Transactions across the Bank’s member countries with focus on Light Manufacturing (textile, pharmaceutical, white goods manufactures), Industrial Platforms (industrial parks, export processing zones, special economic zones) and Service Exports (i.e. tourism, hospitality (hotels and resorts), healthcare services etc.), Agro-processing and Agro-Allied manufactures.
- Deepen and expand the coverage of the Bank’s Flagship programs and initiatives in support of Export Related Financing, such as, the Health and Medical Tourism Program (HMTP), Export Agriculture for Food Security (ExAFS), African Textile Renaissance Initiative (ATRI) and Africa Commodities Initiative (AFRICOIN 2.0).
- Provide insights into the potential developmental outcomes of the Bank’s industrialization and export development strategies, including GDP growth, poverty reduction, jobs creation, export diversification, etc.
- Provide regular updates to Executive Management on latest developments in the global and African industrialization and manufacturing space and proposing strategies to promote industrial development across the continent.
- Export Advisory
- Assist national Governments and export development agencies/institutions in the design and implementation of national export development/industrialization programmes / initiatives.
- Provide advisory services to member states in the formulation of national industrialization policies as well as creating programmes to develop and promote the competitiveness of national exports in global markets.
- Design innovative means to fostering market access of African manufacturers and processing entities through twining. The Director, Export Development should also develop mechanisms for identifying market opportunities within Africa in support of Intra-African trade as well as opportunities outside the continent.
- Drive the execution and completion of Export Diversification Advisory mandates by the Bank to support states and organizations in export diversification and industrialization efforts.
- Forge strategic international partnerships relevant to the delivery of the development strategy of the Bank. In particular, such partnerships should aim at mobilizing financing and technical assistance towards the development and participation of African entities and SMEs in national, regional and global value chains.
- Design and implement mechanisms for building capacity of African entities to create quality products that meets international standards (in terms of branding, packaging, etc.)
- Design, within the framework of the Afreximbank’s Strategic Plan, a programme for creating capacity in the value-added exports of goods and services across critical sectors, particularly in the areas of Corporate Governance, finance and account management, etc.
- Undertake lobbying activities with African Governments, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other continental organizations to put in place relevant macroeconomic policies, conducive financial markets and supportive institutional and regulatory frameworks that would have a positive impact on industrialization and export development in Africa.
- Understand and adhere to the Bank's AML, Regulatory and Conduct Compliance policies and procedures, notably.
- Staff Handbook (has code of conduct provisions)
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter Financing of Terrorism and Counter Proliferation Financing
- Conflicts of Interest and Policies on Staff Involvement in External Engagements/Activities
- Anti-Bribery & Corruption
- Insider Trading Guidelines
- Report any suspicious or non-compliant activities or matters relating to the Bank’s staff or the customers to the Compliance Department.
- Complete the Annual Compliance Training/Assessment.
- Support implementation of Compliance strategy and safeguard the maintenance of effective control environment to promote a culture of compliance within Afreximbank.
- Consider compliance risks in strategy, business planning and wider initiative implementation.
- Identify and refer potential compliance risks relevant to business area to the Director of Compliance.
- Understand your customer portfolio, their business and related parties and proactively inform Compliance team of any changes as part of ongoing monitoring
- Obtain required Compliance and KYC documentation through effective and efficient communication with relevant internal and external parties.
- In collaboration with the Compliance team, ensure the Bank's products comply with relevant country legislation and sufficient due diligence is conducted to mitigate risk of financial crimes."
- Others
- Any other duties may be assigned by Senior Management.
Minimum Qualifications
- Relevant bachelor’s and master’s degree or professional qualification in lieu of master’s degree.
Years & Nature of Experience
- Knowledge of the mandate and activities under Afreximbank’s Export Development Programme.
- Knowledge of government and industrial policy.
- Knowledge of international affairs, international trade and the global economy.
- Knowledge of banking industry and products supporting export development.
- Knowledge of Afreximbank’s and other Export Development products.
- Knowledge of sound financial and risk management practices.
- Knowledge of different sizes and needs of African enterprises ranging from large national and multi-national corporates to small and medium sized businesses and of Africa’s diverse industry sectors.
- Knowledge related to development finance would be an asset.
- Ability to set priorities and support the corporate vision needed to fulfill Export Development Finance and Advisory mandate and attain its objectives.
- Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with other staff members and have the capacity to be sensitive to the differing needs and agendas of multiple stakeholders.
- Ability to communicate and function in a culturally diverse and change oriented setting with good knowledge of banking practices in Africa.
- Ability to interact with senior officials of banks, corporates and governments and to represent the Bank in important professional fora where oral presentation of papers will be necessary to high level technical and professional audiences.
- Bachelor’s degree and post graduate degree in Business Administration, Economics, Banking, Finance or other related fields from a recognized University. A recognized post graduate professional qualification in Banking may be accepted in lieu of a post graduate degree.
- Sound experience of at least 15 years with a leading financial services organization and familiarity with the major export development finance products to be offered to clients and considerable knowledge of how these works.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of the Bank's other working languages is an added advantage (French, Arabic and Portuguese).
- Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including ability to organize and manage human resources to attain goals.
- Strong interpersonal skills, superior intellect, and an outstanding ability to communicate at all levels; and
- Demonstrable problem-solving, quantitative, and analytical skills; strategic and creative thinking.
Technical Competencies
Proficiency Level: Established Function Manager
- Highly experienced professional with senior expertise and leadership in technical areas.
Leadership Skills
- Uses empathy, integrity and sensitivity to motivate, mentor and coach others to achieve required results.
- Manages and coordinates multiple specialist teams, which can include both managers and professional staff.
- Acts as knowledgeable lead professional that routinely provides deep technical expertise to own function and the wider business. staff."
Interpersonal Skills
- Initiates and oversees executive level interactions with a range of internal and (where relevant) external stakeholders, establishing effective working relationships and networks with other functions and managing conflicts.
- Leads negotiations with firm-wide impact and represents Afreximbank Group at third party events and meetings.
- Regularly champions technical or innovative concepts to gain executive approval.
Problem Solving & Business Impact
- Proposes innovative solutions to complex problems which have a significant impact on the function, or even the wider business. Acts with flexibility as a technical escalation point and oversees the framework for prioritizing and solving issues in own team.
- Has functional and some business-wide impact, through setting (or inputting into) functional strategy and policies and having responsibility over a key technical area and the related deliverables."
Supporting Afreximbank Mandate
- Has a comprehensive understanding of how own function contributes to the wider business and to the achievement of Afreximbank Group’s vision and mission.
- Has a comprehensive knowledge of the Continent and African Diaspora’s political, economic and trade landscape and able to confidently converse about it with senior external stakeholders.
- Champions Afreximbank Group’s values and mission across the organization and externally.
Afreximbank’s Core Values
- Commitment to Africa and supporting the emancipation and empowerment of Africans
- Uncompromising integrity
- Passion for Learning and Drive
- Teamwork
- Trust and Respect for the Individual
- Innovation, Excellence and Flexibility
- Professionalism and Responsiveness
Key Interactions
Internal
- Origination Teams
- Client Relations
- Credit Assessment
- Legal
- Banking Operations
External
- Corporate Clients
- Governments
- Regulators
- Development Partners
