Project Preparation Specialist X2 at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Key Responsibilities

Project Assessment and Preparation

• Contribute to the development of the operational and strategic direction of preparing projects in partnership with the Head of the business unit in South Africa, SADC and selected countries in Africa.
• Identify potential bankable projects in collaboration with government entities and project owners/sponsors by:
• Conducting comprehensive feasibility studies (covering economic, technical, financial, social, environmental, and legal aspects);
• Performing economic cost-benefit analysis, if necessary;
• Confirming the project's development impact and its structure;
• Offering innovative and flexible financial structures for transactions; and Structuring transactions as either project finance or corporate finance.
• Provide input in selecting a DBSA project preparation pipeline of priority infrastructure projects.

Typical preparation activities would include per project identified:

• Communicate the “products” that the Project Preparation Division offers to prospective DBSA clients in the public and private sectors;
• Consult with SA Government departments, regional institutions, SOE and other DBSA clients by
• reviewing master plans/development plans to present to DBSA potential bankable projects that are eligible for preparation; and
• Perform a project gap analysis of projects selected to determine the level of project preparation required as per DBSA tools.
• Identify sectoral and product experts needed to analyse the project preparation requirements.
• Appraise accepted projects (prepare an appraisal report) for the preparation facility and present it to the DBSA decision-making structures for approval.
• The appraisal includes the terms of reference for the outstanding preparation work required to make the project bankable, along with an implementation agreement and monitoring plan.
• Negotiate the preparation facility agreement with the sponsor and oversee the implementation of the facility following the agreed-upon implementation plan.
• Oversee disbursements under the approved facility agreements.

Project communication and stakeholder engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients at global, regional, and local levels including businesses, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to further develop specific project preparation opportunities.
• Manage relationships at various levels with the relevant project stakeholders, partners, and lead promoters, following the project’s preparation objectives and products.
• Provide feedback on the status of clients' applications timeously and advise them on the bank’s processes and procedures.
• Ensure continuous communication with clients/ projects that the DBSA has funded to adequately support the division’s monitoring function.
• Present regular monitoring and progress reports as per the implementation plan.
• Build client portfolio to leverage the business needs of the Bank.
• Monitor the maintenance of the documentation management system.

Expertise & Technical Competencies

Minimum requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Economics, Engineering or Finance.
• A minimum of 5-7 years’ experience, working in a credit assessment team or transaction team at a commercial bank or finance institute in corporate finance and/or project finance.
• In-depth experience in project finance, mergers and acquisitions, equity finance experience and or property finance structuring.
• Experience in using financial models and project finance / investment banking and development finance.

Desirable Requirements

• A relevant postgraduate qualification in either Development Finance, Business, Engineering or Finance
• CA, CFA or MBA qualification.