Research Sabbatical Programme opportunities

About Afreximbank

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution with the mandate of financing and promoting intra-and extra-African trade. Afreximbank was established in October 1993 and owned by African governments, the African Development Bank and other African multilateral financial institutions as well as African and non-African public and private investors. The Bank was established under two constitutive documents, an Agreement signed by member states, which confers on the Bank the status of an international organization, and a Charter signed by all Shareholders, which governs its corporate structure and operations. Afreximbank deploys innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that are supporting the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby sustaining economic expansion in Africa. At the end of 2020, the Bank’s total assets and guarantees stood at US$21.5 billion and its shareholders funds amounted to US$3.4 billion. Afreximbank has ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A-), Moody’s (Baa1) and Fitch (BBB-). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

Programme offering

The Afreximbank Research Sabbatical Programme offers individuals from academic or research institutions the opportunity to undertake relevant research contributing to the Bank’s intellectual leadership in fulfillment of its mandate.

The 2021 Afreximbank Research Sabbatical Program is now accepting applications until 10^th July 2021. The Programme is expected to commence in the academic year starting September 2021.

 

Eligibility

Position: Open primarily to senior lecturers / senior researchers from recognized Universities, research institutions or similar organisations. The programme is highly competitive and entry shall be based on merit.

Thematic Areas: The Bank is seeking for professionals who are interested in conducting research in the areas of intra-African trade and investments, including African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) issues, Africa’s industrialization & export development, trade finance, international payment systems and related exchange rate mechanisms, diaspora studies and/ or any other areas that are relevant to the Bank’s mandate.

Nationality: Applicants must be nationals of one of the Bank’s member/participating states.

Language: Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of the Bank’s other official languages will be an added advantage (French, Arabic, or Portuguese).

Period: Ready to commit to the Bank for a period of one (1) calendar year on a non-renewable basis..

Method of Application: Interested applicants should complete an online application form on the Bank’s website and submit it electronically along with:

1. Current CV and cover letter
2. A defined plan of research activities with specific research outcomes, deliverables and timelines as well as supporting material that underpin the likelihood of achieving those outcomes and deliverables.
3. Recommendation letter from present employer, confirming that the candidate’s job will still be available at the end of the sabbatical.
4. Copy of valid passport.
5. Certified copies of relevant academic certificates.
6. Short statement of intent (maximum of one A4 page) indicating why they should be considered for the programme.

 

Thematic Research Areas of Interest for Afreximbank

The Bank is interested in research activities along the following key themes:

Theme 1 – Intra-African Trade: The following areas may be considered, but not be limited to:

1. A baseline study on the current state of intra-African trade as the AfCFTA implementation commences and scenario forecasts of future state of play 5 to 10 years ahead, including income and gender consequences.
2. Potential impact of the implementation of the agreed AfCFTA rules of origin on size and composition of intra-African trade, regional value chains and financing implications.
3. Comprehensive study on the composition of Intra-African trade and its potential, drilled down to the most disaggregated Standard International Trade Classification Data (SITC). This should cover all African country pairs and guide in market identification work under the Bank’s Trade Information Services.
4. Export Trading Companies as trade facilitating institutions – Current status, opportunities, and challenges.
5. Cross-country legal reforms for an effective AfCFTA implementation
6. An optimal structure and potential impact of an AfCFTA Adjustment Facility
7. The Economic and Financial implications of an efficient transit system and implications for Africa.
8. The current state and prospects of trade in service
9. A study of the size of the African diaspora market and prospects for enhanced trade and investment relations with the Diaspora.
10. Payment arrangements, technology, and prospects for an African Exchange Rate Mechanism.

Theme 2 – Industrialization and Export Development: The following areas may include, but not be limited to:

1. An understanding of constraints to export manufacturing at firm, sector and economy wide levels, with recommendations.
2. A study on the state of light manufacturing and agro-processing in Africa, with emphasis on capacities, challenges, and opportunities.
3. A study on the state of the Africa’s entertainment industry, with emphasis on capacities, challenges, and opportunities.
4. A study on developing regional value chains in agro-processing.
5. A study to identify critical success factors in the promotion of export manufacturing in a context of infrastructure constraints.
6. A study on the impact of standards and packaging on manufactured exports performance of Africa.
7. Heavy industries versus light manufacturing: Insights into an optimal route to manufactured export success.

Theme 3 – Trade Finance Leadership: The following areas may be considered but not be limited to:

1. In-depth study on demand for and supply of trade finance in Africa, market shares, size of trade finance Bank intermediaries etc.
2. Documentary taxes or trade finance instruments: Cross-country analysis.
3. Estimating the marginal cost of compliance on African trade and project finance and implication for the African Customer Due Diligence Repository (MANSA) platform and Afreximbank International Payment Services (AfPAY).
4. Comprehensive sector studies on commodities of trade interest to Africa.
5. Baseline study on export credit arrangements in Africa, number, history, size / capacities.
6. A methodology for estimating country risk under conditions of information asymmetry.

Theme 4 – Financial Performance and Soundness: The following specific studies may be considered for this programme but not limited to:

1. Determining an optimal product mix and resource allocation for the Bank under normal and risk- constrained optimization.
2. Multilateral financial institutions, preferred creditor status and operational efficiency and effectiveness.
3. Impact of Afreximbank’s operations on Africa’s trade and trade finance.

 

Benefits

1. Stipend: Successful candidates will join the Bank at a grade and salary scale determined by the Bank.
2. Benefits: Candidates under the programme are not full-time staff and are therefore not entitled to the full range of benefits accorded to staff. However, the Bank will ensure that it provides appropriate benefits, which will include medical insurance, group personal accident cover and housing allowance. In addition, a research grant, as may be determined by the President from time to time, may be offered to fund research to be carried out by the candidates under this programme.
3. Leave: Candidates will be entitled to the same leave benefits as other staff, as set out in the staff rules and regulations in force. However, leave days that remains unused at the end of the sabbatical, cannot be commuted to cash..