Investment Promotion and Business Climate Advisor

Focus of the Role

With the third largest GDP in Africa and 31 million inhabitants, Angola surpasses other important economies in the region, such as Nigeria, in terms of GDP per capita ($3,432). Angola is the second largest oil producer in Africa.  Oil production comprises 97% of exports and 63% of tax revenues. Although the oil industry only accounts for 30% of GDP, a large part of the services sector (about 40% of GDP) is indirectly driven by the industry. The culmination of the commodities boom in 2014 evidenced the lack of sustainability of the economic model. The Government intends to diversify the economy beyond extractives and has launched a programme to increase production, import substitutes and diversify exports. 

Job Introduction

The Government of Angola (GoA) has embarked on an ambitious policy reform agenda to attract foreign direct investment and increase capital inflows into bankable projects and strategic sectors to diversify the economy.

The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) will support GoA’s Investment Promotion efforts as well as improvements to the business climate, to attract foreign direct investment.  We are looking to recruit an exceptional individual with experience in providing strategic advice on investment promotion, business climate reform and capacity building support.

Key Responsibilities

The post-holder will provide high-quality implementable advice to the Minister of State for Economic Coordination and his wider office. He/she will also work shoulder-to-shoulder with GoA counterparts in other ministries and agencies, providing strategic support and developing the investment promotion and business climate workstream. This is the first time TBI has operated in Angola so the post-holder will part of the inaugural team and therefore also responsible for building TBI’s reputation and credentials in Angola. Key areas of responsibility will include:

• Support the Ministry of State for Economic Coordination and implementing institutions to set-up and deliver an investment promotion strategy;
• Identify industry segments that represent opportunities for promoting Angola’s products; conduct investor matching analysis and develop investment promotion services;
• Develop and implement export promotion/facilitation strategies, by identifying potential markets; prioritise target geographies to promote Angola’s products abroad;
• Work with key stakeholders and conduct assessments of GoA legal and regulatory frameworks, identifying the main barriers for foreign investment and setting up policy strategic reforms to improve Angola’s Doing Business ranking and the business climate;
• Develop and maintain trust-based relationships with government and non-government actors at all levels;
• Ensure robust project management processes are in place, including reporting and documentation of activities in order to implement planned reforms timely and accurately;
• Support capacity building initiatives in the relevant institutions to bridge implementation gaps and accelerate delivery of the project;
• Serve as a thought partner and expert on matters of delivery and performance management systems for senior government officials, and TBI East and Southern Africa Regional Director.

Other internal TBI responsibilities

• Contribute to wider scoping of TBI Angola’s future workstreams including strategy development, reporting, organisation-wide coordination and engagement;
• Where necessary, support TBI headquarters to establish a firm platform to operate in Angola;
• Support TBI East and Southern Africa Regional Director to participate and collaborate with other TBI projects, sharing knowledge and supporting thought leadership efforts; and
• Provide support to colleagues within the TBI Angola team, including on economic transformation and delivery.

In all these areas of work, the Advisor will be expected to work closely with TBI’s international network of expert strategy and delivery advisors and contribute to TBI’s Private Sector Development practice.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will thrive in an environment where the importance of personal initiative coupled with teamwork is critical. Above all s/he will build effective relationships, win trust, and help shape and influence change in government. With a good knowledge of delivery principles and processes, s/he will have a grounding in project and programme management, capacity development and policy reform. Desired qualifications and competencies include:

• 7-9 years of work experience in investment promotion, investment consulting, management consulting, investment promotion & export agencies, investment promotion in bilateral or multilateral institutions;
• Experience in both private and public sectors;
• Excellent in building and managing effective relationships, including the ability to navigate a complex political environment. Experience working in Africa is desirable;
• Ability in influencing, coaching and delivering change through others;
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, strategic planning and decision-making capabilities;
• A creative and entrepreneurial approach to overcoming barriers and making change happen, and the ability to cope in an emotionally demanding environment;
• Strong team player with outstanding team management skills;
• Self-starter, motivated and proactive with solutions;
• Willingness to travel, sometimes at short notice;
• Ability to reside in Luanda for the duration of the project – two (2) years;
• Fluency in Portuguese and English is required.

About The Institute

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) aims to equip political leaders and governments to build open, inclusive and prosperous societies in an interconnected world. Our focus is on the areas where we think we can offer leaders new thinking and new approaches. In each of these areas, our 200 members of staff, based all over the world, are breaking new ground. Through our policy and advisory work we are helping countries, their people and their governments, address some of the most difficult challenges in the world today. 

In our Africa government advisory work, we believe Africa’s transformation trajectory comes down to effective government, with an effective delivery machinery, capable of achieving concrete results.  The Institute has vast experience in supporting governments to build and strengthen their delivery capabilities and has provided delivery support to more than twenty countries over the past eleven years.