Small & Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Trade Development Advisor 1640 views4 applications

CTG overview:

• CTG staff and support humanitarian projects in fragile and conflict-affected countries around the world, providing a rapid and cost-effective service for development and humanitarian missions. With past performance in 17 countries – from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia, we have placed more than 20,000 staff all over the world since operations began in 2006.
• CTG recruits, deploys and manages the right people with the right skills to implement humanitarian and development projects, from cleaners to obstetricians, and mechanics to infection specialists, we’re skilled in emergency response to crises such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Key to successful project delivery is the ability to mobilise at speed; CTG can source and deploy anyone, anywhere, in less than 2 weeks and have done so in 48 hours on a number of occasions.
• Through our efficient and agile HR, logistical and operational services, CTG saves multilateral organisations time and money. We handle all our clients’ HR related issues, so they are free to focus on their core services.

Overview of position:

• The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat is the sole organization in the continent, legally established & mandated to handle the rules of trade between African countries. At the core is the implementation of the agreement establishing the AfCFTA (thereafter “AfCFTA agreement”), negotiated, signed & ratified by the state parties. The goal is to ensure that trade is conducted smoothly, predictably & as freely as possible across the continent. The AfCFTA Secretariat, which is headquartered in Accra – Ghana at the Africa Trade House, was established in February 2020 following the election of its 1st Secretary General.
• The AfCFTA agreement was signed at an extraordinary session of the assembly of the African Union (AU) in Kigali, Rwanda on 21 March 2018. The agreement sets out a continental system of trade rules, acts as a platform for negotiating trade protocols, facilitates the settlement of disputes between state parties & monitors the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement. Furthermore, the AfCFTA agreement is a framework agreement, with comprehensive coverage of trade in goods, trade in services, investment, competition policy, intellectual property rights, women, youth in trade & digital trade as well as rules & procedures for the settlement of disputes.
• Article 3 of the AfCFTA agreement provides for promotion of industrial development through diversification, regional value chain development, agricultural development & food security. This is imperative given the low levels of investments in industrial production, which is also a major contributor to the low percentage of intra-trade in the continent.
• It is in this area of responsibility that the AfCFTA Secretariat, together with partners, undertakes a mandate to coordinate pursuing of industrialisation work program through regional value chains as part of the implementation of the agreement. There has always been convergence on key sectors of priority value chains in the continent namely, agriculture & agro processing, pharmaceuticals, mineral beneficiation & automotives. Selection of value chains will be based on data, evidence & its potential to promote job creation, inclusion of SMMEs (women & youth owed) & increase intra Africa trade.
• It is against this background that the AfCFTA Secretariat seeks to engage the services of an experienced SMEs Trade Development Advisor to support the promotion of industrial development through diversification, regional value chain development, agricultural development & food security.

Role objectives:
The SMEs Trade & Development Advisor to support the promotion of industrial development through diversification, regional value chain development, agricultural development & food security will work directly under the supervision of the Director responsible for this Division on the following tasks, among others:

• Undertake situational analysis, including a needs analysis of MSMEs in cross border trade across the continent and their classification(s) & in case of divergence in classification propose a harmonization as may be applicable.
• Prepare sectoral strategy & action plan for the integration of MSMEs in AfCFTA trading.
• Contribute to the development of a regulation on infant industries.
• Contribute to the development of a regulation on Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
• Design capacity building support to enhance linkages of MSMEs to regional value chains.
• Design & facilitate the organization of industrial development fora.
• Design sensitization & awareness campaigns to create awareness on regional value chains.
• Perform any other duties as may be required from time to time.

Project reporting:

• This assignment will be carried out under the supervision of the Director responsible for this Division.
• Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to provide the services.
• The eligibility criteria, establishment of a shortlist & selection procedure shall be in conformity with our clients procurement rules & procedures.

Key competencies:

• Master’s Degree in Economics, Social Policy Analysis, International Ttade or Trade Law, development Economics. A combination of academic and technical experience in both social & economic fields or a Barchelors Decree in Economics, International Trade, or Trade Law and at least 10 years of experience in trade policy formulation, negotiation & implementation.
• 10 solid years of experience in the areas of regional integration, economic development, strategic planning of the projects focused on economic development through providing evidence based policy advice.
• Practical experience in trade, development policy formulation at national, regional & multilateral organisations.
• Experience in formulating development strategies & policies.
• Excellent public speaking & presentation skills.
• Good understanding of the internal procedures of the AfCFTA Secretariat as well as regional integration, trade & economic growth.
• Experience working on AU, RECs & other multilateral institutions on the continent.
• Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders (civil society, govt. authorities, local communities, project staff).
• Full command of MS applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) & common internet applications will be required.
• Proficiency in one of the AfCFTA working languages (French, English, Portuguese, Arabic).
• Fluency in another AfCFTA working language(s) is an added advantage.
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the Secretariat’s values & ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission & strategic goals of Secretariat.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, age sensitivity & adaptability.
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity & zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Team management:

• This role has no team management responsibility.

Further information:

• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.
• The Consultant will be based in Accra, with travels to the Member States.
• The duration of the assignment will be 225 working days.