83471573_Consultancy on the Development of a Practical Guide for the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services 130 views1 applications

The primary objective of the Practical Guide is to provide a handbook to assist service providers, and the broad private-sector stakeholder communities in getting a deeper understanding of the role services can play in the economy, where they could potentially sit in the services value chains and how to leverage the commitments and regulatory frameworks to participate effectively in the AfCFTA.

Specifically, the consultant will:

1. Provide an overview of the AfCFTA Agreement, the Abuja Treaty, and Agenda 2063, and their linkages to the AfCFTA trade in services market.
2. Provide an overview of the AfCFTA trade in services negotiations under the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services.
3. Unpack some of the complex legal provisions contained in the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services in business-friendly language.
4. Highlight the new business opportunities and benefits emerging from the AfCFTA.
5. Provide practical guidance and strategies for businesses to make use of the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services.
6. Examine the role of the private sector and business support organizations in supporting the implementation of the AfCFTA.
7. Increase awareness amongst investors on how to access the African services market and understand the regulatory environment.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will perform the following tasks.

1. Undertake subject-specific research related to the AfCFTA Trade in services regime, particularly analysing the implications of the Abuja treaty, Agenda 2063, the AfCFTA Agreement, and the Services Protocol on intra-African trade in services.
2. Provide a simplified overview of the Services Protocol.
3. Map out the obligations in the Services Protocol.
4. Map out how the negotiations on trade in services are being done.
5. Identify and analyse the opportunities, challenges, and potential solutions to support the specific implementation of the Agreement and the Services Protocol.
6. Highlight the benefits of the liberalization efforts under the Services Protocol.
7. Map out the relationship of the other AfCFTA Protocols and Annexes and the Services Protocol towards the development of a Single African Services Market.
8. Examine the role of the private sector in supporting the implementation of the AfCFTA.
9. Evaluate and provide practical guidance and strategies for businesses to make use of the Services Protocol.
10. Attend focus group discussions organized to receive inputs on the Practical Guide.
11. Closely work with the AfCFTA Secretariat.
12. In consultation with the AfCFTA Secretariat, make the necessary changes to the draft text.
13. Perform any other related duties as may be assigned by the AfCFTA Secretariat.