Project Adviser, Policy & Value Chain Engagement at United Nations

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND:

• The Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Umbrella Programme is a major initiative aimed at sustainably increasing intra-African trade and trade between Africa and the European Union (EU). Funded by the EU and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), this four-year program aims to improve market access for specific value chains and increase the export competitiveness of SMEs in these sectors. It also seeks to reduce trade barriers, enhance compliance with quality standards, and promote added value and export diversification. By prioritizing women- and youth-led businesses, ATCMA aims to promote economic inclusion and encourage sustainable business practices. The umbrella programme is structured around two intervention levels: 1) the Continental Component, and 2) Sub-regional Components in five RECs: COMESA, EAC, ECCAS, ECOWAS and SADC. The current opening pertains to the ECOWAS sub-regional component of the ATCMA umbrella programme. The ATCMA ECOWAS programme is thematically structured into five components leading to 5 outputs as follows: In relation to
• Specific Objective 1:

Output 1.1:

• Market access barriers identified and reduced

Output 1.2:

• Strengthened quality compliance and standards

Output 1.3:

• Value-chain revision mechanism facilitated In relation to

Specific Objective 2:

 Output 2.1:

• Enhanced value addition and diversification

Output 2.2:

• Enhanced SME capacities and opportunities for business and export While UNIDO is in charge of implementing output 1.2 and 2.1., ITC is responsible for the implementation of output 1.1, 1.3 and 2.2.
• To ensure an overall coherent umbrella ATCMA framework, coordination and complementarity between the Continental component and sub-regional components will be ensured throughout the overall programme implementation.
• Output 1.1 of the ECOWAS ATCMA programme aims to identify and then address regulatory and procedural market access barriers related to trade and investment, as well as to prevent the insurgence of new ones in relation to the implementation of AfCFTA and other relevant trade and investment agreements covering the ECOWAS region. For the purpose of this job description, the focus will be on market access barriers that are regulatory in nature and related to policy areas in trade and investment such as intellectual property rights, competition, digital trade, investment facilitation as well as the harmonization with and implementation of various AfCFTA and ECOWAS regional instruments.
• The ultimate goal will be to design and implement sustainable and inclusive policy reforms, both sector-specific and sector-neutral, to improve market access and increase the export competitiveness of SMEs in close coordination with the public private dialogue platforms developed by the project under Output 1.3 (described below).
• Output 1.3 of the ECOWAS ATCMA programme aims to activate regional value chain review mechanisms (VCRMs) and support national value chain working groups to serve as platforms for alignment of workplans and interventions of implementing agencies. It will facilitate the development of a collective strategic regional vision concerning future business trends, challenges, opportunities, and potential policy interventions for the prioritized value chains.
• This will involve conducting value chain assessment and organizing Public-Private Dialogues (PPDs) to engage key institutions, including the ECOWAS Commission, national governments, agencies, and prominent private sector associations. While rooted in the value chain review mechanisms, the primary emphasis will be on articulating a shared regional vision for the priority value chains.
• This entails consolidating insights from various strategic documents, institutions, and forums, mobilizing key stakeholders around the established regional vision, and offering advisory services to assist stakeholders in navigating relevant changes and addressing challenges aligned with the strategic vision.
• This position is located in the Strategies and Policy for Trade and Investment (SPTI) Section within the Division of Market Development (DMD) at ITC. The programme covers activities in ECOWAS member countries through provision of support and facilitation of partnerships with national, regional and international institutions. The duties of the Project Adviser will be mainly focussed on identification and resolution of trade and investment policy related market access barriers, activation of regional VCRMs for selected sectors and liaising with national platforms for alignment of workplans and interventions with the regional agenda.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Under the direct supervision of the Project Advisers in the DMD/SPTI section, the Project Adviser on Policy & Value Chain Engagement will be responsible for the following duties: •
• Support the designated unit of the ECOWAS Commission, or the nominated regional agency/institution in programming and organizing trade and investment policy-related and regional VC platforms meetings, preparing technical documents – reports, concept notes, technical notes, policy briefs, workplans, and PowerPoint presentations.
• Work closely with ECOWAS Commission and relevant regional and national institutions to identify, shortlist and prioritize regulatory barriers to trade and investment; and support the subject-matter experts, including Senior Market Access Expert, in the development of policy reforms to address the prioritized barriers by organizing and participating in meetings (including public-private dialogues), facilitating inputs from regional and national levels, reviewing and improving outputs, communicating results, among others.
• Support designated regional and national focal points to facilitate the design, implementation and monitoring of regional value chain review mechanisms for selected sectors by coordinating value chain development activities, ranging from programming of regional interventions to identifying problems and issues to be addressed and recommending corrective actions, liaising with relevant parties, and identifying and tracking follow-up actions in VCRM activities.
• Collect, analyze, monitor and present data and other information related to VCRM results.
• Support the ECOWAS Commission and national focal points to enter the data on implementation progress and sector-specific outcomes into a strategy tracking tool and update progress and record success stories on a regular basis, based on communication with focal points from the member states. 
• Provide substantive support for the coordination and evaluation functions of policy advocacy and VCRM-related activities, including participation in research studies, policy evaluations and impact assessments.
• Contribute to the preparation and/or review of various written outputs, such as consolidating progress reports and communication briefs for each sector on the status of strategy/operational plans’ implementation, preparing press releases and social media posts.
• Provide administrative and substantive support to VCRM meetings, workshops and other events including proposing agenda topics, identifying and proposing list of participants, preparing background documents and presentations, handling logistics, etc.
• Undertake outreach activities; support the communication of results (e.g., prepare press releases, social media posts, etc.); communicate with national and international funding partners to ensure their engagement with and sustainability of the platforms.
• Participate in field missions, including provision of substantive and technical support, data collection, and analytical support aligned with trade and investment policy and VCRM objectives.
• Maintain regular communication with the ATCMA ECOWAS Programme Management Unit (PMU) based in Abuja.
• Perform other relevant duties as required. Copyright : The personnel has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the Consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to event(s), if required.

Qualifications/special skills

EDUCATION:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, trade, law, business management, public policy or related field.
• A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant work experience in trade and investment related to economic research and analysis, policy/strategy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area.
• Experience in value chain and sector development is desirable.
• Experience in project monitoring and reporting is desirable.

COMPETENCIES:

• Critical job-specific competencies: Professionalism: Understanding of project monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
• Knowledge of EAC processes and procedures considered an asset. Ability to interface economic theories and concepts with practice in different sectors of economic and sustainable development.
• Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skill in developing sources for data collection.
• Computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office software. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style, and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.