Regional Trade Advisor – Western Africa at Committed To Good (CTG)

Qualification    Master's in Economics, International Trade or Trade Law, Development Economics, International Relations (essential).
Sector experience    Minimum of 10 year/s of demonstrable relevant Trade Policies, Trade Negotiations & Implementation experience (essential).
Geographical experience    Minimum of 10 year/s of experience in Africa (desirable).
Languages    Fluent in one of the AfCFTA working languages ​​(French, English, Portuguese, Arabic). Fluency in another AfCFTA working language(s) is an added advantage. (desirable).

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.

The Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have a very important role to play in the advancement of the Africa’s integration agenda & in particular the AfCFTA. The agreement recognizes the RECs as building blocks for the AfCFTA, which is expected to build on the progress that had been achieved by the RECs. The AfCFTA Secretariat is therefore expected to work with the RECs in the implementation of the AfCFTA. The 33rd ordinary session of the assembly of heads of state of the AU held in February 2020 requested the AfCFTA Secretariat, AU commission, the RECs to develop a framework of collaboration before the start of trading under the AfCFTA & submit a substantive progress report on the matter.

In January 2017, the ordinary session of the AU also directed that there should be effective collaboration & a clear division of labour between the AU, RECs / Regional Mechanisms (RMs) & the member states, in line with the principle of subsidiarity.

Therefore, the need to establish a clear & effective division of labour is necessitated by the need for AfCFTA Secretariat & other allied institutions, in particular the RECs, to work together in every area of integration based on their respective competences so as to remove overlaps & duplication. This ensures the delineation of responsibilities within each area or sector of integration based on subsidiarity.

It is against this background that the AfCFTA Secretariat seeks to engage the services of a Regional Trade Advisor – Western Africa to support the development of region specific strategy to enhance the effective collaboration between the AfCFTA Secretariat & the Western Africa region.

Role objectives     

The Regional Trade Advisor – Western Africa, to support the development of region specific strategy to enhance the effective collaboration between the AfCFTA Secretariat & the Western Africa region will work directly under the RECs Advisors’ Coordinator on the following tasks, among others:

• Coordinate & monitor the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement in the Western Africa region.
• Map out the potential areas of convergence, divergence in the Western Africa liberalization agenda & the implementation of the AfCFTA.
• Develop appropriate modalities, mechanisms for managing the interface between the Secretariat of the AfCFTA & the Western Africa region.
• Develop a strategy to enhance the effective collaboration between the AfCFTA Secretariat & the Western Africa region.
• Develop an implementation matrix for collaboration between the AfCFTA Secretariat & the Western Africa region.
• Establish mechanisms to ensure private sector / civil society involvement in the AfCFTA at the Western Africa region.
• Establish effective mechanisms for mobilization of resources for the effective implementation of the AfCFTA / Western Africa collaboration.
• Perform any other duties as may be required from time to time.

The main deliverables of the assignment are as follows:

No.

Deliverables / outputs

Estimated duration to complete

Review & Approvals required

1

Inception report

5 working days

RECs Advisor Coordinator

2

Develop a mechanism for coordinating & monitoring the implementation of the AfCFTA in the Western Africa Region

20 working days

RECs Advisors’ Coordinator

3

Map out the potential areas of convergence, divergence in the western region’s liberalization agenda & the implementation of the AfCFTA

40 working days

RECs Advisors’ Coordinator

4

Study on AfCFTA Secretariat – Western Africa region interface

40 working days

RECs Advisors’ Coordinator

5

Develop a strategy to enhance the effective collaboration between the AfCFTA Secretariat & the Western Africa region

40 working days

RECs Advisors’ Coordinator

6

Enhancing private sector / civil society involvement in the AfCFTA / Western Africa Region collaboration

20 working days

RECs Advisors’ Coordinator

7

Resource mobilisation for the AfCFTA / Western Africa collaboration

20 working days

RECs Advisors’ Coordinator

8

Develop an implementation matrix for collaboration between the AfCFTA Secretariat & the Western Africa region

30 working days

RECs Advisors’ Coordinator

9

Final report

15 working days
    

RECs Advisors’ Coordinator
Project reporting     

• This assignment will be carried out under the supervision of the RECs Advisors’ Coordinator in the Office of the Secretary General.
• 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, International Trade or Trade Law, Development Economics, International Relations.
• 10 years of experience in the area of trade policies, trade negotiations & implementation at national, regional or multilateral level.
• Practical experience in trade policy formulation, negotiation, implementation at the national & regional level.
• 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 duration of the assignment will be 230 days.
• The Consultant will be based in Abuja – Nigeria, with travels to the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra, Ghana & to other member states.

The selected consultant shall receive his / her lump sum service fees upon certification of the completed tasks satisfactorily, as per the following payment schedule:
Installment of payment / period    Deliverables or documents to be delivered     Approval should be obtained     Percentage of payment
1st installment     Deliverable 1    RECs Advisors Coordinator    10%
2nd installment     Deliverable 2    RECs Advisors Coordinator
    15%
3rd installment     Deliverables 3 & 4    RECs Advisors Coordinator    25%
4th installment    Deliverables 5, 6 & 7    RECs Advisors Coordinator    20%
5th installment    Deliverable 8    RECs Advisors Coordinator    10%
6th installment    Deliverable 9    RECs Advisros Coordinator    20%