Investment Senior Advisor (International Consultant)

As a core part of this assignment, the consultant will provide expert support to the development of the investment strategy through the following milestones: 1. Inception Phase: A comprehensive report detailing your proposed methodology, project scope, and detailed work plan. • Timeline: 2 weeks from start 2. Strategic Audit: An analysis of ITC’s current investment landscape, mapping existing activities, tools, and market positioning. • Timeline: at the end of 1st month and following satisfactory completion of Deliverable 1 3. Benchmarking & Analysis: A comparative study of peer organizations paired with an analytical brief identifying our competitive strengths. • Timeline: at the end of 2nd month and following satisfactory completion of Deliverable 2 4. Strategic Recommendations: A synthesis of key findings and actionable high-level recommendations for the organization. • Timeline: at the end of 3rd month and following satisfactory completion of Deliverable 3 5. ITC Investment Strategy & Offer: The final delivery of a robust value proposition and a practical implementation roadmap. • Timeline: subject to extension, at the end of project completion

home-based - possible travel for consultations and stakeholder meetings

3 months

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint technical cooperation agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO). ITC’s mission is to foster inclusive and sustainable trade-led growth by strengthening the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing and transition economies. Investment has become a key driver of sustainable growth and transformation. Global initiatives such as the EU’s Global Gateway and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 highlight the importance of channelling investment into productive sectors and value chains. In this context, ITC is reinforcing its approach to investment facilitation, promotion and attraction, positioning investment as a complement to trade and value chain development to accelerate inclusive growth. To support this process, ITC seeks a senior consultant to help shape a strategic, coherent and evidence-based investment offer. The assignment will help map existing ITC investment-related work, benchmark ITC’s offer against comparable organizations, and identify strategic directions to enhance ITC’s contribution to value chain development through investment. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES Under the overall supervision of the Chiefs of Strategy and Policy for Trade and Investment (SPTI) and Institutions and Ecosystems (IE), and in close collaboration with the Senior Programme Officer on Access to Finance, the consultant will: (PHASE 1) 1. Identify strategic opportunities • Analyse evolving global trends in development cooperation, including the shift from traditional aid to thematic investment partnerships and catalytic financing models. • Examine how donor priorities (e.g., Global Gateway) and beneficiary priorities are redefining the role of investment, value chain upgrading and SME competitiveness. • Outline the implications for ITC’s mandate and positioning and articulate the rationale for enhancing ITC’s investment offer. 2. Map ITC’s current investment-related offer and tools • Review ongoing and past ITC initiatives that incorporate investment intelligence components, investment facilitation, promotion, attraction and aftercare. • Identify complementarities and overlaps across divisions, sections and projects. • Develop a concise synthesis of ITC’s existing capacities, tools, and comparative advantages. 3. Conduct external benchmarking • Benchmark ITC’s investment-related offer and positioning against comparable organizations, both within and outside the UN system (e.g., UNCTAD, UNIDO, WAIPA, CAIPA, UNCDF, WEF, OECD, ICC, WTO, EIF, regional development banks, and selected private sector actors). • Identify good practices and innovative approaches to linking investment facilitation with value chain upgrading and SME competitiveness. 4. Provide strategic recommendations • Assess areas where ITC can further strengthen its offer to enhance value chain-based investment facilitation, attract sustainable FDI, mobilize DDI and foster linkages with local enterprises. • Propose actionable recommendations for refining ITC’s investment approach, including its focus areas, value proposition, and delivery mechanisms. Ensure that proposed recommendations are aligned with the Call to Action adopted at the SME Ministerial Meeting, identifying concrete ways to support its implementation. • Summarize key findings in concise, clear deliverables suitable for senior management consideration. (PHASE 2, CONDITIONAL ON RESULTS OF PHASE 1) 5. Support preparation of an internal investment strategy paper • Support the drafting of a Strategic Framework for ITC’s Investment Offer, outlining possible pillars, guiding principles, and implementation pathways. • Contribute to a draft ITC Investment Strategy and Offer document, to be used as the foundation for future programming and donor engagement. Copyright Clause: The consultant has to ensure that she has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform 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. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Economics, International Business, Development Studies, or related field. • At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in foreign direct investment (FDI), domestic institutional investment (DII), investment promotion and facilitation, or international development related to investment facilitation. • Strong understanding of the evolving international investment landscape, including sustainable and impact investment trends. • Demonstrated experience working with or advising UN agencies, international financial institutions (IFIs), national governments, or investment promotion agencies (IPAs). • Proven expertise in strategic assessment, benchmarking, and policy analysis in the context of investment for development. • Familiarity with value chain development and SME integration into global markets. Skills: • Excellent analytical, strategic and communication skills. • Proven ability to synthesize complex information into actionable recommendations. • Familiarity with donor and international development partner approaches to investment and value chain/private sector development. • Familiarity with private sector investment strategies • Ability to work independently, coordinate across diverse teams, and deliver high-quality outputs.

• Advanced English is required. • French is desirable.

Not available.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.