National Consultant: Japanese Market Actor Mapping and Matchmaking Expert

Output 1 – by 31 July 2026 • Mapping of Japanese market actors in all three tiers and their IT needs, including relevant segmentation by sector and service needs Output 2 – by 31 August 2026 • One webinar on working with Japanese clients delivered Output 3 – by 30 September 2026 • At least one online webinar on working with Japanese clients • Online matchmaking sessions connecting Palestinian freelancers with potential Japanese clients • Brief outreach and matchmaking report, including: o Number of clients engaged o Number of meetings/matchmaking sessions conducted o Leads and opportunities identified (and contracts where feasible) Deliverables will be submitted monthly for validation prior to payment. All deliverables must: • Be submitted in English (unless otherwise specified); • Be approved by the ITC Programme Manager; • Comply with agreed timelines and quality standards.

home-based in Japan

01.07.26 - 30.09.26

The International Trade Centre (ITC), in cooperation with the Business and Technology Incubator (BTI), a Palestine-based institution, is implementing the Inclusive Digital Resilience for Conflict-Impacted Palestinians project. The initiative aims to strengthen the economic resilience of Palestinians affected by ongoing conflict by connecting local talent with opportunities in the global digital economy. The project specifically targets youth, women, persons with disabilities, and displaced individuals across Gaza, the West Bank, and neighbouring host locations. By equipping participants with market-relevant digital skills and facilitating their integration into international freelance markets, the project enables beneficiaries to generate income remotely and overcome physical and economic barriers to employment. In response to widespread economic disruption, restricted mobility, and the destruction of infrastructure, the project promotes digital trade and freelancing as viable pathways to sustainable livelihoods. It builds on a proven model developed through the long-standing partnership between ITC and the Government of Japan. Previous phases implemented in Gaza successfully trained more than 600 beneficiaries—over half of whom were women—and achieved an income-generation rate of approximately 70%, with participants collectively earning more than USD 260,000 in a single phase. The project is anchored in a centralized Virtual Learning Space (VLS), which serves as an integrated digital ecosystem for training, mentoring, and market access. Through this platform, the project delivers three complementary intervention tracks. The first track focuses on market-driven digital freelancing, offering training in high-demand fields such as UI/UX design, web development, graphic design, and digital marketing. Participants also receive targeted coaching on navigating international freelance platforms, building professional profiles, managing client relationships, and strengthening financial literacy. These efforts are complemented by structured mentoring to enhance participants’ competitiveness in the global gig economy. The second track addresses resilience in education by providing instructional design training to educators and professionals. This enables participants to convert traditional curricula into online formats, helping ensure continuity of learning despite disruptions to formal education systems. The third track focuses on tech entrepreneurship, supporting advanced participants in transforming digital skills into scalable business ventures. Through entrepreneurship training and business development support, the project aims to foster sustainable digital enterprises that contribute to job creation and longer-term economic recovery. In addition to training and mentoring, the project promotes market linkages and international visibility for Palestinian digital talent. Targeted digital marketing campaigns highlight the capabilities of freelancers to global clients, while matchmaking and networking initiatives support qualified participants in securing contracts. Across all components, the project places strong emphasis on inclusion and accessibility. The Virtual Learning Space incorporates accessibility features to support persons with disabilities and uses voluntary data collection to monitor engagement among displaced populations and other vulnerable groups. About the sub-component on Digital Promotion and Matchmaking: The purpose of the sub-component on Matchmaking includes promoting Palestinian talents through conducting targeted outreach to employers and platforms, with the aim of securing real job opportunities and business leads. The target audience is regional, international and Japan. The consultant will specifically focus on Japanese market actors and contribution to the creation of meaningful connections between them and Palestinian talents, establishing a win-win with cost-effective labour for Japanese companies and decent jobs for Palestinian freelancers. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES The consultant will work under the direct supervision of Associate Programme Officer, under the overall guidance and technical direction of the Chief, Sector and Enterprise Competitiveness (both based in Geneva, Switzerland) and in close coordination with ITC project team (both based at ITC HQ and in Palestine). The consultant will be responsible for providing technical expertise to deliver the following areas of responsibilities: Activity 1 Develop a mapping of Japanese market actors and define their IT needs • Identify relevant Japanese market actors and create a database, including: o First tier: Japanese startups and SMEs seeking cost-effective and flexible digital outsourcing solutions, including through startup and innovation networks such as JETRO Startup, J-Startup, and relevant tech incubators and venture ecosystems; o Second tier: Japanese corporates operating or expanding in MENA markets that may require Arabic-language capabilities, regional market support, digital operations support, localization services, or scalable remote talent solutions, including engagement with business associations and chambers such as Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), JCCME (Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East), and relevant ICT and outsourcing industry associations; o Third tier: Japanese freelancing, outsourcing, and digital work platforms that could facilitate or promote opportunities for Palestinian digital freelancers, including platforms and ecosystem actors such as Lancers, CrowdWorks, and relevant impact sourcing and digital outsourcing networks including Global Impact Sourcing Consortium (GISC) and Robo Co-op. • Create connections and build relations with relevant Japanese market actors • Assess the needs for remote IT and digital talent and integrate this in the database, including relevant segmentation by sector and service needs The activity should contribute to enhancing the visibility, credibility, and market access of Palestinian freelancers, with a view to generating concrete client interest and business opportunities in Japan. Activity 2 Organise matchmaking between potential Japanese clients and Palestinian freelancing talents • Conduct targeted outreach to potential Japanese clients and platforms (as mentioned in Activity 1), promoting Palestinian freelancers and upcoming matchmaking opportunities • Organise and deliver 1 to 2 online webinar (1 hour each) covering practical guidance on working with Japanese clients, including communication practices, expectations, pricing, and cultural considerations • Organise and moderate online matchmaking sessions connecting freelancers with potential Japanese clients, ensuring: o Proper matching based on skills and client needs o Structured facilitation to support effective interaction and pitching • Facilitate initial interactions between freelancers and clients, including introductions and follow-up communication where needed • Conduct systematic follow-up and monitoring, including: o Tracking number of clients engaged and meetings held o Identifying leads generated and opportunities created o Supporting conversion into concrete job opportunities or contracts (where feasible) Copyright Clause: The consultant has to ensure to have obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform their 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.

Undergraduate degree (BA/BSC or other) in business administration, management, economics, or a related field. Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. • Minimum of 5 years of relevant working experience in managing and/or supporting entrepreneurship, freelancing and/or incubation in Japan is required. ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE: • Experience working in the field of B2B/matchmaking between Japanese and international busi-nesses is an asset. • Knowledge about Japanese freelancing platforms or online employment solutions for foreigners is an asset. REQUIRED SKILLS: • Familiarity with Japanese business culture is required. • Strong communication and coordination skills are required. • Substantial understanding of Japan’s digital and start-up ecosystem is required. DESIRABLE SKILLS: • Network within Japan’s incubation and innovation ecosystem is desirable. • Ability to work with efficiency, competence and integrity and in harmony with people of different cultural and national backgrounds. • Ability to plan own work and use time efficiently, manage conflicting priorities and work under pres-sure of tight and conflicting deadlines. • Familiarity with Palestinian/Arab business culture would be an advantage. • Knowledge of the UN system and procedures or experience of international development projects would be an asset.

Advanced English and Japanese are required.

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.