VAC-9771 Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Trade Development Advisor

• The 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, 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 first Secretary General.

• The agreement establishing the African continental free trade area was signed at an extraordinary session of the assembly of the 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.

• Article 3 of the AfCFTA agreement provides for promotion of industrial development through diversification & regional value chain development, agricultural development & food security. This is imperative given the low levels of investments in industrial production, which is also a major contributor to the low percentage of intra trade in the continent.

• It is in this area of responsibility that the AfCFTA Secretariat, together with partners, undertakes a mandate to coordinate pursuing of industrialisation work program through regional value chains as part of the implementation of the agreement. There has always been convergence on key sectors of priority value chains in the continent namely, agriculture & agro processing, pharmaceuticals, mineral beneficiation & automotives. Selection of value chains will be based on data, evidence & its potential to promote job creation, inclusion of SMMEs (women & youth owed) & increase intra Africa trade. 

• It is against this background that the AfCFTA Secretariat seeks to engage the services of an experienced SMEs Trade Development Advisor to support the promotion of industrial development through diversification & regional value chain development, agricultural development & food security.

The SMEs Trade & Development Advisor to support the promotion of industrial development through diversification & regional value chain development, agricultural development & food security will work directly under the supervision of the Director responsible for this Division on the following tasks, among others:

• Undertake situational analysis, including a needs analysis of MSMEs in cross border trade across the continent & their classification(s) & in case of divergence in classification propose a harmonization as may be applicable.

• Prepare sectoral strategy & action plan for the integration of MSMEs in AfCFTA trading.

• Contribute to the development of a regulation on infant industries.

• Contribute to the development of a regulation on Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

• Design capacity building support to enhance linkages of MSMEs to regional value chains.

• Design & facilitate the organization of industrial development fora.

• Design sensitization & awareness campaigns to create awareness on regional value chains.

• Perform any other duties as may be required from time to time.

The main deliverables of the assignment are as follows:

This assignment will be carried out under the supervision of the Director responsible for this Division.

• Master’s Degree in Economics, Social Policy Analysis, International Trade or Trade Law, Development Economics, a combination of academic & technical experience in both social & economic fields, a Barchelors Degree in Economics, International Trade, or Trade law & at least 10 years of experience in trade policy formulation, negotiation & implementation. 

• 10 solid years of experience in the areas of regional integration, economic development, strategic planning of the projects focused on economic development through providing evidence based policy advice.

• Practical experience in trade & development policy formulation at national, regional & multilateral organisations. 

• 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 African Union, RECs & other multilateral institutions on the continent.

• Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders (civil society, government authorities, local communities, project staff).

• Full command of Microsoft 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.

This role has no team management responsibility.

• The consultant will be based in Accra, with travels to the member states.

• The duration of the assignment will be 225 working days.

• The selected consultant shall receive his / her lump sum service fees upon certification of the completed tasks satisfactorily, as per the following payment schedule: