SMEs Trade Development Advisor - Committed To Good

CTG staff and support humanitarian projects in fragile and conflict-affected countries around the world, providing a rapid and cost-effective service for development and humanitarian missions. With past performance in 17 countries – from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia, we have placed more than 20,000 staff all over the world since operations began in 2006.

CTG recruits, deploys and manages the right people with the right skills to implement humanitarian and development projects, from cleaners to obstetricians, and mechanics to infection specialists, we’re skilled in emergency response to crises such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

The key to successful project delivery is the ability to mobilise at speed; CTG can source and deploy anyone, anywhere, in less than 2 weeks and has done so in 48 hours on a number of occasions.

Through our efficient and agile HR, logistical and operational services, CTG saves multilateral organisations time and money. We handle all our clients’ HR-related issues, so they are free to focus on their core services.

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.
• Article 3 of the AfCFTA agreement provides for the 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 programs 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.

Role objectives

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 and 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.

Qualification:

• Master’s in Economics, Social Policy Analysis, International Trade or Trade Law, development Economics.
• A combination of academic and technical experience in both social & economic fields or a Bachelor's Decree in Economics, International Trade, or Trade Law and at least 10 years of experience in trade policy formulation, negotiation & implementation ( 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).