International Consultant

Result of Service
- To be specified based on ATCMA Programme progress in the ECCAS Region.
- Work Location
- Home-based (mandatory) in countries of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and preferably in Cameroon.
- Expected duration
- 4 months.**Responsibilities**:

- BACKGROUND: The International Trade Centre (ITC) has a unique mandate in the United Nations system to promote increased competitiveness of Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing, transition and least developed countries and assisting them to better use trade as a platform for growth, development, and employment creation. As such, ITC supports these countries to improve their business environment and facilitate better management of border operations, including through the implementation of inclusive and sustainable trade facilitation reforms and in particular the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). About the project: From November 2024 to November 2028, ITC implements jointly with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) the Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) - Component Central Africa, in close collaboration with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and funded by the European Union (EU). This large-scale joint initiative aims at sustainably increasing intra-African trade and trade between Africa and the EU by improving market access for selected value chains through Trade and Investment Policy and Facilitation assistance, by strengthening compliance with quality standards, and by promoting strengthening value addition and diversification, as well as by increasing the export capacities of companies and realizing business opportunities. Among other interventions under Output 1 Market access barriers are identified and reduced, ITC implements the following trade facilitation activities: - Activity 1.1.2: ECCAS Member States are supported in the implementation of trade facilitation provisions and other relevant trade agreements to eliminate market access barriers on target priority value chains. - Activity 1.1.3: Performance at corridor level, including border management, is improved. - Activity 1.1.4: Small-scale cross-border trade is supported to participate in priority value chains. In this context, ITC seeks to hire an International Consultant - “Trade Facilitation Lead” - to serve as technical advisor on trade facilitation initiatives under the ATCMA Programme in the ECCAS Region. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: The International Consultant - “Trade Facilitation Lead” - will work under the direct supervision of the Associate Programme Officer on Trade and Investment Facilitation and the overall guidance and technical direction of the Trade and Investment Facilitation Advisor both at the ITC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Throughout the assignment, the Consultant will accordingly perform the following duties: 1. Stakeholder engagement and coordination for trade facilitation activities in ECCAS - Foster and maintain positive working relations with public officials, private sector representatives and other key stakeholders to ensure smooth project implementation and effective collaboration on Trade Facilitation activities. This includes briefing and engaging government officials, private sector stakeholders, development partners and other relevant entities to discuss and advertise project outcomes and insights before, during, and after field missions. - In close coordination with relevant ITC Office of Africa officer, act as liaison for the purpose of Trade Facilitation activities between ITC Trade and Investment Facilitation team and: o National and/or regional stakeholders involved in Trade Facilitation activities, including international organizations (e.g., ECCAS Commission), government counterparts (e.g., Ministry of Trade, Customs), Border Regulatory Agencies (BRA), SMEs, private sector organizations, field consultants, and other stakeholders to facilitate the delivery of Trade Facilitation activities. o Other UN agencies and development partners evolving in the Trade Facilitation area in the region to align and find synergies in the delivery of Trade Facilitation activities. o Other ITC and UNIDO teams including when applicable with relevant ITC sections to ensure that Trade Facilitation activities are delivered building synergies with other technical teams for delivering as “one ITC”. 2. Technical and strategic guidance on Trade Facilitation Reforms in ECCAS - Provide advisory to help guide the design, implementation, and refinement of the ATCMA Programme interventions on trade facilitation balancing beneficiaries’ expectations and project’s objectives and expected outcomes. This includes hands on inputs and to refine trade facilitation interventions, ensuring interventions are tailored to the specific needs of the project and the local context. - Carries out research on selected aspects of the A