Communications Consultant

Result of Service

Output 1: by 30 November 2025
• Event coordination and promotional materials for ATCMA launches and workshops
• Communications and Outreach Materials for ATCMA events (e.g. at Biashara Afrika and sub-region conferences)
• Final ATCMA Communications and Visibility Roadmap Output 2: 31 December 2025
• Draft ATCMA Newsletter
• Partner and stakeholders contact database for ATCMA
• Virtual Training on ATCMA Communications and Visibility Roadmap for ATCMA communications field experts

Work Location

ITC Headquarters (Geneva)

Expected duration

2 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Implementation of the landmark African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement is expected to boost intra-African trade significantly. This potential, however, will not be realised without measures to support Africa's private sector to take advantage of preferential market access under the Agreement. For almost sixty years, the International Trade Centre (ITC) has enabled MSMEs in developing economies to become more competitive and connect to international markets. To upscale support to African businesses under the AfCFTA, in 2020, ITC launched a new corporate programme called "One Trade Africa" (OTA) to empower, enhance and enable African MSMEs, women and youth entrepreneurs to access new and transformative market opportunities created by the AfCFTA. In 2025, the Office for Africa will implement a new project called Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access" (ATCMA). Funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by ITC and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), this four-year programme aims to improve market access for specific value chains and increase the export competitiveness of African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in these sectors. The umbrella programme is structured around two intervention levels: 1) the Continental Component and 2) Sub-regional Components in five regional economic communities (RECs): COMESA, EAC, ECCAS, ECOWAS and SADC. A critical objective of the Continental Component is to ensure coherent and consistent communications across the ATCMA programme maximising linkages between the REC-level and AfCFTA messaging. It is in this context that ITC is recruiting a communications consultant to support the delivery of visibility, outreach and communications activities for the ATCMA Continental, SADC and ECCAS Components. Description of Duties/Responsibilities The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Office for Africa, DCP/OA, and the direct supervision of the ATCMA Continental Programme Officer, DCP/OA in close collaboration with ATCMA SADC and ECCAS Programme Officers DCP/OA. They will also liaise with ITC Communications and Events (CE) and ITC Division of Country Programmes (DCP) Communications and Events team (CCU) to ensure alignment with ITC corporate communications and visibility guidelines. The Consultant will fulfil the following duties and responsibilities including: Strategy Developing and implementing an ATCMA Communications and Visibility Roadmap that:
• Aligns with ITC and UNIDO overall Communications Strategies and Protocols.
• Ensures consistency in messaging, and visual identity to establish a robust and consistent ATCMA brand across RECs
• Reflects the communications and visibility priorities of the EU Global Gateway.
• Enhances stakeholder engagement and outreach, particularly the private sector.
• Promotes visibility through digital and traditional media. Events Management
• Organize and manage ATCMA communication campaigns and events.
• Coordinate meeting beneficiaries to gather visual and written content (interviews, pictures and video footage) to capture impacts of the ATCMA project.
• Support and develop the design of branding materials including PowerPoints, guides and flyers for events.
• Develop ATCMA partner and stakeholder contacts database. Visibility and Media outreach
• Manage ATCMA digital communication platforms, including websites and social media.
• Create compelling ATCMA content such as press releases, web stories, newsletters, continental briefs, op-eds and ensure regular updates.
• Foster relationships with media outlets, journalist's stakeholder and partner communication teams in Africa at national and regional levels.
• Track key news, events and platforms on Africa's regional integration and AfCFTA to feed the OTA monthly briefing notes. Copyright The personnel has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/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. S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to event(s), if required. 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.

Qualifications/special skills

Master's degree (or equivalent) in communications, marketing, economics, development, business, international relations, economic development, or related field. At least 5 years of experience working on communications and visibility related assignments on issues of relevance to African trade policy, business and development Other Experience: - Proven hands-on experience in project design, planning, management and monitoring. Previous work experience on trade development issues would be an asset). - Good understanding of the regional integration process in Africa, with a focus on the AfCFTA. - Proven hands-on experience in events management and communications in Africa. - Strong networks with critical AfCFTA stakeholders including the AfCFTA Secretariat, AUC and RECs. Skills: - Presentation - Analytics - Writing - Marketing - Event Management - Advocacy - Social media - Interpersonal - Teamwork

Languages

Fluency in English and French.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

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.