Job Description
Selection criteria for applications
The selection process for candidates will be based on the following criteria :
- Candidate’s training/skills/experience
- Candidate’s skills linked with the expert mission
- Candidate’s knowledges related to local context (country or region intervention)
- Candidate’s understanding of cooperation project stakes
Mission description
The African Union Commission (AUC) Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM) through its two Directorates is undertaking the development and harmonization of policies and programmes in supporting the implementation of continental frameworks such as the AU Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) strategy, African Commodities Strategy, the AU Action Plan for Boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT) and supporting the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). These are namely; (1) Economic Development, Integration and Trade (EDIT) responsible for issues on trade policy development, and (2) Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (IMET).
It is against this context, and based on priorities identified by the African Union Commission (AUC), Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM), that Expertise France, proposes to provide technical assistance to the Department, through facilitating the recruitment of a youth volunteer. Under this programme, the youth volunteer will be assigned roles to support the implementation of key industrialization and trade policy frameworks under the mandates of the two Directorates. These interventions are envisaged to positively impact on the sustainability of the AfCFTA implementation process. The volunteer will thus, provide specialised technical support in specific areas informed by identified strategic current, emerging and future technical needs of the EITTIM Department, to enhance its mandate towards. This is part of the broader AUC continental human capital development programme that targets youth for ongoing mentorship in various fields/sectors, to better prepare them to effectively participate into Africa’s social, economic and political development agenda. The Youth Volunteer will be integrated into the Department’s work flow, delivering targeted technical support, informed by an agreed Work Plan developed in close collaboration with the Department.
The youth Expert will have the following professional profile: Junior Trade, Tourism and Natural Resources Officer.
The Youth Expert will work under the direct supervision of the Head Division of Industry, Innovation and Minerals. While the majority of the tasks are on-site, work within the EITTIM Department at the AUC, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the youth volunteer may be requested to travel as part of the duties and responsibilities. In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the youth volunteer will be assigned to deliver the following role:
Junior Trade, Tourism and Natural Resources Development Officer.
The Junior Trade, Tourism and Natural Resources Development Officer will perform the following tasks:
- Assist in the Department’s work flow focused on the development of regional, and continental trade policy to enhance implemenation of the AfCFTA agreement;
- Provide assistance to the Department in its work with Member States to facilitate Trade Facilitation and Customs Administration Measures under BIAT Action Plan;
- Participate in thematic research initiatives covering trade policy, trade facilitation, trade barriers, with a view to improve the continetal trade regime, as well as provide objective trade policy reforms at MS, and regional level, in the context of the AfCFTA implemenation;
- Provide administrative support during the organization of strategic Departmental events such as the Africa Integration Day, and the 3rd Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF);
- Provide programme support for the operationalization of the AU Action Plan for Boosting Intra-Africa Trade (BIAT) Agenda;
- Assist in packaging and promoting urban tourism products among the domestic and regional market;
- Provide assistance in developing a roadmap for mobilization of investments in the tourism sector to accelerate Africa’s inclusive socio-economic development and contribute towards expanding opportunities for Africa on the global Tourism value chain;
- Provide assistance to the Department’s workflow in the area of natural resources development, with special focus on mineral resources development (mineral beneficiation), oil and gas to promote resource-based regional value chains in the continent.
- Provide technical assistance in strengthening the continental networks of Commodity producers in the Minerals, Agriculture, Energy, oil and gas sectors; and
- Perform other duties and tasks that may assigned by the supervisor(s).
Core Competencies
- Ability to communicate clearly;
- Ability to write clearly and concisely;
- Be committed to work;
- Ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural environment; and
- Possess the highest standard of moral conduct and integrity
Expected Duration
- This placement is expected for an initial period of twelve (12) months, upon signature of the contract.
Project or context description
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), conformed by 54 of the 55 African countries, is the first step to achieve the objective of a continental single market. With a journey that started in March 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, when the AfCFTA Agreement was opened to signature, significant milestones have been registered that include 46 ratifications of the Agreement to date, and recent endorsement of the Competition Policy, Investment and Intellectual Property Rights Protocols, by the 36th AU Ho/SG Summit on the 19th of February, 2023. This landmark agreement offers significant promise for the continent’s transformation, and will open up new economies of scale and create stronger foundations for economic diversification.
The AfCFTA is expected to boost intra-African trade, to promote structural transformation and to generate significant employment opportunities in Africa, especially for women and young people. Despite the high political momentum and the strong economic rationale, realizing the AfCFTA will require strengthening institutional capacities to complete negotiations and to implement and honor the agreements, with the active involvement of the private sector and effective cooperation between stakeholders at continental, regional and national level.
Description of the TE TAF
The Team Europe Technical Assistance Facility to support the AfCFTA and Continental Economic Integration (TE TAF) seeks to contribute to the African economic Integration agenda through mainly the realization of the AfCFTA. It has two specific objectives: (1). Secretariat – with focus on strengthening the institutional capacity to coordinate negotiations, as well as provide oversight on the implementation of the Agreement, and (2). to be an efficient, reactive and flexible mechanism to answer to the needs of the African Union (AfCFTA Secretariat, AUC and some AU Specialized agencies), RECs, AU Member States and other potential continental partners and regional private sector organizations, working on fostering the AfCFTA and economic continental integration.
The AU Commission, specifically the Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Mining (ETTIM), plays a key role in the implementation of the AfCFTA, providing continental trade, and industry policy oversight and coordination responsibilities, to drive harmonization of legal instruments across member states. Output 2 under TE – TAF, focuses on; The Capacity of AUC to advance Continental Economic Industrial Policies complementary to the AfCFTA is strengthened. In line with this Output, ETTIM has been driving implementation of key industrialisation and trade policy frameworks under the agenda 2063’s works streams that include the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA), AU SME Strategy, Africa Union Commodity Strategy, the Boosting Intra – African Trade (BIAT), and the Africa Mining Vision.
During the period November 2022 to January 2023, an ETTIM – TAF 2023 Joint Work Programme has been developed, and is now under implementation.
Required profile
Qualifications for the Youth Volunteers’
The Youth Volunteer will be selected on a competitive basis, and meet the following criteria;
Junior Trade, Tourism and Natural Resources Development Officer.
- Must have obtained a Bachelor’s degree or an advanced/ post graduate (Masters) qualification in a related academic field, preferably in International Trade; Economics, Tourism and Hospitality, Natural Resource Management, and Mineral Resource Development.
- Experience in the trade policy analysis and research, tourism development, and natural resource management.
- Knowledge of the Africa Union Commodity Strategy, the Boosting Intra – African Trade (BIAT), and the Africa Mining Vision is an added value.
- Knowledge of the Africa Union continetal development framework, such as BIAT, and the AfCFTA Agenda will be an added advantage.
Experience and other key requirements.
- Be nationals of a Member State of the African Union.
- Have a minimum of 1 year volunteerism/ work experience in national, regional or international organization in the relevant filed of work targeted for the specific Youth Volunteer role (Trade, Tourism and natural resource development)
- Be fluent in at least one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French or Portuguese);
- Be no more than thirty-five (35) years of age at the time of selection; and
- Possess the highest standard of moral conduct and integrity.
Required Skills
- Proficient computer skills (MS Word, Excel and Power Point);
- Proficiency with e-mail and internet applications;
- Good interpersonal skills;
- Ability to communicate both orally and in writing;
- Proficiency in one of the AU officials working languages (French, English, Portuguese, Arabic, Spanish, and Kiswahili) and fluency in another AU language(s) is an added advantage.
Deadline for application : 2023/08/30 23:59