Duty Station: Addis Ababa
Deadline: 14 Sep 2022
Job Description
Result of Service
1. Strengthened ECCSA research and advocacy capacity on trade-related issues, particularly on the AfCFTA.
2. Strengthened ECCSA institutional capacity in identifying problems, devising solutions, and advocating for AfCFTA implementation in Ethiopia that maximizes the opportunities and minimizes the adverse effects.
3. Strengthened ECCSA capacity to organize and manage events.
Work Location
Addis Ababa
Expected duration
The duration of the contract will be for a period of 6 months upon HRSS approval (tentatively from 1 October 2022 to 30 March 2023).
Duties and Responsibilities
Background
The African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), through the Regional Integration and Trade Division, is a specialized unit within the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Its mission is to act as the leading Africa-based Centre of excellence and a continental hub for providing and coordinating technical support for the development of trade policies in Africa. ATPC works with stakeholders at all levels to enhance the implementation of sound national, regional and international trade strategies, policies and programs. The Centre also conducts research to generate and disseminate knowledge on trade and provides policy advice, training and capacity building based on the needs identified by its partners.
ATPC is currently executing a Project that focuses on supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement to boost-intra-African trade. The Agreement establishing the AfCFTA was signed in March 2018, entered into force in May 2019 and the official start of trading under the Agreement took place on 1 January 2021. The AfCFTA is seen as a key milestone in Africa’s integration Agenda. The AfCFTA is expected to be a key engine of economic growth, industrialization and sustainable development in Africa in line with the 2030 Agenda adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, and the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 for “The Africa We Want”.
For the AfCFTA to deliver the expected outcomes, a number of actions need to be undertaken in the short to medium term. Firstly, the ratification of the AfCFTA by all the African Union (AU) member States is critical. Secondly, there is a need to build on the political momentum behind the AfCFTA to support policy reforms that are aimed at implementing the Agreement. In this regard, it is critical for member States to undertake deliberate actions and deploy necessary efforts through effective and integrated national AfCFTA implementation strategies with a view to maximize the benefits of the Agreement while minimizing potential adverse effects.
ATPC is playing a key role in support of the AU, its institutions and member States to successfully conclude negotiations on outstanding issues from Phase I (on trade in goods and trade in services) and Phase II (on investment, intellectual property rights, competition policy, digital trade/e-commerce and women and youth in trade) and subsequent implementation.
The private sector has a critical role to play for countries to realize the benefits of the AfCFTA. Collaboration between government and the private sector, including Small to Medium Enterprises, is essential for effective implementation of the Agreement. However, the capacity of business associations and chambers representing the private sector, known as Business Membership Organizations (BMOs), to support the development sound trade policies and strategies at both national and reginal levels remains weak. For the AfCFTA to succeed, BMOs need to be strengthened so as to enable them to work effectively together with government agencies in ensuring effective implementation of the AfCFTA.
It is in this context that the ECA, through ATPC, proposes to recruit a Junior Consultant to carry out a variety of research-related tasks to support the substantive work of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) in the implementation of the AfCFTA in Ethiopia. ECCSA is an apex organization of Chambers and Sectoral Associations in Ethiopia and one of its main objectives is to serve as a bridge between the business community and the Government.
Objectives
The overarching objective of this assignment is to enhance the capacity of the ECCSA to support its members understand the opportunities arising out of Ethiopia’s participation in the AfCFTA and contribute to the successful implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement for mutual benefit.
Duties & Responsibilities
The Junior Consultant will work under the overall guidance and joint supervision of the ATPC
Coordinator and the Secretary General of ECCSA. More specifically, the consultant will work under the direct supervision of the ECCSA Secretary General, who will send to the ATPC Coordinator monthly performance evaluation reports on the Junior Consultant. ECA will complete the monthly performance evaluation forms for the Junior Consultant based on the monthly reports from ECCSA.
The tasks to be performed by the consultant include:
1. Conduct research to inform ECCSA and its members on the AfCFTA, its challenge and opportunities, and how they can maximize the opportunities and mitigate the challenges;
2. Under the guidance of the ECCSA Secretary General, prepare draft strategies to guide ECCSA engagement with Government and other stakeholders on AfCFTA implementation that is inclusive of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), women-owned businesses, and businesses owned by disadvantaged groups in society;
3. Contribute to the generation and dissemination of knowledge on the AfCFTA and its opportunities to different segments of Ethiopian society, including producers, traders, as well as consumers;
4. Assist ECCSA in the preparation of position papers and advocacy tools to ensure relevant government agencies appreciate, defend, and promote the interests of the Ethiopian private sector in the negotiation and implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement and its protocols;
5. Conduct continuing surveys and assessments on the interests and priorities of the Ethiopian private sector vis-à-vis the AfCFTA and its implementation;
6. Assess the views and preferences of ECCSA members on Phase II issues of investment, intellectual property rights, competition policy, digital trade/e-commerce, and women and youth in trade for submission to government as negotiations progress;
7. Organize, alone or in collaboration with other players, regular training and sensitization events on the AfCFTA for the benefit of the Ethiopia business community;
8. Prepare and publish policy briefs, newspaper columns, blog articles, op-eds, social media posts, and similar communication tools on AfCFTA issues of significance to Ethiopia in general and the Ethiopian private sector in particular;
9. Prepare draft strategies to support domestic policy and legislative reforms that facilitate effective implementation of the AfCFTA;
10. Provide support with planning, organization and servicing of events (including conferences, trainings/courses) in relation to trade; and
11. Assist with any other ad-hoc tasks as may be assigned by the ECCSA Secretary General and/or the ATPC Coordinator.
Qualifications/special skills
Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or above) in economics, international trade law, political economy or related fields is required.
Experience: A minimum of five years of experience in trade-related research and/or analysis is required. Experience working in Ethiopia with knowledge of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is also required. Experience in conducting and publishing interdisciplinary research in the policy, economics and/or legal aspects of trade-led integration in Africa is highly desirable. Conference organization and report writing experiences are also desirable.
Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required.
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.