Result of Service
1. Strengthened research capacity of ATPC on trade-related issues, particularly in the areas of digital trade, trade and gender, informal cross border trade, product and service standards, and other issues in the process of continuing AfCFTA negotiations and implementation; 2. Enhanced quality and availability of data to better assist African member States to design and formulate trade policies; and 3. Successfully organized ATPC events on trade-related issues.
Duties and Responsibilities
Background The African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), through the Regional Integration and Trade Division (RITD), 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 sound trade policy 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 policy 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 and entered into force in May 2019. The AfCFTA is seen as a key milestone in Africa’s integration Agenda as well as a powerful instrument to realize the next stages of the continental integration journey. The AfCFTA is expected to be a key engine of economic growth, industrialization and sustainable development in Africa in line with the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 for “The Africa We Want” and the 2030 Agenda adopted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015. For the AfCFTA to deliver the expected outcomes, priority actions are 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 played a key role in support of the AU and its member States to successfully conclude negotiations on issues from Phase I (on the framework agreement, trade in goods, trade in services, and dispute settlement) and Phase II (on investment, intellectual property rights, competition policy, digital trade/e-commerce and women and youth in trade) and subsequent efforts towards implementation. ATPC continues to conduct high-quality research on all those issues to support member States take decisions that maximize benefits from the AfCFTA. It is in this context that the ECA, through ATPC, wishes to recruit a trade expert to carry out a variety of research and related tasks to support the substantive work of the Centre on trade policy issues, including but not limited to digital trade, trade and gender, informal cross border trade, and product and service standards in the context of continuing AfCFTA negotiations and implementation. Duties & Responsibilities Under the overall guidance of the Director, Regional Integration and Trade Division, and the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the African Trade Policy Centre, the consultant shall: 1. Assist with the planning and coordination of workstreams on digital trade, trade and gender, informal cross border trade, standards and AfCFTA negotiations and implementation and regional integration; 2. Provide research support to the ATPC team, including but not limited to issues related to digital trade/e-commerce, trade and gender, product and service standards, and continuing AfCFTA negotiations and implementation, as may be assigned; 3. Collect, compile and analyze data on assigned trade-related issues; 4. Provide support with planning, organization and servicing of events (including training programmes, conferences, etc.) in relation to the AfCFTA and other trade policy areas; 5. Carry out any other task as may be assigned from time to time by the ATPC coordinator or the RITD director.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or above) in economics, law, trade policy, international relations or related fields is required. Minimum five (5) years of experience in research or/and analysis, preferably in the areas of trade, is required. Experience working in Africa with knowledge of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are also required. Demonstrated expertise in digital trade and standards and experience in project management/coordination are desirable. Experience in trade policy analysis, including using econometric models, is an advantage.
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.