Under the direct supervision of the Chief, Office for Africa, the overall guidance of the Director, DCP, and in close collaboration with the Programme Officer at ITC HQ, the Programme Officer (Market Access) will be responsible for providing technical expertise to ensure the effective implementation and coordination of all ATCMA ECOWAS regional activities implemented with UNIDO. Specific responsibilities include:
Responsibilities
Contribute to the effective oversight, management, and performance of the Programme Management Unit (PMU) in Abuja by providing technical leadership and expert guidance on market access barriers and other relevant topics to ensure informed decision-making and strategic implementation.
Develops, implements, and evaluates the ATCMA ECOWAS programme and assigned projects to ensure the achievement of general and specific objectives, as outlined in the programme’s contractual documents. This includes monitoring and analyzing programme and project development and implementation; reviewing relevant documents and reports; identifying problems and issues to be addressed and initiating corrective actions; liaising with relevant parties; and ensuring appropriate follow-up.
Ensures coordination and sequencing among programme activities across different programme Outputs
Performs consulting assignments, in collaboration with the review client, by planning facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other the research activities and studies, action plan the client will use to manage the change.
Liaises and engages with relevant stakeholders in the region, including national governments, the ECOWAS Commission, EU Delegation, and designated national Focal Points, to provide technical inputs on trade and market access-related topics, ensuring alignment with regional priorities while supporting strong programme ownership and visibility.
Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources.
Informs and coordinates trade policy and trade facilitation reforms and development, including the review and analysis of trade and market access-related issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies,
Organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
Provides substantive technical backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.; support the organization and coordination of annual meetings of the Regional Steering Committee and regional Technical Committee meetings.
Initiates and coordinates technical outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes expert presentations on relevant trade and market access topics.
Leads and/or participates in large, complex field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
Supports activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
Education:
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, management, economics or a related field such as development, international relations, international trade, international trade law.
A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience:
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in technical advisory roles, project or programme management, administration, or related area is required.
Experience in supporting or coordinating technical components of regional trade programmes, with a focus on market access barriers, non-tariff measures, trade facilitation, policy reforms is desirable.
Experience working with development partners in West Africa is desirable.
Experience working with public/governmental and private sector institutions and officials in ECOWAS member states is desirable.
Experience with programmes funded by the EU is desirable.
Languages:
For the position(s) advertised, fluency in both English and French is required.
Knowledge of Portuguese is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
