About The Job

Purpose of Job:

• Under the overall supervision of the Director, AfCFTA Trade Policy Review, the Technical advisor of for capacity Building will be responsible for a wide range of issues relating to development, implementation, monitoring and quality assurance of capacity building, research and training, both for state parties of the AfCFTA and the staff of the Secretariat.

Main Functions:

• Develop a network of support with relevant national, regional and international institutions in the area of capacity building for trade policy and research.
• Transfer practical knowledge and skills for capacity building initiatives, training development, training management and research.
• Periodically undertake training, needs assessments and capacity reviews for state parties to the AfCFTA and the AfCFTA Secretariat (where appropriate the private sector and civil society) on AfCFTA implementation.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Formulate training plans and associated budget.
• Oversee and coordinate course, curricula, and training material development.
• Closely monitor the latest developments and assist with fact finding and data analysis in trade and trade related trends at the regional, continental and global levels and ensure that appropriate findings are reflected in training plans and materials.
• Develop a resource library (including an e-library) augmenting it with training and reference materials, articles, publications, manuals for the benefit of AfCFTA state parties, AfCFTA Secretariat, the private sector and civil society.
• In coordination with relevant AfCFTA directorates and units, prepare terms of reference for external training providers.
• Advise on capacity building, research and training providers on building synergies and complementarity between multiple training initiatives in the context of AfCFTA negotiations, implementation and dispute settlement.
• Develop a roster of and repository of potential trainers and service providers relevant to the needs of AfCFTA state parties and the AfCFTA Secretariat and regularly update the roster and the repository.
• Advice the AfCFTA Secretary General on the selection of external training experts.
• Build a roster of AU internal resources for the purposes of leveraging on internal capacities of the AfCFTA Secretariat and Organs of the AU.
• Oversee admission and selection process of participants.
• Represent the AfCFTA Secretary General on Capacity building related tasks and any other tasks as determined by the Secretary General.
• Lead and actively participate in the delivery of capacity building initiatives for state parties and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
• Develop and maintain a project training database; contribute, as necessary, to the design and maintenance of databases and other information systems related to project activities and other capacity building initiatives.
• Ensure proper quality control is provided to all training and capacity building undertakings through regular monitoring and evaluation, in process and after-action reviews, by obtaining feedbacks from beneficiaries.
• Undertake biennial tracer surveys.
• Develop training Alumni network.
• Serve as a primary focal point for AfCFTA Secretariat on capacity building and lead the identification of developmental needs of state parties and the design and implementation of customized trainings for them.
• Liaise with other AfCFTA staff members and units on admin/logistics/operations matters in support of project activities.
• Develop and provide inputs to the progress, interim and final reports.
• Develop an e-learning and virtual training platform.
• Develop annual work plan and budget.

Academic Requirements And Relevant Experience:

• Master’s degree in International Economic Law, Trade Policy and Trade Law or other relevant field.
• Sound experience in working with/in capacity building projects.
• Minimum of 14 years of combination of experience in trade negotiations and working experience in the field of capacity building exclusively on trade policy and trade law. Eight (8) of these years should be at the senior management level and five (5) should involve a supervisory role.

Required Skills:

• The incumbent is expected to demonstrate the following technical and behavioural competencies:

Behavioural Competences:

• Identifies the immediate and peripheral clients of own work.
• Ability to engage in continuous learning.
• Contributes to state parties and staff member’s capacity enhancement.
• Demonstrates interest in improving relevant skills.
• Actively shares relevant information.
• Writes clearly and effectively, adapting wording and style to the intended audience.
• Listens effectively and communicates clearly, adapting delivery to the audience.
• Masters subject matter related to responsibilities.
• Identifies opportunities and risks central to responsibilities.
• Incorporates gender-related needs, perspectives, and concerns, and promotes equal gender participation.
• Works effectively with people from different cultures by adapting to relevant cultural contexts.
• Actively contributes to an effective, collegial, and agreeable team environment.

Technical Competences:

• Effectively applies specialized knowledge skills in designing, implementation, monitoring and reporting of trade and trade related capacity building initiatives including research.
• Experience in trade and trade related negotiations at regional, continental and multilateral level.
• Experience in trade and trade policy related implementation and enforcement.
• Development of curricula, training manuals, course outlines, training evaluation tools, capacity building budget.
• Experience in teaching postgraduate students and mid-level career professionals.
• Demonstrated experience in trade policy and trade law research.
• Experience in the development of the Trade legal instruments.
• Ability to work under pressure with minimal resources.
• Proven skills in designing, implementation, monitoring and reporting of capacity building initiatives.
• Excellent understanding of trade policy and law in the context of AfCFTA.
• Ability to work independently or under minimum supervision
• Excellent computer literacy, including research skills through internet.
• Results and goal oriented.
• Excellent communication, written and verbal skills in any of the official languages of the AU.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Perspective
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk
• Core Competencies
• Building Relationships
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with impact
• Functional Competencies
• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Fosters Innovation

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

• The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

REMUNERATION:

• The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 154,098.21 (P6 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 135,267.50 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Only candidates who have met all the requirements of the post and have been selected for an interview will be contacted.
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About The Job

Purpose of Job

• The main objective of this assignment is to provide support to the AfCFTA Secretariat in AfCFTA digital trade negotiations and implementation.

Main Functions:

• Provide support in the preparation and Implement the programmes developed out of the Division’s strategic plan
• Ensure effective coordination and implementation of Unit’s plans and activities at various levels
• Liaise with Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and other relevant stakeholders on relevant matters
• Prepare and develop reports, budget and work programmes related to the functioning of the Division
• Provide support to develop resource mobilization strategy with stakeholders’ coordination
• Manage and supervise direct reports to ensure their effective performance as per organization’s performance management policy and system
• Conduct complex analysis and generate accurate reports in a timely manner for the Division and AfCFTA’s internal use
• Liaise with the various Departments/Units of the Secretariat for coordination and alignment purposes
• Prepare budgets for the Division in accordance with relevant frameworks.
• Support the promotion of the activities of the Division including preparing leaflets, guidelines and fact sheets as may be required
• Actively contribute in the development of strategies, policies, programmes and plans.

Specific Responsibilities – The duties and responsibilities of the Expert include to:

• Provide support to the negotiation process for the Digital Trade Protocol, including negotiation processes, attending and reporting on negotiation meetings, following up with State Parties, managing relevant documents, and arranging necessary meetings of State Parties and stakeholders;
• Draft reports on AfCFTA negotiations supporting interaction with State and non-State Parties.
• Support integration of digital trade in AfCFTA issues and address requests from different stakeholders on digital trade.
• Produce papers for various audiences, including drafting documents and briefs for a policy audience, and support relevant research.
• Participate in the development and implementation of digital application platforms for the AfCFTA, promotion of a digital culture and building of digital business technology platforms and relationships externally with vendors, startups and third-party stakeholders;
• Support stakeholder engagement and capacity building activities, including the development of training materials and manuals, providing training to AfCFTA negotiators, and conducting training workshops on digital trade; and
• Any other related duties assigned by the Director of Trade in Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights and Digital Trade at the AfCFTA Secretariat.

Academic Requirements And Relevant Experience:

• Candidates must have a university Master Degree in International Trade, Economics, International Relations, International Law and/or technology-related areas with at least seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience out of which three (3) years should be at expert level.
• Candidates with University Bachelor Degree can be considered provided they have ten (10) years of relevant work experience of which three (3) years should be at expert level.
• Experience in writing for a policy audience and engagement with public and private sector stakeholders in trade and digitalisation and/or digital regulation in the African context is required.
• Understanding of Africa’s regional integration agenda and key AfCFTA issues is required.
• Experience with continental, regional, and/or national policy making on relevant trade and/or digitalisation issues is desirable. Knowledge of trade negotiations is an asset. Ability to proactively address challenges is valuable.

Required Skills:

• Ability to work in a multicultural environment
• Ability to work independently to meet critical and competing deadlines (multi-tasking), to produce high quality work in short timeframes
• Excellent interpersonal/teamwork skills
• Must be computer literate with a working knowledge of common computer applications and systems
• Excellent drafting, reporting, communication and presentation skills
• Strong program/project management skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent planning and organising skills
• Ability to liaise with a diverse range of people and stakeholders; and
• Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish or Swahili). Knowledge of one more or several other working languages would be an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationships
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Orientation

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

• The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

REMUNERATION:

• The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 100,972.49 (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 83,397.18 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Only candidates who have met all the requirements of the post and have been selected for an interview will be contacted.

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