Trade Policy Expert

JOB TITLE: Trade Policy Expert
GRADE:Professional Level Three (P3)
SALARY: USD 96,000.00p.a- all inclusive

DUTY STATION :COMESA Secretariat, Lusaka, Zambia

CONTRACT DURATION:Two (2) years with a possibility of extension subject to availability of funds for continued project implementation and satisfactory performance. The initial contract period shall include a six (6) months probationary period.

REPORTING TO:The Project Coordinator, with dotted reporting responsibilities to the Director Trade and Customs, COMESA Secretariat

SCOPE OF WORK: In line with its Mission to endeavor to achieve sustainable economic and social progress in all Member States through increased co-operation and integration in all fields of development, COMESA recognizes different levels of development across its Member States and is meant to ensure no one is left behind. To achieve and accelerate COMESA regional integration goals, COMESA 2021-2025 Medium Term Strategic Plan (MTSP), emphasizes the need to improve socio-economic conditions through economic growth ranging from micro to macro-economic levels of all its beneficiaries. In line with implementation of the COMESA 2021-2025 MTSP, the key objective of Great Lakes Trade Facilitation and Integration Project (GLTFIP) is to establish an improved environment for cross-border trade in the borderlands of the GLR, with a focus on Burundi and DRC in which there is seamless flow of goods, services, and people. Hence, the focus is on trade facilitation through improvements to infrastructure, connectivity to markets across the borders, improved legal and policy framework including procedural reforms, capacity building of border agencies and traders (including women’s and youth groups), and commercialization of selected value chains to increase the supply of tradeable products. Cross Border Trade is one of the areas that has huge potential to transform the lives of women, men and youth hence the need to ensure the effective participation of women and youth in all trade initiatives. Considering the fact that most of small-scale cross border traders are women and have various gender and social related constraints, the Trade expert will support the project implementation unit, and the trade division to mainstream gender aspects in line with the specific interventions under all the components (policy and regulatory environment, trade infrastructure, agribusiness value chains, and capacity building/monitoring and evaluation) to enable the effective participation of small-scale cross border traders in regional trade.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The main role of the full time Trade Expert will be to facilitate implementation of the COMESA component of the GLTFIP by providing technical guidance/support and skills to project countries/beneficiaries and stakeholder to ensure all components of the project’s objectives are achieved including gender consideration. The Terms of Reference of the Trade Policy Expert include the following:

Support Burundi and DRC to introduce trade policy and regulatory reforms that improve cross border trade environment and competitiveness across COMESA region.
Produce technical briefs on trade facilitation instruments including on Simplified Trade Regime (STR), Green Pass (GP), Passenger Cargo Manifest System ( PCMS) and others to ensure policy and procedures harmonization between the two countries and in the COMESA region especially the neighbohood of Burundi and DR Congo.
Idenfify, organize and facilitate capacity building activities necessary to beneficiary countries and other stakeholders with proper attention to women and youth to insure agreed policy interventions are well implemented and regulatory framework is properly enforced.
Facilitate awareness on policy and regulatory framework and guidelines on trade facilitation and markets access opportunities to all stakeholders and among women and youth groups, traders and associations.
In close collaboration with the M&E expert, identify new challenges and trade developemnts and advise on possible solutions for sustainable growth in line with market access and for the selected value chains including logistics facilitations.
Given the majority trend participation of women and youth in small scale crosss border trade, identify their special needs and advise on key interventions that will contribute to objectives of the project.
Promote adaptation and use of existing and new technologies for digital trade facilitation instruments to reduce cost and utilization of digital platforms to enhance access to information and markets, networking opportunities and other services.
Promote trade in the GLR by organizing trade promotion activities among GLR countries including trade fairs and experience sharing of traders across borders
in among women cross border traders.
Provide regular updates briefs to his/her supervisor on progress implementation towards the intended objectives.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS/DELIVERABLES

Trade policy and regulatory reforms for improved cross border trade environment in Burundi and DRCongo
Facilitation activities leading to adoption of trade facilitation instruments that allow time and cost reduction to competitiveness and trade growth across the Great Lakes region.
Capacity building and awareness activities to beneficiaries and all stakeholders involved to ensure smooth implementation of the project.
Improved institutional framework including functional border committees that facilitate prompt resolution of conflicts and any other challenges empiding free movement of goods, services and people across borders.
Identification of cross border trade challenges and opportunities in Burundi and DRCongo and in the neiborhood during the implementation process to ensure sustainable solutions.
Increased participation and empowerment of women and youth in cross border trade activities across borders
Increased competitiveness of selected value chains and improved transport and logistics facilities that facilitate movement of goods and increase competitiveness.
Preparation of technical briefs/papers, regular reports and information sharing.

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s degree in Social Sciences, such as Economics, international trade, international trade law, gender and development, business administration, agri-business or related field.
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

More than five years of experience working on trade and trade related issues/topics in the public sector and/or regional integration and international organization.
A minimum of five years’ of demonstrable experience in the trade policy formulation and implementation particularly in multiple sectors areas such as trade, industry, infrastructure, social affairs, and others development sectors.
Good understanding of trade negotiations at bilateral, regional/continental and global levels in the context of regional integration agendas.
knowledge relating to trade development and trade facilitation specifically on the harmonisation trade policies including tarrif and import duties, reduction or elimination of NTBs, customs procedures, trade facilitation instruments, facilitation of movement of goods and means of transport and logistics for goods in transit and across borders,
knowledge of different trade regulations including but not limited to trade remedies, rules of origin, TBT (quality standards, conformity assessments) and Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) measures for exports and imports.
Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder meetings and building partnerships with stakeholders is highly desired.
Good understanding and practical experience of small scale cross border trade in the COMESA region and existing trade facilitation instruments and mechanisms and with special attention empowering women and youth in SSCB trade
Good knowledge of trade and gender concepts and demonstrable experience of gender analytical skills and gender mainstreamELIGIBILITY FOR APPLICATION

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements for selections and contracts funded by proceeds from a World Bank funded project. Only Citizens of a COMESA Member country are encouraged to apply.

FINAL DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIO

Applications MUST be submitted electronically through email on the prescribed COMESA APPLICATION FORM which can be accessed at the following COMESA website: http://www.comesa.int/, Opportunities, COMESA Job Application Format

ONLY SHORT-LISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTE

Application should reach the address below not later than Friday 4th November 2022 at 18:00 hours Lusaka Zambia tim

The Director of Human Resources and Administrati

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Afric

COMESA Centr

Ben Bella Roa

P.O Box 3005

LUSAK

Zambi

Email: recruitment@comesa.intaA1deaone.D.. NS