UNDP Jobs - 46067- Provision of Individual Services of Institutional

Provision of Individual Services of Institutional Trade Development Advisor

Location :

Cairo, EGYPT

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

09-May-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 Months

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 Months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Aid for Trade initiative for the Arab States region aims to achieve inclusive economic growth with increased employment opportunities and greater competitiveness through trade policy reforms in Arab countries as an integral part of the regional trade and economic integration agenda. It provides a platform for targeted trade reforms, building upon UN agencies’ experience and ongoing technical assistance and capacity development interventions. UNDP is the implementing agency of this regional initiative, working closely with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) as the chair of the project board (executive) and UN agencies from the CEB Trade and Productive Capacity Cluster (ILO, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, and UNIDO) responsible for leading work in specific result areas in coordination with partners in the region and beyond.

The project (initiative) will focus on helping countries and the main sub-regional and regional integration entities to accelerate the pace of trade reforms and regional economic integration, to strengthen the employment effects of those reforms with particular focus on women and youth and to mobilize additional resources for this purpose.

Accordingly, the project will aim to:

Review, assess, and where feasible, develop into actionable interventions for investment and resource mobilization the trade-related aspirations on energy, transport, communication and pipeline infrastructure, food security, water, SME financing and support, trade-facilitation and customs reform, expressed in the outcome documents of the January 2009 and January 2011 Arab Economic and Social Summit held in Kuwait and Sharm-el-Sheikh respectively;
Enhance the capacities of the League of Arab States (LAS), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) to implement regional integration processes and the Pan- Arab Free Trade Area (PAFTA);
Provide a platform for trade reform including non-tariff measures, technical barriers to trade, and for enhancing the capacities of trade support institutions, to foster the regional trade integration programmes of the member countries of the League of Arab States;
Enhance the employment effects of trade and trade-related policies by ensuring the alignment of human resource related policies with policy changes in the area of trade;
Mobilize Aid for Trade (AfT) resources to finance and implement country, sub-regional and regional priorities that will contribute to broader trade development outcomes.

The main stakeholders at the national level are:

Government and governmental organizations

Line ministries: Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Economy/Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Gender Equality/Gender Affairs;
Specialized agencies: Customs Agency, Export Credit Agencies, Investment Promotion Agencies, National Statistical Office, National Standards Bodies, National Food Safety Authorities, Central Bank, National and Regional Development Banks and Authorities, Antitrust Authority, Technical Vocational Education and Training institutions, Higher Education Institutions;
Special committees: Trade Facilitation Committee, Aid for Trade Committee, Skills Committee etc.

Business and employer organizations and trade unions

Business and employers: national trade promotion organization, sectoral business associations, small and medium enterprises business associations, associations of artisans and traders, chambers of commerce, export associations, representatives of entrepreneurs, business women associations;
Trade unions: confederation of trade unions, main trade unions, women workers association, association/cooperatives of workers.

Civil society:

Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), including environmental NGOs, associations of NGOs, women and sub-population groups’ associations, independent think-tanks, national and local media.

Duties and Responsibilities

The overall responsibilities of the Trade Advisor is focused on facilitating, advising, planning and coordinating professional works required to assist the Economic Integration Department of the LAS Secretariat in achieving the expected outputs of the project. She/he will provide technical advice in matters of Arab economic integration, in strengthening institutional arrangements and assistance in terms of trainings on specific matters as part of the progressive transfer of knowledge of planning, implementation and monitoring guidance functions and tools to the counterparts at the Economic Integration Department of the LAS Secretariat.

Her/his prime responsibility is to assist the Economic Integration Department of the LAS Secretariat in providing technical advices to its staff, and drafting documents related to trade policy technical aspects and ensure that the project produces the results specified in the defined Work Plan, to the required standard of quality and within the specified limits of time and budget.

The scope of the assignment will include the following delivery of outputs:

Development of a Trade Capacity Assessment focusing on the Economic Integration Department of the LAS Secretariat, which will entail identification of the capacity assets and needs of professional staff of the Department;
Formulation in coordination with LAS of a Trade Capacity Development Plan for the Economic Integration Department of the LAS Secretariat. Based on the findings of the assessment, the capacity development action plan will include with output/outcome indicators, timeline, cost and resources, and roles and responsibilities;
Conduct of specialized trainings to officials of the Economic Integration Department of the LAS Secretariat and those relevant on trade policy matters, included on-the-job trainings and improvement of institutional/ organizational set ups;
Facilitation and coordination of professional works required for the formulation and publication of strategic trade policy recommendations to increase regional trade integration and improve the contribution of trade to human development and poverty reduction;
Facilitate and coordinate South-South learning and knowledge generation by engaging with regional institutions and intergovernmental forums. This would entail creating a knowledge strategy to collect, analyze and interpret experiences from across the world, and to encourage innovations through cross-country partnerships, experimentation and learning to adapt appropriate responses to development challenges;
Assist the Economic Integration Department of the LAS Secretariat in coordinating AfTIAS activities for the Department with a view to facilitate its active participation to these activities in driving the economic integration agenda for Arab States.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize multiple tasks;
Expertise and proven track record in trade reforms, human development, public-private dialogue, and gender mainstreaming in policy.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Masters Degree or equivalent in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences, Development Studies or related field.

Experience:

Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in programme/project results based management at the national and international level;
Substantial experience in conducting public administrative reform and institutional capacity development;
A solid experience in the areas of international trade, economic development, poverty analysis, development and planning, strategic planning of projects focusing on economic development through provision of evidence-based policy advice.

Language Requirements:

Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English and Arabic.

Kindly refer to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice and all related Annexes by visiting the below link:

http://www.lb.undp.org/content/lebanon/en/home/operations/procurement/

Please make sure to submit all the requested documents/information; otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete.