Background

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations (UN). It is the only multilateral agency fully dedicated to supporting the internationalization of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). ITC's mission is to foster inclusive and sustainable growth and development through trade and international business development. ITC Headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland.

ITC projects and programmes contribute to the global efforts to achieve UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development and the Aid for Trade agenda.

ITC works at three levels:

• Strengthening the  integration of the business sector of developing countries and economies in transition into the global economy;
• Improving the performance of trade and investment support institutions for the benefit of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), and enhancing the abilities of trade support institutions to better support them;
• Improving the international competitiveness of SMEs.

About the “STRENGTHENING THE AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD VALUE CHAIN AND IMPROVING TRADE POLICY IN IRAQ” project

ITC will be implementing the project “Strengthening the agriculture and agri-food value chain and improving trade policy in Iraq” between 2020 and 2025. This project, funded by the European Union, aims to contribute to inclusive growth and job creation, particularly for youth for Iraq citizens. It seeks to enhance the trade competitiveness of Iraq’s agribusiness value chain, while improving the country’s trade policy.

The principal government counterpart for this project is the Ministry of Trade. Additional project counterparts are the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Planning, and the Federation of Iraq Chambers of Commerce, among others.

Project objectives:

• Overall objective: Contribute to inclusive economic growth and job creation, particularly for youth in Iraq.

Project outputs (expected results) :

• Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) competitiveness and sustainability strategies are designed for high-potential products targeting domestic markets;
• Productive and commercial value chain alliances and capacities of MSMEs to compete effectively enhanced;
• Increased capacities of the enabling business environment to better support value chain competitiveness (with a particular emphasis on the improvement of knowledge and skills for employment among youth);
• Iraq’s trade policy is improved for enhanced performance and value chain competitiveness.

Project team:

A Project Management Team (PMT) will be established to oversee daily activities, manage and track budget and resources, provide administrative oversight, including monitoring and compliance, and manage relationships with key partners.

The PMT is composed of:

• The ITC headquarter-based Project Manager and Technical Lead who guide and coordinate technical and programmatic, administrative and financial aspects of the project in close collaboration with ITC Project Output Leaders, other international organizations and designated national counterparts;
• ITC technical officers/experts for the project outputs are responsible for the implementation of specific project activities under each output. All activities are implemented under the supervision of the ITC HQ Project Manager, in close coordination with the National Project Office and jointly with national partners and stakeholders;
• A Project office in Baghdad with international and national resident staff. The office will house three professional staff, namely a Project Coordinator, a Value Chain Expert and a Business Environment Adviser, as well as a Project Administrative Assistant. The team will be supported by three additional part-time staff: a Communication Specialist, a Monitoring and Evaluation Expert and a Security Referral. The office will assume coordination and day-to-day management and will also extend technical support to project implementation. The office will equally be the outreach, communication and development of working relations with stakeholders.

The National Project Coordinator will work under direct supervision of the ITC HQ Senior Project Manager. The full-time National Project Coordinator, based in Baghdad, Iraq, will oversee project-planning, implementation and assume day-to-day coordination with ITC HQ and national focal points at the Ministry of Trade and counterparts.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the ITC HQ Project Managers, the National Project Coordinator will be responsible for – inter alia - the following duties:

Management

• Under the guidance of the ITC-HQ Project Manager, supervise the project team during the inception phase to design the project’s work plan;
• Supervise project teams to implement the project’s work plan.

Coordination:

• Represent ITC and maintain regular communication with other initiatives and agencies on the ground, ensure good information sharing; liaise with the relevant government departments, ministries and private sector institutions to obtain support for project implementation;
• Contribute to the design and operationalization of a Project Steering Committee (PSC) and working groups. Participate in PSC and working group meetings, prepare meeting agendas and other documents required for the review of the committee, including quarterly updates and annual reports. Conduct follow-up on the adoption of recommendations provided by the PSC and ITC;
• Manage relationships with counterparts and ensure ownership of project initiatives the different stakeholders and beneficiaries in Iraq. maintain regular communication, ensure good information sharing; liaise with the relevant government departments, ministries and private sector institutions to obtain support for project implementation;
• Ensure synergies during project implementation, coherence with partners and beneficiaries' needs and expectations as well as with relevant projects in Iraq;
• Keep abreast with developments in the country and identify synergies and  opportunities with other projects and initiatives.

Technical guidance

• Provide ground intelligence to technical leads in the process of output design;
• Provide technical inputs required by the project team and experts;
• Provides substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc;
• Participates in or leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.

Inception phase and project work plans:

• Assist ITC during the Inception phase, specifically in preparing the project’s work plans and ensure its alignment to the overall objectives of the project described above. Coordinate development of work plans with technical leads. The project work plans will form the basis for implementation. Review and validate the project’s work plans with relevant counterparts;
• As required, seek the approval of the PSC for changes in the work plans, in close consultation with ITC and Iraqi counterparts.

Communication

• Ensure project visibility, efficient communication and outreach at the national level and in provinces, including representation of the project at national events, ensure communication with the press where required;
• Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, etc., makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.

Reporting and accountability:

• Put in place and manage systems, with the support of ITC Geneva, for smooth operation of the project including staff management, budget management, activity and results monitoring, project progress reporting, and compliance with UN and EU regulations;
• Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.);
• Submit monthly progress reports to ITC;
• Contribute to progress reports against the project monitoring and results framework, including undertaking/coordinating information and data collection;
• Identify risks to project implementation and propose/put in place mitigation actions.

Maintenance of records:

• Maintain up to date records of all project-based activities and documents.

Undertake any other tasks agreed with the ITC HQ Project Manager, in support of efficient implementation of the project.

Competencies

ITC’S VALUES are:

• Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity.

ITC’S CORE COMPETENCIES are:

• Communication, Teamwork, Planning & Organizing, Accountability, Creativity, Client Orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Technological awareness.

ITC’S MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES are:

• Vision, Leadership, Empowering Others, Managing Performance, Building Trust, and Judgment/Decision making.

For further information on competency based interview please visit: www.intracen.org.

 Functional Competencies:

• Proven leadership and strong project management and coordination skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and advocacy skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and respects diversity;
• Proven ability to lead and work collaboratively in teams, with colleagues and encourage  sharing of knowledge to achieve organizational goals;
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills;
• Ability to identify priority activities and assignments; adjust priorities as required;
• Ability to work with accuracy under time constraints and pressure in a stressful environment; with patience, tactfulness, maintain confidentiality, take initiative and exercise good judgment;
• Ability to plan own work and use time efficiently, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines.

Technical Competencies:

• Demonstrated knowledge of challenges to trade and private sector development in Iraq;
• Demonstrated knowledge of challenges to agricultural value chain development in Iraq;
• Very good understanding of public and private trade support institutions in Iraq and their mandates as well as of private sector needs and expectations in Iraq;
• Very good result-based management skills;
• Excellent drafting and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Work experience:

• Master Degree or equivalent in economics, international trade, agronomy, business administration, development studies or related field;
• Minimum of  5 years’ experience in the field of technical assistance, trade development, SME development, agricultural and rural development, agro-processing and exports, including knowledge of agri-business and participatory approaches. Including experience in project management, administration or related field.

OR

• A Bachelor’s degree in economics, international trade, agronomy, business administration, development studies or related field with 7 years’ experience in the field of technical assistance, trade development, SME development, agricultural and rural development, agro-processing and exports, including knowledge of agri-business and participatory approaches including experience in project management, administration or related field;
• Experience in working with government and/or private sector counterparts would be an advantage;
• Knowledge of the UN system and procedures or experience of EU-related projects would be an asset;
• Previous experience with the UN System would be an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Advanced English with excellent written and oral communication skills is essential;
• Fluency in Arabic is required.

Note:

- Open for Iraqi Nationals only.
- The shortlisted candidates only will be informed of the next steps of  the recruitment process.