Expert in Women & Youth in Trade

CTG overview:

• CTG staff and support humanitarian projects in fragile and conflict-affected countries around the world, providing a rapid and cost-effective service for development and humanitarian missions. With past performance in 17 countries – from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia, we have placed more than 20,000 staff all over the world since operations began in 2006.
• CTG recruits, deploys and manages the right people with the right skills to implement humanitarian and development projects, from cleaners to obstetricians, and mechanics to infection specialists, we’re skilled in emergency response to crises such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Key to successful project delivery is the ability to mobilise at speed; CTG can source and deploy anyone, anywhere, in less than 2 weeks and have done so in 48 hours on a number of occasions.
• Through our efficient and agile HR, logistical and operational services, CTG saves multilateral organisations time and money. We handle all our clients’ HR related issues, so they are free to focus on their core services.
• Visit www.ctg.org to find out more

Overview of position:

• The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat is the sole organization in the continent, legally established & mandated to handle the rules of trade between African countries. At the core is the implementation of the agreement establishing the AfCFTA (thereafter “AfCFTA agreement”), negotiated, signed & ratified by the state parties. The goal is to ensure that trade is conducted smoothly, predictably & as freely as possible across the continent. The AfCFTA Secretariat, which is headquartered in Accra – Ghana at the Africa Trade House, was established in February 2020 following the election of its 1st Secretary General.
• The AfCFTA agreement was signed at an extraordinary session of the assembly of the African Union (AU) in Kigali, Rwanda on 21 March 2018. The agreement sets out a continental system of trade rules, acts as a platform for negotiating trade protocols, facilitates the settlement of disputes between state parties & monitors the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement. Furthermore, the AfCFTA agreement is a framework agreement, with comprehensive coverage of trade in goods, trade in services, investment, competition policy, intellectual property rights, women, youth in trade & digital trade as well as rules & procedures for the settlement of disputes.
• Article 7 of the AfCFTA agreement provides that in the pursuance of the objectives of the agreement, member states shall enter into phase II negotiations. Furthermore, article 8 provides that all AfCFTA protocols, their associated annexes & appendices shall form part of a single undertaking, subject to entry into force. In December 2020, the assembly of heads of state & govt. of the AU directed that women & youth in trade be negotiated as part of phase II issues.
• It is against this background that the AfCFTA Secretariat seeks to engage the services of an experienced Expert on Women & Youth in Trade to support in the negotiations for a protocol on women & youth in trade.

Role objectives:
The Expert in Women & Youth in Trade is to support in the negotiations for a protocol on women & youth in Trade. The Expert will work directly under the supervision of the Director responsible for the Division on Women & Youth in Trade, on the following tasks, among others:

• Undertake situational analysis of women & youth in trade in Africa to facilitate the negotiations on the protocol on women & youth.
• Prepare sectoral strategy, action plan for the integration of women & youth issues in trade.
• Prepare policy briefs to facilitate negotiations on the protocol on women & youth in trade.
• Design capacity building support to enhance the work of the committee on women & youth in trade.
• Develop a handbook for statistical reporting of women in trade.
• Design & facilitate the organization of annual women & youth in trade conferences.
• Design sensitization & awareness campaigns to create awareness on the AfCFTA protocol on women & youth in trade.
• Perform any other duties as may be required from time to time.

Project reporting:

• This assignment will be carried out under the supervision of the Director responsible for the Division on Women & Youth in Trade.
• Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to provide the services.
• The eligibility criteria, establishment of a shortlist & selection procedure shall be in conformity with our clients procurement rules & procedures.

Key competencies:

• Holds at least a Bachelors Degree in Economics, Development Studies Law, or related field from a recognized university.
• 5 years of experience in the areas of regional integration, economic development, strategic planning of the projects focused on economic development through providing evidence based policy advice.
• Practical experience in economic, trade policy formulation at national & regional level.
• Experience in formulating development strategies & policies.
• Excellent public speaking & presentation skills.
• Good understanding of the internal procedures of the AfCFTA Secretariat as well as regional integration, trade & economic growth.
• Experience working on AU, RECs & other multilateral institutions on the continent.
• Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders (civil society, govt. authorities, local communities, project staff).
• Full command of MS applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) & common internet applications will be required.
• Proficiency in one of the AfCFTA working languages (French, English, Portuguese, Arabic).
• Fluency in another AfCFTA working language(s) is an added advantage.
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the Secretariat’s values & ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission & strategic goals of Secretariat.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, age sensitivity & adaptability.
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity & zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Team management:

• This role has no team management responsibility.

Further information:

• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.
• The consultant will be based in Accra, with travels to the member states.
• The duration of the assignment will be 230 days.