| Reference: | HUB/POCWG/0667 |
| Location: | Gaborone, Botswana |
| Duration: | Over the period ending 31 December 2015 |
| Closing Date: | 20 Nov 2013 |
Project Background
Trade development has the potential to make a significant contribution to pro-poor growth and sustainable economic development. However, despite major efforts at trade promotion, reform and diversification, many SADC region countries have not yet been able to integrate successfully into global markets and participate effectively in the income generating and poverty reducing practices of regional and international trade.
Within the SADC agenda, trade has been identified as the medium term driver and leverage point for regional integration. This is to be achieved through actively seeking opportunities and means to increase trade within the region and with the rest of the world. This is a key aspect in most international trade agreements. Furthermore, the SADC Medium Term Strategy recognises that there is need for a systemic response that can underpin transformation of the regional economy from primary resource dependence to manufacturing and a quality services sector, in order to boost intra-SADC trade and make a meaningful contribution to growth, development and poverty reduction across the region.
While the trade development challenges are varied, a key aspect has been that the SADC Secretariat and Member States have limited human and institutional capacities, especially in the area of trade and industrial policy formulation. These have impeded attempts to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by regional and international trade, and effectively manage the risks inherent in increased competition and exposure to international markets.
Following the attainment of the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) in 2008, the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration, in 2010, identified the consolidation of the SADC FTA and negotiations with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC) towards the establishment of the Tripartite FTA as current priorities.
At the heart of the strategy to consolidate the SADC FTA is the need to facilitate the development and growth of a diversified, innovative and globally competitive regional industrial sector which contributes to growth and development through the exploitation of regional synergies in value addition and enhancement of export competitiveness. Such a new orientation underscores the need to strengthen trade capacities in the SADC region, including at the SADC Secretariat. This requires targeted, demand-driven and coordinated trade-related technical assistance that offers support to short-term capacity gaps while building sustainable and lasting trade development outcomes.
The Hub & Spokes IT Programme
Since 2004, the European Commission (EC), the Commonwealth Secretariat and Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) have recognised the scale of the trade development challenge facing many ACP member countries and provided assistance through The Hub & Spokes Project. With the support of the ACP Secretariat, since July 2012 donor partners are now able to offer continued trade-related technical assistance to ACP member states through the Hub & Spokes II Programme.
The Commonwealth Secretariat is responsible for the implementation of the Hub & Spokes II Programme in Eastern and Southern Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific regions as well as at the African Union Commission. The OIF is responsible for the implementation of the project in the regions of West and Central Africa.
The overall goal of the Hub & Spokes II Programme is to contribute to sustainable economic development and poverty reduction in ACP countries through closer regional integration and increased participation in the global economy. This will be achieved by enhancing the capacity of ACP countries to formulate suitable trade policy, participate effectively in international trade negotiations and implement international trade agreements.
Through the deployment of a Regional Trade Advisor to the SADC Secretariat, the Hub & Spokes II Programme will support a wide range of trade capacity development activities, including:
- institutional capacity building for the Secretariat, national trade and industry ministries and organisations responsible for trade and industrial development;
- enhancing skills and expertise of staff in relevant ministries and organisations to undertake and manage the varied tasks associated with trade development;
- strengthening national and regional institutions and training organisations so that there is an on-going and sustainable capacity to provide support to countries in these areas;
- provision of technical advice and studies on trade-related and industrial development issues;
- contributing to, and coordinating, communication mechanisms within and between ACP member countries on trade development issues and strategies to achieve positive development outcomes;
- support public-private sector engagement on trade development with a view to strengthening the policy-making process and empowering decision-makers through informed analysis and relevant contributions from the non-government sectors.
An important component of the Hub & Spokes II Programme will be the annual regional planning initiative, where programme donors in the SADC region identify trade capacity development priorities, required interventions, expected results and opportunities for collaboration.
Task Description
- Conduct a regional trade development capacity needs assessment, in collaboration with the Productive Competitiveness and the Trade Units at the SADC Secretariat. It is expected that this regional needs assessment will facilitate the development of the Hub & Spokes II Programme’s work plan and identify key programme interventions for the duration of this assignment;
- Study the SADC market and existing trade agreements such as the SADC Protocol on Trade and the SADC-EU Interim EPA Agreement in order to identify trade opportunities, and develop strategies and programmes to enable SADC Member States take advantage of existing market opportunities;
- Identify sectors with opportunities for development, conduct analytical and competitiveness studies to support trade development initiatives, particularly product development and the promotion of regional value chains and production networks across the SADC region;
- Provide high-level and strategic trade development technical assistance and advice on key regional interventions to promote the development of regional value chains, as prioritised in the SADC work programme on trade and industrial development;
- Assist in the establishment and strengthening of regional and national trade development consultative networks;
- Facilitate coherent interventions by Member States on trade development issues at regional level, including through collaboration with Trade Advisors deployed to national trade ministries and other national counterparts in the region;
- Design and conduct regional and national seminars, workshops and training programmes on trade development issues, where necessary;
- Influence change and organisational reform through leadership, high quality communications and informed, evidence-based strategies with a view to enhancing human and institutional trade capacities in the region;
- Manage and plan Hub & Spokes II Programme regional activities with a view to identifying opportunities for regional collaboration on trade capacity development activities;
- Manage planning and reporting functions as required in support of the broader Hub & Spokes Programme. This will include, for example, the submission of bi-annual work plans, participation in regional planning workshops and contributing to case studies and other programme reports. The planning and reporting of Hub & Spokes II Programme activities should be conducted in compliance with best practices in Results Based Management.
- Provide leadership in raising the profile of the Hub & Spokes II Programme in the region,particularly through documenting and disseminating its achievements and impacts. More broadly, there will be a need to contribute to intra-ACP and regional communications and technical exchanges on trade capacity development initiatives, experiences and lessons required.
- Manage the financial resources allocated to SADC Secretariat in support of the regional and national Hub & Spokes II work programme and provide financial statements in line with agreed procedures and regulations of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Regional Trade Advisor must collaborate with Trade Advisors deployed to national trade ministries in the region to ensure access to Programme funds on relevant trade capacity development initiatives.
- Participate in professional development and training opportunities as catered for in the Hub & Spokes II Programme operating budget.
- Where applicable, supervise the work of the Trade Advisor and the Administrative Assistant based at the SADC Secretariat.
- Other duties as delegated by the Director of Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment at SADC Secretariat that are directly relevant to the Hub & Spokes II Programme and the trade capacity development objectives in the SADC region.
Required Experience and Education
- A post-graduate degree in economics / development economics or related discipline.
- at least ten (10) years’ international and/or regional experience in providing technical
- assistance on trade development or industrial development and competitiveness issues;
- experience in trade policy formulation, analysis and implementation;
- experience of trade capacity building in developing countries, with particular reference to the SADC region;
- experience of providing advice to senior management and in dealing with Governments and programme authorities at a senior level;
- supervisory experience of multidisciplinary staff;
Applicants should be able to demonstrate:
- Sound knowledge of WTO and EU/ACP issues;
- Knowledge of the SADC regional integration agenda;
- Sound knowledge of trade and industrial policy issues;
- Strong organisational skills;
- Highly developed analytical skills and ability to provide clear and objective advice and recommendations;
- Strong written and verbal communication skills (in English);
- Ability to work harmoniously in a multi-disciplinary and multicultural environment.
