Ref.
2023/CDPFZ/10248
Job offer type
Field staff jobs
Type of contract
CDDU
Activity sectors
Business facilitation and regional integration
Deadline date
2023/12/10 23:55
Contract
Employee
Duration
12 mois renouvelable
Programme manager - AfCFTA Facility (M/W)
Departement Economie Durable et Inclusive - EDIN > Pôle - Politiques Economiques et Commerciales
Published on : 2023/11/23
NORTH AFRICA / MIDDLE EAST
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
GHANA
ACCRA
Mission description
Funded by the EU, Agence Française de Development, the German Ministry of Development Cooperation (BMZ) and Sweden, the Team Europe Technical Assistance Facility will be implemented by GIZ, Expertise France, and FIAPP under the guidance of the AfCFTA Secretariat.
A Project Management Unit (PMU) will oversee the implementation of the Team Europe Technical Assistance Facility and the execution of activities. Each implementing partner agency (Expertise France, GIZ and FIIAPP) will be represented in the PMU. After an Inception Phase, the TAF will be start activities during the Implementation Phase.
Expertise France is looking for a Senior Programme Manager who will ensure the appropriate planning, supervision and technical inputs of all activities undertaken by Expertise France under this Facility. The Senior Programme Manager will be integrated in the PMU and based in Accra. The ideal candidate will display a commitment for African regional integration and possess both strong management skills and technical abilities. S/He will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, good knowledge of trade facilitation and regional integration. S/He will be familiar with African Union policy frameworks, and will have a proven experience with Regional Economic Communities and/or private sector organisations, in line with the trade and industry agenda.
Missions:
Under the supervision of the Senior programme manager and lead for Expertise France activities, and under the functional supervision of the PMU Team leader, the programme manager will implement activities led by Expertise France under the TE TAF. Based in Accra, with frequent missions in AU countries and occasionally to Paris and Brussels, she/he will:
- Contribute to PMU activities
- Implement activities undertaken by Expertise France under this Facility:
- Create and maintain a strong relationship with the African Union (AfCFTA Secretariat, AUC and some AU Specialized agencies), RECs, AU Member States and other potential continental partners and regional private sector organisations to foster requests or feed the action plans
- Identify experts and service providers to be involved in the implementation of activities ;
- Draft ToRs and recruit expertise for the implementation of activities
- Provide, when possible, technical assistance, training and capacity building activity in her/his field ;
- Contribute to the update of piloting tools (action plans, etc)
- Propose contributions to annual reports and to Expertise France’s internal reporting
- Contribute to communication and visibility actions; and
- Perform any other task requested by Expertise France.
Project or context description
Context
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), signed by 54 of the 55 African countries, is the first step to achieve the objective of a continental single market. The AfCFTA is expected to boost intra-African trade, to promote structural transformation and to generate significant employment opportunities in Africa, especially for women and young people. Despite the high political momentum and the strong economic rationale, realising the AfCFTA will require strengthening institutional capacities to complete negotiations and to implement and honour the agreements, with the active involvement of the private sector and effective cooperation between stakeholders at continental, regional and national level.
Description of the TE TAF
The Team Europe Technical Assistance Facility to support the AfCFTA and Continental Economic Integration (TE TAF) seeks to contribute to the African economic Integration agenda through mainly the implementation of the AfCFTA. It has two specific objectives: Secretariat. The TE TAF is meant to be an efficient, reactive and flexible mechanism to answer to the needs of the African Union (AfCFTA Secretariat, AUC and some AU Specialized agencies), RECs, AU Member States and other potential continental partners and regional private sector organisations, working on fostering the AfCFTA and economic continental integration.
Required profile
Qualifications and skills :
- University degree (BA or MA or equivalent) in International Studies, Trade facilitation, Private Sector Development, Economics, Public Policy, Public Administration or other relevant post graduate Degree. An additional relevant professional diploma/certificate will be an added advantage
- Familiarity with African Union policy frameworks, relevant experience with Regional Economic Communities, private sector organisations , in line with the trade and private sector agenda
- Demonstrated ability to exchange with all institutional levels/ high-ranking dialogue partners
- Excellent reporting and writing skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills, high flexibility and capacity to work under pressure
- Sound analytical skills, ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
- Ability to work in a team
- Fluency in English and French; fluency in other official AU languages is an asset.
- Flexibility to frequently travel
Professional Experience:
- Demonstrated experience of 5 or more years working in Africa, including in private sector development, ideally in line with regional integration
- Demonstrated experience with one of the following actor: AfCFTA Secretariat, AUC, AU Specialized agencies, RECs, AU Member States or regional or continental private sector organisation
- Experience in providing technical assistance
- Professional experience as a technical advisor in international trade negotiations would be an added value. At least two (2) years of such experience should have been in support of – or within – a national, regional, continental or international organization.
- Proven experience of working in a multi-cultural environment
Applicants with AU member states citizenship are strongly encouraged to apply.
Additional information
The process of selection of expressions of interest will occur in two phases:
- As a first step, a shortlist will be established by Expertise France in close coordination with the AfCFTA Secretariat.
- Selected candidates will then be invited for an interview.
Fees for the services will be negotiated with the designated candidate.
Deadline for application : 2023/12/10 23:55
Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :
- democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
- peace, stability, and security ;
- climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
- health and human development ;
In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results.