This EU-funded project focuses on supporting the advancing and implementation of the AfCFTA in Ethiopia with a focus on a private-led value chain development approach to increasing intra-African trade, promoting greater economic integration, sustainable growth, and creating jobs.

The five specific objectives of the project are:

• Specific Objective 1: The private sector is actively engaged alongside the government to support the AfCFTA’s successful implementation
• Specific Objective 2:  Regional value chains are integrated, and trade/transport connectivity is facilitated with a focus on increasing women's participation in commercial and logistics processes;
• Specific Objective 3: Relevant authorities in the implementation of the AfFTA are supported;
• Specific Objective 4: Academic institutions and research institutions are supported;
• Specific Objective 5: Strenghtening Ethiopia's capacity to implement the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol (DTP)

The project team will be based in Expertise France’s offices in Addis Ababa, ensuring proximity to stakeholders and beneficiaries.

The Team Leader will oversee the project’s implementation, ensuring all activities align with objectives, timelines and budgets. He/She will be responsible for ensuring that the program runs smoothly by providing overall leadership, management, supervision, and strategic vision for the implementation of the program, while managing staff and resources to ensure that the program meets its targets and deliverables on time, within budget, and at a high level of quality, in coordination with all relevant stakeholders. The Team Leader will be responsible for technical and financial monitoring of the overall implementation of this project, which will be a continuous process through a permanent internal, technical and financial monitoring system for the activities, with quarterly and final progress reports.

The Team Leader will lead a team, placed under her/his direct supervision, composed of:

• A Deputy team leader (project management and trade background) will assist the team leader in its daily tasks, mainly on the reporting, monitoring of project activities and overall operations.
• A monitoring and evaluation officer who will oversee all monitoring and evaluation activities of the project (review of the logical framework, baseline studies, indicators review, etc.).
• 2 key experts (one specialised in trade and another specialised on legal matters) will provide technical advisory and support for the implementation of activities in each specific objective
• A project officer will lead on the preparation and implementation of project activities and serve as a liaison between the project and the Support Unit of the Country Office

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.       Strategic Leadership and Project Implementation

• Lead the overall planning, coordination, and supervision of all project activities, ensuring they meet strategic goals.
• Lead on preparation of reporting to donors and other partners
• Manage and supervise the project team, including technical experts and administrative staff.
• Oversee procurement and resource allocation to guarantee timely delivery of project inputs.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government bodies, private sector actors, development partners, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure the alignment of all activities with the project’s goals and objectives.
• Act as the primary liaison between Expertise France HQ, Expertise France Country Office (Ethiopia) and local stakeholders.
• Facilitate public-private partnerships to address trade barriers and enhance Ethiopia’s export competitiveness.

2. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Oversight

• Provide high-level oversight of the monitoring and evaluation framework and ensure its alignment with project objectives.
• Provide oversight and validate technical, financial, and administrative reports prepared by the Deputy Team Leader and M&E Officer.
• Ensure compliance with donor requirements and contractual obligations

3. Communication, Visibility and Representation

• Act as the primary representative of the project in high-level meetings, conferences, and public events.
• Lead communication strategies to ensure project visibility and promote its objectives.
• Manage all external communications and stakeholder relations, including advisory roles and strategic consultations.

4. Coordination with Headquarters, Country Office and Donors

• Maintain strategic liaison with Expertise France headquarters, Expertise France Ethiopia Country Office (and other partners such as AFD, French Embassy in Ethiopia) and donors at the leadership level.
• Ensure that strategic updates and advisory inputs are communicated effectively to donors and partners.

The Team Leader will work closely with government entities, private sector stakeholders, and international partners to achieve sustainable outcomes.

This job description is not exhaustive. The Team Leader will be responsible for achieving the project's strategic, operational, and contractual objectives and may undertake or oversee any activity required for the program's successful implementation. To execute technical assistance activities and support beneficiaries of project calls for proposals, Expertise France will also rely on national and international public and private technical expertise.