Ref.
2023/LTJEASSIEOEAN/8954
Job offer type
Field staff jobs
Type of contract
CDDU
Activity sectors
Business facilitation and regional integration
Deadline date
28/02/2023 23:59
Contract
Employee
Duration
9 mois
Departement Economie Durable et Inclusive - EDIN > Pôle Entreprenariat et Innovation
Published on : 06/02/2023
As part of Technical Assistance Facility to support the AfCFTA and Continental Economic Integration (EU-TAF) support to the African Union Commission (AUC), specifically to Economic Development, Trade, Industry, Mining (ETTIM), Expertise France under the TAF is recruiting a junior expert to support the implementation and dissemination of the SME strategy and establishment of the Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) . The junior expert will report to the ETTIM’s Head of Industry, Innovation and Minerals Division and to Expertise France EU-TAF programme Manager.
In accordance with the AU Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals Department the junior expert shall provide technical and administrative support/counselling to the AUC and thereby contribute towards the implementation of the SME strategy, by coordinating the various activities related to the undertaking.
Thus, the incumbent shall, under the overall policy of the AUC, contribute the following:
The main results expected from the junior expert are as follows:
The African Union (AU) as the continental body that embraces the Member States and RECs under a common umbrella will have a leading role in encouraging and promoting the application of the SME strategy. To facilitate its implementation, the Strategy is accompanied with various frameworks, which include results framework, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, partnership building, resource mobilization and communications and outreach.
The African Union Commission, Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM) developed the AU SME Strategy for Africa which was adopted by the Heads of State and Government during their ordinary summit of February, 2019 and Endorsed by the 17th Extraordinary Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification held on the 25th November 2022 in Niamey, Niger. This is part of the efforts to inspire economic growth and structural transformation on the continent.
The vision of the AU SME Strategy is to “develop competitive, diversified and sustainable economies underpinned by dynamic, entrepreneurial and industrial sectors that generate employment, reduce poverty and foster social inclusion”.
Taking into account the AU’s comparative advantage in engaging RECs and Member States and recognizing that Africa’s private sector has not been an important source of competitive, diversified and sustainable job growth, the Strategy identifies how the AU can leverage its convening power to engage RECs as well as Member States in re-examining how to strengthen and reinvigorate the private sector engagement in SMEs in order to achieve the set goal.
Among some of the initiatives the Department is undertaking is the establishment of the Enterprise Africa Network (EAN). In summary, Enterprise Africa Network (EAN) main endeavour will be to facilitate and grow a ‘’Pool of competitive SMEs’’ in Africa. SMEs at different stages (incubation and start-up, expansion and growth stage, maturity stage) will receive support from a ‘’Pool of accredited BDS organisations’’ to build their capacity in order to position them to access markets.
The "Technical Assistance Facility to support the AfCFTA and Continental Economic Integration" (TAF) aims to respond to the needs of the African Union (AfCFTA Secretariat, AUC, and AU Specialized agencies), RECs, AU Member States continental and regional private sector organizations and other potential partners working on AfCFTA and continental economic integration. This is a strategic project that will enhance the continent's capacity to deliver on Agenda 2063 and 2030. The TAF will provide targeted and on-demand support to strengthen and complement the capacities of beneficiaries to respond to their evolving priority needs related to the AfCFTA negotiation and implementation process. The TAF is currently funded by the EU, Germany, France, and Sweden. Three agencies from EU Member States jointly implement it: GIZ from Germany (as a lead implementing partner), Expertise France (EF) from France, and the Ibero American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP) from Spain.
Minimum qualifications
The following are the skills and competencies required for the position:
Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages is mandatory. Proficiency of two or more working language(s) would be an added value.
Deadline for application : 28/02/2023 23:59
Expertise France is the public agency of French international technical cooperation. The agency operates around four priorities:
In these areas, Expertise France carries out engineering and implementation missions for capacity building projects, mobilizes technical expertise and acts as an aggregator of projects involving public expertise and private know-how.
With an activity volume of 233 million euros, more than 400 projects in portfolio in 80 countries, and 63,000 days of expertise, Expertise France focuses its action towards France’s solidarity policy, influence and economic diplomacy.