Regional Trade Analyst - Policy and Private Sector Development

Background

Office/Unit/Project Description  

The UNDP Renewed Strategic Offer in Africa identifies structural economic transformation as one of the key pillars for accelerated and inclusive growth, with regional integration as a key enabler. As acknowledged in SDG 17, trade is a means of implementation for sustainable development. Boosting production and intra-African trade are intrinsically linked to success of UNDP’s renewed strategic offer in Africa. UNDP’s Africa Regional Programme (2022 - 2025) provides dedicated support to the African Union member States and regional institutions, especially Regional Economic Communities (RECs),   to ensure, inter alia, that regional growth and structural transformation is inclusive, transformational and sustainable with reduced economic inequalities. The programme is anchored using a ‘regional lens’ that promotes a coordinated approach and coherence between regional and national level interventions that align to regional frameworks and policies across Africa. 

As AfCFTA State Parties start trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), UNDP and its partners continues to provide support to national and regional institutions, mainly RECs through its AfCFTA support programmes. Dedicated actions are deployed to support, at national, regional, and continental levels, strengthening the capacities of women and youth-owned micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) while supporting inclusive policy making  to maximize opportunities arising from the free trade area.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The Analyst will contribute to the implementation of projects funded by UNDP or its partners in the areas of data analysis and preparation of  knowledge products, value chains analysis,  MSME Trade Facilitation and market access Programmes, coordinate Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) engagements. 

Specific tasks will include, but not limited to the following: 

1. Guide and support implementation of youth and women-led interventions under the UNDP AfCFTA regional projects  and coordinate Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) engagements

• Organize and lead sessions on Capacity building for youth and women led MSMEs on AfCFTA rules and market opportunities;
• Engage private sector on trade and investment strategies and support programmes connecting MSMEs to large corporate such as the UNDP Supplier Development Programme among others;
• Coordinate UNDP (country offices and regional teams) and their partners participation in B2B and B2G engagements, within the scope of dedicated projects. 

2. Advise and support provisions of technical support to UNDP country offices in the areas of private sector development, trade facilitation, investments and digitalization etc

• Support UNDP country offices to develop and implement trade and private sector development portfolio projects anchored in the AfCFTA;
• Provide support to ad hoc request by country offices in the areas of trade and investments; 
• Support UNDP country offices and partners on technical assistance projects with a view to streamline policies for inclusive implementation of AfCFTA and regional trade agreements. 

3. Provide technical support to research materials and opinion pieces on regional integration in Africa 

• Contribute to research outputs of the AfCFTA regional team/ IGT; 
• Identify sources of data and draft short notes of trends in intra-African trade. 

4. Respond to Ad hoc requests in the areas of Economic and trade integration 

5. Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to the project.

• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues; 
• Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge  resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.

6. Analyze market trends in specific value chains and provide technical support to business Ecosystem 

• Identify data sources, extract and analysis data on market trends to provide insights into trade opportunities for countries; 
• Undertake statistical analysis and draft periodic market report.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. 

Institutional Arrangement

The Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the UNDP Regional AfCFTA Advisor, UNDP RSCA. 

Competencies

Core

• Achieve Results:-LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively:-LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
• Learn Continuously:- LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility:- LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
• Act with Determination: -LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner:-LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:-LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

• Digital - Data analysis - Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making 
• Digital - Alternative finance -  Ability to identify potential alternative forms of finance and mobilise them for the purpose of addressing development challenges. Ability to review the skills, capacities, procedures and protocols that are needed to enable new financial mechanisms. Ability to assess the risks, limitations and implications of using new financial mechanisms. Set up the processes and structures to design, testing and implement new financial mechanisms. Managing outreach and stakeholder engagement Set up the processes and structures to design, testing and implement new financial UNDP | People for 2030 – Competency Framework –  technical Competencies (2024) mechanisms. Managing outreach and stakeholder engagement
• General (across the functions) - Event planning and execution - Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP's overall brand and mandate. 
• Partnership management -Private sector engagement  -Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector 
• Business Development  - Knowledge Generation - Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Trade, Economics, Finance or related fields is required.  OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above,  in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

Min. years of relevant work experience/ desired criteria

• Applicants with Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. 
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national and/or international level  in the areas of economic, trade or finance.
• Record of good capacity to extract and analyze data using quantitative (statistical and/or econometric) methods is an asset; 
• Prior experience and good knowledge of strategies to support MSMEs ecosystem at the national or regional level is an asset;
• Proven track record of good understanding of the AfCFTA framework is an asset;
• Proven track record of good understanding of financing for MSMEs is desired; 
• Familiarity with working in Africa region is an asset; 
• Previous experience with the United Nations is an asset.

Required Language(s) 

• Fluent in English is required. 

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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