SME Program for Mauritania (National Consultant)

The consultant shall, within the relevant timeframe, provide to the Sub-regional Office for North Africa of the ECA (ECA SRO-NA) training materials on qualifying young and women led businesses to export to African markets, in accordance with the approved methodological framework. The consultant shall conduct the workshop, the pre and post survey workshop results, and submit a final report within the timeframe to be agreed with ECA SRO-NA

Mauritania

2 Months

The ECA's mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The ECA’s Medium-Term Program Framework (MTPF) 2022 – 2025, endorsed by the 2022 ECA Conference of the African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, outlines five new strategic directions which are: Advancing ECA's position as a knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring solutions to the continent's problems and take local solution to the continent; Developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; Designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; Contributing solutions to regional and trans-boundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; Advocating Africa's position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues. The Sub-regional Office for North Africa of the ECA (ECA SRO-NA) is located in Rabat (Morocco), and serves seven member states: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia. The main objective of the Office is to enhance the environment for accelerated and inclusive growth and sustainable development in North Africa through strengthened economic diversification, fiscal management, regional integration and better recognition of migrant workers’ economic contributions. A key priority of the Employment and Skills for Development Section for 2023 and 2024 is to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as engines of sustainable development in North Africa, with a special attention to female and youth entrepreneurship. Background Promoting women’s and young people’s inclusion in business, as well as youth and women's entrepreneurship and economic empowerment, represents untapped potential and can play a key role in job creation and economic growth. In Mauritania, where young and female labor force participation is among the lowest globally, young and women-owned businesses face major challenges, notably accessing international markets, obtaining financing, and lacking digital capabilities. Enhancing their access to international markets, leveraging financing initiatives, and strengthening their digital capabilities are essential to boosting productivity, improving their economic contribution, and enabling the country to reach its full economic potential. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement signed by the Heads of State of the African Union, in Kigali, Rwanda (20-21 March 2018), seeks to lower tariff and non-tariff barriers and harmonize trade rules between the signatory countries. In line with its commitment to improving SME competitiveness and sustainability, the ECA's SRO-NA launched a small and medium sized business program in 2023 targeting women-owned SMEs in Morocco. Encouraged by the positive outcomes in Morocco, ECA North Africa broadened the scope of the SME program in 2024 to include Mauritania and Libya, with an added emphasis on sustainability practices. It aimed at enhancing both the competitiveness and sustainability of Mauritanian and Libyan SMEs through two capacity-building workshops, one in Mauritania and one in Tunisia for the Libyan beneficiaries. In this second phase of the program, 32 Mauritanian and 13 Libyan female entrepreneurs had the opportunity to benefit from this program. In 2025, Mauritania has formally requested ECA SRO NA to support the implementation the third phase of SME program and extend it to include young entrepreneurs. In this regard, ECA SRO-NA will organize one capacity-building workshop, in Nouakchott for Mauritanian young and women led enterprises. From that perspective, ECA SRO-NA will hire one national consultant (Mauritanian) to prepare training material, conduct the workshop in Nouakchott, and carry out a pre- and post-training survey to quantify the program’s results. The overall objective of the consultancy is to strengthen the beneficiaries’ export capabilities by providing knowledge on certification and export standards, improving access to financing, developing exportable products, and enhancing digital capabilities with a focus on climate adaptation measures and green practices for women and youth-led businesses to improve their resilience and ease their transition. The aim is to amplify inter-regional trade and encourage structural changes within the business landscape. The consultancy encompasses a four-day capacity building workshop that will address the following themes: 1. Market Access, Competitiveness and the Development of Exportable Products: This module will equip SMEs with the essential knowledge and tools to expand into regional and international markets. It covers key aspects such as market research, consumer trends, trade regulations, and compliance with quality standards and certifications required for export. Participants will learn strategies to enhance product competitiveness through value addition, branding, and packaging while exploring opportunities under trade agreements and export facilitation programs. A particular emphasis will be placed on export opportunities and regional integration, especially within the framework of the AfCFTA. Practical case studies and expert insights will help SMEs develop market-ready products and build sustainable trade relationships. Practical case studies and interactive sessions will ensure participants can apply these insights to real-world business scenarios. 2. Access to Finance and Financial Management for SMEs will be designed to help SMEs strengthen their financial capabilities and secure the funding needed for growth. It covers key topics such as identifying and accessing different financing options (bank loans, microfinance, venture capital, grants, and crowdfunding), understanding investor and lender requirements, and developing bankable business proposals. Additionally, the course provides practical training on financial planning, budgeting, cash flow management, and risk mitigation strategies to ensure long-term financial sustainability. Participants will also learn about financial reporting, credit management, and how to leverage digital financial tools to improve efficiency and transparency in their operations. Through case studies and interactive exercises, SMEs will gain the skills necessary to make informed financial decisions and enhance their financial resilience. 3. Digitalization and Climate Change Adaptation: This component will focus on strengthening businesses’ resilience to economic and environmental challenges, through adopting a dual approach: integrating digital technologies to enhance SME productivity and competitiveness while promoting sustainable practices to minimize their environmental footprint. It explores the integration of digital solutions such as e-commerce, mobile payments, data analytics, and automation to improve productivity and market access. Additionally, the course highlights sustainable business practices, including energy-efficient technologies, circular economy principles, and climate-smart production methods that reduce environmental impact. Participants will also learn how to access green financing opportunities and develop business models that align with climate adaptation strategies. Through practical case studies and hands-on exercises, SMEs will gain the skills needed to navigate the digital economy while ensuring sustainability and long-term resilience in the face of climate change. Scope and tasks of work Under the guidance of the Director of ECA SRO-NA, and the direct supervision of the project manager from the Employment and Skills for Balanced Development Section, the national consultant responsible for Mauritania workshop will develop training materials and conduct one capacity building workshop for participants representing young and women-led businesses in Mauritania as well as roll out a pre- and post-training survey to quantify the program’s impact. To carry out this task, and taking into consideration individual country’s institutional and policy context, the consultant will: 1. Develop and conduct a pre- and post-training survey to capture the impact of the program on young and women-led businesses. 2. Develop training materials for each component defined in the section above, tailored to the specific business environment of Mauritania. 3. Provide case studies on preparing strong funding proposals. 4. Provide business cases on SME exports, including through digital platforms. 5. Provide business cases on certification and international quality standards for exportable products. 6. Conduct the workshop. 7. Prepare and submit a final report after the completion of the workshop in Mauritania. 8. Respond to any other ad-hoc requests related to this project. Anticipated deliverables and implementation schedule: The following deliverables are expected: 1. Submit the pre-workshop questionnaire and survey results at least 7 days before the workshop. 2. Deliver the training materials 10 working days before the workshop begins and provide a final version at the end of the workshop. 3. Conduct one workshop in Nouakchott for the Mauritanian beneficiaries. 4. Submit the report within 7 days after the workshop, including policy-level recommendations. 5. The plan and concrete deadlines for the deliverables will be discussed and decided in consultation between the consultant and the project manager in ECA SRO-NA. 6. Completed pre- and post-training survey to quantify the program’s impact.

Advanced university degree (master’s at least) in economics, business administration or related fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A PhD degree is an advantage A minimum of 5 years of experience in development and management or trade research, work and/or analysis is required Experience in trade negotiations in North Africa and/or Africa is desirable Experience with United Nations or International or regional organizations is an advantage

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this consultancy, Fluency in both French and Arabic is required.

Not available.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.