Result of Service

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND TIMELINES: 1. Framework of training / coaching program and curriculum designed, by 9 May 2024. 2. Draft of Training / Coaching materials, guide, methodology and tools shared, by 9 August 2024. 3. Training / Coaching materials, guide, methodology and tools are fine tuned and ready to be used, by 9 October 2024. 4. Training of trainers successfully delivered, by 9 November 2024. 5. Coaching of trainers successfully conducted, and report is issued, by 9 May 2025. 6. Training and coaching material are upgraded based on outputs 3 & 4, by 9 May 2025. 7. Global report for the program delivery submitted and approved by ITC, by 9 June 2025.

Work Location

Home-Based, with possibility of travel to East Africa

Expected duration

20.04.2024 – 09.06.2025 (80 workdays)

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Trade Centre (ITC) has a unique mandate in the United Nations system to promote increased competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in developing, transition and least developed countries and assisting them to better use trade as a platform for growth, development, and employment creation. The ITC support these countries to improve their business environment and facilitate better management of border operations, including through the implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement. OBJECTIVE: The Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II) is funded by the European Union (EU) and runs from 2023-2027. With a view to contribute to economic development in the East African Community (EAC) through increased sustainable intra-African and EU-Africa trade, MARKUP II has been designed to improve livelihoods, employment, export competitiveness for MSMEs and economic growth in Africa through supporting the development and strengthening of key export-oriented priority value chains with high potential. The programme will cover activities in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda through the provisions of partnerships with national, regional and international institutions. Packaging has been selected as one of the targeted sectors under MARKUP II in the six countries. A key component of packaging is the graphic design and content of labels or pre-printed packaging. The project aims to train professional graphic designers in the field of graphic design for packaging (labels and pre-printed packaging), both visually and content-wise. The packaging graphic is the part visible to consumers at physical points of sale or virtual platforms, and the last opportunity for a company to differentiate itself and convince a target customer to buy the product, hence the importance of using graphic design professionals who are also experts in the design of labels and pre-printed packaging. The act of creating a graphic packaging design follows a specific methodology and best practices so that the final rendering in terms of visuals and information complies with the harmonized national and regional regulations of the target markets, aligns with the company’s values, and has a powerful and decisive impact on the choice of product by the target customers at the time of purchase. In the EAC, the number of graphic agencies with packaging expertise is very small, so their services are available at prices that are inaccessible to most MSMEs due to the phenomenon of scarcity. MSMEs often turn to friends or family who know how to handle some basic software or graphic designers without expertise on packaging. In the end, MSMEs’ packaging graphics are often non-compliant with target market regulations, limiting access to retailers who will refuse the products, and when they do manage to enter retail locations, the impact is limited in terms of sales. For MSMEs, access to graphic designers with packaging expertise represents a significant barrier to market access and competitiveness. The objective of this activity is to facilitate access for MSMEs to graphic designers with packaging expertise. To this end, a train-the-trainer and coaching programme on graphic design for packaging will be rolled out in the project’s 6 target countries. ITC is looking for an expert in graphic design for packaging (labels and pre-printed packaging) to develop a training of trainers’ program, and to train the trainers. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: Under the direct supervision of the Senior Officer on Packaging, and the overall supervision of the Chief, Sector Competitiveness Section (SEC), Division of Enterprises and Institutions (DEI), the responsibilities of the Consultant will consist of the following: 1. Define a curriculum for the training of trainer and coaching program. 2. Develop training materials including a guide, power point slides and other materials if necessary (or others according to ITC approval). 3. Train the selected trainers and graphic designers, and prepare an activity report (requested structure of the report will be shared by ITC). 4. Coach the trainers as well as the selected graphic designers on pilot projects, and prepare an activity report (requested structure of the report will be shared by ITC). 5. Following activities 3 and 4, refine the training and coaching materials. 6. Prepare an overall report of the activities. Copyright Clause: The Consultant has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the Consultant shall request prior written permission from ITC. S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to event(s), if required. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons – of all genders – equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Qualifications/special skills

Bachelor degree in packaging, graphic design, communication, marketing or related topics. Postgraduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA, or other) in packaging, marketing, communication, graphic design or other related topics an asset. Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. Minimum 10 years of experience as professional graphic designer, including minimum 5 years on graphic design for packaging. Minimum 3 years of experience in delivering training or coaching. Experience in content creation for packaging labels an asset. Excellent capacity to communicate technical content and transfer knowledge. Excellent report writing and presentation skills. Ability to be flexible and keep tight deadlines. Excellent command of softwares and platforms used for graphic design. Computer literate in MS office applications (PowerPoint, Excel and Word).

Languages

Fluency in written and oral English is required. Fluency in French is an asset.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

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.