Duties and Responsibilities
The overall objective of the consultancy is to provide technical support in the implementation of the regional AEO programme, particularly in coordinating and delivery of project activities aimed at strengthening the capacity of the EAC partner states to support businesses in taking advantage of the opportunities of the AfCFTA. Working under the guidance of the ECA Regional Integration and Trade Division (RITD), Africa Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) and direct supervision of the Director of Customs at EAC Secretariat Headquarters , the consultant is expected to: (a) Project Implementation and Management – Develop project operational documents including a monitoring framework for the EAC Regional AEO Program. – Coordinate project activities in collaboration with focal points at the EAC Secretariat, EAC Partner States and UNECA. – Support mobilization of short-term experts to deliver specific project activities aiming to achieve project objectives and outputs. – Develop and oversee signing of Joint Action Plans (JAP) and activities to facilitate EAC Customs Administrations engage and conclude Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) with other interested Countries or Regional Organizations (TRIPARTITE & AfCFTA) (AEO beyond the boundaries of EAC) – Oversee inclusion / bringing on board MSME to AEO Program as per defined criteria – Ensure efficient use of resources to achieve project goals – Organize meetings of project governance structures and prepare progress reports. (b) Technical Support – Regional AEO Program
– Align the EAC AEO program with international standards through benchmarking with other global programs to ensure EAC Regional AEOs meet security and compliance requirements. – Support the development and implementation of risk management strategies for the AEO Program. – Support the automation of AEO processes for integration into the SCT Centralized Platform. – Engage the AEO Steering Committee and National focal points to finalise the establishment of the EAC AEO Association and its operationalization (Registration and Domicilig) including operationalise AEO Association Country Chapters in the Partner States – Represent the AEO program in national, regional and international forums. – Any other project-related duties as may be assigned by the Director of Customs EAC Secretariat (c) Research and Analysis – Conduct an assessment to establish a baseline for the regional AEO program in the EAC. – Conduct a comparative analysis of AEO Programmes to identify best practices and opportunities for improvement. – Review and enhance AEO accreditation criteria based on requirements from cross-border agencies. – Use AEO Program data to identify capacity gaps [skills and processes] within the regional AEO program and recommend solutions. – Contribute to empirical work on enhancing intra-African trade in the context of the AfCFTA / TFTA through digitalization and AEO programmes. (d) Capacity Building – Develop and contribute to training programs for customs officials and private sector stakeholders / participants on the AEO Program. – Provide ongoing sensitization and support to ensure program sustainability (e) Communication and Public Relations – Establish and maintain a network of contacts in EAC Partner States authorities, AEO Association and within the Trade Facilitation specialist community to support implementation and monitoring of activities of the AEO Program. – Maintain a positive public image of the program through effective communication strategies by preparing media articles, tweets etc. for project visibility and providing broader stakeholder updates The above-mentioned responsibilities are not exhaustive. The Consultant may be assigned to perform other duties related to the project.
Qualifications/special skills
Master’s degree in Trade, International Relations, Economics, Law, Public Policy or related discipline is required. A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in trade facilitation, regional integration, public-private partnerships, project management or similar assignments at national and international level is required. Experience in research/analytical work and capacity building related to trade facilitation and regional integration in Africa is required. Prior experience in working on AEO or trusted trader programs, organizing events and assisting the drafting of reports/studies within a Regional Economic Community, the United Nations or similar international organization is desired.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this assignment, fluency in English language is required. Working knowledge of French is an added advantage.