The Programme Manager, Trade Facilitation will support the Director West Africa & AfCFTA and, Trade and Customs (T&C) Director in coordinating the alignment of trade policy and facilitation practices and goals to TMA’s strategy and ensuring that trade facilitation is streamlined in all aspects of the relevant
TMA’s projects and interventions in West Africa. He/she will ensure establishment of clear linkages of
trade facilitation to organizational objectives at both the national and regional levels. The position will
involve provision of technical and operational support to border agencies in the implementation of
trade facilitation initiatives such as, but not limited to Integrated Border Management (IBM),
Authorised Economic Operators Schemes (AEOs), Authorised Supply Chains (ASC), Trade Procedures
Re-engineering, Training and Capacity Building, among other instruments under the World Customs
Organisation (WCO) Safe Standards Framework. S/he will support the Director in formulation, review
and implementation of trade policy instruments including trade barrier, trade remedies and tariffs
frameworks. Other aspects of the position will involve leading and coordinating TMA’s implementation of trade facilitation and customs arrangements emerging from trade agreements such as the World
Trade Organisation Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA), AfCFTA, WCO, among others.

Roles

Trade Facilitation Programme Management & Operations (40%)
• Support the formulation and implementation of the TMA Trade Facilitation and Trade Policy
Strategy as per the prevailing Theory of Change.
• Support the formulation and management of TMA’s Trade Facilitation and Policy programming at
continental, regional and national levels.
• Provide technical management in the implementation of TMA’s Trade Facilitation and Policy
projects and interventions.
• Management of innovations and ideation of the next generation concepts in trade facilitation and
policy, incubating them, and translating them to implementable and practical solutions in
addressing trade regulatory and policy challenges in the trade and business environment.
• Support the design, development, and implementation of trade remedies frameworks and
effective NTBs resolutions mechanisms at continental, regional and national levels in TMA funded
projects and interventions.
• Support the engagement of regional and international bodies involved in trade agreements, such
as the AU, AfCFTA Secretariat, WTO, WCO, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) including
ECOWAS.
• Support TMA’s research work related to trade policy and facilitation programming – providing
insights to the results and impact of TMA programming in trade facilitation.
• Manage trade facilitation and policy programme delivery by ensuring good practice Project Cycle
Management (PCM) in terms of project design, procurement, contract management,
outcome/output-based planning, reporting and financial management, and results-oriented
monitoring, learning and evaluation.
• Lead, manage and mentor junior trade facilitation and policy team members, Tand other members
of the Trade Environment Department on trade facilitation matters.
• In line with TMA Strategy, manage the operational/implementation of technical inputs and quality
assurance on TMA’s work on trade policy in general and with specific focus on Trade Remedies and

NTBs; Trade Agreements; Institutional Support for Trade Policy Agencies and Bodies; Trade Policy
and Strategy Development; among others.
• Work closely with the Director (West Africa & AfCFTA), Director (Trade & Customs), TMA Regional
and Country Offices by managing the support and operations of trade policy and facilitation
programmes to enhance implementation of regionally or globally agreed trade agreements.
• Contribute and support policy analysis and research, to inform trade policy and strategy
development as well as promote dialogue among TMA key stakeholders.
• Manage the development of a Trade Policy programming sustainability strategy and an
implementation plan detailing how current and future trade policy interventions will be sustained
by trade policy implementing agencies.
• Manage the exploration of potential new areas of engagement around trade policy and regional
integration that are in line with the TMA Strategic plan.
• Support the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) including ECOWAS Commission on
negotiations and implementation of trade agreements.
• Support the RECs including ECOWAS Commission on development and implementation of trade
policy instruments.
• Support the RECs including ECOWAS Commission on development and implementation of trade
remedies and barriers to trade frameworks.
• Support the RECs including ECOWAS Commission and Countries in undertaking trade facilitation
and policy studies and reviews.
Reporting and Monitoring of Results (20%)
• Support the Director (West Africa & AfCFTA) and Director (Trade & Customs) in working with
Knowledge & Results and the Research Directors to carry out trade data analysis to assess the
impact of TMA support towards enhancing trade policy in the regions of TMA operations.
• Use trade data and policy analysis to identify and draw linkages between trade policy and
infrastructure development programs with a view to informing operational options, enhancing
effectiveness of TMA interventions and/or informing strategic decisions.
• Uses available and/or develops tools to monitor project progress towards delivery at the activity
output and outcome levels.
• Puts in place data collection mechanisms for evidence-based results articulation, documents
lessons, shares knowledge, incentivise staff/teams and enforces compliance and standards.
Communications, Visibility, Knowledge Management and Lesson Learning (20%)
• In collaboration with the Communications team, provide material for publication, demonstrating
results and good practice in TMA’s work especially around flagship trade policy projects.
• Provide information and data towards the preparation of reports and communication materials.
• Support the Director (West Africa & AfCFTA) and Director (Trade & Customs) to manage trade
facilitation and policy capacity development activities at regional and national level (e.g.,
managing Communities of Practice, training, coaching, information sessions), with partner
organisations and for TMA staff.
• Manage the work with country and regional teams to provide technical advice and input on trade
policy and facilitation, internally and/or with partners.
• Support the Director (West Africa & AfCFTA) and Director (Trade & Customs) to manage a regular
programme of topical seminars and talks for TMA staff on research findings, from key informants
on trade policy and other trade related issues.
• Support the Director (West Africa & AfCFTA) and Director (Trade & Customs) to manage any
training programs designed for trade negotiators, private sector, and civil society stakeholders to
better participate and execute agreements related to trade facilitation.

Contribute to research and knowledge materials including flagship publications, policy and
research studies, economic research papers and briefs related to trade policy.
• Through training and capacity building programmes, improve and deepen TMA staff and partner
organisations’ understanding of trade policy and trade related policy issues.
• Manage teams in regular informal and formal reflection, knowledge sharing and learning events.
Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Development (20%)
• Manage strategic and general partnerships with key organizations, stakeholders and partners
including national Government agencies and international and regional non-governmental,
private sector and civil society organisations with a focus on trade policy dialogue, trade capacity
building and sharing of knowledge and best practices.
• Support the Director (West Africa & AfCFTA) and Director (Trade & Customs) to develop and
maintain strong working relationships with the Heads of Trade and Trade facilitation and policy
teams in RECs, particularly the ECOWAS Commission, and other multilateral trade organizations
such as WTO, WCO, UNCTAD, ITC and EIF as well as non-governmental trade organisations.
• Manage TMA’s contributions and inputs to the Aid for Trade, work around post Bali WTO TFA and
other trade related discussions at regional and global levels, working closely with all relevant
Directors and teams across TMA.
Corporate Level Responsibilities
• Apply the highest standards of controls and risk management practices and behaviours and
embed a positive risk and control culture.
• Demonstrate prudence, sound judgement and appropriate and timely escalations in managing all
types of risk (including fraud risk) applicable to the role.
• Understand and comply with the relevant end-to-end processes, including applicable risks and
controls.
• Seek to identify, understand, and escalate risk events/incidents/ issues daily, focusing on fixing
root causes and taking ownership of identified mitigating actions.
• Complete all relevant mandatory training within the stipulated timelines.
• Ensures compliance with PCM guidelines throughout the project design and implementation
cycle, including robust project planning, reporting and closure, adhering donor requirements as
stipulated in contribution agreements.
• Manages relationships and communicates with internal and external stakeholders including
donors, partners and service providers and clearly articulates project and programme scope,
timeline, budget, risks, and deliverables.
• Understands funding sources for projects, the implementation timelines agreed with funders,
monitors implementation and delivery to ensure that projects are within budget, scope, and time.
Where changes occur, clearly documents, and ensures that relevant internal (portfolio director,
technical lead, SLMT leads) and external stakeholders (donors, partners) are informed.
• Ensures compliance with grant management procedures and guidelines including appraisal,
selection, implementation, reporting, closure, and hands-on involvement, management, and
execution.
• Ensure implementation of minimum standards on reporting gender disaggregated data
• Contributes to the development/revision of tools and procedures to document and share
knowledge, incentivise staff/teams and enforce compliance and standards.
• Ensure inclusion of gender-sensitive /responsive indicators to track progress towards gender
integration in all projects.
• Participates in regular informal and formal reflection, knowledge sharing and learning events.
• Documents and promotes lessons learned and best practices for knowledge sharing and learning.
• Promote and adhere to TMA’s core values and ensure compliance with organisational policies and
procedures.

Education 

A postgraduate or undergraduate degree in Economics, Development Studies, International
Trade, and International Trade Law. A Masters degree in in project planning and management will
be an added advantage.
• Undergraduate degree holders will have at least ten (10) years of relevant working experience,
while postgraduate degree holders will require at least eight (8) years of relevant working
experience.

Work Experience 

Good understanding of the multilateral trading systems and their implication to regional
integration.
• Experience working with regional economic communities required.
• A good understanding of trade facilitation context and regional integration in East and Southern
Africa.
• Good understanding of the dynamics of trade facilitation and trade barriers impacting trade at
national, regional and at the global levels.
• Very good understanding of the multilateral trading systems and their implication for regional
integration.
• Significant knowledge of the trade and development needs of developing countries.
• Good understanding of trade policy, trade facilitation, infrastructure, and transport/logistics.
• Good understanding of Customs and its related trade and transport interfaces.
• Experience in working with private sector and civil society to deliver trade capacity support and
to support trade related advocacy.

Skills

Strong leadership and management skills, including the ability to provide strategic guidance and
technical oversight to teams. Demonstrate personal qualities and credibility to lead, develop and
motivate staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong collaborative partnerships/relationships with teams,
development partners, continental and regional bodies, partner government agencies, civil
society, and private sector organisations/associations.
• Good understanding of inclusion programme design, economic development and trade
approaches that address issues of gender and inclusion and poverty reduction.
• Good understanding of national and regional socio-political and economic contexts.
• Strong familiarity with national, regional, and international stakeholders in gender, inclusion, and
trade.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrable experience networking at various levels with
public and private sector, and international partners.
• Demonstrable ability to influence others to achieve objectives and gain consensus and
collaboration.
• Sound decision-making and judgement capabilities, as well as good problem solving and
analytical skills.
• A dynamic, energetic, and self-motivated team player who requires minimal supervision.
• Highly Desirable: Good knowledge of financial management, grant management and risk
assessment in a development organisation; Knowledge and practice in the areas of project cycle
management (PCM)
• Required: Excellent oral and written communication skills, including written, analytical,
presentation and reporting; Fluency in both English and French languages