The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and World Trade
Organization based in Geneva. ITC’s mission is to enable small business export success in developing
and transition- economy countries, by providing, with partners, sustainable and inclusive development
solutions to the private sector, trade support institutions (TSIs) and policymakers.
Having worked with SMEs for 60 years, ITC is familiar with the unique needs of SMEs, including youth
and women-led enterprises, and has vast experience in improving their international competitiveness
and connecting them with markets:
• ITC’s Youth & Trade Initiative takes a market-led approach to address gaps in skills and enhance the
competitiveness of young entrepreneurs. The programme works with ecosystem actors to strengthen the
business environment for youth-led companies and provide pathways to youth employment in key value
chains. ITC manages a global community supporting young entrepreneurs – Ye! Community, which
connects youth entrepreneurs and key ecosystem actors to provide access to resources, tools,
opportunities, and networks, to enhance their entrepreneurial capacities.
• ITC ecomConnect has developed a well-practiced methodology accompanies SMEs on their digital
journey through its training programme, research, and facilitation of innovative solutions, collaborative
structures, partnerships, and digital tools and technologies. In addition, the ecomConnect programme
works closely with a wide range of local stakeholders and partner agencies, especially BSOs, and
provides them with capacity building and knowledge on online trade and exports.
• ITC’s Tech Sector Development team supports the internationalization of African tech start-ups. ITC
has implemented projects in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Senegal and Uganda focused
on supporting local tech companies and digital freelancers, as well as the local innovation ecosystems.
In 2019, ITC launched the #FastTrackTech initiative. FastTrackTech provides targeted coaching,
matchmaking with potential clients and investors to digital entrepreneurs who aspire to international
growth in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Mali, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia.
• ITC SheTrades Initiative aims to create an ecosystem of integrated solutions that empower women
economically through greater integration in trade and investment. The Initiative ensures that the right
capacities and conditions are present for women to trade and that they are supported by an ecosystem
of market partners and effective support organizations. At the same time, SheTrades works to remove
inequalities in the trade policy space that hinder women’s participation.
• ITC Institutions and Ecosystems section is dedicated to support and enhance the performance of
business support organizations (BSOs). The support to BSOs is structured in three key pillars: assess,

INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE 
improve, and connect organizations. The end goal of the support is to ensure that MSMEs and startups
receive targeted and well-structured support from efficient and professional organizations.
• The ITC Trade Policy and Investment Facilitation (TPIF) Unit supports trade and investment policy
formulation and implementation by working with policymakers to review and update policies and
regulatory frameworks and informing and advising trade and investment negotiators. TPIF also assists
chambers of commerce and other business support organizations (BSOs) to articulate MSMEs views
effectively to ensure that policies, regulatory reforms, and negotiations all reflect a well-informed business
perspective.
Unemployment and underemployment are key drivers of poverty in Sierra Leone. At 10.1%, the youth
unemployment rate is over double the national average, and 60-70% of the working population are
classified as working poor. The digital economy provides opportunities for more and better paid jobs, and
digitalization has the potential to drive SME competitiveness and growth.
However, Sierra Leonean youth, especially young women, lack awareness of opportunities available in
the digital economy as well as the relevant knowledge and skills to take advantage of them.
Consequently, many youths are not employable in technology-related jobs. Youth entrepreneurship is
key to reduce unemployment in Sierra Leone, yet most youth-led MSMEs, especially those led by young
women, lack skills to adopt digital technologies in their businesses, maximize e-commerce opportunities,
and secure financing. Young people and young entrepreneurs lack an effective and coordinated voice to
influence policymaking processes related to the digital economy to ensure that their needs are met.
At the business ecosystem level, entrepreneurship support provided by the government, development
agencies, and NGOs rarely offer a combination of sector, digital, and entrepreneurship-oriented
programmes. There is a lack of coordination among BSOs, tech service providers, and market partners.
Business and digital support services are insufficient and not adapted to the needs of young people and
young entrepreneurs. BSOs and tech hubs do not provide sufficient digital entrepreneurship support to
youth-led MSMEs, and financial institutions have limited service offerings to support young women
entrepreneurs to contribute to the digital economy.
Implemented over a four-year period from June 2024 to 2028, the ‘Sierra Leone: Empowering youth
through digital technologies’ project has the overall objective of contributing to economic growth and job
creation in Sierra Leone by enhancing the participation of youth in the digital economy.
To achieve this, the project will:
• Increase the capacity of youth to use digital technologies for work, entrepreneurship and social
inclusion;
• Enhance the competitiveness of young entrepreneurs through the adoption of digital technologies;
• Improve youth-specific service offerings of business support organizations and tech hubs;
• Strengthen the inclusive national strategies and policies related to the digital economy

FUNCTIONS
Under the direct supervision of the overall supervision of the SheTrades Senior Programme Officer and
the direct supervision of the SheTrades Associate Economic Affairs Officer, under the guidance of the
Project Operations Assistant based in HQ, and in close collaboration with the National Project
Coordinator. the Programme Operations Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:
• Provide support in the coordination of project operations planning and preparation work for a fouryear digital and youth project in Sierra Leone;
• Monitor status of project proposals, gathering and filing of relevant documentation for review and
approval.
• Review and ensure the completeness, coherence, accuracy, quality, and compliance of project
documents, cost plans/budgets, terms of reference, letters, rosters of participants, and procurement
offer reviews before submitting them for final approval at HQ
• Serve as focal point for administrative and logistical coordination of project implementation activities,
such as training sessions, workshops, community events, mobilization initiatives, etc., in close
coordination with the Project Operations Assistant on all requests;

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• Follow-up locally on administrative actions, such as travel arrangements, training/study tours,
authorization of payments, procurement of goods and services, ensuring compliance with ITC
operational processes.
• Draft and update regular reports, briefing notes, graphic and statistical summaries, accounting
spreadsheets, etc., in support of the National Project Coordinator, in order to ensure timely
monitoring of project expenditure and flag any issues as they arise;
• Support in general office assistance; respond to complex information requests and inquiries of
meeting participants, officials, project stakeholders, vendors, etc.; maintain files/records as per UN
rules and regulations, for audit purposes; maintain clear filing system as aligned with HQ team file
sharing practices and standards;
• Liaise with relevant parties, including officials in country offices, implementing agencies, Resident
Representatives, National/Programme Coordinators, and HQ teams, and provide regular reports on
the status of operational matters
• Performs other duties as required.

KEY DELIVERABLE AND MONITORING / PROGRESS CONTROLS
Provides reliable assistance in the coordination of project planning and implementation activities and
basic research support. Demonstrates understanding of the context of project and issues in assigned
area, and uses increasing independence in processing of work and follow-up actions. Demonstrates
initiative in the identification and resolution of issues/problems. Is well organized, produces accurate
reports, records and/or data, put together with only general guidance. Consistently applies appropriate
policies, guidelines and procedures. Effectively, and in timely manner liaises and interacts with
colleagues and concerned parties internally and externally.

RECRUITMENT QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum education and qualifications (level and field of study)
High school diploma or equivalent.
Minimum experience (nature, length and field of experience)
A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in project administration and/or technical cooperation
project implementation preferably in international contexts.
The minimum years of relevant experience can be reduced to three (3) for candidates who possess a first level university degree or higher.

Desirable experience
Experience working with an Enterprise Resources planning system (SAP, Oracle or other) strongly
desirable.
Experience working in development programme/projects in the United Nations system desirable
Experience working with government ministries, embassies, or other diplomatic offices will be an asset.
Minimum language requirement
Advanced knowledge of English. Knowledge of Krio is an advantage.