FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The International Value Chain Development Expert works under the overall guidance of the UNIDO Industrial Development Officer responsible for the project (Lead Programme Manager), Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) at UNIDO HQ, in close collaboration with the Industrial Development Expert at UNIDO HQ, the Regional Programme Manager in Abuja, and the UNIDO-ITC project teams in Abuja.

The Expert is responsible for coordinating, monitoring and providing technical advice and inputs for the Output 2.1 of the Programme on value addition and diversification (enterprise upgrading, clusters, digital transformation, industrial skills, centres of excellence, etc.).

The Expert will be responsible for the following tasks and main duties:

Technical advice and implementation

– Provide technical inputs and contribute to capacity building efforts on themes relevant to the position, including:

Green, circular, and climate-neutral value chain policies, strategies and institutions in the ECOWAS region

Strategies/roadmaps for ECOWAS priority value chains

Clusters and other collaborative initiatives (networks) in the ECOWAS region

Regional Centres of Excellence to support ECOWAS priority value chains

Industrial skills for sustainable value chain development in the ECOWAS region

Enterprise upgrading and modernization for higher added-value in ECOWAS priority value chains

Digital transformation of ECOWAS priority value chains

Innovative financing and investment solutions for selected value chains

– Create high-quality briefs, reports, presentations, and other materials that support evidence-based decision-making and promote stakeholders’ engagement in areas related to value addition and diversification.

Project Management and Implementation

– In collaboration with the Regional Programme Manager and UNIDO HQ team, plan, monitor, supervise and report on the day-to-day implementation of programme interventions under output 2.1 on value addition and diversification.

– Supervise, coordinate and evaluate the work of the consultants and service providers recruited under output 2.1 of the programme, including but not limited to:

Managing experts’ missions

Planning and organizing capacity-building activities

Drafting terms of reference/job description and participating in the evaluation of offers/candidates

 Defining equipment specifications.

– Liaise with various UNIDO divisions and project managers responsible for the implementation of sub-outputs under output 2.1 of the programme, and ensure smooth and regular communication on the status and progress of output 2.1 between the PMU and UNIDO HQ.

– Optimize the coordination of actions under output 2.1 by promoting synergies and based on a coherent intervention logic so that activities are implemented efficiently, maximizing impact and optimizing resources to ensure optimal cost-effectiveness.

– Ensure gender and social inclusion in any type of interventions under output 2.1 and manage project data disaggregated by sex and age.

– Support the preparation of periodic progress reports, monitoring reports, fact sheets and case studies to meet UNIDO and EU reporting requirements.

– Support the Regional Monitoring and Evaluation expert by providing relevant and timely inputs linked to output 2.1.

– Contribute to enhancing the visibility of the project as well as UNIDO by providing relevant and timely inputs linked to output 2.1 of the programme to the Regional Advocacy and Outreach expert.

– Manage the rapid response facility for country-level interventions under output 2.1.

Coordination with partner institutions and donor

– Support the Regional Programme Manager in coordinating with regional stakeholders, including national Governments, the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions and national Focal Points (from both public and private sectors) to ensure strong programmeownership, effective collaboration and the successful delivery of programme outcomes related to value addition and diversification.

– Ensure synergies with relevant programmes conducted by other organizations or institutions on value chain development and other themes relevant to the position in the ECOWAS region.

– Support other related duties and assignments as required by the project manager.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in economics, trade, sciences, engineering, business management, international relations, or similar field relevant to UNIDO’s mandate, is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in the areas of trade competitiveness, market access, industrial development and/or private sector development, is required.
• Experience involving technical cooperation in one or more ECOWAS countries (United Nations, other international organizations, etc.), is required.
• Exposure to the needs, conditions and problems in the ECOWAS region, is required.
• Experience in implementing, coordinating and monitoring technical cooperation projects, is required.
• Experience dealing with sustainable development challenges is required.
• Experience in implementing multi-country/regional technical assistance projects, is desirable.
• Experience with programmes funded by the EU, is desirable.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively, is required.
• Strong command of office software (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook), is required.

Language skills: Fluency in written and oral English and French is required. Fluency or working knowledge of Portuguese is desirable.