The post is located within the ITC Office of Africa (OA) under the Division of Country Programmes (DCP). OA/DCP is leading the work of ITC in Africa. The duty station is located in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The Programme “Capacity Building Program for Trade in Services in Central Africa under the AfCFTA” – ECCAS Services – is a major initiative which aims to increase intra-regional, continental, and bilateral trade in the services sector. Funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC), this four-year program specifically seeks to enhance the liberalization and export of services in certain sectors at continental, regional, or bilateral levels in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By prioritizing businesses led by women and youth, the program also aims to promote economic inclusion and encourage sustainable business practices. It will cover the 11 countries of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), namely: Angola, Burundi, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief, Office for Africa, the overall guidance of the Director, DCP, and in close collaboration with the Programme Officer at ITC HQ, the Programme Officer, ECCAS Services will be responsible for providing both managerial and technical expertise to ensure the effective implementation and coordination of all ECCAS Services activities. Specific responsibilities include: • Ensures the effective supervision, management, and performance of the Programme Management Unit (PMU) in Yaoundé, • Develops, implements and evaluates ECCAS Service programme to ensure the achievement of general and specific objectives as outlined in the programme’s contractual documents; monitors and analyzes programme development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; ensures follow-up actions. • Liaises and engages with relevant stakeholders in the region, including national governments, the ECCAS Commission, EU delegation, and designated national Focal Points to ensure strong programme ownership and visibility, in alignment with governments’ priorities. • Performs consulting assignments, in collaboration with the client, by planning facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan the client will use to manage the change. • Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources. • Coordinates policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies, • Generates survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identify problems/issues and prepares conclusions. • Organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. • Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc. Ensures the organization and coordination of annual meetings of the Regional Steering Committee and regional Technical Committee meetings. • Ensures the overall harmonization of the programme activities to guarantee synergies, complementarities, economies of scale and exchange of information/tools with the Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access Programme (ATCMA) – Central Africa Component (ATCMA-ECCAS). • Supervises and coordinates all technical experts work and technical expert missions, manages logistics for training workshops and seminars, and gives presentations on assigned topics; • Leads or participates in complex field missions, guides external consultants and government officials, and prepares mission reports. • Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/ preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.). • Performs other duties as required.

Professionalism: Good understanding of the regional trade integration process in ECCAS and Africa. Knowledge of regional trade integration issues, value chain support, trade policy and facilitation, trade finance and investment, quality and standard issues. Knowledge of EU financial management rules. Familiarity with UN system management tools and processes. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Building Trust: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, management, economics or a related field such as engineering, international relations. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of seven years of work experience in programme management, administration of related area is required. Experience coordinating and managing large-scale programmes is desirable. Experience working with the Economic Community of Central African States is desirable. Experience working with African development partners is desirable. Experience with programmes funded by the EU is desirable.

For the position advertised, fluency in both English and French is required. Fluency in Spanish or Portuguese is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.