INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT: ACCELERATING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE IGAD AfCFTA REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY THROUGH ENTERPRISE CHAMPIONS AND TRADE FACILITATION CAPACITY BUILDING

Result of Service

The overall objective of the project is to accelerate the implementation of the IGAD AfCFTA Regional Implementation Strategy by strengthening private sector participation in AfCFTA trade and enhancing institutional capacity for trade facilitation across the IGAD region. The international consultant will lead the technical delivery of the project, coordinating across IGAD Member States to produce the required outputs under the two project results: (i) AfCFTA Champion enterprises identified, mentored, and trading under AfCFTA; and (ii) capacity of customs officials at borders and airports strengthened for AfCFTA implementation.

Work Location

Home based with travel

Expected duration

3 months

Duties and Responsibilities

1. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has entered a decisive implementation phase, following the February 2024 decision of the African Union Assembly to transition from the Guided Trade Initiative to a fully operational and mainstreamed framework. This transition underscores the need to translate legal commitments into tangible trade outcomes through strengthened institutional systems, enhanced private sector readiness, and improved trade facilitation mechanisms. However, experience with preferential trade regimes indicates that the existence of preferential market access does not automatically lead to increased trade flows. The effective utilisation of AfCFTA opportunities remains constrained by structural and operational barriers, including limited awareness of AfCFTA provisions, complex compliance requirements, and persistent logistical and administrative bottlenecks. Early evidence suggests that many firms across Africa, including those with established export capacity, continue to face significant challenges in accessing and benefiting from continental market opportunities. These challenges are particularly acute among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which face disproportionate constraints related to access to information, finance, and trade-related infrastructure. As a result, their participation in international trade remains limited. In this context, large and high-potential firms play a critical catalytic role, given their stronger institutional capacity, established market linkages, and ability to comply with trade requirements. Such firms can serve as “AfCFTA Enterprise Champions,” driving the utilisation of preferences, supporting regional value chain development, and generating spillover benefits for MSMEs through supplier networks and knowledge transfer mechanisms. At the same time, institutional capacity constraints remain a major impediment to AfCFTA implementation across the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region. While progress has been made in developing implementation strategies, Member States continue to face significant gaps in customs operations, trade facilitation systems, and border management practices. In particular, limited familiarity with AfCFTA rules of origin, burdensome customs procedures, and underdeveloped digital systems contribute to inefficiencies at border posts and international airports, thereby increasing the cost and uncertainty of cross-border trade. Against this backdrop, the project seeks to address both firm-level and institutional constraints through a dual-track approach. First, it will support the identification and strengthening of a cohort of high-potential enterprises as AfCFTA Champions, enabling them to enhance their participation in intra-African trade and to articulate key constraints affecting trade performance. Second, it will build the capacity of customs officials and border management agencies through targeted training on AfCFTA rules, procedures, and trade facilitation instruments. This integrated approach is expected to contribute to improved utilisation of AfCFTA preferences, enhanced efficiency of cross-border trade processes, and deeper regional integration within the IGAD region. In this context, ECA’s SRO EA, in collaboration with the Regional Integration and Trade Division (RITD), will recruit an International Consultant to support the project. The Consultant will help design and implement activities, identify and strengthen AfCFTA Champion enterprises, and build the capacity of customs officials in IGAD Member States. The Consultant will also develop practical tools and approaches, support stakeholder engagement, and contribute to training activities. Overall, the assignment will help ensure that the project delivers quality results aligned with regional priorities and supports the effective implementation of AfCFTA in the IGAD region. 2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES In close consultation with and under the guidance of the project manager of ECA, the international consultant will lead the implementation of the project and assist in coordinating activities across IGAD Member States. The international consultant will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current status of AfCFTA implementation in the targeted countries, identifying gaps, needs, and opportunities for strengthening private sector participation and trade facilitation capacity. The international consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: a. Development of Technical Tools and Methodologies • Prepare an inception report outlining the work plan, methodology, and timeline for the delivery of all project outputs. • Develop criteria and a methodology for identifying high-potential AfCFTA Enterprise Champions across selected IGAD Member States. • Conduct a diagnostic assessment of customs and trade facilitation capacity gaps across IGAD Member States, to inform the development of targeted training materials for customs officials. • Develop comprehensive training modules on AfCFTA implementation for customs officials based on diagnostic assessment, covering rules of origin, customs documentation and procedures, trade facilitation instruments, digital customs systems, corridor monitoring, the AfCFTA e-Tariff Book, and the online platform for the notification and elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs). b. Strengthening Capacity of Member States and the Private Sector • Conduct enterprise mapping across selected IGAD Member States to identify, assess, and formally designate AfCFTA high-potential exporters, with participation of youth- and women-led enterprises. • Conduct an assessment of key constraints and trade barriers faced by enterprises in trade within the IGAD region and develop actionable recommendations for improving AfCFTA utilisation. • Support the organisation and facilitation of the regional workshop for lesson learnt and knowledge sharing among the AfCFTA champions and to strengthen the capacity of customs officials operating at borders and airports and facilitate experience-sharing among customs administrations across the IGAD region. • Develop final report documenting lessons learned and contribute to policy dialogue at national and regional level. c. Stakeholder Engagement The international consultant will: • Engage with key stakeholders across IGAD Member States, including government agencies, customs administrations, private sector associations, and development partners, to ensure broad-based support for the project. • Assist in organising regional workshops and networking events connecting AfCFTA Champions with buyers, investors, and trade support institutions, using practical case studies and examples of successful AfCFTA utilisation.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, international trade, business administration, law, or a closely related field is required. A PhD in a relevant discipline is an asset. A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in trade policy, AfCFTA implementation, regional integration, private sector development, or a closely related field is required. Also, the international consultant should ideally: - Demonstrated experience in enterprise development, value chain analysis, or private sector capacity building in developing countries is essential, with experience in Africa and/or the IGAD region strongly preferred. - Experience in designing and delivering training programmes for government officials, customs administrations, or the private sector is highly desirable. - Prior experience working with or for the African Union, ECA, IGAD, or other relevant regional organisations is an advantage. Technical Competencies The consultant should demonstrate: - Strong knowledge of AfCFTA architecture, including rules of origin, trade in goods schedules, trade facilitation provisions, and NTB elimination mechanisms. - Solid understanding of private sector dynamics in the IGAD region, including the challenges and opportunities facing SMEs in accessing regional trade preferences. - Familiarity with customs modernisation, corridor management, and border management systems in Eastern Africa. - Experience working with government institutions, particularly ministries of trade, finance, or customs administrations. Other Skills and Competencies The consultant should also: - Demonstrate the ability to deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines. - Possess excellent written and oral communication skills, including report writing and stakeholder engagement. - Show the capacity to work independently, proactively, and with minimal supervision. - Exhibit strong analytical, organisational, and problem-solving skills.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in both English and French is required (oral and written).

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.