National Consultant (Ethiopia) – Environmental and climate assessment

Result of Service

Output 1: by mid-July 2026 • Report outline revised and finalized, aligned with the analytical framework provided by ITC • Initial desk review findings finalized and integrated in the report • Workplan for stakeholder consultations, developed and validated by ITC • Participation in coordination calls Output 2: by mid-August 2026 • First report draft submitted, including analysis of environmental risks, climate vulnerabilities, and opportunities, implications for MSMEs, digital ecosystems, and identification of interventions to reduce risks while leveraging market opportunities” • Participation in coordination calls Output 3: by mid-September 2026 • Final report submitted, incorporating ITC feedback and ensuring strong analytical quality and clear linkage between findings and recommendations. • Stakeholder consultations finalized, and summary of stakeholders consultations included in the report as annex. • Inputs to presentation of key findings and recommendations • Participation in coordination calls

Work Location

home-based in Ethiopia

Expected duration

3 monhts from ASAP

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization supporting the internationalization of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Its joint mandate combines a focus on expanding trade opportunities with the aim of fostering sustainable development. The project, “Ethiopia & Ghana: Strengthening digital trade and agritech market systems”, is an initiative between the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the ITC to strengthen the digital trade ecosystems in both countries. A one-year Inception phase will be implemented to assess the focus, systemic relevance and expected value of a future multi-year digital trade support programme in one or both countries. The project adopts a market systems development (MSD) approach, with a strong emphasis on analysis, facilitation and learning. As an inception and pilot initiative, the approach will be evidence-driven, adaptive and partner-led, ensuring that findings from the assessments and pilots directly inform the design, scope and investment rationale of a future implementation phase. As part of this phase, ITC will conduct an Environmental and Climate Assessment to identify key risks, vulnerabilities, and opportunities affecting the digital services market. For this assignment, ITC will engage a national consultant based in Ethiopia to lead the country-level Environmental and Climate Assessment, including desk review of literature, stakeholder consultations, substantive analysis, and preparation of the final report. Description of Duties/Responsibilities The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer of the Trade and Environment Programme, and overall guidance of the Project Manager of “Ethiopia & Ghana: Strengthening digital trade and agritech market systems” and will undertake the following duties: • Conduct the Environmental and Climate Assessment for Ethiopia, including desk research, stakeholder consultations, and analysis of environmental risks, climate vulnerabilities, and opportunities affecting digital ecosystems. • Applying the agreed analytical framework and screening criteria to identify risks and opportunities across the value chain, assess their impact and implications for MSMEs and digital solutions, and identify interventions to reduce risks while leveraging market opportunities. • Conduct stakeholder consultations with relevant ecosystem actors (e.g. digital firms, innovation hubs, public institutions, environmental actors) to inform and validate the analysis, and maintain a summary record of consultations. • Consolidate findings into an informative but succinct report (15-20 pages in total), including an overview of climate trends and the environmental context, in-depth risk and opportunity mapping, analysis of impact and implications, and recommendations for climate and environmental mainstreaming with a focus on pilot interventions for the project´s inception phase. • Ensure the final report is of high analytical quality, well-structured, and aligned with the agreed methodology, with clear linkages between findings and actionable recommendations. This includes incorporating feedback from the ITC team and contributing to the presentation of key findings. • Coordinate with the project team, including participating in regular coordination calls and ensuring timely delivery of outputs. Copyright Clause: The consultant must secure all necessary intellectual property rights and permissions required to perform their services and enable ITC's unrestricted dissemination of the work. Documented proof of these rights must be submitted to ITC, and the consultant must obtain prior written approval before incurring any third-party copyright or licensing fees. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, and gender parity, ensuring equal consideration for all qualified individuals. All candidates, including persons with disabilities, are evaluated fairly without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Qualifications/special skills

• Postgraduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA/PhD or equivalent) in environmental studies, economics, development studies, or related field. • Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree. • At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in climate change, environmental sustainability, trade, or private sector development • Strong knowledge of Ethiopia’s digital economy • Experience working with international organizations or development programmes • Proven experience in analytical research and report writing Skills • Proven experience in climate risk analysis, environmental sustainability, or a related field, preferably at the intersection with trade or private sector development • Strong analytical and report-writing skills • Experience conducting stakeholder consultations and qualitative research • Ability to translate analysis into practical recommendations • Effective communication skills • Ability to work independently and meet deadlines

Languages

Not available.

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.