Head of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) Division at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

The Court invites applications from citizens of African Union Member States for the position below:

Job Title: Head of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) Division

Requisition ID: 267
Location: Accra, Ghana
Reports to: Director of Trade in Goods and Competition
Directorate: Directorate of Trade in Goods and Competition (TiGC)
Division: Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs)
Number of Direct Reports: 5
Number of Indirect Reports : 1
Job Grade: P5

Purpose of Job

• To provide leadership for effective management and technical efficiency within the Non-tariff Measures Division of the AfCFTA secretariat.

Main Functions

• Set the vision for the Non-tariff Measures Division and define and lead its overall strategy;
• Ensure the appropriate risk management and mitigation strategies for the division;
• Contribute to the development of the Directorate business continuity plan and ensure the implementation at division level;
• Supervise staff of the division with regard to organisation and performance evaluation;  
• Lead the design of strategies and policies consistent with the Directorate of TiGC goals in order to address the pertinent issues in the relevant area;
• Act as a secretariat to the subcommittees on NTBs, SPS and TBT, to ensure effective functioning of these subcommittees;
• Engage stakeholders within Members States and RECs in designing and implementing the required strategies;
• Invest in strategic partnerships and relationships to drive growth.
• Preparation of the Annual Action Plan and its corresponding resources for the Division.
• Represent the AfCFTA Secretariat and explain its position at conferences and events when requested; and
• Contribute to the preparation of periodic financial and budget execution reports and monitors budget execution at division level.

Specific Responsibilities
Provide effective leadership:

• Oversee State Parties implementation of provisions of Annex 5 on NTBs, Annex 6 on TBT, and Annex 7 on SPS Measures of the Protocol on Trade in Goods under the AfCFTA Agreement;
• Harmonise legislations, rules and regulations and procedures in relevant areas of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) for implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement;
• Formulate and manage technical assistance programs in support of NTMs issues under the AfCFTA;
• Formulate advice and recommendations to AfCFTA State Parties in relevant areas of NTMs following the AfCFTA Agreement’s relevant instruments;
• Develop and formulate plans and recommendations for improvement of systems/functions/procedures/legislation for NTMs under the AfCFTA to boost intra-African trade;
• Lead and where necessary build upon implementation readiness analysis of SPS regimes already existing in the AfCFTA Member States, and recommend specific measures to enhance transparency, especially in standards development;
• Envisage and lead a common methodology and approach to develop proposals to address unjustified SPS measures in accordance with guidance from the Sub-Committee on SPS under the AfCFTA;
• Identify new or emerging development issues of potential concern to AfCFTA State Parties in the areas of NTMs, particularly those of a regional nature, and designs and develop programmes and policy advice to address them;
• Provide high quality factual reports, technical advisory notes and other relevant information notes to enable the smooth functioning of the Sub-committees on NTBs, TBT, and SPS and any other relevant meetings;
• Serve as a data resource in seminars and workshop on all NTMs related issues and measures;
• Production of the required documentation for AfCFTA Member State representatives participating in all relevant meetings
• Ensure the timely production and dissemination of minutes of technical meetings’;
• Interpretate all NTMs-related instruments to ensure compliance by Member States and stakeholders;
• Develop and implement the AfCFTA Agreement work plan including stakeholder engagement; and
• Ensure circulation to the Parties on a monthly basis, status reports on NTBs, TBT and SPS activities; and
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Director of TiGC of the AfCFTA Secretariat.

Supervise and Coordinate with Excellence:

• All studies and advocacy programmes on NTMs issues under the AfCFTA;
• Production of the required inputs on issues relating to NTMs  under the Director of Trade in Goods and Competition and ensuring  strict adherence to the agreed deadlines for these inputs as well as related activities;
• Work of all staff including short-term experts under the NTMs Division to undertake subject-specific research into areas of concern to Member States’ representatives participating in technical meetings;
• Preparation of speeches and regular briefs for senior staff and makes presentations on trade and specifically NTMs issues for specialist or non-specialist audiences; and
• Leads in the preparation of flagship publications and policy papers on trade and NTMs issues in Africa.
• Collaborate and Mobilize Stakeholders
• Proactively establish and operationalize Africa Network related to NTMs issues which shall be responsible for coordination and consultation with relevant stakeholders, Facilitate policy dialogue amongst stakeholders;
• Ensure liaison and cooperation with State Parties’ AfCFTA National Implementation Committees, NTBs National Monitoring Committees (NMCs), and other structures with respect to all NTMs issues to facilitate the movement of goods and implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement;
• Ensure resolution of NTBs in liaison with all relevant authorities in State Parties and the relevant AfCFTA subcommittees and structures;
• Lead the capacity building initiatives, in liaison with Member States and other partners, on all technical and legal aspects pertaining to NTMs provisions, in order to facilitate the implementation and enforcement of the NTMs instruments under the AfCFTA and best practices;
• Lead initiation and formulation of policies, programmes and projects aimed at promoting cooperation with respect to NTMs issues among the Member States of the AfCFTA Agreement;
• Lead conceptualization and delivery of training sessions, workshops and seminars to AfCFTA State Parties;
• Lead collaboration and development of  good working relations and partnerships with relevant organisations such as UN Economic Commission for Africa, the World Trade Organisation, the World Customs Organisation amongst others;
• Liaise with other Divisions of Trade in Goods and Competition Directorate on research and all matters related to the Protocols on Trade in Goods and Competition; and
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Director of TiGC.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience:

• A Master’s Degree in International Finance, Economics, international Trade, International Business/Public Administration or any closely related field;
• A minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant work experience in the area of trade policies and NTMs issues at regional or multilateral level of which seven (7) years must be at managerial position; and
• Experience in coordination of trade and NTMs related programmes will be an added advantage.

Required Skills:

• Ability to initiate and promote collaborative approaches between geographically and culturally disparate partners;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations both internally and externally;
• Ability to Identify key strategic opportunities and risks;
• Ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff; and
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Risk Management.
• Change Management.
• Developing Organizational Capacity.

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationship.
• Effective Communication.
• Fosters Accountability Culture.
• Learning Orientation.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking.
• Fosters Innovation.
• Drive for Results.
• Knowledge Sharing.

Tenure of the Appointment

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period.
• Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Remuneration
Indicative basic salary of US$  50,746.00 (P5 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment ( 57% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 27,290.88.00 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

Application Closing Date
31st May, 2021.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: The African Court is an equal opportunity employer. For this position, qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.