Chief Technical Advisor - Capacity Building, Trade Policy & Trade Negotiations 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 Organization 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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Chief Technical Advisor - Capacity Building, Trade Policy & Trade Negotiations (AfCFTA)

Requisition ID: 1826
Location: Accra, Ghana
Reports to: Chief of Staff
Directorate/Department/Organ: Office of the Secretary General
Job Grade: P6
Contract Type: Fixed Term

(Purpose of Job

• Under the overall supervision of the Director, AfCFTA Trade Policy Review, the Technical advisor of for capacity Building will be responsible for a wide range of issues relating to development, implementation, monitoring and quality assurance of capacity building, research and training, both for state parties of the AfCFTA and the staff of the Secretariat.

Main Functions

• Develop a network of support with relevant national, regional and international institutions in the area of capacity building for trade policy and research.
• Transfer practical knowledge and skills for capacity building initiatives, training development, training management and research.
• Periodically undertake training, needs assessments and capacity reviews for state parties to the AfCFTA and the AfCFTA Secretariat (where appropriate the private sector and civil society) on AfCFTA implementation.

Specific Responsibilities

• Formulate training plans and associated budget.
• Oversee and coordinate course, curricula, and training material development.
• Closely monitor the latest developments and assist with fact finding and data analysis in trade and trade related trends at the regional, continental and global levels and ensure that appropriate findings are reflected in training plans and materials.
• Develop a resource library (including an e-library) augmenting it with training and reference materials, articles, publications, manuals for the benefit of AfCFTA state parties, AfCFTA Secretariat, the private sector and civil society.
• In coordination with relevant AfCFTA directorates and units, prepare terms of reference for external training providers.
• Advise on capacity building, research and training providers on building synergies and complementarity between multiple training initiatives in the context of AfCFTA negotiations, implementation and dispute settlement.
• Develop a roster of and repository of potential trainers and service providers relevant to the needs of AfCFTA state parties and the AfCFTA Secretariat and regularly update the roster and the repository.
• Advice the AfCFTA Secretary General on the selection of external training experts.
• Build a roster of AU internal resources for the purposes of leveraging on internal capacities of the AfCFTA Secretariat and Organs of the AU.
• Oversee admission and selection process of participants.
• Represent the AfCFTA Secretary General on Capacity building related tasks and any other tasks as determined by the Secretary General.
• Lead and actively participate in the delivery of capacity building initiatives for state parties and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
• Develop and maintain a project training database; contribute, as necessary, to the design and maintenance of databases and other information systems related to project activities and other capacity building initiatives.
• Ensure proper quality control is provided to all training and capacity building undertakings through regular monitoring and evaluation, in process and after-action reviews, by obtaining feedbacks from beneficiaries.
• Undertake biennial tracer surveys.
• Develop training Alumni network.
• Serve as a primary focal point for AfCFTA Secretariat on capacity building and lead the identification of developmental needs of state parties and the design and implementation of customized trainings for them.
• Liaise with other AfCFTA staff members and units on admin/logistics/operations matters in support of project activities.
• Develop and provide inputs to the progress, interim and final reports.
• Develop an e-learning and virtual training platform.
• Develop annual work plan and budget.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master's Degree in International Economic Law, Trade Policy and Trade Law or other relevant field.
• Sound experience in working with/in capacity building projects.
• Minimum of 14 years of combination of experience in trade negotiations and working experience in the field of capacity building exclusively on trade policy and trade law. Eight (8) of these years should be at the senior management level and five (5) should involve a supervisory role.

Required Skills:
The incumbent is expected to demonstrate the following technical and behavioural competencies:
Behavioural Competences:

• Identifies the immediate and peripheral clients of own work.
• Ability to engage in continuous learning.
• Contributes to state parties and staff member’s capacity enhancement.
• Demonstrates interest in improving relevant skills.
• Actively shares relevant information.
• Writes clearly and effectively, adapting wording and style to the intended audience.
• Listens effectively and communicates clearly, adapting delivery to the audience.
• Masters subject matter related to responsibilities.
• Identifies opportunities and risks central to responsibilities.
• Incorporates gender-related needs, perspectives, and concerns, and promotes equal gender participation.
• Works effectively with people from different cultures by adapting to relevant cultural contexts.
• Actively contributes to an effective, collegial, and agreeable team environment.

Technical Competences:

• Effectively applies specialized knowledge skills in designing, implementation, monitoring and reporting of trade and trade related capacity building initiatives including research.
• Experience in trade and trade related negotiations at regional, continental and multilateral level.
• Experience in trade and trade policy related implementation and enforcement.
• Development of curricula, training manuals, course outlines, training evaluation tools, capacity building budget.
• Experience in teaching postgraduate students and mid-level career professionals.
• Demonstrated experience in trade policy and trade law research.
• Experience in the development of the Trade legal instruments.
• Ability to work under pressure with minimal resources.
• Proven skills in designing, implementation, monitoring and reporting of capacity building initiatives.
• Excellent understanding of trade policy and law in the context of AfCFTA.
• Ability to work independently or under minimum supervision
• Excellent computer literacy, including research skills through internet.
• Results and goal oriented.
• Excellent communication, written and verbal skills in any of the official languages of the AU.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Perspective
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationships
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with impact

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Fosters Innovation.

Tenure of Appointment

• The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period.
• Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.

Gender Mainstreaming:

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Remuneration
The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$154,098.21  (P6 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 135,267.50 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Application Closing Date
21st June, 2023.