Principal Officer, Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) (AfCFTA) 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: Principal Officer, Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) (AfCFTA)

Requisition ID: 2582
Location: Accra, Ghana
Reports to: Head of the Non-Tariff Measures Division
Directorate/Department: Directorate of Trade in Goods and Competition
Job Grade: P4
Contract Type: Fixed Term

Main Functions

• The Principal Officer Non-Tariff Barriers will work under the direct supervision of the Head of the Non-Tariff Measures Division, and provide support to the Directorate of Trade in Goods and Competition, in the day-to-day implementation of Annex 5 on Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), and implementation of Annex 6 on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBTs).
• The Staff will be integrated into the Directorate’s work flow, delivering targeted technical inputs on a need driven basis, informed by an agreed Work Plan developed in close collaboration with the Directorate.

Specific Responsibilities
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the Staff will perform the following key tasks: 

• Provide a lead in supporting the Directorate to implement the Work programme of the Sub-Committee on Non-Tariff Barriers.
• Support to the Directorate, to enhance capacity across State Parties in implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Goods, Annex 5 on Non-Tariff Barriers, and Annex 6 on Technical Barriers to Trade.
• Provide technical assistance to the AfCFTA Secretariat towards hosting and facilitation of meetings of the Sub-Committee on NTBs bi-annually
• Provide technical support towards the implementation of the Work Programme of the Sub-Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
• Facilitate awareness raising and capacity building for National Monitoring Committees and National focal points on the use of the AfCFTA NTB Online Mechanism. 
• Coordinate awareness raising and capacity building on the general categories of potential sources of NTBs for the private sector, especially Small and Medium Enterprises.
• Implement guidelines for collection of Non-Tariffs Measures data to enhance regulatory transparency and compliance in the AfCFTA.
• Support and coordinate State Party collection of Non-Tariff Measures data.
• Facilitate National Policy dialogues and interactions between State Parties on the resolution and progressive elimination of NTBs. 
• Facilitate implementation of a framework for collaboration between the Secretariat and the RECs in the area of Non-Tariff Barriers.
• Coordinate implementation and maintenance of the AfCFTA NTB Online Mechanism and.
• Organise four awareness raising and capacity building workshops for both public and private sector entities on the effective use of the AfCFTA NTBs online Mechanisms at continental level.
• Coordinate the implementation of the AfCFTA NTB Mobile Reporting Application at regional and national level.
• The technical support will include implementation of the Work Programme of the Sub-Committee on Non-Tariff Barriers through coordination of the activities.

Expected Outputs

• The Sub-Committees on NTBs meets at least twice a year or as deemed necessary.
• Required institutional framework for resolution of NTBs at national and continental level established and capacitated.
• Appreciation, knowledge and technical competence on the implementation of the provisions of Annex 5 on NTBs by the relevant national institutions expected to resolve and eliminate NTBs;
• Enhanced private sector knowledge and understanding of what NTBs, their to identification, including report of the same; 
• Enhanced cooperation, knowledge and experience sharing on the resolution of NTBs between the AfCFTA Secretariat and the REC Secretariats;
• Effective facilitation of resolution of NTBs and quick turn-around time on reported NTBs
• The AfCFTA NTB Online Mechanism and the AfCFTA NTB Mobile Reporting Application widely used to report NTBs.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• The Candidate should possess a Bachelor’s degree in international Trade, Project Management, Quality Management or any Trade Policy related subject and should have a minimum of 12 years of experience in their relevant areas of expertise.
• A Master's degree in international Trade, Project Management, Quality Management or any Trade Policy related subject a minimum of 10 years of experience in their relevant areas of expertise. 
• The Candidate must have extensive experience in the area of Quality Infrastructure development, standards, quality, and conformity assessment, non-tariff measures, non-tariff barriers, and training/ capacity building skills.
• Demonstrate experience in managing complex, large-scale, and multi-year technical assistance projects in Africa;
• Regional and continental experience in Africa, African Regional Economic Communities, and other African countries.

Required Skills:

• Ability to work in a multicultural environment; 
• Ability to work independently to meet critical and competing deadlines (multi-tasking), to produce high quality work in short timeframes;
• Ability to analyse and research information
• Excellent interpersonal/teamwork skills;
• Must be computer literate with a working knowledge of common computer applications and systems; 
• Excellent drafting, reporting, communication and presentation skills;
• Strong program/project management skills;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Excellent planning and organising skills;
• Ability to liaise with a diverse range of people and stakeholders; and
• Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish or Swahili). Knowledge of one more or several other working languages would be an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk.

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationships
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and Information Sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Orientation.

Tenure of Appointment:

• The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1)/ two (2) year, of which the first six (6) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed up to two times based on positive performance assessment and subject to the availability of funds. 

Gender Mainstreaming:

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

Languages:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage

Remuneration
The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 115,147.00 (P4 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 98,199.34   inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the AfCFTA Secretariat.

Application Closing Date
7th February, 2025, 11h59 p.m. EAT.