Advisor, Trade Policy Implementation Coordination at Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (German Agency for International Cooperation) is an international enterprise owned by the German Federal government, operating in many fields across more than 130 countries.

In Nigeria, GIZ's portfolio includes among others, a programme to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its regional integration goals. The programme aims to strengthen sector-specific capacities in the areas of Peace and Security, Customs and Trade as weir as Strategic Management and Organizational Development in the ECOWAS Commission.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Advisor, Trade Policy Implementation Coordination

Location: Abuja (FCT)

The Project
Support to ECOWAS African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

• The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has become a major focus for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its member states.
• They are working to leverage their achievements at the regional level to negotiate and implement the AfCFTA in the most beneficial way possible.
• The ECOWAS Commission plays a major role in preparing the operational instruments of the AfCFTA, such as common rules of origin and joint digital payment system and is also participating in some aspects of the negotiations on behalf of the member states.
• It is important for ECOWAS to coordinate and harmonize its initiatives and efforts with the continental trade agenda.
• The GIZ AfCFTA project is supporting the ECOWAS Commission in these efforts, as well as in the implementation of the AfCFTA at the national level.
• Successful implementation of the AfCFTA in the ECOWAS region requires a modern unified legal framework for cross-border trade, detailed implementation guidelines and accompanying measures, good cooperation among member countries, and active partnerships with the private sector.
• In recent years, regional cooperation has intensified through ECOWAS, particularly in the areas of trade facilitation and common customs legislation.
• Nevertheless, the institutional and regulatory framework in the ECOWAS region is currently not sufficiently in place for the successful negotiation and implementation of the AfCFTA.
• The support project to ECOWAS toward AfCFTA implementation is funded by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and aims at supporting ECOWAS Commission and the Member States toward developing/ instituting credible framework conditions for effective and beneficial implementation of AfCFTA protocols.
• The project directly addresses the required improvements in terms of the quality of ECOWAS Member States' participation in the AfCFTA negotiations, the design of the legal and technical framework, and the design of implementation measures in Member States.
• This entails intervention at different levels: ECOWAS Commission, Member States institutions and the private sector.

Responsibilities and Tasks

• The Advisor provides expert guidance on trade policies, regulations, and agreements to support ECOWAS's and Member States' strategic objectives and policy orientation.
• The Advisor will play a crucial role in advancing the Trade in Services agenda within ECOWAS member states.
• The Advisor will provide technical support toward capacity building and regulatory alignment to enhance regional integration and foster the growth of trade, especially in the services sector.
• This role involves collaboration with governments, regional bodies, private sector stakeholders, and international partners to address barriers to trade & in services and promote sustainable economic development in West Africa.
• The Advisor will be working closely with ECOWAS Commission, providing support to Member States.
• Main tasks:
• Analyze existing trade in services policies, regulations, and frameworks in West Africa and conduct studies on key service sectors (including financial services, telecommunications, transport, and professional services) to identify growth opportunities and policy barriers.
• Provide technical advice on aligning regional and national policies with international trade agreements, such as the WTO TFA and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
• Monitor global trade trends, economic developments, and their impact on trade policy in the region and provide recommendations for the development and implementation of trade policies.
• Liaise with relevant country office service units and ECOWAS Cluster units to support and coordinate processes related to implementation of project activities.
• Work closely project management to coordinate implementation of different technical aspects of the project, including liaising with project offices in the region as well as internal project coordination.
• Design and deliver capacity-building workshops and training programs for policymakers and stakeholders on trade in services topics and initiate dialogue and collaboration between public and private sector actors to promote inclusive trade policies.
• Support the development of strategies to enhance implementation and service delivery.
• Develop and disseminate advocacy materials to promote the benefits of trade in services integration and trade facilitation.

Requirements
Required qualifications, competences, and experience:

• Qualifications:
  • Masters Degree in International Trade, International Law, International Relations, Economics, or a related field.
• Professional experience:
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in trade policy or trade-related issues in Nigeria and ECOWAS.
  • Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, youth and women groups and the private sector in ECOWAS Member States.
  • Experience in interagency coordination, managing diverse interests of multiple stakeholders in different ECOWAS countries.
  • Experience in the design and management of trade information portals in ECOWAS region.

Salary
According to GIZ salary scale for Band 4.

Application Closing Date
8th December, 2026.