Consultant for the Somalia AfCFTA Strategy at United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA): (Deadline 10 March 2022)

Result of ServiceThe consultant will have to ensure the satisfactory completion of the above tasks to
obtain the following products and results.

a) A Somalia national AfCFTA strategy developed including an action plan for its operationalization;

b)The final document of the Somalia national AfCFTA strategy and action plan.

Work LocationSomalia

Expected durationThe consultant will be recruited for a period of 4 months, spread between February 2022 and May 2022. The consultant will be paid 42,000 USD according to the following product submission timetable:

– 30% after submission of a plan for the consultative process; a report of the results of the initial phases of implementation of the consultative process (at least one consultative workshop held to launch officially the elaboration of the strategy; some meetings held with high officials form public and private sector and CSOs) and a detailed outline for the AfCFTA document;

– 40% after the presentation of the draft AfCFTA Strategy document;

-30% after the receipt of the revised and final Somalia AfCFTA Strategy document.

Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground

The agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) signed in Kigali, Rwanda, on 21 March 2018 is a key milestone in Africa’s integration agenda. The AfCFTA is expected to be a key engine of economic growth, industrialisation and sustainable development in Africa in line with the 2030 Agenda adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, and the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 for “The Africa We Want”. Regional commitments to economic integration and industrialisation will also inform national strategies.

For the AfCFTA to deliver the expected outcomes, priority actions are to be undertaken in the short to medium run. Firstly, the ratification of the AfCFTA is critical. Efforts to support Member States in consensus-building to secure the ratification of the agreement should be accompanied by strengthening the AfCFTA marketplace through continental policies on competition, investment and intellectual property rights. Secondly, there is a need to build on the political momentum behind the AfCFTA to support policy reforms that are aimed at implementing the agreement as well as the required domestication. In this regard, it is critical for member States to undertake deliberate actions and deploy necessary efforts through effective and integrated AfCFTA national strategies to maximise the benefits of the agreement while minimising potential induced adverse effects. As part of its role in providing technical assistance to member States, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is leading the implementation of a project aimed at designing national AfCFTA strategies.

To this end, the ECA will recruit an International consultant to design the Somalia AfCFTA strategy . The consultant will work under the overall direction of the Director, SRO-EA, and the direct supervision of the Chief, AfCFTA cluster.

2. Tasks of the consultant

The main task of the consultant is to design, under the supervision of the ECA, the development of Somalia AfCFTA Strategy. Specifically, he/she will be responsible for:

a) Leading and developing a plan for the consultative process with the general public, private sector, government, and other relevant interest groups;

b) Leading the drafting, revision and finalization of the AfCFTA strategy document and its related action plan; this include incorporating all the revisions from ECA and other stakeholders ;

c) In close collaboration with ECA, Organizing and facilitating all workshops and meetings that will be retained as part of the consultative process that will underpin the formulation of the strategy; This including preparing workshops agendas, proposing lists of participants; securing panelists, preparing or securing power point presentations, and contribute to presentations and Q&A during these events;

d) As part of c) should be the organization of a launch event a validation workshop for Somalia AfCFTA
strategy, as well as some targeted conversations with specific stakeholders,; Lease with high level
officials ;

e) Submit all products and results to the ECA’s assessment and for transmission to the government;

f) Any other tasks entrusted to him/her as part of the study and related consultations, by the ECA.

3 Methodological elements;

a) Desk review of all strategic document of Somalia including long term visions, medium term plans,
sectoral plans, especially those related to trade, industrialization, innovation, ICTs, infrastructure, competitiveness, etc;

b) Performance review in trade and other relevant guides on promoting intra-regional trade and regional integration;

c) Identify products and services with comparative advantages and competitive advantages that Somalia
could soonest be trading on the new AfCFTA market;

d) Identify/analyze opportunities for Somalia of developing or integrating any regional value chains in
Africa;

e) Identify trade facilitation opportunities and challenges for Somalia to take full benefit of the AfCFTA;

f) Develop an action plan for the operationalization of the strategy;

g) Ensure alignment/consistency between the Somalia AfCFTA strategy and the Regional AfCFTA
strategy for IGAD;

Qualifications/special skillsAcademic Qualifications: The consultant should possess a degree in economics, international development or any other relevant subject. Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or above) is desirable.
Experience: He/she should have a minimum of experience of at least 7 years working on trade and international development-related issues. Extensive knowledge of policymaking in East Africa is an advantage.
Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this post, fluency in English is required.

No FeeTHE 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.

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