Overview
The USAID Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub engages with partners across the region to increase sustainable economic growth, global export competitiveness, and trade in targeted Southern African countries. It supports these objectives by (a) increasing exports from Southern African countries to South Africa, (b) increasing exports from targeted Southern African countries to the United States (under the African Growth and Opportunity Act [AGOA]), (c) boosting capital and technology flows from South Africa to other Southern African countries, and (d) providing targeted trade facilitation support to Zambia. The Hub works with market actors to identify and resolve enterprise constraints and to implement sustainable solutions through market-based trade and investment facilitation services. The Hub’s programming closely reflects the U.S. Government’s partnership with Southern African private enterprises, U.S. government agencies, Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, local and regional trade associations, and other development partners. The Hub partners with the USAID Bilateral Missions through the Regional Mission in the successful delivery of its objectives.
Purpose of Activity
The ZTFAP Trade Facilitation Advisor will coordinate with the Zambia government stakeholders, private sector, and civil society organizations to design, implement, and support trade facilitation solutions relevant to the SADC Trade Facilitation Program, the Tripartite Trade and Transport Program, World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and other international and regional trade protocols and agreements.
In coordination with the Hub Zambia Buy in team, and in complement the whole Hub project, the ZTFAP Trade Facilitation Advisor work with both private and public sector stakeholders to support Zambia to comply with the WTO TFA and other international and regional trade protocols and agreements in line with the Hub’s objectives to facilitate trade between Zambia and South Africa as well as to increase sustainable utilization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act program by Zambia. In liaison with the Hub Zambia sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) Measures Specialist, the Trade Facilitation Advisor will also coordinate activities and discussions for the Zambia E-Trade Portal design and implementation, in support of the designated project team established within the Zambia Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI), strengthen the National Committee on Trade Facilitation, and support capacity building for border agencies and customs procedures.
Responsibilities and Tasks
The ZTFAP Trade Facilitation Advisor will perform the following tasks:
Provide overall business direction for the project;
Ensure the needs and accomplishments within the business area are widely known and understood;
Assist in the design, development and management of technical assistance activities, focusing on customs and trade facilitation, among other activities;
Provide technical assistance to various border agencies, and private sector players;
Help the Hub Zambia Country Representative to identify, recruit and manage STTAs and their assignments;
Ensure project meets established targets and goals. Coordinate activities and discussions for the Zambia Trade Portal design and implementation as well as providing technical support to activities such as the development of the SADC trade portal, including SPS and technical barriers to trade (TBT) linkages;
Collaborate within the Hub project to identify non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade, and specific topics of critical interest (e.g., customs clearance, transport and logistics issues) for private sector partners in line with the Hub objectives;
Identify trade enhancing policy, regulatory, and procedural improvements in collaboration with key private and public sector partners to facilitate exports from Zambia to South Africa and to the U.S. under AGOA;
Coordinate capacity building efforts with relevant partner organizations, and support stakeholder consultations and trainings;
Provide input to the Hub Zambia Country Representative on weekly reports, quarterly and annual reports, success stories, briefs, and any other communication needs requested by the project, within the prescribed timeline;
Provide inputs to the Hub Zambia Country Representative on reporting on performance targets and results as outlined in the USAID/Southern Africa approved project monitoring and evaluation plan (PMEP);
Submit trip reports to the Hub Zambia Country Representative for review within the prescribed time; and
Undertake other tasks as assigned by the Hub Zambia Country Representative.
Deliverables:
Developed and launch of ZTIP
Reviewed training curriculum for Customs and 4 approved training modules
Approved coordinated border management policy
Provide, through the Hub Zambia Country Representative, reports relevant to activities requiring coordination and/or support by the Hub Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) and Chief of Party (COP).
Evidence of inputs to the identification and mitigation of NTBs to trade aimed at facilitating exports from Zambia to South Africa and to the U.S. under AGOA
Input to the Hub Zambia Country Representative on weekly reports, quarterly and annual reports, success stories, briefs, and any other communication needs requested by the project, within the prescribed timeline
Provide inputs to the Hub Zambia Country Representative on reporting on performance targets and results for ZTFAP, as outlined in the Hub PMEP
Submit to the Hub Zambia Country Representative weekly highlights on results, key events and upcoming travel and events within the prescribed timeline
Submit trip reports to the Hub Zambia Country Representative within 5 days after each trip.
Qualifications:
Ten years of experience working in economic growth programming with a focus on trade facilitation and customs modernization
A Masters’ degree in international trade, international development, international affairs, development economics or a related field, with a focus on trade preferred
Experience working with USAID, governments, and donor agencies
Demonstrated experience working with a range of clients and counterparts, including donor agencies, private sector partners, and multilateral organizations, to implement trade facilitation-focused activities and procedures
Demonstrated experience providing strategic advice and technical assistance to trade facilitation partners (ministries of trade, customs authorities, private sector, and donors) on trade, customs, border management and regional integration efforts
Experience implementing the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement
Previous experience working on international development projects
Ability to organize, present, and disseminate information, and to draft clear and concise documents with minimal supervision
Supervisory Responsibilities
The ZTFAP Trade Facilitation Advisor will support relevant short-term consultant assignments as designated by the Hub Zambia Country Representative.
Reporting
The ZTAP Trade Facilitation Advisor will be based in Lusaka, Zambia and will report to the Hub Zambia Country Representative.
Closing Date: December 23, 2019. Send applications, including a cover letter explaining your desire to join the DAI team, CV and three references to [email protected]. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.