Senior Regional Advisor on Trade - L5
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 24 April 2004
ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: Economic Commission for Africa/ African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC)
DUTY STATION: Addis Ababa
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: ECA/TRID/ATPC/L5/2003

REMUNERATION:

Depending on professional background, experience, and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervison of the Director of the Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID), the general duties of the Senior Regional Advisor on Trade are to: (i) ensure the programmatic, administrative and financial management of ATPC; (ii) develop trade research, training and information dissemination of the Centre; (iii) mainstream trade in development policies and programmes; (iv) promote intra-African trade; (v) provide trade-related advisory services and technical support to the Africa WTO Geneva Group and (vi) build African consensus on trade positions. Accordingly, the specific duties of the Senior Regional Advisor will be to:

• Manage the ATPC through the supervision of the overall work of the ATPC. In this regard, he will formulate and implement the substantive work programme of the Centre; ensure that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion; oversee the programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Centre, including preparation of budgets; report to the governing bodies of ATPC on budgets and programme performance; and oversee the work of other professional and general service staff;
• Lead and participate in analytical research and studies on trade policy issues of interest to African countries with a view to assisting member States, RECs, private sector, IGOs and all partners to formulate, organize and implement trade policy, strategies and programmes;
• Respond to demands for advise from member States, RECs, SROs and other partners by providing technical assistance in trade negotiations as well as trade analysis and development issues;
• Lead and participate in the preparation of trade issues in ARIA;
• Produce research on issues of mainstreaming trade in development, best practices for dealing with supply side constraints, and modalities for promoting intra-African trade;
• Produce and disseminate "informed Research" on trade and WTO-related issues to inform African trade negotiators and member States;
• Design training programmes and conduct, through IDEP, training of African trade negotiators as well as African experts on trade issues;
• Provide intellectual support and guidance to TRID, Inter-Regional Advisory Service in Geneva and SROs on trade-related issues;
• Track and analyze trade development and progress in Africa;
• Liaise with and foster collaborative working relationships between ECA and AU, on the one hand, and member States and international organizations, such as UNCTAD, WTO, ITC, WIPO and ILO on the other hand; and
• Undertake any other assignments as may be determined by the Director of TRID.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

Ability to: provide creativity, vision, technical leadership, organization, and program management; apply good judgment in the context of work assignments; plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan and those of others, including management of consultants; manage conflicting priorities; employ interpersonal skills in order to establish and maintain effective working relations internally as a team leader or member as well as with clients and partners; and work effectively in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with respect for diversity.

EDUCATION:

Advanced University Degree required, PhD highly preferred, in Economics, with emphasis on macroeconomics.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in the field of economic development, preferably in developing country trade and finance, gained through involvement in policy formulation, economic research, trade negotiations, program development and management. Highly desirable if much of this work has been in the context of WTO accession and interaction. Knowledge of the African economies an advantage.

LANGUAGES:

Fluency in spoken and written English or French required; working knowledge of the other highly desirable.

OTHER DESIRABLE SKILLS:

Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to the economics of trade and finance; excellent spoken and written communication skills, including the ability to articulate ideas in a clear and concise style; and well developed computer skills including word processing, use of the Internet, econometric software, database/ statistics/spreadsheet applications and presentation packages.

A. Instructions for Sending Applications

1. Please follow the format for your application as directed in Sections B and C of these instructions.

2. Applications must be sent, preferably by email, but alternatively by fax. If sending electronically, include the cover letter and CV/resume as attached documents in Microsoft Word to ecarecruitment@uneca.org. If sending by fax, ensure that the cover letter and CV/resume are typed and submitted on white, standard size paper (A4 or 8 1/2 x 11) with clear contrasting text to (251-1) 51-0489.

3. Send one complete application, including cover letter and CV/resume, for each position for which you apply. Ensure that the Vacancy Announcement number and the title of the position are stated in the cover letter. Applications received elsewhere or by third parties will not be accepted.

4. Acknowledgement of receipt of application will be transmitted either by return e-mail or by fax, depending on how the application was sent to ECA. Further communication will be sent only to those external candidates under serious consideration.

B. Cover Letter (1 page limit)

1. Indicate the Vacancy Announcement number and the title of the position for which you are applying.

2. In a concise statement, describe why you consider yourself qualified for the particular position for which you are applying and match your background to the duties and responsibilities of the post and the specific requirements as stipulated in the Vacancy Announcement including professional experience, education and training, skills, and competencies.

C. Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume (five page limit)

1. Personal Data Include name (first, last, middle initial); mailing address (city, state, country and postal code); telephone number (country and city codes, number); fax number (country and city codes, number); E-mail address; date of birth; nationality (if more than one, list all); gender and marital status

2. Education In reverse chronological order, list your degree(s) and diplomas, the major areas of study, the dates on which they were conferred and the names and locations of the institutions. In addition, list other relevant training, the dates, and the names and locations of the institutions. Also list all other relevant credentials and certifications.

3. Professional Skills and Expertise List relevant fields of expertise and indicate computer skills (both software and hardware).