Consultant international - Expert(e) facilitation des échanges et dématérialisation des procédures

Organizational Context

The International Trade Centre (ITC), part of the UN Secretariat, focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. It supports improvements in business environments and border management, particularly through trade facilitation reforms aligned with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. The role is based in Geneva, Switzerland, supporting regional economic communities in modernizing trade procedures and digitalizing processes, specifically the electronic Certificate of Origin (e-CoO).

Job Purpose

This consultancy aims to provide technical expertise for the implementation of trade facilitation activities, focusing on the diagnostic, design, and validation phases of the electronic Certificate of Origin (e-CoO) system. The consultant will support regional economic communities and their member states in modernizing and digitalizing trade procedures, ensuring a robust, harmonized, and operational framework for e-CoO deployment. The role involves developing detailed work plans, conducting diagnostic reports on existing procedures and systems, and creating a regional roadmap for e-CoO implementation. The objective is to ensure coherent application of digital trade solutions across member states, preventing disparities and facilitating smoother intra-regional trade.

Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for developing a detailed work plan for the mission, in consultation with the ITC team and partner regional organizations. This includes conducting a thorough diagnostic of existing regulatory frameworks, institutional setups, and procedures for issuing and verifying certificates of origin. Data collection and analysis will be performed to identify bottlenecks and harmonization needs. The consultant will map existing information systems, assess institutional capacities, and identify technical and operational constraints. Stakeholder consultations with public and private actors will be facilitated. A consolidated diagnostic report will be produced, proposing pilot country selection criteria. Furthermore, the consultant will define the e-CoO operational model, analyze technical standards for interoperability, and develop a regional roadmap for e-CoO implementation, including deployment options and a clear timeline. Finally, the consultant will facilitate validation workshops and develop an operational checklist for e-CoO deployment.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in relevant fields such as trade facilitation, digitalization of trade procedures, and trade-related technical assistance is required. Proven experience in designing or deploying electronic systems (e.g., e-CoO, Single Window, customs management systems) and in developing operational roadmaps for trade or digitalization is essential. Experience in managing multi-stakeholder projects in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in French-speaking regional integration contexts, is desirable.

Skills

Expertise in trade facilitation and digital transformation. Proven experience in dematerializing trade procedures, particularly certificates of origin, and operationalizing single windows. Strong knowledge of international standards for trade data exchange (WCO, UNCEFACT) and interoperability architectures. Confirmed skills in multi-stakeholder project management and facilitating technical working groups in complex institutional environments. Ability to produce quality analyses and clear strategic documents. Aptitude for building strong relationships with diverse public and private stakeholders.

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