Enhancing Digital and Financial Capacity of Women-Owned SMEs (Regional Consultant)
Organizational Context
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its Subregional Office for North Africa (SRO-NA) based in Rabat, supports member states in economic diversification, regional integration, and digital transformation. This role supports the DA-18 project focused on enhancing digital and financial capabilities of women-owned SMEs (W-SMEs) in North Africa, aligning national policies with AfCFTA digital trade objectives.
Job Purpose
This consultancy aims to strengthen regional collaboration and improve national policies related to digital trade and financing for women-owned SMEs (W-SMEs) in North Africa. The role will produce actionable policy measures and provide technical support for a project enhancing W-SME digital and financial capabilities. The objective is to ensure W-SMEs can effectively participate in digital markets and regional value chains, aligning national frameworks with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) objectives. This involves addressing structural barriers such as limited access to finance, low digital adoption, and regulatory constraints, thereby promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Responsibilities
Provide national, cross-country, and regional technical support for the "Enhancing the digital capacity of women-owned micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa" project, ensuring coherence and quality across Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, and Tunisia. Conduct a comprehensive assessment of digital and financial inclusion gaps for W-SMEs in a focus country. Develop a Country Module on the Institutional and Regulatory Ecosystem for Digital Trade and Digital Finance, adapted for W-SMEs with disabilities. Prepare country-specific policy papers with actionable, gender-responsive recommendations and implementation plans. Develop and adapt training materials on digital trade, fintech, and digital finance for W-SMEs, including those with disabilities. Deliver capacity-building workshops and conduct pre- and post-training surveys. Collaborate with national consultants and facilitate national validation workshops.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in SME development, trade policy, or related fields is required. Proven experience in facilitating stakeholder consultations and delivering capacity-building workshops is necessary. Expertise in policy analysis, digital trade, and fintech, with knowledge of AfCFTA processes, is desirable. Experience with government institutions and international organizations is also desirable.
Skills
Policy analysis, Digital trade, Fintech, SME development, Trade policy, Capacity building, Stakeholder consultation, Project implementation, Gender equality integration, French language proficiency, Arabic language proficiency.