National Consultant - Trade Expert - Liberia
Organizational Context
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) supports African countries in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This role, based remotely, contributes to enhancing Liberia's participation in intra-African trade by developing a practical guide for businesses, particularly MSMEs, women, and youth traders.
Job Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive, practical, and user-friendly Step-by-Step Guide for Trading Goods under the AfCFTA for Liberia. This guide will serve as a crucial implementation tool for exporters, importers, MSMEs, and women- and youth-owned enterprises, aiming to strengthen their engagement in intra-African trade. By clearly outlining regulatory and procedural requirements, the guide will support Liberia's national strategy for AfCFTA implementation, boost export readiness, improve trade facilitation, and ensure that diverse business groups can effectively benefit from the agreement, aligning with broader goals of economic growth and sustainable development.
Responsibilities
The consultant will be responsible for conceptualizing, drafting, and finalizing a Step-by-Step Guide for Trading Goods under the AfCFTA for Liberia. This involves engaging with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Liberia Chamber of Commerce, and Liberia Business Association, to assess the current trade landscape and AfCFTA engagement. The role requires conducting research on Liberia's trade policy, legal frameworks, and the AfCFTA agreement, and collecting primary data from businesses through questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups. The consultant will analyze this information to develop the guide, incorporating illustrative case studies. The draft guide will be presented at a validation workshop, and feedback will be incorporated before submitting the final version. Assistance with translation and other related tasks may also be required.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of experience in trade-related research and/or analysis is required. Demonstrated expert knowledge of the AfCFTA, Liberia’s trade policies, institutions, and business environment is essential. Experience working in Liberia and conducting interdisciplinary research on trade-led integration in Africa is highly desirable.
Skills
Strong analytical and report-writing skills. Expert knowledge of the AfCFTA. Understanding of Liberia’s trade policies, institutions, and business environment. Experience in trade research and analysis. Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders.