RITD/RINS - Consultant - Policy Analyst

Programme & Policy

Overview

Support dissemination of reports on AfCFTA and regional integration

You have:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, political science, International relations, political economy, regional integration/cooperation or related fields is required.
• A minimum of three years (3) of professional and/or research experience in relating to international investment, economic development or related areas with a focus on Africa is required.
• Fluency in English language is required.
• Experience in international investment law-related issues is desirable.
• Report writing skills are desirable.

Result of Service Finalization and publication of ECA reports: i) the recurrent ECA publication, ARIA X on services trade liberalization and integration; and ii) the non-recurrent publication on “Governing the interface between the AfCFTA and RECs.

Work Location Home based

Expected duration This consultancy will be for a period of 6 (six) months upon signature of contract.

Duties and Responsibilities Org. Setting and Reporting:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of Regional Integration and Trade (RITD) team, the consultant will support the launch and dissemination of ARIA X and the study on AfCFTA-RECs interface and will have the responsibility to undertake the following.

Background:

The Regional Integration Section located within the Regional Integration and Trade Division of the Economic Commission for Africa contributes to efforts geared towards strengthening regional integration and cooperation in Africa, by assisting Member States, AU and RECs in articulating and implementing policies and strategies that will address bottlenecks to integration (at national, regional and continental levels), such as weak policy coherence and unconducive regional integration climate/environments, including diverse political economy constraints. The section produces and disseminates policy relevant knowledge products in support of diverse aspects of African integration and cooperation, including with regard to the harmonization and mainstreaming of Africa’s multiple regional integration and trade protocols, regimes, regulations and policies with a view of enhancing coherence, better coordination and responsiveness. It also supports and enables the operationalization of integration and development-enhancing frameworks/initiatives such as BIAT, AIDA and PIDA, VPoA for LLDCs, AfCFTA and the AfCFTA-anchored Pharmaceutical Initiative, through advocacy and consensus building, as well as providing trainings to strengthen the implementation capacity of member states, RECs and AU. The section contributes to the attainment of the overall objectives and goals of the Regional Integration and Trade Division, and those of the broader Commission by deploying ECA’s three core functions: knowledge generation and dissemination; convening and operationalization.

In fulfilment of the knowledge generation and dissemination functions of the Commission, RINS/RITD led the preparation and production of two important, policy relevant reports: i) the 10th edition of the report on Assessing Regional Integration in Africa on the theme “Africa’s Services trade liberalization and integration under the AfCFTA” a biennial flagship publication of the Commission produced jointly with AUC, AfDB and UNCTAD; and ii) a non-recurrent publication on the theme, “Governing the interface between the AfCFTA and RECs.” Both publications aim to contribute to the successful implementation of the AfCFTA.

The 10th edition of ARIA aims to improve understanding and appreciation of the critical role of services (particularly in the digital era) to trade, production and the economy in Africa. ARIA X analyses the types of approaches that have the most potential to support Africa’s post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery and its overall development: by enhancing intra-African trade in services, enabling better and more effective integration into regional and global value chains, enforcing both public and private sector capacities, and boosting competitiveness in an increasingly digital global economy. On its part, the non-recurrent publication on Governing the interface between the AfCFTA and RECs analyses key issues concerning the interface between the AfCFTA and REC-FTAs. It proffers actionable policy proposals that support a coherent, coordinated and fully responsive interface. The study also suggests how to leverage the RECs’ trade integration achievements and successes and lessons from REC-FTA failures to improve AfCFTA implementation.

The important findings and recommendations ensuing from these reports have the potential to significantly contribute in enhancing the prospects of successfully implementing the AfCFTA and improving Africa’s overall integration and development/transformation agenda. There is therefore need for proper dissemination and advocacy for the uptake of the recommendations and finding of the reports, within the framework of ECA’s mantra of translating ideas and research findings into action. ECA envisages saturated dissemination efforts that would allow for these reports and their findings to reach relevant stakeholders, including member states, Pan-African inter-governmental organisations, RECs and other intergovernmental organisations, private sector operators, civil society formations, academy, media outlets etc. Against this backdrop, the Regional Integration Section (RIS) of RITD is seeking to enlist the services of a consultant to support and complement the work of the internal RINs team with a particular focus on facilitating the launch and dissemination activities around these reports – as well as support further analytical, capacity building and operationalization work on issues raised in the reports. It is envisaged that various launch and dissemination activities of these reports would be financially supported with funding from the grant line entitled, “Danish Support to implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)” (from herewith Danish Project), funded by the Danish support through the Royal Danish Embassy in Addis Ababa.

Duties and responsibilities:

The consultant will work with the Regional Integration team in RITD to deliver on dissemination and further research around the findings and recommendations of two recently released ECA reports: i) the recurrent ECA publication, ARIA X on services trade liberalization and integration; and ii) the non-recurrent publication on “Governing the interface between the AfCFTA and RECs

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, political science, International relations, political economy, regional integration/cooperation or related fields is required. A first degree combined with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Experience: A minimum of three years (3) of professional and / or research experience in the relating to international investment, economic development or related areas with a particular focus on Africa is required. Experience in international investment law-related issues is desirable Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in English language is required. Report writing skills are desirable.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org