AGOA (Trade) Director, East Africa
Category : Consultant
Location/City : Nairobi
Id : 3250
We are currently seeking an AGOA Director for the anticipated USAID-funded East Africa Trade Hub Program. The project's primary focus will be to provide expert technical assistance to help farmers and firms, through private sector associations, to efficiently meet market requirements of quality and volume and succeed in the international market place. To achieve this objective, technical components will include improving the enabling environment for regional trade; enhancing the integration and competitiveness of regional value chains; and increasing international and regional trade. Director responsibilities for this program include but are not limited to the following:
Responsibilities:
- Design and implement technical assistance interventions to improve international competitiveness of target commodities at all levels of the value chain. Focus of those strategies should be on investment attraction and facilitation, commercial partnerships, and trade expansion.
- Improve ability of East African countries and firms to benefit from AGOA preferences. Lead coordinated efforts to develop AGOA strategies, and monitor progress in implementing those strategies across all countries.
- Develop mechanisms for targeted promotion and knowledge sharing of AGOA benefits and rules of trade.
- Establish commercially viable and sustainable partnerships with national and regional entities involved in export promotion and trade capacity building including export promotion bodies, business associations and councils, and regional economic blocks.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Strongly preferred Master's degree or equivalent in international trade, economics, public policy, business administration, or related area or equivalent;
- At least ten years of relevant experience with trade promotion and market linkages, five of which should be in developing countries, preferably in Africa;
- Experience educating export promotion agencies, business associations, and firms on preferential trading arrangements, such as AGOA, as to objectives, provisions, procedures, and eligibility requirements;
- Experience expanding awareness of the benefits, provisions, and procedures of regional trade agreements to private sector organizations and government officials;
- Demonstrated ability to increase awareness within the private sector of trade opportunities under AGOA;
- Demonstrated experience helping developing country firms meet the requirements fo exporting goods to the U.S., such as apparel manufacturers, with regard to meeting external market demand (i.e. formation of strategic alliances with buyer organizations);
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with institutional and private sector partners and stakeholders in a multi-country setting;
- Excellent writing and communication skills;
- Ability to use the latest ICT technology and computer software programs; and
- Excellent English.
No phone calls please. Only finalists contacted. Women and minorities encouraged to apply. EOE
