Job Advertisement

Position Title: Consultant for UNCTAD Project
Location: Remote, Geneva
Country: Remote, Switzerland
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is a part of the United Nations Secretariat and was established in 196

• Its mission is to promote the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy. UNCTAD has a diverse workforce of over 1,000 employees and operates in more than 190 countries, focusing on trade, investment, and Sustainable development.

Job Overview:
The consultant will support the implementation of UNCTAD's project aimed at enhancing the capacity of vulnerable African countries to adopt policy incentives and innovative instruments that facilitate the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in regional value chains. This role involves identifying market niches and diversification opportunities through comprehensive trade Mapping, enabling African nations to better position their exports within continental production networks. The consultant will be responsible for transforming International Trade data, applying advanced analytical methods, and developing tools that assist governments and private sector stakeholders in identifying potential growth areas for SMEs.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultancy will focus on several key tasks:

• Transforming international trade data at the HS 4-digit level or higher to calculate indicators that identify niche markets, such as import demand growth rates and revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) at both global and intra-African levels.
• Applying the product space method to identify diversification paths for six selected African countries: Benin, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Togo, and Uganda.
• Utilizing appropriate sources to identify Value Chain linkages at the HS 4-digit level or higher for agreed value chains, mapping inputs and outputs to show current import sources and potential alternative input markets within Africa.
• Analyzing national firms' participation in identified value chains for one country to assess their capability to increase production and exports. Deliverables include the identification of niche markets for the six countries, mapping of value chain linkages, and an Excel-based tool illustrating the findings, along with explanatory and methodological notes summarizing the analytical process.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s) in economics, international trade, statistics, or a related field applicable to the assignment. A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in research and Analysis methods is required, with specific expertise in trade Data Analysis, SME development, and regional value chain integration, particularly within the African context. Advanced statistical skills using STATA or R, as well as proficiency in Microsoft Excel, are essential. A thorough knowledge of trade analysis is required, and familiarity with Excel VBA and Macros is considered desirable.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s) in economics, international trade, statistics, or a related field is mandatory for this position. This educational background is crucial as it provides the theoretical foundation and analytical skills necessary for conducting complex trade data analysis and understanding the dynamics of regional value chains.

Experience:
The position requires at least 5 years of professional experience in research and analysis methods, with a strong emphasis on trade data analysis, SME development, and regional value chain integration. This level of experience is essential to ensure that the consultant can effectively contribute to the project objectives and deliver high-quality analytical outputs.

Languages:
Fluency in written and oral English is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within the UNCTAD project. Knowledge of French is desirable, as it may facilitate communication with stakeholders in Francophone African countries and enhance the consultant's ability to engage with a broader range of participants in the project.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based, allowing for flexibility in work location. The expected duration of the consultancy is from December 2, 2024, to March 31, 202

• It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring a transparent and equitable hiring process.