I. Background and Objective

Trade is a major driver of growth, food security, employment and consequently poverty reduction in West Africa : it is widely recognized that West African countries stand to reap major economic benefits from further integration of their economies with each other and with the rest of the world. However, trade costs in the region often remain exorbitantly high : whilst tariffs have been reduced, administrative barriers such as unnecessary documentary requirements, cumbersome clearance procedures, and system/technical delays, among others, continue to raise transaction costs and to negatively impact trade flows.

Enhanced regional integration, including better connectivity systems and increasing participation of regional authorities, Member States and private sector bodies, could help bring transparency and predictability at borders, leverage domestic economies of scales, and boost productivity.

In response to the above challenges, the EU, the Netherlands and USAID have provided funding to the World Bank and GIZ to implement the Trade Facilitation West Africa Program (TFWA). The intervention, which is expected to last for five years, targets selected corridors and border posts in the region, and includes a variety of activities along three main pillars, as follows : 1) support to develop and implement regional trade facilitation measures, in coordination with regional entities such as ECOWAS and UEMOA ; 2) support the improvement of selected corridors, primarily from a logistics & transport standpoint ; and 3) support to small-scale cross-border traders, and especially women.

Program activities will be implemented along the following six priority corridors, identified as a result of extensive consultations with TFWA donors and national/regional counterparts : Burkina Faso is part of three of the six selected trade corridors under the TFWA program and thus a pivotal piece of the reform agenda required to achieve the program’s objective of improving the trade environment leading to the reduction in time and cost to trade. The Burkina related corridors are Lome – Ouagadougou, Abidjan -Ouagadougou and Tema - Ouagadougou

The program management team is recruiting a Trade facilitation Specialist to support program implementation across all 3 Burkina related corridors and with UEMOA.

II. Scope of Work

The Trade Facilitation Specialist will perform the following duties to support the World Bank team under the TFWA program :
• Support the TFWA program’s activities being implemented in Burkina Faso and along the designated trade corridors.

• In the absence of the in-country presence of the TFWA program focal point for Burkina Faso, with necessary support and guidance, ensure progress and continuity of activities by managing day-to-day activities of the TFWA program (especially TA activities, institutional relations and stakeholders’ network maintenance, monitoring and coordination).

• Prepare mission agendas(s), prepare and deliver presentations relating to the program’s implementation, coordinate meetings and discuss program implementation with clients/counterparts, support implementation action plans.
• Development of ToRs related to trade facilitation activities in Burkina
• Provision of technical inputs in reports relating to the TFWA program
• Other duties as assigned by the TFWA focal point for Burkina Faso and the TFWA Task Team Leaders.

III. Consultant’s Qualifications

The Consultant selected will have to demonstrate that the he/she possesses the following qualifications :
• Degree in business, economics, law, or related field or equivalent professional qualification ;
• Minimum 6 years of experience in project implementation, project management and stakeholder’s engagement ;
• Knowledge of existing trade facilitation challenges and key stakeholders in West Africa ;

• Previous field experience in West Africa would be a strong plus ;
• Proven understanding of Burkina Faso country context and especially of trade facilitation public and private stakeholders ;
• Previous experience working in complex multi-sectoral teams ;
• Effective inter-personal skills, leadership, ability to maintain excellent client and donor relations ;
• Strong advocacy skills, ability to interface effectively with public and private sector leaders ;
• Fluent in English and French.
• Strong analytical, oral and report writing skills in French and English.

IV. Terms of Employment

The selected candidate will be offered an initial contract covering no more than 120 days. The consultation can be extended depending on the business needs and the performance of the Consultant. Based on performance, the candidate may be subsequently offered a contract extension up to a maximum of 150 days per year for the entire duration of the project (three years). Preference will be given to candidates willing to make a longer-term commitment to the project and to become a stable member of the TFWA team.

V. How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a CV in English to Ms. Evelyn Ayivor at eayivor@worldbank.org by no later than 31st December, 2019 copying Ms. Maiko Miyake (mmiyake@worldbank.org), Mr. Manuel Henriques (mhenriques@worldbank.org), Mr. Olivier Hartmann (ohartmann@worldbank.org) and Ms. Mikiko Ollison (mollison@ifc.org).

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.