Trade in Services Officer

The staff is responsible for coordinating and leading technical activities under the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services, including services trade negotiations, implementation, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building programmes, in support of the Division's strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support in the implementation of activities under the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services and related initiatives.
• Coordinate and contribute to services trade negotiations and the implementation of negotiated commitments by State Parties.
• Contribute to the design and development of strategies, policies and programmes in alignment with the Directorate’s objectives and priorities.
• Support the development and implementation of the Division’s business continuity plan and risk mitigation measures.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with State Parties, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), development partners, private sector organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Conduct research, policy analysis, and monitoring developments in trade in services to inform the Directorate’s work and policy recommendations.
• Develop technical guidance notes, training materials, reports and other knowledge products to support implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services.
• Represent the Division or Directorate and contribute technical expertise at meetings, conferences, negotiations, and other regional and international fora, as required.
• Contribute to resource mobilization efforts and the implementation of projects and programmes under the Division.
• Assist the Head of Division in the preparation and implementation of the Division’s Annual Action Plan and related programmes and activities under the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services including the development of offers and scheduling of commitments.
• Provide technical support to State Parties in the negotiation and implementation of commitments under the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services.
• Support capacity building initiatives for State Parties and stakeholders on all technical and legal aspects of trade in services.
• Contribute to the development, management, and implementation of technical assistance programmes and projects relating to trade in services negotiations including the development and finalisation of offers and draft schedules of specific commitments in the different services sectors.
• Conduct research, policy analysis, and prepare technical papers, reports, briefing notes, and recommendations on trade in services issues.
• Prepare progress reports on trade in services negotiations including on the schedules of specific commitments, and technical inputs on trade in services matters, for inclusion in the Secretary-General’s annual report and other institutional reporting processes.
• Develop training materials and deliver technical assistance, workshops, and training programmes on trade in services issues, including the development of offers and finalization of draft schedules of specific commitments for State Parties and relevant stakeholders.
• Formulate advice and recommendations for State Parties on matters relating to trade in services negotiations, especially the work related to schedules of specific commitments.
• Coordinate and provide technical support to the Committee on Trade in Services, its Sub-Committees, technical working groups, and related negotiation processes to ensure their smooth and effective functioning.
• Provide targeted and specialized technical support to the Sub-Committee on Specific Commitments, other relevant Sub-Committees and the Committee on Trade in Services in assessing and monitoring of market-access and national treatment commitments undertaken by State Parties and ensuring that they are consistent with the relevant requirements of the Protocol on Trade in Services.
• Evaluate the compliance of the Schedules of Commitments of State Parties to the requirements of Article 22 of the Protocol on Trade in Services.
• Establish a mechanism for the removal of restrictions on trade in services under the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services.
• Monitor the removal of State Parties’ non-conforming measures and barriers to trade in services in their Schedules of Specific Commitments.
• Ensure that compensatory adjustments offered by State Parties during the proposed modifications of their Schedules of Specific Commitment are made on a most-favoured-nation basis.
• Carry out consultations on the ongoing processes at national and regional levels on domestication of commitments made under the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services, and adoption of new, or significant modification of existing, measures by State Parties.
• Propose activities for technical assistance and capacity building to support the negotiations on trade in services and implementation of the Schedules of Specific Commitments of State Parties.
• Prepare annual reports on the status of the Schedules of Specific Commitments by State Parties to facilitate the negotiation of additional Commitments and the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of existing Commitments.
• Carry out any other functions assigned by the Committee on Trade in Services in furtherance of the objectives of the Protocol on Trade in Services.
• Represent the Division in meetings, negotiations, conferences, workshops, and stakeholder consultations, as required.
• Carry out any other tasks, as may be assigned by the Head of Division as may become necessary.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in international trade, development economics, international relations, international business, international law, political science or relevant disciplines
• 10 (ten) years of relevant and progressively responsible experience out of which 6 (six) should be at managerial or expert level involving at least 3 (three) years supervisory role OR Bachelor’s degree in international trade, development economics, international relations, international business, international law, political science or relevant disciplines.
• 12 (twelve) years of relevant and progressively responsible work experience out of which 6 (six) and 3 (three) years of experience should be at managerial or expert level and in a supervisory role respectively.
• Management experience and ability to relate and facilitate interactions with others
• Ability to think critically and solve problems
• Ability to communication orally and in writing
• Reports writing and presentation skills
• Planning and organisational skills
• Ability to negotiate diplomatically
• Ability to delegate the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; with regard to performance management and professional development
• Conscientious in observing deadlines and achieving results
• Familiarity with international and regional policy processes and policy analysis in the relevant area
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Skills

• Trade in Services Negotiations
• International Trade Policy
• Policy Analysis
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Capacity Building
• Report Writing
• Presentation Skills
• Planning and Organisational Skills
• Diplomatic Negotiation
• Performance Management
• Supervision Experience
• Management Experience
• International Relations
• Development Economics
• International Law

Languages

Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili