Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
The position is located within the ITC Office of Africa (OA) under the Division of Country Programmes (DCP). OA/DCP is leading the work of ITC in Africa. The duty station is located in Conakry, Guinea. The Programme for Employment Support through Private Sector and Industry Development – in French: Programme d’Appui à l’Emploi par le Développement du Secteur Privé et à l’Industrie - (TRANSFORM), funded by the European Union (EU), is a four-year project aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Guinean “gazelle” enterprises in the sustainable processing of agricultural and fishery products. The programme also includes initiatives to optimize supply chains and places special emphasis on improving access to financing. A team of professionals and support staff has been established to implement the TRANSFORM programme. The team is led by a Programme Officer based in Conakry, Guinea, directly supported by two national technical experts, and an administrative and financial assistant based at the Conakry Office. A Programme Officer (coordinator) based at ITC headquarters in Geneva will ensure coordination between the local office, ITC technical experts, support functions (legal, financial, procurement, communication, human resources), and will finalize the programme's final reports.
Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Chief, Office for Africa, the overall guidance of the Director, DCP, and in close collaboration with the Programme Officer at ITC HQ, the Programme Officer will be responsible for providing both managerial and technical expertise to ensure the effective implementation and coordination of all TRANSFORM activities. Specific responsibilities include:
- Develops, implements and evaluates assigned activities of the Programme; monitors economic and political developments in Guinea and the sub-region to ensure project adaptation and analyzes programme development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and risks to project implementation to be addressed and initiates mitigation measures with the Programme coordinator in Geneva; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions;
- Performs consulting assignments, in collaboration with the client, by planning facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan the client will use to manage the change;
- Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources;
- Coordinates policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies;
- Generates survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identify problems/issues and prepares conclusions;
- Organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.;
- Supervises the organization and coordination of annual meetings of the Steering Committee and Technical Committee meetings;
- Liaises and engages with all relevant stakeholders in Guinea to ensure strong programme ownership and visibility, in alignment with governments’ priorities;
- Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.;
- In collaboration with ITC experts, initiates and coordinates outreach and visibility activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities;
- Leads and/or participates in large, complex field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.;
- Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.);
- In collaboration with the monitoring and evaluation expert, develop and maintain an updated central database that consolidates key information on all beneficiaries while capturing results aligned with the commitments defined in the logframe;
- Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
- Professionalism: Knowledge of regional trade integration issues, value chain support, trade policy and facilitation, trade finance and investment, quality and standard issues. Knowledge of EU financial management rules. Familiarity with UN system management tools and processes. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work;
- Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings;
- Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client;
- Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing;
- Building Trust: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, management, economics or a related field such as engineering, international relations. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- A minimum of seven years (9 with a first level degree) of experience in project or programme management, administration or related area is required erience coordinating and managing large-scale programmes in a French-speaking sub Saharan African country is desirable;
- Experience working with African development partners is desirable. Experience engaging with senior government officials, policymakers, and civil society in Western Africa is desirable;
- Experience in supporting private sector development through assistance to agricultural value chains is desirable;
- Experience with projects funded by the EU is desirable;
- Experience engaging with governmental bodies, public sector entities, and financial institutions in Guinea is desirable
Languages
- Fluency in English and French is required.
Application instructions
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