Trade Policy Coordinator - International Trade Center (ITC)

Background

About the International Trade Centre

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations (UN). It is the only multilateral agency fully dedicated to supporting the internationalization of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). ITC's mission is to foster inclusive and sustainable growth and development through trade and international business development. ITC Headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland.

ITC projects and programmes contribute to the global efforts to achieve UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development and the Aid for Trade agenda.

ITC works at three levels:

• Strengthening the  integration of the business sector of developing countries and economies in transition into the global economy,
• Improving the performance of trade and investment support institutions for the benefit of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), and enhancing the abilities of trade support institutions to better support them,
• Improving the international competitiveness of SMEs.

About the “STRENGTHENING THE AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD VALUE CHAIN AND IMPROVING TRADE POLICY IN IRAQ” project

ITC will be implementing the project “Strengthening the agriculture and agri-food value chain and improving trade policy in Iraq” between 2020 and 2025. This project, funded by the European Union, aims to contribute to inclusive growth and job creation, particularly for youth for Iraq citizens. It seeks to enhance the trade competitiveness of Iraq’s agribusiness value chain, while improving the country’s trade policy.

The principal government counterpart for this project is the Ministry of Trade. Additional project counterparts are the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Planning, and the Federation of Iraq Chambers of Commerce, among others.

About the Building Equitable and Inclusive Transformation (BEIT): Towards Decent Work and Affordable Housing in Iraq

The Building Equitable and Inclusive Transformation (BEIT) project is funded by the European Union International Development Cooperation via the Delegation of the European Union to Iraq and implemented by three United Nations partners; the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC). The project’s general objective is to contribute to the creation of decent work and improved living conditions, including for the most vulnerable in Iraq. The four-year project will be implemented between 2024 and 2028.

The Trade Policy Coordinator will provide support to expected result (ER) 4 under the SAAVI project and to Output 3.4 and 3.5 under the BEIT project.

The Trade Policy Coordinator will be responsible for all submitted documents and must ensure that they are not plagiarised. Any plagiarism, copying or closely reproducing another’s work without accrediting the legitimate author in the documents submitted, would result in a refusal of the submitted document.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Associate Programme Officer, Trade Policy Coordinator and in close coordination with the SAAVI and BEIT Project Management Team the selected candidate will be responsible for the – inter alia - following tasks:

Provide support to implement the below activities under SAAVI:

• On a regular basis meet with the focal point within the WTO Division, MoT, to discuss ongoing project activities and identify new priority areas for on-going WTO accession process. Summary of these meetings to be provided to ITC HQ ER 4 team through email communications;
• Support the development of concept notes, agendas and mission ToRs for any ER 4 related activities;
• Coordinate with the local project office, ITC HQ and WTO Division of MoT to organize technical workshops/trainings/events;
• Support the organization of any ER4 related workshops/trainings/events as and when required. This can include the provision of technical inputs during the workshop/training/event, drafting of a summary of the workshop/trainings/events through a short report, developing of articles on the workshops/trainings/events for the purpose of communication and coordinating with the National Project Coordinator and team to arrange the logistics;
• Participate in or lead field missions, including providing guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries;
• Support to finalize reports/studies produced under ER4;
• Act as a liaison among various government institutions as instructed by WTO Division, MoT to accelerate the process of WTO Accession;
• Support to translate any necessary Iraqi official documents that are essential for WTO accession process into English.

Provide support to implement the below activities under BEIT:

• On a regular basis meet with the focal points relevant to Output 3.4 and 3.5 within the BEIT project. This can include Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Housing and Construction, National Investment Commission and Associations of Engineering and Architecture, to discuss ongoing project activities and to ensure that the momentum is maintained.
• Support the development of concept notes, agendas and mission ToRs for activities under Output 3.4 and 3.5
• Coordinate with the local project office, ITC HQ and relevant government agencies to organize technical workshops/trainings/events;
• Support the organization of any Output 3.4 and 3.5 related workshops/trainings/events as and when required. This can include the provision of technical inputs during the workshop/training/event, drafting of a summary of the workshop/trainings/events through a short report, developing of articles on the workshops/trainings/events for the purpose of communication and coordinating with the National Project Coordinator and team to arrange the logistics;
• Participate in or lead field missions, including providing guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries;
• Support to finalize reports/studies produced under Output 3.4 and 3.5;
• Act as a liaison among various government institutions as instructed by the focal government agency
• Support to translate any necessary Iraqi official documents that are essential for WTO accession process into English.

Competencies

ITC’S VALUES are: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

ITC’S CORE COMPETENCIES are: Communication, Teamwork, Planning & Organizing, Accountability, Creativity, Client Orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Technological awareness.

ITC’S MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES are: Vision, Leadership, Empowering Others, Managing Performance, Building Trust, and Judgment/Decision making.

For further information on competency based interview please visit: .

 Functional Competencies:

• Proven leadership and strong project management and coordination skills
• Excellent interpersonal and advocacy skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and respects diversity
• Proven ability to lead and work collaboratively in teams, with colleagues and encourage  sharing of knowledge to achieve organizational goals
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to identify priority activities and assignments; adjust priorities as required
• Ability to work with accuracy under time constraints and pressure in a stressful environment; with patience, tactfulness, maintain confidentiality, take initiative and exercise good judgment
• Ability to plan own work and use time efficiently, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines.

Technical Competencies:

• Strong network within the trade related environment in Iraq (both public and private sector)
• Very good understanding and knowledge of Iraq’s Trade Policy, it’s structure and functioning
• Demonstrated knowledge of challenges to trade and private sector development in Iraq
• Very good result-based management skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of the process and substance of WTO Accession and WTO Agreements
• Demonstrated knowledge of the process and substance of Trade in Services
• Extensive experience in working in the field of trade policy
• Excellent drafting and communication skills in both Arabic and English
• Previous experience with the UN System would be an asset

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master degree or equivalent) in economics, international trade, business administration, development studies or related field is required

OR

A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above mentioned areas in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work experience:

Minimum of 2 years (with master's degree) or 4 years (with bachelor's degree) experience in the field of technical assistance and trade development including experience in project management, administration or related field.

Required knowledge and skills:

• Very good understanding and knowledge of Iraq’s Trade Policy, it’s structure and functioning
• Demonstrated knowledge of the WTO system and accession process
• Demonstrated knowledge of the process and substance of Trade in Services
• Demonstrated knowledge of challenges to trade and private sector development in Iraq
• Very good understanding of public and private trade support institutions in Iraq and their mandates as well as of private sector needs and expectations in Iraq
• Extensive experience in working with government and/or private sector counterparts
• Very good result-based management skills
• Excellent drafting and communication skills
• Previous experience with the UN System would be an asset.

Desirable knowledge and skills:

• Knowledge of the UN system and procedures or experience of EU-related projects would be an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Advanced English with excellent written and oral communication skills is essential
• Fluency in Arabic is required