Result of Service
The National Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Associate Programme Officer on Trade Facilitation and the overall guidance and technical direction of the Trade Facilitation Advisor both at the ITC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Throughout the assignment, the National Consultant is expected to ensure that the TOR incorporates a holistic approach that prioritizes sustainable, economically feasible solutions tailored to address the environmental challenges specific to the Aflao-Kodjoviakopé region. The recommendations should not only aim to mitigate environmental degradation but also embrace a gender-sensitive perspective providing solutions tailored for women traders and leveraging other facilitation and information tools and practices. The National Consultant will accordingly deliver the following areas of responsibilities: 1. Assess the current TIBAD Infrastructure and identify best engineering solutions – Conduct an evaluation of the existing TIBAD infrastructure, including of its current condition, functionality, and alignment with sustainability criteria and engage with ITC and local stakeholders to understand needs and gather feedback on the current facility’s limitations. – Identify successful sustainable engineering practices and lessons learned from similar projects implemented in similar geographical and climatic contexts. 2. Development of TOR to provide low-cost green solution recommendations for the renovation and enhancement including potential retrofitting of the TIBAD and obtain validation by ITC – Develop a detailed and comprehensive description of recommended improvements to the TIBAD infrastructure including a tentative implementation plan, focusing on upgrading the existing infrastructure through sustainable engineering practices to enhance its sustainability, functionality, and resilience, ensuring that it meets standards while addressing the specific environmental and social challenges of the region. – Outline the technical specifications for each recommendation including a detailed descriptions of the engineering requirements, materials, and technologies involved and incorporating drawings, diagrams, or conceptual sketches to visually represent the proposed improvements. – Share the draft TOR with ITC and up to 4 relevant stakeholders as indicated by ITC for their feedback. – Revise and finalize the TOR based on the feedback received to meet all requirements. EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND TIMELINES Output: A finalized TOR with comprehensive recommendations and a tentative timeline for enhancing the TIBAD infrastructure is validated by ITC by 15th April 2025 Copyright Clause: The consultant has to ensure that she has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons – of all genders – equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.
Work Location
Home Based in Togo – Potential Travel involved.
Expected duration
19.02.25 – 15.04.25
Duties and Responsibilities
Background The International Trade Centre (ITC) has a unique mandate in the United Nations system to promote increased competitiveness of Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing, transition and least developed countries and assisting them to better use trade as a platform for growth, development, and employment creation. As such, ITC supports these countries to improve their business environment and facilitate better management of border operations, including through the implementation of inclusive and sustainable trade facilitation reforms and in particular the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). From December 2022 to November 2025, ITC implements a project aimed at strengthening agri-food trade in the ECOWAS region and contributes to a Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) programme: “GIZ ECOWAS Agricultural Trade (EAT) programme” funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development Cooperation (BMZ). Among other interventions, Output 2 of this project aims at supporting the design of sustainable and gender-sensitive agri-food trade facilitation measures with the view to enhance the efficiency of cross-border food trade in West Africa and contribute to food security. Under this output, ITC is working in close collaboration with the West African Association of Cross-Border Trade in Food, Agro-Sylvo-Pastoral and Fisheries (WACTAF/AOCTAH) products. WACTAF’s mission is to promote and streamline intra-regional trade in food, agro-sylvo-pastoral and fishery products in the West African and Sahelian region. WACTAF aims to strengthen the resilience of commercial actors, improve the competitiveness of their products and serve as a framework for consultation between private and public actors. One of the key activities implemented by WACTAF – often in collaboration with ITC – is the launch and operationalisation of Trade Information and Border Assistance Desks (TIBAD), centres aimed at: • Information and awareness: serving as a physical and operational hub, offering varied services. • Operational assistance: offering direct, hands-on support to help navigate procedural complexities. • Data collection and advocacy: providing data-driven approach and advocacy for addressing systemic barriers are addressed effectively. • Capacity-building: providing skills and knowledge of SSCBTs to ensure long-term impact. Togo has been recently added to the countries that will receive support form the EAT programme. At the same time WACTAF has requested support to revamp the TIBAD established at the Aflao-Kodjoviakopé. In this context, ITC seeks to hire a National Consultant located in Ghana or Togo to develop a Terms of Reference (TOR) with recommendations for the renovation and enhancement including potential retrofitting of the Trade Information and Border Assistance Desk (TIBAD) established by WACTAF and located at the Aflao–Kodjoviakopé border crossing, a coastal point between Ghana and Togo along the Lagos Abidjan corridor.
Qualifications/special skills
Master’s Degree or higher in sustainable engineering, sustainable construction, Applied Engineering, Architecture, development studies, international business, economics, or related fields is required. Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. Minimum of 5 years of relevant working experience in sustainable infrastructure development. Experience should include hands-on work with infrastructure assessments and improvement projects in developing countries and in sustainable engineering, construction, or low cost green building solutions Previous experience in trade facilitation projects – especially related to small scale cross-border trade – is highly desirable. Previous experience in implementing projects in West Africa Region (e.g., Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo) region will be considered a strong asset. Good knowledge of sustainability issues in a development context is mandatory. Knowledge of cross border trade in general, and specifically small-scale cross border trade Excellent analytical, communication and writing skills. Very organized and meticulous with a great sense of detail. – Ability to work independently under limited supervision. Ability to multi-task and meet tight deadlines.
Languages
Excellent proficiency in English and/or in French is mandatory. Proficiency in native languages of Togo and Ghana is an advantage.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.