Result of Service

FUNCTIONS Under the direct supervision of the Associate Programme Officer, BTIF, and the overall guidance of ITC’s Trade Facilitation Team in HQ, Geneva, and in close coordination with the Regional Team Leader and the output-based Regional Technical Experts of the SCOPE Trade Project based in Jakarta, the Regional Trade Facilitation Lead will be responsible for the following duties to support implementation of activities under Outputs 1, 2 and 3: Technical content support: • Provide specialized technical expertise to support the roll-out and smooth progress of customs and trade facilitation activities/sub-activities under outputs 1, 2 and 3, including refining specific activity content with ITC Trade Facilitation Technical Team in ITC HQ, Geneva, and support ITC HQ team to refine the technical activities in the project workplan as required. The activities to be supported technically will include: o Development of the ASEAN Trade Facilitation Strategic Action Plan 2026-2030 o Implementation of selected priority trade facilitation initiatives for ASEAN o Enhancement and expansion of the ASEAN Customs Transit System (ACTS) and its use by private sector actors, including through awareness and capacity-building o Implementation of green customs initiatives and trade facilitation measures for circular economy. • Support ITC Trade Facilitation Technical Team in ITC HQ, Geneva in refining and validating the priority customs and trade facilitation measures of ASEC, to be implemented under sub-activity 1.6.2. • Produce and review concept notes, technical reports, background notes, Terms of References (ToRs), etc. related to the implementation of the technical activities. • Provide timely guidance and expertise on regional/global customs and trade facilitation issues and best practices to project partners (i. e. ASEC Trade Facilitation Division). • Keep abreast with trends and developments in the ASEAN region and globally, of relevance to customs and trade facilitation activities/sub-activities implemented under the 3 outputs and inform ITC Trade Facilitation Technical Team in ITC HQ, Geneva. Support to project implementation related to customs and trade facilitation activities under the project, in close coordination with the SCOPE Trade project team based in Jakarta: • Attend and facilitate meetings with project partners and stakeholders involved in the implementation of the customs and trade facilitation activities under the 3 outputs, prepare meeting notes, meeting minutes, etc. and share them with ITC Trade Facilitation Technical Team in ITC HQ, Geneva. • Support ITC Trade Facilitation Technical Team in ITC HQ, Geneva to compile information and required documentation for project reporting, including providing inputs and drafting and/or narratives for the project’s progress reports and activity sheets. • In close coordination with the SCOPE Trade Regional Team Leader, output-based Regional Technical Experts and Project Assistant, support planning, organizing and/or delivering customs and trade facilitation-related training programmes and workshops, including identifying participants/trainees with relevant expertise/needs, actively moderating/facilitating some of the workshop/training’ sessions to ensure the smooth running of the event and preparing workshop/training reports. • Identify synergies and opportunities with other projects and initiatives in the area of customs, digital trade and trade facilitation in the ASEAN region. • In close coordination with the SCOPE Trade Regional Team Leader, output-based Regional Technical Experts and Project Assistant, support to coordinate and facilitate customs and trade facilitation-related activities, events and missions undertaken under the project. Relationship and stakeholder management with key project partners leading or involved in customs and trade facilitation initiatives, in close coordination with the SCOPE Trade project team based in Jakarta: • Ensure regular dialogue and provide technical inputs and expertise promptly, as required, to ASEC’s Trade Facilitation Division – and other ASEC divisions, as required – for matters related to the implementation of the project activities/sub-activities on customs and trade facilitation. • In close coordination with the SCOPE Trade Regional Team Leader and output-based Regional Technical Experts, nurture relationships with focal points and contact persons for trade facilitation activities/sub-activities under the 3 outputs in ASEC and related working groups/bodies to ensure support for project implementation. • In close coordination with the SCOPE Trade Regional Team Leader and output-based Regional Technical Experts, ensure regular contacts and dialogue with partners in the public and private sectors to ease and facilitate smooth implementation of the customs and trade facilitation activities/sub-activities. • Maintain regular communication and convey issues arising to ITC Trade Facilitation Technical Team in ITC HQ, Geneva in a timely manner RESULTS OF SERVICE • Written technical outputs (technical reports, informative notes, analytical pieces, etc.) in relation to the various project activities on customs and trade facilitation drafted and/or reviewed. • Written and/or oral technical inputs provided to ITC Trade Facilitation Technical Team in ITC HQ, Geneva, regional and national counterparts and project partners on global/regional customs and trade facilitation issues affecting or likely to impact project activities, through meetings and desk research as per project team’s needs. • A validated register of key stakeholders relevant to customs and trade facilitation activities at regional and national level identified and submitted. • Support provided to refine and deliver capacity-building activities. • Support provided to organize and/or facilitate workshops, trainings, meetings and consultations related to customs and trade facilitation, in close coordination with the SCOPE Trade project team in Jakarta. • Concept notes, ToRs, mission reports, project progress reports, project workplans, etc. drafted and/or reviewed. • Progress update regularly provided to ITC Trade Facilitation Technical Team in ITC HQ, Geneva and written monthly report delivered. • A final summary report on the assignment submitted, discussed and validated. 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 Jakarta, Indonesia (location in another ASEAN Member State, with frequent travels to Jakarta, might be considered)

Expected duration

01.03.25 – 31.08.25

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND 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 SMEs. ITC’s mission is to foster inclusive and sustainable growth and development through trade and international business development. ITC projects and programmes contribute to the global efforts to achieve UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development and the Aid for Trade agenda. ITC headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland (website: www.intracen.org). ITC is the implementing agency of the new ‘EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Trade’ (SCOPE Trade), funded by the European Union (EU). The ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) is the main project counterpart. The project will also work with several ASEAN Working Groups and Sub-Committees. The overall objective (impact) of the 5-year project is to improve sustainable connectivity between the EU and ASEAN, and within ASEAN with a focus on trade, economic connectivity and sustainable value chains. The specific objective (outcome) of the project is to improve regulatory frameworks, dialogue and institutional capacities in key areas of trade and economic connectivity with a focus on resilient, socially, economically and environmentally sustainable value chains and on better conditions for trade and investment flows. The three outputs of the project are:  Output 1: Improved policies and regulatory environment for fair and sustainable market, trade and investment in ASEAN;  Output 2: Improved capacities of ASEAN for digital connectivity;  Output 3: Increased knowledge and capacities for ensuring environmental, economic and social value chain sustainability among ASEAN/ASEAN Member States institutions and the private sector. In this context, ITC is seeking to recruit a Regional Trade Facilitation Specialist to support the implementation of customs and trade facilitation activities/sub-activities under the 3 Outputs, as follows:  Output 1 – Activity 1.6: Develop and strengthen ASEAN regional customs and trade facilitation frameworks, measures and tools  Output 2 – Activity 2.2: Provide technical support to enhance ASEAN digital customs procedures and systems (including ACTS)  Output 3 – Activity 3.6: Provide technical assistance to implement the ASEAN regional frameworks on environmentally and socially sustainable value chains in ASEAN Member States NOTE – The preferred location of this position would be Jakarta, Indonesia. The function can involve frequent travels within the region. The selected candidate must be available for duty travel for short periods within the ASEAN region.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in international trade, economics, business administration, development studies, or related field. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in result-based project/programme management in the area of customs, trade facilitation and digital trade is required. Experience related to the design and implementation of trade facilitation measures/solutions in the ASEAN region with demonstrated ability to frame and deliver technical content is required. Experience working with governments, trade-related institutions and/or private sector networks in ASEAN is required. Advanced knowledge and/or experience in trade facilitation and environmental sustainability will be considered a strong asset. Previous experience in the regional and/or national implementation of the ASEAN Customs Transit System (ACTS) will be considered a strong asset. Previous experience working with ASEC is highly desirable. Previous experience working with UN, EU and/or other development agencies is highly desirable. Previous experience in capacity-building is desirable.

Languages

Advanced knowledge of written and oral English. Knowledge of language(s) spoken in ASEAN Member States is desirable.

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.