Result of Service

The main objective of the consultancy assignment is to produce an enhanced understanding of the African private sector, its capacity, and its state of organization in order to inform design of engagement strategies tailored to the actual needs of the African private sector for better utilization of AfCFTA opportunities.

Work Location

Home Based

Expected duration

3 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), through the Regional Integration & Trade Division, is a specialized unit within the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Its mission is to serve as the leading Africa-based Centre of excellence and a continental hub for providing and coordinating technical support for the development of trade policies in Africa. ATPC works with stakeholders at all levels to enhance the implementation of sound national, regional, and international trade strategies, policies and programs. The Centre also conducts research to generate and disseminate knowledge on trade and provides policy advice, training and capacity building based on the needs identified by its partners.

The Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to create a single market that connects approximately 1.4 billion people across the continent with a gross domestic product (GDP) of about USD 3 trillion. The AfCFTA, which is one of the flagship initiatives under the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, is expected to be transformative for the continent’s trade and regional integration agenda, and contribute to sustainable growth and development. These expected benefits will be possible only if the African private sector is fully engaged in the negotiation, adoption, domestication, and implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement.

In this context, it is critical that the private sector is fully sensitized about the benefits of the single continental market that is being established by the AfCFTA. The private sector in Africa accounts for over 80 per cent of total production, two-thirds of total investment, and three-fourths of commercial loans within the economy. The private sector also provides jobs for about 90 per cent of the employed working-age population. Further, Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) are the backbone of the African economy, accounting for over 90 per cent of businesses in Africa and translating to 63 percent of employment in low-income countries while contributing to over 50 per cent of national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The benefits of the AfCFTA will remain elusive if ’ Africa’s private sector is unable to take full advantage of the trade and investment opportunities it offers.

The primary responsibility to ensure the African private sector is engaged fully and effectively in the implementation of the Agreement lies with national government of the State Parties. Engaging the private sector in country-level efforts to institutionalize AfCFTA-inspired trade policy and institutional reforms within the domestic economic regulatory framework to improve the business environment will be a critical element in this overall effort. This engagement could take the form of high-level policy dialogues on trade, investment and infrastructure policy, institutional support mechanisms for building trade capacity of MSMEs and catalyzing increased investment in promising industries. The engagement of private sector leaders and Heads of State should be done in a structured way and provide a pathway for the resolution of identified challenges at the continental and national levels.

At the continental level, several initiatives have been launched and high-level conferences organized to facilitate interaction between private sector leaders and African leaders Heads of State and Government with particular focus on the AfCFTA. Since 2018, African leaders have been consulting with private sector players, including women and youth entrepreneurs and other key stakeholders through the AfCFTA Business Forum, a multi-stakeholder platform for engagement on intra-Africa trade and the AfCFTA. In 2020, the African Business Council was established as an institution to provide a continental platform for shaping and articulating the views of the private sector in continental policy formulation processes, including on the AfCFTA. African Heads of State and private sector leaders have used the Africa Business Forum to discuss issues on the AfCFTA and intra-Africa trade in all its dimensions. Also in 2018, Afreximbank established the Pan-African Private Sector Trade and Investment Committee (PAFTRAC) as an advocacy platform for private sector engagement on trade, investment, policy formulation and trade negotiations. Likewise, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) was also established in 2018 to provide a bi-annual platform for sharing trade, investment and market information and to enable buyers and sellers, investors and countries to meet, network and conclude business deals. The first IATF was held in 2019, while the second was held in 2021. As all these platforms emerge, it is critical that the agenda and issues for engagement are clearly defined and that the various players that make up the private sector – national and international firms, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and traders are legitimately represented and an efficient and effective mechanism of engaging with the Heads of State and Government is established.

It is in this context that ATPC is seeking an expert with a strong background and cutting-edge understanding of the organization of the private sector for effective engagement in the negotiation, adoption, domestication and implementation of trade agreements at national and regional levels. The expert will conduct extensive research to produce a comprehensive report on the African private sector, including its nature, organizational status, role, capacity and preparedness to support and take advantage of the AfCFTA.

Objective of the Assignment:

The main objective of this assignment is to produce a comprehensive report that assess the nature, role, state of awareness, capacity, and preparedness of the African Private Sector to support and take advantage of the AfCFTA. The report shall identify the informational, capacity, and organizational needs of the African private sector to take advantage of the AfCFTA and propose an effective mechanism of engagement between private sector leaders and Heads of State and Government on AfCFTA issues.

Duties and responsibilities:

The Consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Coordinator of ATPC and the direct supervision of an ATPC staff assigned for the task. To achieve the objectives of the consultancy, the expert will perform the following key tasks:

– Prepare a comprehensive issues paper that articulates the nature, role, state of awareness, capacity and preparedness of the African Private Sector to support and take advantage of the AfCFTA so as to inform the development of strategies to engage the private sector on AfCFTA and related issues.
– Identify existing impediments to effective utilization of the Agreement by the private sector and propose solutions to the identified challenges.
– Identify national level reforms and incentives to encourage private sector utilization of the AfCFTA trade and investment opportunities.
– Propose mechanisms for enhancing the capacity of women and youth entrepreneurs to take advantage of opportunities created by the AfCFTA.
– Propose strategies for inclusive implementation of the AfCFTA for SME’s and women- and youth-owned businesses.
– Identify complementary measures to support women traders and women-owned SMEs to ensure a more inclusive trade under the AfCFTA.
– Develop a framework / manual to assist countries to translate the agreement into practical processes and procedures that enable the private sector to take full advantage of opportunities.
– Prepare policy briefs on topics of relevance to the private sector.

Qualifications/special skills

Master’s degree in International Business, Economics, International Trade, International Relations, and/or related areas is required.
Have a minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience in trade policy, business consulting, or related areas. A proven track record of thought leadership, demonstrated by published research, on private sector participation in trade agreements is required. Expertise in research methods and assessments of trade agreements and as well as strong writing skills are required. Knowledge of trade policy issues and the AfCFTA is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required.

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.