Result of Service

The consultancy will contribute within the relevant timeframe, to strengthen capacity of MS to implement an effective business enabling the development of electric mobility industry value chain including tariff offers and services commitment.

Work Location

Africa

Expected duration

3 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:
ECA’s mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The mission will be guided by ECA’s five new strategic directions which are: Advancing ECA’s position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent’s problems and take local solution to the continent; Developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; Designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; Contributing solutions to regional and trans-boundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; Advocating Africa’s position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues.
The Sub-regional Office for North Africa of the ECA (ECA SRO-NA) is located in Rabat (Morocco), and serves seven member states: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia. The main objective is to contribute to achieving structural transformation and balanced development through implementation of an environment conducive to the creation of employment for women and young people in North Africa. Its core functions are: Strengthening the capacity of member states in the sub-region to design and implement national policies and strategies for sustainable employment creation; Contributing to the implementation of sub-regional development priorities in line with the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 with due consideration for youth and gender perspectives; Improving macroeconomic and fiscal policies, and to ensure sustainable growth; Providing relevant technical assistance to member states and to regional economic communities and intergovernmental organizations in building their capacities to sustain economic, social and political transformation, with a particular focus on employment, skills and balanced development, with the aim of ensuring inclusive growth, taking into consideration access to equal opportunities for women and young people.

Background and rationale for support

The ECA SRO-NA is implementing a study to enhance the technical and institutional capacities of three African countries, namely Morocco, DRC and Zambia, to develop and implement effective business enabling environments for the electric mobility industry value chain, in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
The AfCFTA agreement was signed in March 2018 and came into effect in January 2021, with 54 of the 55 African Union member states having ratified the agreement. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to create a single market for goods and services, promote intra-African trade, and enhance economic growth and development on the continent.
One of the key objectives of the AfCFTA is to enhance regional value chains in Africa. Regional value chains refer to the production networks that link firms, industries, and countries in a particular region, enabling them to specialize in different stages of the production process and create higher value-added products. By promoting regional value chains, the AfCFTA aims to enhance the competitiveness of African firms, increase productivity, create jobs, and promote economic diversification and structural transformation.
The development of regional value chains in Africa is particularly relevant in the context of electric mobility. The shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) presents significant opportunities for Africa, as the continent is rich in critical minerals such as cobalt, copper, and lithium, which are used in the production of batteries. However, to fully harness the potential of electric mobility, African countries need to develop the necessary infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and skills, as well as strengthen their capacity to participate in regional and global value chains. This requires targeted policies and investments, as well as effective collaboration among different stakeholders, including governments, the private sector, and civil society.
Electric mobility is gaining increasing interest globally due to its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Electric mobility is an emerging sector that has the potential to revolutionize the transportation sector in Africa. The African continent has the opportunity to leverage its resources and develop a competitive electric mobility value chain, which can contribute to the sustainable growth of African economies.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents opportunities for African countries to develop their industries, including the electric mobility industry value chain. However, there are challenges related to investment, intellectual property rights, market opportunities and constraints, competition policy and e-commerce, tariffs, and services. Therefore, this project aims to assess the potential of selected value chains on electric mobility, its potential growth, markets opportunities, business environment prerequisites, and implementation in the context of the AfCFTA and to strengthen the capacity of Morocco, Zambia, and RDC to develop their electric mobility industry value chain and implement an effective business environment for the sector.

Scope and tasks of work
Under the direct supervision of the chief of section and the overall supervision of the Director of ECA SRO-NA, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1. Collaborate with the lead consultant to conduct research and analysis on electric mobility regional value chains and related issues within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
2. Assess the current state of electric mobility industries in Morocco, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), assess the best practices in E mobility regional value chains and identify key opportunities and challenges.
3. Analyze the policy and regulatory frameworks related to electric mobility in the target countries and recommend policy interventions to promote the development of regional value chains.
4. Conduct stakeholder interviews and consultations with senior policymakers, industry representatives, and other relevant stakeholders to gather insights and perspectives.
5. Conduct an analytical study on the market potential, value chain linkages, critical milestones, and the potential impact of electric mobility regional value chains. This analysis should identify key market segments, value chain actors, critical success factors, and potential socio-economic and environmental impacts (Job creation, GDP Growth…).
6. Develop analytical frameworks and models on market potential value chain linkages and critical milestones and evaluate the economic and environmental impacts (job creation, skills development, GDP Growth , trade …)of proposed electric mobility regional value chains.
7. Provide technical brief on electrical mobility regional value chains, value chain linkages, critical milestones, in Morocco and Southern African countries, identifying potential areas of collaboration and value addition and their potential impact (GDP, Job creation, skills development, trade,…)
8. Contribute to the preparation and facilitation of a capacity-building workshop for senior policymakers, providing expertise and insights on electric mobility value chains and AfCFTA integration.
9. Collaborate with the lead consultant in synthesizing research findings, developing recommendations, and preparing the final report.

Anticipated Deliverables and Implementation schedule
The following deliverables are expected from the consultant

1. A comprehensive report on the electric mobility regional value chains in Morocco, Zambia, and the DRC, including an assessment of opportunities, challenges, and policy recommendations and analyzing the existing policy and regulatory frameworks related to electric mobility in the target countries and recommending interventions to support the development of regional value chains. (Completion date: End of August )
2. A summary report capturing the key insights and perspectives gathered from stakeholder interviews and consultations. (Completion date: by first week of October )
3. Analytical frameworks and models: Contribution to the analytical report on market potential, value chain linkages, critical milestones and impact of electrical mobility regional value chains. Develop and document the analytical frameworks and models used to evaluate the economic and environmental impacts of electric mobility regional value chains (job creation, skills development, GDP Growth, Value addition, Trade). (Expected completion: first draft: End of August and final draft : first week of October )

4. A technical brief on electrical mobility regional value chains in Morocco and Southern African countries, identifying potential areas of collaboration and value addition and their potential impact (GDP, Job creation, skills development, trade,) Expected completion: by third week of October )
5. Workshop materials: Develop presentation slides, handouts, and other supporting materials for the capacity-building workshop, focusing on the integration of electric mobility into the AfCFTA
( Expected completion by third week of November )
6. A Workshop summary report documenting the discussions, outcomes, and recommendations from the capacity-building workshop for senior policymakers. Expected completion : First week of December
7. Contributions to the final report: Collaborate with the lead consultant in synthesizing research findings, developing recommendations, and preparing the final report summarizing the entire consultancy. (Expected completion: December 12th )

The final plan and deadlines for the deliverables will be discussed and decided in consultation between the consultant and ECA SRO-NA

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Bachelor’s degree or Engineer diploma) in economics, energy, industry or related fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of 5 years of experience in Economic development or policy-oriented projects and research or related fields is required
Experience in the field of energy, automotive industry, electric mobility, value chains, or regional integration is desirable

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this consultancy, Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat is required. Knowledge of the other 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.