Adviser, Trade Finance for SMEs International Trade Centre

The International Trade Centre is looking for a:

Adviser, Trade Finance for SMEs

Post level: P-3 Job Opening No.: ITC/PVN/02/2012

Division/Section: Division of Business and Institutional Support/Business Environment Geneva time) (DBIS/BE)

Deadline for application: 15 May 2012 (midnight

Entry date: as soon as possible

Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland

Duration of appointment: one year, renewable


THE ITC

The work of the International Trade Centre (ITC) is focused on delivering ‘Export Impact for Good’. We target the private sector, trade support institutions and the promotion of government policies which contribute to competitive trade and sustainable and inclusive development. We support developing and transition countries in seeking out and promoting export opportunities – leading to economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction. If you are a passionate and committed individual who wants to make a lasting difference, then ITC is the place to be.

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit ITC’s website: www.intracen.org

ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING

The Division of Business and Institutional Support (DBIS) provides appropriate solutions to Trade Support Institutions (TS,) in developing countries and economies in transition. It aims to build trade support institutions (TSI) managerial capacities; facilitate the work of their networks; and enable a conducive business environment, to assure and develop the international competitiveness of SMEs and small exporters. DBIS delivers demand-driven solutions to support Businesses and Institutions in three major areas:

• Strengthening the capacity of TSIs selected as ITC’s multipliers in the field, offering services in line with the best practices obtained through benchmarking methodology, maintaining TSIs networking of networks and helping them improve the market share of their clients (exporting SMEs).

• Building exporting SMEs competitiveness, improving their management skills to achieve export readiness; optimize their products value chain; gain market share through marketing and branding; and capitalize on information and communication technologies (E-nabling).

• Facilitating a conducive Business environment, designing and developing programmes covering legal issues related to Export transactions; linking financial institutions to exporting enterprises; addressing issues relevant to access to finance; and providing trade facilitation services to reduce trade transaction costs.

MAIN PURPOSE AND KEY RESULTS EXPECTED

The goal of this job function is to improve the competitiveness of exporting SMEs by enhancing their ability to access financing. The outputs expected from this job are: increase in the number of exporting SME’s able to access financing; increase in the number of banks and financial institutions trained to assess the viability of SME businesses; increase in the number of financial organisations willing to provide long term credit and guaranty lines for exporting SMEs; creation of a range of new and innovative financial mechanisms and services, based on the SMEs needs throughout the whole value chain of exports.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Adviser on Trade Finance for SMES and the overall guidance of the Chief, Business Environment Section (BE), the incumbent will perform the following tasks:

• Contribute to designing and providing trade finance capacity building assistance to SMEs, in coordination with other ITC sections dealing with enterprise management.
• Assist in improving the SMEs’ ability to prepare bankable business plans, submit loan requests and correctly approach and negotiate with banks and financial institutions in order to facilitate their access to finance.

• Assist the Senior Adviser Trade Finance, to develop and deliver projects focusing on specialized financing solutions for SMEs in the agriculture and commodities sectors, including those methods which focus less on conventional asst based financing and which may involve a wide network of partners such as commercial banks, insurance companies, regional development banks, and bilateral funds.

• Contribute to the design, formulation and validation of software solutions (risk assessment and self checkers) and best practices for exporting SMEs, and ensure their dissemination through SMEs, central banks, development and commercial banks, trade support institutions and other relevant bodies.

• Undertake research on specialized aspects of finance for trade in developing countries for ITC publications and documents, and ensure updating of existing publications.
• Prepare material and provide technical contributions to symposia, conferences and workshops on behalf of ITC.

• Contribute to providing direct inputs and trade related technical assistance to TIC’s technical cooperation projects in finance-related areas, whether in country or through regional projects.

• Contribute to ensuring that Trade Finance for SMEs activities are integrated into the overall ITC services/solutions offer, maintaining and developing contacts within ITC concerning the trade finance for SMEs programme solutions.

• Undertake research on specialized aspects of finance for trade in developing countries for ITC publications and documents, and ensure updating of existing publications.

• Contribute to the customization of the different software developed by the Trade Finance team to meet the needs of banking partners as well as the customization of software to the specificity of the sector or markets in a given country; prepare materials and provide technical contributions to symposia, conferences and workshops on behalf of ITC.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

EDUCATION: Advanced University degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration or other relevant discipline.

Note: A combination of relevant academic qualifications and extensive relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

WORK EXPERIENCE: Minimum of five years operational experience, at a progressively higher level of responsibility in developing and implementing trade finance programmes in commercial or development banks, international development organizations, bilateral development funds or finance-related international organizations. Experience in assessing and or implementing sector oriented activities for development of commercial banks or other financial intermediaries.

LANGUAGES: Advanced knowledge of English with a working knowledge of French or Spanish. Knowledge of other UN official languages is an asset.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE: Thorough understanding of trade finance; familiarity with the main international trade finance processes including payments, guarantees and financing. Sound knowledge of how SMEs in developing countries operate, and of their internal organisation and management structure. Thorough knowledge of trade finance instruments and applications; trade finance principles, policies and activities. Proven ability to undertake desk and field research, with good writing skills.

DESIRABLE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: Familiarity with the policy and activities of development and/or commercial banks and financing entities. Familiarity with trade finance for SME’s constraints and needs in developing countries; and with the technical cooperation activities in this area offered by relevant agencies. Private sector experience in banking and finance.

ITC’S VALUES are: Vision, Integrity, Excellence, Pragmatism and Responsiveness.

ITC’S CORE COMPETENCIES are: Integrity, Vision, Teamwork and Leadership, Excellence and Accountability, Client Commitment, Pragmatism and Communications. For further information on the ITC competency framework and the definition of each competency, please visit our website or click on the following link: ITC’s Competency Framework


CRITICAL JOB-SPECIFIC

Pragmatism
Excellence and Accountability
Integrity
Communications
Client Commitment

TERMS OF SERVICE

Appointments with ITC are service-limited to this organization. The conditions of service are governed by the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations. This is a fixed term appointment.

INDICATIVE ANNUAL SALARY AT THE P-3 LEVEL

Annual Salary (net of tax)
US$ 56,018 at single rate

US$ 60,013 with primary dependants

Post Adjustment

Plus 104.1% (April 2012 rate) of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.

For further information please consult the International Civil Service Commission website: http://icsc.un.org


HOW TO APPLY

Candidates are required to complete an on-line application. To apply, please visit the ITC website at http://www.intracen.org/jobs which provides all related instructions on how to complete the on-line personal history form (PHF). Candidates should also submit a motivation letter.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. Information on the status of a vacancy can be obtained at: http://www.intracen.org/jobs.

A written test may be held for this position. Candidates must ensure that they are the sole author of the answers. Reference materials including candidate’s own work and material may be used if properly cited. Please be informed that software that detects plagiarism will be used to verify candidate’s answers.

Please note that candidates to this position may be considered for other ITC vacancies subject to meeting the relevant eligibility and competency requirements.

ITC does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, nationality, religion or other social criteria. ITC is fully committed to the implementation of the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly for gender mainstreaming and applications from qualified women and men are equally welcome.

Applications from women and nationalities from developing and least developing countries are particularly encouraged.