Senior Reach Fellow - COMESA External Trade Policy

REQUEST FOR CURRICULUM VITAE’S FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS

FOR

Senior Reach Fellow – COMESA External Trade Policy

1. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has received financing from the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)towards the cost of enhancing COMESA capacity in economic and trade policy analysis and it intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments forconsulting services to be procured under this project.

2. The objective of strengthening capacity for policy research and analysis would be achieved through a number of strategic activities. The thrust of the research programme will primarily be initiation, coordination and monitoring of research as well as policy issues in the form of special studies.

3. The principal task of the Senior Research Fellow is to assist the COMESA Secretariat to elaborate on topics that include COMESA’s external trade policy, the internal market and the review of studies on trade relationships between COMESA countries and their traditional and emerging economic partners.

Terms of Reference

a) The Senior Research Fellow will be responsible for the development of strategic policy research agenda, initiation and co-ordination of research and analysis of economic policy issues, including establishing linkages between COMESA’s trade policy objectives (e.g. the customs union, the COMESA internal market ) and major trading partners;
b) Undertake special studies on emerging policy issues;
c) Responsible for publication of research output through Working Papers, Policy briefs and newsletters;
d) Carry out in-house training programs to update skills of the Secretariat staff, particularly on analytical tools.
e) Undertake a review of studies completed under the auspices of the COMESA Secretariat;
f) Based on the research output, develop elaborate positions for COMESA to pursue as a regional block in order to rationalize the direction of regional trade policy;
g) Draft and present research findings for validation and dissemination of research output at regional and international fora.

The Senior Research Fellow will report to the Assistant Secretary General (Programmes) through the Director, Trade, Customs and Monetary Affairs.

4. The COMESA Secretariat now invites individuals to indicate their interest in providing the services of a senior research fellow. Interested individuals must have at least a Master’s degree in economics (with a bias in international trade and quantitative methods of economic analysis), and a minimum of 8 years’ experience in relevant trade or trade-related fields. Experience in projects financed by multilateral development institutions would be an advantage. The Consultant must have a sound working knowledge of the English language and a background of good research and project management skills. He/ she must also be familiar with Government and public sector policies, institutional structures and operational procedures.

5. The consultant will be based at the COMESA Secretariat in Lusaka, Zambia.

6. The position is tenable for a fixed term of 4 years.

7. Interested Applicants should send a detailed curriculum vitae and a covering letterto the address below on or before 11th September 2013 at 14.00 hours, Zambia time, clearly indicating the position title, to:

The Secretary General
COMESA Secretariat.
Ben Bella Road
P.O. Box 30051 Lusaka, Zambia.
Tel: (260) 211 229725.
Fax: (260) 211 225107
Email: procurement@comesa.int