Background | |
The then Government of South Sudan started work on trade mainstreaming during the Interim Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) period [1]. The Government issued “Trade Policy Guidelines” in 2009 which stated the importance of establishing necessary institutions to mainstream trade into the development priorities, policies and plans and acknowledged capacity constraints for trade policy formulation and implementation. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment (MCII) of the Republic of South Sudan (RSS) has been mandated to achieve these objectives in coordination with line ministries, the private sector and the donor community. Following independence, the Ministry has committed itself to undertake a full range of activities to prepare for and fully operationalise this mandate, including policy, legal frameworks and institutions, as well as signing of regional and international trade protocols.
In order to respond to the significant capacity constraints facing the RSS’ integration in the world economy, the Government requested participation in the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF). The EIF is a partnership involving Least Developed Countries (LDCs), donors and international organizations with the following key objectives: (i) to assist LDCs in mainstreaming trade into their national development plans and poverty reduction strategies; and (ii) to assist in the coordinated delivery of trade-related technical assistance to meet the trade capacity gaps identified by LDCs. For more information on the IF please see: www.integratedframework.org.
The first stage of the EIF process is the preparation of a Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) to provide the analytical basis for setting priorities. The purpose of the DTIS is to identify key constraints to the country’s integration into the multilateral trading system and the global economy. The interim EIF Board has adopted a template to guide the preparation of DTISs.
It is recognized however, that the DTIS is country-specific. The guidelines cover a broad range of topics reflecting the multi-faceted nature of trade issues. These topics include: macroeconomic environment; trade policy and institutions; trade agreements and market access; trade poverty reduction and sustainable development; business environment and institutional framework for trade and investment; trade facilitation; standards and quality infrastructure; sectoral issues and implementation arrangements. A set of policy recommendations and priority technical assistance needs are summarized in an Action Matrix which together with the DTIS is assessed and validated by stakeholders in a National Validation Workshop. An executive summary will highlight the key messages and findings of the DTIS.
An EIF familiarization workshop, with the participation of the IF Executive Secretariat and various UN agencies, was held on 13-14 November 2012 as a first step to sensitize partners about the objectives of the programme and its procedures and promote the active involvement of national stakeholders in the DTIS process.
UNDP has been requested to support the RSS in conducting the DTIS, in coordination with the EIF agencies and interested donors. Funding is provided by the EIF Trust Fund managed by UNOPS on behalf of contributing donors. The study will be prepared by a team of national and international experts working under the direction of a Team Leader.
[1] South Sudan DTIS was prepared during the CPA period under the one country two system modality. This resulted in the preparation of a tier I proposal that was under consideration for funding at the time of Independence.
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Duties and Responsibilities | |
The Team Leader will be responsible for managing and coordinating all stages of the DTIS process; ensuring its overall quality and coherence; and alignment with established DTIS guidelines adopted by the EIF Board. The Team Leader will supervise and coordinate inputs from DTIS consultants, and work in close cooperation with the RSS EIF Focal Point for the organization of consultations with a broad range of stakeholders whose inputs will inform the preparations of the study. The Team Leader will be in regular contact with UNDP South Sudan and UNDP Geneva Trade and Human Development Unit (GTHDU) for sharing drafts and ensuring that the process is on track. The Team Leader will be responsible for the completion of the following activities or key deliverables:
Preliminary DTIS mission
The purpose of this mission is to lay the ground work for the main mission. This will involve providing the Team Leader with access to national stakeholders, including the EIF Focal Point. The preliminary mission will be scheduled well in advance to allow adequate notification to the EIF Executive Secretariat and the EIF Board (at least 10 working days).
The preliminary mission will:
Concept note
The Team Leader will draft a concept note immediately following the preliminary DTIS mission with the inputs drawn from discussions during the mission. The concept note will be discussed and agreed to with the Government and UNDP for inputs and clearance. The document will be shared with the EIF Board which may provide comments (at least 10 working days for comments should be allowed).
The Concept note should specify the following:
The Team leader in coordination with UNDP and the RSS will also identify in the course of the pre-DTIS mission:
Main mission
A mission comprising the Team Leader and the experts/consultants involved in the DTIS will be organized by the Team Leader. Two general meetings with all stakeholders will be organized at the beginning and at the end of the mission with a view to: i) inform stakeholders of planned activities and seek collaboration; and ii) convey preliminary findings and conclusions of the mission and seek feedback. These sessions will be additional to the specific meetings that the DTIS team will hold with relevant stakeholders to gather necessary information to draft the report and address more in depth particular topics. The Team Leader will work closely with the RSS EIF Focal Point to schedule meetings and facilitate access to existing analytical work, data, etc.
At the end of the main mission, a note summarizing discussions held with the government and stakeholders and sketching out the DTIS report outline will be shared with the RSS and UNDP.
Drafting of the DTIS
The Team Leader will coordinate the production of the DTIS chapters by all team members in line with the DTIS report outline. The Team Leader may also assume responsibility for drafting specific chapters as necessary, the Executive Summary and Action Matrix.
Validation process
The Team Leader will ensure that regular consultations with stakeholders are held to seek feedback and validation of the various chapters of the report. Specific meetings, videoconferencing, etc. can be used to ensure regular and consistent participation of stakeholders. In addition, a national workshop involving key stakeholders will be organized to validate the report and in particular, the Action Matrix. Careful preparation will be necessary to allow a focused discussion during the workshop, on the prioritization of actions reflected in the Action Matrix. The Team Leader will revise the study based on inputs received during the national workshop and submit a final DTIS to the RSS and UNDP.
Travel
The Team leader is expected to travel to South Sudan at least three times during course of the assignment: in the context of the pre-DTIS and main missions, and to facilitate the validation workshop.
Implementation and monitoring arrangement
UNDP South Sudan through its office in Juba will be responsible for supervising, facilitating and monitoring the work of the Team Leader. UNDP South Sudan and M Commerce, Industry and Investment MoCII will also review the draft reports, provide comments, and prepare the Consultative and Validation Workshop in Juba, South Sudan.
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Competencies | |
Functional Competencies:
Corporate competencies
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Required Skills and Experience | |
Education
Experience
Language Requirements:
FC: 30000.
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UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=35753
Team Leader - South Sudan Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS)
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