Global Trade Programme Adviser Full-Time

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Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

On 25 November 2015, the Chancellor announced a new cross-Whitehall Prosperity Fund with the primary aim of supporting growth in recipient countries.  This came into effect on 1 April 2016 and South Africa has been identified as a priority partner country for the Fund. During her visit in August 2018, Prime Minister Theresa May announced up to £50 million of programming for South Africa and the region.

The Global Trade Programme (GTP) is the largest in the Prosperity Fund portfolio, based on the premise that supporting global trade is a good thing both for developing economies, where it can reduce poverty through economic development, promote inclusive growth and contribute to mutual prosperity. This is why one of the most politically important programmes to us here in Southern Africa, and a flagship of the GTP, is an £8 million (scalable to £20 million) Trade Capacity Building Programme for the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and Mozambique designed to address non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade in the region. In addition, these six countries make up the bloc with whom the UK will replicate the existing European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) when we leave the EU in October 2019. It is therefore a shared goal that we complete that replication in time, and that we support the full implementation of the existing EPA given we will inherit something that resembles it almost identically once that replication is complete.

An implementing partner has been appointed, managed from Pretoria where the Prosperity Fund team with responsibility for Southern Africa is based.  Two other roles, identical to this one, have been recruited in Windhoek and Gaborone. This role will sit in Maputo as part of the front line delivery of the programme, ensuring it is effectively implemented in-country.

The British High Commission in Maputo is therefore preparing for this challenge and is seeking a Locally-Engaged C4(L) Global Trade Programme Adviser to be responsible for engaging consistently and in-depth with the local stakeholders at senior level about the programme of assistance and the EPA process. In addition, the post holder will support the Mozambican Trade Ministry in generating progress towards EPA replication, and while they will not form part of the programme management structure, they will act as the front line eyes and ears on the implementation of the technical assistance programme so that it quickly addresses problems in this key organisation.  They will provide policy advice to London and the Global Trade Programme Manager in Pretoria, and our implementing partner, to shape the programme effectively.

Roles and responsibilities:

Leading on all in-country coordination and engagement with partners in the Government of Mozambique, to build and maintain government support for the programme, alignment of activities to national development priorities, and to identify opportunities for further partnership and cooperation to deliver on the objectives of the Prosperity Fund and the Global Trade Programme. In addition, to provide in-country support to facilitate Mozambique’s full participation in the future trading arrangement governing trade between the UK and Mozambique.

This means:

• 50% deploying excellent strategic programme delivery skills to work with Mozambican government partners, private sector stakeholders and the GTP Programme Manager to support timely, and sustainable programme trade facilitation interventions that promote gender inclusivity wherever possible. This will be achieved through: acting as the principle adviser to the Mozambican government, thinking strategically from a programme beneficiary (incl country) perspective, to ensure delivery activities are aligned; liaising regularly on relevant policy and programming issues with government and other in-country stakeholders; chairing a National Steering Committee with multiple stakeholders to steer and monitor delivery and implementation progress; regular horizon scanning to identify potential risks to the programme and opportunities for innovative ways to add additional value; ensuring value for money (vfm) in programme activities and spend through ongoing monitoring and reporting;
• 30% supporting the effective leadership and coordination of EPA replication discussions by the Trade Ministry of Mozambique in order to minimise disruption to trade by ensuring completion of the EPA replication process by October 2019. This will be achieved by timely and proactive engagement with the relevant Mozambican Ministries and delegation attending the talks, and collaborative working to understand and reduce the burden to them of their central role in this work as far as possible. Upon arrival at an agreement, the post holder will continue to provide technical expertise to the Mozambican government to facilitate its effective implementation;
• 20% supporting broader prosperity, political, and corporate work within this small Post, as a senior member of the team under the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner. This will be achieved by gaining a broad understanding of the UK’s whole of government prosperity work with Mozambique, our programme work in the region and in country, including that led from Pretoria, and identification and exploitation of opportunities to drive value for money;
• You will also be expected to act as a gender champion in your role, ensuring Gender Equality Act (2014) compliance and supporting the implementation of gender policy and guidance so that, at the least, no harm is done and gender inequality is not worsened. You will actively support PF and GTP ambitions on women’s economic opportunities, inclusive growth and poverty reduction through your department / team.

Learning and Development

The FCO aims to provide all staff with equality of opportunity in all aspects of their work and draw on the talent of all of staff from diverse backgrounds in the UK and overseas. We place a strong emphasis on learning and development. You will be encouraged to undertake developmental training and get involved in corporate activities. This role provides an excellent opportunity to build up programme knowledge and expertise and gain exposure to working across government.  You will have access to existing and new Project & Programme Management L&D as well as wider job-relevant L&D and support for your own personal development.

Travel

Please note, there will be in-country and may be occasional regional and London-based travel involved in this role.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Excellent knowledge of trade facilitation/ trade policy/ trade capacity building work;
• Excellent knowledge of the above in specific relation to Mozambique;
• Experience of working with government and/or the private sector in the Mozambique.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience.

• Understanding of the wider policy framework in which trade in SACU+M is governed;
• Experience of working with or in a Government.

Required competencies

Seeing the Big Picture, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Engaging Internationally

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The job will be part of front line delivery rather than programme management, so provides an excellent opportunity to acquire and/or deepen skills in policy formulation and programme delivery, as well as exposing the post-holder to a broad array of Whitehall Departments on an agenda of increasing importance as we move towards Brexit.

You will have access to required L&D available delivered from Pretoria’s Regional Learning and Development Centre and in-country.

Additional information

This contract position ends on the 31st of March 2021 with possibility of renewable subject to funding.

• Please complete the application form in full. Failure to do so may result in a determination that you do not meet the requirements for the position;
• Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Maputo are subject to the Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Mozambique;
• All applicants must be legally able to work in Mozambique with the correct visa/status or work permit;
• Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount;
• Reference and security clearances checks will be conducted;
• Any questions you may have about this position will be answered during the interview, should you be invited;
• Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework;
• Successful candidates not resident in Mozambique will be personally liable for costs and arrangements to relocate;
• Check your application and attachments before you submit your application, as you will not be able to make any changes once submitted;
• The British High Commission will never ask you to pay a fee or money to apply for a position.