Regional Value Chain Expert Full Time NEW

1. General information

1. Context and justification of the need

The ECOTRADE Project is a four-year initiative (2025–2029) funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France. It supports Ethiopia’s implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with a focus on strengthening institutional capacity, promoting private-sector-led regional value chains, and supporting knowledge systems.

The rationale behind the Project and its focus on supporting the implementation of the AfCFTA in Ethiopia with a focus on the private-led value chain development (VCD) approach is based on the following elements:

• Ethiopia, with the fastest-growing youth population, stands to benefit the most if the country implements trade facilitation measures that cuts red tape and simplifies customs procedures for the private sector. Nevertheless, it requires expertise in various areas to guide policymakers and chain actors in the implementation of the AfCFTA.
• In countries such as Ethiopia, which are affected by fragility and conflict, the private sector plays a critical role in providing jobs, income, and stability. Hence, providing technical support to private sector players to build their internal capacity to start trading across borders, or increase their trade volumes, or/and geographical coverage is paramount and must take centre stage.
• The Private Sector will need to be capacitated to increase their readiness across various strategic sectors to take advantage of new opportunities unfolding under the new single market that the AfCFTA creates.
• The promotion of value chains is a complex challenge within the realm of private sector development and beyond; therefore, the potential of such interventions for local economic development and poverty reduction through trade in value added and RVCs is significant.
• Promoting value chain development is increasingly being recognized as a promising approach to address not only economic development, decent job creation, equitable and inclusive growth, but a wider range of social and environmental development issues, thus able to legitimise stronger efforts to support private sector development.
• Increasing openness to AfCFTA will lead to higher competitive pressure on regional but also on Ethiopian domestic markets. This regional integration, where production and trade relationships are nowadays much more coordinated, leaves less space for individual firms and small enterprises to design, produce, and market on their own. Thus, it is important to understand how to integrate in value chains in a way that allows for incorporation of a growing number of the workforce and increasing levels of productivity and incomes for SMEs and women-led businesses.

The Project currently has five (5) Strategic Objectives (SOs).

• Specific Objective 1: The private sector is actively engaged alongside the government to support the AfCFTA’s successful implementation

   

• Specific Objective 2: Regional value chains are integrated, and trade/transport connectivity is facilitated with a focus on increasing women’s participation in commercial and logistics processes

• Specific Objective 3: Relevant authorities in the implementation of the AfCFTA are supported

• Specific Objective 4: Academic institutions and research institutions are supported

• Specific Objective 5: Enhance Ethiopia’s readiness to implement the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol

In line with the above, the ECOTRADE Project is seeking to engage the services of Regional Value Chains Experts within a Framework Agreement to support with the structuring and implementation of interventions related to the thematic area of Regional value chain integration and trade/transport facilitation with a focus on increasing women’s participation in commercial and logistics processes.

1. Objectives and desired results

General Objective
To enhance regional value chain integration and trade facilitation through targeted technical assistance, thereby ensuring the active implementation of activities that drive economic growth and improve participation, particularly of women, in the commercial and logistics sectors.

Specific Objectives

1. Promote Regional Value Chain Integration

• Enhance regional supply chain integration, focusing on priority sectors for Ethiopia.
  • Conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing regional supply chains.
    • Develop a strategy aligned with the National Import Substitution Strategy to facilitate local sourcing.
    • Provide technical assistance to Customs Authorities to minimize non-tariff barriers and adopt paperless trade practices.

2. Strengthen Women’s Participation in Commercial Processes

• Increase women’s involvement in logistics and trade through targeted initiatives.
  • Implement training programs specifically for women-led enterprises in agricultural value chains.
    • Facilitate access to financing for women entrepreneurs through grant initiatives.

3. Enhance Trade Promotion for AfCFTA Markets

• Strengthen trade promotion strategies targeting competitive Ethiopian products in African markets.
  • Identify high-potential subsectors/products through collaboration with trade promotion organizations.
    • Create an online platform (National Export Promotion Web-Portal) to connect Ethiopian businesses with African markets, focusing on SMEs.
    • Advocate for public-private partnerships to develop essential trade infrastructure and collect stakeholder feedback on AfCFTA implementation.

4. Build Capacity in Public and Private Sectors

• Support capacity building through training and resource development to implement AfCFTA effectively.
  • Organize hands-on workshops and training programs for SMEs and women-led businesses.
    • Develop practical tools and resources to aid in compliance with AfCFTA standards.

5. Facilitate Public-Private Dialogues

• Strengthen the engagement between public and private sectors for successful AfCFTA execution.
  • Diagnose the capacity of both sectors to engage in AfCFTA implementation.
    • Coordinate workshops that promote exchanges and collaboration between stakeholders.

6. Monitor and Evaluate Project Impact

• Establish an effective monitoring and evaluation framework to assess project performance.
  • Develop and structure the project’s M&E framework.
    • Support the Project Team in documentation and knowledge management to foster continuous learning and improvement.

7. Stakeholder Engagement

Engage relevant stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle to ensure their input, support, and active participation.

• Identify and prioritize key stakeholders to enhance collaboration.
• Facilitate regular communication and information sharing to build trust and align objectives.

1. Description of the assignment

The service provider must provide this service in line with the agreed procedure and timelines of Expertise France:

Methodology and Tasks

• Review relevant project documents (to be shared once contracted)
• Participate in an Inception Meeting with the ECOTRADE team and other stakeholders to define expectations
• Ensure consistency with Expertise France and EU implementation guidelines.
• Hold intermittent meetings with ECOTRADE, where required, to track progress of work

1. Anticipated deliverables

Note:

1. The above Deliverables are indicative.
   1. Specific Deliverables with actual deadlines will be indicated in respective Purchase Orders that will be issued for each assignment under this Framework Agreement.
      1. All deliverables must be submitted in English and follow the EU’s standard format for project documents (templates will be shared).

          

2. Coordination

The expert will work under the direct supervision of an assigned official from the ECOTRADE Project.

Coordination with specific stakeholders may be required.

1. Place, duration and terms of performance
   1. Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (with possible remote options)
   2. Implementation period: Indicative start date for April 2026. Specific work periods will be indicated in respective Purchase Orders to be issued

Required expertise and profile

1. Number of experts per assignment: 2 Individual Consultants

   Please note: each Consultant will be recruited separately and will be assigned specific tasks (within the framework of this assignment) by the issuance of Purchase Orders.

2. Profile of the designated experts responsible for contract execution

Qualifications and skills:

• Advanced degree in International Trade, Economics, Business, or a related field.
• Previous experience working with partners and donor organizations.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in regional value chain development
• Proven track record in conducting assessments of regional supply chains, particularly in priority sectors related to AfCFTA.
• Experience in designing and implementing training programs and improvement plans for agricultural value chains, with a focus on empowering women-led enterprises
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and report-writing skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in English is required; knowledge of Amharic is an asset.