Job Title: Trade Expansion Expert
Project Stage: Proposal
Reports to: Technical Director/ Objective 1 Lead
Location: Kathmandu
Date: May 2024

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

JAA is seeking a Trade Expansion Expert for an anticipated economic growth activity in Nepal. The activity will help accelerate a transition from subsistence farming to diversified commercial farming in Nepal. The activity will enhance farm productivity and increase market competitiveness through a market systems approach to strengthening the agriculture ecosystem. This will lay the basis for inclusive economic growth and contribute to the Government of Nepal’s (GoN) “Agriculture Development Strategy – 2015-2035” by advancing governance, productivity, competitiveness, and profitable commercialization. The activity will build strategic partnerships with the government at all three tiers (local, regional, national) to build capacity to replication business models and best practices that promote agricultural transformation, which is a central goal of the GoN’s agricultural development agenda. The program is anticipated to start in 2024.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Trade Expansion Expert (TEE) will lead and support SME trade access and development efforts. The TEE will analyze existing trade policy, share best policy practices on identifying and collecting gender-disaggregated data to study the effects on, benefits to, and level of participation of women in international trade, as well as the corresponding formulation of evidence-based trade policies. The TEE will also provide capacity building to SME policymakers and relevant ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in developing gender-responsive trade policies, from policy planning to monitoring and evaluation (MEL), through hands-on policy workshops to increase women and SMEs’ participation in international trade. The TEE will work directly with the Technical Director/Objective 1 Lead. and will collaborate with the MEL staff and other project staff. The position will have a focus on South Asian markets, especially India.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to the project team, partners, and stakeholders on all aspects of trade policy and implementation.
• Design and deliver workshops to exchange international best practices in trade policy and innovative approaches to increasing the participation of women and SMEs in trade. This should include an overview of international trends in gender provisions in trade agreements. Participants should include MDAs responsible for SME development, export promotion agencies, women-focused business associations, finance ministries, and any other relevant stakeholders.
• Design and deliver workshops to strengthen the capacity of trade and SME policymakers to develop gender-responsive trade policies. The workshop will include practical training in applying an organizational capacity assessment tool and performance improvement plan. Gender equality, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability considerations should be integrated throughout the planning, content development, and delivery of the workshops.
• Contribute to the implementation of project monitoring and evaluation plans to ensure project performance is tracked and reported accurately.
• Analyze existing trade policy for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and constraints and work with the COP to develop a trade expansion strategy that aligns with the GoN and the project’s goals and objectives around trade.
• Work with the Market & Export Development Manager to take a market systems approach to identifying trade regulatory constraints and design market entry strategies for old and new markets, products and services; and assess and analyze trade opportunities.
• Assist local entrepreneurs in identifying and attracting foreign and local investment and create market linkages.
• ·       Support the COP in managing relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, donors, and other partners.
• Ensure compliance with all project policies, procedures, and guidelines, as well as donor regulations and requirements.
• Contribute to annual work plans and quarterly updates. Work plans will identify tasks and contributions (including specific deliverables) for each task, and timelines (work schedule) to carry out all activities and prepare all deliverables.
• Develop action plans that identify and plan next steps for each activity/contribution as informed by ongoing progress under the activity.
• Assist in evaluating the performance of program activities and prepare regular progress reports detailing program results against strategic objectives and intermediate result indicators.
• Represent the project in meetings and events, as required.

REPORTING:

The TEE will work under the direct supervision of the Technical Director/Objective 1 Lead.

The TEE will be based in Kathmandu, Nepal with possible travel throughout the country. The position is open to Nepali nationals only, or Nepali nationals with dual citizenship.