Title: ECOWAS Quality Infrastructure & Sanitary and Phytosanitary Expert
โโRequisition ID: 6284
Grade: ISA-P3
Country: Nigeria
Duty Station: Abuja
Category: International Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 1 year (with the possibility of extension)
Application Deadline: 07-Oct-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)
Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDOโs mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to โBuild resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovationโ. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organizationโs programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.
Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDOโs four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.
The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.
The Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) works towards increasing the competitiveness of industries in developing countries and countries in transition, especially emphasizing business development of MSMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein. It aims at increasing competitiveness among MSMEs in two interconnected ways: first, by modernizing businesses through the transfer of advanced technologies adapted to local conditions, product innovation, productivity improvement and upgrading, developing market and value chain readiness as well as improved access to finance; and second, by improving the quality of MSME manufactured products and their compliance with market requirements through capacity building for the development of industrial production and trade-related quality infrastructure including for standardization, metrology, accreditation and of conformity assessment service institutions (testing, certification, inspection and calibration) and the strengthening of their capacities.
PROGRAMME CONTEXT
ID 240104 - Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme โ ECOWAS
The EU-funded Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme, a Sub-Saharan African initiative aims at sustainably increasing intra-African and EU-Africa trade. In addition to a continental component, the programme comprises five regional components in the ECOWAS, COMESA, SADC, ECCAS and EAC regions, building on existing or previous regional programmes (WACOMP in West Africa, MARKUP in East Africa, PIQAC in Central Africa, RECAMP and SIPS in Southern Africa).
The programme is implemented jointly by UNIDO and the International Trade Centre (ITC). ITC is the joint technical cooperation agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO) in charge of the sustainable promotion of trade and exports from developing countries and economies in transition. The ITC aims to make micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries more competitive in global markets, accelerate economic development and contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, the organization contributes to creating jobs along product value chains and promising services sectors, especially for young people and women.
The overall focus of this four-year ATCMA ECOWAS Programme is to address market access challenges faced by selected value chains in the West Africa region and enhance their competitiveness, through two pillars:
Supporting countries to benefit from trade opportunities by enabling them to conform with standards and technical regulations, requiring quality infrastructure and conformity assessment services, as well as by streamlining regulatory and procedural frameworks at the regional and national levels. The programme will help the African countries to benefit from trade opportunities by being able to conform with standards and technical regulations, which requires establishing efficient testing, certification and accreditation mechanisms that conform to the requirements of the SPS and TBT agreements and benefit from international recognition. It will also strengthen governmental institutions in their capacity of creating a more conducive business environment for MSMEs.
Maximizing MSME export potential and access to new markets by overcoming constraints or developing enablers like value addition, and export capacities: In order to maximise MSMEs export potential and support them to enter new markets, the Programme will also address other market access constraints or enablers: enhance value addition and export capacities through marketing, labelling, branding strategies, sustainability and environmental issues, technology transfer and processing for export, business promotion through market linkages and capacitate trade and investment support institutions. Support will be provided both at institutional and policy level, as well as at private sector level, with a primary focus on selected key export-oriented regional priority value chains. Particular focus on intra-African exports as well as exports to the EU will be given, so regions can fully exploit their trade-driven growth potential, with a view to contribute to sustainable growth and jobs creation.
The programme is thematically structured into five components leading to 5 outputs as follows:
In relation to Specific Objective 1:
Output 1.1: Market access barriers identified and reduced
Output 1.2: Strengthened quality compliance and standards
Output 1.3: Value-chain revision mechanism facilitated
In relation to Specific Objective 2:
Output 2.1: Enhanced value addition and diversification
Output 2.2: Enhanced SME capacities and opportunities for business and export
While UNIDO is in charge of implementing output 1.2 and 2.1., ITC is responsible for the implementation of output 1.1, 1.3 and 2.2.
To ensure an overall coherent umbrella ATCMA framework, coordination and complementarity between the Continental component and sub-regional components will be ensured throughout the overall programme implementation.
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The Associate ECOWAS QI Expert will work under the overall guidance of the ECOWAS Regional Programme Coordinator, in collaboration with the UNIDO Industrial Development Officer (Programme Manager), MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation Division (TCS/SME) at UNIDO Headquarters, or his/her representative; in close collaboration with the UNIDO-ITC ATCMA Project team in Abuja. His/Her role will be to ensure the effective implementation of the QI component of the ECOWAS ATCMA Programme within the ECOWAS Commission and its alignment with ECOWAS policies and strategies.
The Expert will be responsible for the following Main tasks:
Policy Alignment and Strategic Planning
Support the alignment of ATCMA QI and SPS activities with ECOWAS regional policies and frameworks, including the ECOWAS Quality Policy (ECOQUAL), ECOWAS Regional Quality System and the ECOWAS Regional Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP). Assist the ECOWAS Regional Programme Coordinator, in technical coordination, reporting, and implementation support. Contribute to strengthening the functioning and visibility of the ECOWAS Quality Agency (ECOWAQ) through administrative and technical support. Participate in relevant ECOWAS technical committees and ensure QI and SPS activities contribute to regional trade facilitation.
Technical Implementation, Harmonization and Capacity Building
Assist in the implementation of ATCMA-supported QI and SPS interventions. Promote regional harmonization of standards and support Member States in implementing ECOQUAL and the Regional Quality System. Support the organization of capacity-building activities in collaboration with ECOWAS, national QI and SPS institutions, and the UNIDO Team. Support the operationalization of the ECOWAS Quality Agency.
Stakeholder Engagement, Knowledge Management and Reporting
Liaise with Member States, regional and national QI and SPS bodies, private sector actors, and development partners to ensure inclusive and coordinated implementation. Collect and analyze data on QI and SPS service capacity and contribute to ECOWAS monitoring efforts. Prepare technical briefs, knowledge products, and contributions to ECOWAS and UNIDO reporting.
Ad-hoc requests
Any other assignments related to a timely and effective implementation of the project as deemed necessary. A final report is to be provided at the end of each contractual period, covering the activities and the results of the assignment.
The tasks mentioned in the job description above will be implemented in accordance with the principles and guidelines of ECOWAS, UNIDO, ITC, and the EU, and in compliance with their respective communication and visibility requirements.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
Core Values
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.
WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.