Individual Consultant: Project on Strengthening Women and Youth Participation in Cross-border Trade

Job Description

Introduction

AGRA invites individual consultants to submit proposals offering Regional Coordination Expertise for the ECOWAS-AGRA project on Strengthening Women’s and Youth Participation in Cross-border Trade. This document outlines the requirements and guidelines for submitting proposals.

Background

AGRA is a not-for-profit organization working with African governments, other donors, NGOs, the private sector, and farmers to improve the productivity and incomes of resource-poor smallholder farmers in Africa. AGRA aims to catalyze an inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa by increasing incomes and improving food security for millions of smallholder farmers. For more information about AGRA, please visit www.agra.org.

Trade and market integration are at the heart of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aims and objectives. Article 3 of the Revised Treaty of ECOWAS stipulates the removal of trade barriers and the harmonization of trade policies for the establishment of a Free Trade Area, a Customs Union, a Common Market, and the eventual culmination into a Monetary and Economic Union in West Africa.

To achieve these objectives, the ECOWAS Treaty identifies, among other things, under Article (3), the need to adopt measures for the ‘…integration of the private sectors particularly the creation of an enabling environment to promote small and medium scale enterprises’ of which women form a majority and also to ensure relation and flow of information among ‘women and youth organizations and socio-professional organization such as…businessmen and women…’ is ‘encouraged’ and ‘strengthened’.

Despite the ECOWAS Commission’s substantial efforts to promote regional integration and formalize trade liberalization within the community, persistent trade obstacles persist in West Africa. Some impediments to cross-border trading include (i) multiple checkpoints and lengthy procedures, (ii) high formalities costs at border posts, (iii) stigmatization of informal actors who are often treated as criminals, (iv) harassment by security officials, (v) limited knowledge of cross-border trade requirements and procedures, particularly among women and youth, and (vi) illegal fees charged along the corridors. Additionally, specific challenges affecting women and youth include limited access to education, training, and marketing skill development; low literacy levels that result in limited knowledge and understanding of rules and customs procedures; weak bargaining power; and exposure to violence and harassment at border crossings.

The ECOWAS Trade Commission, in partnership with AGRA, has co-created a project titled “Strengthening Women and Youth Participation in Cross-border Trade,” funded by the Mastercard Foundation. This project aims to improve trade facilitation measures and regional agricultural trade policies in ECOWAS countries by leveraging ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and the Regional Trade Facilitation Committee through digital NTBs elimination and reporting. It will benefit vulnerable trade actors, especially women and young entrepreneurs, who face various tariff and non-tariff barriers. The harmonization and enforcement of trade facilitation measures at the borders and in the corridors will reduce trade costs and delays in importing, exporting, and transiting foodstuffs. The objective is to contribute to reducing or eliminating bottlenecks to the free movement of agricultural products and to increase intra- regional trade, particularly among young people and women in West Africa. Additionally, policymakers will recognize the importance of reducing non-tariff measures and agree to regulatory convergence.

Objectives

The objective of the assignment is to support the ECOWAS Commission in coordinating the implementation of project activities.

Specifically, the assignment aims at the following:

• Project management, implementation and supervision.
• Development and planning of project activities.
• Organizational coordination among ECOWAS, AGRA, and stakeholders, as well as management of resources allocated to the PMU.
• Dialogue, information management and communication with the stakeholders

Scope of Work

The Regional Project Coordinator (Consultant) will oversee project implementation, ensuring strengthened participation of women and youth in cross-border trade. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for managing overall project activities, implementing management systems, and coordinating tasks and responsibilities. In this regard, he/she must make appropriate arrangements for the operation of the PMU, as well as ensure the proper and timely implementation of the project within the limits of the approved operating time and budget, in accordance with AGRA procedures. The detailed scope includes:

• Project Implementation: Develop and execute work plans to ensure timely and budget-compliant delivery.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Coordinate with ECOWAS, AGRA, and key partners to drive collaboration and policy dialogue.
• Policy & Trade Facilitation Analysis: Conduct research on NTBs, develop policy briefs, and support regulatory harmonization.
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Implement an M&E framework, track performance, and submit periodic progress reports.
• BIC Operationalization: Support the establishment and functioning of Border Information Centers (BICs).
• Advocacy & Policy Reform: Engage policymakers to promote trade facilitation and NTB elimination.
• Technical Assistance: Support selected Member States in adopting trade policies to eliminate obstacles for small-scale traders.

Location and nature of the assignment

The Regional Project Coordinator will be based at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja – Nigeria.

Duration

The contract duration shall be for a period of 24 months, covering the entire project life cycle.

Responsibilities

Regional Project Coordinator (Consultant)

Specifically, the Project Coordinator (Consultant) is expected to provide support in the following areas:

• Develop and supervise project planning and ensure effective implementation of all activities;
• Ensure technical coordination of project activities with other partners and involved structures;
• Coordinate the preparation of terms of reference for project needs;
• Coordinate quality control of project reports, studies, documents and reported outputs and outcomes;
• Prepare the Annual Work Plan for PMU aligned with the project implementation plan;
• Prepare periodic (monthly, quarterly and annually) project progress reports and ensure their timely submission in line with AGRA guidelines;
• The Project Coordinator will work closely with the M&E Experts of ECOWAS and AGRA to track, record and report on the project’s key performance indicators, outputs and outcomes.
• Engage with stakeholders, including WACTAF, AGRA, regional trade actors, and policymakers, to ensure the coordinated implementation of the project.

Qualifications and Experience

Requirements for the qualifications, expertise, and experience of the consultant.

Academic qualifications

• Must have an advanced university degree in International Trade, Economics, Business administration, Development Studies, InternationalRelations/Law, or a related fields;

Experience of the consultant in similar assignments

• The Coordinator should have at least five (5) years of proven experience in International Trade and Trade Facilitation, regional integration, International Development/Relations/Law, or related areas in the ECOWAS region.
• Experience working with the ECOWAS Commission and international organizations working in trade
• A strong ability to bring different stakeholders from different backgrounds together.
• Management experience, excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to organise, convene, coordinate, and work in a cross-sector, Multi- disciplinary and multi-cultural environment.
• Fluency in English and French in both oral and written.

Proposal Submission Instructions

Proposals shall be submitted electronically through our Oracle system by the deadline indicated in the system.

All communications regarding the RFP should be directed to procurement@agr.org.

DEADLINE: APRIL 28, 2025

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