This position is open to individuals with the legal right to work in Côte d’Ivoire.
Job Summary
TradeMark Africa (TMA) is entering a new programme on the Abidjan – Lagos corridor and the Abidjan – Ouagadougou corridors (GGSP-CALAO) in consortium with two agencies from EU member states. TMA is therefore looking to recruit a Programme Manager. S/he will be responsible for the overall management and delivery of TMA’s EU-funded corridor programme GGSP-CALAO, which focuses on the Abidjan-Lagos and Abidjan-Ouagadougou corridors, and will lead and manage the design and implementation of all projects, within Cote D’Ivoire country programme, which support to trade policy, facilitation, customs and integrated corridor management. The role includes project cycle management, donor compliance (with an emphasis on EU funding rules and procedures), and technical leadership in trade facilitation, particularly in customs and customs systems. S/he will serve as the Lead for TMA’s Côte d’Ivoire programme, ensuring alignment and synergies with other TMA programmes in West Africa.
Roles and responsibilities
Programme and Project Management
• Lead the inception, planning, and implementation of the GGSP-CALAO programme, ensuring alignment with the Description of Action (submitted to the EU), TMA’s Corporate Strategy 3 and Results Framework.
• Support the Country Programme to formulate and implement trade facilitation interventions in line with the approved activities within the country programme’s strategy and flagship programmes such as EU, among others.
• As the project lead, the programme manager will be responsible for all aspects of PCM, from design to project oversight, to M&E and contract management and will be the primary person accountable for project implementation for projects in the trade portfolio to drive both expenditure and results. It’s important that the PM follow best practice in line with TMA’s PCM guidelines and meets all specific compliance requirements of different donors.
• An important aspect of this work will be stakeholder engagement both within TMA, including country teams, Programme Delivery Hub (finance, procurement, results), communications and impact, as well as external stakeholders related to the projects, including implementing partners and donors.
• Manage projects to ensure that results and indicators are appropriate, that progress is being made against agreed results, projects are properly structured and adequately resourced, projects are completed on time and within budget and that work is delivered to a technical standard that fully meets requirements.
• Support the Country Programme in managing the Innovations and Ideation of the next generation concepts in trade facilitation, incubating them, and translating them to implementable and practical solutions in addressing trade regulatory and policy challenges in the trade and business environment.
• Work closely with the knowledge and results team to develop quarterly and annual reports on the Management information System (MIS) and timely submission of reports to key donors, in line with the set expectation(s) and templates.
• Ensure compliance with grant management procedures and guidelines including appraisal, selection, implementation, reporting and closure.
• Lead and manage trade facilitation projects in collaboration with the regional Trade Environment Team; and align Trade Facilitation priorities globally, at continental, regional and national levels.
• Oversee all aspects of the project cycle (design, budgeting, procurement, contracting, reporting, and closure) with a strong focus on compliance with EU funding requirements.
• Assume strong coordination with the other consortia members in the GGSP-CALAO programme. • Coordinate with technical leads and partners to ensure trade facilitation measures, including customs reforms and digital customs systems, are effectively implemented.
• Prepare and submit high-quality narrative and financial reports to the EU in conjunction with the other consortia members on time, and support requirements for other donors with the regional teams.
• Conduct results-oriented monitoring, risk management, and evaluations of programme interventions.
Strategic Partnerships and Representation
• Serve as the primary contact point for the EU on GGSP-CALAO programme matters, ensuring strong communication and reporting.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Trade, customs authorities, ECOWAS Commission, UEMOA, and other key regional and national stakeholders.
• Engage with the private sector and civil society to foster trade facilitation and regional integration.
• Represent TMA in relevant forums, working groups, and conferences on trade facilitation and customs modernisation.
Côte d’Ivoire Programme Leadership
• Provide overall leadership for TMA’s programme in Côte d’Ivoire, ensuring coordination with other corridor and national projects.
• Identify synergies with other TMA initiatives in West Africa to maximise impact.
• Support fundraising efforts and the development of concept notes and proposals for additional funding.
• Act as the primary liaison between the Côte d’Ivoire office, the West Africa team, and HQ teams, ensuring timely updates on programme status, risks, and opportunities.
• Collaborate with technical specialists and HQ to ensure that GGSP-CALAO’s trade facilitation and customs activities are integrated into broader TMA initiatives.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
• Ensure that the GGSP-CALAO programme adheres to best practices in monitoring, learning, and evaluation.
• Document and disseminate lessons learned on trade facilitation, customs reforms, and donor-funded programme delivery.
• Provide regular analytical reports on the performance of trade corridors and customs systems.
Teamwork and Communication for Impact
• Work closely with TMA technical teams (trade facilitation, customs, infrastructure, monitoring and evaluation, results/impact) and HQ departments to ensure technical excellence, alignment with corporate strategy, and effective programme delivery.
• Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across TMA’s West Africa teams to maximise programme synergies and cross-learning.
• Lead the preparation of impactful communication materials (progress reports, success stories, presentations) highlighting results and lessons learned to enhance TMA’s visibility with the EU and other donors.
Academic and professional qualifications
• An undergraduate or postgraduate degree in International Trade, Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, or a related field.
• Professional certifications in project management (e.g., PRINCE2, PMP) are an advantage.
Work experience
• For undergraduate degree holders at least 10 years and postgraduate at least 8 years of progressive experience in managing large, complex donor-funded programmes, including EU-funded projects.
• Minimum of three years of management experience is mandatory.
• Proven track record in trade facilitation, customs, and customs management systems reform.
• Experience working with regional organisations (e.g., ECOWAS, UEMOA) and national trade or customs authorities.
• Demonstrated success in donor relationship management.
Fluency in English and French is required for this role.
TradeMark Africa (TMA), formerly TradeMark East Africa), is an Aid-for-Trade organisation that was established in 2010, with the aim of growing prosperity through increased trade. TMA operates on a not-for-profit basis and is funded by: Belgium, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. TMA works closely with regional intergovernmental organisations, including the African Union (AU), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the East Africa Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), national Governments, the private sector and civil society organisations.
