Trade Index Specialist

Job Description

KEY INFORMATION
Activity Reference number: 1311.1.3.1. 
Implementing Partner: Consultant  
Location: Remote, with focus on Mozambique 
Duration: February 23 - May 30, 2026  
Reporting line: FIRST Team Leader  

1. Background

The Facilitating Inclusive, Resilient, and Sustainable Trade (FIRST) Project is a five-year initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by Cowater International. FIRST aims to strengthen the enabling environment for cross-border trade in the DRC, Zambia, and Mozambique. 
In this context, the FIRST Project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and other key stakeholders in Mozambique, seeks to design a Small-Scale Cross-Border Trade Index (SSCBTI). The Index will serve as a robust monitoring and policy tool to systematically measure and track the economic and social contributions of small-scale cross-border trade, with a strong focus on gender equality, youth participation, and disability inclusion. 

To support this work, the FIRST Project is seeking a qualified consultant to design a methodological framework for the SSCBTI in Mozambique. The Index will enable the systematic monitoring, quantification, and valuation of SSCBT, thereby strengthening evidence-based and inclusive policymaking. 

2. Purpose of the Assignment

The overall objective of the assignment is to design a robust, sustainable, and policy-relevant methodological framework for the SSCBTI in Mozambique, ensuring that the Index is: 

• Technically sound and politically useful for the National Directorate for International Trade and the Ministry of Economy;
• Embedded within existing institutional structures, with clear routines for regular updating and continuous analysis; and
• Integrates gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) across all dimensions of monitoring and analysis.

3. The Consultant will undertake the following tasks

3.1 Desk Review and Institutional Diagnosis

• Review relevant literature, regional experiences, and good practices in trade measurement and index development, including initiatives under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Southern African Development Community (SADC), other Regional Economic Communities, and the AfCFTA;
• Review existing national data sources and systems related to cross-border trade;
• Assess the technical, institutional, and technological capacity of the DNCE to manage and regularly update the Index.

3.2 Consultations and Stakeholder Engagement

• Conduct targeted technical consultations with the Ministry of Economy, Mozambique Tax Authority, National Institute of Statistics (INE), border agencies, private sector representatives, and development partners;
• Capture the perspectives of small-scale cross-border traders, with particular attention to women, youth, and persons with disabilities;
• Conduct interviews with trader associations and cross-border trade networks, through a GEDSI lens.

3.3 Design of the Methodological Framework

• Propose a conceptual framework for the SSCBTI, including objectives, structure, and methodology;
• Develop a set of core indicators reflecting economic, social, and inclusion dimensions;
• Recommend data sources, collection methods, and institutional arrangements;
• Define calculation formulas, weightings, and data collection periodicity;
• Propose an institutional workflow and allocation of responsibilities across entities;
• Design digital tools for updating, analysis, and dissemination, including potential integration with Power BI and the DNCE online data repository.

3.4 Validation and Institutional Ownership

• Facilitate a technical validation workshop with key stakeholders;
• Incorporate feedback and prepare an implementation and pilot plan;
• Propose a strategy for institutionalisation and regular (e.g. quarterly) updating of the SSCBTI;
• Finalise the SSCBTI methodological framework.

4. Deliverables

The consultant will produce a country-specific Small-Scale Cross-Border Trade Index for Mozambique, designed as a practical, policy-relevant, and institutionally anchored tool to support the systematic monitoring, quantification, and analysis of small-scale cross-border trade. 

The final deliverable will include a validated SSCBTI methodological framework, including the conceptual model, indicator set, data sources, formulas, and weighting structure. The SSCBTI will be designed to support evidence-based policymaking and dialogue, with explicit attention to gender equality, youth participation, and disability inclusion, and to enable regular updating and use by national institutions beyond the life of the FIRST Project. 

Note: Payment will be linked to the satisfactory delivery of agreed outputs, as confirmed by the FIRST Project Team Leader.

The Consultant will maintain regular coordination with the FIRST Country Coordinator (Mozambique) to ensure timely delivery of high-quality outputs .

5. Qualifications

The Consultant should meet the following criteria: 

• Advanced degree in statistics, economics, econometrics, or a closely related quantitative discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of demonstrated experience in designing indices, composite indicators, or methodological frameworks for policy or institutional use, preferably in trade, economic development, or public-sector contexts.
• Demonstrated experience integrating gender equality, disability, and social inclusion considerations into data systems, indicators, or analytical frameworks, including the use of disaggregated data and inclusive measurement approaches.
• Experience working with trade, customs, border, or regional integration data.
• Proven proficiency in data analysis and visualisation tools (e.g. Power BI, SPSS, Stata, R).
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and policy-oriented report-writing skills.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English is required.
• Strong familiarity with Mozambique’s domestic, regional and AfCFTA trade context is an advantage.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Candidates are encouraged to apply by Friday, February 06, 2026. For your application to be considered, please send the following in one PDF:  

• CV
• Cover Letter
• Brief Methodology (maximum two pages) describing how you will deliver the assignment
• Financial Proposal

  For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as follows: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.

About the Organization

ABOUT US
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies since 2017.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.