Country Programme Development Consultant - Liberia

Result of ServiceThe assignment should be completed by latest 31 March 2026. 1. Inception report and workplan: Last week of February 2026 2. Draft PAM & Summary of stakeholder consultations: 1st Week of March 2026 3. Draft CPD (with annexes): Mid-March 2026 4. Final validated CPD: To be submitted latest by 31 March 2026 Work LocationHome-based (in Liberia) Expected durationASAP to 31.03.26 Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe International Trade Centre is implementing a technical assistance project in Liberia focusing on improving institutional capacities and partnership for enhanced trade integration. The project is funded by the Enhanced Integrated F ramework (EIF) Programme's Interim Facility. It has an overall goal of accelerating Liberia’s regional and continental trade integration for improved economic growth. It has the main objective of improving trade policy and development support services and partnership for enhanced trade integration. Specifically, the project aims to improve and create conducive trade environment and partnership for inclusive and enhanced trade integration by: reinvigorating the capacity of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and related sector institutions to improve the aid for trade national implementation arrangements, with a specific emphasis on reigniting the Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU); raising awareness and building capacity to facilitate Liberia’s participation and implementation of the AfCFTA; fostering increased partnership among key stakeholders, including development partners to mobilize resources for Liberia’s trade development and integration. The main government partner for the project is the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI). As part of the implementation, the project supports the development of a Country Programme Document (CPD) for Liberia that will facilitate development support to the country through the new EIF Phase Three Programme. The CPD will serve as a nationally owned, up to five-year strategic framework that identifies Liberia’s trade and investment priorities, proposed interventions, and implementation arrangements, aligned with national development strategies. The CPD will be co-created with the ITC and EIF partnership as a national priority trade programme — serving first and foremost as a platform to engage all partners, coordinate and mobilize resources, and as a catalytic vehicle for accessing EIF funding. It is anchored in the national Prioritized Action Matrix (PAM) on trade- and investment-related technical assistance, which provides the baseline for partner alignment, sequencing, and progress measurement, while also acting as a lever to mobilize broader Aid for Trade resources. To facilitate the formulation of the CPD, the ITC in collaboration with the MoCI is requiring the services of an experienced country programme development consultant to facilitate consultations, coordinate technical inputs, and draft the CPD and its annexes in line with EIF Phase 3 guidelines. Objective of the Assignment The objective of this consultancy is to support the preparation of a high-quality, evidence-based and nationally endorsed CPD that: • Reflects Liberia’s trade and investment priorities; • Is anchored in the Prioritized Action Matrix (PAM) and aligned with EIF Phase Three guidelines; and • Serves as a strategic framework for partner engagement and resource mobilization. Description of Duties/Responsibilities Under the direct supervision the National EIF Focal Point and Programme Manager, working closely with the relevant CPD development committees established under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of and other relevant sector institutions of Liberia, The Executive Secretariat of the EIF Programme and the EIF Trust Fund Manager (TFM), the consultant will perform the following tasks: 1. Review and Analysis • Conduct desk research, stakeholder consultation and thorough diagnostics to compile information on the country context of Liberia, including trade and investment diagnostics. This will include reviewing and analysing Liberia’s National Development Plan, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, as well as other national development frameworks (Vision 2030 strategies, plans and investment and trade policies/strategies), existing up-to-date trade diagnostic and sectoral studies and analyses, and lessons from past EIF support programmes. • Analyse and identify institutional, policy and implementation gaps; and Liberia’s absorptive capacity for development support, institutional readiness and resource-leveraging potential. • Map ongoing and planned trade and investment-related initiatives to inform the PAM. 2. Stakeholder Consultations • Support the design and facilitation of consultative meetings and workshops with key stakeholders (government, private sector, development partners, and civil society). • Liaising with the MoCI, facilitate and moderate an inclusive consultation with public, private sector, civil society, non-governmental organizations, academia, civil society, women and youth groups (especially those in cross-border trade), persons with disabilities (PWDs) and development partners to prioritize trade and investment needs. • Through facilitating stakeholders’ engagement, undertake a thorough mapping of national priorities, institutional gaps, challenges and opportunities, as well as private sector needs for inclusion in the CPD. • Document key outcomes and build consensus on priority areas and PAM actions. • Ensure consultations feed directly into the draft CPD structure and content 3. Drafting of the CPD and PAM • Based on the analysis and information compiled through the diagnostics and stakeholder consultation process, draft a six-year Country Programme Document for Liberia in line with the EIF Phase Three CPD Template, ensuring the PAM is clearly developed and integrated as the central programming tool, and covering the following key areas of content as per the EIF Phase Three guidelines: - Context and rational - Modular strategy - Results and monitoring framework - Institutional arrangements - Proposed staffing - Leveraging plan - Partnerships, communications and resource mobilisation - Sustainability and exit strategy The CPD should clearly: - identify and prioritise Liberia’s development needs and sector priorities; - reflect the country’s absorptive capacity and leveraging potential; - provide a logical sequencing of reforms and capacity building needs based on Liberia’s readiness and institutional strength, taking into consideration or anticipating flexibility and adjustments that may be made during implementation; - identify and ensure solid synergies with existing and any pipeline /expected development initiatives supported by other development partners; - prioritise cost-effectiveness and alignment with national development strategies and other Aid for Trade initiatives; - review, incorporate and/or align with priorities of regional or thematic projects by the EIF Partner Agencies and other partners; - incorporate solutions that address common LDC challenges and joint approaches to regional and thematic issues; and - ensure the inclusion of a solid sustainability pathways. • Working closely with the MoCI, the consultant will ensure that the CPD is well aligned with the EIF Phase Three objectives. • Liaises closely with the Executive Secretariat and the TFM to obtain technical guidance and country-tailored support, pertaining to but not limited to cost structuring, fiduciary standards and budget realism that would be incorporated into the CPD. • Develop and populate the required annexes (effective and measurable logical framework, budget, risk matrix, stakeholder summary etc.). • Incorporate comments from the NIU, EIF Executive Secretariat (ES), and Trust Fund Manager (TFM). • Finalize the CPD for endorsement through a national validation workshop/meeting. • Presents the CPD and moderate a stakeholders’ validation process of the document Copyright Clause: The consultant has to ensure that she has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind. Qualifications/special skills• Postgraduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA, PHD or other) • Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in development, economics, public administration, management, business, political science and economy; and related fields. Note: A first-level university degree in similar fields may be accepted with an additional two years of relevant professional work experience. Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. • A minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience in development programmes, development and country planning; trade and development policy, project formulation, or Aid for Trade programming. Other Experience: • Proven experience in development and multi-stakeholder coordination, partnership development as well as in planning, monitoring and reporting of development programmes. • Familiarity with EIF processes, LDC contexts, and donor coordination frameworks is an asset. Skills • Sound knowledge of the Liberia’s economy, development needs and challenges, • Proven programme planning and coordination skills • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills • Public presentation skills in presenting results to stakeholders • Excellent analytical, research, writing and reporting skills • Sound computer literacy (including Microsoft Office tools: Word, Excel, PowerPoint Languages• Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.