Domestication of the AfCFTA (Consultant)

Result of ServiceThe consultants shall, within the relevant timeframe, provide the ECA SRO-NA with: • Training materials developed for workshop 1:1 June 2025 • Deliver capacity building workshop 1: 16 June – 19 June May 2025 • Training materials developed for workshop 2: 21 – 24 July 2025 • Deliver capacity building workshop 2: 10 July 2025 • Concept note that includes comprehensive work plan for B2B by 1 July 2025 Work LocationNorth Africa Expected duration2 Months Duties and ResponsibilitiesECA's mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The mission will be guided by ECA's five new strategic directions which are: Advancing ECA's position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent's problems and take local solution to the continent; Developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; Designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; Contributing solutions to regional and trans-boundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; Advocating Africa's position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues. The Sub-regional Office for North Africa of the ECA (ECA SRO-NA) is located in Rabat (Morocco), and serves seven member states: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia. The main objective is to contribute to achieving structural transformation and balanced development through implementation of an environment conducive to the creation of employment for women and young people in North Africa. Its core functions are: Strengthening the capacity of member states in the sub-region to design and implement national policies and strategies for sustainable employment creation; Contributing to the implementation of sub-regional development priorities in line with the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 with due consideration for youth and gender perspectives; Improving macroeconomic and fiscal policies, and to ensure sustainable growth; Providing relevant technical assistance to member states and to regional economic communities and intergovernmental organizations in building their capacities to sustain economic, social and political transformation, with a particular focus on employment, skills and balanced development, with the aim of ensuring inclusive growth, taking into consideration access to equal opportunities for women and young people. Background and rationale for support The AfCFTA is one of the key pillars in the implementation of the Boosting Intra-Africa Trade (BIAT) plan. It also represents a significant step forward in advancing economic integration, as outlined in the Abuja Treaty. By joining the AfCFTA, Libya aims to maximize on the benefits of this broader Continental Free Trade Area. This will enable Libya to tap into a market of 1.3 billion consumers that represents over $3 trillion in combined GDP. Through reduced trade costs and improved trade facilitation, the AfCFTA provides Libyan businesses with the opportunity to capitalize on the growth of the African market and contribute to its development. One of the factors that hinders the growth of the private sector of Libya is the small domestic market. The AfCFTA therefore provides Libyan businesses with greater market access. Libya has signed the Agreement but has not yet completed the ratification procedures. On the other hand, participating in trade missions, business to business (B2B) meetings, and trade fairs within Africa provides companies with invaluable hands-on experience and direct exposure to real market dynamics. These engagements enable businesses to interact face-to-face with potential buyers, distributors, and partners, offering critical insights into consumer preferences, regulatory requirements, and competitive landscapes. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) is providing technical assistance to Member States and supporting them in implementing the AfCFTA. Between 2022 and 2023, UNECA Regional Office of North Africa held three workshops for Libyan government officials, aimed at expediting the implementation process and assisting in the preparation of their national AfCFTA implementation strategy. The strategy raises an immediate need for capacity building upgrade for the Libyan private sector and trade support institutions. It also raises the need for an increased role of private sector in the national economy and to finalize the ratification process to enable Libya to effectively capitalize on the agreement’s benefits. Libya's export sector, heavily reliant on hydrocarbons, faces critical challenges that hinder diversification and economic stability. The sector also has limited industrial capacity, knowledge gap and lacks export incentives and an awareness of international markets, standards, and compliance requirements. Moreover, trade legislation in Libya is characterized by regulatory overlaps, and restrictive customs practices such as lengthy procedures, delays at ports, and customs inefficiencies. Unlocking the potential of Libyan industries and broadening the export base are vital for sustainable economic growth and growth of the private sector. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a transformative opportunity for Libya to access larger markets, diversify its exports, and strengthen its trade competitiveness. To achieve this, a policy-driven approach to diversify exports is critical for long-term growth. The key lies in strengthening private sector capabilities and increasing its engagement. This includes the creation of an enabling infrastructure to support non-oil industries. Trade Support Institutions (TSIs) and governmental entities must play a synergistic role in addressing structural bottlenecks, fostering a supportive policy environment, and enhancing institutional and human capacities for export promotion. Furthermore, it is very important for the Libyan government to finalize the ratification process of the agreement, which will facilitate its implementation and actual trading with partners. In this regard, UNECA SRONA will hold 2 capacity building workshops: Workshop 1: Opening the Door for Libyan Exports: Essential Role of Trade Support Institutions (TSIs) and Suggested Policy Tools for Supporting Libyan Exports Workshop 2: Unlocking Libya’s private sector potential – towards an active role in AfCFTA application. Scope and tasks of work Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Subregional Initiatives Section and the Economic Affairs Officer, lead consultant and overall supervision of the Director of the North Africa Subregional Office (SRO-NA), the consultant will be responsible for the following: • Engage with selected national-level institutions to collect timely, relevant, and up-to-date data and information on Trade Support Institutions (TSIs) in Libya. • Conduct a comprehensive desk review to gather data and insights pertinent to the objectives of the assignment. • Assess the current capacities and performance of Libya’s Trade Support Institutions. • Identify key challenges facing TSIs in Libya and propose necessary reforms and their potential implications. • Provide strategic support for strengthening TSIs and highlight their role in promoting the development of private sector in Libya. • Assist Libya’s private sector in leveraging opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and improving integration with the wider African market. • Introduce effective tools and frameworks to the Libyan business community to maximize benefits from AfCFTA. • Ensure high-quality outputs are delivered in a timely manner, adhering to agreed deadlines. • Address any additional ad-hoc requests related to the project as needed. The workshops will adopt an interactive and practical approach, including: • Presentations: By international trade experts. • Panel Discussions: To exchange ideas on challenges and solutions for Libyan export growth. • Case Studies: Analysis of successful export diversification stories from other countries. • Export Development and Diversification Roadmap: Participants along with the experts will collaboratively create a proposed roadmaps tailored to Libya’s economy and export objectives. Expected Outcomes 1. Enhanced Awareness through Improving the understanding of TSIs' critical role in export diversification. 2. Targeted Policy Recommendations and Roadmaps for policy and legislative recommendations to support Libyan exports diversifications. 3. Improved institutional infrastructure and human capacity in the field of export diversification and promotion. 4. Increased Collaboration and partnerships among different TSIs, government bodies, and private sector. Deadlines for the deliveries are as follows: • The consultant is expected to submit a copy of the training materials that are expected to be used during workshop • The consultant is expected to submit a copy of the training materials that are expected to be used during workshop 2 for review Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced university degree (master’s at least) in economics, statistics or related fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A PhD degree is an advantage A minimum of four years of experience in economic and trade research is required A minimum of one year in providing lectures or capacity building and Experience in trade export promotion and working with trade support institutions are desirable Experience in analytical policy research in economies, or macroeconomic analysis in North Africa and/or Africa is also desirable Experience in trade research and negotiations in North Africa and/or Africa and Experience in trade and AfCFTA negotiations are desirable Experiences of North African countries is an advantage LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this consultancy, Fluency in Arabic is required. Knowledge of one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat is desirable. 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.