Senior Private Sector Development Officer Job at Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is a regional economic grouping made up of 21 Member States with an estimated population of 560 million people. COMESA was established in 1994 to succeed in the Preferential Trade Area (PTA) for Eastern and Southern Africa that had been in existence since 1981.

Recognized as one of the building blocs of the African Economic Community under the Abuja Treaty and the AU Constitutive Act, COMESA’s principal focus is outward-oriented with the vision of promoting regional integration through trade development, investment promotion and sustainable utilization of natural resources for the mutual benefit of all the citizens of the region. More information can be obtained from the COMESA website www.comesa.int

Applications are invited from qualified and experienced professionals for the following positions

2. JOB DESCRIPTION TWO

JOB TITLE: Senior Private Sector Development Officer
GRADE: P4
DIVISION: Industry & Agriculture
SALARY SCALE: COM$ 58,731 – COM$ 70,654 per annum plus
allowances
REPORTING TO: Director, Industry and Agriculture

A. KEY TASKS

Under the direct supervision of the Director Industry and
Agriculture, and overall supervision of the Assistant Secretary-General
(Programmes), you shall perform the following duties:
(a) Assist in implementing the provision of the COMESA Treaty and Protocols relating to private sector development in the productive economic sectors;
(b) Work with relevant representatives of the private sector business community in promoting the regional integration agenda related to industrialisation & private sector development;
(c) Liaise with the Centre for Industrial Development (COl) on the promotion of joint ventures between foreign and COMESA investors;
(d) Develop a network between national chambers of commerce, the COMESA Business Council (CBC) and relevant organisations in Europe, Asia and USA (including the Corporate Council on Africa) that will allow regional businesses to attract investment into their businesses, facilitate technology transfer and sharing of information;
(e) Collaborate with COMESA Business Council to establish a network of national chambers in the region and relevant business chamber in Europe, Asia, America and Caribbean Regions to promote COMESA as one investment area, facilitate peer to peer learning and transfer of technology;
(f) Facilitate dialogues between private sector operation and financial institutions to facilitate access to finance that enable business expansion and diversification;
(g) Assisting in the coordination and exchange of experiences, best practices and other business promotion mechanisms among private sector development agencies and Member States;
(h) Facilitate platforms of dialogue between governments and private sectors;
(i) Assist national governments to develop national industrial policies in line with regional industrial policies;
(j) Working with the Member States to implement adopted regional industrial policies;
(k) Assist in harmonising policies on standards, quality, metrology and testing;
(l) Assist in the promotion of national and cross border business linkages between large and small business enterprises;
(m) Assist the Member States and the private sector in mobilizing resources needed for promoting regional industrialization;
(n) Assist Member States to establish and expand on regional value chains based on comparative advantage;
(o) Work with Member States on industrial sector analysis to promote integrated regional manufacturing; and
(p) Perform any other duties that may be assigned to him/her by the Director of Industry and Agriculture or the Assistant Secretary-General (Programmes) from time to time.

B. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum of a Master’s degree in Business Management, Industrial Development, Economics, Management, Law, International Trade and International Relations from an internationally recognised University. A Phd in the relevant fields will be an added advantage.

C. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in industrial development and private sector development & promotion at national or international level, with proven skills of negotiation and resource mobilisation. Knowledge of COMES region is desirable.

5. WORKING LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR THE POSITIONS

Must be fluent in English and/or French and/or Arabic (speaking and writing). A combination of any two or all these languages will be an added advantage.

6. ELIGIBILITY FOR APPLICATION

Applicants must be citizens of a COMESA Member country and in accordance with Rule 18(2) of the COMESA Staff Rules and Regulations, must not be more than 55 years of age at the time of submitting the application.

7. FINAL DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS

Applications MUST be submitted through the Coordinating Ministries of the
respective member States on the prescribed COMESA APPLICATION FORM which can be accessed at the following COMESA website: http://www.comesa.int/, Opportunities, COMESA Job Application Format. Applications submitted directly to the Secretariat will not be considered and only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH EMAIL AND ALSO IN HARD COPIES

Accordingly, short-listed candidates by the Coordinating Ministries should reach the address below by the 21st August 2020 at least by 18.00 hours Lusaka time.

The Director of Human Resources and Administration
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
COMESA Centre
Ben Bella Road
P.O Box 30051
Lusaka, Zambia
Email: [email protected]