Economic integration adviser for the Minister of Commerce and Industry

Result of ServiceDevelop a detailed monthly until end of December, report detailing all the activities undertaken during the reporting period. Meeting minutes, stakeholder database, updated workplan and any other relevant documents should be attached as Annex. Work LocationHome-based, possible travel Expected duration6 months from 01/07/2025 Duties and ResponsibilitiesBACKGROUND: Since October 2023, ITC is implementing a 3-year project funded by the European Union in Timor-Leste: Supporting to Regional Integration and Trade project. The main objective of the project is to contribute to Timor-Leste’s economic integration and trade globally and, specially, in the Southeast Asia region. This will be achieved through supporting Timor-Leste’s accession and post-accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the European Union (EU) Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). In doing so, the project aims to further develop Timor-Leste’s economy and reduce poverty through better integration in the multilateral trading and in the Southeast Asian region and the world. The project will be implemented under the leadership of the Cabinet of the Vice-Minister for ASEAN Affairs (VMAA). Other main stakeholders within the government are the Cabinet of the coordinating minister for Economic Affairs (MCAE) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI). Additional project counterparts include the National Parliament, the Private Sector and the Civil Society. In order for Timor-Leste to be able to successfully meet the requirements of the three above mentioned accession processes and ensure that they contribute to the development strategy of Timor-Leste, the below priority areas of support/main expected outputs have been identified: • O1/First priority area: A need for improved coordination and consultation mechanism for preparation of the accession and implementation of the commitments made to the ASEAN/AEC, WTO and EU-Pacific EPA among government agencies, the Parliament, civil society and the private sector. • O2/Second priority area: A need for enhanced capacity of Timorese government agencies, the Parliament, civil society and private sector institutions in the negotiations and implementation of the ASEAN/AEC, WTO and EU-Pacific EPA agreements. • O3/Third priority area: A need to increase public awareness of the opportunities and challenges arising from the negotiations, accession and implementation of ASEAN/AEC, WTO and EPA particularly with special assistance to the private sector, MSMEs and women-led businesses. Timor-Leste became a member of the WTO in August 2024. Timor-Leste is also committed to becoming a member of the ASEAN in 2025. To this end, the country needs to be prepared to be able to abide by all compulsory ASEAN agreements as per the roadmap approved by the AMSs in May 2023 and to be able to combine both the post-accession to the WTO with the process for Full Membership of ASEAN. The European Union-Pacific EPA is also to be considered. As a means to effectively implement and provide technical support and as a requested made by the Government of Timor-Leste, a national consultant (NC) will be hired. The selected candidate will be an expert on Trade and Integration with a focus on WTO and ASEAN and will be embedded in the MCI. The NC will liaise, when necessary, with VMAA and MCAE and will coordinate with ITC HQ, the ITC office in Dili and national focal points at line ministries as well as other relevant counterparts. The consultant is expected to travel within Timor-Leste and abroad when necessary. These TORs cover the work to be undertaken by the NC. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: The Economic Integration Adviser will be responsible for the following tasks: • Provision of comprehensive strategic advice to the Minister of Commerce and Industry (MCI), the Office for Cooperation, Partnership and Reform (Portuguese acronym - GCPR), and others, as required by the Minister, in close coordination with the International Trade Centre (ITC) teams supporting ASEAN and WTO activities, especially related to the implementation of the AEC pillar and the WTO post-accession implementation • Support the operations of the Office of the Senior Economic Officer (SEOM) and the Director General for Commerce (DGC), including the coordination and implementation of the regulatory agreements under the ASEAN Roadmap implementation plan and the WTO post-accession commitments • Provide timely and appropriate advice on the implementation of regulatory activities related to ASEAN and the WTO post-accession, in close consultation with MCAE, GCPR, Office of SEOM, DGC and the ASEAN National Secretariat under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the relevant line ministries, and their respective units supporting ASEAN and the WTO integration • Support the Office of MCI and other relevant bodies within MCI to liaise with the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) and the AEC sectoral bodies in consultation and close cooperation with the Cabinet of the VMAA and the ASEAN National Secretariat under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to ensure the implementation of AEC commitments • Support the Office of MCI and other relevant bodies within MCI to liaise with the WTO Secretariat, in coordination and consultation with the relevant national entities, to ensure the implementation of the WTO post accession commitments • Support MCI on relevant regulatory advice and opinions, in coordination with all the relevant agencies, prior to the submission of regulatory and legal documents to the Council of Ministers and/or the National Parliament • Work closely with all the relevant Development Partners (DPs) in collaboration with the Office of MCI and GCPR to ensure the proper institutionalization of ASEAN and WTO matters into MCI and other relevant institutions as guided by MCI • Support MCI in its efforts to engage with other DPs in the provision of the necessary capacity-building activities related to rules and regulatory reforms and coordination to MCI and other related agencies supporting the mapping of DPs activities in close coordination with the ITC to avoid duplications and provide support to the coordination goals of the ITC project • Support MCI in the finalization of the Timor-Leste E-commerce strategy in collaboration with DGC and the relevant DPs • Support the implementation of the Industrial Development Policy as guided by MCI • Contribute to the preparation process for the integration into the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA), including the revision of the Market Access Offers when and if the iEPA accession initiative is relaunched coordinating the support of the ITC to MCI • Contribute to the development of the Intellectual Property System in Timor-Leste, specifically in the implementation of the IP Code under MCI and the development of the IP Office • Provide relevant necessary support to other ASEAN accession and WTO post accession activities, as required by the Minister of Commerce and Industry • Coordinate and liaise with the ITC Programme Officer, the ITC National Coordinator and the ITC team in Dili and HQ to ensure the provision of technical support to the MCI when needed. REPORTING: The Economic Integration Advisor shall: • Report directly to the Minister of Commerce and Industry, and the ITC Programme Officer in HQ on the delivery, progresses and priorities as well as working locations and other matters relevant to the roles and responsibilities of the position • Collaborate on daily basis with officials from the Office of SEOM, GCPR and DGC and support the relevant team within MCI in liaising with the relevant line agencies to provide the required support, including VMAA and MCAE • When needed, coordinate with all the relevant DPs, with a primary focus on the possibility of the provision of ITC technical support, to ensure smooth provision of support to MCI • Work closely with the ITC National Coordinator and other ITC advisors and experts to ensure proper coordination and avoidance of duplications. 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 skillsMaster’s degree (MA/MSc or Other) in Economics, International Trade, Law, Project Management or related fields. Minimum 6 years of work experience in governments and/or international organizations Experience on matters relating to WTO, ASEAN, and EPA Accession Experience on trade, investment policies and economic development LanguagesFluency in written and spoken English and Tetum Knowledge of Portuguese 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.