Manager, Intra-African Trade Initiative (Facilitation)

About the role

Afreximbank is recruiting a Manager for the Intra-African Trade Initiative (Facilitation) in Cairo. The role helps the Bank advance its mission of expanding and diversifying African trade by developing trade facilitation and market access opportunities for intra-African trade finance, projects and export development finance at continental and regional levels. It implements the Trade Facilitation interventions set out in the Intra-African Trade Strategy.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare the annual Intra-African Trade Facilitation Work Plan and Budget, derived from the Intra-African Trade Strategy and the Bank's Strategic Plan, and submit it to management for approval.
• Implement approved trade facilitation plans and strategies to increase intra-African trade.
• Build linkages with international and regional trade facilitation and transport/logistics agencies, engaging African countries, regional economic communities, the private sector and civil society.
• Provide technical and administrative oversight of studies, workshops, training and other trade facilitation activities.
• Secure mandates, MoUs and collaboration agreements, and manage key partnerships needed to deliver the Bank's trade strategy.
• Carry out research with partners to identify bottlenecks to intra-African trade and propose solutions, and run monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
• Represent the Bank in high-level meetings and forums and make presentations to senior technical audiences.

Required profile

• Master's degree in International Trade or International Economic Law, with specialization in International Trade, Economics or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 8 years of experience with a leading trade policy and facilitation consulting firm, think tank or development/international finance institution, including hands-on trade facilitation delivery.
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement with customs brokers, freight forwarders, trade associations and ministries of trade, and in bilateral, regional and multilateral trade negotiations.
• Knowledge of trade finance products that can support intra-African trade.
• Leadership capability, including organizing and managing human resources to reach goals.

Required skills

• Expert knowledge of protocols such as the WCO Revised Kyoto Agreement, WCO SAFE Framework, WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and IRU.
• Knowledge of bilateral, regional and international trade conventions and protocols, including AfCFTA, the Tripartite FTA and WTO.
• Excellent verbal and written English; French, Arabic and Portuguese are an added advantage.