PRQ20251198: Technical Assistance to Support Border Infrastructure Upgrades and Strengthen TMA Internal Physical Connectivity Capacity along the Calao and Cotoni Corridors

Job description - Programme Manager, Standards, SPS and Non-Tariff Barriers, GGSP-CALAO __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Job details Job title: Programme Manager, Standards, SPS and Line Manager title: Director, Standards and SPS Non-Tariff Barriers GGSP-CALAO Grade: JG5 Department: West Africa Programme Direct reports: Project Officer, CALAO Quality Assurance: Country Director, Coté d’Ivoire Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire This position is open to individuals with the legal right to work in Côte d’Ivoire. Job summary TradeMark Africa (TMA) is embarking on a transformative EU-funded programme (GGSP-CALAO) focusing on the Abidjan–Lagos and Abidjan–Ouagadougou corridors, under a consortium with EU member state agencies. A central component of GGSP-CALAO, led by TMA, is the Trade Facilitation component, which aims to address persistent non-tariff barriers (NTBs), harmonise standards and technical regulations, and create a seamless cross-border trade environment. The Programme Manager, Standards, SPS and Non-Tariff Barriers will play a pivotal role in implementing TMA’s interventions, focusing on the identification, monitoring, and resolution of NTBs, as well as advancing the harmonisation of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and technical standards across corridor countries. This role demands proactive engagement with national and regional institutions (Ministries of Trade, Customs, Standards Bodies, ECOWAS, UEMOA, and the AFCFTA Secretariat), as well as close collaboration with the private sector and civil society to address real-world constraints to trade. The jobholder will provide technical expertise, operational support, and stakeholder coordination to ensure that NTB reduction efforts and standards harmonisation translate into measurable outcomes, such as faster border crossings, reduced costs for traders, and increased competitiveness for small-scale traders, particularly women traders. S/he will work closely with TMA’s Programme Manager and other technical teams to ensure that the programme’s objectives are achieved on time and to a high standard, while ensuring alignment with TMA’s Corporate Strategy III and Results Framework. The role directly contributes to TMA’s Portfolio 2 – Quality, Safety and Value of Traded Goods, supporting outcomes related to improved compliance with SPS and standards, reduced NTBs, and enhanced competitiveness for corridor traders, particularly MSMEs and women- led businesses. Roles and responsibilities Technical Leadership in Standards, SPS and NTBs projects • Lead the design and implementation of activities that directly contribute to the reduction of NTBs along the Abidjan–Lagos and Abidjan–Ouagadougou corridors. • Facilitate structured dialogue mechanisms between public and private stakeholders to identify and resolve priority NTBs, leveraging existing platforms such as National Trade Facilitation Committees (NTFCs). • Support the operationalisation of digital NTB reporting and resolution systems, ensuring that they are accessible, transparent, and responsive. • Coordinate the harmonisation of technical regulations, standards, and SPS measures between corridor countries, ensuring alignment with regional (ECOWAS, UEMOA) and continental (AFCFTA) frameworks. • Support the development and implementation of Mutual Recognition and Equivalence Agreements on quality certification, food safety, and veterinary standards, including platforms for transparency and information exchange. 2025 © TMA 1Job description - Programme Manager, Standards, SPS and Non-Tariff Barriers, GGSP-CALAO __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • Oversee assessments of laboratory capacity and facilitate investments to improve testing, certification, and compliance services. • Provide technical guidance for the training and sensitisation of companies but also of small-scale traders, women entrepreneurs, and SMEs on compliance with quality and SPS standards, ensuring their inclusion in formal trade systems. • Promote the application of risk-based approaches in SPS inspections, conformity assessment, and border control systems to improve efficiency and reduce transaction costs. • Strengthen voluntary compliance mechanisms, including Q-Mark certification schemes, private standards, and industry codes, to promote market-driven adoption of quality and SPS standards. Programme Delivery and Project Management • Contribute to the planning, budgeting, and implementation of GGSP-CALAO activities under the Trade Facilitation Pillar, ensuring adherence to EU and TMA programme management standards. • Support the Programme Managers in preparing narrative and financial reports for submission to the EU and other partners. • Develop work plans, TORs, and technical specifications for consultancies and service providers related to NTBs and standards/SPS interven