View Vacancy - Global Trade Programme Advisor C4 (03/19 WHK) - MATERNITY COVER

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Economic and Prosperity

Main purpose of job:

On 25 November 2015, the Chancellor announced a new cross-Whitehall Prosperity Fund with the primary aim of supporting growth in recipient countries.  This came into effect on 1 April 2016 and South Africa has been identified as a priority partner country for the Fund. During her visit in August 2018, Prime Minister Theresa May announced up to £50 million of programming for South Africa and the region.

The Global Trade Programme (GTP) is the largest in the Prosperity Fund portfolio, based on the premise that supporting global trade is a good thing both for developing economies, where it can reduce poverty through economic development, promote inclusive growth and contribute to mutual prosperity. This is why one of the most politically important programmes to us here in Southern Africa, and a flagship of the GTP, is an £8 million (scalable to £20 million) Trade Capacity Building Programme for the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and Namibia designed to address non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade in the region. In addition, these six countries make up the bloc with whom the UK will replicate the existing European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) when we leave the EU in October 2019. It is therefore a shared goal that we complete that replication in time, and that we support the full implementation of the existing EPA given we will inherit something that resembles it almost identically once that replication is complete.

An implementing partner has been appointed, managed from Pretoria where the Prosperity Fund team with responsibility for Southern Africa is based.  Two other roles, identical to this one, have been recruited in Windhoek and Gaborone. This role will sit in Windhoek as part of the front line delivery of the programme, ensuring it is effectively implemented in-country.

The British High Commission in Windhoek is therefore preparing for this challenge and is seeking a Locally-Engaged C4(L) Global Trade Programme Adviser to be responsible for engaging consistently and in-depth with the local stakeholders at senior level about the programme of assistance and the EPA process. In addition, the post holder will support the Namibian Trade Ministry in generating progress towards EPA replication, and while they will not form part of the programme management structure, they will act as the front line eyes and ears on the implementation of the technical assistance programme so that it quickly addresses problems in this key organisation.  They will provide policy advice to London and the Global Trade Programme Manager in Pretoria, and our implementing partner, to shape the programme effectively.


Roles and responsibilities:

For a period of 6 months maternity cover, to lead on all in-country coordination and engagement with partners in the Government of Namibia on behalf of the Prosperity Fund Global Trade Programme. This will include building and maintaining government support for the programme, alignment of activities to national development priorities, and to identifying opportunities for further partnership and cooperation to deliver on the objectives of the Prosperity Fund and the Global Trade Programme. In addition, to provide in-country support to facilitate Namibia’s full participation in the future trading arrangement governing trade between the UK and Namibia.

This means:

  • 50% deploying excellent strategic programme delivery skills to work with Namibian  government partners, private sector stakeholders and the GTP Programme Manager (South Africa) to support timely, and sustainable programme trade facilitation interventions that promote gender inclusivity wherever possible. During this six-month period, this will primarily entail planning for and delivering on the Inception Phase of delivery. This will also be achieved through: acting as the principle adviser to the Namibian government, thinking strategically from a programme beneficiary (including country) perspective, to ensure delivery activities are aligned; liaising regularly on relevant policy and programming issues with government and other in-country stakeholders; chairing a National Steering Committee with multiple stakeholders to steer and monitor delivery and implementation progress; regular horizon scanning to identify potential risks to the programme and opportunities for innovative ways to add additional value; ensuring value for money (vfm) in programme activities and spend through ongoing monitoring and reporting.
  • Approximately 30% support to the implementation of the new Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the UK and SACU+M to minimise disruption to trade by ensuring the effective implementation of the agreement and identify opportunities for collaboration with the Namibian Government or other stakeholders in trade. This will be achieved by timely and proactive engagement with the relevant Namibian Ministries and collaborative working to understand and reduce the burden to them of their central role in this work as far as possible. 
  • 20% supporting broader prosperity, political, and corporate work within this small Post, as a senior member of the team under the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner. This will be achieved by gaining a broad understanding of the UK’s whole of government prosperity work with Namibia, our programme work in the region and in country, including that led from Pretoria, and identification and exploitation of opportunities to drive value for money.
  • You will also be expected to act as a gender and inclusion champion in your role, ensuring Gender Equality Act (2014) compliance and supporting the implementation of gender and inclusion policy and guidance so that, at the least, no harm is done and gender inequality is not worsened. You will actively support PF and GTP ambitions on women’s economic opportunities, inclusive growth and poverty reduction through your department / team.
  • Excellent knowledge of trade facilitation/ trade policy/ trade capacity building work.
  • Excellent knowledge of the above in specific relation to Namibia
  • Experience of working with government and/or the private sector in Namibia
  • Bachelor's degree in related field
  • Understanding of the wider policy framework in which trade in SACU+M is governed
  • Experience of working with or in Government
23 October 2019
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Fixed Term
6 months
Africa
Namibia
Windhoek
British High Commission
1
NAD 31,420.63
25 November 2019
31 May 2020

The job will be part of front line delivery rather than programme management, so provides an excellent opportunity to acquire and/or deepen skills in policy formulation and programme delivery, as well as exposing the post-holder to a broad array of Whitehall Departments on an agenda of increasing importance as we move towards Brexit.


Learning and Development:

The FCO aims to provide all staff with equality of opportunity in all aspects of their work and draw on the talent of all of staff from diverse backgrounds in the UK and overseas. We place a strong emphasis on learning and development. You will be encouraged to undertake developmental training and get involved in corporate activities. This role provides an excellent opportunity to build up programme knowledge and expertise and gain exposure to working across government


Travel:

Please note, there will be in-country and may be occasional regional and London-based travel involved in this role. 


This contract position ends on the 31st of May 2020.

Important to note: short-listed candidates will need to be available for interviews on the 1st November 2019.


  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position. 
  • Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Windhoek are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Namibia. 
  • All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. 
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;

           1.    Obtain the relevant permit

           2.    Pay fees for the permit

           3.    Make arrangements to relocate

           4.    Meet the costs to relocation 

  • The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so. 
  • Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount. 
  • Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note:  AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5  
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Local Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.