Deadline: March 3, 2022.

The WTO Secretariat employs over 600 staff from around 80 WTO member countries. Staff roles include dispute settlement lawyers, legal officers, trade policy analysts and specialists, research economists and statisticians, who help to ensure that trade negotiations progress smoothly and that the rules of international trade are correctly implemented.

The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Economic Affairs Officer to work in the Secretariat of the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF). The STDF is a global partnership that promotes improved food safety, animal and plant health in developing countries. This helps imports and exports to meet sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements for trade, based on international standards.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall guidance of the Director of the Agriculture and Commodities Division and the supervision of the Head of the STDF and/or a senior officer in the STDF section, and in collaboration with colleagues, the incumbent will be required to:

1. Support the delivery of STDF’s project and project preparation grant (PPGs) workstream. This will include: (i) review of new applications for STDF funding; (ii) management, contracting and oversight of approved projects and PPGs; and (iii) provision of advice to organizations seeking STDF funding.

2. Support monitoring, evaluation and learning activities based on the STDF Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Framework, working closely with the STDF team and organizations implementing STDF projects and PPGs. This will include assistance to promote and deliver results-based management for projects, review and advise on logical frameworks, contract project evaluations, as well as to design, deliver, analyse and report on surveys.

3. Support the day-to-day operation and use of the STDF’s online MEL Tool, including creation of project dashboards and user profiles, data entry and quality control, guidance to facilitate its use, and testing and rollout of new features.

4. Participate in relevant national, regional and/or international workshops, seminars and other events related to the STDF’s work, including events focused on the implementation of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) to facilitate safe trade, and make presentations as appropriate.

5. Support the implementation of the STDF Strategy for 2020-2024 and annual work plans as required, including assistance to plan and organize STDF meetings, draft reports and documents for senior management, support communications and outreach activities, etc.

In carrying out the functions above, the incumbent will be expected to cooperate closely with STDF’s other founding partners (the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank Group), as well as other relevant regional and international organizations, donors and beneficiaries.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. An advanced university degree in economics, law, business administration, agriculture/veterinary/food science or other relevant field, or a basic university degree and proven professional knowledge and expertise equivalent to an advanced university degree in the aforementioned domain(s).
2. Knowledge of trade and development issues, including the challenges faced by developing countries in meeting international standards for food safety, animal and/or plant health to access markets.
3. Knowledge of results-based management, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in the international development sector (including data collection methods and online M&E tools) is desirable. 
4. Excellent analytical and writing skills, including ability to produce information materials and products for different audiences.
5. Good organizational skills and ability to work under tight deadlines.
6. At least two years of practical experience in trade or international development. This should ideally include experience in the preparation, implementation, management and/or evaluation of capacity development projects.
7. Excellent English, including the ability to draft accurately, concisely and rapidly and to make effective presentations. A working knowledge of French would be a distinct advantage. Knowledge of Spanish would also be an asset.
8. The WTO is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment and encourages qualified candidates from the following Least-developed countries (LDCs) to apply: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia.

OFFICIAL LINK