BACKGROUND
AGRA is supporting COMESA, EAC, and SADC to roll out Simplified Trade Regime along the Northern and Nacala Trade corridors, prioritizing simplifications that affect financially disadvantaged youth and women.
Women and youth are key players in the region in terms of cross border trade. Women constitute a large proportion (75%) of small-scale cross-border traders. Key issues for youth/women cross border traders include but are not limited to the following: intricate trade documentation, cumbersome customs procedures, inadequate infrastructure, subjected to multiple forms of gender-based violence, including sexual violence/harassment in certain instances, and take on additional costs by employing runners to mitigate the safety risks of crossing the border. Others include heightened incidents of theft, bribery, and safety concerns relative to their male counterparts. Although the existing simplified trade regimes present significant opportunities for youth/women traders, their lack of awareness and knowledge limits their participation. These factors create an environment where traders continue to engage in informal or elicit trade (i.e. crossing the border through informal routes and evading the customs officials). In the process, traders find themselves on the wrong side of the law and as a result, they are arrested, and their goods confiscated making them incur unnecessary losses.
Women cross border traders also trade predominantly in agriculture goods, highlighting the need to support them in enhancing food security and agriculture value chains in eastern and southern Africa (ESA). To address some of the observed challenges, SADC, COMESA, EAC have come up with a simplified trade regimes initiatives that can be used by small scale cross border traders to facilitate easy import and export of their goods.
This project is to be delivered as a single grant to increase the participation of women and youth in cross border trade along the Northern and Nacala trade corridors in ESA region. The following are the pathways for creating job opportunities:
This intervention aims to transform trade ecosystem across the ESA region by simplifying and harmonising trade procedures and fostering inclusivity in cross border trade.
Interventions instigate a fundamental shift towards a more efficient, transparent, and equitable trade environment, reduce gender disparities, and foster regional integration.
Incentivizes long-term investment in private aggregation and trade infrastructure, and in the case of smaller actors, inspiring many to formalize their businesses.
Enhanced enabling environment and improved capacity of market actors to increase domestic and regional trade.
The expected system changes will ultimately lead to job creation for youth and women in both domestic and cross border trade in form of either new, improved and/or sustained jobs.
The SADC Secretariat invites suitably qualified, experienced, innovative, result oriented and self-driven individuals to apply for the following positions under the Tripartite Simplified Trade Regime Project at SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana.
Position | Grade | Average package per annum (US$) | Eligibility |
| Project Coordinator | 6 | 77,084.20 | All Nationals of SADC Member States |
| Assistant Finance Officer | 8 | 33,513 | Nationals of Botswana |
Contract Duration and Location
The contract duration for both positions is approximately 30 months. The position holders will be stationed at SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana. This is a full-time responsibility requiring adherence to SADC's normal working hours.
For detailed job descriptions and Submission of applications, please visit the following link: https://sadc.mcidirecthire.com/external/currentopportunities
Applicants are advised to apply online by attaching Motivation Letter, CV’s, certified copies of educational, professional certificates and references. Applications with inadequate supporting documents will not be considered.
Only applicants who meet the requirements of the SADC Secretariat will be considered for interview. Should you not hear from the SADC Secretariat within two months after the closing date, kindly consider your application as unsuccessful.
Closing Date: Applications must be submitted not later than or on 24 January 2025.
Applications received through any other sources will not be considered.
