Trade Programme Adviser – The British Government – Salary P32,049 per month

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 the Global Trade Programme is the largest in the 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, and to the UK itself.

While there are several components to it, one of the most politically important to us here in Southern Africa, is that which concerns the maximisation of, and minimisation of disruption to trade between the UK and the regional customs union (Southern Africa Customs Union) and Mozambique.   These six countries make up the bloc with whom the UK will replicate the existing EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) when we leave the EU in March 2019 so it is a shared goal that we complete that replication in time, and that we support the full implementation of theexisting 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. This role would sit in Gaborone as part of the front line delivery of the programme, ensuring it is effectively implemented with the Trade Ministry in Gaborone. Another role identical to this one is being recruited in parallel in Windhoek with the responsibility of doing the same work with the SACU Secretariat in Windhoek, which coordinate the EPA replication discussions with the UK.

Were there to be challenges in securing progress in these two places, the replication process would slow risking disruption to trade, and our technical assistance programme to maximise trade would be less effective. So the positions are vital pieces in the front line delivery of the work, including in the EPA replication discussions themselves, led from London.

The British High Commission in Gaborone is therefore preparing for this challenge and is seeking a Locally-Engaged C4(L) SACU+Mozambique 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. The post holder will support the Botswanan 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 Trade programme manager in Pretoria, and our implementing partner, to shape the programme effectively.

Roles and responsibilities:

Leading on all engagement and support to Trade Ministry of Botswana in support of the PF global trade programme’s SACU component to deliver progress towards March 2019 replication of the EU-SACU+Mozambique EPA, and an effectively   designed and prioritised technical assistance programme. This means:

• 50% Deploying excellent diplomatic and strategic programme delivery skills to work with the Trade Ministry of Botswana to support timely programme interventions to this key organisation within the SACU+Mozambique EPA. This will be achieved by steering and providing local knowledge and policy insights to the implementing partner, Pretoria-based programme leads, and London’s trade policy leads.

• 30% Supporting the effective leadership and coordination of EPA replication discussions by the Trade Ministry of Botswana in order to   minimise disruption to trade by ensuring completion of the EPA replication process by March 2019. This will be achieved by timely and proactive engagement with the organisation, 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 Botswana, 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.

There will be some possibilities for travel as part of the role in the Region and  to London. Relevant job related training will be given as required.

Resources managed:

Budget managed from Pretoria but likely to be some devolution of leadership on components of the programme locally in time. Some possible staff management opportunities in time.

• Experience of trade policy or trade capacity building work
• Experience of working with government in the region