Anunțuri de Angajare

Economic Specialist for the USAID-funded Moldova Structural Reform Program

Location:                         Chisinau, Moldova

Period of Performance: Long-term March 2020 – March 2021 with possibility of extension for the full Program period        

Nathan Associates Inc. is a private international economic and analytics consulting firm that works with government and commercial clients around the globe to deliver practical solutions and achieve lasting results. Whether building frameworks for economic growth or navigating regulatory hurdles, securing infrastructure financing or evaluating and assessing disputes, Nathan’s experts serve as trusted partners, offering clients the analysis, technical advice, and strategies they need for sound decision-making. Known for both technical and service excellence, Nathan has corporate offices in the US, UK, and India and more than 25 program offices around the world.

Project Background:

The Moldova Structural Reform Program is a four-year project (September 2017- September 2021), funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Nathan Associates Inc. The program aims to improve the business and trade enabling environment in Moldova by helping Government of Moldova (GOM) institutions and private sector accelerate the implementation of trade liberalization mechanisms, adopt structural and business enabling reforms, and improve strategic communications between private and public actors.

Program activities focus on reinforcing the capacity of Moldovan institutions and the private sector to consolidate earlier gains made in the trade and business enabling environment. Cross-cutting elements of the entire Program are to cut red tape, devise a system of regulation where costs are in proportion to benefits, and information technology and web-based applications are used to minimize human contact and the potential for corruption. The project field office is located in Chisinau, Moldova.

Overview:

A primary objective of the Moldova Structural Reform Program is to improve compliance and implementation of international trade agreements in Moldova. Under Component 1, the Program is supporting broad-based efforts to help Moldova comply with the WTO TFA and the AA/DCFTA, particularly in areas that promise significantly greater benefits than costs to Moldovan businesses. The Program is building awareness in the business community of TFA and the AA/DCFTA obligations as well as the benefits that they can bring, and works to empower the trade community to make the case for reform in their discussions with government contacts. Additionally, the Program conducted a trade corridor assessment that provided recommendations and actions to be implemented to make Moldova a crossroad for commerce in the region, and subsequently, under Component 4, proposals on the usage of the Program’s Trade Corridor Enhancements Fund.

Ultimately, the Program will help Moldova achieve its trade commitments, including under the WTO TFA and the AA/DCFTA; strengthen government capacity to implement reforms; build on the predecessor, USAID Business Regulatory, Trade, and Investment Environment Project’s (BRITE’s), successes and continue to strengthen the Moldovan Customs Services (MCS) and its systems and processes; improve systems for SPS and TBT in particular; and enhance select trade corridors.

As directed by the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), the Economic Specialist will support activities under Component 1: Improve Compliance and Implementation of International Trade Agreements of the Program and Component 4: Cross-cutting Trade Corridor Enhancements Fund. S/he will contribute to providing technical assistance on trade facilitation to Government of Moldova (GOM) counterparts and stakeholders in the areas including, but not limited to, WTO TFA implementation, trade information portal development, Customs Code review, AEO expansion, pre-arrival processing, and the enhancement of trade corridors in Moldova. The Trade Policy Specialist will also contribute to all reporting efforts under Component 1, which includes providing inputs for annual work plans and assisting with meeting and reporting on performance targets and results, as defined in the USAID approved Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plan.

Responsibilities and Tasks

The Economic Specialist will report to the Deputy Chief of Party and will be responsible for supporting the implementation of the trade related objectives of Component 1 “Improve Compliance and Implementation of International Trade Agreements” and Component 4 “Cross-Cutting Trade Corridor Enhancements Fund” of the Program. S/he will provide technical assistance and advice for trade policy issues and will support the implementation of DCFTA reforms, as well as the implementation of commitments under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. Specific tasks include:

• Perform duties in full compliance with USAID regulations and rules, policies and standard operating procedures.
• As directed by the DCOP, provide technical assistance on trade capacity building and facilitation to stakeholders;
• Review status of DCFTA policy objectives and progress on the implementation of the National Action Plan on the implementation of AA/DCFTA and recommend activities to tackle unimplemented reforms;
• Propose and contribute to the implementation of activities approved in the Work Plan
• Oversee and analyze the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and the National Plan on Trade Facilitation for 2018-2020;
• Under the direction of DCOP provide support, among others, to the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, Economic Council to the Prime Minister, National Committee on Trade Facilitation and business associations;
• Work with the DCOP to assure quality of long- and short-term technical consultants’ deliverables;
• Participate in and contribute to meetings with the donor, external stakeholders and local partners
• Contribute with technical expertise (cost-benefit analyses, laws assessment) to the relevant activities

Deliverables:

• Reports relevant to activities requiring coordination and/or support by the specialist.
• Provide input to annual work plan modifications if needed, and quarterly and annual reports, including success stories
• Provide inputs on reporting on performance targets and results for the Program, as outlined in the project Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plan.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

N/A

Reporting:

The Trade Specialist will report to the Deputy Chief of Party and ultimately to the Program Chief of Party.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Master degree in economics, business administration or related field;
• At least five years of experience on international trade policy;
• Experience in working with government on trade policy development and implementation of reforms at a national level;
• Proven knowledge and deep understanding of the World Trade Organization and member commitments under the Trade Facilitation Agreement and other agreements;
• Demonstrated leadership, decision-making, teambuilding, and management skills;
• Experience in stakeholder management ;
• Experience in working on donor funded projects;
• Fluent in written and spoken English and Romanian.

To Apply:

Qualified prospective candidates should send resume and cover letter by e-mail to Moldovajobs@nathaninc.com. Reference “Economic Specialist” in the subject line. Please apply by March 4, 2020. No phone calls please. Only finalists will be contacted. For additional information, visit our website at http://www.nathaninc.com.