Associate Programme Officer (READY Salone – ASEAN SCOPE), DECI/SEC (Temporary), P2

The Sector Competitiveness Unit (SEC) under the Division of Enterprise Competitiveness and Institutions (DECI) is responsible for developing and disseminating sector-level expertise for sustainable market-driven solutions. The SCOPE-Trade project aims at addressing three important trade-related pillars which drive economic connectivity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and between ASEAN and the European Union (EU) i.e., trade policy environment, digital connectivity for businesses with a focus on micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), sustainable and resilient value chains. The project will be implemented with the ASEAN Secretariat as well as ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and Working Groups. It is part of and addresses the trade and economic priorities of the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package (acronym SCOPE), which seeks to improve sustainable connectivity between the EU and ASEAN, and within ASEAN. The ITC READY Salone project aims to unlock economic opportunities for Sierra Leonean youth and youth-led businesses in the digital economy. Funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the ‘Sierra Leone: Empowering Youth through Digital Technologies’ project (referred to as the READY Salone project) is implemented by the International Trade Centre in close collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone through the Youth Affairs (MoYA), Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) from 2024 to 2028. The project will equip youth and youth-led startups with the skills and tools to seize economic opportunities in the digital economy. Youth aged 15 – 35, including young women as well as persons with disabilities, are key targets of READY Salone.