National Consultant – WTO Accession Support (Ethiopia)

Deliverable 1: at the end of 1st month Submission of: Monthly trade policy and WTO accession analysis report. Technical inputs to WTO accession negotiations, including draft position papers, briefing notes and official correspondence. Updated accession documentation, Working Party Report inputs, meeting reports and progress tracking matrices. Documentation of stakeholder consultations, technical meetings and capacity-building activities. Monthly technical advisory support provided to the Chief Negotiator, ITC and the WTO Secretariat. Monthly progress report summarizing activities completed, key achievements, challenges and the work plan for the following month.

Deliverable 2: at the end of 2nd month Submission of: Updated monthly trade policy and WTO accession analysis report. Technical negotiating inputs and advisory documents prepared during the reporting period. Updated accession documentation and progress tracking tools. Documentation of stakeholder coordination and technical assistance activities. Monthly technical advisory services provided. Monthly progress report and work plan.

Deliverable 3: at the end of 3rd month Submission of: Updated monthly trade policy and WTO accession analysis report. Technical negotiating inputs and advisory documents. Updated accession documentation and progress trackers. Documentation of stakeholder consultations and capacity-building activities. Monthly technical advisory services provided. Monthly progress report and work plan.

Deliverable 4: at the end of 4th month Submission of: Updated monthly trade policy and WTO accession analysis report. Technical negotiating inputs and advisory documents. Updated accession documentation and progress trackers. Documentation of stakeholder consultations and technical assistance activities. Monthly technical advisory services provided. Monthly progress report and work plan.

Deliverable 5: at the end of 5th month Submission of: Updated monthly trade policy and WTO accession analysis report. Technical negotiating inputs and advisory documents. Updated accession documentation and progress trackers. Documentation of stakeholder consultations and technical assistance activities. Monthly technical advisory services provided. Monthly progress report and work plan.

Deliverable 6: at the end of 6th month Submission of: Final monthly trade policy and WTO accession analysis report. Final technical negotiating inputs and advisory documents. Final updated accession documentation and progress tracking matrices. Documentation of final stakeholder coordination and capacity-building activities. Final monthly technical advisory services summary. Final consolidated report summarizing all activities undertaken, outputs delivered, key achievements, recommendations and lessons learned throughout the six-month assignment.

The primary objective of this national consultancy is to provide high-quality research, analytical inputs, and technical assistance to the Negotiating Team on WTO Accession of Ethiopia and the WTO Secretariat, to facilitate advancement of Ethiopia's WTO accession process in the most effective and expeditious manner. The consultant will focus heavily on mapping and analyzing the internal state of play of Ethiopia's trade and economic regimes, translating findings into advice on substantive negotiating inputs, and facilitating seamless technical coordination between domestic stakeholders and the WTO Secretariat.

Detailed Responsibilities: The National Consultant will perform the following duties: 1. Research on Internal State of Play & Analytical Support: Conduct comprehensive legal, policy, and economic analyses of Ethiopia's trade-related issues, domestic market access conditions, and ongoing regulatory developments. Evaluate current domestic trade regimes against multilateral requirements to identify gaps and alignment opportunities. Prepare inputs into high-quality analytical and official documentation, including inputs for the draft Working Party Report and other accession documentation, as well as technical briefing notes and concept papers. 2. Direct Assistance to the Negotiating Team of Ethiopia & WTO Secretariat: Assist on drafting and review of technical accession-related documentation, position papers, speaking points, and official correspondence required by the Negotiating Team. Assist the WTO Secretariat in compiling, verifying, and updating the substantive negotiating inputs necessary for the advancement of the accession. Prepare meeting reports and tracking matrices to monitor progress on multilateral and bilateral tracks. 3. Capacity Building & Stakeholder Coordination: Support the organization, logistics, and delivery of technical assistance and capacity-building activities and workshops by the WTO Secretariat for government officials. Facilitate stakeholder consultations involving government officials, international organizations, and private sector actors to ensure necessary coordination.

Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Relations, Transnational Governance, Public Policy, or another closely related discipline. Professional Experience: Minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience in international trade policy, multilateral trade relations, and economic affairs. WTO Accession Expertise: Demonstrated experience supporting WTO accession processes, including substantive contributions to the preparation and servicing of Working Party meetings, drafting/reviewing accession-related documentation, and coordinating with relevant stakeholders on accession matters. Analytical Skills: Proven experience conducting legal, policy, and economic analysis of trade-related issues. Documentation Mastery: Demonstrated ability to prepare high-quality analytical and official documentation, including draft Working Party Reports, briefing notes, speaking points, meeting summaries, concept notes, and correspondence. Capacity Building: Experience supporting the organization and implementation of technical assistance, capacity-building activities, and stakeholder consultations. Operational Adaptability: Demonstrated capacity to manage multiple assignments simultaneously, work effectively under pressure, and deliver high-quality outputs within tight deadlines in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments.

Excellent command of English and fluency in Amharic, both oral and written, are strictly required.