WTO services expert, Geneva

IDEAS Centre, an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to helping low-income countries to integrate into the world trading system, provides trade policy and negotiating advices to government of developing countries and delivers technical assistance to strengthen their capacities. (www.ideascentre.ch)

We are looking to fill in a position for a trade in services expert.  The successful candidate will work with a team of international trade experts who deliver policy and negotiating advice in the area of services negotiations to selected countries currently acceding to the WTO.  For some countries the expert will manage the entire accession dossier, and in others act as a resource person for services negotiations. The expert will be called upon to participate in other trade and development activities executed by IDEAS Centre.

Requirements:

• University degree in law, economics, political science or related international development fields.
• Expert knowledge of GATS and a hands-on experience with services negotiations.
• Experience with the WTO accession process, including knowledge of other WTO agreements and areas of negotiations would be an advantage.
• Working experience with governments and international organizations Work experience in developing countries and transition economies would be an asset
• Ability to analyze issues in the area of trade policy and provide targeted policy advice based on the analysis.
• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with government officials from developing countries, donors and other external collaborators
• Ability to work independently as well as a member of a team
• Excellent level of English; working knowledge of French is an advantage
• Knowledge  of office software applications
• Track record in mobilizing financial resources for development project is desirable

We offer: A challenging and versatile job in a small, unconventional team offering operational trade negotiating advice in projects at the stimulating intersection of trade and development. The design and management of trade policy advice projects in developing and transition countries related to WTO and the application of trade and development related policy analysis.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their CVs by e-mail to: odile.eichenberger@ideascentre.ch

Only candidates who will be interviewed will be notified.

WTO accession Advisor / Dushanbe

IDEAS Centre, an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to helping low-income countries to integrate into the world trading system, provides trade policy and negotiating advices to government of developing countries and delivers technical assistance to strengthen their capacities.

IDEAS Centre is executing a mandate from State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to provide assistance to the government of Tajikistan in its accession to the WTO and in the framework of its project is looking for an international expert on WTO with strong knowledge on accession matters for one year (possibility of extension for one year) in Tajikistan (Dushanbe). The successful candidate would integrate the WTO Unit within the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development to assist the head of the Unit as well as to coordinate with relevant stakeholders.

The candidate should have substantial experience on WTO issues preferably within a government and be fluent in Russian. Good knowledge of Central Asia would be an asset.

Deadline for applying is December 20th 2009

For the terms of reference of the position, please click here

If you are interested to apply, please send you CV and cover letter to odile.eichenberger@ideascentre.ch

Mission Statement

IDEAS Centre is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to helping low-income countries to integrate into the world trading system - in a way that supports their national poverty reduction and economic development efforts.

The Centre offers practical, results-oriented advisory services and executes projects aimed at strengthening the capacities of developing/transition country governments to shape both their domestic economic policies as well as the international policies that affect them.

The overall goal of the Centre’s projects is to empower low-income countries:

by using their WTO membership (or accession process) in a way that promotes their country’s sustainable human development; deepening their understanding of development challenges and linkages with trade and WTO rules; and improving policy coherence;

by participating more effectively in international trade forums and negotiations and by harnessing the free market forces and rules of a liberal world trade system to achieve poverty alleviation and economic growth.

Through its projects supporting developing country participation in the WTO and facilitating the integration of development-related concerns into industrial country positions, the Centre wants to contribute to international discussions on WTO institutional reforms and to encourage global cooperation for “win-win” solutions on the trade and development interface.

To find out more about the Centre’s approach, read our strategy document relating to trade policy services and consultancy.