I.          Background

Mainstreaming trade into national development strategies can enhance policy coherence, institutional coordination and facilitate the mobilization of resources for the implementation of trade-related priorities. This is because national development strategies represent the current choices and priorities of the nation and therefore provide the essential foundation for leveraging the contribution trade can make to the development process.

II.         Objective

The objective of this assignment is to systematically gather information on how Lesotho has approached the challenge of trade mainstreaming to shed further light on (a) polices for trade development (b) institutional processes and (c) the extent of support from external partners to achieve trade objectives. The objective is to identify elements of success in mainstreaming trade in national development strategies as well as challenges that are encountered and to distil lessons learned.

The assignment falls within a larger initiative aimed to enhancing capacities for trade mainstreaming and supporting on-going efforts in this regard in a group of nine (9) African countries.

II.         Approach and methodology

The consultant will be assigned to write a country review under the joint guidance of the RBA’s Regional Trade Programme and the UNDP Geneva Trade and Human Development Unit.  The review is a process in which key stakeholders in government, the private sector and civil society are expected to participate actively.

The country review will be guided by a questionnaire survey to be filled through research, desk review, and semi-structured interviews with trade policy stakeholders. The consultant will collect background information, conduct interviews with stakeholders and then analyse the results. Key personnel at the various levels of the national trade governance structure as well as to those in the civil society organizations and the private sector should be consulted. Throughout the assessment, the consultant should also address horizon scan questions. These include the broader questions about the degree of trade mainstreaming in development policy, sufficiency of the existing institutional coordination mechanisms, and effectiveness of the donor-partner country dialogue. The consultant should develop a narrative report to summarize the findings of the questionnaire and derive recommendations and lessons learned. Recommendations should be specific and action-orientated.

The consultant will participate in an orientation workshop, a national workshop to validate the report and a third workshop at the end of the process involving lead authors of all country case studies.

III.        Deliverables

The expected result of this assignment is a country review on trade mainstreaming. The review is expected to provide substantive and analytical inputs for a forthcoming publication. The review should include background research on Trade Mainstreaming, collation/compilation of results from the exercise, characterization of the current statuses of the country on the level of Trade integration in their national strategies and suggestions/recommendations on how to merge/integrate Trade issues into their national strategies.

The consultant is expected to ensure timely and high quality delivery of the following:

1) Record of interviews, group meetings and completed questionnaire

2) First draft report for review by the RBA’s Regional Trade Programme and the Geneva Trade and Human Development Unit

3) Final report to take account of feedback from the review of the first draft

4) Active participation in orientation and final workshops

IV. Management

The consultant will report to the Economic Advisor, UNDP Lesotho, the RBA’s Regional Trade Programme and the Geneva Trade and Human Development Unit.

V. Payment schedule

The payment will be disbursed in a lump sum after successful completion of the assignment.

VI.               Qualifications

ü  A post-graduate degree in economics, economic development, or a related field;

ü  At least 7 years of experience working on trade related issues;

ü  Experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative economic research, particularly in the area of trade and trade policy;

ü  In-depth knowledge of Lesotho's economy and institutional framework is required.

ü  Experience in working with government officials is welcomed;

ü  Ability to interpret results and provide practical recommendations;

ü  Previous work experience with international organizations or donors, particularly in the area of trade, is required;

ü  Experience in conducting studies to assess the impact of economic policies on human development is welcomed;

ü  Excellent communication, particularly writing skills, in English and Sesotho.

VII.             Applications

Written applications must address the listed requirements of the assignment and should be made online at http://jobs.undp.org/

Short-listed candidates will be invited for interviews.

Application deadline is 08 October 2010.