1. BACKGROUND
The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF or the Alliance) is a public-private delivery mechanism created to support effective implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) through partnerships between governments and the private sector. GATF is funded by the governments of Canada, Germany, the European Union, and Sweden.
The Alliance is led by the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the World Economic Forum (WEF), in cooperation with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
The Alliance is preparing to implement a project in Tunisia titled “Streamlining Technical Import Controls for Safer Trade”. The project aims to contribute to Tunisia’s trade facilitation efforts by assisting the Ministry of Commerce and Export Development (abbreviated to MCDE in French), other relevant public institutions, and the private sector to assess and improve the technical import control processes and design a new IT system to support them. The initiative will be developed through two concatenated workstreams:
- In-Depth Diagnosis, Future-State Design and Capacity Building. The project will examine the complete technical import-control process for selected product categories, drawing on workflow and user-journey mapping, direct observation, regulatory and documentary review, operational data, and consultations with officials and businesses. In addition to the practical knowledge that MCDE’s staff will acquire through diagnostic activities, the project will also provide training on risk management applied to industrial products and expert support to develop a practical and scalable risk management manual.
- Implementation of Targeted Improvements. Based on the diagnosis, the project will work with MCDE and relevant stakeholders to select, implement/test, and monitor at least three targeted improvements. These may address processes, documentary requirements, product coverage, communication with businesses, inter-agency collaboration, risk-management practices, data use, or limited digital functionality.
To support effective local implementation, GATF seeks to engage a Local Project Coordinator based in Tunisia.
2. GENERAL OBJECTIVE
The objective of this position is to provide local coordination, stakeholder engagement, technical support, and day-to-day project management to ensure the timely, effective, and high-quality implementation of the project.
The Local Project Coordinator will serve as the primary local focal point for project implementation, working closely with MCDE, other relevant public sector entities, private sector partners, consultants, and the GATF project team.
3. SCOPE OF WORK
Under the supervision of the designated GATF Project Officer and relevant technical experts, the Local Project Coordinator will provide coordination and management services, including but not limited to the following:
Support day-to-day implementation of project activities in line with approved workplans, timelines, and GATF procedures.
Coordinate engagement with MCDE and other relevant Tunisian public sector institutions involved in the project.
Facilitate structured engagement with private sector stakeholders, including ICC Tunisia, Tunisian Swedish Chamber of Commerce, individual companies, SMEs, exporters, importers, and other users of MCDE procedures.
Support the organization and follow-up of public-private dialogue activities related to the analysis of technical import controls, preparatory work for digitalization, and prioritization of improvement recommendations.
Ensure smooth coordination between local stakeholders, consultants, and the international project team.
Support the execution of activities under both project components jointly with MCDE, particularly the capacity building on risk management and preparatory work for digitalization under workstream 1; and the selection, implementation and measurement of targeted improvements under workstream 2.
4. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES
The consultant is expected to carry out, at a minimum, the following activities:
Project Coordination and Management
Coordinate the project’s governance mechanisms, including the Technical Team and the Executive Team. This will include preparing draft agendas, scheduling and organizing regular meetings, coordinating participation with public and private sector members, preparing meeting materials, taking notes, documenting key decisions and agreed actions, and following up with relevant stakeholders to ensure implementation of next steps.
Maintain and regularly update the project workplan, activity tracker, stakeholder engagement tracker, and risk log.
Coordinate logistics and preparation for meetings, workshops, consultations, and field visits.
Support the overall implementation of project activities related to analysis of technical import controls, capacity building on risk management, preparatory work for digitalization, and implementation of targeted improvements.
Serve as the day-to-day liaison with MCDE, other relevant public sector entities, private sector partners, consultants, the GATF project team, and other stakeholders to ensure timely alignment, issue escalation, and follow-up on agreed actions.
Monitor progress against milestones and flag implementation risks, delays, stakeholder concerns, or sequencing issues as early as possible.
Technical Support
Support the business process analysis and redesign activities, including the creation of process maps, review of requirements and regulations, identification of bottlenecks and control gaps, coordination of stakeholder inputs, and validation of proposed future-state procedures with the relevant institutions.
Support the selection and implementation of targeted improvements, including definition of scope, responsible units, implementation steps, performance indicators, data-collection arrangements, and lessons learned.
Stakeholder Engagement
Coordinate consultations with private sector stakeholders, including ICC Tunisia, Tunisian Swedish Chamber of Commerce, SMEs, individual companies, importers, exporters, logistics providers, and other users of MCDE’s systems and procedures.
Prepare meeting agendas, notes, action trackers, and follow-up communications for stakeholder meetings and working sessions.
Support private sector participation in pilots, surveys, feedback sessions, and user acceptance testing, where applicable.
Support coordination with donor missions, including the Swedish Embassy and other GATF donor representatives, as requested by the GATF team.
Reporting and Documentation
Prepare concise monthly updates and quarterly progress inputs summarizing activities, achievements, challenges, risks, private sector contributions, and next steps.
Contribute to the preparation of presentations, briefing notes, executive summaries, workshop materials, and other communications products as required.
Document key decisions, agreed actions, changes to scope, schedule, sequencing, risks, and mitigation measures.
Support preparation of project documentation required for internal GATF reporting and governance processes.
Create and maintain a repository of project documentation.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Measurement Support
Support data collection related to project indicators and assist with baseline and endline surveys, interviews, user feedback tools, and case-study documentation in coordination with the GATF Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Metrics and Benchmarking (M&B) teams.
Track private sector contributions, public-private dialogue activities, training participation, pilot participation, and other information required for project reporting.
Procurement and Consultant Coordination
Support procurement processes for consultants, experts, firms or service providers, including drafting or reviewing terms of reference, supporting outreach, coordinating interviews or evaluations, and documenting evaluation processes, as requested.
Support onboarding, coordination, and follow-up with consultants engaged under the project.
Coordinate stakeholder review of deliverables, prototypes, process maps, training materials, user guidance, or other outputs, as appropriate.
5. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT
The duration of the contract is expected to be fourteen (14) months. Expected start date: November 16, 2026.
6. REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS
The selected Local Project Coordinator will report to the designated GATF Project Officer. The coordinator will work closely with the GATF Program Director in charge, relevant technical experts, local public and private sector focal points, and other GATF team members involved in implementation.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS
Candidates should already reside in Tunisia, preferably in Tunis or within commuting distance of Tunis-based stakeholders.
Travel within Tunisia to meet with government officials, private sector operators, associations, border agencies, facilities, ports, or other relevant stakeholders may be required. All approved work-related travel expenses outside the consultant’s normal duty station will be funded by the project in accordance with applicable GATF procedures.
Office space may be provided by project stakeholders. The consultant may be expected to work periodically from the premises of project stakeholders, subject to agreement with the GATF team and counterparts.
The consultant will be expected to provide their own computer and basic office software and equipment unless otherwise agreed.
8. PAYMENT SCHEDULE
The selected candidate will submit invoices monthly to GATF for approval and payment. GATF will make payments upon receipt and acceptance of said invoices and satisfactory completion of agreed monthly activities.
9. TECHNICAL PROFILE OF CANDIDATE
9.1 Academic Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent university degree in Industrial Engineering, Information Systems, Business or Public Administration, or another relevant field.
A master’s degree is desirable but not required.
9.2 Knowledge and Experience
At least 8 years of demonstrated experience in project management, including experience supporting complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
Previous work experience with public and private sector stakeholders in Tunisia, especially in trade-related, regulatory, industrial quality and safety, customs, export promotion, digitalization, or modernization projects.
Previous work experience in business-process analysis/reengineering, risk-based regulatory controls, public-sector reform, pilot implementation, stakeholder management, and/or digital-system requirements development.
Strong understanding of Tunisia’s institutional and business environment, including the ability to work effectively with government agencies, business associations, and companies.
Experience coordinating workshops, public-private dialogue, stakeholder consultations, pilots, user testing, or capacity-building activities.
Hands-on experience with monitoring, evaluation, results reporting, or data collection for donor-funded projects.
Understanding of international trade facilitation principles and frameworks such as the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, risk management, trusted trader programs, authorized operator programs, or related concepts is desirable.
Knowledge of risk-management and industrial quality and safety standards, systems, certificates, or third-party assurance schemes is a plus, but not mandatory.
Strong organizational and interpersonal skills; able to manage multiple stakeholders and competing priorities simultaneously.
Ability to learn quickly, work independently, follow up persistently, and operate in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
Excellent written and spoken French and English.
The candidate must be legally authorized to live and work in Tunisia.
10. APPLICATION
Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter in English, including a financial proposal in USD indicating the proposed monthly rate, based on an expected level of effort of up to 20 working days per month.
Please submit applications to tradejobs@cipe.org by October 16, 2026 with the subject line: “GATF Tunisia Project Coordinator – [YOUR FULL NAME]”.
Any questions shall be submitted in writing before the due date to the same email address.
11. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY
Evaluation of an applicant’s suitability for this consultancy will be based on the applicant’s technical background as provided in the resume and cover letter, interview performance, demonstrated understanding of the assignment, relevant experience, language skills, and financial requirements.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to an interview.
