ITC - International Trade Centre · Geneva, Switzerland
BACKGROUND: The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and World Trade Organization based in Geneva. ITC’s mission is to enable small business export success in developing and transition- economy countries, by providing, with partners, sustainable and inclusive development solutions to the private sector, trade support institutions (TSIs) and policymakers. The Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, launched by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) in February 2024, aims to empower women entrepreneurs by helping them grow their businesses through international trade and digitalization. The USD 50 million WEIDE Fund unlocks opportunities in international trade and digital trade for women entrepreneurs by improving their access to: • Grants and support from financial institutions to reduce the finance gap • Technical assistance and training related to digital skills and improving export competitiveness • Export markets, with the aim of connecting more women to digital market platforms • Networks and support services, with the objective of creating more inclusive and effective business ecosystems including leveraging partnerships with the private and public sectors. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES Under the guidance of the Head of the WEIDE Secretariat and the WEIDE Technical Lead, the Partnerships and Community Consultant will: • Develop and implement a proactive partnership-development strategy targeting organizations that can provide tangible growth opportunities to WEIDE SMEs in Mongolia, Nigeria, Jordan, and the Dominican Republic. • Identify and engage strategic local and international partners that can provide WEIDE SMEs with concrete and, where possible, exclusive opportunities related to finance, market access, buyers, procurement, digital platforms, technical assistance, and business development. • Lead partnership outreach, negotiations, and follow-up, converting potential partnerships into confirmed commitments and activities for SMEs. • Develop joint workplans with partners, defining activities, beneficiaries, responsibilities, timelines, and expected results. • Facilitate targeted introductions and referrals between WEIDE SMEs and relevant partners, experts, financial institutions, buyers, platforms, and business networks. • Coordinate the day-to-day management and follow-up of WEIDE’s international and country-level partnerships in close collaboration with BSOs, country teams, trainers, and the WEIDE Secretariat. • Leverage National Advisory Group (NAG) members as strategic partners and support the planning, preparation, delivery, and follow-up of NAG meetings and partnership-related sessions. • Maintain a partnership tracker covering prospects, confirmed commitments, opportunities, referrals, deadlines, and results. • Coordinate engagement with WEIDE-supported SMEs across participating countries and maintain an active, inclusive, and opportunity-driven business community. • Prepare relevant partnership materials and provide regular progress updates and recommendations to the WEIDE Secretariat. Copyright Clause: The consultant has to ensure that she has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.