Result of Service The consultant will support the implementation of UNCTAD's project on "Enhancing the capacity of African vulnerable countries in adopting policy incentives and innovative instruments for SMEs' participation in regional value chains". Work Location Home based Expected duration 02.12.24-31.03.25 Duties and Responsibilities The consultancy will be carried out within the framework of UNCTAD's project on "Enhancing the capacity of African vulnerable countries in adopting policy incentives and innovative instruments for SMEs' participation in regional value chains". The objective of this consultancy service is an identification of AfCFTA market niches and diversification opportunities through continental trade mapping. -First, it shall allow African countries to position their exports or targeted potential export products more easily in the continental production network and identify their export niche areas. -Second, the tool aims to assess export diversification opportunities, based on the product space method. -Third, for selected value chains, identified by previous country studies, the trade tool shall also allow Governments, chambers of commerce and private sector stakeholders to identify where necessary inputs to the value chains can be sourced from. -Fourth, in order to provide an indication of where SMEs would have potential to actually expand production and exports in the short to medium term, the tool aims to highlight those niche market products that have potential for increased production capacity. Under the supervision of the Project Officer, the consultant shall carry out the following tasks: - Transform international trade data, at HS 4-digit level or higher, and calculate appropriate indicators to identify niche markets, for example, import demand growth rates, RCA at global and intra-African level, number of competitors. - Apply the product space method to identify potential diversification paths for the 6 select African countries, Benin, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Togo, Uganda - Use appropriate sources to identify value chain linkages, at HS 4-digit level or higher, for agreed value chains, map inputs and outputs in order to show where inputs are currently imported from, and which African countries would provide alternative, cost-efficient, input source markets. - For one country, use available data to identify national firms’ participation in identified value chains and their capability to increase production/export. Accordingly, the consultant will provide the following deliverables: - Identification of niche market for six African countries. - Mapping of value chain linkages to identify alternative input sources from African countries. - An Excel-based tool illustrating the findings for the selected countries. - Explanatory notes and methodological notes summarizing the analytical process and findings. The transformation of trade data and analytical steps will be done in R or STATA due to the complexity of the data manipulation and analysis. The output and indicators at the country level for the six project countries - Benin, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Togo, Uganda - will be made available and illustrated in an Excel tool. All additional data files and necessary codes shall be made available and be as simple as possible, including explanatory notes. Explanatory notes shall be also summarized in a methodological note. Qualifications/special skills An advanced university degree, Master’s, in economics, international trade, statistics or any other field that applies to the assignment is required. At least 5 years of professional experience in research and analysis methods with specific experience in trade data analysis, SME development, and regional value chain integration, particularly in the African context is required. Advanced statistical skills (using STATA or R) and proficiency in Microsoft Excel are required. Thorough knowledge of trade analysis is required. Knowledge of Excel VBA and Macros is desirable. Languages Fluency written and oral in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Additional Information Not available. No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.