Duties and Responsibilities
The Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II) is funded by the European Union (EU) and runs from 2023-2027. With a view to contribute to economic development in the East African Community (EAC) through increased sustainable intra-African and EU-Africa trade, MARKUP II has been designed to improve livelihoods, employment, export competitiveness for MSMEs and economic growth in Africa through supporting the development and strengthening of key export-oriented priority value chains with high potential. The programme will cover activities in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda through the provisions of partnerships with national, regional and international institutions. Skins, hides and leather have been selected as a new sector under MARKUP II in the four following countries: Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Sudan. The programme is focusing on supporting tanneries and leather goods companies to increase their competitiveness and access to new markets through added value and improved processes. The leather sector is placed by the EAC among its priority sectors in which the region has great potential as it is home to an estimated 180 million cattle. Production of hides and skins, leather and leather goods and other animal by-products form an important segment of the livestock industry production and export. The region is endowed with a good resource base for the production of hides and skins. MARKUP II adopts the following strategy to unlock the potential in the leather sector: • Environmental and social performance • Capacity building to obtain certifications for voluntary sustainability standards, • Environmental upgrading through resource efficiency and circular production • Developing an understanding of the new European environmental and social requirements for exporting to the EU as well as traceability requirements • Quality processing and value addition • Supporting and building capacity of tanneries, clusters and leather products companies to improve production processes • Improving quality and compliance, product design, development and technological awareness • Business Linkages and networking • Fostering EAC regional integration of the leather value chain and highlighting the complementarity of each country’s potential and added value. • Enabling selected MSMEs to identify new markets and clients, participate in African and European trade fairs and B2B events. • Promoting Peer-to-peer learning • Developing the EAC leather branding The MARKUP II programme is supporting three categories of enterprises: Cohort 1 - Leather bags, accessories and shoes designers and SMEs with a high potential for regional and international exports. Sor far, the programme is working with a group of approx. 20 SMEs across the 4 countries. Cohort 2 - Tanneries and larger leather shoes manufacturers catering to domestic and regional markets. So far, the programme is working with 5 operational tanneries across Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. Cohort 3 - Leather goods micro-entrepreneurs, catering to local market, working within the framework of clusters and common manufacturing facilities. So far, the programme is working with 2 existing clusters in Nairobi and Kigali and is supporting the establishment of clusters in Tanzania and South Sudan. The programme seeks experts to support MARKUP beneficiary companies in expanding into new markets at both regional and international levels. Through tailored training and coaching, the project aims to strengthen the export readiness of selected companies by helping them better understand their target markets and implement practical branding strategies and buyer outreach initiatives. This assignment will build on and extend the initial training and coaching activities delivered between August and December 2025 to a cohort of 20 SMEs participating in the Access to Markets component. In addition, the project intends to foster stronger linkages between European and African investors and the EAC, particularly in the areas of leather solutions, machinery and technology, and the broader footwear industry ecosystem. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES The Consultant will work under the supervision of the MARKUP II Programme manager and direct supervision of the DECI/SEC sector lead, and conduct the following activities: Activity 1 – Support companies in exhibiting or visiting at Lineappelle Italy (September 2026) • Selection of companies (5 to 6) ready to exhibit according to a list of readiness criteria, • Pre-show coaching - how to best prepare to attend a trade fair, design of communication materials, product catalogue, costing and pricing, visual identity, digital presence, invitations, etc… • Exhibition coaching – how to behave at a booth and interact with buyers, • Post-show coaching – how to follow-up with business leads, digital presence, etc… • Buyers outreach – mobilise international fashion and accessories brands to attend the trade shows and visit the booths. Explore any other leather products, markets and organisations (football equipment such as soccer, handball and rugby) that could be interested in exploring the East African leather sourcing market. • Reporting - Collect main actions taken, results, data and impacts from the show and compile in a comprehensive report. Activity 2 – Organise a buyers inward mission to East Africa (date tbc in Q3 or Q4 2026) • Identify and mobilise between 5 to 10 international companies from Europe (including UK and Switzerland) that could be interested in sourcing leather and leather products from East Africa • Develop a concept, agenda and workplan for the mission that could potentially take place in November or December 2026 (tbc – the mission could be organised back to back with the MARKUP II EU-EAC Business, Investment and Strategic Networking event) to the following countries: Kenya and Rwanda. • Select companies that will be visited and prepare them (workshop neatness, OHS process in place, reliable bookeeping, product quality, etc) to host international buyers. • Concretize the travel of 3 to 5 international buyers • Take part in the mission and provide a final report on key take-aways and main data (business leads, volume of expected sales). Activity 3 - Support preparations for the MARKUP II EU-EAC Business, Investment and Strategic Networking event • Identify and mobilise European companies that could be interested in investment and collaboration opportunities with EAC leather SMEs, including joint ventures that enhance trade, processing, value addition, and product diversification. • Identify European companies (leather technology and services providers) that would be interested in technology transfer with EAC SMEs/BSOs. • Compile main findings from the event in a report including all business linkages established as well as an analysis gathered on the footwear and leather goods market oppotunities (sales, export and investment) based on exchanges with industry stakeholders. 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.
Qualifications/special skills
• Postgraduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA, PHD or other) in Business administration, management, economics, fashion and leather. • Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. • Minimum of 10 years of work experience • Experience in Textile, garment and leather manufacturing industry and trade. Skills: • Excellent understanding of the leather goods markets in East Africa, Europe and US markets. • Excellent knowledge and experience in manufacturing business (fashion, garment and leather industries). • Excellent report writing and presentation skills. • Ability to be flexible and keep tight deadlines. • Computer literate in MS office applications (PowerPoint, Excel and Word).
