Duties and Responsibilities
The South Mediterranean region faces persistent economic challenges, including high youth unemployment, heavy reliance on traditional sectors, and uneven economic growth. With over half of the population under 30 and youth unemployment rates between 30–40% (and nearly 50% for young women), creating quality jobs is a pressing priority. Digital transformation offers an opportunity to diversify economies, enhance competitiveness, and generate employment. E-commerce alone generated nearly USD 49 billion in regional revenue in 2022, yet its potential is constrained by fragmented regulatory frameworks, high informality (up to 90% of transactions in some countries), weak consumer protection, and limited digital capacities among SMEs and Business Support Organizations (BSOs). Integrating employment objectives into trade and investment policies is essential, alongside promoting digital trade to unlock new opportunities for diversification and job creation. While the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital tools, national frameworks remain inadequate, resulting in trade barriers, legal uncertainties for online businesses, and insufficient consumer protection. Limited access to capital, gender disparities, urban-rural digital divides, and fragmented infrastructure further hinder SMEs’ ability to engage in e-commerce effectively. The political landscape, marked by instability and governance challenges in some countries, also impacts the implementation of reforms and investment in digital infrastructure. Environmental pressures, including water scarcity, pollution, and climate vulnerability, increase the urgency for economic diversification and sustainable growth. Digital tools and e-commerce can foster innovation in green technologies and sustainable business practices, yet gaps in digital infrastructure—particularly in rural areas—remain a major obstacle. At the regional level, weak institutional frameworks and inconsistent regulations create barriers to cross-border digital trade. Complex customs procedures and lack of interoperability between digital systems add costs and delays, making harmonization with EU standards essential. Strengthening legal frameworks, adopting best practices, and supporting national strategies are key steps toward unlocking the region’s digital trade potential. Despite these challenges, the region benefits from a dynamic private sector and vibrant start-up ecosystems. Supporting public-private cooperation, enhancing digital skills, and building trust in digital platforms will be critical to ensuring the success of digital trade initiatives. Efforts must also align with environmental sustainability objectives, minimizing emissions and resource use while fostering innovation in green technologies. This project aims to address these challenges by strengthening e-commerce and digital trade capacities in four pilot countries—Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia—while fostering regional cooperation and peer learning. In Tunisia, activities will focus on supporting SMEs and BSOs to adopt digital tools, enhancing the legal and institutional environment for e-commerce, and identifying good practices that can inform both national and regional strategies for digital trade. The project is co-implemented by ITC and GIZ and funded by the European Commission (DG NEAR) and BMZ for a duration of four years. While GIZ will focus on supporting policy and regulatory frameworks related to digital trade, ITC will concentrate on strengthening the capacities of the private sector, including supporting Business Support Organizations (BSOs) and facilitating market linkages for SMEs. In addition to its regional scope, the project will carry out targeted national activities in four countries, including Tunisia. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager for the Office of the Middle East and North Africa (OMENA), the National Coordinator for the E-commerce and digital trade project in Tunisia will be responsible for performing the following activities: Liaison with the Government: serve as the main interface between ITC teams responsible for this project and relevant government bodies to ensure alignment with national priorities and secure institutional support for project implementation. • Support the implementation of national activities in Tunisia: the National Coordinator will work closely with ITC experts and consultants involved in the project to facilitate and support the implementation of planned activities. • Liaise with key stakeholders and partners to ensure effective collaboration and strong partnerships in the implementation of activities. • Support for strategic engagement with public authorities: facilitate high-level engagement and strategic dialogue between ITC and Tunisian public institutions to foster policy coherence and strengthen national ownership of the project. • Coordination with co-implementing partners and donors: liaise with the GIZ office in Tunisia and the EU Delegation to Tunisia to ensure alignment, smooth implementation, and effective communication throughout the project lifecycle. • Data collection for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and reporting: support ITC teams in the collection of relevant data on project participants and activities to contribute to ITC’s results-based management and reporting frameworks. • Local logistical arrangements: manage local logistical support for ITC-organized events, including venue reservations, on-the-ground coordination, and liaison with service providers if needed. • Prepare and coordinate missions of ITC experts and international consultants: provide technical inputs, accompany them during meetings, and arrange interpretation between English and Russian as required. • Submit progress reports summarizing activities and results achieved during the contract period, in line with the project’s reporting schedule. Copyright Clause: The consultant has to ensure that she/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform her/his 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) • Advanced university degree in Economics, Development Studies, International Trade, Business Administration, or a related field. A relevant combination of education and experience may be considered as equivalent. Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. • Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. • A minimum of 5 years • Experience in international trade, regional integration, or capacity-building initiatives is highly desirable. • In-depth knowledge of Tunisia’s economic environment, including trade policies, key industries, regulatory frameworks, and institutional structures. • Demonstrated experience working with business support organizations (BSOs), and private sector stakeholders in the implementation of trade or development projects. Skills: • Proven organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and competing deadlines while ensuring the smooth operation of the project. • Ability to facilitate meetings, workshops, and training sessions, and to manage the logistics of events efficiently and in providing logistical support, including event planning, resource coordination, and ensuring that project activities are carried out according to schedule. • Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively work in a multicultural environment and interact with a variety of stakeholders, including government officials, private sector representatives, international organizations, and local partners.
