Call for Vacancy Applications: Trade Facilitator

Swisscontact in Kosovo is looking for three (3) Trade Facilitators for the following sectors where the project is active: furniture, apparel, and rural tourism. This vacancy is part of Swisscontact’s Fostering Employment and Growth Opportunities (FEGO) project. The overall objective of the project is to generate employment and income for women, men, and youth, presently living in poverty and socio-economic marginalization. This is intended to be achieved through sustainable and scalable growth of micro/small (family) businesses and start-ups in the apparel, furniture, and rural tourism sectors. The FEGO project is financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and implemented by Swisscontact. This is a four-year project, which started in January 2022.

Following an expansion of project activities targeting export promotion, with a focus exclusively on Sweden, the project is hiring three (3) Trade Facilitators who will support the preparation and implementation of activities in the furniture, apparel and rural tourism sectors, focusing on export promotion activities that align with the FEGO project’s objectives. Key responsibilities include implementation of project activities such as supporting fair participation, organizing events, facilitating trade linkages, and building partnerships with private sector actors. Additional key functions of a facilitator include developing and updating market strategies, regular assessment of sector and stakeholders, conducting due diligence on market actors, and monitoring and measuring the impact of project activities. This role is crucial for fostering sector growth and ensuring successful project outcomes.

Key Responsibilities of the Trade Facilitators:

• Implements, coordinates, and monitors activities in the respective sector (furniture, apparel, and rural tourism), with a focus on facilitating export promotion activities such as businesses’ participation in international tourism fairs, business-to-business (B2B) meetings, and events.
• Continuously identify and design targeted interventions to address specific needs and gaps within the respective sector.
• Regularly conduct market sector assessments for strategy development, including active review of literature and field investigation, and continuously update comprehensive market strategy for the respective sectors, identifying key trends, opportunities, and challenges.
• Prepares project documents such as intervention concept notes, including business models, calculations, and other relevant criteria.
• Engage in the continuous mapping of market actors and maintain a network of core value chain actors, service providers, and regulatory framework actors.
• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with private sector actors and stakeholders, including business member associations, municipalities, etc.
• Supports partners in the implementation of interventions and ensures continuous monitoring and results measurement of sector interventions as per Swisscontact standards and project requirements.
• Mainstreams cross-cutting issues, including the integration of women, minorities, and environment-related topics.
• Apply the Market System Development approach throughout project implementation.
• Actively and continuously coordinate tasks and activities with the project team.

Minimum requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, social studies, or other relevant disciplines
• A minimum of 4 years of professional experience in a similar position
• Excellent analytical, writing, spoken communication, and presentation skills in English and Albanian
• Knowledge of market development methodologies is an advantage; preferably has undertaken training on Inclusive Markets/Market System Development approach
• Experience with private sector development/market access/business development services
• Ability to analyze data
• Ability to travel extensively in Kosovo and abroad
• Ability to act independently and take initiative
• Excellent interpersonal skills and team player
• Knowledge of and/or experience in the furniture, apparel and rural tourism sectors and/or entrepreneurship is an advantage.
• A driving license and the ability to drive

How to Apply:

Please submit your CV and motivation letter to [email protected].
When applying, please indicate the sector of interest (furniture, apparel, or rural tourism) for the Trade Facilitator position in the email subject line. Additionally, please provide the contact details of three professional references.

Application deadline: 15.09.2024

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Further general information on the FEGO project can be obtained from our website: www.fego-kosovo.org/