Manager, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion

About Afreximbank African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade.

For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries to effectively participate in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2023, Afreximbank’s total assets and guarantees stood at over US$37.3 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$6.1 billion. The Bank disbursed more than US$104 billion between 2016 and 2023. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure, (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

The position holder will assist and support the Director, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, to implement specific interventions that seek to market or promote the flow of trade and investment between and among African countries and between Africa and Africans in Diaspora.

This will include the following:

• supporting African Governments, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to promote trade and investment initiatives and programmes;
• supporting African corporates to explore investment opportunities through business matchmaking, trade missions and forums;
• supporting the emergence of Business Councils as an effective means of encouraging business exchanges between and among African countries towards promoting Intra-African trade and investments;
• supporting the conceptualization, planning and implementation of the Intra-African Trade Fairs, which is also a platform for facilitating Intra-African trade and investment information exchange, bringing together continental and global players to showcase their goods and services, and explore business and investment opportunities in Africa;
• support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Investment Protocol. The candidate will also be expected to participate in the AfCFTA negotiations on Investments.
• collaborating with Export Promotion Agencies, supporting research and promotion of African Direct Investments, preparing annual work plans and budgets, promoting the Intra-African Trade Fair IATF), and representing the Bank in high-level meetings among others.

Duties and Responsibilities
As Manager, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, your duties and responsibilities include:

• Develop and manage relationships with organised private sector focused on promoting Intra-African trade and investment and FDI (e.g. Bilateral Business Councils, the African Business Council (AfBC), Pan-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Country-Africa and Regional Business Councils);
• Support the effective use of the exhibition spaces at Afreximbank-African Trade Centres;
• Identify African countries that the Bank will provide business and match-making support towards attracting investments in order to promote the inflow of African Direct Investments and FDI. In this instance, the Bank will promote and organize missions to African countries and RECs with select African businesses and in particular, the Bank’s Intra-African Trade Champions;
• Develop a programme to support and strengthen Trade and Investmen Promotion initiatives of Regional Economic Communities (RECs);
• Play an active role in organizing trade and investment promotion activities in Africa, especially those directed towards intra-regional trade and investments;
• Supporting the Bank to ensure the implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment,
• Supporting programmes of Export Promotion Agencies, Investment Promotion Agencies, Business Councils etc., that give them a platform to exhibit their cultural, trade and investment opportunities;
• Assist in the organization of programmes that support the promotion of the Bank’s programmes and facilities;
• Support related research work and policy briefs as may be required to boost knowledge on African Direct Investments and related themes.
• Assist with implement the Intra-African Trade Fairs (IATF):
• Preparing an annual Intra-African Trade Fair Work Plan and Budget for Management’s Approval;
• Implementing activities in the approved work plan relating to the preparation and organization of biennial trade fairs with key focus on:
• Exhibitions;
• IATF Conference;
• Business to Business and Business to Government Exchanges;
• Virtual Trade Fair;
• The African Sub-Sovereign Investment Conference
• Creative Economy and Youth Start-Up programme;
• Automotive show;
• African Research and Innovation hub
• The Global Africa Day
• Marketing and Promotional activities; and
• Sponsorship Mobilization and Fulfillment.
• Support the development of policies and guidelines for Afreximbank’ s participation in third party Trade Fairs and Exhibitions including country solo exhibitions;
• Work with Trade Fair Organisers to ensure that the key performance targets, both Physical and Virtual Trade Fairs are met;
• As may be delegated by Senior Management, representing the Bank in high level meetings, fora and making presentations in conformity with the high standards for which the Bank has become known;
• Carry out any other work related to the Intra-African Trade Fair and Exhibitions Unit; and
• Developing and managing relationships with the private sector to promote intra-African trade and investment.
• Preparing an annual Investment Promotion, and Intra-African Trade Fair Work Plan and Budget
• Developing and organising programs, training workshops, seminars to support trade and investment promotion,
• Supporting the implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment
• Assisting in the organization of programs that promote the Bank's programmes and facilities.
• Developing policies and guidelines for Afreximbank's participation in Investment missions, fairs and exhibitions, solo exhibitions;
• Provide institutional framework support to investment promotions authorities, business support organisations and Regional Economic Communities.
• Supporting related surveys, developing data collection tools, policy briefs, and investment profiles

Organisation of the Intra-African Trade Fair and Exhibitions Unit; and

1. Collaboration: Collaborate with other departments, such as legal and risk management, to ensure comprehensive risk assessment and compliance with internal policies.
2. Other responsibilities: Any other duties may be assigned from time to time by the Bank.
3. Compliance Responsibilities:

• Understand and adhere to the Bank's AML, Regulatory and Conduct Compliance policies and procedures, notably:
• Staff Handbook (has code of conduct provisions)
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter Financing of Terrorism and Counter Proliferation Financing
• Conflicts of Interest and Policies on Staff Involvement in External Engagements/Activities
• Anti-Bribery & Corruption
• Insider Trading Guidelines
• Report any suspicious or non-compliant activities or matters relating to the Bank’s staff or the customers to the Compliance Department.
• Complete the Annual Compliance Training/Assessment.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and post graduate degree in Economics, Social Sciences, International Trade, Public Policy, or other related disciplines from a recognized University;
• A recognized post graduate professional qualification in a relevant area will be an advantage;

Years & Nature of Experience

• Sound experience of at least 8 years with a relevant company which may be a leading trade policy/promotion organization, think tank, or development/international finance institution, events organisation and familiarity with the practical solutions on aspects of trade facilitation including trade and investment promotion (especially Intra-African Trade and Investment), trade missions, business match-making etc.;
• Demonstrated experience in trade facilitation, trade promotion, organising trade and investment promotion events, Business to Business/Government Exchanges and business linkages;
• Demonstrated experience of general trade and investment issues within the continent (e.g. regional blocs, AfCFTA etc.);
• Knowledge of the role of trade and market information in terms of facilitating Intra-African Trade and investment;
• Ability to communicate and function in a culturally diverse and change oriented setting with good knowledge of banking practices in Africa;
• Ability to interact with senior officials of national, regional and international trade and investment bodies and national governments and to represent the Bank in important professional fora where oral presentation of papers will be necessary to high level technical and professional audiences;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of the Bank's other working languages is an added advantage (French, Arabic and Portuguese);
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including ability to organize and manage human resources to attain goals; and
• Ability to demonstrate proof of passion and commitment to the socio-economic empowerment of African countries and the ability to support the achievement of Afreximbank’ s mandate.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

PROFICIENCY

• Experienced professional managing processes, coordinating resources, and producing technical material

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

• Acts as a subject matter expert within own area, providing technical guidance to colleagues across Afreximbank Group while maintaining required integrity.
• Coaches, motivates and mentors junior colleagues. May have formal line management responsibilities for a limited number of junior professionals and clerical staff.
• Identifies and addresses training needs for the team, including preparing and delivering training programmes as directed by senior management.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Proactively builds and manages effective working relationships and networks both internally and (where relevant) externally at different organizational levels to support project outcomes.
• Influences decisions at functional level and may support external negotiations.
• Sharing complex technical information to diverse audiences in a clear and concise manner for purposes of driving results and promote a learning culture.

PROBLEM SOLVING & BUSINESS IMPACT SUPPORTING

• Solves more complex non-routine problems based on sound critical analysis, technical knowledge and prior experience, whilst considering the potential long-term consequences and benefits of different courses of action.
• Acts with flexibility as a first escalation point for technical issues encountered by junior colleagues.
• Impacts own function by managing a specific area or sub-function, sometimes inputting to functional strategy and policies and providing technical guidance across the organization.

AFREXIMBANK MANDATE

• Has a substantial understanding of Afreximbank Group’s products and services and how own area contributes to Afreximbank Group’s values and mission.
• Has good knowledge of the continent and African diaspora’s political, economic and trade landscape and is able to offer well informed opinions on the subject internally and to external counterparts.
• Identifies practical ways in which Afreximbank Group’s values and mission can be cascaded to junior colleagues and external parties.

Behavioural Competencies - Afreximbank’s Core Values:

• Commitment to Africa and supporting the emancipation and empowerment of Africans
• Uncompromising integrity
• Passion for Learning and Drive
• Teamwork
• Trust and Respect for the Individual
• Innovation, Excellence and Flexibility
• Professionalism and Responsiveness

KEY INTERACTIONS
Internal

• Collaborate with other departments including TCIF, EXDE, CRDI, TRIN, LEGA, ARTP, CLRE, etc.

External

• Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), Clients, RECs, AfCFTA, Chambers of Commerce etc.