International Trade Centre is looking for a Lead Expert, Responsible Business Conduct and Value Chains

Position title: Lead Expert, Responsible Business Conduct and Value Chains

Organization: International Trade Centre

Location: GENEVA

Level: CON - CON

Job Family: PGM

Application Deadline: 21 March 2026 at 03:59 UTC

Job Opening Number: 26-International Trade Centre-273469-Consultant

Apply via: UN Inspira Portal

Result of Service

All outputs must be completed by 30 September 2026.

• Reporting: Six (6) monthly progress reports (April – September 2026) and corresponding attendance records.
• Output 1: Deliver capacity-building activities on HREDD, RBC, and ESG sustainability in selected countries, in coordination with partners and stakeholders.
• Output 2: Provide written technical direction and inputs for ACP and CLEAR Project implementation, including regular donor/partner updates.
• Output 3: Implement the 2026 work plan for CLEAR/ACP local teams and provide technical guidance on HREDD-related activities.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

01.04.26 - 30.09.026

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization for trade-related technical cooperation in developing countries. The Green & Inclusive Value Chains section (GIVC) within the Division for Sustainable and Inclusive Trade (DSIT) is responsible for sector-wide transformation, improving market linkages and private sector competitiveness linked to responsible production and consumption, climate resilience, food security, sustainable standards, and market systems. The section utilizes the Alliances for Action (A4A) methodologies to implement projects in its Inclusive and Sustainable Agribusiness value chains areas of work. The Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (OLAC), as a geographical section of the Division of Country Programmes (DCP), is responsible for defining the ITC strategy and coordinating all regional interventions for individual countries or at the sub-regional and regional levels The A4A is a participatory partnership model that focuses on increasing the competitiveness of MSMES, smallholder farmers and value chain actors while ensuring respect of environmental, economic, and social requirements. A4A seeks to develop responsible, inclusive and sustainable trade by aligning investment and coordination across the full ecosystem of VC actors and by building competitiveness especially in agribusiness. The establishment of partnerships and networks is an essential underlying element of the A4A approach as it contributes to mobilise collaboration, expertise and investment into the alliances along with sustainability of the approach over time. With A4A, ITC aims at achieving resilience and growth for farmers and MSMEs through more mindful and responsible trade, production and consumption systems and improved opportunities to compete on a global market. This includes building resilience and competitiveness of MSMEs, and enabling sustainable market linkages and value addition. The Alliances for Action A4A Service Centre intends to support the scaling of the Alliances for Action (A4A) approach by expanding partnerships and networks and by supporting knowledge dissemination and innovation. When implemented in ITC projects or programs, A4A seeks to develop responsible, inclusive and sustainable trade by aligning investment and coordination across the full ecosystem of VC actors and by building competitiveness. Through adopting participatory partnership models, the A4A team engages smallholder farmers and MSMEs in order to manage risk and facilitate networks that provide the required technical expertise and capacity building.

Piloting Innovative alliances to address root causes of Child labour in supply chains (CLEAR Supply Chains)

The "Ending child labour in supply chains: Addressing the root causes of child labour in supply chains through an area-based approach" (CLEAR Supply Chains) project, co-funded by the European Union, brings together the International Trade Centre (ITC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to address jointly the root causes of child labour, with a focus on the coffee and cobalt supply chains. ITC aims to provide support to farmer organizations and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the implementation of strategy options for increasing commercial value, sustainability, Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) alignment and incomes for smallholder farmers in the coffee supply chain and associated crops. The aim is not only to increase but also to diversify farmers, miners and MSMEs income, through product and market diversification targeting value addition, products and associated crops. This project will promote resilient and sustainable global value chains for all by providing strong accompanying support, especially for supply chain actors in producer countries where the most salient adverse impacts occur. Hence, training and technical guidance will be provided to advance market development aligned with HREDD and to de-risk investment, in the selected supply chains for all relevant actors, including farmers’ organizations, miners and MSMEs.

The African Caribbean Pacific Business Friendly Programme

The “Support to Business Friendly and Inclusive National and Regional Policies and Strengthening Productive Capabilities and Value Chains” Programme aims to complement the European Union support for private sector development in ACP countries. With major focus on the development of agriculture and agri-business value chains, the Programme is designed to achieve two key outcomes: (1) adopting and implementing business-friendly, inclusive and responsible national policies and legal frameworks, and (2) strengthening productive, processing, promoting and marketing capabilities and value chains. ITC is collaborating with UNIDO and the World Bank in the implementation of the program. ITC will lead the implementation of the micro pillar level of the Programme, which will focus on two core themes: 1) Promoting inclusive productive and commercial Alliances and investment to strengthen VC governance and MSMEs competitiveness; and 2) Increase small farmers and processors value addition, productivity and competitiveness. To support European, African, Caribbean and Pacific policymakers and VC operators including MSMEs, the EU and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat have partnered with ITC to implement practical bottom-up accompanying measures to human rights and environmental due diligence requirements. The process is being led through the Alliances for Action methodology and is part of the EU-OACPS Rapid Response Window under the ACP Business Friendly Program.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Inclusive Agribusiness Systems and Programme Officer (Alliances for Action), and in coordination with project managers and partners, the International Consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Provide technical direction and coordination to local teams and partners to implement HREDD accompanying support with focus on the Alliances for Action approach in the above-mentioned projects (technical direction and coordination relates to mainstreaming sustainability – environmental, social and economic – in the scaling-up of practical modalities to enhance capacities of sector stakeholders at country level)
• Collaborate with key partners and with sector stakeholders, other agencies and other ITC Sections, for the refinement of a comprehensive approach on RBC/HREDD accompanying support
• With private sector buyers and value chain operators in particular, provide technical direction to inclusive partnerships in the area of ESG sustainability, HREDD and RBC
• Advise, support and analyze project implementation in particular with respect to the EU frameworks on RBC and HREDD and more in general with respect to sustainability and inclusiveness; review relevant documents and reports; identify problems and issues to be addressed
• Support the co-creation of interventions related to accompanying measures to facilitate and guide the dialogue at global level through the A4A network, together with local teams, partners and other experts
• Based on the outputs of the company-level due diligence readiness assessments, organize and implement training workshops seminars and outreach activities (including TOT to support institutions, local teams and directly to SMEs/cooperatives), on the topics of sustainability, RBC and HREDD in the agri-food and mining sectors, and on the Alliances for Action Approach.
• Organize and prepare written outputs, e.g. inputs to publications, draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, etc. (including annual reports, steering committee presentations etc.)
• Provide substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
• Participate and/or lead in field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties in the areas of responsible business conduct and value chains and drafting mission summaries.
• Prepare and implement methodologies and knowledge products in relation to the above-mentioned projects

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

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, law, development studies, agricultural engineering, business administration or related field.
• Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in responsible business conduct, value chain development, project management, policy, sustainability, due diligence, development (including knowledge of agri-business and participatory approaches)
• Experience in sustainability, policy and inclusiveness.

Skills:

• Demonstrated track record in supporting the implementation of participatory and inclusive approaches in the context of capacity building, development projects and policy
• Knowledge trade development, trade promotion, due diligence policies, needs and opportunities for developing countries and SMEs
• Demonstrated excellent report writing capacities
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, efficiency, competence and integrity and in harmony with people from different backgrounds
• Good understanding of international development project functioning and dynamics

Languages

Advanced knowledge of English. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage

Additional Information

Not available.

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