International Trade Centre is looking for a Senior Consultant (ESG and Value Chain Due Diligence; French-speaking)

Application Deadline: 01 June 2026 at 03:59 UTC

Level: CON - CON

Job Family: PGM

Job Opening Number: 26-International Trade Centre-277892-Consultant

Apply via: UN Inspira Portal

Work Location: home-based

Expected duration: 12 months from ASAP

Result of Service

• Output 1, by 31st July 2026: Expert technical inputs and coaching conducted for approximately 15 cooperatives/ SMEs in Uganda (coffee), Honduras (coffee) and DRC (cobalt) in implementation of accompanying measures
• Output 2, by 30th September 2026: Cohort-level summary report developed for ASEAN SCOPE Trade cohort based on results of due diligence assessments, Presentation of assessment results to ASEAN cohort conducted; and Capacity building resources curated
• Output 3, by 30th November 2026: Due diligence framework concept notes developed for selected value chains under the ASEAN Scope project; and expert technical inputs provided on due diligence Readiness assessments, individual action plans and capacity building priorities
• Output 4, by 31st January 2027: Expert technical inputs delivered for coaching for approximately 15 cooperatives/ SMEs in Uganda (cocoa), Ghana (cocoa) and Ethiopia in implementation of accompanying measures to due diligence systems, living incomes and environmental impact, among others
• Output 5, by 31st March 2027: Expert technical inputs provided to design and implement capacity building sessions for RBC Africa cohorts
• Output 6, by 31st May 2027: Regular participation in coordination meetings and technical backstopping provided for all companies and cohorts; expert technical insights and sharing of experience in relation to the implementation of ITC’s work on accompanying measures provided; Ongoing progress reporting on capacity building and implementation provided.

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. Green and Inclusive Value Chains Section (GIVC) is responsible for developing and disseminating sector level expertise for sustainable market driven solutions in ITC, including the Alliances for Action (A4A) methodology and Responsible Business Conduct approach.

The approaches engage smallholder farmers and MSMEs to manage risks and facilitate networks that provide the required technical expertise and capacity building to transform food systems and advance the Sustainable Development Goals through partnerships that cultivate ethical, climate smart, sustainable value chains.

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 in global markets. This includes building resilience and competitiveness of MSMEs and enabling sustainable market linkages and value addition.

Piloting Innovative alliances to address root causes of Child labour in 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 Labour Organization (ILO) as the leading UN agency, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to address jointly the root causes of child labour, with a primarily focus on the coffee supply chain.

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 and MSMEs income, through product and market diversification targeting value addition, coffee 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 coffee and other supply chain for all relevant actors, including farmers’ organizations 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 pilot practical bottom-up case studies on accompanying measures to mandatory 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.

ASEAN SCOPE Trade Project

The overall objective (impact) of the 5-year project is to improve sustainable connectivity between the EU and ASEAN, and within ASEAN with a focus on trade, economic connectivity and sustainable value chains.

The specific objective (outcome) of the project is to improve regulatory frameworks, dialogue and institutional capacities in key areas of trade and economic connectivity with a focus on resilient, socially, economically and environmentally sustainable value chains and on better conditions for trade and investment flows.

The three outputs of the project are:

• Output 1: Improved policies and regulatory environment for fair and sustainable market, trade and investment in ASEAN;
• Output 2: Improved capacities of ASEAN for digital connectivity;
• Output 3: Increased knowledge and capacities for ensuring environmental, economic and social value chain sustainability among ASEAN/ASEAN Member States institutions and the private sector.

Output 3.4 focuses upon providing capacity building to actors and MSMEs along specific value chains, to understand and adapt to Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence requirements and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D).

Responsible Business Conduct in Africa

The project Responsible Business Conduct in Africa aims to strengthen aims to the capacity of value chain across 11 African countries by aligning national policies, business practices, and value chains with EU and international standards on due diligence, sustainability, labour rights, and corporate accountability. The Overall Objective of this action is to promote smart and inclusive growth and sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by supporting responsible business practices, in line with existing internationally agreed standards and frameworks set out in the UN, ILO and OECD instruments and taking into account EU regulatory and policy developments on RBC.

The project seeks to enhance compliance with emerging EU regulations, support economic diversification, promote decent work, and improve the competitiveness of African enterprises in regional and global markets. The Project will address increasing regulatory expectations from the EU on sustainability, due diligence, deforestation, forced labour, carbon border measures, and financial disclosure; low awareness and limited capacity of African SMEs and institutions to meet these requirements risking loss of market access; weak governance, limited enforcement capacity, civic space restrictions, and lack of access to remedy mechanisms; structural economic challenges including high informality, youth unemployment, gender inequality, reliance on primary commodities, weak infrastructure, and low digitalization; human rights and environmental risks linked to extractive industries and other high-risk sectors; and the need for stronger integration of RBC standards in trade, investment, and industrial policies under AfCFTA and AU frameworks.

The project is jointly implemented by ITC, ILO, OHCHR, OECD and UNDP to promote smart and inclusive growth and sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by supporting responsible business practices, in line with existing internationally agreed standards and frameworks set out in the UN, ILO and OECD instruments and taking into account EU regulatory and policy developments on RBC. For ITC, the implementation is being led through the Alliances for Action methodology, starting with a six (6) month inception phase. Assignment by the consultant under this project is subject to the signature of the project.

For these projects, capacity building on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) and Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) is of central importance. For HREDD to be effective, a system of shared responsibility must be adopted to identify, prevent, mitigate and remediate risks and harms. In addition, the focus should go beyond non-compliance to identify areas of improvement in sourcing, procurement and production practices that would prevent risk and harms, following holistic approach that ensures that value chain actors, particularly MSMEs, are not left behind in the practical implementation of HREDD systems to drive competitiveness and resilience.

In this regard, ITC is seeking a senior consultant to provide expert inputs to the formulation and implementation responsible business conduct and due diligence across projects.

Description of Duties/Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Inclusive Agribusiness Systems (DSIT/GIVC) and direct supervision Programme Officer (Alliances for Action) and in close collaboration with RBC project teams both in country and HQ; the Senior Consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

1. As per agreed capacity building plans, provide expert inputs to coaching for approximately 15 cooperatives/ SMEs in Uganda (coffee), Honduras (coffee) and DRC (cobalt) in implementation of accompanying measures to due diligence systems, living incomes and environmental impact, among others, under the CLEAR Supply Chains project
2. As per agreed capacity building plans, provide expert inputs to coaching for approximately 20 cooperatives/ SMEs in Uganda (cocoa), Ghana (cocoa) and Ethiopia(coffee), Mozambique (coffee), Cameroon ( coffee) in implementation of accompanying measures to due diligence systems, living incomes and environmental impact, among others, under the ACP Project
3. Provide expert technical inputs to the development of a Concept note for Output 3.4 of the ASEAN SCOPE Trade Project
4. Develop Due Diligence Framework concept notes for selected value chains under the ASEAN Scope Trade Project
5. Provide expert technical inputs to Readiness assessments, individual action plans (15-20) and capacity building priorities for ASEAN Scope Trade cohort
6. Develop cohort-level summary report based on results of due diligence assessments and Presentation of assessment results to ASEAN cohort
7. Curate capacity building resources for ASEAN Scope Trade cohort in close collaboration with regional team and counterparts, including technical inputs to ToT manuals and supporting documents
8. Provide expert

While we do our best in sharing high quality job postings, Jobs in Geneva can't guarantee or be made responsible for the content in the postings (e.g. specified deadlines or links).