Project Assistant – ECOTRADE Project (M/W)

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Mission Description

With approximately 132 million inhabitants and a rapidly growing population (+2.5% per year), Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous country. Its economy is one of the fastest growing in the region, with an estimated 8.1% growth rate in 2023/24.

The recent launch of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement provides a transformative opportunity for regional integration and growth. This project addresses structural weaknesses and limited private sector engagement by promoting intra-African trade, supporting economic integration, and fostering sustainable growth in line with Ethiopia’s Home-Grown Economic Reform Agenda (HGER), AU’s Agenda 2063, and the UN SDGs.

Project Description

This EU-funded project focuses on supporting the advancement and implementation of the AfCFTA in Ethiopia with a focus on a private-led value chain development approach to increasing intra-African trade, promoting greater economic integration, sustainable growth, and creating jobs.

The project operates across five specific objectives:

• Objective 1: Active private sector engagement alongside the government.
• Objective 2: Integration of regional value chains and facilitation of trade/transport connectivity, with a focus on women’s participation.
• Objective 3: Technical support to relevant authorities in the implementation of the AfCFTA.
• Objective 4: Capacity building and support for academic and research institutions.
• Objective 5: Strengthening Ethiopia’s capacity to implement the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol (DTP).

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Key Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Deputy Team Leader and in coordination with the Project Officer, the Project Assistant will carry out the following activities in strict compliance with Expertise France procedures:

Administrative & Operational Support

• Lead the maintenance and efficient usage of the Team’s shared digital storage space (Wimi).
• Serve as the Project’s focal point to the Country Office’s Finance, Logistics, and Procurement & Contracting teams, providing all required documentation for processing requests.
• Manage the Project Team’s calendar, schedule appointments, and coordinate meetings.
• Support the team with task prioritization, formal correspondence, and stakeholder engagement.
• Draft comprehensive meeting notes and track action items agreed upon during sessions.

Project Implementation & Research

• Conduct desk-based research to inform strategic project decision-making.
• Provide ad hoc administrative support aligned with the Project Activity Plan and evolving team needs.

Logistics & Event Management

• Support logistical planning for Project events, workshops, and official missions in collaboration with the Country Office Procurement Team.
• Liaise with external service providers (venues, caterers, transport) to ensure smooth event delivery.
• Provide necessary on-the-ground administrative support during live events.

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Required Profile

Qualifications and Skills:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs, Business Management, Economics, or a related field (ongoing studies acceptable).
• Technical Literacy: Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook is required. Knowledge of other collaborative digital work tools is necessary.
• Strong organizational skills, flexibility, and the ability to work independently in a multicultural environment.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, analytical, writing, and summarization abilities.

Professional Experience:

• Required: Previous experience as a Project Assistant is strongly required (minimum of 1 year of experience).
• Desired: Experience working with an international development partner or on donor-funded projects (EU, Expertise France, AFD, GIZ, etc.) is highly advantageous.

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Application Deadline

May 27, 2026, at 14:22

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