Customs Administration Advisor at East Africa Technical Assistance Center

Customs Administration Advisor – East Africa Technical Assistance Center (East AFRITAC), based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (
Job Number: 1900956)
Description

The Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is seeking to recruit a resident customs administration advisor at the East Africa Regional Technical Assistance Center (East AFRITAC), based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. East AFRITAC is a multi-donor financed Center of the IMF. It provides capacity development (CD, i.e., technical assistance and training) in economic and financial management through six program streams covering tax and customs administration, public financial management, financial sector regulation and supervision, financial sector stability, statistics and macro-economics. It covers eight countries in the region, namely Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan (from May 1, 2020), Tanzania (including Zanzibar), and Uganda. It also provides direct support to the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, for instance on the implementation of the EAC’s Single Customs Territory.

The appointment term would be for a period of one year, on a renewable basis, subject to satisfactory performance and continued business needs. It is expected that the advisor would remain in the position for a minimum of two years and may be extended up to a maximum of four years.

East AFRITAC is supporting its member countries with their revenue reform initiatives. The resident customs administration advisor will assist these countries with the development and implementation of customs administration reforms, while ensuring consistency with FAD-recommended customs reform strategies that headquarters missions help the authorities design. His/her primary responsibilities will include: (1) consulting with the revenue authorities of the member countries and the EAC Secretariat, and supporting the center coordinator in developing and monitoring the East AFRITAC work plan, which dovetails with the FAD workplan for the region; (2) providing technical and operational advice on customs administration reforms and helping implement such advice, as needed and based on advice that the FAD has provided through its missions and workshops; (3) helping prepare and deliver customs administration workshops and training courses for East AFRITAC members; (4) providing coordinating and logistical support to short-term customs administration experts recruited to deliver CD to East AFRITAC member countries; (5) managing the East AFRITAC customs administration program (in close coordination with the resident tax administration advisor), which entails: preparing work plans and budgets, ensuring work plans for each country, and any regional initiatives, are fully consistent with and support the implementation of FAD-recommended reform initiatives; monitoring, reporting, accounting for progress towards outcomes through a results based management framework; (6) working and cooperating closely with the EAC Secretariat and regional customs administration organizations; (7) coordinating with other CD providers working in the region and their experts; and (8) contributing to East AFRITAC’s corporate activities (e.g., annual reports and outreach activities).

The technical and operational skills and qualifications required for this position include a high level of knowledge in the following areas:
• The legislative and regulatory environment for customs, including international agreements and standards.
• Organization, strategic planning and management of a customs agency/department.
• The use of information technology and new digital tools and applications to support customs administration operations.
• The whole range of customs administration technical procedures and controls.
• Policies and activities in the field of customs enforcement and compliance.
• The contribution of customs to trade facilitation and regional integration.
• Familiarity with tax and trade policies and regulations.
• International good practices in customs administration.

Qualifications
Applicants should have extensive practical experience in the core operations of a customs administration and have spent a minimum of 5 years in a senior management position within a customs administration. Preference will be given to applicants who have broad experience in managing customs operations; have participated in developing and implementing customs administration reform programs within their administrations or internationally, including introducing new digital tools and technologies to improve customs operations; have experience in technical and operational capacity building in customs administration, such as participating in relevant CD activities, developing and conducting training interventions (including seminars, workshops, and online training) and mentoring customs administration staff; have experience in managing or overseeing CD delivery and coordinating with other CD providers and donors; and are aware of the issues and challenges facing customs administration reforms in the African and other regions.

General requirements for candidates include:

• A university degree in a relevant field and extensive experience in administration and management of international trade taxes.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to work as part of a team, to maintain effective and cooperative relations with national authorities and with donors, and to handle sensitive issues with discretion in a multicultural environment.
• Full proficiency in English.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, particularly presentational capabilities to deliver effective seminars and training events.
• Strong organizational and planning skills with ability to effectively and flexibly manage budget and other resources, ensuring timing and quality compliance with reporting requirements while working with considerable autonomy.
• Familiarity with modern computer systems, applications software, and digital innovations to support customs operations.
• Previous experience of capacity building in the customs administration area (such as participating in customs administration CD activities and organizing and conducting training courses and workshops) would be an advantage.
• A willingness to travel extensively in the region is required.

Successful applicants who are not selected for this position may be eligible to join the FAD panel of customs administration experts, from which individuals are recruited for short-term assignments focusing on specific areas.

Assumption of duty is expected to be May 1, 2020.

The IMF is committed to achieving a diverse staff, including gender, nationality, culture and educational background.

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