International Development Group Hiring for Apparel Sector Specialist- Pakistan Job at Pakistan Full Time

IDG Job Description

Apparel Sector Specialist

LOE: STTA, 30 days

Estimated Period of Performance: 6 months after start date

Position Description:

IDG is seeking qualified candidates for the role of Apparel Sector Specialist on the Indo-Pacific Opportunities Project (IPOP). IPOP is a 4-year, regional activity, that provides the Asia Bureau Washington and Regional Missions with a flexible on-demand mechanism to facilitate rapid, sustainable, and equitable economic growth by enabling USAID to bring a systems approach to addressing PFM objectives under the Indo-Pacific Strategy. IPOP will implement activities that improve the macroeconomic policy environment to promote sustainable economic growth and prosperity, improved regional economic cooperation, sound management of institutions, and good governance while also leveling the playing field for business in the region.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on global supply-chains, disrupting trade and investment, putting frontline workers at risk, and eliminating the jobs of millions of workers, especially women. The garment sector in Asia has been among the most-affected industries, challenged by constraints on supply and demand that arose from stay-at-home orders, temporary closures of businesses, and stoppages in production. In 2020, USAID signed a memorandum of understanding with a consortium of companies and industry associations to work together over to alleviate hardships faced by garment sector workers in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Such efforts, in collaboration with local partners, will aim to create a more resilient garment sector and workforce, enhance the rights and welfare of workers in factories, and empower women.

Under IPOP, the Apparel Sector Specialist will support efforts to develop in-country assessments on current trends in the garment industry and apparel trade. Country assessments will inform a greater understanding of issues and opportunities to address supply chain traceability, worker safety, worker rights and protections, labor policies and enforcement, and ethical sourcing of inputs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Under the direction of the Project Manager, lead consultation with relevant in-country stakeholders to include chambers of commerce, business associations, NGOs, private firms, and international cooperating partners (for example, ILO).
• Conduct mapping of relevant NGOs, labor unions, buyers, and suppliers in-country, including the use of sub-contractors.
• Conduct cross-section analysis on worker safety, child labor, trafficking, worker rights to association, and COVID-19 pandemic context.
• Work closely with Gender Specialist to ensure gender equality and women’s economic empowerment approaches are well integrated into country assessments and recommendations.
• Conduct analysis of sourcing of cotton from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and issues with traceability.
• Identify potential opportunities for USAID to leverage existing private sector and international governmental and non-government organizations initiatives.
• Document lessons learned and the potential for leveraging improved practices along the supply chain.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree with 10 years of relevant experience or Master’s degree with seven years of relevant work experience in development, economics, supply chain management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise and knowledge of supply chain management, garment sector, and apparel trade in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Ability to read and comprehend legal documents, such as contracts or import/export agreements.
• Professional experience working with USAID and familiarity with reporting requirements and formats.
• Excellent teamwork, inter-personal, verbal, and written communication, presentation, and facilitation skills. Demonstrated ability to collaborate and build lasting relationships with external parties.
• Experience designing and leading co-creation processes preferred.
• Fluency in written and spoken English required.

Company Description:

International Development Group LLC (IDG) is an international development consulting firm that assists donors, governments, and the private sector to create and take advantage of opportunities for sustainable, broad-based economic development and poverty reduction. IDG provides entrepreneurs and policymakers with the practical tools needed to achieve real and measurable impact for their communities and countries. IDG assistance programs aim to build the capacity, skills, and knowledge of local individuals and institutions in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, fostering synergies between local knowledge and international experience.