Senior Industrial Corridor Development Consultant

About the Organization

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty and hunger reduction, inclusive and fair globalization and environmental sustainability. UNIDO's mission, as described in the Lima Declaration (2013), the Abu Dhabi Declaration (2019) and the Riyadh Declaration (2025), is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. UNIDO's mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9.

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) is responsible for UNIDO's relations with Member States and all external partners. The Division of Regional Bureaus and Field Coordination (GLO/RFO) coordinates the field representation and interventions of UNIDO in Member States and regions. This position is located under the Regional Bureau for Africa (GLO/RFO/AFR).

Job Summary

The purpose of the assignment is to provide senior technical leadership for the initial development of the Mano River Union Strategic Economic and Industrial Corridor (MRU–SEIC) and its linkage to the broader West Africa SEIC approach and WAIIS investment architecture. The consultant will consolidate existing evidence, undertake corridor diagnostics, prepare the initial industrial and spatial framework, develop a structured regional investment portfolio, design governance and project-preparation mechanisms, support the Ministerial Forum and WAIIS, and establish a phased pathway for implementation, financing, monitoring and institutionalization.

Key Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Chief of the Regional Bureau for Africa and the day-to-day coordination of the designated GLO/RFO/AFR MRU Programme Focal Point, the consultant will work in close cooperation with relevant UNIDO technical divisions, field offices and approved regional and national counterparts, and will undertake the following duties:

1. Inception, coordination and immediate event preparation

• Review relevant policies, studies, programmes, data and investment pipelines.
• Confirm the MRU corridor geography and map institutions, sponsors, partners and stakeholders.
• Establish the methodology, evidence plan, consultations, missions, quality assurance and risk arrangements.
• Coordinate inputs from UNIDO, MRU, Member States, ECOWAS, PI-CREF/WAIIS and partners.
• Prepare an accelerated plan for the Ministerial Forum and WAIIS, including project-submission and screening arrangements.

2. West Africa SEIC Framework, Ministerial Forum and WAIIS

• Prepare the draft West Africa SEIC principles/framework and position MRU–SEIC as an initial demonstration corridor.
• Prepare the Forum agenda, technical papers, presentations, briefs, draft decision language, Freetown Declaration and MRU–SEIC Compact outline.
• Screen 10–15 candidate regional projects and select at least five for accelerated preparation, subject to readiness.
• Map DFIs, investors and industrial partners; support project clinics, investor engagement and matchmaking.
• Develop the Data Room, Deal Room and Board Room interface and provide technical support during the Forum and WAIIS.
• Record decisions and prepare the implementation and accountability pathway.

3. Comprehensive corridor diagnostic and investment business case

• Apply the UNIDO Corridor Readiness Assessment Tool (CRAT), adapted to MRU conditions.
• Assess the political mandate, industrial base, infrastructure, logistics, energy, water, digital systems, markets, trade facilitation, investment environment, institutions, skills, ESG, fragility, inclusion, pipeline and investment readiness.
• Analyse trade and production flows, gateways, border crossings, cities, mining and agricultural basins, fisheries, hinterlands and regional complementarities.
• Quantify, where data permit, market demand, logistics costs, trade, productivity, employment, value addition, exports and import substitution.
• Identify constraints, missing links, quick wins and transformational opportunities.

4. Value chains, spatial framework, policy and governance

• Prioritize regional value chains covering agro-industry, minerals and materials, fisheries and blue economy, forestry/bioeconomy, and manufacturing and industrial services.
• Develop options for five to seven regional value-chain platforms.
• Apply a network model linking gateways, productive nodes, industrial clusters and hinterlands.
• Identify and assess Cross-Border Industrial Growth Triangles, strategic nodes, parks and SEZs.
• Prepare the industrial and spatial-development framework and identify priority policy and regulatory reforms.
• Design governance arrangements linking political oversight, programme delivery, national platforms and investment mobilization.

5. Investment portfolio, project preparation and financing

• Expand and validate a 20–30-opportunity screening longlist and develop 10–15 priority project profiles.
• Structure the portfolio around connectivity; productive capacity; utilities/digital; trade, policy and investment facilitation; and people, enterprises and sustainability.
• Apply transparent impact, readiness, sponsor, market, ESG and financing criteria and classify projects by preparation needs.
• Undertake preliminary economic and financial assessments and identify pre-feasibility, feasibility, safeguards, engineering and transaction-advisory requirements.
• Design a stage-gated route from opportunity identification to preparation, financing, implementation and scale-up.
• Design the proposed MRU Industrial Project Preparation and Investment Facility and develop financing, partnership and resource-mobilization strategies.

6. Integrated programme design, sustainability and institutionalization

• Integrate productive energy, digital transformation, quality infrastructure, strategic minerals, agro-industry, enterprise development and investment promotion into the MRU–SEIC programme.
• Mainstream climate resilience, resource efficiency, circular economy, responsible minerals, safeguards, gender, youth, SMEs, local suppliers, skills and community benefits.
• Develop the results framework, data architecture and monitoring arrangements.
• Design the proposed MRU Industrial Corridor Observatory and knowledge platform.
• Prepare the 18–24-month preparatory programme, including technical components, specialist inputs, governance, indicative budget, financing and implementation arrangements.
• Deliver validation, capacity development and handover activities.

7. Final reporting and handover

• Consolidate activities, consultations, outputs, decisions, investment engagements, challenges, lessons and outstanding actions.
• Complete the technical and administrative handover to UNIDO and designated counterparts.

Perform other related tasks as assigned by the Chief of the Regional Bureau for Africa in support of the UNIDO Strategy for Africa and regional industrial-development priorities.

Required Qualifications

Education: Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in economics, industrial development, economic geography, regional or urban planning, public policy, international development, infrastructure planning, finance, engineering, business administration or other relevant discipline is required. Specialization in economic corridor development, regional industrial planning, spatial planning project preparation or investment programme development is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least ten (10) years of progressive professional experience in industrial development, regional economic integration, economic-corridor development, spatial development, infrastructure-led growth, value-chain development, investment planning or closely related fields, including substantive responsibility at the senior and international level, is required.
• Leadership or substantive technical responsibility in at least three complex assignments involving economic corridors, regional integration, industrialization, industrial clusters or special economic zones (SEZs), spatial master planning or investment programmes is required.
• Proven experience in undertaking economic, spatial, institutional and political-economy diagnostics and translating findings into strategies, implementation roadmaps and investment pipelines is required.
• Experience developing business cases, market assessments, project profiles, prioritization systems and project-preparation pathways is required.
• Experience in facilitating multi-country and multi-institutional processes involving governments, regional organizations, private-sector actors, financial institutions, development partners and affected stakeholders is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of inclusive and sustainable industrial development, industrial policy, regional value chains, trade and logistics, productive infrastructure, climate resilience and environmental and social sustainability is required.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare high-quality analytical, policy and decision-making documents for senior policymakers, regional institutions and financing partners is required.
• Experience working in developing countries, particularly in West Africa, is desirable.
• Experience in at least two MRU Member States and familiarity with MRU and ECOWAS institutions, the AfCFTA, Agenda 2063, PIDA, IDDA IV, PAIDA and African corridor-development frameworks is desirable.
• Experience using GIS, spatial economic analysis, value-chain tools, multi-criteria project appraisal, cost-benefit analysis or financial modelling is desirable.
• Experience working with UNIDO, another United Nations entity, an international financial institution, a regional organization or a bilateral development agency is desirable.
• Experience in fragile or conflict-affected settings and in conflict-sensitive, gender-responsive and climate-resilient programme design is desirable.
• A demonstrated record of mobilizing partnerships or financial resources for large, multi-sector development programmes is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or Working knowledge of French is strongly desirable.

Required Skills and Competencies

Core Values

• EXCELLENCE – Deliver high-quality results; continuously improve performance.
• INTEGRITY – Uphold ethical standards; act transparently and responsibly.
• INCLUSION – Promote respect, diversity, and fairness.
• HUMILITY – Show self-awareness; value others' contributions.
• HUMANITY – Act with compassion; align work with sustainable development.

Core Behaviors

• CONNECT & COLLABORATE – Build trust through effective communication and teamwork; share knowledge and embrace diversity.
• ANALYSE & PLAN – Use data and evidence to inform decision-making; plan proactively and prioritize effectively.
• DELIVER RESULTS WITH POSITIVE IMPACT – Take ownership and deliver high-quality outputs; align work with UNIDO's mission and objectives.
• LEARN AND DEVELOP – Continuously develop skills and capabilities; seek feedback and share knowledge with others.
• ADAPT AND INNOVATE – Respond flexibly to change; embrace innovation and new approaches.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process and in the performance of their duties.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants: UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org