You know a thing or 2 about the European fresh apples market? We are looking for a B2B consultant for Fruit Attraction

Background:

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint development agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, which enables small businesses to improve exports in developing and transition countries by providing, with partners, sustainable and inclusive trade development solutions to the private sector, trade support institutions and policymakers.?

The Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (OEECA) is responsible for developing, monitoring, coordinating and implementing ITC’s activities and projects in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

ITC is implementing a 4-year programme, Trade promotion East (TPE): Balkan States and Central Asia, funded by the Government of Switzerland. Serbia is one of the four countries, together with Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Albania, selected to be part of the TPE programme. The project will focus on the competitiveness and sustainable export growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and improving the capacities of business support organizations (BSOs) to provide quality services to SMEs. Furthermore, the programme will foster regional exchange and knowledge sharing facilitated among SMEs and BSOs from partner countries. SMEs active in export Fresh apples and frozen sour cherries were identified was identified as a viable priority sector for assistance.

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The project is structured around three outcomes formulated as follows:

?Outcome 1: Improved competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs in the agribusiness sector

?Outcome 2: ?Improved BSOs performance in the agribusiness sector; and

?Outcome 3:? Enhanced regional / sectoral exchange and collaboration between sector actors

?In Serbia, the project seeks assistance of an International Consultant tasked with coordinating B2B meetings for exporters of Serbian fresh apples during the Fruit Attraction fair in Madrid.

?Description of Duties/Responsibilities

?Under the overall guidance of the Programme Coordinator, Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (OEECA), and under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer Agrifood Market Linkages Specialist Section Sector & Enterprise Competitiveness and in close cooperation with the National Project Manager in Serbia, the International Consultant to Organize B2B Meetings will carry out the following tasks:

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Before the fair

1. Organize one to one meetings with min 10 selected exporters to identify their needs and export capacity according to the structure (questionnaire) approved by ITC;
2. Identify, preselect for the meetings, and engage with a database of potential European retail buyers/distributors/wholesalers/importers of the fresh apples
3. Prepare an online training to prepare the selected exporters to export to the European fresh apple market (specificities of the market, most promising European markets, buyer requirements etc.), and best practices for their Fruit Attraction participation (before, during and after the fair). Timing: one month before the fair.
4. Design a schedule of B2B business meetings to take place during the trade fair, for the selected companies. A minimum of five B2B meetings should be organized for each exporter. The consultant will provide the schedule to ITC and each exporter 10 days before the fair.
5. The consultant will provide a one pager on each buyer to be met by the selected exporter and provide this information 10 days before the trade fair.

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During the fair

1.???? Assist the exporters in the sales discussions with buyers and market assessment during the fair. Provide technical advice to selected exporters during their sales discussions with buyers when needed.

2.???? Be responsible for the smooth coordination of the schedule of B2B meetings.

3.???? Organize a debrief meeting with the selected exporters at the end of the trade fair to review and discuss.

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After the fair

Prepare a narrative report on the results of the event, including providing individual recommendations for each exporter. A template report will be provided.

??Expected Outputs and Timelines

Output 1: Pre-event Preparation:

A finalized schedule of one-on-one B2B meetings between exporters and buyers has been successfully validated and submitted by Wednesday 25 September 2024.

Output 2: On-site Coordination:

Successful on-site coordination has been carried out by 10 of October 2024

Output 3: Post-event Follow-up:

A final report has been successfully validated and submitted to ITC by 31 October 2024

?Travel:????? Yes at Fruit Attraction, trade fair, October 2024

?Requirements

?Skills:?

·???? Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team.

·???? Work independently with accuracy and flexibility as well as under pressure and respect tight deadlines.

Education:?

Undergraduate degree (BA/BSC or other) in business, international trade, economics related sciences or other related subjects.

Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree.

?Work experience:

• At least 10 years work experience in market assessments and B2B matching activities;
• Experience working with the Serbian SMEs would be an asset.
• Sound knowledge of the European fresh fruits and vegetable markets. Knowledge of the European fresh apple market would be an advantage.
• A good track record of writing reports.

?Language:

Advanced level English. Basic Serbian language skills would be an asset. Spanish language would be an asset.