Regional MAGIC Trade Show Consultant – North Africa At DAI Global

Project Description

The USAID Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) program is designed to bolster the U.S. Government’s ability to boost trade and investment to, from, and within the African continent. The continent-wide program is USAID’s flagship effort in support of the Prosper Africa initiative and will expand and accelerate two-way trade and investment between African nations and the United States.

Driven by market demand, ATI embraces innovative approaches to achieve its goals. ATI is designed as a small, core set of centrally coordinated technical and institutional support activities, and a large, flexible performance-based subcontracting and grants under contract facility designed to support the needs and opportunities that USAID Missions and the private sector identify.

Background

The USAID Africa Trade and Investment program, scheduled to run through 2026, is designed to bolster the U.S. Government’s ability to boost trade and investment to, from, and within the African continent. The continent-wide program is USAID’s flagship effort in support of the Prosper Africa initiative and will expand and accelerate two-way trade and investment between African nations and the United States.

Prosper Africa is a Presidential-level national security initiative aimed at strengthening the strategic and economic partnership between the U.S. and Africa by catalyzing transformative two-way trade and investment flows.

The USAID Africa Trade and Investment Activity aims to generate higher levels of export sales between Africa and the U.S. in line with the Prosper Africa objectives. One mechanism is through trade promotion activities via a fully integrated array of support services provided before, during, and after trade fair events such as the Sourcing at MAGIC exhibition.

The USAID Africa Trade and Investment Middle East Regional Bureau seeks to support at least 15-20 textile and apparel, home textile and leather goods sectors firms and engage short-term technical assistance (STTA) to coordinate efforts with ATI to recruit, screen, prepare firms to exhibit in-person at the Sourcing at Magic (MAGIC) Show, (https://www.sourcingatmagic.com) taking place between February 13-15, 2024, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, United States.

Sourcing at MAGIC is one of the premier fashion tradeshows in the US and is held twice a year (February and August) in Las Vegas. The event showcases men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, footwear, accessories, and manufacturing resources from around the world. MAGIC brings together a global audience of over 32,000 retail buyers and 860 brands covering 60 countries, influencers, media, and leaders together under one roof. It is well attended by major competitors from Asian countries, such as China, shedding light where African suppliers should be and have a comparative advantage to enter and/or expand into the U.S. market.

Building on previous work and successes under the engagement at MAGIC in 2023, Prosper Africa and USAID Africa Trade and Investment activity will harness the trade shows to create a comprehensive database of verified buyers in the U.S. in the targeted sectors who can easily be accessed by high quality exporters across the African continent, enabling the firms to close deals with minimal support.

In order to assist USAID Africa Trade and Investment North Africa activity effectively to create export trade linkages between US buyers and African exports, the Activity requires the services of a Regional MAGIC Trade Show Consultant. He/she will deliver these services from North Africa.

Position Overview and Objectives

The Regional MAGIC Trade Show Consultant will provide support to recruit, screen, prepare firms to exhibit in-person at the Sourcing at Magic (MAGIC) Show and follow-up on post show activities and reporting in collaboration with ATI as follows:

The Consultant will support and coordinate with ATI and USAID Middle East Regional Bureau to identify, screen and select export ready and near export ready firms, prepare selected firms to exhibit in-person in advance of the MAGIC February 2024 trade show and follow-up with firms post the show.

Responsibilities

The Regional MAGIC Trade Show Consultantwill provide support to recruit, screen, prepare firms to exhibit in-person at the Sourcing at Magic (MAGIC) Show and follow-up on post show activities and reporting in collaboration with ATI as follows:

Support and coordinate with ATI and the USAID Middle East Regional Bureau to identify, screen and select export ready and near export ready firms, prepare selected firms to exhibit in-person in advance of MAGIC February 2024 trade show.

• Identify North African textile, Apparel, home textile and leather goods firms that are Export Ready and Near Export Ready.
• Raise awareness of the MAGIC Show opportunity with export firms and trade associations
• Assist firms to complete the MAGIC show application form.
• Collect and coordinate submission of relevant information from exhibitor firms including logos, contact information, addresses, profiles, and photos for Africa Pavilion Look Book.
• Ensure individual Deal Notes are signed and submitted to ATI in a timely manner.
• Facilitate visa letter requests.
• Coordinate the payment of co-contributions from the export firms.
• In collaboration with the ATI Trade and activity teams provide overall support to exhibitor firms from the region.
• Coordinate the participation of firms in preparatory webinars.
• In collaboration with ATI, follow up with firms post the Trade show on generated pipelines.

Reports

• Deliver cumulative Bi-weekly, quarterly, and terminal activity and status reports on progress achieved, challenges, and next steps pre ad post MAGIC Participation.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in textile technology, business, economics, or related field.
• 10 years progressively responsible work experience in the apparel, textile, home textile and/or leather products sector including some years in promotion and sourcing function.
• Senior level experience with North Africa textile, apparel, home textile and leather goods firms, managing trade promotion, export sales, supply chain, merchandising, production, or logistics.
• Able to write reports and presentations using MS Office Suite applications.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.

Desirable

• Post graduate degree or professional qualification in business administration, management, merchandizing, fashion design, economics or another relevant field.
• International work experience, particularly in North Africa countries.
• Training and public speaking experience.
• Relevant specialized experience in specific textile, apparel, or footwear products.
• Fluency in spoken and written French and Arabic.

Reporting

The Regional MAGIC Trade Show Consultant will report to the USAID Africa Trade and Investment Activity Regional Director working closely with the Trade Specialist.

ABOUT DAI

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.