Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

The Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is seeking to fill the position of customs administration advisor at several Regional Capacity Development Centers in Africa (AFRITAC East in Tanzania, AFRITAC Central in Gabon, and AFRITAC West 2 in Ghana).

The successful candidate will be appointed for a period of two years. The contract may be renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. It is expected that sufficient funding will be available for the advisor to spend around four years in the position. The advisor will be based at the RCDC’s offices in the respective countries.

Responsibilities or duties

The customs administration advisors will assist member countries in the development and implementation of customs administration reforms. The advisors’ primary responsibilities will be to: (i) help member countries implement customs administration reform measures based on strategies and plans that have been designed in close coordination between these countries and the Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) of the IMF; (ii) support the RCDC director and steering committee in developing and monitoring the work plan of the center following IMF Results Based Management (RBM) principles and practices, and contribute to center reporting; (iii) provide direct capacity development (CD) advice and guidance to the center’s member countries (including support in gathering data on key customs metrics to support revenue administration capacity development work); (iv) provide support to short-term customs administration experts recruited to deliver capacity development; (v) develop, manage, and deliver regional workshops and seminars; (vi) consult with customs authorities of member countries on their capacity development needs; (vii) assist in providing support for the gathering of data from member country customs administrations for the International Customs Administration Survey (ICAS); and (viii) coordinate with other development partners working in the region on customs and trade issues and their experts.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

The technical skills and qualifications required for this position include a high level of knowledge in the following areas:

• Legislative and regulatory environment for customs administrations, including customs union and free-trade zone frameworks.
• Organization, strategic management systems including strategic planning and performance and integrity management in customs agencies/departments.
• International good practices in customs administration including developing and implementing a comprehensive compliance management program.
• Policies and activities in the operations of all core customs administrative functions including customs clearance and regional transit, risk management and intelligence, goods valuation, monitoring of duty exemption and suspension procedures, revenue collection and accounting, post-clearance audit and anti-smuggling, and trade facilitation.
• Options for automation and digitalization of customs processes, including data exchange with international trade operators and the tax administration, and introduction of new technologies to support customs operations.
• Effective project management including planning, budgeting, and reporting.

Experience needed

Applicants should have extensive practical experience in the above areas with at least five years in a senior position within a revenue/customs administration. Preference will be given to applicants who have an all-round experience in managing customs operations; have participated in customs administration reform programs; have experience in managing/overseeing capacity development work and coordinating with other providers of capacity development; are aware of the issues and challenges facing customs administration reformers in the respective regions, and, where appropriate, in countries in a fragile or conflict situation; and have knowledge of customs administration issues in a regional context. Previous experience of capacity building in the tax or customs administration area (such as participating in revenue administration capacity development activities and organizing and conducting training courses and workshops) would be an advantage.

General Requirements:

• An advanced university degree in a relevant field and at least four years of professional experience within a revenue/customs administration or international organization providing CD on revenue policy and administrative matters. Alternatively, candidates should have a university degree supplemented by at least ten years of professional experience within a revenue/customs administration or international organization providing CD on revenue policy and administrative matters is the expected minimum. Preference will be given to candidates with at least eight years of professional experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to work as part of a team, to develop and maintain effective and cooperative relations with national authorities, customs managers, development partners, and IMF headquarters; and to handle sensitive issues with discretion in a multicultural environment.
• Full proficiency in English (or full proficiency in French and a working knowledge of English for AFRITAC Central in Gabon).
• Strong oral and written communication skills, particularly technical report writing and presentational capabilities to deliver effective seminars and training events.
• Demonstrated strong organizational and planning skills with ability to manage budget and other resources effectively and flexibly, ensuring timing and quality compliance with reporting requirements while working with considerable autonomy.
• Familiarity with modern computer systems and applications software; knowledge in analytical software tools would be an advantage.
• A willingness to travel extensively in the respective regions is required.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

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

Assumption of duty is expected as follows:

• AFRITAC East in Tanzania – May 1, 2026;
• AFRITAC Central in Gabon – July 1, 2026; and
• AFRITAC West 2 in Ghana – May 1, 2026.

• Help member countries implement customs administration reform measures based on strategies and plans that have been designed in close coordination between these countries and the Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) of the IMF.
• Support the RCDC director and steering committee in developing and monitoring the work plan of the center following IMF Results Based Management (RBM) principles and practices, and contribute to center reporting.
• Provide direct capacity development (CD) advice and guidance to the center’s member countries (including support in gathering data on key customs metrics to support revenue administration capacity development work).
• Provide support to short-term customs administration experts recruited to deliver capacity development.
• Develop, manage, and deliver regional workshops and seminars.
• Consult with customs authorities of member countries on their capacity development needs.
• Assist in providing support for the gathering of data from member country customs administrations for the International Customs Administration Survey (ICAS).
• Coordinate with other development partners working in the region on customs and trade issues and their experts.

• Legislative and regulatory environment for customs administrations, including customs union and free-trade zone frameworks.
• Organization, strategic management systems including strategic planning and performance and integrity management in customs agencies/departments.
• International good practices in customs administration including developing and implementing a comprehensive compliance management program.
• Policies and activities in the operations of all core customs administrative functions including customs clearance and regional transit, risk management and intelligence, goods valuation, monitoring of duty exemption and suspension procedures, revenue collection and accounting, post-clearance audit and anti-smuggling, and trade facilitation.
• Options for automation and digitalization of customs processes, including data exchange with international trade operators and the tax administration, and introduction of new technologies to support customs operations.
• Effective project management including planning, budgeting, and reporting.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective and cooperative relations with national authorities, customs managers, development partners, and IMF headquarters.
• Ability to handle sensitive issues with discretion in a multicultural environment.
• Full proficiency in English (or full proficiency in French and a working knowledge of English for AFRITAC Central in Gabon).
• Strong oral and written communication skills, particularly technical report writing and presentational capabilities to deliver effective seminars and training events.
• Demonstrated strong organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to manage budget and other resources effectively and flexibly, ensuring timing and quality compliance with reporting requirements while working with considerable autonomy.
• Familiarity with modern computer systems and applications software.
• Knowledge in analytical software tools would be an advantage.
• Willingness to travel extensively in the respective regions.

• An advanced university degree in a relevant field and at least four years of professional experience within a revenue/customs administration or international organization providing CD on revenue policy and administrative matters.
• Alternatively, a university degree supplemented by at least ten years of professional experience within a revenue/customs administration or international organization providing CD on revenue policy and administrative matters.
• Preference will be given to candidates with at least eight years of professional experience.
• Extensive practical experience in customs administration areas.
• At least five years in a senior position within a revenue/customs administration.
• All-round experience in managing customs operations is preferred.
• Participation in customs administration reform programs is preferred.
• Experience in managing/overseeing capacity development work and coordinating with other providers of capacity development is preferred.
• Awareness of the issues and challenges facing customs administration reformers in the respective regions, and, where appropriate, in countries in a fragile or conflict situation is preferred.
• Knowledge of customs administration issues in a regional context is preferred.
• Previous experience of capacity building in the tax or customs administration area (such as participating in revenue administration capacity development activities and organizing and conducting training courses and workshops) would be an advantage.