Consumer Protection Analysis and Investigation Expert

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Vacancy No.
Date Announced: July 4, 2011
Closing Date: August 3, 2011
Position: Consumer Protection Analysis and Investigation Expert (International)
Strengthening Consumer Protection Project, Competition Promotion and Consumer Protection Directorate, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI)

1. Background
Harakat is an independent, not-for-profit, Afghan-managed organisation that aims to improve Afghanistan’s business environment.

We provide grant funds to the private sector, government and civil society to implement activities to reduce or remove barriers that currently make it difficult to do business in Afghanistan.
The Government of Afghanistan currently lacks the policy and legal framework, mechanisms and processes to safeguard consumers against low quality or over-priced products. These gaps in Government capacity have a negative impact on Afghan firms and consumers and on the environment for investment and new business start-ups. There is little or no capacity to identify and respond to infringements of consumer rights such as the sale of dangerous or sub-standard products, or false claims relating to products and services in the market place.
The Consumer Protection Department of the CPCPD will be responsible for analysing and investigating infringements of consumer rights. Currently, it has no skills or systems for undertaking these responsibilities. A lawyer will be appointed in the department to develop the Consumer Protection Law and the CTAP funded experts are already in place to develop the necessary policies for Consumer Protection. The expert will therefore work side-by-side with the above Expats, Manager of the Consumer Protection Department and his or her staff to establish systems and protocols for investigation and analysis of infringements of consumer rights.

2. Job Description
The Competition Promotion and Consumer Protection Directorate is seeking to recruit a Consumer Protection Analysis and Investigation Expert to establish systems and protocols for investigation and analysis of infringements of consumer rights, with the following specific responsibilities:
• Provide training on the consumer protection policy and law and the Department’s responsibilities under that framework. This will include on-the-job training for staff whereby learning-by-doing will be emphasised
• Support the Department in refinement of the Consumer Protection Law and develop associated regulations
• Assist in the establishment of networks of agencies that have a role in implementation of the Law, such as the Afghanistan National Standards Agency, and work closely with those agencies
• Support the development of organisational, operational and administrative processes and tools including standard Operating Procedure manuals and protocols for data collection for the consumer protection department
• Support the establishment and operation of a database for consumer protection matters such as price series at wholesale and retail levels, and a log of consumer complaints and instances of infringements of consumer rights
• Assist with the establishment of a monitoring system for the activities of firms and for the work of the Consumer Protection Department

3. Deliverables
• Data on price series at wholesale and retail levels appearing in the CPCPD’s main database
• Log of consumer complaints and instances of infringements of consumer rights
• A chapter to be included in Operations Manual on data collection protocols and procedures
• List / database of relevant contacts

4. Job Requirements

• Minimum Education: BA essential MA/MsC preferred in relevant field (Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, etc.)
• Minimum Years of Relevant Experience: 5
• Knowledge and understanding of the Afghanistan economy
• Proven knowledge and relevant work experience on Competition and Consumer Protection related issues
• Proven organizational and time management skills
• Effective verbal and written communication skills

5. Duration
24 months (With 3 month probationary period)

6. Reporting
The Expert will report to the Director of the Competition Promotion and Consumer Protection Directorate and Harakat-AICFO.

7. Recruitment
The expert will be selected through a competitive process with the position widely advertised. The selection process will be led by the DFID-funded Supporting Employment and Enterprise Development (SEED) umbrella programme in MOCI, which will arrange advertising, short-listing and selection. These tasks will be undertaken in collaboration with the Director of the CPCPD, the Manager of the Consumer Protection Department, and representatives from Harakat.

Submission Guideline:
All applicants are requested to first carefully read the TOR and pay attention to the requirements required for this position & then apply, please submit your CVs with a cover letter explaining your suitability & interest for this job and send it to the email address mentioned below

careers@harakat.af 

Applications received after the closing date will not be considered

Note: Dear applicants kindly mention the position name & vacancy announcement number in subject line of your message otherwise your application will not be considered.