**Trade Fair Coordinator Short-Term Technical Assistant** City/Country Location Details **Washington DC** Employment Status Job Type **Project** **Scope of Work** **Africa Trade and Investment Activity** **Trade Fair Coordinator** **Short-Term** **Technical Assistant (STTA)** FieldActivity Request: Trade Fair Support and Event Coordination Period of Performance Date of Approval –September 30,2025, Trade Event Dates: Sourcing at MagicFeb 10-12, 2025,in Las Vegas, United States. Summer Fancy Food Show, June 29 to July 1, 2025, | Javits Center, New York, United States, Period of Activity 200days (overapproximately12 months) Destination/Venue: Remote, preferably based inWashington DCor elsewhere in the(USA Funding Stream: Prosper AfricaTradeFairs(Obj 1) Work Plan Objective Objective 1: Increased Trade **OVERVIEW** Prosper Africa (Prosper) is a U.S. Presidential-level national security initiative to scale two-way trade andinvestment between the United States and Africa to transformative and strategic levels. Prosper takes a whole U.S. government (USG) approach to reaching scalein order tostrengthen our economic and strategic partnerships. Coordinating across 17 USG departments and agencies, Prosper Africa aims to integrate USG resources that have been traditionally siloed andutilizethem all together to dramatically affect the success of a single trade or investment transaction. Prosper Africa focuses on three main tradeobjectives: 1) advancing deals, 2) unlocking market opportunities, and 3) strengthening business and investment climates. Prosper Africa works to scale trade at transformative levels between the US and African countriesin order topromote global supply chain security, better integrate African producers and suppliers into global markets including the US, create jobs and support inclusive economic growth. Scaling trade requires up-leveling the trade ecosystem through enterprise-led solutions, technology innovation, greater coordination across trading platforms and market players. To implement these priorities, Prosper Africa isutilizingthe USAID Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) mechanism. ATI is a five-year mechanism managed by USAID’s Bureau for Africa and implemented by DAI, which runs through 2026 and allows the U.S. Government to work closely with the private sector to shape activities that unlock business opportunities, particularly those that drive trade and investment into and out of African markets. ATI representatives, working closely with Prosper Africa, will serve as an interface on sub-contractedobjectivesand obligations. Prosper Africa and USAID aim to generate higher levels of export sales between Africa and the U.S., which aligns with Prosper Africa'sobjectives. One mechanism involves trade promotion activities through fully integrated support services provided before, during, and after events such asSourcing at Magic in February and the Summer Fancy Food Show in June. **BACKGROUND OF THE TRADE FAIRS** Sourcing at MAGIC is a premier fashion tradeshow held twice a year in Las Vegas, in February and August. The event features a wide range of worldwide men's, women's, and children's apparel, footwear, accessories, and manufacturing resources. With over 32,000 retail buyers and 860 brands from 60 countries in attendance and influencers, media, and industry leaders, Sourcing at MAGIC offers a global platform for networking and business opportunities. The show is particularly popular with major competitors from Asian countries like China, making it a valuable opportunity for African suppliers toidentifytheir competitive advantages for entering or expanding into the U.S. market. The Summer Fancy Food Show has been an annual event in New York for over 60 years. In 2023, theshow featured 2,200 food makers from six continents and attracted over 30,000 professionals. This event provides an excellent platform for African exhibitors to meet buyers and gain exposure. The specialty food marketcomprised63 categories and had$87.3 billionin sales in 2023, accounting for 67% of all specialty retail sales. **PURPOSE OF THE ACTIVITY** USAID ATIis looking for a qualified and experienced Trade Fair Coordinator based in the U.S.or Africa.The coordinator will provide short-term technicalassistance(STTA) toplan, organize, and manage all aspects of two trade fair events, namely Sourcing at Magic, which will be held in Las Vegas in February2025, and the Summer Fancy Food Show, which will be held inNew York inJune 2025. Thisroleincludes coordinating withUSAID ATI teams, key partners andvendors,sponsors,and African suppliers.TheCoordinatorwillalsowork closely with the USAID ATIinternal teams, such as the Activity team, theTradeteamandtheCommunications teams to develop an event strategy and plan the event layout, such as the booth placement and pavilion location,as well asdevelop promotional materials and manage budgets.A key role includes running the event floors by ensuring everything runs smoothly. **KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:** **Project management** **, coordination, and administration** **:** + Collaborate with the USAID ATI team, primarily the Senior Activity Manager and Activity Specialist,to organize and arrange event specifics, which include floor space, booth construction, and setup, such as positioning, lighting, electricity, and branding. Facilitate communication and interaction between the USAID ATI team, important partners, sponsors, and vendors. + Work with the USAID ATI team(s) and the US Buyer linkages & Events Management partnersto ensure firms are sufficiently prepared for the exhibition shows, such as by coordinating the collection of information from firms with ATI Regional teams, collecting contracts, etc.Thistaskcan include planning pre-trade webinars, sending outwebinarinvitations, and managing the attendance list. Also, ensure that exhibitors' details, such as their marketing collateral,requiredinsurance, andexhibitor contracts, aresavedonthe ATISharePointin a navigable folder structure. + Coordinatethe logistical requirements such as security, equipment rentals, and catering services. + In collaboration with the ATI Activity team,ensure thepavilions andmain and side eventsoperatesmoothly. + Follow up with firms to ensurethey'vecompleted feedback forms, surveys, and partnership agreements. + Develop a lead retrieval distribution plan and coordinate the data collection process at the main events. + Organize and chair biweekly check-in meetings with ATI, ProsperAfricaand USAID, and send out minutes and action items after each meeting. **Communications and Coordination** + Coordinatewith theUSAID ATI Communicationsand USAID Activity teamstocollect andfinalizeinputs todefine thetrade fairstrategy and event requirementsandorganize the preparation of eventwrite-ups such asrun-of-show documents, agenda,briefs,andtalking points, + Work with the ATI Communications team to promote the show through marketing channels such as social media, emails, and advertising campaigns. + Provide supportincoordinating side trade events such as panel discussions, market intelligence, retailtours,etc. **Financial management** **and budgeting** + In collaboration with the Senior Activity Manager, track trade fair costs and provide inputs tomaintainan updated budget and forecasts. + Work with theATI to securethe venue,plan the layout, and liaisewith vendors todeterminetheir booth requirementsandbranding. + Manage the booking and registration of vendors,sponsors,VIPs, delegations, and exhibitor badges, including coordinating exhibitor badges. Coordinate the logistical requirements,such as security, equipment rentals, and catering services. + Play a supporting role in arrangingtravel and accommodationlogistics, administration, and bookings where necessary. **QUALIFICATIONS** **Required** + Bachelor's degree in project management,eventmanagement, eventplanning,marketing, communications,tradeor equivalent qualification, with a minimum ofsixyears'experience as a trade show coordinator or similar. + Ability to travel and physically attend Sourcing at Magic in Las Vegas and the Summer Fancy Food Show in New Yorkand keep up with the walking demands required at such shows. + Team-oriented with leadership qualities and ability to work independently with limited supervision. + Exceptional written andverbalcommunicationwith strongclient-facingskills, marketing knowledge orpreviousexperience, vendor and entertainment research, initiative, enthusiasm, and flexibility. + Good computer skills withMicrosoft PowerPoint, Excel, and MS Word programs. + Excellentfinancial managementabilities. + Highly charismatic and engagingwithexcellent interpersonal and negotiation skills. + Strong organizational and time management abilities. + Ability to perform under pressureon multiple projects and deadlinesandwillingness to workflexiblehours. + Extremely well-organized with strong multi-tasking and problem-solving skillswith a proactive approach to solving complex problems. + Experiencewithand understanding of workingona client-led eventbrief. + Possess anunderstanding ofhealth and safety regulations concerning eventmanagement. **Desirable** + Experienceworking onlarge complexorganizationsand experience in delivering large-scalecorporate events. + Preference will be given toa candidate with experience working at Sourcing at Magicor Summer Fancy Food Show. + International work experience, particularly in developing countries. + Experience with working on data collection toolssuch as a lead retrieval system. + Fluency in other languages,such as Frenchor Arabic. **IMPLEMENTATION** **TIMEFRAME** **:** The activities outlined above are estimated to take place over12 months, starting aroundNovember2024 and ending aroundSeptember30, 2025. **REPORTING** **:** The position wouldreportto the Senior Activity Manager for the Prosper Africa portfolio, based in Washington, DC. 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