27th Session - UN/CEFACT Plenary

Announce the opening of candidatures
The mandate of the current Chair of the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) ends at the 27th Plenary on 19 April 2020 at which time the UN Member States who are physically present at the Plenary meeting will elect the Chair for the period 2021-2024.

Who to nominate
Each UN Member State may nominate one candidate of its choice to run as Chair. It is at the country’s discretion if they nominate a person from the government or from the private sector. The candidate must be a member of the country’s delegation and each country may only nominate one candidate using its own criteria for selection, taking into account: expertise, leadership, ability, willingness to work, geographical balance and gender balance.

Necessary forms
The following documents should be submitted for the candidate. This information must be sent directly from the Permanent Mission in Geneva to the UNECE Secretariat.

• Candidate’s Candidacy Form with motivational statement
• Government’s Nomination Form with statement of support
• Candidate’s Curriculum Vitae
• Candidate’s list of activities in other relevant organizations and/or associations

Requirements of the UN/CEFACT Chair
The Candidate will be expected to actively participate in at least four physical meetings per year:

• UN/CEFACT Forum (one-week meeting usually in April, usually in Geneva);
• UN/CEFACT Plenary (two-day meeting usually in April, always in Geneva);
• One F2F Bureau meeting (two- or three-day meeting usually in the summer, location is jointly agreed);
• UN/CEFACT Forum (one-week meeting usually in October, location depends on host).

Candidates will also be expected to participate in all official UN/CEFACT Bureau conference calls (there are currently calls every two or three weeks for around two hours each).

The Chair is responsible for the organization and leading the Bureau calls, the Plenary meetings, the Forums and all UN/CEFACT meetings.

Additionally, the UN/CEFACT Chair is responsible to ensure that procedures are being applied correctly, to supervise all UN/CEFACT projects and prepare strategic documentation such as the Programme of Work. It is appreciated if the Chair assists the UNECE Secretariat in representing UN/CEFACT at official meetings and events as well as assist with communication.
For more details, please consult the Consolidated UN/CEFACT Mandate and Terms of Reference (ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2017/15)

Announce the opening of candidatures
The mandate of the current Regional Rapporteurs the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) ends at the 27th Plenary on 19 April 2020 at which time the UN Member States who are physically present at the Plenary meeting may elect Regional Rapporteurs for the period 2021-2023.

Who can propose their candidature
Experts who would like to put forward their candidature must be an active expert within UN/CEFACT. They should have a strong knowledge of the work and deliverables of UN/CEFACT as well as confirmed links to related activities in the region.

Necessary forms
The following documents should be submitted for the candidate directly to the UNECE Secretariat.

• Candidate’s Candidacy Form 
• Candidate’s Curriculum Vitae
• Candidate’s list of activities in other relevant organizations and/or associations

Requirements of the UN/CEFACT Regional Rapporteur
The Candidate will be expected to actively participate in at least three physical meetings per year:

• UN/CEFACT Forum (one-week meeting usually in April, usually in Geneva);
• UN/CEFACT Plenary (two-day meeting usually in April, always in Geneva);
• UN/CEFACT Forum (one-week meeting usually in October, location depends on host).

The Consolidated United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) mandate and terms of reference (ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2017/15) outlines the responsibilities of the Regional Rapporteurs in section G:

• 82. The mandate of Regional Rapporteurs shall be carried out, wherever possible, in coordination with the UN/CEFACT Bureau, Heads of Delegation to UN/CEFACT from the region, the UNECE secretariat and other Regional Commissions of the United Nations.
• 83. Within their defined region, the Rapporteur shall:
  • (a) Promote UN/CEFACT’s interests and activities among governments, intergovernmental organizations, relevant trade associations and business and trade facilitation organizations, with the assistance of the UNECE secretariat, which is responsible for official communications;  
  • (b) Encourage the participation of experts in UN/CEFACT’s work programme and stimulate the implementation of UN/CEFACT’s standards, recommendations and other deliverables; and
  • (c) Coordinate UN/CEFACT’s activities in the region.
• 84. All regional Rapporteurs shall present a report at each UN/CEFACT Plenary. They may raise issues directly with the UN/CEFACT Bureau and have an open invitation to attend the Bureau meetings in a consultative capacity.

For more details, please contact the UNECE Secretariat.