Consultant International Trade Expert -firm or individual-
Consultant International Trade Expert -firm or individual-
- Dominica
SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation that applies practical know-how to make a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty. We use our extensive and long-term in-country presence to apply and adapt our top-notch expertise in agriculture, energy and WASH to local contexts. SNV has over 1250 staff in more than 25 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. We are proud to be a not-for-profit organisation that uses project financing to implement our mission. This requires us to work efficiently and to invest in operational excellence. In its new Strategic Plan period (2019 – 2022), SNV will more explicitly aim for systems change during project preparation and implementation - by strengthening institutions and kick-starting markets that help many more to escape poverty beyond our projects. We will continue to position ourselves as a premium organisation and invest in making knowledge flow to and from the frontline. For more information on SNV, visit our website: www.snv.org The ICR Facility is co-funded by the European Union (EU), the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the British Council. It is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), the British Council, Expertise France, and Stichting Nederlandse Ontwikkelingsorganisatie (Netherlands Development Organisation, SNV).
The ICR facility has three components of activities:
1. Technical Assistance for Business Environment and Investment Climate Improvement
2. Strengthening national and sub-regional development financial institutions
3. Compile and mainstream lessons learned and good practices
This assignment will take place under component 1 where the ICR Facility offers specific and targeted technical assistance for business environment and investment climate improvement initiatives.
In the context of its mandate, the ICR Facility will provide technical assistance to the Commonwealth of Dominica in response to a proposal submitted by the organisation. The support is provided for the implementation of the Single Window for trade facilitation (of import, export and transit operations).
Trade is significant for Dominica’s economy, with a combined value for imports and exports of 108% of GDP (2019, World Bank). Trade facilitation aims to reduce the costs and time of import and export operations, and transit of goods. The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) entered into force on the 22nd February, 2017. Between September 2012 and May 2013, UNCTAD provided support to develop a national plan for the implementation of trade facilitation measures in Dominica. The National Trade Facilitation Roadmap (NTFC) 2019-2024 was developed with assistance from UNCTAD to guide the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement in Dominica. The Roadmap contains 48 activities including the Single Window initiative. The draft plan covered OECS countries and was approved by a regional validation conference with relevant stakeholders (which took place in Roseau from 28 February to 1st March 2013).
A National Trade Facilitation Task Force was recently revitalized: it is led by the Ministry of Trade and Commerce and includes various public and private agencies including the Customs and Excise Division, the Air & Port Authority, the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment, Health and Wellness, Ministry of Agriculture, Dominica Bureau of Standards etc.
Job Description
The objective of this request is to advance the implementation of the Single Window for import, export and transit operations.
The contractor will use various means to complete the assignment, including calls, meetings and workshops (digital or in-person) with all stakeholders. Stakeholders include all government agencies with a role in trade, as well as private sector operators. Private sector operators can include traders, freight forwarders, port operators, couriers, customs brokers, among others.
The consultant should make an active effort to also include in its assessments and proposals the views and considerations for youth, women, people with disabilities and the whole spectrum of entrepreneurship in the country.
The contractor will use contacts and efforts to arrange meetings, with public and private sector stakeholders.
The National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) structure and organization can also be used as the platform for this assignment.
The contractor is responsible for providing the following services/deliverables:
Phase 1:
1) Kick off meeting with relevant stakeholders:
a. Review and understand the roadmap established in the “Dominica Trade Facilitation Committee activities schedule” (Roadmap) (and also in the “Template for the preparation of a project proposal: Single window”) for the implementation of a Single Window for import, export and transit operations. Any suggestion should be reviewed in the kick off meeting.
b. Present a workplan with timeline, responsible actors and activities, and incorporate feedback.
c. Organize the meeting together with the NTFC and/or relevant government agencies.
2) Create a common data model for each agency for each agency participating in the Single Window (data to submit and receive to/from the Single Window):
1. Customs and Excise Division
2. Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Business and Export Development
3. Ministry of Health, Wellness and New Health Investment: Environmental Health Unit, Central Medical stores unit, Pesticides.
4. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
5. Dominica Bureau of Standards (DBOS)
6. Sea and Port Authority
7. Ministry of Finance: Customs and Excise Division, VAT, Inland Revenue.
8. Private sector actors (freight forwarders, brokers, ship agents, consolidators, courier services, Tally clerk, …
9. Police (importers of firearms)
3) Organize a Workshop to review and validate the proposed common data model with public sector stakeholders. Review results with the Private Sector representatives. Depending on the public health conditions, the workshop can be in person or virtual.
Phase 2:
4) Prepare a regulatory review:
a. Compile and review the legislative, institutional and regulatory frameworks pertaining to the Single window. This should cover at least the following agencies: Bureau of Standards, Environmental Health, Division of Agriculture, Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Customs and Excise Division.
b. Highlight areas which require amendments revision or updating, and propose changes, if needed, to the regulations.
5) Organize a Workshop to review and validate the proposed regulatory review with public sector stakeholders. Review results with the Private Sector representatives. Depending on the public health conditions, the workshop can be in person or virtual.
Phase 3:
6) Review and submit a preliminary proposal for a single payment mechanism of all fees that all border agencies can access and utilize.
7) Organize a Workshop to review the single payment mechanism. Depending on the public health conditions, the workshop can be in person or virtual.
8) When the intervention is concluded, the consultant will:
a) Draft a Technical Assistance Completion (TAC) report to be sent to the ICR facility. The TAC must describe the main activities, milestones and lessons learned, as well as other key information.
b) Submit to the ICR facility the monitoring and evaluation[1] materials regarding services delivered on behalf of the ICR Facility[2].
Timeline, deliverables and time allocation:
a) This ICR intervention will be organized in three phases. As local counterparts’ buy-in and support for the intervention is key for the realization and success of the project, ICR/SNV team may cancel the project if it suffers from delays or lack of buy-in from local counterparts.
b) The table below describes the phases and timeline of the intervention. In order to proceed with the following phase, the preceding phase needs to be completed in the time frame indicated below.
Phase 1
Workplan with timeline and main actions, within 2 weeks of signature, up to 2 expert days Kick-off Meeting, within 4 weeks of signature, up to 4 expert days Data definition proposal submitted, within 10 weeks of signature, up to 30 expert days Workshop to present Data definition, within 12 weeks of signature, up to 4 expert days Phase 2
Regulatory review proposal submitted, within 19 weeks of signature, up to 21 expert days Workshop to review regulatory review, within 22 week, up to 4 expert days Phase 3
Preliminary mechanism for a single payment proposal submitted, within 28 weeks of signature, up to 20 expert days Workshop to review the single payment mechanism, within 30 weeks of signature, up to 3 expert days Completion Report, within 32 weeks of signature, up to 2 expert days
c) Project implementation organizational structure for strategic and day-to-day activities:
The Focal Point of contact for the project on the government side is:
Reform Management Unit at the Ministry of Governance For consultants’ daily work and day-to-day activities, specific individuals have already been identified in each government agency and will act as point-person for each phase of work.
Deliverables
2 copies of the (a) common data model proposal, (b) regulatory review proposal, and (c) single payment mechanism proposal. 3 workshops Monitoring and evaluation materials regarding services provided on behalf of the ICR Facility; i.e., satisfactory forms, photos from meetings, events, workshops that are approved by the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), etc. 1 completion report.
Qualifications
The position is open to firms or consultants with the following qualifications:
- University degree in Economics, Business Administration, Public Administration or similar.
- At least 10 years of experience in the area of trade facilitation.
- At least 7 years of professional experience in the area of creating an enabling environment for businesses either in the public or private sector and working on issues related to public-private dialogue.
- Experience in projects in developing economies.
- Experience working in government or in Development Organizations.
- Experience in managing stakeholder processes such as leading and facilitating workshops and other events designed to receive inputs to strategies, reports or other documents from a group of diverse stakeholders.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
- If needed, ability to travel and/or work on the ground in Dominica.
PLEASE NOTE THAT:
- Applicants could be an individual consultant or a firm.
- If the applicant is an individual consultant, the application must include his/her daily rate, as well as a technical proposal.
- If the applicant is a firm, the application must include a financial proposal, as well as a technical proposal that includes the CVs, expertise and role in the project of the individuals working on the project.
Additional Information
Period of assignment From August 1st 2021 until April 30th 202 Travel Travel is expected to Dominica. It will be defined depending on the sanitary possibilities due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the worst-case scenario, all communication has to be expected to be virtual. Travel expenses are reimbursed and do not need to be included in the financial proposal. Workshops, Training The contractor implements virtual meetings and workshops as defined above. The contractor ensures he/she has appropriate software to invite for virtual meetings / video conferences / webinars. No budget is provided for this. HOW TO APPLY?
If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV (in EuropeAid format) before 26th July 2021 by clicking on the link: I'm interested'. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.]]This page belongs to the Job Offers database.
