Consultant – Guatemala – Project Assistant (local)

Consultant – Guatemala – Project Assistant (local)

Center for International Private Enterprise/Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation

1) Background

The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation is a public-private delivery mechanism created to support effective implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) through partnerships between governments and the private sector. The Alliance is a cooperative effort funded by the governments of the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, and Denmark. The Alliance Secretariat is composed of the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC-WBO), and the World Economic Forum (WEF), with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as an implementing partner. CIPE works with local business leaders to expand the opportunity for inclusive growth through market-led solutions, develops programs to promote a rule-based system which emphasizes principles of democratic governance, enables entrepreneurship, opens trade, and fights corruption. CIPE and its global partner network create knowledge and practical tools to drive local change.

CIPE, on behalf of the Alliance, is in the process of implementing a project to modernize the port arrival and departure processes in Guatemala. Currently, port arrival and departure operations in Guatemala are characterized by multiple and redundant paper-based formalities, face-to-face interactions, and activities that impose an unnecessary burden on public and private sector entities. This type of inefficiencies at the country’s ports have a ripple effect across the entire supply chain, reducing the economy’s competitiveness and hindering the participation of Guatemalan operators in international markets.

In this endeavour, CIPE will be working jointly with public and private sector representatives led by the Ministry of Economy, the Superintendency of Tax Administration of Guatemala (SAT), and the Association of Shipping Agents (ASONAV). The objective of the project is to optimize port call and departure operations by conducting a thorough business process reengineering and developing a centralized IT platform to submit and share documents needed to authorize the arrival and departure of vessels in the four main ports of Guatemala: Santo Tomas de Castilla, Puerto Quetzal, Puerto Barrios, and Boyas San Jose.

After the completion of the project, the Alliance expects to observe a measurable:

• Increase in efficiency for the authorization process of vessel arrivals and departures, and a reduction in time and cost required for the operations.
• Increase in berth/terminal productivity, due to the reduction of vessel idle time at berth.
• Improvement in control and monitoring of vessel arrivals and departures, with 100% of the arrival and departure procedures electronically registered in the maritime platform.

The Alliance has launched the project in April of 2021 and expects to implement its two main components (Business Process Reengineering & Development of IT Platform) over a period of 24 months.

To support the project’s implementation, the Alliance and CIPE wish to hire the services of a local Project Assistant who will work closely and cooperatively with the local Project Coordinator, the Guatemalan government agencies involved, the project’s implementation unit, and the rest of the Alliance team to ensure its timely and adequate implementation.

2) General objective

The objective of this position is to provide support to the local Project Coordinator in technical, administrative, and logistic tasks, to ensure the successful and efficient implementation of the project.

3)  Scope of work

Under the supervision of the local Project Coordinator and the designated Alliance/CIPE Program Officer the Project Assistant’s activities shall include, but are not limited to the following:

• Providing backstopping support to facilitate the implementation of the project in Guatemala in accordance with the Alliance’s goals.
• Organizing project activities, with emphasis in meetings, missions and events, in coordination with Guatemalan government officials and CIPE.
• Liaising with Guatemalan government officials, private sector stakeholders, and relevant non-government organizations.
• Facilitating working arrangements with an interdisciplinary team including officials of Guatemala’s Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT – Ministry of Public Finance); Guatemala Migration Institute (IGM); Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Livestock (MAGA); Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS), as well as consultants or service providers hired to implement the project activities.
• Providing support to the Project Implementation Unit, in organizing and convening periodical public-private stakeholder meetings.
• Supporting missions from CIPE project management, international technical experts, and delegations from private and public stakeholders supporting the project’s implementation.
• Undertake other tasks required to successfully implement the project and assist the local Project Coordinator.

4) Specific activities

It is expected that the consultant will conduct, as a minimum, the following activities:

•  Create and maintain copies of program, financial, correspondence and contract files.
• Work in close collaboration with the Alliance/CIPE Program Officer and other CIPE departments, to ensure processing of payment requests, travel expense reports, documents for signature, and international travel arrangements.
• Assist the Alliance/CIPE Program Officer in writing and compiling narrative and financial reports, proposals, contracts, and budgets.
• Conduct background research as needed.
• Correspond with consultants, government officials, and other stakeholders to coordinate project implementation.
• Provide technical and logistical support to any individual consultant or consulting firm hired during the implementation of the project.
• Prepare, maintain, and follow up on meeting minutes.
• Translate brief documents from English to Spanish and vice versa as needed.

5) Duration of assignment

The duration of the contract is two (2) years full time with the possibility to extend for an additional 6 months depending on performance and project status. Expected start date: June 2021.

6) Reporting arrangements

The selected project assistant will report to the local Project Coordinator and the designated Alliance/CIPE Program Officer.

7) Administrative and logistical arrangements

•  Candidates should already reside in Guatemala.
• Frequent travel between Izabal, Escuintla and Guatemala City, to meet with port authorities and private sector operators, will be required. All work-related traveling expenses will be funded by the Alliance/CIPE.
• Office space will not be provided by the Alliance/CIPE.

8) Payment schedule

The selected candidate will submit invoices monthly to CIPE for approval and payment. CIPE will make payments upon receipt and acceptance of said invoices.

9) Technical profile of the candidate

9.1. Qualifications

Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Political Science, Law, Economics, Business, Information Technology, or another relevant field.

9.2. Knowledge/Experience

• At least 2 years demonstrated experience in trade or public sector reform
• Experience in IT, digital transformations, or process modernization projects is preferred
• Experience working for or with Guatemalan government agencies is preferred
• Experience in donor-funded project implementation and coordination is preferred
• Familiarity with international trade procedures and border controls is preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Legally authorized to live and work in Guatemala
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish

10) Application

To apply for this opportunity, please send a resume and cover letter in English, to tradejobs@cipe.org by 12:00pm Eastern Standard Time, May 21st, 2021 with the subject line: “GATF Guatemala Project Assistant – [FULL NAME]”.

Any and all questions should be communicated in writing before the due date to the same email address. Questions and responses will be publicly available at cipe.org.

11) Evaluation methodology

Evaluation of an applicant’s suitability for this consultancy will be based on the applicant’s technical background as provided on the resume and cover letter as well as the applicant’s financial requirements. CIPE is an Equal Opportunity Employer.