Consultant(s) – Côte d’Ivoire – Consulting services for project scoping

Consultant(s) – Côte d’Ivoire

Request for Proposal:  Consulting services for scoping in Côte d’Ivoire

World Economic Forum/Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation

 

1. Background

The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (the “Alliance”) is an initiative jointly hosted by the World Economic Forum, the International Chamber of Commerce and the Center for International Private Enterprise in cooperation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The Alliance brings together governments and businesses as equal partners to identify trade facilitation issues such as delays and unnecessary red-tape at borders, and design and implement targeted reforms that deliver commercially quantifiable results.

The Alliance’s work is designed to help governments in developing and least developed countries implement the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The Alliance is currently implementing ten projects and developing further projects across the globe.

The Alliance is supported by the governments of the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany and Denmark, and works with private sector partners from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the world’s largest multinationals such as BASF, DHL, FCA Group, Maersk, UPS and Walmart.

 

2. Assignment Background and Overview

The Alliance intends to start scoping in Côte d’Ivoire with the aim of designing and developing a trade facilitation project. To this end the Alliance is putting in place a project scoping team and is looking for a Project Lead, a Customs/Trade Facilitation Expert and an in-country Project Representative. . The team will collaborate towards delivery of a scoping report and a project proposal.

It is anticipated that project design and development will take three months.

 

3. Duties, deliverables and required profiles

The specific duties, deliverables and required profiles are set out below in Annex A (Project Lead), Annex B (Customs/Trade Facilitation Expert), and Annex C ( Project Representative)

There are two key deliverables for this assignment. The first will be the initial Scoping Report, which will set out the problem statement(s), the identified solution(s), and the initial feasibility statement(s) and risk analysis. The second deliverable will be the more detailed Project Proposal which elaborates the identified concept for the trade facilitation project and its operationalization. The template for the Scoping Report and Project Proposal will be provided by the Alliance.

 

4. Contract and selection process

Direct contract by World Economic Forum. Candidates may apply individually for a specific role or in a consortium for two or more roles.

Please submit your CV(s) and daily consulting rate in USD in PDF format to Sandra Wydler sandra.wydler@weforum.org and include in the subject line: “Consultant – Côte d’Ivoire.”

Please submit any questions in relation to this RFP by email to Sandra Wydler sandra.wydler@weforum.org and include in the subject line “Consultant – Côte d’Ivoire RFP Questions”.

Closing date for applications: 5 March 2021 at 11:59pm CET.

 

ANNEX A

Project Lead

Project Lead –  duties

• Engage internal and external stakeholders to develop a trade facilitation project in support of Côte d’Ivoire’s implementation of the TFA
• Track project development and report on progress through written reports in accordance with Alliance templates and regular meetings and discussions with the Alliance Secretariat
• Represent the Alliance in project meetings
• Establish a stakeholder map and develop a communication plan
• Track private sector in-kind contributions
• Identify risks and report them appropriately
• Draft and submit for approval the Scoping Report and the Project Proposal in consultation with the scoping team
• Respond to report comments from the Alliance team and key stakeholders
• Lead the preparation and facilitation of a public- private workshop with the objective to co-develop and agree on the project approach and plan
• Consult with the Alliance Secretariat on metrics & evaluation and private sector engagement
• Record and report lessons learned

Project lead – qualifications

The Project Lead will have:

• Minimum of 10 years of high-level experience in managing projects related to customs modernization and trade facilitation in developing and least developed countries
• Degree in business, finance, economics, international trade or related field
• Proven track record in scoping trade facilitation technical assistance programs

• Prior experience working on donor programs (e.g., USAID, Global Affairs Canada, BMZ) and public-private partnerships
• Significant experience in francophone sub-Saharan Africa
• Proven respect of deadlines and time management
• Experience with high-level contacts and strategic communications
• Strong written communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Fluent written and spoken French and English
• Ability to travel to Côte d’Ivoire as needed (when borders reopen and it is safe to travel).

Project lead – deliverables

In accordance with the scoping timeline to be agreed with the Alliance, the Project Lead will ensure the timely submission of:

• the Scoping Report
• the Project Proposal

 

ANNEX B

Customs / Trade Facilitation Expert

Customs / Trade Facilitation Expert – duties

• Support the project lead in the design and development of a trade facilitation project in Côte d’Ivoire by attending meetings, providing technical analysis and inputs into all reports and documents, including a Stakeholder Map, the Scoping Report and the Project Proposal
• Take active part in scoping missions (whether virtual or in-person)
• Identify technical risks and report them appropriately to the Project Lead
• Collect and analyze data collected and draw conclusions and recommendations
• Support the establishment of productive relationships with senior government officials, relevant border agencies and the business community
• Contribute to strategy and communication plan
• Conduct assessments, data collection, analysis and synthesis

Customs / Trade Facilitation Expert – qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of high-level experience in modernization and trade projects in developing and least developed countries as a Customs and trade facilitation expert
• Strong understanding of the TFA and other applicable international instruments (e.g. WCO Revised Kyoto Convention).
• Ability to analyze and provide advice on complex problems
• Degree in business, finance, economics or related field
• Significant experience in francophone sub-Saharan Africa
• Strong written communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Fluent written and spoken French and English
• Ability to travel to Côte d’Ivoire as needed (when borders reopen and it is safe to travel)

Customs / Trade Facilitation Expert – deliverables

• Assessment of Côte d’Ivoire’s Customs and other border processes in line with the TFA
• Active contribution to the Scoping Report and Project Proposal

 

ANNEX C

In-country Project Representative

In-country Project Representative – duties

• Support the Project Team with on the ground stakeholder engagement
• Build a sustainable and resilient positive working relationship with local authorities and private sector.
• Establish an environment of trust between the Alliance and local stakeholders
• Organize and facilitate events, activities and meeting logistics (whether virtual or in-person)
• Represent the Alliance locally in project meetings
• Serve as quick and responsive contact point with in-country stakeholders, handling tasks as appropriate or passing inquiries along to relevant team members
• Assist with the preparation of reports and deliverables
• Support mission planning and participate in meetings and scoping activities

In-country Project Representative – Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required. Candidates with degrees related to international trade, especially connected to logistics or development will be closely considered.
• At least ten years of experience supporting international programs, public-private partnerships, commercial trade related activities or equivalent
• Strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills; team orientation.
• Fluent French and good level of English