1. Background
The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (the Alliance) is a public-private partnership for trade led growth 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’s work is designed to help governments in developing and least developed countries implement the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). It brings together governments and businesses as equal partners to identify trade facilitation issues such as customs delays and unnecessary red-tape at borders, and design and implement targeted reforms that deliver commercially quantifiable results.
The Alliance is supported by the governments of Canada, the European Union, Germany, and Sweden and works with private sector partners from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the world’s largest multinationals.
2. Objective of the Assignment
The Asia Programme Lead will be responsible for converting strategic trade facilitation funding into concrete, high-impact, and implementable country projects across Asia (initially Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh).
Unlike traditional programme roles, this position combines:
- Business development / pipeline creation
- Project design
- Early-stage delivery oversight
The successful applicant will be expected to design and operationalise a high-performing Asia project pipeline, by:
- Identifying trade bottlenecks that are potentially treatable through Alliance trade facilitation projects
- Verifying these ideas and converting those with high potential into proposals for actionable project
- Transitioning proposals into implementation-ready projects
3. Scope of Responsibility
A. Geographic Scope:
- Asia (initial priority countries: Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh)
B. Programme Scope:
- Trade facilitation
- Focus on:
- Process inefficiencies
- Permit / licensing challenges
- Public-private coordination gaps
4. Key Responsibilities
A. Pipeline Development (Primary Responsibility)
- Lead identification of country-level trade bottlenecks through engagement with:
- Private sector organisations (importers / exporters, logistic service providers)
- Government ministries and agencies (customs, line ministries, regulators)
- Ensure problem identification is:
- Specific
- Operational
- Measurable
- Establish and manage a structured pipeline funnel:
- Scan → Validate → Convert → Implement
- Drive rapid conversion of ideas into:
- Validated problem statements
- Structured proposals
- Resourced implementation plans
B. Project Design and Concept Development
- Lead development of high-quality concept notes, including:
- Problem analysis
- Proposed intervention
- Stakeholder roles
- Expected impact (time, cost, predictability)
- Budget and implementation approach
- Ensure alignment with Alliance methodology:
- Targeted and practical reforms
- Measurable outcomes
- Meaningful public-private collaboration
- Challenge and refine concepts to ensure:
- Feasibility within an aggressive time line of approximately 12 months
- Clear ownership and institutional buy-in
C. Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain relationships with:
- Government stakeholders (customs, ministries, regulators)
- Private sector actors (business associations, logistics companies)
- Facilitate structured public-private dialogue processes, ensuring:
- Operational relevance
- Stakeholder ownership
- Alignment on solutions
D. Management of In-Country Consultants
- Identify and manage strong country-level consultants who will:
- Lead local engagement
- Perform day-to-day project management
- Support problem identification and validation
- Ensure consultants deliver:
- Structured analysis
- High-quality outputs
- Timely project progress
- Provide direction while maintaining:
- Local ownership
- Proximity to reality
E. Transition to Implementation
- Support transition from project concept to implementation by:
- Ensuring readiness of project design
- Confirming stakeholder commitment
- Aligning with internal programme structures
- Hands on involvement in early-stage project rollout
- Oversight throughout project lifecycle
F. Portfolio Reporting and Coordination
- Provide structured updates to Portfolio Manger, including:
- Pipeline status
- Risks and bottlenecks
- Concept development progress
- Project implementation status
- Contribute to:
- Donor reporting inputs
- Internal programme coordination
5. Expected Outputs
Within 3 months:
- Structured Asia pipeline with at least 3 high-quality project proposals
- Engaged network of country-level consultants and stakeholders
- Early-stage implementation of first projects
Within 16 months (at least):
- Full delivery of 2 projects
- Progress of a 3rd project to a point where it can become self-sustainable following completion of donor funding (if necessary)
6. Required Qualifications and Experience
A. Education
- Advanced degree in a relevant field
B. Professional Experience
- 10 years of relevant experience in:
- Trade facilitation
- Customs / border processes
- Logistics or supply chain operations
- Development programmes
- Proven experience in:
- Project design / concept development
- Working across multiple countries in Asia
- Engaging both public and private sector stakeholders
C. Technical Competencies
- Strong understanding of:
- Customs procedures and clearance processes
- Rrade facilitation reforms
- Regulatory and operational bottlenecks
- Demonstrated ability to:
- Translate complex problems into structured interventions
- Design practical, implementable solutions
- Work across systems and stakeholders
D. Core Skills
- Strong analytical and structuring ability
- Excellent stakeholder management and facilitation skills
- High level of autonomy and initiative
- Ability to operate in ambiguity and move rapidly to clarity
- Clear written communication style
7. Working Style and Expectations
- Highly hands-on and entrepreneurial
- Comfortable working with:
- Limited initial information
- Evolving opportunities
- Strong focus on:
- Velocity
- Specificity
- Delivery
- Willingness to:
- Travel regularly
- Engage in diverse and sometimes challenging operating environments
8. Duration and Location
- Duration: 16 months (extendable)
- Working Arrangements: International consultant based in Asia with willingness / ability to travel to centres of government / ports / airports and border posts across Asia.
- It is expected that total effort for this will not exceed 280 person days.
9. Reporting Line
The successful applicant will report to the Alliance Head of Portfolio and work closely with:
- Alliance Management, M&E / M&B and Communications teams
- Donors
- Local stakeholders
- Local consultants
- Private-sector partners
10. Submission of Proposals
Interested consultants should submit a Technical and Financial Proposal in PDF format to: Christopher Holden (christopher.holden@iccwbo.org) with the subject line: “Request for Consultancy Services: Asia Programme Lead [YOURNAME]” by 11:59pm on 02-Aug-26.
Please note that submission of a proposal in the manner described above will deem all terms and conditions of this Request for Services have been accepted by the Bidder and incorporated into its proposal unless specifically notified otherwise.
11. No Obligation to Award
The issuance of this Request for Services (RFS) does not constitute a commitment by the Alliance to award a contract to any respondent. The Alliance reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject any or all proposals, to cancel the RFS process at any time, and to take no action based on the proposals received.
