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Procurement

Project Implementation Services – BANGLADESH

Published on July 22, 2026 - Closing date: August 16, 2026

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.

The services required relate to the implementation of a Project in partnership with UNICEF (“UNICEF Bangladesh Project”) for the facilitated importation of UNICEF health and related products into Bangladesh. The selected consultant will provide in-country implementation services to deliver the project as outlined below.

 

2. The Services

2.1 Introduction

The services will be delivered in 3 stages. The Consultant will liaise with the Alliance Programme Manager throughout.

  1. Stage 1 – Preparation: The Consultant will prepare a Project Implementation Plan.
  2. Stage 2 – Implementation: The Consultant will supervise / carry out the ‘Design’ and ‘Delivery’ project tasks in accordance with the agreed project implementation plan (details of expected deliverables are outlined below). This will require ‘in-person’ interactions with stakeholders in a number of locations including Dhaka, Chittagong and Mongla.
  3. Stage 3 – Project Closure: The Consultant will work with the Alliance Monitoring and Evaluation Team to assess project outcomes and complete a Project Closure Report.

It is expected that total effort for this will not exceed 60 person days.

 

2.2 Deliverables

Deliverable 1: Implementation Plan

Prepare and submit a Project Implementation Plan for approval by the Alliance Programme Manager.

Deliverable 2: Process Improvement

  1. Work with the consignees and service providers to improve:
    1. Process documentation and knowledge.
    2. Pre-shipment document verification and data hygiene.
    3. Consignment status tracking and escalation mechanisms.
    4. Process error rates.
    5. Use of Customs Trade Facilitation Tools (e.g. AEO, Advance Rulings, Direct Removal, Humanitarian Green Channel)
  2. Obtain agreement from relevant government organisations to improve processes for the approval of duty exemptions, product permits and certifications, for example
    1. Transforming consignment-level approvals into a multi-shipment / annual approvals.
    2. Providing trusted humanitarian partners with fast-track services.
  3. Work with government organisations to:
    1. Define and document new processes
    2. Sensitise and train staff on new processes
    3. Reduce the costs associated with the clearance prtocess
    4. Define and agree appropriate KPIs for processing times

Deliverable 3: Process Digitalisation

  1. Obtain agreement of relevant government organisations to digitalise improved processes using existing systems (particularly ASYCUDA and the National Single Window).
  2. Work with the operators of the existing systems to ensure that configuration requirements support the improved processes.
  3. Support system operators during user acceptance testing and training.
  4. Liaise with system operators to ensure that process ‘go live’ is smooth.

Deliverable 4: Project Sustainability

  1. Support the creation of a practitioner-led working group focused on the clearance of humanitarian supplies.
  2. Support the operation of this working group with the goal of ensuring that it become self-sustaining by the time of project closure.

Deliverable 5: Project Closure Report

  1. Work with Alliance Monitoring and Evaluation Team to collect data to measure outputs, outcomes and impacts.
  2. Issue a report containing information on:
    1. Current situation
    2. Project timelines
    3. Preliminary results
    4. Lessons learned
    5. Stakeholder engagement
    6. Gender and SME mainstreaming

 

3. Requirements

The Consultant must possess:

  • A proven track record of implementing trade facilitation projects.
  • Strong stakeholder engagement skills with experience with public-private partnerships.
  • An understanding of customs clearance procedures in Bangladesh
  • Understanding of the application of Advance Income Tax to UN agencies
  • Knowledge of approval processes at other relevant government organisations including:
  • Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA)
  • Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI)
  • Bangladesh Telecomm Regulatory Commission (BTRC)
  • Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)
  • Strong written and oral communication skills in English.

The Consultant must be based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and be able to travel to meetings in other locations within Bangladesh.

 

4. Timeline for Deliverables

The duration of the contract will be approximately 10 months. The expected start date is August 2026.

It is expected that total effort for this will not exceed 60 person days.

 

5. Payments

The services will be delivered on a fixed cost basis payable according to the following milestones:

  • Completion of Deliverable 1: Implementation Plan – 20%
  • Completion of Deliverable 2: Process Improvement – 30%
  • Completion of Deliverable 3: Process Digitalisation – 20%
  • Completion of Deliverable 4: Working Group – 10%
  • Completion of Deliverable 5: Project Closure Report – 20%

 

6. 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: “Project Implementation – Bangladesh [YOURNAME]” by 11:59pm on 16-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.

  1. 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.