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 a project in Liberia to implement the International Plant Protection Convention’s (IPPC) ePhyto Solution.
2. The Services
2.1 Introduction
The selected consultant will provide in-country technical expertise and know-how during the Scoping Phase of the Project. The objective of the Scoping Phase is to ensure that the Alliance, and other key stakeholders, fully understand the current situation with respect to the processing of Phytosanitary Certificates in Liberia.
The services will be delivered in 2 stages:
- Stage 1 – Preparation
- Stage 2 – Information Gathering
It is expected that total effort for this will not exceed 15 person days.
2.2 Stage 1 – Preparation
During Stage 1 the consultant and will:
- Work with the Alliance Project Team to prepare a Scoping Plan outlining the activities that will be carried out in Stage 2 (for approval by the Alliance Project Manager)
- Support the formation of a Project Team within Liberia’s National Plant Protection Organization (‘NPPO Project Team’) to participate in planning and scoping activities.
2.3 Stage 2 – Information Gathering
During Stage 2 the consultant will conduct activities in accordance with the approved Scoping Plan, working in collaboration with both the Alliance and NPPO Project Teams. Tasks will include:
- Identification and engagement of relevant stakeholders in Liberia from both the public and private sectors.
- Convening in-person and virtual meetings with stakeholders.
- Supporting mapping of AS-IS phytosanitary processes for the import, export and transit of controlled products.
- Supporting mapping of improved TO-BE phytosanitary processes for the import, export and transit of controlled products.
- Supporting the Alliance Technical Experts in identifying any special requirements of the NPPO.
- Liaising with public and private sector stakeholders during the organisation of public-private workshops.
- Providing local logistical support to meetings, workshops and during the scoping mission of the Alliance project team.
- Becoming personally knowledgeable about the IPPC ePhyto solution.
Stage 2 will culminate in the presentation of findings to stakeholders.
Throughout Stage 1 and Stage 2 the consultant will liaise with the Alliance’s Project Manager to ensure that objectives are met.
2.3 Expected Outputs of Scoping
Stage 1
- Scoping Plan
- Actively engaged NPPO Project Team
Stage 2
- Scoping Report – including
- Stakeholder map
- AS-IS Phytosanitary process diagram
- Identified process pain points
- TO-BE Phytosanitary process diagram
- Description of special requirements of the NPPO
- Analysis of commitment of the public sector stakeholders.
- Stakeholder workshops for
- Process owners
- Other interested public and private sector stakeholders.
2.3 Timelines for Deliverables
The timeline for the defined deliverables is
- Stage 1: within fifteen working days of contract signature.
- Stage 2: within forty five working days of completion of Stage 1.
3. Requirements
The Consultant must possess:
- A proven track record of implementing trade facilitation or Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) projects.
- Strong familiarity with use of cloud based business software.
- Experience with public-private partnerships.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills.
- An understanding of phytosanitary procedures in Liberia.
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English.
The Consultant must be based in Monrovia in Liberia, and be able to travel to other NPPO locations in-country.
4. 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 Scoping – Liberia [YOURNAME]” by 11:59pm on 23-Oct-25. 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.
5. 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