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Ref.
2024/RDCPPLDMDFSLD/10536

Job offer type
Experts

Type of contract
Service contract

Deadline date
2024/02/04 23:33

Duration of the assignment
Short term

Contract
Freelancer

Duration
3 mois

Mission description

To develop a training manual for IGAD and its Member States on the efficient operation of customs and border management. The focus will be to document best practices on customs and coordinated border management-related issues globally for upscaling and use as inputs for the preparation of the training manual.

This task is meant to assist IGAD and its Member States in improving their institutional capabilities, especially in organizing, planning, coordinating and communicating their activities with regard to efficient operation of customs and border management. The eventual outcome is that with the improved capability, the IGAD and Member States will be able to engage with all clients and stakeholders for effective simplification, harmonization of procedures, and strengthened coordinated border management.

The consultant will be required to undertake analysis and mapping of what exists at cross border areas of the region with a focus on the One Stop Border Posts and border points along the bordering countries in the region; undertake needs assessment excise to identify the needs of the targeted audience; develop a relevant training manual based on best practices from around the globe; and organize a regional training workshop using the prepared manual. The intervention is designed in three main activities; each will include a number of sub-activities. These three activities will be the preparation of the manual, the use of the manual in undertaking a training workshop and proposal of some communication and visibility items to disseminate the training outcomes.

Project or context description

The European Union Technical Assistance Facility (EU-TAF) is a Team Europe initiative to support the African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) and regional economic integration in Africa. The program covers the period of 2022 to 2024 and is currently funded by the European Union (EU), Germany, France, and Sweden and jointly implemented by GIZ, Expertise France, and FIIAPP.

The EU-TAF is set up to deliver adequate technical assistance on a reactive, flexible, and on-demand basis to meet the needs of the AfCFTA Secretariat, African Union Commission and AU specialized agencies, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), AU Member States, and continental and regional private sector organizations.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is an eight-country trade bloc in East Africa, comprised of countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda. The region stretches over an area of approximately 5.2 square kilometers and has a population of more than 280 million people.

IGAD has requested support from EU-TAF, which will lead to strengthened capacity for efficient custom and border management and hence increased cross-border trade and cooperation among IGAD Member States.

Therefore, for smooth and efficient custom and border management and in line with the requirements of the IGAD Regional Trade Policy, the following actions can help us to achieve that goal:

·       - Establishing capacity within IGAD to convene and coordinate expertise and decision making at the regional level;

·       - Gradually harmonizing national policies to remove distortions that advantage or disadvantage any country;

·     -   Harmonizing customs procedures and formalities to ensure speedy movement of products, services and people across borders;

·     -  Establishing a system of mutual recognition, then gradual harmonization of national standards;

·       - Establishing a system to monitor and enforce compliance with rules and principles agreed at IGAD level. 

In a region where most of the population depends on pastoralism, and the fact that IGAD is working, among others, on livestock trade-related interventions, the expectation is that the consultant includes in the manual the aspects of Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Sanitary and 

Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), issues of food safety and animal and plant health such as pesticide residue limits, inspection requirements and labelling, and other requirements for international standards.

The essence of the Terms of Reference is to develop a training manual that will help IGAD to build the capacities of all actors involved in custom and border management and contribute to improving the quality of their performance.

Required profile

EU-TAF and IGAD are seeking applications from Consultancy Firms who are certified experts in undertaking similar assignments, and the selected firm is expected to show evidence of the following:

·      -  Extensive experience in the global and regional aspects of custom and coordinated border management policies and regulatory frameworks with experience in establishing or working at national/regional and cross-border levels.

·    -  Minimum 3 prior relevant assignments covering similar areas of this assignment.

·       - Comprehensive knowledge of international and regional, and cross-border best practices in customs and border management-related transnational challenges.

·    - Knowledge of and practical experience in similar assignments.

·       - Prior experience working closely with public and private sectors, especially in trade facilitation issues.

·     -  Prior experience in the Horn of Africa region.

 The staffing plan or team composition will be flexible but it is advisable to include two individual consultants from the selected firm, one expert specialized in international trade with emphasis on customs-related issues and can also serve as team leader and another policy and capacity building expert.

  • Trade Expert and Team Leader: Minimum 10 years of experience in international trade, public policy, public management, or any related field. She/he should have a master’s degree in a relevant field and a proven track record of leading multiple similar assignments in the last three years.
  •  Policy and Capacity Building Expert: Master’s degree in at least one of the following or related to the following fields: Development economics, public policy, or political science. He/she should have at least 5 years in governance, policy development and institutional capacity building. He/she as well have a specific experience in conducting comprehensive and context specific capacity assessment and capacity building plans including development of curricula and training manual.

Selection criteria for applications

The selection process for candidates will be based on the following criteria :

  • Candidate’s training/skills/experience

Deadline for application : 2024/02/04 23:33

Expertise France is the public agency of French international technical cooperation. The agency operates around four priorities:

  • democratic, economic and financial governance;
  • security and stability of countries in crisis/post-crisis situations;
  • sustainable development;
  • strengthening health systems, social protection and employment.

In these areas, Expertise France carries out engineering and implementation missions for capacity building projects, mobilizes technical expertise and acts as an aggregator of projects involving public expertise and private know-how.

With an activity volume of 233 million euros, more than 400 projects in portfolio in 80 countries, and 63,000 days of expertise, Expertise France focuses its action towards France’s solidarity policy, influence and economic diplomacy.

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