This assignment falls within the framework of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, which aims to strengthen sustainable infrastructure, connectivity, and global cooperation, particularly with partner countries in Africa, Asia, the Balkans, and Latin America.

The project “Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) Capacity Development Programme” is being jointly implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ – Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit) and the French agency for international technical cooperation (Expertise France – EF).

The development of the TCTC is a strategic and transformative project for trade and economic development in the region. It offers an alternative freight transport route, strengthening economic ties between Europe and Central Asia, while promoting greater integration of the participating countries into regional and international trade networks. As such, this initiative aligns closely with the goals of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy for sustainable global connectivity.

The project focuses on enhancing connectivity among five Central Asian partner countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) through six main areas of intervention:

o Output 1 Enhanced government capacity for development of a simplified, harmonised, paperless and gender-responsive environment for customs and trade in line with international transport and logistics Conventions and relevant EU standards.

o Output 2 Improved mechanisms for sustainable transport connections and for interoperability across the various modes of land and sea transport. 

o Output 3 Improved government capacity for policy development and implementation relevant for public-private partnerships that incorporate gender principles (PPP).

o Output 4 Improved government capacity for gender-responsive reforms and liberalisation of the transport market.

o Output 5 Improved tariffs setting mechanisms along the TCTC.

o Output 6 Improved capacity of government and transport asset owners for optimisation of transport asset management and related funding mobilisation.

While GIZ will implement outputs 1 and 2, EF is responsible of outputs 3 to 6.

Expertise France is mobilizing a four-person expert team for this assignment: a WIM Expert/Project Coordinator, who leads the team, defines the technical WIM approach, coordinates the other experts and summarizes results; a Local IT Expert/Systems Integrator, supporting through knowledge of the local IT environment, integration analysis, data flow mapping and implementation continuity; a Legal Consultant, covering legal and regulatory assessment, digital evidence, data protection and PPP-related legal questions; and this PPP Consultant role, covering commercial and financial feasibility, implementation models and risk allocation. This position works under the coordination of the WIM Expert/Project Coordinator and draws on technical input from the WIM Expert and local IT expert, and legal input from the legal consultant.