About RT4D
The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) initiative is funded by both the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. It assists ASEAN Member States (AMS) in meeting their commitments and realising the advantages offered by the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, or AANZFTA, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP.
Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.
The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 48.7 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28.
Project Summary
The AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP), implemented through RT4D Facility, aims to support ASEAN Member States to realise the full benefits of AANFTA through the provision of capacity-building support and access to technical expertise.
The following project is approved under AISP.
- Project name: Assessing ASEAN Members State’s (AMS’) Readiness and Developing a Guideline for AMS to implement its trade-in services commitment of transposing from a Positive Listing to a Negative Listing approach in AANZFTA.
- Project Objectives: Regarding the liberalisation of services among AANZFTA Signatory Parties, each country’s understanding, progress, and institutional capacity are variable. The Strategic Directions and Priorities of the Committee on Trade in Services look to narrow the regional gaps in institutional capacity to liberalise services trade and ensure the transition to the Negative List schedule for trade in services within the agreed timeframes.
Aligning with the Strategic Directions and Priorities of the Committee on Trade in Services, this project aims to support interested AMS, specifically The Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, and others with a smooth transition to a Negative List approach within the committed timeframe, enabling trade in services liberalization.
The Opportunity
RT4D is seeking a firm or a technical expert (hereafter “the Consultant”) to manage and deliver the abovementioned project. The delivery will follow standard RT4D templates and be subject to comments, amendments, and approval from the RT4D Facility Team, the Project Proponent, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the relevant AANZFTA Subsidiary Body.
General competencies and qualifications the Consultant should demonstrate, include (but are not limited to):
- Skilled and experienced expert/team of Experts with the technical expertise, bandwidth, and capabilities to support the RT4D Facility to deliver all outputs in alignment with the remit and timelines set within this Scope of Services.
- Demonstrable technical and subject matter expertise in the field of services commitment of transposing from Positive Listing to Negative Listing approach in AANZFTA.
- Demonstrable experience developing program and project plans and designs that consider and incorporate the needs, priorities and concerns of diverse government stakeholders (i.e. stakeholders representing countries with different priorities and capacity constraints and agencies with different mandates and priorities).
- Demonstrable experience designing, facilitating and delivering online and on-site consultations and workshops that effectively engage a diverse government audience.
- Experience working and engaging with ASEAN Member States, ASEC and/or AMS is a distinct advantage.
- Proven excellent report drafting experience, with ability to incorporate comprehensive feedback at multiple stages.
- Experience working with the ASEAN Secretariat, Viet Nam, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Thailand and the Philippines, Australian and New Zealand officials is a distinct advantage. The organisation must be comfortable with ASEAN stakeholders and following ways of working (or comparable governance arrangements).
- Strong understanding of and ability to operationalise the Monitoring & Evaluation, GEDSI, Communications and Program Management considerations outlined in the ToR.
For a complete Terms of Reference, please visit RT4D Website.
How to Apply
Interested candidates may apply for more than one consultancy position. Please visit RT4D Website for more information on how to apply.
Apply before 11:59 PM (AEST) Monday, 16 December 2024.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Why Tetra Tech International Development?
As a leading development consulting firm, Tetra Tech International Development works with people and communities to solve some of the world’s most complex challenges to achieve a positive impact.
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