Consultant for Training course on Effectively taking advantage of preferential tariffs from new generation FTAs

USAID Trade Facilitation Program
SCOPE OF WORK

Training course
Effectively taking advantage of preferential tariffs from new generation FTAs

Proposed Personnel:            1 Local Short-term Technical Assistance (STTA)Training Course Consultant on “Effectively taking advantage of preferential tariffs from new generation FTAs”

Period of Performance:             Early December 2022

Origin/Destination:                    Da Nang

Travel Dates:                              tbc

Activity No.                                 4.8.1. Support Activities for Private sector and PTFC Da Nang

MEL indicator(s):                      

Under activity 4.8 – The USAID Trade Facilitation Program will focus part of its efforts in Years 3 & 4 on the six (06) selected provinces and agreed with GDVC to develop and introduce a mechanism for the GVN’s trade facilitation measures, ventures, and related activities at the provincial level. 

To improve the harmonized implementation at the provincial level of government policies and activities emanating from the NTFC’s roles and responsibilities, under activity 4.8.2, the Program has promoted the establishment of a local TF mechanism in each province to maintain the regular dialogue/consultation between key government agencies and private sector actors including the VCCI, focusing on the hot issues/obstacles to the implementation of trade facilitation provisions. The local TF mechanism, in each locality, will promote and organize awareness events and communication campaigns to advocate for the appropriate implementation of trade facilitation policy elaborated at central level. 

The local TF mechanism will facilitate the establishment of a central-provincial cooperation and communication mechanism focused on trade facilitation measures, including simplification, streamlining, reduction of specialized inspection through, among the others, the adoption of a risk-management approach, and enhancement of coordinated border management (CBM). The Program will support the development of this mechanism in close cooperation with local authorities of the six targeted provinces and in consultation with the representatives of private sector, including business associations, local customs departments, and line departments, and VCCI at the provincial level. The Program will look for innovative and alternative methods to increase awareness amongst the private sector stakeholders other than the conventional and familiar workshops.

So far, 5 out 6 provinces have set up their local TF mechanisms. For Da Nang in particularly, the People’s Committee issued Decision in May 2021 on the setup of Da Nang Committee for International Integration, in which TF is one of its key function and VCCIDa Nang is one of the executive agencies.

Upon the working discussion with the USAID TFP team, one of partners and main member of PTFC DaNang,VCCI Da Nang would like to implement some capacity building activities for local authorities and businesses, which will be supported by the Program.

The activity is a Training Workshop on “Effectively taking advantage of preferential tariffs from new generation FTAs “on December 2^nd 2022 whose content is elaborated as below:

Objectives:

• Improve the knowledge of local authorities and enterprises of Da Nang City on tariff preferences and non-tariff measures in new generation FTAs.
• Provide information on take advantage of commitments related to taxes, rules of origin as well as Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) in these FTAs to achieve maximum incentives when exporting goods to member markets.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

2 local consultants will implement the following tasks:

• To produce materials in the forms of PowerPoint (a must for the presentation), Words/ Excel and others on the following topics:

Consultant 1:

• Provide information on new-generation FTAs (except for RCEP), Rules of Origin of these FTAs, some specific C/O problems and solutions. (topics: 1-2-3-4 in the agenda)
• Provide responses to questions raised by participants and prepare a quick test at the training WS

Consultant 2:

• Provide measures on trade remedies, and how to make the best use of commitments on trade remedies
• Some recommendations to help businesses make effective use of these FTAs
  (Topics: 5-6-7 in the agenda)                                     
• Provide responses to questions raised by participants and prepare a quick test at the training WS

Qualifications:

Ideally, the Consultants should have:

• Practical experiences involving in managing and issuing Certificate of origin
• Master's degree or higher in trade policy, international trade, Customs law or administration, economics, business administration, or similar field
• Minimum 15 years of experience in policy making and practical working in ROO training, particularly in FTAs
• Deep understanding and experience of the FTAs accessed by Vietnam and international regulations and application on customs procedures in general
• Good written, oral, and presentation skills in Vietnamese and English (preferable); and
• Ability to travel within Vietnam.

Reporting:

The National Consultant(s) will be required to report to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) Nguyen Hong Son ([email protected]) and the Trade Facilitation Coordinator Truong Thi Kim Anh ([email protected])

How to apply:

Proposals should be submitted to [email protected] no later than November 12, 2022.

1. Cover letter (no longer than 1 page)
2. CVs (see attached template); 
3. Updated USAID 1420 form (see attached template)
4. Cost proposal (See attached template)”