Local/National Customs and SI Expert

USAID Trade Facilitation Program

SCOPE OF WORK

Support and technical assistance to develop a Decree providing procedures

for quality control and food safety inspection

Proposed Personnel:             Local/National Customs and SI Expert

Period of Performance:         o/a 1 March – 30 September 2021

Origin/Destination:               Hanoi, Vietnam

Travel Dates:                         n/a

Activity No.                            FY21-1.3–SI of imports and exports

                                              Sub-activity FY21-1.3.2-Development of a Decree providing
                                              procedures for quality control and food safety inspection

MEL indicator(s): P-1, IR1-1, IR1.2-2, IR3.1-1, IR3.1-2, IR4.1-1, IR4.1-2 and CLBD-9

Project Background:

The USAID Trade Facilitation Program is a five-year project that aims to support the adoption and implementation of a more risk–based approach to customs and SI institutions in Vietnam. The Program will work with the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) to strengthen the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) of Vietnam and its Working Groups; streamline border clearance procedures (including Specialized Inspection (SI) implemented by other line ministries and agencies); harmonize the implementation of risk-based approaches between national and provincial levels; train national and provincial customs officers and staff from other ministries on risk management; and facilitate dialogue between customs and business and between stakeholders in Hanoi and in the provinces.

Activity Background:

Objective: The aim is to provide further technical assistance and support to GDVC to develop a new Decree on management mechanism, methods, processes and procedures for quality and food safety inspection for imported goods.

Background: Reform of administrative procedures for SI has been a key aim and objective of the Government of Vietnam (GVN) for the last few years. The need for further reform of SI remains and as such, in November 2019 the GVN issued Resolution no. 99/ND-CP assigning “the MOF to vigorously reform customs procedures towards customs modernization and digitalization in line with international standards; and to take the lead in development of the SI reform Scheme for submission to the Government in Quarter I of 2020, allowing Customs to be the focal point for SI at the border gate (except for goods related to national defense and security or quarantine, etc.), and line Ministries only conduct post-clearance inspection.” GDVC is to be the implementing agency for this task and the Customs Control & Supervision (CCS) Department was assigned to take the lead to develop a Scheme on Quality Inspection and Food Safety Inspection for imported goods¹ which was submitted to the Government in September 2020.

On January 12, 2021, the Prime Minister issued Decision 38/QD-TTg approving the Scheme on reforming quality and food safety inspection for imported goods. This is partly as a result of the Program’s substantial and continuous technical support and assistance to GDVC in Year 2 (2019/2020). The Program provided assistance including technical inputs to different drafts of the SI Scheme, studying international experiences, conducting field survey for collecting practical feedback, consultative workshops, and in particular, undertaking a regulatory, economic and institutional impact assessment to help GDVC to complete the SI Scheme.

With the issuance of Decision 38, the CCS Department of GDVC again requested the Program to support the development of a Draft Decree on management mechanism, methods, processes and procedures for quality and food safety inspection for imported goods to guide the new Scheme. As requested by Decision 38/QD-TTg, the Draft Decree is expected to be submitted to the Government for approval by Q2/2021.

Methodology: The Program will mobilize a local/national Customs and SI expert to provide technical assistance and support to GDVC to further develop and complete the proposed Draft Decree for submission to the Government by the end of June 2020.

Local/National Customs and SI Expert. In collaboration with the Program’s Senior Trade Facilitation Expert (STFE) and Legal & Regulatory Expert, the local/national Customs and SI expert will work closely with the CCS Department of GDVC and as necessary, consult with other technical departments of GDVC, relevant line ministries and/or local [provincial] customs departments, and private sector stakeholders. The Customs and SI expert may also be required to work in collaboration with other members of the Program team to undertake this activity.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

The local/national Customs and SI expert will be responsible for the following:

1. Research and desk study and preparation of various written comments and recommendations on the Draft Decree;

2. Attend and provide technical inputs and present comments and recommendations at the Focus Working Groups and/or the consultative workshops on reviewing and preparing the Draft Decree;

3. Conduct field surveys (or online surveys due to the reoccurrence of community transmission of Covid-19) to interview businesses, line ministries or other relevant stakeholders to gather information and collect feedback on the Draft Decree;

4. Produce a Final Report containing details of all work carried out and proposals for developing the Draft Decree.

Deliverables:

• Research paper(s) containing contributions/inputs, comments and recommendations on the Draft Decree;

• Active participation at Focus Working Groups and/or consultative workshops and giving a presentation on comments and recommendations on the Draft Decree;

• Feedback from field surveys (or online surveys due to the reoccurrence of community transmission of Covid-19) from interviewed businesses, line ministries or other relevant stakeholders on the Draft Decree;

• Final Report containing details of all work carried out and proposals for developing the Draft Decree.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in law, economics, business administration, international trade, trade policy, customs administration, or similar field (Bachelor degree with more than 10 years of experience in field may be accepted);

• Minimum 20 years of experience working with the General Department of Vietnam Customs and related agencies at the Central and/or Provincial levels;

• Proven knowledge and deep understanding of customs and non-customs procedures, SI, risk management, and other technical customs matters;

• Proficient in word processing, spreadsheets and office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Applications;

• Fluency in Vietnamese and strong written, oral, and presentation skills; and

• English language skills preferred.

Reporting:

The local/national Customs and SI expert will be required to report to the Program’s Senior Trade Facilitation Expert and Legal & Regulatory Expert.

Applications should be sent to [email protected] no later than February 26, 2021.

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1^ Under GDVC Notice No. 6771/TB-TCHQ dated October 28, 2019.