National STTA to develop Resolution 02 on main duties and measures for improving business environment and enhancing national competitiveness

USAID Trade Facilitation Program

SCOPE OF WORK

Support and technical assistance to Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) to develop Resolution 02 on main duties and measures for improving business environment and enhancing national competitiveness

Proposed Personnel:             National STTA Specialized Inspection (SI) and Business Enabling Environment Expert

Period of Performance:         o/a 21 November 2022 – 31 January 2023

Level of Effort:                      

Origin/Destination:               Hanoi, Vietnam

Travel Dates:                         n/a

Activity No.                            FY2023 - 1.3.3 – Support the CIEM to develop and implement Government's resolutions related to trade facilitation and specialized inspection

MEL indicator(s):                   P-1, IR1.1, IR1.2-2, IR4.1-1, IR4.1-2, 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 specialized inspection 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 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 technical assistance and support to Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) to develop and launch the new resolution 02 of 2023 on main duties and measures for improving business environment and enhancing national competitiveness, focusing on solutions to create a favorable business environment and promote exports in some industries.

Background:

The Ministry of Investment and Planning (MPI), Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) under the MPI and other related ministries and local authorities, have made substantial efforts to develop Government Resolutions No. 19/NQ-CP of 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 and Resolutions No. 02/NQ-CP of 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The Resolutions mandate relevant agencies to implement specific measures to improve Vietnam business environment and enhance the national competitiveness. With Government Resolutions No. 19/NQ-CP and No. 02/NQ-CP, ministries and localities have made efforts to improve the quality of business environment.

Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP of 2022 selects several key reform issues and contents for the period 2022-2025, including emphasis on specialized inspection and management reform for imported and exported goods. A new Resolution 02 is expected to be issued in Jan 2023. 

USAID has previously worked with the MPI/CIEM and other ministries in Vietnam (through the previous – Governance for Inclusive Growth Program) from 2014-2022, to improve the business environment of the country, particularly to review and revise several laws and regulations on related Doing Business Indicators (DBIs). A number of ineffective regulations, unnecessary procedures and dossiers have been revised or abolished. Although there have been significant improvements, the business community still expects further and more sustainable reforms from the Government. 

Building on the success of works done in 2014-2022, and in an effort to further improve business environment and facilitate trade, at the request of CIEM, the USAID Trade Facilitation Program will support CIEM to develop and launch the new resolution 02 of 2023 on main duties and measures for improving business environment and enhancing national competitiveness, focusing on solutions to create a favorable business environment and promote exports in some industries. The tasks will focus on:

  • Identify the core content for reforming and improving the business environment in 2023 and identify corresponding solutions.
  • Analyze the new (domestic and international) context and identify difficulties and obstacles for export activities in several industries. The selected industries will be the export industry with a large share of the domestic private sector;
  • Identify bottlenecks in customs clearance procedures and specialized inspection procedures for export goods in selected industries;
  • Identify goals, tasks, and solutions to create a favorable, transparent, secured, and cost-effective business environment for 2023 and the following years;
  • Identify specific tasks and solutions to remove difficulties for exporters in selected industries.

Methodology: The Program will mobilize a local/national STTA SI and Business Enabling Environment Expert to implement research and compile a report of findings which will provide input for the upcoming Resolution 02. This work should include desk study, field surveys with relevant public and private stakeholders to provide inputs for the development of new Resolution 02 of 2023. A launching workshop is expected to be organized with the Program’s support in mid-January 2023 to introduce the new Resolution to both public and private sector and relevant stakeholders.

The Program will implement this activity in coordination with the CIEM, with reporting progress to the Program Management Unit (PMU) of the GDVC. In consultation with the Program’s Chief of Party (COP) and Legal & Regulatory Expert, the local/national STTA SI and Business Enabling Environment Expert will work primarily closely with CIEM. The local/national SI and Business Environment STTA Expert may also be required to work in collaboration with other members of the Program team in order to undertake this activity.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

The local/national STTA SI and Business Enabling Environment Expertwill be responsible for the following:

  1. Desk study on objectives, tasks, solutions to reform and improve the business environment in 2023 and promote exports in several industries;
  2. Prepare questionnaires for the field surveys;
  3. Participate in field surveys/focused working groups in the South and South-Central regions to interview businesses, line ministries, and/or other relevant stakeholders to gather information and collect feedback on the current situation of business environment, national competitiveness, and challenges for export firms in some selected industries;
  4. Draft a compilation of inputs for the new Resolution 02 of 2023;
  5. Compile a final report containing details of all work carried out in areas assigned;
  6. Participate and give presentation at the workshop for launching the new Resolution 02 of 2023.

Deliverables:

  • Research paper on objectives, tasks, solutions to reform and improve the business environment in 2023 and promote exports in several industries;
  • Questionnaires for the field surveys;
  • Field surveys in the South and South-Central regions to interview businesses, line ministries, and/or other relevant stakeholders to gather information and collect feedback on the current situation of business environment, national competitiveness, and challenges for export firms in some selected industries;
  • Inputs for the draft new Resolution 02 of 2023;
  • Final report containing details of all work carried out in areas assigned;
  • Presentations and relevant materials prepared for launching workshop of the new Resolution 02 of 2023.

Qualifications:

The local/national STTA SI and Business Enabling Environment Expert has been identified by CIEM but will be required to meet the following essential qualifications:

  • Master degree or higher in customs administration, business administration, trade policy, international trade, economics, or similar field;
  • Experience and track record of working or collaborating with line ministries in Vietnam;
  • Experience, specifically in the management mechanism and management mode of specialized inspection of selected countries such as U.S., China, EU, etc.;
  • Proven knowledge and understanding of Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT’s) customs and non-customs procedures including Specialized Inspection, risk management, and other technical customs matters;
  • Awareness of the WCO and WTO instruments such as the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) and the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA);
  • Capable in word processing, spreadsheets, and office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Applications;
  • Fluency in Vietnamese and good written, oral, and presentation skills; and
  • English language skills preferred.

Reporting:

The local/national STTA SI and Business Enabling Environment Expertwill be required to report periodically to the Program COP ([email protected]and on a regular (weekly) basis to the Legal & Regulatory Expert ([email protected]).

No.

National SI and Business Enabling Environment Expert

LOE

Deliverable to be submitted & approved before payment

Estimated Completion Date

 

 

Research paper on objectives, tasks, solutions to reform and improve the business environment in 2023 and promote exports in several industries;

15/12/2022

 

 

Questionnaires for the field surveys;

20/12/2022

 

 

Field surveys in the South and South-Central regions to interview businesses, line ministries, and/or other relevant stakeholders to gather information and collect feedback on the current situation of business environment, national competitiveness, and challenges for export firms in some selected industries;

31/12/2022

 

 

Inputs for the draft new Resolution 02 of 2023;

31/12/2022

 

 

Final report containing details of all work carried out in areas assigned;

15/01/2023

 

 

Presentations and relevant materials prepared for launching workshop of the new Resolution 02 of 2023.

31/1/2023

How to apply:

Proposals should be submitted to [email protected] no later than November 25, 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)”

 

Job Details
Organisation Name: 
Nathan
Location: 
Hanoi
Application Deadline: 
Fri, 2022-11-25