Specialist to Support Implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) for 10.4

USAID Vietnam Trade Facilitation Program

SCOPE OF WORK

Support implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)

Proposed Personnel:               Name TBD, National WTO TFA Specialist

Period of Performance:           o/a November 1 – November 30, 2021

Level of Effort:                        20 days (estimated)

Origin/Destination:                 Hanoi, Vietnam

Travel Dates:                           n/a

Activity No.:                            FY2021 Activity 1.4 – Administration of WTO TFA implementation.
                                                Detailed assessment of the implementation level of TFA Art. 10.4.
                                                [Sub-activities 1.4.1]

MEL indicator(s):                     EG 2_1-1 and CLBD 9

Project Background:

The USAID Vietnam 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 the 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 overall aim is to provide assessment and recommend solutions for Vietnam to achieve full implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Article 10.4 – Single Window.

Background: Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded the negotiations on a Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which entered into force in February 2017 after two-thirds of WTO members completed their ratification process. Vietnam had notified the WTO of acceptance of the Protocol of Amendment and ratification of the TFA on 15 December 2015. Vietnam has undertaken a self-assessment of the articles or measures of the WTO TFA identifying which are Category ‘A’ (measures that will be implemented by the time the TFA enters into force); Category ‘B’ (measures that will be implemented after a transitional period following entry into force of the TFA); and Category ‘C’ (measures that will be implemented on a date after a transitional period following entry into force of the TFA and requiring the acquisition of assistance and support for capacity building). The Government of Vietnam (GVN) subsequently identified 14 measures as Category ‘B’ and 9 measures as Category ‘C’.

In 2020 the Program conducted a study and issued a Report on Vietnam’s Implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. The Report provided an assessment on Vietnam’s current status and situation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) measures identified as Category A, B and C, and recommendations of acceptance, validation and further action for full implementation and timeline for full implementation of the Agreement against notifications sent to the WTO.

Under this Scope of Work, the Program is seeking a national WTO TFA Specialist to conduct a final conclusion on whether Vietnam could achieve full implementation by the 31 December 2021 deadline of the Agreement’s Article 10.4 – Single Window. His/her final report should identify what are the gaps between the current situation and full implementation, and solutions to achieve the full implementation of the Agreement’s Article 10.4.  

In the research, the expert will analyze the outputs of the activities conducted by the Program on National Single Window (besides the study assessing the implementation of WTO TFA mentioned above), as follows:

• The report “Develop an overall scheme for setting up and developing an IT system to serve the implementation of the NSW and ASW”
• The report of the survey conducted with VCCI/GDVC “Business satisfaction and time needed to carry out administrative procedures through the National Single Window”.

Tasks and Responsibilities

The national WTO TFA specialist will be responsible for providing a report on Vietnam’s readiness to fully implement WTO TFA Article 10.4- Single Window. In order to fulfill the tasks and responsibilities, he/she will:

• Discuss with GDVC the recommendations provided by the WTO/TFA as well as by the other reports produced by the Program, verify the latest development and agree on a common plan of action;
• Gather and review legal provisions related to the construction and operation of NSW, on-going programs and projects related to the construction and implementation of NSW in Vietnam
• Clearly define the provisions relating to SW under Vietnam’s current regulations, comparing to the requirements for SW under TFA
• Collaborate and consult with the relevant units of GDVC to study the NSW Operational Mechanism, the mechanism for sharing and providing information within the NSW framework, analyzing and identifying the shortcomings, problems, common difficulties with regard to meeting the SW commitment of the TFA
• Identify required inputs for NSW operation and responsibilities of stakeholders (NTFC, Ministries, Customs, etc.) in the process.
• Identify shortcomings, problems of the current system, and recommend solutions, roadmap to implement the commitment.
• Draft report for consultation with stakeholders
• Complete the Final Report

Deliverables

• An agreed Workplan for the activities
• Summary report on relevant legal issues and shortcomings (if any)
• Summary of current NSW system and operation including findings of advantages, shortcomings, difficulties, and problems, and specific addresses of those findings
• Proposal of solutions addressing the findings, focal points, and roadmap to meet TFA's deadlines
• Draft report with findings, analysis, conclusions and recommendations
• The final report includes all the tasks performed and the results of consultation with the stakeholders

Qualifications

• Master's degrees in law, international trade, customs administration, trade policy, economics, business administration, or similar field (Bachelor degree with more than 10 years of experience in field may be accepted);
• Minimum 10 years of experience coordinating or working with line ministries and/or customs in Vietnam at central or provincial level;
• Proven experience of working with, or practical knowledge of, implementing the WTO TFA;
• Good understanding of the WTO and WCO instruments such as the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC);
• Background knowledge and understanding of the current status of Vietnam as related to trade facilitation measures and implementation of the WTO TFA;
• Proficient in word processing, spreadsheets and office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Applications;
• Good communicator with fluency in Vietnamese and with strong written, oral and presentation skills;
• English language skills preferred; and
• Ability to travel within Vietnam.

Reporting

The national WTO TFA specialist will report to Mr. Claudio Dordi, Chief of Party ([email protected])  and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Bich Ha, the Program’s Trade and National Trade Facilitation Committee Expert ([email protected]).

How to apply

Proposals should be submitted no later than October 25, 2021 to [email protected] 

Application should include:

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)