Facilitator at the Dialogue Conference with Private Sector

USAID Trade Facilitation Program

SCOPE OF WORK

 Dialogue Conference with Private Sector in HCMC on Jan 18 2022

Proposed Personnel:              Local Short-term Technical Assistance (STTA)                      
                                               Facilitator at the Dialogue Conference with Private Sector

Period of Performance:          Jan 2022 (event date Jan 18 2022)

Origin/Destination:                Hybrid

Travel Dates:                          Yes

Activity No.                             4.8.2 Setup of TF Mechanisms in the 6 selected provinces

MEL indicator(s):                    IR3.1-2.

Project Background:

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 HCMC particularly TFP has been working with HCMC Department of Industry and Trade (DoIT) to organize regular dialogues with local private sector which could be an ideal substitute to the fixed TF mechanism.

Activity Description:

Upon the request of HCMC DoIT, the Program with support them to organize a Dialogue Conference with the Private Sector to work TF measures/ solutions of obstacles to good import-export caused by Covid Pandemic. The hybrid event will be organized on January 18 2022 with the participation of MOIT and its Import-Export Agency leaders, HCMC People Committee’s leader, HCMC DoIT and relevant local departments and agencies’ leader and senior representatives of major export products sectors of the City. Following the presentations, a Discussion Panel will focus on receiving more concerns of the Private Sector and identify which measures should be taken to solve the challenges caused by the Covid-19.

Tentative agenda:

Objectives: As the Event is quite high-level with the attendance of MOIT and HCMC PC’s leaders, it is important to have a professional MC cum Facilitator for the Discussion Panel to ensure the success of the Event.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

The Consultant is expected to conduct the following tasks:

• Run the whole event in a professional way
• Summarize the content of each presentation and highlight the problems/ proposals from the private sector
• Facilitate the Panel and motivate the questions by representatives of HCMC business community and circulate to the representatives of relevant agencies for the proper response
• Arrange the questions raised and current issues in each product sector in a systematic way to facilitate working out the effective measures
• Conduct the sum-up at the end of the event to support the conclusion by HCMC DoIT leader

Qualifications:

Ideally, the Consultant should have:

• Master's degrees or Doctorate in law, international trade, trade policy, economics, business administration, or similar field;
• Minimum 10 years of experience in working in trade field;
• Proven experience of working with, or practical knowledge of Vietnam authorities and private sector
• Proven experience in playing the role as the MC/ Facilitator at events of similar topics;
• Good understanding the business community’s current obstacles in Covid context;
• Good communicator with fluency in Vietnamese and with strong written, oral and presentation skills

Reporting: The National Consultant(s) will be required to report to the Program (DCOP) Nguyen Hong Son ([email protected]) and Trade Facilitation Coordinator Vu Minh Nguyet ([email protected])

How to apply:

Proposals should be submitted no later than December 29, 2021 to [email protected]

Proposals 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)