Background

The Aid for Trade initiative for the Arab States region aims to achieve inclusive economic growth with increased employment opportunities and greater competitiveness through trade policy reforms in Arab countries as an integral part of the regional trade and economic integration agenda. It provides a platform for targeted trade reforms, building upon UN agencies’ experience and ongoing technical assistance and capacity development interventions. UNDP is the implementing agency of this regional initiative, working closely with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) as the chair of the project board (executive) and UN agencies from the CEB Trade and Productive Capacity Cluster (ILO, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, and UNIDO) responsible for leading work in specific result areas in coordination with partners in the region and beyond.
The project (AfTIAS) will focus on helping countries and the main sub-regional and regional integration entities to accelerate the pace of trade reforms and regional economic integration, to strengthen the employment effects of those reforms with particular focus on women and youth and to mobilize additional resources for this purpose.

Duties and Responsibilities

Several Arab States have committed to simplification and harmonization of trade and customs-related procedures for a more viable business environment. Member States of the League of Arab States (LAS) recognized the importance and impacts, with significant priority, of trade facilitation measures, and more particularly need of more harmonization of regulatory measures dealt with cross border operations and efficient port handling procedures. Global programs of integrated, secure supply chain such as the Authorized Economic Operators or similar schemes under the World Customs Organization are required in sustaining the Arab integrated economic space towards the Arab Customs Union, mandated by Arab Leaders at their 2013 Summit. The major challenge for Arab policy makers and for the private sector consists of how to translate this political mandate and guideline into concrete actions, which should result in more facilitation, better governance based on the transparency and access to information in promoting informed compliance, and better quality of public services up to the expectations of the region.
 
According to Logistics Performance Index of 2014 by the World Bank, Egypt scored 2.97/5 ranking at 62/160 while Sudan did 2.14/5 and ranks at 153/160 (countries), compared to its performance in 2007. Globalization of world economies and integration of production and supply chain point to the fact that significant improvement of logistics services is one of key basis in making the country attractive to investment by national and international investors and in building confidence required to promote active engagement of the private sector, particularly SMEs.
 
As contribution to address existing challenges at this initial stage, UNDP under the AfTIAS has initiated the pilot project of modernizing cross border operations in Egypt and Sudan in linking these two countries as part of a broader program of linking Arab States along trade and transport corridors. To that end, the Customs and Trade Facilitation Advisor will be required to undertake a number of key tasks such as: i) review of key operational/regulations procedures dealing with trade, customs and transport as related to logistics operations, particularly those in use in administering land border movement, transit (international and national as defined by the Revised Kyoto Convention); ii) formulation of recommendations and design of operational models to be piloted at designated border posts in line with international commitments, standards and practices of, among others, the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, Revised Kyoto Convention, World Customs Organization SAFE Framework. Due consideration should be given to Arab commitments under GAFTA and PAFTA and relevant instruments; iii) Leading the conduct of the implementation of the pilots in collaboration with relevant authorities of Egypt and Sudan; iv) Conducting specific trainings on operational models, designed for designated pilots; and v) other tasks as required.
 
The Advisor on Customs and Trade Facilitation (Customs and TF Advisor) will form part of the technical team of experts of UNDP, specialized on mainstreaming trade for inclusive growth aimed at human development, promotion of partnership with the private sector, and good governance in providing public goods and services.
 
The AfTIAS Advisor on Customs and Trade Facilitation under UNDP (Customs and TF Advisor) will be responsible to assist selected Arab States, among them, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, in the development, design and pilot implementation of cross border operations, included those related to transit and trans-shipment in promoting Arab connectivity. Coordination with other initiatives under the responsibility of UNDP may also be required.
 
As part of her/his tasks, it is required that the Customs and TF Advisor conducts consultations with relevant authorities of Arab States such as Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (General Administration of Management of Imports and Exports and the Trade Agreement Sector), Ministry of Finance, Customs Authority, Agriculture Quarantine Central Department, General Administration of Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Control Department of Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transport (Land and Dry Port General Administration and others) to take stock of progress achieved in applying electronic processing towards a realistic roadmap of activation of the NSW in Egypt. Business process re-engineering and procedures streamlining and harmonization are essential.
 
The scope of the assignment will include the following delivery of outputs:
  • Review of relevant regulations and procedures related to operations needed for the clearance of shipments, means of transport, under respective authorities for streamlined and coordinated processing of cross border operations in concerned Arab Member States;
  • Conduct of training cum design workshops to design operational models of streamlined and coordinated processing of cross border operations with national authorities and logistics operators/ private sectors/ transport operators, to the extent as required, of Arab States;
  • Reviewed existing mechanisms and procedures related to clearance of shipments, means of transport toward more streamlined processing for specific recommendations of policy reform;
  • Designed the Action Plan for adoption of newly developed procedures into specific operations at points of entry and exit of Egypt, Sudan and identified Arab States (border posts, ports, airports, logistics centers as applicable).
  • Designed the models of coordinated management of border posts/ entry points for the pilots;
  • Works with the Governments in Arab States for the effective implementation of the pilots;
  • Provided assistance to the conduct of one pilot implementation at a particular customs office or border post as designated by the Government and on the basis of international standards and adopted recommendations;
  • Developed one bankable project on modernization of cross border management with focus on adoption of newly developed customs procedures at designated customs offices and/or logistics centers in Egypt;
  • Other related tasks.
For detailed information, please Refer to Annex I – Terms of Reference.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
  • Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Functional Competencies:
  • Substantial experience in customs techniques and measures of trade facilitation such as simplification, harmonization of procedures, implementation of national/international transit systems, data harmonization, business re-engineering, among others.
  • Familiarity with international standards on development and activation of customs automated systems as users is required.
  • Expertise and proven track record in human development, public-private partnership in the activation of transit/ transshipment systems, and gender mainstreaming in policy;
  • Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize multiple tasks.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Holding a Masters’ Degree or equivalent in Foreign Trade, Economics, Development Studies or related fields; PhD is desirable.
Experience:
  • Having minimum 10 years of relevant experience in programme/project results based management or part time at the national , regional and international level;
  • Having participated to the design, establishment and implementation of projects dealt with modernization of procedures and operations of cross border management/transit at the national level. Experiences in development and activation of any regional projects in these areas will be an advantage;
  • Earlier experiences with similar works undertaken under programmes by the League of Arab States (LAS) is desirable;
  • Substantial experience in customs techniques and measures of trade facilitation such as simplification, harmonization of procedures, implementation of national/international transit systems, data harmonization, business re-engineering, among others.
Languages:
  • Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English;
  • Ability to communicate in Arabic is a must.
Kindly refer to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice and all related Annexes by visiting the below link:
 
http://www.lb.undp.org/content/lebanon/en/home/operations/procurement/
 
Please make sure to submit all the requested documents/information; otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete.