Background
Shuttle trade is a characteristic phenomenon in Turkmenistan as in other countries of the post-Soviet space. Individual traders travel outside the country to buy goods, bringing their purchases back to Turkmenistan for sale on street markets. Shuttle trade met the demand for consumer goods in the first years after independence. This form of business had the further benefit of providing employment and developing entrepreneurial skills. Shuttle trade diminished in importance as small business developed, although it poses difficulties in its recording.
Turkmen customs regulations allow travelers to import 60 kg without assessment of any duty. While the most common form of shuttle trade relates to clothing and apparel, there are other examples of the variants of accompanied trade, such as food, mobile equipment, watches, etc. As per IMTS 2010 guidelines, countries are encouraged to estimate and include such flows in their foreign merchandise trade statistics following if they are economically significant, and this shall be determined by the statistical authorities of the compiling country – the State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan (Turkmenstat).
From the perspective of compiler, the shuttle trade poses two issues. The first is the most appropriate methodological treatment of shuttle trade in balance of payments statistics. The second is the means of measuring such trade and of identifying the counterpart transactions. On the first issue, as shuttle trade is clearly undertaken for business purposes to make a profit, the appropriate treatment in balance of payments statistics is needed to record such trade under goods. On the second issue, the current practice of measuring shuttle trade through customs records needs certain improvements in measurement and estimation.
For this purpose, UNDP and Turkmenstat engaged in the joint project that aims at improving foreign trade statistics in Turkmenistan, that also envisaged conducting a survey to estimate the magnitude of the shuttle trade. The project involved an international consultant to develop survey methodology for assessing the type of goods, values and amounts imported by physical persons. In June-August 2018 a sample shuttle trade survey was conducted in Ashgabat airport customs point. The survey results have been collected by Turkmenstat and analyzed with support of the national consultant, including calculation of the shuttle trade coefficient and methodology for adjustment of general foreign trade of Turkmenistan.
In this regard, UNDP is looking for an international consultant to review the shuttle trade survey results and provide expertise on the methodology for shuttle trade adjustment, including calculation of the adjustment coefficient.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under supervision of the Project Manager, the International Consultant (IC) will have the objective of providing consultancy and expertise for shuttle trade adjustment methodology. To achieve the objective, the International Consultant will carry out the following tasks:
- Review materials of the sample survey of shuttle trade magnitude, including methodology and process;
- Provide expertise and consultancy to verify the survey results analysis and draft methodology of shuttle trade adjustment developed by the project national experts;
- Conduct consultations with Turkmenstat and national consultants to provide comments and recommendations for improvement of the methodology;
- Provide a final report with expert opinion on the quality of the shuttle trade methodology and recommendations for application.
Deliverables and timeframe:
Deliverable prepared through tasks above:
- Final report with expert opinion regarding the quality of shuttle trade methodology
Location: 5 days home-based, 5 days mission to Ashgabat
Number of days: 10 days.
Payment conditions:
This is an installment-based contract that should cover the costs of consultancy required to produce the above deliverables. The final schedule of payments will be agreed upon in the beginning of consultancy.
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.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master’s degree in Statistics, Economics or similar by experience.
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years of experience in Statistics, International Trade and Data Management;
- At least 5 years of working experience in methodology development and implementation;
- Practical experience in compiling trade statistics gained in a national statistics institute or Customs Department;
- Good knowledge of international merchandise trade statistics;
- Good knowledge of and working experience of CIS region.
Language requirements:
- English
Submission of applications:
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
All experts applying for this position are required to provide:
- Financial Proposal with the references to (1) the daily rate for the assignment and within the timing scale indicated in the present TOR, and (2) any other expenses (including transportation costs, accommodation costs, the possibility of vaccination and etc.). Template of the form can be found at: http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/operations/jobs. The UNDP will enter into an Individual Contract based on a lump sum amounts. The financial proposal shall represent a detailed, justified and “all inclusive” amount. In order to assist UNDP in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount, including: a daily fee for the tasks and an estimated duration as specified in this announcement, travel (to and from the missions), per diems, any other possible costs (including vaccinations, dwelling, communication etc.);
- Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc.
Evaluation of proposals:
Individual Consultants will be evaluated based on the combined scoring methodology. When using this method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
Responsive/Compliant and
Having received the highest score – out of 100 points
Out of the maximum score, the score for technical criteria equals 70% - maximum 70 points, and for financial criteria 30% - maximum 30 points.
The technical evaluation will take into account the following as per the scoring provided:
- Statistics/Economics Education – 20 pts;
- Working experience in trade statistics – 30 pts;
- Experience in developing statistics methodology – 20 pts;
- Practical experience working in the national statistical offices – 20 pts;
- Knowledge of English – 10 pts.
Financial proposal – 30% of total evaluation - max 30 pts.
Additional requirements for recommended contractor:
Recommended contractors aged 65 and older, and if the travel is required, shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination is to be cleared by the UN physicians, and shall be paid by the consultant.