Antecedentes

The UNDP-implemented regional project Wider Europe: Aid for Trade for Central Asia is designed in line with Finland’s Development Policy programme and UNDP’s development vision. It promotes inclusive, green economic growth through promoting trade and enhancing national competitiveness and sustainable development, by helping poor and vulnerable communities to share in the gains from trade.

Aid for Trade (AFT) is a global initiative that strengthens developing countries’ abilities to capture gains from international trade. Much of this agenda is focused on strengthening domestic production and competitiveness, via the creation of enabling business environments and building economic infrastructure. Activities coming under AFT fall into five categories: (1) trade policy and regulation; (2) trade development; (3) economic infrastructure; (4) productive capacity; and (5) adjustment costs.

UNDP’s approach use a human centric approach to trade. By helping poor and vulnerable households and communities start, expand, and formalize small and medium-sized companies that can participate in cross-border and regional trade and global value chains, this project expands people’s capacities, as well as promoting trade and reducing poverty. By helping trade policy makers to take advantage of the development opportunities presented by preferential trading arrangements and to better understand the socio-economic and environmental consequences of trade policies; this project strengthens the institutional capacities needed for inclusive growth and sustainable development. Trade and human development can therefore be mutually beneficial.

Phase III of the regional AFT project (2014-2017) built on the experiences and lessons learned of Phases I and II. The AFT needs assessments undertaken under Phase I in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Western CIS identified policy recommendations and technical assistance activities to help trade better contribute to human development and poverty reduction. In contrast to previous phases, Phase III focuses exclusively on the post-Soviet region’s low-income countries, which are located in Central Asia. AFT therefore emphasize close cooperation with other UNDP flagship national and sub-regional activities in the region, such as UNDP’s engagement in the Central Asian Regional Risk Assessment and Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation processes (particularly in terms of trade corridors, and engagement with other development partners working on trade facilitation and trade policy in Central Asia), and its area-based/community-based/local development initiatives (including those undertaken under the Poverty-Environment Initiative).

The project has three components, working on three conceptual levels. On the macro level, component I focuses on capacity development for trade policy makers; on the meso level, component II strengthens trade support institutions; while on the micro level component III focuses on capacity development, helping agro-processing stakeholders to increase exports. The project is implemented in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

In 2013, Tajikistan became the 159th member of the World Trade Organization. With the accession to this organization, the economic relations in the country taken to another level. Membership in this organization provides additional opportunities for Tajikistan for formation in the country a transparent, and most importantly predictable trading system that meets international requirements and help solve the problems of finding export markets and improve the competitiveness of local products. Currently, the UNDP “Aid for Trade” project supports the government at national and local levels in improving trade policies, in development of trade development programs, implementation of commitments in the WTO, the National Development Strategy for 2016-2030, the etc.

In June 2015, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan (MEDT) has requested UNDP to provide technical assistance for the development of the State Programme for export promotion and import substitution in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2016-2020 (EPIS). The State Program (EPIS) will serve as a trade roadmap of the country for the medium-term period from 2016 until 2020 and in the long term by integration to the National Development Strategy (NDS) for the period 2016-2030.

On November 26, 2016 by Governmental decree ?503, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan approved the State Programme for export promotion and import substitution in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2016-2020. Within this program, there was developed and adopted an Action Plan of measures on realization of this State Program, where priority #5.3 envisages “Conduction of marketing research for new products and perspective niches for export” and priority #5.5. envisages “Assistance to export-oriented companies in development and implementation of export and marketing strategies”.

In this regard, UNDP in the frame of its “Wider Europe: Aid for Trade in Central Asia” project, implemented in Tajikistan,  intends to provide technical support to the Government of Tajikistan in the implementation of the State Programme for export promotion and import substitution in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2016-2020, by supporting above-mentioned priorities #5.3 and #5.5.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Goals and objectives:

The Aid for Trade project in Tajikistan intends to hire an International Consultant to assess the potential of Tajik products for exporting to non-traditional EU markets. An International Consultant will be closely work with the Local Consultant who will be responsible for conducting of marketing research and identifying of 3 Tajik agricultural products having most high potential to export.

Duties and responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the National Coordinator of Aid for Trade project in Tajikistan, the International Consultant (IC) will undertake the following tasks:

• Based on the assessment of Tajik agricultural products, performed by Local Consultant, identify a concrete EU countries markets, having a high demand for the identified Tajik agricultural products, as well as their specific markets’ demand and requirements for each of the products. The TradeMap tools and other tools should be used for finding potential export markets of concrete EU countries.
• Define the specific EU countries requirements, for each of the identified products, which will include: import and export requirements (documents required, licenses, common export documents for shipment, etc.), required laboratory tests and documents, required certification for export and import documents, customs regulations as well as packaging standards.
• Identify the main prospective partners/buyers, as well as their needs in terms of volumes, quality, packaging and shipment frequency.
• Define the main hurdles/barriers in markets entry for each of the identified product and provide solutions on how to resolve them.
• Develop 3 Export marketing strategies for the identified agricultural products. The Export marketing strategy should consist of recommendations on assessing target markets, export potential of the products, products promotion, pricing, market channels, export volume needed, price and volume comparison, organoleptic characteristics of the products (tasty, odor, colour, etc.), main buyers and resellers, quality comparison, niche and concentration of the products on identified markets, transportation costs till target markets, how to start export to identified EU countries markets and other information and requirements.

For detailed information, please refer to annex 1- Terms of Reference of the below link.

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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 favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
• Ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Ability to plan and organize his/her work, efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Master Degree in Business and Administration or related discipline.

Experience:

• At least 10 years work experience in area of conduction market assessment and B2B matching activities;
• At least 5 years of working with Central Asian and EU markets and companies;
• Experience in Tajikistan and knowledge about Tajik products is considered an asset.

Language:

• Fluent English is required, Russian is considered an asset.

Application Procedure:

Please follow the link to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice:

http://www.undp.tj/va/upload/va/ICPN%20AFT%20EU%20markets_International_Consultant.docx

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.