Consultant To Support Trade Mid-Term Plan Formulation And Mainstreaming Trade In Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Closing date: Thursday, 12 March 2015

CONSULTANT TO SUPPORT TRADE MID-TERM PLAN FORMULATION AND MAINSTREAMING TRADE IN CAMBODIA

Location : Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA

Application Deadline : 12-Mar-15

Additional Category

Poverty Reduction

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : National Consultant

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)

23-Mar-2015

Duration of Initial Contract : 40 working days

Expected Duration of Assignment : 40 working days

Background

The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) through the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has received a grant of US$1'493'000 as part of the Enhanced Integrated Framework -Tier I implementation (2010 - -2015). Subsequently, the Ministry of Commerce was able to mobilize around US$7 Millions for the implementation of its flagship Cambodia Export Diversification and Expansion Programme (CEDEP), under the Tier 2 category of the EIF.

The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to least-developed countries (LDCs) is a process that was first established in 1997 to support LDC governments in trade capacity building and integrating trade issues into overall national development strategies. The EIF has two objectives: (I) to 'mainstream' (integrate) trade into the national development plans such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) of least-developed countries and (2) to assist in the co-ordinated delivery of trade-related technical assistance in response to needs identified by the LDC. The IF is built on the principles of country ownership and partnership.

The ElF programme in Cambodia has allowed the country to enhance its national capacity to formulate, implement, manage, and monitor a pro-poor trade policy that is consistent with and supportive of the country's National Development Plan and its Millennium Development Goals. It will provide resources to further adhere to the principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. Cambodia successfully updated its Diagnosis Trade Integration Strategy (CTIS) for a 2nd time in 2014 and embarked on an ambitious Sector Wide Approach in Trade (aka Trade SWAp) for the implementation of its trade integration strategy piloted by the National Implementation Unit (DICO) of the Ministry of Commerce back in 2008. The EIF Tier I project supports the implementation of the Cambodia Trade SWAp. Cambodia has been considered a success story in terms of trade mainstreaming and EIF implementation and as such receives foreign delegations regularly.

In 2015, Cambodia key Aid-for-Trade programme, namely the Trade Development Support Programme (TDSP), supported by DANIDA, EU and UNIDO, administered by the World Bank and executed by the Department of International Cooperation (DICO) of the Ministry of Commerce and the EIF Tier 1 project will come to an end. Exit strategies are already in place for both programmes, ensuring that key reforms undertaken in the framework of these programmes will be completed.

The early feedback received on the CTIS 2014-2018, SWAp Road Maps and TDSP and EIF beneficiaries from key stakeholders and beneficiaries indicate that further assistance and support are needed to (1) increase mainstreaming of trade in particular using sectorial policies bound to be updated in coming months, (2) to translate SWAp road map long term outcomes into more concrete activities and results and (3) to start identifying potential areas for the formulation of bankable project and programme documents in partnership with Cambodia's key 'trade' development partners.

The DICO, serving as Secretariat and National Implementation Unit (NIU) to the EIF and SWAp Secretariat, wishes to work with UNDP to support the formulation of a Medium-Term Plan for AFT, to provide 'trade' markers to key line ministries on the basis of the CTIS 2014-2018 and NSDP 2014-2018 and to formulate project concept notes for TRTA support in the period 2016-2020, in close coordination with the EIF Focal Point (FP) and National Implementation Unit (NIU Director) in the Ministry of Commerce.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The consultant will participate in consultations with national stakeholders and contribute to draft output documents under the guidance of UNDP Team leader and in cooperation with an international consultant engaged by UNDP to work on the present assignment.

In carrying out its work, s/he will assist the international consultant in carrying out the following (non-exhaustive list) activities

Medium-Term Plan (MTP)

Review existing AFT documents and SWAp Road Map Progress Update;
Contribute to the prioritization exercise on SWAp Road Maps;
Contribute to the drafting of the MTP report; participate in its dissemination and workshop;
Provide inputs and other assistance necessary for the preparation of the MTP final report.

Trade Markers

Review key sectorial policies / strategies and coordinate with international consultant the selection of priority policies/strategies for the formulation of trade markers;
Liaise with relevant line ministries for consultations, collecting information and follow up as needed;
Collect data and support formulation of markers and logframe for each relevant ministry;
Presentation of markers with relevant ministries in cooperation with the international consultant;
Finalize 'trade markers'.

2016-2020 Programme Proposal Concept Note

Carry out inventory of ongoing and planned TRTA plans by resident DP in Cambodia;
Assist with the match making between SWAp and TRTA offers;
Provide inputs and assist the selection of 5 priority TA areas for 2016-2020;
Draft 5 priority project/programmes concept notes under the guidance of the international consultant;
Develop the plan for the validation workshop of the MTP in consultation with the International Consultant and work closely with the assigned support team to ensure the successful completion of the workshop.

Deliverables: The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables in cooperation with the international consultant:

Submission of required draft inputs and data for the formulation of the draft trade mainstreaming markers;
Submission of the required inputs and data for the draft MTP report;
Completion of the national validation of the trade mainstreaming markers and MTP report;
Preliminary draft of the priority project concept notes
Provided relevant technical input to the International Consultant to finalize the concept note.

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will work in close cooperation of the international consultant engaged by UNDP to work in this assignment and under the overall guidance of UNDP Team leader. S/he will assist the international consultant at various stages of the formulation of expected outputs. S/he will communicate on a regular basis or as needed in the progress of the assignment, challenges and propose solutions to shortfalls.

The consultant will be stationed at DICO, Ministry of Commerce and will be supported by DICO staff. The outputs will be reviewed by the NIU Director and will need to be endorsed by the EIF Focal Point and the SSC.TD-TRI.

Duration of the Work: The time dedication for this assignment is estimated at approximately 40 days over a period of 7 months, expected to start in March 2015.

Duty Station: The consultant will be based in Phnom Penh. The project will arrange the vehicle for the consultant during the data collection and meeting with stakeholders in Phnom Penh.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Data analysis and interpretation skills;
Excellent writing skills;
Proven capacity to manage teams effectively and deliver under tight timelines;
Good interpersonal skills and result orientation;
Experience in working in cross-cultural teams/environment, both independent and in team work;
Effective written/verbal communication skills;
Integrity and adherence to UN values;
Promote the vision, mission and strategic objectives of UNDP.

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 Degree in Economics or Business, with specialization in International Trade or Management from a recognized international school or university or related field

Experience:

Minimum practical experience of 3 years directly relevant to Cambodia trade development and Aid-for-Trade projects;
Minimum experience of 3 years in a project management or implementation position project or program in Cambodia;
Proven knowledge on trade and development linkages and approaches towards pro-poor growth in Cambodia context;
Experience in MS office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint Presentation and Project).
Proven work experience working with different stakeholder including government, donor agencies, private sector
Proven experience in conducting research and report writing

Language Requirement

Fluency in written and spoken Khmer and English languages

Important note

Interested offeror is strongly advised to read the Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice, which can be viewed at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=20832 for more detail about term of references, instructions to offeror, and documents to be included when submitting offer.

Documents to be included when submitting the application

Interested offeror/individual must submit the following documents/information.

Cover letter: Explaining why the candidate the most suitable for the work;
Offeror's letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) assignment and Final all-inclusive price proposal with breakdown of costs as per UNDP template, which can be downloaded at http://www.kh.undp.org/content/dam/cambodia/docs/Operations/UNDP_Template%20for%20Confirmation%20of%20Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal.docx ;
UNDP Personal History Form (P11), which can be downloaded at http://www.kh.undp.org/content/dam/cambodia/docs/Operations/UNDP-P11%20modified%20for%20SCs%20and%20ICs.doc;
Note for Interested Candidates above the age of 62: UNDP regulations require, at their own cost, to undergo a full medical examination including x-rays. Medical evaluation documentation does not need to be submitted with the other requested documents listed above, but will be requested should the candidate be chosen.

UNDP reserves right to reject any applications that is incomplete.

Please be informed that we don't accept application submitted via email.

Interested candidate is required to submit application via UNDP jobsite system, because the application screening and evaluation will be done through UNDP jobsite system.

Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file. Your on-line applications submission will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary.

Any request for clarification/additional information on this procurement notice shall be communicated in writing to UNDP office or send to email dalis.heng@undp.org and/or procurement.kh@undp.org. While the Procurement Unit would endeavor to provide information expeditiously, only requests receiving at least 5 working days prior to the submission deadline will be entertained. Any delay in providing such information will not be considered as a reason for extending the submission deadline. The UNDP's response (including an explanation of the query but without identifying the source of inquiry) will be posted in Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice page as provided above. Therefore, all prospective Offerors are advised to visit the page regularly to make obtain update related to this Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice.

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.

More jobs tagged:

Aid Effectiveness;

Capacity Building;

Data Analysis;

Data Collection;

Developed Countries;

Development Plans;

Development Strategies;

Effectiveness;

English Language;

Export Diversification;

International Cooperation;