Building Institutions And Systems to Harness And Realize Agenda 2063 Project ( - Тендер #54700756)

NOTICE AT-A-GLANCE

• Project ID

P180117

• Project Title

Building Institutions And Systems to Harness And Realize Agenda 2063 Project

• Country

Eastern and Southern Africa

• Notice No

OP00295218

• Notice Type

Request for Expression of Interest

• Notice Status

Published

• Borrower Bid Reference

ET-AUC-427157-CS-INDV

• Procurement Method

Individual Consultant Selection

• Language of Notice

English

• Submission Deadline Date/Time

Jun 27, 2024 17:00

• Published Date

Jun 12, 2024

• CONTACT INFORMATION
• Organization/Department

Africa Union Commission

• Name

Fungisayi Patricia Mwanyisa

• Address

Africa Union HeadquartersP.O.BOX 3243Tel: 251-11-5-517700webmaster: webmaster@africa-union.orgAddis

• City

• Province/State

Eastern and Southern Africa

• Postal Code

• Country

Eastern and Southern Africa

• Phone

+251 90 308 6604

• Email

MwanyisaP@africa-union.org

• Website

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT)

Country: Ethiopia

Name of Project: The Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project

Grant No: P180117

Assignment Title: Individual Consultant as a Trade in Service Expert for GTI Implementation

Reference No. ET-AUC-427157-CS-INDV

The African Union Commission has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of The Building Institutions and Systems to Harness and Realize Agenda (BIASHARA) 2063 Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include Consulting Service to to support the effective implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement, with a specific focus on the implementation of the GTiS. Specific tasks include:

• Provide appropriate technical support (written and/or verbal) in the negotiations in the five priority sectors, activities under the GTiS, and other trade in services -related areas.
• Undertake research and analysis into trade in services issues and ensure the appropriate and timely dissemination of the results and recommendations of this research and analysis to AfCFTA delegations through the appropriate AfCFTA organs.
• Provide appropriate advice on trade in services issues to the Head of Division, Trade in Services, or the Director, DTIID.
• Organise technical assistance and capacity building activities under the Directorate.
• Organise and facilitate AfCFTA Trade in Services technical meetings including meetings under the GTiS, and other activities under the agreed workplan for the Directorate.
• Design activities under the GTiS, including Movement of Persons and, develop a comprehensive workplan for the execution of GTiS activities.
• Liaise closely with State Parties participating in the GTiS, to provide technical assistance where required.
• Prepare the required inputs on issues relating to the trade in services negotiations in the five priority sectors, ensuring that agreed deadlines for these inputs are strictly adhered to.
• Prepare required documentation for State and non – State Parties in technical meetings on trade in services.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Head of Division, Trade in Services, or the Director of DTIID.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this Request for Expression of Interest.

The African Union Commission now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

Minimum Qualifications and Skills

• At least a Master’s degree or its equivalent in International Trade Law and/or Policy, Social Policy and Development, Economics, International Development, International Relations, Business Administration, Regional Integration and negotiations, or a related field; or 5 years working experience in addition to the general experience required by this project;

General professional experience

• 3 years of relevant professional experience in Trade in Services negotiations and related issues and/or regional trade agreements, business development, private sector engagement, entrepreneurship and related issues;
• 3 years of professional experience in drafting reports, technical notes, and conducting analyses preferably on Trade in Services related issues;
• 3 years of professional experience in imparting training in the relevant fields.
• Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish or Swahili). Knowledge of one or several other working languages would be an added advantage.

Specific professional experience:

• 3 years of professional experience in negotiations of trade agreements, particularly Trade in Services in Africa;
• Experience and in-depth knowledge of Trade in Services issues globally and in the context of Africa;
• Proven knowledge of research on Trade in Services and trade issues; and
• Experience in the African region is desirable.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016, revised November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours i.e. 0900 to 1700 hours.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 27 June 2024

African Union Commission,

Attn: Head of Supply Chain Management Division

Building C, 3rd Floor,

P.O Box 3243, Roosevelt Street

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700 – Ext 4305

Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 0442; +251 11-551-0430

E-mails: tender@africa-union.org

TERMS OF REFERENCE

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT AS TRADE IN SERVICE EXPERT FOR GTIS IMPLEMENTATION

ET-AUC-427157-CS-INDV

• Introduction

• Following the establishment of the Guided Trade Initiative in Services (GTiS) which seeks to fast-track the start of trade in services under the AfCFTA, the Secretariat desires to engage an Individual Consultant for the services of a Junior Trade in Services Expert under the auspices of the European Union (EU) - Technical Assistance Facility (TAF), to support the effective implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement and roll out of related implementation programmes, including the GTiS.

• Background

• The AfCFTA Secretariat is established as a unique Pan-African body in charge of administering, facilitating, and monitoring the implementation of the Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA (AfCFTA Agreement). At the core is the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement, negotiated, signed, and ratified by the State Parties. The goal is to ensure that trade is conducted smoothly, predictably and, as freely as possible across the continent.

• Context

• Having been adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union during their Extraordinary Summit that was held in Kigali, Rwanda in March 2018, the AfCFTA Agreement came into force on 30 May 2019 and was launched during the Extraordinary Summit that was held in Niamey, Niger on the 7 July 2019.

• At the Thirteenth (13th) Extraordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Johannesburg on the 5th of December 2020, the Assembly, (i) directed the start of trading under the AfCFTA Agreement to commence from the 1st of January 2021 and (ii) directed all outstanding issues under Phase one (1) negotiations to be concluded by June 2021.

• At the Seventh (7th) Meeting of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers (COM) responsible for Trade held on 10th October 2021, it was decided that countries that had submitted their tariff schedules in accordance with the agreed modalities could start trading preferentially amongst themselves. Accordingly, the AfCFTA Secretariat developed the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) to kick-start commercially meaningful trade under the AfCFTA, between and among State Parties that have signaled their readiness.

• The pilot under this initiative targeted interested State Parties of the AfCFTA - Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, and the United Republic of Tanzania, with invitations being extended to other State Parties. On 8th October 2022 in Accra Ghana, the AfCFTA Secretariat officially launched the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) to mark the commencement of trade under the Agreement.

• At the 10th Meeting of the Council of Ministers, the AfCFTA Secretariat was tasked with developing and facilitating a parallel initiative on Guided Trade in Services (GTiS) in line with the commitments made by State Parties. Consequently, the Secretariat established the GTiS to provide support to the twenty-two (22) State Parties with adopted schedules of Specific Commitments (SSCs) for the start of trading in the five (5) priority sectors.

• The Secretariat has conducted meetings of the GTiS Committee to facilitate the process of identifying trading relationships among State Parties, along with sectors and sub-sectors of interest for the commencement of trade under this initiative. To aid State Parties further, the Secretariat also developed various tools, including country-specific forms and comprehensive summaries of the commitments made by the 22 State Parties in the five priority sectors, all of which are resources intended to facilitate the identification process for both State Parties and their private sectors.

• Furthermore, the Secretariat convened two (2) Trade in Services Forums focused on two (2) of the five (5) priority sectors, namely Transport and Tourism Services. The primary objective of these forums was to highlight the opportunities within these sectors and to identify the challenges and barriers hindering the unleashing of their transformative potential in Africa. The active participation in these forums underscores the eagerness of African States for the AfCFTA"s implementation and the promising benefits it holds for the continent.

• The Secretariat is encouraged by the high level of interest and commitment demonstrated by State Parties in the GTiS. Notably, countries such as Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, and Namibia have requested bilateral meetings with the Secretariat and have organized national workshops where the Secretariat"s presence and assistance were sought to enhance the capacity of relevant stakeholders in the GTiS.

• The Secretariat will continue to work with interested State and non-State Parties to provide technical assistance and capacity building on the GTiS, to facilitate the start of trading in services under the AfCFTA.

• Objectives of the Consultancy

• The principal objective of this consultancy is to support the effective implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement, with a specific focus on the implementation of the GTiS.

• It is against this background that the AfCFTA Secretariat would like to engage the services of a Trade in Services Expert, to support advancing the work in Trade in Services, particularly in the area of the GTiS.

• Scope of Work

• The principal scope of work is to facilitate and provide technical support in (i) the finalisation of negotiations in the five priority sectors, and (ii) the finalisation of work on regulatory frameworks in the five priority sectors, with a focus on activities under the GTiS. The specific purpose of the consultant’s work is to: ensure the smooth execution of the Directorate’s activities under the GTiS; provide appropriate support to State Parties on GTiS and related issues; develop studies and policy briefs on trade in services issues and ensure the provision of supporting documentation for the AfCFTA meetings and conferences/seminars/fora/webinars.

• The consultant is expected to:

• Provide appropriate technical support (written and/or verbal) in the negotiations in the five priority sectors, activities under the GTiS, and other trade in services -related areas.
• Undertake research and analysis into trade in services issues and ensure the appropriate and timely dissemination of the results and recommendations of this research and analysis to AfCFTA delegations through the appropriate AfCFTA organs.
• Provide appropriate advice on trade in services issues to the Head of Division, Trade in Services, or the Director, DTIID.
• Organise technical assistance and capacity building activities under the Directorate.
• Organise and facilitate AfCFTA Trade in Services technical meetings including meetings under the GTiS, and other activities under the agreed workplan for the Directorate.
• Design activities under the GTiS, including Movement of Persons and, develop a comprehensive workplan for the execution of GTiS activities.
• Liaise closely with State Parties participating in the GTiS, to provide technical assistance where required.
• Prepare the required inputs on issues relating to the trade in services negotiations in the five priority sectors, ensuring that agreed deadlines for these inputs are strictly adhered to.
• Prepare required documentation for State and non – State Parties in technical meetings on trade in services.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Head of Division, Trade in Services, or the Director of DTIID.

• Qualifications and Experience

• The consultant shall have the following qualifications:

• Minimum Qualifications and Skills
• At least a Master’s degree or its equivalent in International Trade Law and/or Policy, Social Policy and Development, Economics, International Development, International Relations, Business Administration, Regional Integration and negotiations, or a related field; or 5 years working experience in addition to the general experience required by this project;

• General professional experience
• 3 years of relevant professional experience in Trade in Services negotiations and related issues and/or regional trade agreements, business development, private sector engagement, entrepreneurship and related issues;
• 3 years of professional experience in drafting reports, technical notes, and conducting analyses preferably on Trade in Services related issues;
• 3 years of professional experience in imparting training in the relevant fields.
• Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish or Swahili). Knowledge of one or several other working languages would be an added advantage.

Specific professional experience:

• 3 years of professional experience in negotiations of trade agreements, particularly Trade in Services in Africa;
• Experience and in-depth knowledge of Trade in Services issues globally and in the context of Africa;
• Proven knowledge of research on Trade in Services and trade issues; and
• Experience in the African region is desirable.

• Reporting

• The consultant will report in the first instance to the Head of Division, Trade in Services, and ultimately to the Director, DTIID at the Secretariat Offices in Accra, Ghana.

• Duration

• The Consultancy service shall be for a period of one (1) year.

• Workstation

• The Consultant will be based at the Secretariat of the AfCFTA in Accra-Ghana, with travels to Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) should the need arise.

• Evaluation Criteria

• The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a shortlist and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the WBG’s Rules and Procedure for the Selection of Consultants. Interested individuals should provide information on their qualifications and experience demonstrating their ability to undertake the assignment (CV, reference to similar services, experience in similar assignments, etc.). The consultants shall be evaluated based on the following criteria.

• Fees and Payments

• Remuneration is payable on a monthly basis. It is negotiable but based on qualifications, experience, and the applicable AU rates for the level of the consultancy. Fees payable do not include costs associated with project related travels, coordination/organization of project related activities and events, stakeholder dialogues, consultations and workshops. The AU will meet these costs.

• Services /facilities to be provided by the client

The AU shall make the following available:

• Office accommodation;
• Computer, Photocopying, Stationary;
• Facilitation of Visa and
• Internet Access

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