Trade policy and export development Expert

Cowater International

Closing Date March 20, 2023 Location   Work Type  
Salary Range   Experience Level  - Job ID  
Job Description

 
Deadline to Apply: March 20th, 2023, 5 pm EST
Background:
Funded by Global Affairs Canada, the Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development (EDM) provides technical assistance to Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible countries to maximize the development impacts of trade and investment. Over seven years (2018-2025), EDM will invest CAD 16.5 million to support Canada's developing country trading partners to negotiate, implement and benefit from and adapt to trade and investment agreements with Canada.
 
EDM is a demand-driven project that will benefit potential partners – including governments, local private sector groups and local civil society organizations – through capacity building and technical advisory support on policy reform issues that have a high potential to reduce poverty and gender inequalities and support progress in trade and investment agreement negotiations.
 
Viet Nam's development over the past three decades has been remarkable. Through sustained economic reform efforts, Viet Nam has increased per capita GDP tenfold; risen from one of the poorest nations in the world to Lower Middle-Income Country status; lifted tens of millions out of poverty; cut infant mortality in half; and increased life expectancy by almost 7 years. 
 
An important part of its development strategy has been to integrate the regional and global economies, including through membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Russian-leg Customs Union Block;  bilateral trade agreements with the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; and joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
 
Global Affairs Canada has identified Viet Nam as a priority beneficiary of EDM technical assistance in the context of the implementation of the CPTPP. Since its launch in 2019, EDM has provided support for multiple activities designed to: introduce new legislation, regulations, policies and procedures to conform to the obligations of the CPTPP;  raise public awareness of the obligations and opportunities created by the Agreement; and strengthen trade policy capacity. More recently, Canada has initiated negotiations towards a free trade agreement with ASEAN, another step in deepening its economic relationship with Viet Nam and the region, and a new focus for technical assistance.
 
Cooperatives play an important role in the Vietnamese economy, contributing 4% of the GDP and 4.6% of jobs. Cooperatives also make an important contribution to rural economic development: over 60% of all cooperatives are in the agricultural sector, generating 17% of GDP and nearly 50% of employment in Viet Nam.   A further 11% of cooperatives operate in the handicrafts sector, dominated by women, Indigenous Peoples, ethnic minorities and other rural and remote populations.
 
Cooperatives play an important role in the Vietnamese economy, contributing 4% of the GDP and 4.6% of jobs. Cooperatives are also important in rural economic development: over 60% of all cooperatives are in the agricultural sector, generating 17% of GDP and nearly 50% of employment in Viet Nam. In 2022, the collective economy in Vietnam comprised  27,394 cooperatives and 108 cooperative unions, employing over 4 million Vietnamese.  
 
However, these numbers have decreased in recent years, and cooperatives have benefited less than other sectors from increased trade and export market opening through trade agreements.   Cooperatives generally lack awareness of export markets, development strategies, and tailored trade promotion policies, programs and services. 
 
The national development strategy for the cooperative sector of Vietnam was approved in June 2022 and affirmed that: "The collective economy is an important economic component that must be consolidated and developed…. becoming a solid foundation of the national economy". Among the goals of the strategy are to increase the participation of cooperatives in supply chains; and to strengthen the management and performance of collectives through information and training activities.
 
According to its Charter, approved by the Prime Minister of Viet Nam in 2021, the Viet Nam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) is the only agency that represents cooperatives, protects the legitimate rights and interests of cooperatives, develops policy, is mandated by the State to deliver services, acts as a bridge between the State and the collective economic sector, and contributes to the socio-economic development of the country.
 
To support their member cooperatives in expanding export markets, the Viet Nam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) has requested expert assistance to develop tools to promote awareness and understanding of the CPTPP and other modern trade agreements and how to take advantage of the market access preferences they provide. These tools include a business guide to the CPTPP and other trade agreements tailored to the needs of Vietnamese cooperatives and a training course to be delivered by VCA staff to member cooperatives following a train-the-trainer workshop.
 
Linkage to EDM Performance Measurement Framework
This assistance is consistent with the approved EDM Country Needs Assessment Plan for Viet Nam, Mandate 2, Export Development Training for SMEs.
 
The assistance is also aligned with the EDM Performance Measurement Framework, Immediate Outcome 1310 Increased abilities among targeted private sector organizations (PSOs) to adapt to and benefit from trade and investment agreements with Canada.
 
Description of Technical Assistance Request
 
The technical expert(s) will:
·       Prepare a business guide to the CPTPP and other "new generation" free trade agreements.
·       Design a training course on the CPTPP and other trade agreements
·       Deliver the course in two regional centres, to representative groups of member cooperatives, as a pilot to test the content and approach and as a 'train-the-trainer' workshop to prepare VCA staff to deliver the course. 
 
Bidders are encouraged to consider the participation of local experts in the cooperative sector in Viet Nam in the design and delivery of this technical assistance.   For information on local experts and organizations, bidders may contact Mr. Dat Chu, Viet Nam Cooperative Alliance, at: [email protected] 
 
Consistent with Canada's inclusive trade approach, the EDM seeks to promote gender equality/social inclusion and environmental protection as cross-cutting objectives of all technical assistance.  Proposals should explain how gender equality/social inclusion objectives will be integrated into the approach, content and delivery of the business guide, training course, and workshop to respond to the different experiences and needs of women, ethnic minority groups, youth or other marginalized groups. This should include specific targets for the participation of women, ethnic minorities and other marginalized groups in training. All deliverables should be gender-responsive and inclusive. Proposals should also outline the approach to the promotion of environmental protection, such as highlighting challenges and opportunities to implementing the FTA's environmental provisions, the global trend towards green trade, the benefits of voluntary sustainability standards and the short and longer-term impacts of climate change on agricultural production and trade patterns in Viet Nam.
 
The direct beneficiaries of this assistance are the staff of the VCA and members of participating member cooperatives. The indirect beneficiaries will be the members of Vietnamese cooperatives, who will receive enhanced export development support and increase their revenues from CPTPP and other export markets.
 
In the near term, the success of this assistance will be measured in the increased knowledge of officials and participating member cooperatives. In the longer term, its success will be measured in the increased export earnings of VCA member cooperatives and the immediate resulting increase in jobs and poverty reduction.
 
Technical Expert Profile/Expertise Required
Bidders must demonstrate extensive knowledge and experience in the following:
·       Export market development.
·       Trade agreements, including market access provisions and how these provisions can be exploited to expand export markets.
·       The collective economy and the role and management of cooperatives.
·       Gender equality and social inclusion as they relate to trade and economic development.
·       The linkages between trade, environment, and climate change.
·       The design and delivery of adult education.
·       The delivery of technical assistance in developing countries.
 
Note: The EDM includes a core focus on gender and social inclusion as well as on environmental issues associated with trade activities. Successful applicants must research and integrate specific goods and emerging practices in this area, partnering with other expert consultants if necessary. Any prior experience in the provision of TA on gender equality and social inclusion and the environment will be viewed as a strong asset.   Before starting activities, the successful Consultant (s) will be required to complete the Government of Canada's online Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) training (approximately 2 hours).
 
Timelines
  • Starting date: March 2023
  • Proposed duration: 6 months

Deliverables

  • A detailed work plan, work schedule and budget for the delivery of activities.
  • Draft and final training program and teaching materials and pre and post-workshop evaluations.
  • Final Narrative Report on Mandate: Due within 30 calendar days of completing all TA activities. The report shall describe activities delivered; results achieved (versus initial expected results and baseline); lessons learned of relevance to future EDM activities; expenses incurred by the Consultant in carrying out the TAA; gender equality and social inclusion outcomes, environmental outcomes, document officials trained/participating in activities (name, gender, job title, institutional affiliation). This report will be reviewed and approved by EDM prior to being shared with Global Affairs Canada.
  • Contribute as necessary to the development of EDM communication materials and participate in an EDM roundtable highlighting key results achieved

How to Apply

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PROCESS
For your proposal to be considered, please name your document in the following format:
Name of Technical Assistance Request (found above), Consultant Last Name, First Name
(Proposals can be submitted by a single consultant or a consortium of consultants).
Your proposal should be in English and contain the following sections:
1.       Cover letter
2.      Proposal that includes the following:
a.       Your approach and methodology to implementing this TA. Provide as much detail as possible. (10 pages maximum)
b.      Describe your approach to ensuring that gender equality and social inclusion are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery. (2 pages maximum)
c.     Describe your approach to ensuring that environmental impacts are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery. (1-page maximum)
d.      Outline your project management and monitoring strategy for implementing the activities. (2 pages maximum)
e.       Indicate all proposed personnel to implement this project and their roles and responsibilities. Include all CVs of proposed personnel/experts. (20 pages maximum)
 
3.      Provide an estimated level of effort (in days) and provide consulting rates (in CAD$) for each proposed personnel and/or expert implementing the project.
 
Please submit your proposal as one document through the Cowater Career Page. Emailed proposals will not be accepted. If you have any questions, please email [email protected]
 
About us
With more than 35 years of experience, Cowater International is a global leader in management consulting services specializing in international development and has managed the implementation of over 800 projects in more than 80 countries around the globe. We work with governments, partner organizations, communities and civil society to design and implement sustainable solutions that generate lasting social, financial and environmental impacts. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Cowater International also has corporate offices in Montreal, Quebec; London, United Kingdom; Nairobi, Kenya; and Brussels, Belgium, in addition to project offices in a wide variety of other locations across Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia.   We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.
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Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.