Job Description
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, 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.
Global Affairs Canada has identified Peru as a beneficiary of EDM technical assistance in order to deepen the economic and trade relationship between Canada and Peru, to increase the utilization of the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) and to support the implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). To date, the principal focus of EDM technical assistance to Peru has been to strengthen trade policy capacity, including providing training on pre-merger review, risk-based food safety regulation and methodologies for economic impact assessment of trade agreements and the adoption of product standards. Support is also being provided to assess export financing needs among Peruvian businesses and to design government programs to address their most urgent access to capital needs.
A recent EDM mission to Peru was conducted to identify additional technical assistance needs. The mission found the Peruvian economy in a downturn, with estimates of GDP growth in 2023 at 1% or less. Despite a strong recovery from the pandemic, the economy has been negatively affected by recent social and political unrest, a weakening global demand for natural resources, and severe weather's impact on agricultural production. A common theme among government and private sector stakeholders was the need to improve export performance, increase the resources available to strengthen government services and reduce poverty and inequality. The need to improve foreign investment attraction was also repeated by interlocutors, as was the need to strengthen the quality of the public service, particularly in the regions.
Corruption is pervasive in many developing countries, and Peru mirrors the reality in many Latin American economies. Over half of people surveyed by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean in a 2019 study cited corruption as their highest concern, with 23% reporting that they had been solicited for a bribe in the previous 12 months. Corruption harms developing countries by reducing the quality of government goods and services, constraining economic growth by reducing competition and productivity, creating an environment less attractive to foreign investment and eroding public trust in government and faith in democracy.
Peru has made significant efforts to address corruption at all levels. Through its National Anti-corruption Plan, its accession to the OECD on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and other measures, Peru has taken steps to introduce legislation, regulations, policies and programs to combat corruption. However, as noted in the 2021 OECD report on implementing the Anti-Bribery Convention, awareness of the law is very low in both the public and private sectors, especially in the regions. Regional governments are handicapped in their efforts to promote ethical standards due to the lack of resources, the slow pace of decentralization of administrative authority, the high turnover rate among public servants and the absence of training tools.
To help address the challenge of corruption in government procurement, the National Civil Service Authority (Autoridad Nacional del Servicio Civil – SERVIR) has requested technical assistance to raise awareness of the benefits of integrity in public procurement and best practices in transparency, accountability and fairness. The request seeks training in three regions – the north, south and national capitol region – designed to establish “knowledge circles” or discussion groups on integrity issues. Led by international experts in ethical procurement and drawing on national and international case studies and success stories, the 1 ½ day discussions are intended to:
“facilitate the acquisition of practical knowledge, foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders, and catalyze momentum for the implementation of tangible anti-corruption measures in developing countries; and enable civil servants and private sector representatives to recognize and reflect on ethical dilemmas and challenges within procurement processes, understanding their implications on investment and trade within the country. Participants will explore effective strategies for promoting transparency and integrity in these areas.” (from the Technical Assistance Request submitted by SERVIR)
The beneficiaries of this training will be the public servants, regional and local politicians, and private sector representatives who participate directly in the knowledge circles. However, by raising ethical standards in public procurement, the benefits will extend to all citizens through higher-quality and lower-cost goods and services and increased economic growth through investment.
Linkage to EDM Performance Measurement Framework
This assistance is consistent with the EDM Performance Management Framework, Immediate Outcome 1210: Enhanced ability of partner country MDAs to strengthen, develop, and execute legislation, regulations and policies supporting the implementation of sustainable and inclusive trade and investment agreements with Canada.
The assistance also aligns with the EDM Country Needs Assessment Plan for Peru, Mandate 2: Strengthening Regional Government and Civil Society Participation in Trade Policy.
Description of Technical Assistance Request/Key Responsibilities
The technical expert(s) will:
Design and deliver three gender-sensitive training events in the form of “knowledge circles” to present and discuss:
- Current challenges in combatting corruption in government procurement in developing countries;
- Tools and best practices to eliminate corruption in government procurement; and
- The promotion of transparency in government procurement: case studies of successful practices.
The proposed format for each of the three knowledge circles includes:
- Two, 2-hour conference-style presentations on the first day of the event (a morning session on challenges and an afternoon session on best practices);
- One, 2-hour seminar-style presentation on the second day of the event to present and discuss case studies;
- Simultaneous in-person and virtual delivery.
To ensure the sustainability of the training, the knowledge circles will be recorded and, together with the presentations and case studies, made available on the SERVIR virtual library.
The technical experts will be responsible for managing (including logistics) the training events, with SERVIR staff supporting local coordination.
The EDM promotes gender equality, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability as cross-cutting objectives of all technical assistance. Proposals should explain how these objectives will be integrated into the approach to and the content of the assistance activity, including through the participation of women, conflict victims (forced displacement) and Indigenous-owned businesses in the knowledge circles, as well as identifying strategies for these businesses to benefit from increased participation in government procurement.
Technical Expert Profile/Expertise Required
Teams bidding for this technical assistance activity must demonstrate expert knowledge and extensive experience in the following:
- the promotion of integrity in public procurement and international best practices;
- measures introduced by the Government of Peru to promote integrity in public procurement and their effectiveness;
- the delivery of trade-related technical assistance to developing countries, including the management of logistics for the implementation of learning events;
- the design and delivery of adult education activities; and
- the promotion of gender equality and social inclusion, as well as environmental sustainability in public procurement.
Note: The EDM focuses on gender, social inclusion, and environmental issues associated with trade activities. Successful applicants must research and integrate specific good and emerging practices in these areas, partnering with other expert consultants if necessary. Any prior experience providing TA on gender equality, social inclusion, and the environment will be considered 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
The recruitment of experts is expected to be completed by May 30, 2024. The technical assistance activity is expected to be completed by December 31, 2024.
Deliverables
- A detailed work plan, work schedule and budget for the delivery of activities.
- Completed EDM Performance Measurement Framework template for the TA, including baseline data and targets against EDM indicators.
- Draft and final workshop (knowledge circle) agendas and presentation materials.
- 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 relevant to future EDM activities, and expenses incurred by the Consultant in carrying out this mandate. This report will be reviewed and approved by EDM before being shared with Global Affairs Canada.
Proposal Submission Process
For your proposal to be considered, please name your document in the following format:
3.16 - 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:
- Cover letter
- Proposal that includes the following:
Your approach to implementing this TA (up to 10 pages maximum);
Your approach to ensure that gender equality and social inclusion are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery (up to 2 pages maximum);
Your approach to ensure that environmental impacts are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery (up to 1 page maximum);
Your project management and monitoring strategy for the implementation of the activities (up to 2 pages maximum).
- All proposed personnel to implement this project and their roles and responsibilities. Include all CVs of proposed personnel/experts (up to 20 pages maximum).
- Estimated level of effort (in days) and consulting rates (in CAD) for each proposed personnel member and/or expert implementing the project.
About us: Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors, and communities to implement projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, and environmental improvements, as well as advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. 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.