National STTA Specialized Inspection (SI) and Business Enabling Environment Expert

USAID Trade Facilitation Program

SCOPE OF WORK

Support and technical assistance to Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) to assess current situation
of business environment for export – import enterprises

Proposed Personnel:             National STTA Specialized Inspection (SI) and Business Enabling Environment Expert

Period of Performance:         o/a 01 June – 30 September 2022

Activity No.                            FY2022 Activity 1.3.3 – Specialized inspection reform with CIEM

MEL indicator(s):                   P-1, IR1-1, IR1.2-2, IR3.1-1, IR3.1-2, IR4.1-1, IR4.1-2 and CLBD-9

Project Background:

The USAID Trade Facilitation Program is a five-year project that aims to support the adoption and implementation of a more risk–based approach to customs and specialized inspection institutions in Vietnam. The Program will work with the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) to strengthen the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) of Vietnam and its Working Groups; streamline border clearance procedures (including specialized inspection implemented by other line ministries and agencies); harmonize the implementation of risk-based approaches between national and provincial levels; train national and provincial customs officers and staff from other ministries on risk management; and facilitate dialogue between customs and business and between stakeholders in Hanoi and in the provinces.

Activity Background:

Objective: The aim is to provide technical assistance and support to Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) to:

1. evaluate quality of business environment for enterprises, especially for export-import firms;
2. identify some difficulties and inadequacies of the business environment affecting import-export enterprises; and
3. propose solutions for removing barriers to help enterprises recover and develop their activities. The expected results of this technical assistance will be important inputs for quarterly reports of business environment conducted by CIEM and submitted to the Prime Minister and for discussions at Cabinet meetings.

Background:

The Ministry of Investment and Planning (MPI), Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) under the MPI and other related ministries and local authorities, have made substantial efforts to develop and implement Government Resolutions No. 19/NQ-CP of 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 and Resolutions No. 02/NQ-CP of 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The Resolutions mandate relevant agencies to implement specific measures to improve Vietnam business environment and enhance the national competitiveness.

With Government Resolutions No. 19/NQ-CP and No. 02/NQ-CP, ministries and localities have made efforts to improve the quality of business environment. However, the reform in the business environment in Vietnam from 2020 is slowing down due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the Prime Minister. This is the first year of the new Government term, so the Resolution 02, issued by the Prime Minister on January 10, 2022, is designed with goals, tasks and solutions for the whole term (until 2025) with some key tasks for 2022. In the following years, the resolution elaborates with more specific solutions, in line with the priority focus of each year.

Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP (2022) selects a number of key reform issues and contents for the period 2022-2025, including emphasis on specialized inspection and management reform for imported and exported goods. In the context of enterprises being heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the requirement for business environment reform to support business recovery and development is increasingly important. However, there has not been any assessment on quality of business environment for enterprises, especially for export-import firms, in the context of Covid-19.

USAID has previously worked with the MPI/CIEM and other ministries in Vietnam (through the previous – Governance for Inclusive Growth Program) from 2014-2022, to improve the business environment of the country, particularly to review and revise a number of laws and regulations on related Doing Business Indicators (DBIs). A number of ineffective regulations, unnecessary procedures and dossiers have been revised or abolished. Although there have been significant improvements, the business community still expects further and more sustainable reforms from the Government. 

Building on the success of works done in 2014-2022, and in an effort to further improve business environment and facilitate trade; at the request of CIEM, the USAID Trade Facilitation Program will support CIEM to:

1. evaluate quality of business environment for enterprises, especially for export-import firms;
2. identify some difficulties and inadequacies of the business environment affecting import-export enterprises; and
3. propose solutions for removing barriers to help enterprises recover and develop their activities. This support will provide CIEM with inputs for quarterly reports of Resolution No. 02, which will be submitted to the Prime Minister and for discussions at the regular Cabinet meetings

The report “Business environment for export – import enterprises: Some issues and recommendations in the context of flexibly adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic” is expected to include 3 chapters:

• Chapter 1. Overview of the Government's directions on business environment reform and trade facilitation to promote economic recovery and development in the context of flexibly adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Chapter 2. Current situation of business environment for import-export enterprises
• Chapter 3. Recommendations on the business environment reform to promote trade facilitation in the context of flexibly adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The final report is to be submitted to the Legal & Regulatory Expert by 15 September 2022 to prepare for drafting Resolution No 02/NQ-CP that will be issued in early days of 2023.

The focus of this SOW will be the report “Business environment for export – import enterprises: Some issues and recommendations in the context of flexibly adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Methodology: The Program will mobilize a local/national STTA SI and Business Enabling Environment Expert to take the lead with research and undertake study and to prepare a research paper on the topic above. This work should include desk study, surveys and consultative workshops with relevant stakeholders.

The Program will implement this activity in coordination with the CIEM, with reporting progress to the Program Management Unit (PMU) of the GDVC. In consultation with the Program’s Chief of Party (COP) and Legal & Regulatory Expert, the local/national STTA SI and Business Enabling Environment Expert will work primarily closely with the CIE. The local/national SI and Business Environment STTA Expert may also be required to work in collaboration with other members of the Program team in order to undertake this activity.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

The local/national STTA SI and Business Enabling Environment Expertwill be responsible for the following:

1. Desk study and preparation of a research paper on the specific areas assigned;
2. Field surveys to interview businesses, line ministries or other relevant stakeholders to gather information and collect feedback on the current situation of business environment for export-import firms;
3. Participate at and give presentations on specific topic assigned at consultative workshops with relevant stakeholders to gather information and collect feedback on the current situation of business environment for export-import firms;
4. Produce a Final Report containing details of all work carried out in areas assigned;
5. Participate at and give presentation at the launch of the final report to the public.

Deliverables:

• Draft research paper on the specific areas assigned;
• Participate with field surveys to interview businesses, line ministries or other relevant stakeholders to gather information and collect feedback on the current situation of business environment for export-import firms;
• Final Report containing details of all work carried out in areas assigned; and
• Active participate and giving presentation at the launch of the final report to the public.

Qualifications:

The local/national STTA SI and Business Enabling Environment Expert has been identified by CIEM but will be required to meet the following essential qualifications:

• Master degree or higher in customs administration, business administration, trade policy, international trade, economics, or similar field;
• Experience and track record of working or collaborating with line ministries in Vietnam;
• Experience, specifically in the management mechanism and management mode of specialized inspection of selected countries such as U.S., China, EU...;
• Proven knowledge and understanding of Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT’s) customs and non-customs procedures including Specialized Inspection, risk management, and other technical customs matters;
• Awareness of the WCO and WTO instruments such as the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) and the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA);
• Capable in word processing, spreadsheets and office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Applications;
• Fluency in Vietnamese and good written, oral, and presentation skills; and
• English language skills preferred.

Reporting:

The local/national STTA SI and Business Enabling Environment Expertwill be required to report periodically to the Program COP ([email protected]and on a regular (weekly) basis to the Legal & Regulatory Expert ([email protected]).

How to apply:

Applications should be sent no later than June 9, 2022 to email: [email protected]

Application should include:

1. Cover letter (no longer than 1 page)
2. CVs (see attached template); 
3. Updated USAID 1420 form (see attached template)
4. Cost proposal (See attached template)