National Specialized Inspection and Management Expert (focused on Specialized inspection)

USAID Trade Facilitation Program

SCOPE OF WORK

Support and technical assistance to support the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) to conduct situational assessment on specialized inspection and management (focused on specialized inspection under management of the MOIT)

Proposed Personnel:        Local/National Specialized Inspection and Management Expert (focused on Specialized inspection under management of the MOIT)

Period of Performance:       o/a 5 April – 30 September 2021

Origin/Destination:             Hanoi, Vietnam

Travel Dates:                       n/a

Activity No.                          FY21-1.3.4 – Specialized inspection reform with the MOIT

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 SI 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 (SI) 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 further technical assistance and support to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) to conduct situational assessment on specialized inspection and management for products and goods under the management of the MOIT.  

Background: Reform of administrative procedures for SI has been a key aim and objective of the Government of Vietnam (GVN) for the last few years. The aim is to simplify and streamline import-export activities; cut down clearance times; and reduce costs thereby facilitating international trade, enhancing national competitiveness and improving the business environment in Vietnam. To do this, the GVN has introduced a number of initiatives and issued legal instruments, e.g., Resolutions 19 and 02[1] and Decision 1254/QD-TTg which identified a series of tasks for relevant line ministries and agencies to comprehensively reform the SI of exports and imports. Despite these initiatives and reforms, the number of goods subject to SI remains at a high level (i.e., 19.1% of different types of goods imported still required SI at the end of 2018)[2]. In the latest Doing Business Report[3] released by the World Bank in October 2019, Vietnam fell 4 places in the rankings for Trading Across Borders from 100 to 104 in 2020 report however Vietnam’s overall Ease of Doing Business ranking remains in top 5 for region after other countries in ASEAN (i.e., Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei). The main problem lies in the institutional issues where there remains an urgent need to simplify several aspects of specialized management and inspection.

Streamlining specialized inspection procedures is one of the key objectives of the USAID Trade Facilitation Program (TFP). To support these priorities, in the framework of Year 3 Work Plan (2021), the Program will support the MOIT to conduct a situational assessment on specialized inspection and management for products and goods under the management of the MOIT. The situational assessment conducted by the MOIT, with the support of the Program, is expected to take into account perspectives of different parties, such as line ministries, private sector stakeholders, experts and relevant MOIT’s departments. The activity aims to produce (situational assessment) suggestions for revising/supplementing a number of legal documents on SI under management of the MOIT and solutions for improving the current mechanism.

Methodology: The Program will mobilize three local/national Specialized inspected and management experts to provide technical assistance and support to MOIT to conduct a situational assessment on specialized inspection and management for products and goods under the management of the MOIT. The three national experts will focus on following three topics:

• Energy efficiency inspection;
• Specialized management (permits);
• Specialized inspection under management of MOIT.

This SOW focuses only on item (iii) above, i.e., Specialized inspection under management of the MOIT.

Local/National Specialized Inspection and Management Expert (focused on Specialized inspection under management of the MOIT). In collaboration with the Program’s Chief of Party and Legal & Regulatory Expert, the Local/National Specialized Inspection and Management Expert (focused on Specialized inspection under management of the MOIT) will work closely with the Science and Technology Department and Legal Department of the MOIT and as necessary, consult with other technical departments of MOIT, relevant line ministries, customs authority, and private sector stakeholders. The Local/National Specialized Inspection and Management Expert (focused on Specialized inspection under management of the MOIT) may also be required to work in collaboration with other members of the Program team to undertake this activity.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

The Local/National Specialized Inspection and Management Expert (focused on Specialized inspection under management of the MOIT)will be responsible for the following:

• Research and desk study on the issue of specialized inspection of imported and exported goods under management of the MOIT, including:
• Reviewing and analyzing current legal regulations on unsafe goods (group 2 goods), including other goods subject to specialized inspection of the MOIT, evaluating the achievements and challenges;
• Regulations on conformity assessment of group 2 goods (practice, capacity of the organization, difficulties, problems ...)
• Specialized inspection method for group 2 goods in general, in which, focused on research on applied technical regulations and standards, inspection methods for some specific products including explosive precursors, industrial explosives, specific industrial machinery and equipment, compressed air tanks ...
• Proposing conversion of specialized inspection methods for group 2 goods
• Proposing amendment and supplement to relevant regulations and legal documents.

• Conduct field surveys (or online surveys due to the reoccurrence of community transmission of Covid-19) to interview businesses, MOIT’s relevant departments, customs authority, line ministries or other relevant stakeholders to gather information and collect feedback on practical situation of specialized inspection of imported and exported goods under management of the MOIT;

• Attend and provide technical inputs and present comments and recommendations at the Focus Working Groups and/or the consultative workshops on getting comments and technical inputs for the situational assessment report (focused on specialized inspection under management of the MOIT);

• Produce a Final Report containing details of all work carried out and proposals for situational assessment report including recommendations for improvements - part on specialized inspection under management of the MOIT.

Deliverables:

• Research paper(s) containing contributions/inputs on the issue of Specialized inspection of imported and exported goods under management of the MOIT;
• Feedback from field surveys (or online surveys due to the reoccurrence of community transmission of Covid-19) from interviewed businesses, MOIT’s relevant departments, customs authority, line ministries or other relevant stakeholders on practical situation of specialized inspection of imported and exported goods under management of the MOIT;
• Active participation at Focus Working Groups and/or consultative workshops and giving a presentation on practical situation of specialized inspection of imported and exported goods under management of the MOIT;
• Final Report containing details of all work carried out and proposals for situational assessment report - part on specialized inspection under management of the MOIT.

Qualifications:

• At least Bachelor degree in customs administration, business administration, trade policy, international trade, economics, or similar field;
• Experience and track record of working or collaborating with the MOIT. Experience in working with other line ministries in Vietnam is appreciated;
• Proven knowledge and understanding of customs and non-customs procedures including Specialized Inspection, risk management, and other technical customs matters;
• Experience, specifically in the management mechanism and management mode of specialized inspection of selected countries such as U.S., China, EU...is appreciated;
• 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 Specialized Inspection and Management Expert (focused on Specialized inspection under management of the MOIT)will be required to report to the Program’s Chief of Party and Legal & Regulatory Expert.

Applications should be sent to [email protected] [1] no later than 5pm 28 March, 2021.

Application includes:

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