Expression of Interest (EOI) 

Gap assessment for Trade Facilitation measures of   selected category of products 

Reference Number: 83439415

1. Context 

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZ’s portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in thea following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Good Governance; Climate, Energy and Sustainable Urban Development; Digitalization and Digital Economy; and regional projects in the Great Lakes Region. 

Background of the project 

After only 3,5 years of free trade negotiations amongst all 55 African countries, the African Continental Free Trade Area, in brief, AfCFTA, was established. The AfCFTA was operationalized on 30th May 2019, 30 days after Sierra Leone and Sahara Republic deposited the last two necessary ratifications with the African Union (AU) for the AfCFTA to legally come into force for the ratifying countries. As February 2023, 44 of the 54 signatories had deposited their instruments of ratification with the chair of the African Union Commission, making them state parties to the agreement.

Through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Germany currently provides technical support to the African Union Commission (AUC), specifically to the Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, with its project “African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”. The project’s main objective is that “the framework conditions for intra-African trade have been strengthened”. Besides the outstanding topics of AfCFTA Phase I on Trade in Goods and Trade in Services, phase II and III issues, such as Investment, competition policy or digital trade are supported. Furthermore, involvement of the private sector and civil society are supported. 

To this end, the project pursues a multi-level approach on the continental level working with the AUC DTI and AfCFTA Secretariat, the regional level supporting Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and also the national level, specifically in the projects focus countries, like Rwanda. 

The Republic of Rwanda, like many African member states, currently do not have sufficient capacity to successfully realize the AfCFTA commitments. The specific roles to be played by the government, private sector, and civil society are currently not fully supported with requisite knowledge and skills for each to implement the commitments under the AfCFTA.  Although responsibilities have been defined in the framework agreement, the specific working methods still need to be established in Rwanda through the National Strategy for Implementation of AfCFTA. This requires building the capacity of all the key stakeholders in specific matters of trade in goods and services among others, trade in services as well as awareness raising and strengthening the necessary institutional and legal frameworks for realizing the AfCFTA at a National level.  

Rationale 

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is one of the flagship projects of the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063. It's the world's largest free trade area agreement with the potential to contribute a gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.5 trillion across all 55 member states of the African Union.

When policymakers talk about “trade facilitation”, they are referring to a specific set of measures that streamline and simplify the technical and legal procedures for products entering or leaving a country to be traded internationally. As such, trade facilitation covers the full spectrum of border procedures, from the electronic exchange of data about a shipment, to the simplification and harmonization of trade documents, to the possibility to appeal administrative decisions by border agencies. In a globalized world where goods often cross borders many times as both intermediate and final products, trade facilitation helps lower overall trade costs and increase economic welfare, for developing and emerging economies.

In a Free Trade Area, such as the AfCFTA, Customs administrations play an essential role in developing and promoting intra-Africa trade through the effective implementation of the agreed tariff offers, rules of origin, and proper implementation of all the trade facilitation measures set in WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) . the AfCFTA Trade Facilitation is annexed to the AfCFTA Trade in Goods protocol. States parties are encouraged to expedite the implementation of the Trade Facilitation annex.

Trade Facilitation is a key priority for Rwanda. The implementation of the trade facilitation annex is one of the strategies to boost intra African trade by facilitating the movement of goods and by reducing time and trade costs. Trade facilitation is an important driver for the country’s trade growth given the significant contribution of trade to GDP growth and economic development of any country. Rwanda faces a lot of barriers both at import and export processes by its land locked geographical nature and therefore, must depend on the effectiveness and efficiency of customs authorities at national and regional levels.

Trade Facilitation is thus critical to ensure that both Rwanda’s imports and exports reach their intended destination in a competitive manner, enabling the realization of the full trade potential of the country. In fact, Trade Facilitation reduces supply side constraints, transactions cost and enhances competitiveness of export products on the international markets.

Given the above, Rwanda is currently keen on working to implement the Trade Facilitation Annex of the AfCFTA Trade in good protocol, the AfCFTA Agreement at large and ensuring the maximization of related benefits. To implement the trade facilitation annex, the Government of Rwanda is conducting a gap assessment in the implementation of trade facilitation measures for several selected products based on most imported   consumer products and high rising export products. 

GIZ AfCFTA is seeking an individual consultant or a consulting company to work on a gap analysis report in the implementation of the trade facilitation measures for the selected category of products including rice, edible oils, soap, cement, vegetables, leather products, handcraft and textile. 

2.  Tasks to be performed by the 

The purpose of the consultancy is to develop a gap analysis report highlighting the gaps and challenges in the implementation of trade facilitation measures for the selected category of products including rice, palm oil, sunflower oil, soya oil, soap, cement on side of importation and exportation of vegetables (French beans and chili), leather products, handcraft and textile.

The main objectives of this assignment include:   

• Prepare a detailed report describing the implementing trade facilitation measures showing the internal regulatory frameworks, laws, fees and charges for services, documents and full procedure on selected product category, and outline the existing internal gaps through all procedures above and knowledge gap for each selected priority product,
• propose trade facilitation measures to implement for the selected category of products.

Specific Tasks to be performed by the Contractor.

• Desk review of the existing domestic laws and regulations and the requirements to be fulfilled for the import and export of the selected products.
• Conduct interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders including government institutions (NAEB, RDB, MINICOM, MINAGRI, RICA, Rwanda FDA, REMA, RRA, RSB, City of Kigali, etc) and the private sector especially exporters, importers and different clusters.
• Analysis of the requirements import and export as identified on selected category of products.
• Analysis of the procedures including time and cost for importation and exportation of identified selected category of products.
• Analysis of the implementation gaps of the trade facilitation measures for the selected category of products
• Analysis of associated fees and charges for import and export of the selected category of products.
• Provide recommendations/ measures to streamline and simplify the technical and legal procedures for the selected category of products when entering or leaving a country

The contractor is responsible for providing the following services:

1. Preparation and submission of the draft inception report highlighting the method and the roadmap.
2. Preparation and submission of the draft Gap analysis report for review and comments

• Preparation and submission of final draft Gap analysis report and presentation to key stakeholders (validation) 

1. Preparation of a summary report highlighting the internal requirements, laws, import & export procedures for each product, fees and charges so that the requirements and procedures can be documented on the Rwanda Trade portal website.
2. Facilitation of a validation workshop with representatives from MINICOM and other relevant national stakeholders.

The assignment is expected to be implemented within the period of 1^st July 2023– 30^th   September 2023. The total number of estimated days is 60 working days.

The assignment requires physical presence in Rwanda (Kigali) as the study implies interviews with all relevant stakeholders and onsite research.

These milestones, as laid out in the table below, are to be achieved within the contract period.

3.  Concept 

In the offer, the contractor is required to show how the objectives defined (Tasks to be performed) are to be achieved, if applicable under consideration of further method-related requirements (technical-methodological concept). 

4.  Technical-methodological concept 

Strategy (1.1): The contractor is required to consider the tasks to be performed with reference to the objectives of the services. Following this, the contractor presents and justifies the explicit strategy with which it intends to provide the services for which it is responsible (Tasks to be performed).

The contractor is required to present the actors relevant for the services for which it is responsible and describe the cooperation (1.2)  with them.

The tenderer is required to present and explain its approach to steering the measures with the project partners (1.3.1) and its contribution to the results-based monitoring system (1.3.2).

The contractor is required to describe the key processes for the services for which it is responsible and create an operational plan or schedule (1.4.1) that describes how the services (Tasks to be performed by the contractor) are to be provided. In particular, the tenderer is required to describe the necessary work steps and, if applicable, take account of the milestones and contributions of other actors (partner contributions) (1.4.2).

The tenderer is required to describe its contribution to knowledge management for the partner (1.5.1) and GIZ and to promote scaling-up effects (1.5.2) under learning and innovation. 

Project management of the contractor (1.6)

The tenderer is required to explain its approach for coordination with the GIZ project. 

5. Personnel concept 

The consulting firm should have a long-standing experience working in areas of trade facilitation, customs cooperation, trade policy and regional trade. The firms should also show previous experience working with other cooperating partners in trade facilitation. 

The firm should also show experience of having previously worked with customs authorities and having a good understanding of trade facilitation procedures and requirements around the East Africa Community, Africa and globally. 

The consultant team shall consist of one Lead Expert and one Expert. 

Qualifications of the Lead Expert:

• Post graduate qualification in Economics, International Business, law and International Trade.
• Ten (10) years’ experience in designing, implementing and managing trade facilitation or customs in Rwanda.
• Experience and proven track record in working on trade facilitation, border control operations and customs procedures.
• Five (5) Years’ Experience in analytical works and economic analysis

• Knowledge and technical understanding of local regulatory framework, and trade procedures of Rwandan regulatory agencies
• Proven ability to develop trade related studies, trade facilitation strategies and papers evidenced by 2 assignments.
• In depth understanding of the WTO Trade facilitation agreement and rules
• Having a good understanding of the AfCFTA matters particularly the trade facilitation annex of the AfCFTA trade in goods protocol.
• Excellent writing, editing, reporting and oral communication skills in English

Qualifications of the 2nd Expert:

• University degree in Economics, International relations, business law, International Trade, and other related fields.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in supporting trade facilitation and or customs reform initiatives
• Knowledge of the local and regional context and prior experience working with the Rwanda Revenue Authority and/or other government agencies involved in trade facilitation is strongly preferred.
• Must have thorough understanding of compliance requirements set by WTO, WCO, and other international trade agreements.
•  Fluency in English required 

The tenderer must provide a clear overview of all proposed short-term experts and their individual qualifications.

6.  Costing requirements

Specification of inputs

7. Inputs of GIZ 

GIZ AfCFTA Rwanda Country component is expected to make the following available: 

Provision of venue and logistics (possible stakeholder-validation workshop). 

Introduction to the local authority if needed.  

8.  Requirements on the format of the tender 

The structure of the tender must correspond to the structure of the ToRs. In particular, the detailed structure of the concept (Chapter 3) should be organised in accordance with the positively weighted criteria in the assessment grid (not with zero). The tender must be legible (font size 11 or larger) and clearly formulated. It must be drawn up in English. 

The complete offer must not exceed 12 pages (excluding CVs). If one of the maximum page lengths is exceeded, the content appearing after the cut-off point will not be included in the assessment. External content (e.g. links to websites) will also not be considered.

The technical proposal must include but not be limited to: 

The CVs shall not exceed 4 pages each. They must clearly show the position and job the proposed person held in the reference project and for how long. The CVs can also be submitted in English.

Please calculate your financial tender based exactly on the parameters specified in Chapter 5 Quantitative requirements. The contractor is not contractually entitled to use up the days. The number of days will be contractually agreed as maximum limits.

9. Submission of offer

The Expression of Interest should contain the following:

Technical Proposal:

• A cover letter expressing your interest in this assignment.
• Technical proposal with a brief description of why you would be considered as the most suitable for the assignment, relevant expertise, and a detailed, clear methodology, your approach to complete the assignment.
• CV of the Experts proposed.
• VAT Registration certificate
• Latest tax clearance certificate
• Company registration certificate (RDB)
• Proof of successful completion of related assignments. 

Financial Proposal: indicates the all-inclusive total contract price, supported by a breakdown of all costs based on parameters provided in chapter 5. The costs must be in RWF and VAT excluded. 

Please submit electronically your EoI (technical & Financial offer) in 2 separated emails and should be in PDF files to this email ONLY: RW_Quotation@giz.de  until latest 8^th June 2023

Please you must write on each email subject this sentence: 

83439415-Technical/financial offer, without this sentence, your offer may not be considered. 

Hard copies are not allowed this time 

GIZ reserves all rights