Expression of Interest (EoI)
Consultancy for Training on Trade facilitation in the framework of AfCFTA (NTB elimination mechanisms, SPS measures, and TBT) targeting key markets and products identified under the National Strategy for implementation of AfCFTA.
Cosoft: 83417971

Introduction
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. GIZ has worked in Rwanda for over 30 years. The primary objectives between the Government of Rwanda and the Federal Republic of Germany are poverty reduction and the promotion of sustainable development. To achieve these objectives, GIZ Rwanda is active in the sectors of Decentralization and Good Governance, Economic Development and Employment Promotion, Energy, and ICT (Information and Communications Technology).

Context
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 of February 2022, 41 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 and 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 as well as awareness raising and strengthening the necessary institutional and legal frameworks for realizing the AfCFTA at a National level.

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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, including the tourism sector within member states.
The elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) is identified as one of the main objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA legal instruments – the Agreement, Protocol on Trade in Goods and Annex 5 of the Protocol on Trade in Goods – contain provisions dealing with the ‘progressive elimination’ of NTBs in the AfCFTA. The reduction of NTBs in the AfCFTA could double intra-Africa trade, and increase the benefits of AfCFTA three- to four-fold; which calls for crucial interventions in addressing NTBs under the AfCFTA.
Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary Standards (SPS) is Annex 7 of the AfCFTA Agreement’s Protocol on Trade in Goods. SPS measures play a significant role in the AfCFTA, especially in trade in goods, as agricultural and food commodities represent over 75% of the current trade in goods on the African Continent.

Annex 6 of AfCFTA is on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Article 3, "the African State Parties reaffirm their rights and obligations under the WTO TBT Agreement in respect of the preparation, adoption, and application of standards, technical regulations, conformity assessment procedures, and related activities", (John Keyser 2012 - Policy Note no. 33, July 2012). This calls for improvement of the quality of regulation to remove the NTMs in goods, and to deliver competitive markets while achieving essential public policy objectives as per Article 3 of Annex 6; by African countries.
Rwanda established the AfCFTA National Implementing Committee working groups under the Trade in goods and services to ensure fully constituted institutional framework. However, more capacity building is planned to strengthen the necessary institutional and legal frameworks for realizing the AfCFTA at a National level.
GIZ AfCFTA is seeking an or a consulting firm to deliver a training on Trade facilitation in framework of AfCFTA with a focus on NTB elimination mechanisms, SPS measures and TBT targeting key markets and products identified under the National Strategy for implementation of AfCFTA

Objective of the assignment.
The main objective of the assignment is to strengthen the institutional Capacity of the AfCFTA Implementing Committee Working Groups and increase the understanding of members on AfCFTA through their respective working groups on Trade facilitation in the framework of AfCFTA with the focus on trade facilitation agreement, NTB elimination mechanisms, SPS measures and TBT targeting key markets and products identified under the National strategy for implementation of AfCFTA and countries participating under AfCFTA pilot phase.

Specific objectives
• Brief desk research of National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) system in Rwanda
• Desk research and training on interlinkage between trade facilitation agreement and AfCFTA.
• Develop training materials or modules with topics that include;

Under annex 4 of AfCFTA:
• Provisions in relation to AfCFTA
• Ensuring transparency
• simplify and harmonize international trade procedures and logistics to expedite the processes of importation, exportation, and transit; and
• Other measures to facilitate trade:
• expedite the movement, clearance, and release of goods including goods in transit across borders within State Parties

Under Annex 5 of AfCFTA:
• Institutional structures for the elimination of NTBs,
• General categorization of NTBs in the AfCFTA and revised EAC categories;
• Reporting and monitoring tools at AfCFTA, Tripartite and National level;
• Facilitation of resolution of identified NTBs.

Under Annex 6 of AfCFTA:
• Facilitate trade through cooperation in areas of Standards, technical regulations, conformity assessment procedures, accreditation, and metrology under the AfCFTA TBT that directly or indirectly affect trade within Africa.
• Present practical examples of TBT exist in Rwanda and how such might result into NTBs so as be eliminated
• Application of good regulatory practices

Under Annex 7 of AfCFTA:
• Standards, technical regulations, conformity assessment procedures, accreditation, and metrology under the AfCFTA SPS measures that directly or indirectly affect trade within Africa.
• Provide clear examples of SPS and benefits of such measures and how might results into NTBs
• Facilitate trade while safeguarding human, animal or plant life or health in the territory of State Parties
• Deliver the Training/workshop for the AfCFTA NIC working Groups.
• Report on the feedback received from participants of the training

Tasks to be performed by the contractor
The scope of work for the consultancy shall cover all activities necessary to accomplish the stated objectives of the project, whether a specific activity is cited in these terms of reference. During the first week of the assignment, there will be an inception meeting between all parties (the consultant, Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) and GIZ, MINAGRI, and the representatives of NQI institutions) to introduce the assignment, clarify any open questions and to further determine the scope of work and the way forward (activities). The consultant is expected to produce an inception report indicating the proposed detailed work plan, a training concept for the training as well as agreed communication and reporting lines. A comprehensive list of all customs collection points and relevant offices grouped into sectors are to be compiled.
The contractor is responsible for providing the following services.
• Draft a training concept including a layout of the proposed training schedule for the identified stakeholders targeting their specific needs.
• Develop training materials or modules.
• Conduct 6 days of a training workshop for 60 targeted participants from selected NIC working groups in Rwanda, NIC members and NTFC members (2 days for each group of 20 number of Participants)
• Prepare a questionnaire (in close cooperation with GIZ) to assess the participants’ satisfaction with the conducted training workshops.
• Prepare a report (5-7 pages) including the used concept and outcome of the workshop and reflect on recommendations for future training based on the feedback of the participants and the outcome of the Training.

Period of Assignment
The assignment is expected to be implemented within the period of October – November 2022. The total number of estimated days is 22 working days.
The assignment requires traveling to and within Rwanda as the training shall be held in person.
These milestones, as laid out in the table below, are to be achieved within the contract period.
Milestone Activity Deliverable Days Deadline
Inception report • Preparation of inception report Inception report (5-7 pages) 2 1 week after the start of the contract
Inception meeting
• Discussion of expectations and training mode Minutes
1 2nd week of contract
Brief desk research of NQI system in Rwanda
• Conduct desk research The assessment report
3 2 weeks after the start of the contract
Preparation of Training
• Develop training materials or modules Training materials tailored to Rwanda 8 3weeks after start of the contract
Conduct training
• Conduct an 6days training workshop for selected NIC working groups in Rwanda and sensitize the NIC members (2days for each group of 20number of Participants)
• Exact dates to be confirmed by MINICOM & GIZ Attendance sheets and
Photos of workshop 5 5 weeks after start of contract
Design and conduct questionnaire
• Design of questionnaire
• Collection of feedback from participants
• Analysis of feedback Completed feedback forms and analysis of results 1 6 weeks after start of the contract
Final report
• Preparation of final report Final report (5-7 pages) 2 7 weeks after start of the contract
Total Days: 22

Personnel concept
The consulting firm should have 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 having previously worked with customs authorities and trade regulators and having a good understanding of SPS and TBT matters around Africa and globally.
The consultant should have specialization in the NTBs and Trade facilitation in context of Rwanda to ensure the smooth running of the training sessions.

Qualifications of consultant:
• Post graduate qualification in Economics, Law, International Business, or International Trade.
• Ten (10) years’ experience working in the field of Trade facilitation, NTBs, TBT and SPS.
• Five (5) Years’ Experience in handling/analysing issues related to technical barriers to trade and SPS in Rwanda or other AU member State under trade facilitation/development initiatives.
• Knowledge and working experience in TBT/SPS measures that affect trade within Africa.
• Knowledge and understanding of local regulatory framework, international technical regulations system, in particular the EU practice, WTO TBT/SPS requirements etc.;
• Proven ability to conduct capacity building and/or training activities evidenced by 2 assignments.
• Fluent in both English and Kinyarwanda

Inputs of GIZ
GIZ will assume the costs for the venue for the trainings and the catering during the workshops.

Bidding documents
The consulting firm shall submit written technical and financial proposals. EOI It should be formatted, font type ARIAL, fond size 11, and should be clearly formulated. The offer should be drawn up in English language.
The technical proposal should not be more than 12 pages (excluding CVs of experts) and must include but not be limited to:
• A Cover letter expressing interest in this assignment.
• Brief description of why you would be considered as the most suitable for the assignment, relevant expertise, and a detailed clear methodology, on how will be your approach and complete the assignment.
• A detailed work plan
• The CVs of relevant consultants. A CV shall not exceed 4 pages
• Quality control measures
• References to similar assignments
• Company or business registration certificate
• VAT registration certificate
• Latest tax clearance certificate

The Financial Proposal:
• The Financial Proposal indicates the all-inclusive total contract price, supported by a breakdown of all costs.
• The cost must be in Rwf and VAT excluded.
• The consulting firm is responsible for the costs of the consultants’ accommodation, feeding and travel and must be included in the financial proposal
• The arrangement for pre- and post-assessment, printing of materials, as well as report writing and submission, are all contractual duties of the consulting firm and must be included in the technical and financial proposals

Please submit electronically your EoI (technical & Financial offer) in 2 separated PDF files to this email: RW_Quotation@giz.de until latest 05 September 2022.
Please you must write in your email subject this sentence:
EOI number 83417971 submission of technical & financial offer, without this sentence, your offer may not be considered.
Hard copies are not allowed this time
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