Expression of Interest (EoI)
Consultancy for delivering of training on Customs cooperation &mutual administrative assistance, Trade Facilitation and Transit in the context of implementation of AfCFTA for Rwanda Revenue Authority Customs Officials.
Cosoft: 83415518
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 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).

AfCFTA Background
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 operational-ised 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. This landmark agreement offers significant promise for the continent’s transformation. The number of countries that have signed the Agreement currently stands at fifty-four (54) and as at 6th February 2022, forty-one (41) countries had deposited their instruments of ratification.
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, 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.

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To this end, the project pursues a multi-level approach on the continental level working with the AUC ETTIM and AfCFTA Secretariat, the regional level supporting some 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 enough capacities to successfully realise the AfCFTA. 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.

Relevance of Customs cooperation & mutual administrative assistance, Trade Facilitation and Transit Annexes of the AfCFTA for Customs Officials.
Trade facilitation (TF) entails the transparency, simplification, modernization and harmonization of import and export procedures. TF is critical for enhancing Africa’s competitiveness. However, Africa is still lagging in TF. Bureaucratic delays and red tape, corruption and inefficiencies at borders are common in Africa. These issues increase the costs and time of doing business across the continent thereby inhibiting intra and inter-regional trade.
Trade facilitation has been dealt with in the Agreement establishing the AfCFTA. The Protocol on Trade in Goods of the AfCFTA Agreement contains two annexes dedicated to TF: Annex 3 on Customs Co-operation and Mutual Administrative Assistance; Annex 4 on Trade Facilitation and Annex 8 on Transit. Annex 3 covers state parties’ cooperation in all areas of customs administration. Annex 4 deals with the simplification and harmonization of international trade procedures and logistics to expedite importation, exportation, and transit processes. Annex 4 thus aims to expedite the movement, clearance and release of goods including goods in transit across borders within state parties.

Annex 8 on Transit specifically deals with Customs management and trade facilitation for goods, services and conveyancers which are in transit to their final destination. Undertakings by State Parties for implementation by their respective Customs administrations under this Annex include commitments in connection with the granting of all transiting traffic the freedom to traverse their territories, the licensing of transitors and carriers, transit procedures, exemption from customs examinations and charges, and the liabilities of sureties.
Customs and the associated government border management agencies (Single Customs Territory) have a crucial role in cross-border movement of goods and services between and among trading partners. This involves managing the export, import, and transit clearances, ensuring the safe and secure movement of conveyances, goods and services and facilitate international trade through simplifying and harmonizing their international trade procedures.
Therefore, there is need to build the capacity of Members of Rwanda Revenue Authority in the above three annexes ; Annex 3, 4 & 8 of the AfCFTA.

Objectives of the training
The objectives of the proposed training would be as follows:
The main objective of the training is to strengthen the technical capacity of the members of Rwanda Revenue Authority Customs officials to facilitate the movement, clearance and release of goods including goods in transit across borders within state parties at the same time be able to participate in providing effective remedies when facilitating import and export trade in the region and ultimately explore upcoming opportunities brought by AfCFTA. This training will equip the customs officials with skills and knowledge to achieve the following specific objectives.
• To raise professional standards of Customs officials members in Rwanda by acquiring more knowledge required to implement Annexes 3, 4 & 8 of the AfCFTA agreement
• To build the competitiveness of customs officials to facilitating import and export trade in the region and ultimately explore upcoming opportunities brought by AfCFTA
• To propose measures to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Customs administrations in the areas of compliance with trade regulations, and especially the AfCFTA obligations.
• To raise awareness of the benefits and developments brought about by the AfCFTA for Rwandan import and export sector.
• To develop skills to be able to serve a wider market in the context of the AfCFTA, all which will be key to equipping Customs officials to overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities provided by this agreement.

Specific tasks
GIZ AfCFTA is seeking a Regional or international individual consultant or a consulting company to develop content for a face-to-face training including the facilitation of the training in Rwanda for the customs procedures required to implement AfCFTA in Rwanda. Successful applicants must be familiar with the AfCFTA and EAC. Some of the other specific tasks include
• Developing the content for the face-to-face training and delivering the training
• Serving as a subject matter expert on the ‘customs procedures’ training module, through the provision of training content
• Conceptualizing the delivery of the face-to-face training
• Produce the training content customized for Rwanda Revenue Authority Customs in consultation with RRA Customs office
• Able to deliver a training in Rwanda to RRA Customs officials.

Output and deliverables:
The training contains the following outputs
• Preparation of training module
• Preparation and facilitation of a training of up to 50 participants from RRA Customs Office
• Assessment of the training and handover a report on the training results
• Final report of the training which contains feedback from participants

Duration and Timeframe
The consultancy contract is planned for up to 12 expert days starting from 1st September – 30th October 2022. The timeframe of this training is very important, and it is essential that the results will be delivered on time.
Proposed Workplan
Deliverable Activity Working expert days
(Up to)
1 Module preparation 5 days
III Preparation and Facilitation of training 5 days
IV Documentation and reporting 2 days
Total expert workdays (up to) 12 expert days

The minimum qualification and experience requirements
The consultant must have the following
• Master’s degree in International Trade, Business Management and Business Law
• Specific training in customs procedures, Customs union operations, World Customs Organizations.
• Having worked for 5 years in institutions handling International Trade operations like Customs Authority, Regional Economic Communities, and others handling customs procedures matters.
• 3 assignments accomplished indicating the knowledge of the AfCFTA and EAC matters
• Proof of 3 different trainings prepared and delivered
• Proof of working with RRA Customs Office
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Costing requirements
This consultancy will be costed on man days worked on this assignment.
The contractor will facilitate the organization of the different activities related but the expenditures related to those activities will be fully covered by GIZ/AfCFTA Country component.
Inputs of GIZ or other actors
GIZ AfCFTA Rwanda Country component is expected to make the following available:
Training logistics.

Submission of EoI
EoI will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
• Company or individual profile,
• Relevant experience,
• Company strategies to assure agility, flexibility, and responsiveness,
• Personnel and,
• Financial offer.

The EoI should contain the following:
For Technical Proposal:
• A Cover letter expressing 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, on how will be your approach and complete the assignment.
• 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 CVs shall not exceed 4 pages.
• Company or business registration certificate
• References and recommendations of similar works executed by the company in Rwanda or elsewhere outside of Rwanda.
• VAT registration certificate if available
• Latest tax clearance certificate

For 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.

Submission Procedure
Please submit electronically your EoI (technical & Financial offer) in 2 separated PDF files to this email: RW_Quotation@giz.de until latest 09th August 2022 .
Please you must write in your email subject this sentence:
EOI number 83415518 - 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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