Tender Advertisement #1443739

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS (Open tender)
SHORT-TERM CONSULTANCY ON REVIEW OF THE COOK ISLANDS TRADE POLICY FRAMEWORK AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Background
The Cook Islands is one of the 14 Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), consisting of 15 islands with a total land area of about 240 km2. It has an exclusive economic zone of 734,000 square miles with a resident population of 14,987 (2021). Tourism is the Cook Islands leading economic sector, other important sectors being financial services, construction, public services and agriculture and fisheries industries. Government plays a central role in incentivizing economic growth and alleviating poverty through sound economic policies. Seabed mining activities has the potential of being a leading economic sector in future.
The Cook Islands Government has adopted and is currently implementing a number of key policy documents that have direct relevance to the country’s trade policy. These include the National Sustainable Development Agenda 2020+, the Economic Development Strategy 2030 and the National Security Policy (2023). While the Cook Islands had been experiencing significant economic growth in recent years, COVID-19 had an enormous impact on the economy with the country’s border being closed for many months. An Economic Recovery Roadmap was adopted to enable the Cook Islands to institute measures to resume its previous pattern of economic growth, supplementing the above policy documents. Economic diversification and the role of trade (including trading activities involving the outer islands (PA Enua), creative industries and artificial intelligence applications) were important themes of the several policy instruments and a priority of Government. Furthermore, recognizing challenges such as the high import-to-export ratio, labor market constraints, and land scarcity, it becomes crucial in the Cook Islands trade policy.
In 2015, the Cook Islands adopted a Trade Policy Framework (TPF). While it had positive attributes, its use as an actual instrument for driving the Cook Islands trading activities and initiatives became somewhat reduced, sometimes inconsistent and less and less referred to over time. In the post-COVID-19 era, taking into account the above subsequent national policy documents and a changing international and regional trading environment (e.g. entry into force of PACER Plus), the importance of reviewing, refreshing and updating the TPF has been recognized by Government. The new TPF will need to provide a practical instrument for promoting the Cook Islands other national policies, including economic diversification and inclusion of all islands in the Framework. Effective implementation modalities will be critical and involve all key stakeholders.
This Project aims to urgently review and make recommendations and propose strategies to the Government to refresh and update the Cook Islands’ TPF to guide the country over the years to address its trade and trade-related challenges and achieve sustainable economic development including the trade-related needs of the Pa Enua.
In the Pacific Regional Integration Support Programme (PRISE) of the 11th European Development Fund (11th EDF), component 1.3 on Strengthening Pacific Intra-Regional and International Trade (SPIRIT) is being implemented by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) as the Pillar Assessed Entity (PAE).
The Specific Objective of SPIRIT is to strengthen Pacific Intra-Regional and International Trade, and this will be achieved through a coherent, multi-track engagement process at the national, sub-regional and regional levels.
Purpose
The purpose of this contract is to lead in the development of a new revised TPF that sets out the priorities for trade in the Cook Islands and develop an Implementation Plan for the next five years through extensive consultations with stakeholders in Rarotonga and the Pa Enua.
Scope of Work
The Consultant will deliver the following:
• Key Result Area 1 (KRA1): Inception Report within four business days after the inception meeting based on the clarifications provided, including a detailed timetable for implementing the Contract.

• Key Result Area 2 (KRA2): Prepare questionnaires and other analytical tools for the desktop or literature review and national consultations with identified key stakeholders. Prepare a draft outline for the TPF. Consultant to be open and flexible to changes.
• Key Result Area 3 (KRA3): Review Cook Islands Trade Policy Framework (TPF) and Implementation Plan and prepare a draft report on the TPF with
o a revised TPF, and
o a revised Implementation Plan.
• Key Result Area 4 (KRA4): The final draft report including the findings of the national consultations and the outcome of the national validation workshop, as well as recommendations on Way Forward.

Academic Qualifications
The Consultant shall be an Expert in International Trade and Development with at least five (5) years of experience and should possess the following qualifications and experience:
a) Bachelor’s degree in economics, business administration, or a related field;
b) At least five years of professional experience as a trade consultant or similar role;
c) Expert knowledge of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreements, Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and knowledge and understanding of the PICTA and PACER Plus trade agreements;
d) Ability to analyse trade policy recommendations and how they relate to national strategic development plans and other sectoral economic policies, strategies, and programs (focusing on their relevance, effectiveness, governance, impact on overall economic development, and sustainability) to identify gaps/areas that need to be re-examined; and
e) Ability to conduct a general analysis of main economic sectors and identify new/future opportunities and the most appropriate trade policy measures and strategies to advance them to foster industrialization and integration into global/regional value chains.

HOW TO APPLY

Submissions should be entitled:
[CLOSED TENDER] – [SHORT-TERM CONSULTANCY ON THE REVIEW OF THE COOK ISLANDS TRADE POLICY FRAMEWORK AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN]
Method of Submissions:
Submissions must be forwarded in PDF format following the instructions at www.tenders.net/forumsec
Note: Tenders must be submitted with clear labelling of the technical offer and the financial offer. The Technical Offer documents must be saved and submitted clearly labelled “A. Technical Offer”. Financial Offer documents must be saved and submitted clearly labelled “B. Financial Offer”.
The electronically submitted documents should be converted to the PDF format.
Deadline for Submissions:
Submissions need to reach the Secretariat by 4.00pm, Friday, 26th of April 2024.
Late or incomplete tenders will not be considered.
Questions and Answers
All queries or request for information must be submitted via the Question and Answer Forum at www.tenders.net/forumsec . Tenderers may submit questions in writing to the mentioned Question and Answer Forum before the stated “deadline for requesting clarifications” Friday, 19th of April, 2024. The Secretariat has no obligation to provide clarification after this date.
Note: The Secretariat will not be responsible for non-receipt/non-delivery of the Bid documents due to any reason whatsoever.

Any complaints regarding the Secretariat’s tender must be directed to the following email: Tender.Complaints@forumsec.org. This email address will forward your complaint to a person that is independent and removed from the tender process. Complaints must be well founded and should not be used as a mechanism for notifying displeasure with the outcome of a tender award. Further information on making a complaint can be found on the Policies & Information page at http://tenders.forumsec.org.
In the event that further information is required by the Secretariat in relation to the tender for consultancy, the Secretariat reserves the right to seek the required information without the need for calling for resubmission of proposals.