Tender Advertisement #1510567

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS (Open tender)

MID TERM REVIEW OF THE KIRIBATI TRADE POLICY FRAMEWORK AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Background

The Republic of Kiribati is one of the 14 Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), consisting of a total population of 131,232 (2022 census). Kiribati is situated in the four hemispheres of the world located on both sides of the International Dateline and, as well as north and south of the equator with a total of 32 coral atolls and 1 raised coral atoll spreading across 3.5million square kilometers of ocean.

The Kiribati 20 Year Vision (KV20) is the country’s long-term development blueprint from 2016 to 2036 which underscores the crucial role of having a comprehensive Trade Policy Framework (TPF) in supporting economic growth and sustainable development. The Kiribati National Development Plan also recognizes the essential role of the framework in supporting private sector development. Annex 1 of the TPF (Implementation Plan) describes strategies, resources, and programs to put in place, activities and actions to be carried out, expected outcomes, and monitoring indicators for each recommendation. The Implementation Planalso identified key and relevant responsible agencies and authorities as well as potential sources of funding to implementing the TPF and proposed implementation timeframe.

The institutional structure for the implementation of the TPF includes the National Trade Advisory Committee (NTAC) that provided oversight on the development, implementation and review of the TPF. The Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives (MTCIC) through the Trade Promotion Division (TPD) provides technical support for the TPF implementation and the Secretariat for the NTAC.

The mid-term review was initially scheduled to be held after five years of implementation of initial date of implementation commenced in 2018. The review was also deferred due to lack of capacity within the MTCIC TPD and inadequate funding support.

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 provide technical assistance to conduct a Mid-Term Review of The Kiribati Trade Policy Framework and Implementation Plan.

Scope of Work

The Consultant will deliver the following:

• Key Result Area 1 (KRA1): Approved Inception Report based on the clarifications provided at the Inception Meeting, including an annotated Action Plan as per Schedule 2 in the signed contract.

• Key Result Area 2 (KRA2): Prepare and submit:

o An outline for the revised KTPF based on a high-level desk and literature review of Kiribati Trade Policy Framework (KTPF), its objectives, and Implementation Matrix, against the legislative, regulatory and policy and institutional framework for trade, and the economic and trade performance since 2018.
o Consultation materials (presentations, surveys and/or questionnaire, etc) as well as training materials on Basics of Trade

Policy Analysis
• Key Result Area 3 (KRA3): Prepare and submit the report with the outcome of the training & consultations based on:

o Completed virtual consultations and/or face-to-face consultative meetings with Kiribati-based participants and key stakeholders; and
o Completed training on Basics of Trade Policy Analysis for all interested stakeholders in the capital and virtually for Kiritimati.

• Key Result Area 4 (KRA4): Prepare and submit the Draft report on Kiribati Trade Policy Framework (KTPF) with:

o The outcome of the consultations.
o Kiribati’s Trade Policy Statement reflecting priorities.
o A revised KTPF.
o A revised Implementation Plan and matrix.

• Key Result Area 5 (KRA5): Submit revised draft Report, incorporating feedback received during the Validation Workshop, to Government of Kiribati and PIFS for endorsement as the Final Report with:
o The outcome of the consultations.
o The outcome of the Validation Workshop.
o Kiribati’s Trade Policy Statement reflecting priorities.
o A revised KTPF.
o A revised Implementation Plan and matrix.

Academic Qualifications

The Consultant shall be an Expert in International Trade and Development with at least eight (8) years of experience and should possess the following qualifications and experience:

a) Master or Postgraduate degree in economics, law, international trade, or a related field;
b) At least eight years of post-graduate experience in developing economic and/or trade policy and/or regulatory/administrative practices;
c) Proven experience in trade policy analysis and formulation and policy reviews.
d) Expertise in conducting situation analysis and needs assessments related to international trade, private sector development or similar;
e) Expert knowledge of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreements, Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and knowledge and understanding of the Pacific Island Countries’ regional trade agreements, including the Pacific EU Economic Partnership Agreement.
f) Ability to analyse trade policy recommendations and how they relate to State and/or 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.
g) 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.
h) Previous experience in the country and regional area (Pacific region or any other Small Island Developing States); and
i) Knowledge of donor-funded trade and economic development programs and regional and sub-regional trade and economic integration initiatives in the Pacific region will be an advantage.

HOW TO APPLY

Submissions should be entitled:

OPEN TENDER – SHORT-TERM CONSULTANCY FOR MID TERM REVIEW OF THE KIRIBATI 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 Friday 21 February 2025 at 4pm.

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” 17 February 2025. 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.