Call for a Trade Statistic Expert: online platform supporting export of produce

MISSION

3.5.2.2.2 - TRADE STATISTICS expert will develop the action plan for the platform and will work with the coordinator to gather information to populate the new system.

1. BACKGROUND

BENEFICIARY

Ministry of Economy and Trade (MOET) / Strengthening Exports of Fruits and Vegetables from Lebanon to European and Regional Markets Project

PROJECT

BACKGROUND

Based on the 2018 CBI report along with previous studies and projects indicating both opportunities and challenges for the export and impact of the development of the 4 crops as well as RMF’s longstanding experience in the field, RMF aims through this project that will extend for 4 years is to strengthen specific value chains (Grapes, potatoes, cherries and avocados) by supporting major actors across the value chain including farmers, service providers, aggregators , exporters, public and private institutions and academia in improving their capacities and providing them with best practices, new technologies , tools and equipment to enhance the value chain to meet export requirements and enabling environment and ultimately enhancing economic advancement. Special focus will be made on affected and vulnerable areas including Kaa, Bekaa, Akkar etc. This will be conducted by addressing several obstacles outlined in the CBI value chain analysis presentation mainly in enhancing pre and post – harvest handling, access to markets, and CSR performance. 

The project also supports enhancing job creation and poverty reduction for rural hosting and refugee communities including Syrian refugees as well as strengthening social stability where competition for resources and employment has caused tensions in the past. Historically, Lebanese farmers have frequently relied on Syrian refugees to assist with agricultural work and care for farms. This has made the Syrian involvement in the agricultural sector commonly accepted. Not to mention that agriculture is one of the few sectors in which Syrian refugees are legally allowed to work. By creating more job opportunities and reducing poverty amongst the strained hosting Lebanese communities and the Syrian refugees, this project will also be directly contributing to social stability and a peaceful coexistence between the host and refugee communities.

<Overall objective>: Enhanced economic advancement in Lebanon through the strengthening of 4 specific value chains (grapes, potatoes, cherries and avocados) towards improved exports by supporting the export enabling environment among concerned stakeholders and chain actors including farmers, SME's, exporters, government bodies and private sector mainly in affected remote areas

<Expected Outcome(s)>:

EO1: Capacities of targeted farmers within 4 value chains enhanced to produce improved and competitive agricultural products that comply with buyer requirements through capacity building, provision of tools and equipment and usage of new technologies.

EO2: Capacities of exporters and post-harvest handling facilities enhanced through trainings, linkages to EU, GCC and window markets, assessment of facilities leading to increased export of targeted value chain products.

EO3: Governmental bodies working across the 4 targeted value chains have enhanced facilities, best practices, linkages and networks supporting the facilitation of export process and upgrading the value chains.

EO4: Improved support for children and youth in the 4 targeted value chains.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Framework

General

Component 3.5 –Platform

OBJECTIVES

To Assess the platform needs and develop The action plan will be developed in the first visit on the basis of the gap analysis and will include:

-           description of the types and sources of information that will be delivered by the platform in the first phase of its upgraded operation;

-           the creation of a priority list of information to be further developed, and

-           description of the delivery mechanism (website).

Main Tasks

The Trade expert will jointly prepare and elaborate the platform with the IT Expert and they are to :

• Assess the current situation and needs for the platform
• Develop the platform action plan consisting of the following component:

• description of the types and sources of information that will be delivered by the platform in the first phase of its upgraded operation for instance:
  • To summary of the trade agreements on the platform in a friendly user manner Friendly user pointing out the main points and benefits of the agreement regarding trade
  • To start up with the value chain products and post their requirements and standards if exported to EU Markets (EU Trade Help Desk) & MENA Markets
  • Understanding the Lebanese market
  • Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements
  •  Environmental requirements
  • Technical requirements
  • Marketing standards
  • Import restrictions
  • Tariffs
  • Preferential arrangements
  • Trade Statistics
  • Trade Balance
  • Top 10 imports and exports
  • Yearly Comparison
  • Monthly sections and chapters HSC
  • Tariff quotas
  • To have the product description near each HS code product
  • insert data from customs and ITC trade map sites
  • Potential markets
  • % of export
  • % market share
  • Post all supported agricultural and SMEs loans
  • Analyzing rejections data
  • Figures and tables
  • Friendly user
  • QR Code linking the exhibition audience to the relevant data within the exhibition section on the platform

Outputs

The action plan for the platform development

Expenditure

The I.E. eligible costs related to the activities covered by this TOR will be charged to the Incidental Expenditures (I.E.) budget.

3. EXPERTISE REQUIRED

Profile of Trade EXPERT

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in food related field.
• Strong understanding of customs regulations and import and export laws
• Understand taxes and duties
• Analyse and researches trade requirements
• Ensure compliance with regulations.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with focused attention on detail
• Excellent project and team management skills
• Strong verbal and written skills necessary to communicate effectively within the organization as well as external customers, freight forwarders, etc
• Thorough knowledge of international import/export laws
• 2-3 years education and/or experience in international transportation/logistics, or import/export trade compliance
• Fluency in speaking, reading and writing English and Arabic;
• Strong communications skills and ability to communicate with people at all levels, verbally and in writing;
• Fully computer literate.

4. LOCATION AND DURATION

TIME SCHEDULE

20 January 2020 – 29 February 2020

Location

The consultancy and reporting activities will take place in Beirut, at the Ministry of Economy and Trade, or at any other place to be agreed upon (on a consecutive day basis and within normal working hours from 08:30h to 17:30h).

Contact

The Expert will work with the support of the coordinator

5. REPORTING

Format
& Content

The Expert shall submit a formal report at the end of the assignment, covering the objectives and expected results, activities undertaken, results achieved, evaluation of the training and attendees, problems encountered, and recommendations for follow up.

The report shall be delivered in one printed copy and as an electronic file and shall be in the format approved by the Quality Programme (to be provided at the beginning of the assignment).

The report shall be sent to the coordinator for review and comments before submitting it to the project manager for approval.

Soft copies of all reports, annexes, data collection etc., must be supplied.

All information must be directly traceable to these ToRs through the sub-project number.

Language

The project working language is English (to be used in all reports and communications between the consultant and the Quality Programme).

6. OTHER CONDITIONS

Ownership

All activity outputs, including research data, reports, presentations and support documentation, will remain the property of RMF.

All materials prepared for the implementation of the assignment should be presented using RMF LOGO only (template available) and no contractor logo should appear on same.

7. AGREEMENT

Date & Signature

I, undersigned, agree with the present Terms of Reference.

Beirut, 2020