Consultancy – Designing and administering the “Trade and Customs Processes Survey”

Consultancy – Designing and administering the “Trade and Customs Processes Survey”

We are searching for an experienced consultant to assist in designing and administering the “Trade and Customs Processes Survey”. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

Trade Reform and Development in Egypt (TRADE) is a USAID-funded project whose objective is to increase Egypt’s international trade by increasing exports from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the activity’s “selected sectors”; Engineering Products, Food Processing, Home textiles, Ready Made Garments, Chemicals, Printing and Packaging, and Building Materials 

The TRADE Activity will achieve the following three Results: 

1) Enhanced Export Capacity of SMEs, in particular New and Expanding Export- Ready Enterprises (NEEREs)[1] in the Selected Sectors. 

2) Strengthened Public and Private Trade-Support Institutions (e.g., Trade Associations, Export Councils, etc.); and 

3) Improved Trade and Investment Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Environment 

ASSIGNMENT BACKGROUND

The USAID TRADE is considering contracting a consultant to design and administer a survey on the measures taken by the Government of Egypt to reform Trade Policy. The objective is to have a simple streamlined trade and customs process, promote transparency and consequently predictability of Egypt’s Foreign Trading system. The private sector perspective will provide valuable data that will aid in tracking reform, better serving current and new importers and exporters. 

Moreover, the private sector serves as the barometer for reform and ease of doing business and thus it’s essential to examine the business environment and the trade ecosystem thoroughly. The analysis of the survey results will assist the Government of Egypt (policy makers) to get insights into most and least implemented reform measures and to follow up the progressive implementation of specific Trade Policy reform priorities.

Scope

The consultant is expected to assist the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) in developing a “Policy Adoption Survey” or a more focused “Trade and Customs Processes Survey”. The survey will target the private sector in Egypt dealing with the export and import laws, regulations and processes and who are aware of the specific documentations, fees and charges required to trade under the different legislations (Export and Import regulation, Customs Law, Industrial licenses, and others). 

The consultant will be required to work closely with FEI Advisor and relevant staff, to design and administer the survey, collect data, perform the required data analysis, and prepare a comprehensive report in English and Arabic. The consultant will also conduct an awareness session to disseminate the results of the survey and may adjust the report accordingly. 

Working closely with FEI, the consultant will provide on-the-job training and coaching to the staff that will be responsible for administering the survey to ensure the sustainability of the activity.

Possible restrictions and bottlenecks in the foreign trade system that need to be assessed by the survey are incorporated in the FEI Annual Agenda for Reform, includes inter alia:

• Export and import documentation and processes.
• Customs clearance, inspection processes (documentation and physical) and Risk management.
• Efficiency of the Duty Drawback system.
• Fees and charges levied on exporters and importers, and whether aligned with services rendered.
• Quality control measures.
• Customs valuation.
• Multiple Registration requirements (i.e. NAFEZA, ACID, Decree 43).
• Coordination among different control authorities.

TASKS

• Develop the “Trade and Customs Processes Survey” that targets the private sector in Egypt dealing with export and import laws, regulations, and processes.
• Work closely with FEI relevant staff to design and administer the survey, collect data from the private sector respondents and perform the required data analysis.
• Prepare a comprehensive report on the results of the survey.
• Conduct an awareness session to disseminate the results of the survey and incorporate any necessary adjustments to the report.
• Provide on-the-job training and coaching to FEI staff responsible for administering the survey to ensure the sustainability of the activity.

DELIVERABLES

• Inception report that outlines the workplan, methodology and tool, the population and sample (sources of data).
• Detailed report on the results of the survey and the statistical analysis in English and Arabic.
• Providing coaching and on-job training for the FEI staff on:

o Designing, developing, and testing the survey.

o Analyzing the survey results and comparing tendencies towards improvements across the years (and setting the criteria for improvement, i.e. percentage of companies facing difficulties with a certain process is reduced or abolished). 

o How to present and report the findings of the survey

Presentation and Awareness:

• The consultant will conduct a presentation to disseminate the survey results. A full presentation in English and Arabic reflecting the main outcomes of the survey, the main areas reformed and areas that still need further intervention by the Government.
• Raise awareness among FEI members.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

1. Comprehensive Report:

• Includes the survey methodology, samples, and tools.
• Provides a full analysis of the survey results and recommendations.

2. Enhanced FEI Capacity:

• to independently conduct surveys that monitor the progress of the measures undertaken by the Egyptian government to reform and streamline trade ecosystem in Egypt.
• in designing and managing similar surveys.

3. Presentation and Awareness:

• The consultant will conduct a presentation to disseminate the survey results.
• Raise awareness among FEI members.

Required Qualifications:

QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in statistics (Master’s or Ph.D.) particularly in a specialized field of Public Administration, Business Administration, or Trade Policy.
• 15 years of technical experience in survey design, sampling methodology and techniques, data analysis, interpretation and reporting findings.
• Project management skills.

Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

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