ORGANISATION OF EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES

Transcription

1 ORGANISATION OF EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES COMPETE CARIBBEAN (RG-X1044) 1

2 Regional Framework for the Establishment and Implementation of the Regime for Free Circulation of Goods within the OECS (RG-CC2060) Terms of Reference Consultancy to enhance communication and connectivity among border control and regulatory agencies at the national and regional levels to facilitate free circulation of goods in the OECS 1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1.1. Beneficiary Countries OECS Protocol Member States: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia; and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines Contracting Authority The Inter-American Development Bank through the Compete Caribbean Program. 1.3 Background Compete Caribbean is a Caribbean private sector development programme jointly funded by the Government of Canada (formerly DFATD), the United Kingdom Department of International Development (DFID) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Projects in the OECS countries are implemented in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank. The ultimate goal of this Program is to increase the standard of living and quality of life and citizens and residents of the 15 independent CARIFORUM countries by enhancing their global competitiveness. Specifically, the Program will increase: (i) donor harmonization and coherence, and contribute to the development of national and regional private sector development strategies; (ii) the ability of Caribbean governments to promote a competitive, growth-oriented business and investment climate; and (iii) innovation, productivity, value added production, sales and sustainability in key Caribbean clusters and value chains, and product sophistication, productivity and exports of individual firms. The proposed consultancy is funded under RG-CC2060, a project that was designed to support the development of a framework for the regime for the free circulation of goods in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Economic Union that will lead to the removal of barriers to intra-oecs trade. The general objective is to improve the enabling environment for business development, trade within the OECS Economic Union. The project will support the Economic Union s goal to establish a regime whereby goods will move within the space faster and at a lower cost. 2

3 Various institutional arrangements have been established, to monitor and provide oversight for the project. These include the Regional Task Force on Free Circulation Regime (RTFFC) and its subcommittees on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Customs. Theses bodies also provide technical guidance on various aspects of the FCG Project and are critical to the completion of this assignment. 1.4 Contextual Situation of OECS Member States The Revised Treaty of Basseterre (RTB) provides the legislative grounding for the deepening of integration and cooperation among OECS Member States and the advancement of their strategic economic, socio-cultural and development goals. The Protocol of the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union (Protocol) outlines the precepts and objectives of the Economic Union. Article 2 outlines the main objectives of the Economic Union, while Article 3 prescribes the principles that are to be applied in establishing the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union. A fundamental dimension of the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union is the operationalization of the OECS Customs Union, which is addressed in Article 4 of the Protocol. Article 4 of the Protocol stipulates key requirements for the establishment of the Customs Union within the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union. The provisions of this Article clearly articulates the proscription of import duties between Protocol Member States within the context of the Customs Union. It further indicates that a Common Customs Tariff must be adopted in relation to trade with third countries. The provisions contained in Article establishes the broad framework for the creation of a Customs Union within the Economic Union, while further stipulated requirements are reflected in other Articles, such as Article 6, which pronounces on the establishment of a Common Customs Tariff. The creation of an OECS Customs Union will inevitably facilitate the free circulation of goods within the Economic Union Area; this represents one of the core pillars of the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union. In the current global economic environment, the competitiveness and sustainability of the operations of Regional Trading Blocs are centered on the ability of the national regulatory/border control agencies and economic operators in each of their respective Member countries to effectively communicate among themselves in order to facilitate the importation and exportation of goods into and out of their domestic borders. Additionally, these Members must also have an effective cross-border mechanism for communicating with each other in order to share relevant and timely information with respect to the nature, origin, quantity, and suitability of the goods entering their regional space at the first point of entry. In light of this, it is critical that a dynamic and innovative ICT framework be developed in order to enhance communication among economic operators and regulatory agencies at that national level and facilitate information sharing among regulatory and border control agencies at the regional level. The operationalization of a Customs Union to facilitate the free circulation of goods within the OECS Economic Union will require the development of an integrated ICT system to link all Customs Authorities and relevant stakeholders together in order to enable the timely, effective and hassle free circulation of goods among the OECS Protocol Member States. The Customs Authorities within the OECS Economic Union are currently utilizing the ASYCUDA World automated system for processing Customs declarations for goods entering and exiting their domestic space. The effective utilization of this system will entail the integration of other regulatory and border control agencies involved in the import and export formalities in a manner that distinguishes goods under Customs control and goods in free 3

4 circulation. However, Member States are currently at various stages of this process and would need to harmonize the operations and functionality of the ASYCUDA World system as part of an effective ICT framework for improving communication among the relevant stakeholders in this regime. 2.0 OBJECTIVES, PURPOSE AND EXPECTED RESULTS 2.1 Overall Objective The overall objective of this consultancy is to determine the best approach(es) for deploying a robust and dynamic ICT framework necessary to facilitate the operationalization of the OECS Customs Union by enhancing communication and connectivity among border control and regulatory agencies at the national and regional levels. 2.2 Specific Objectives The specific objectives of this Consultancy are to: Review the current Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in the areas of trade facilitation and border control management of OECS Member States Propose practical short and medium terms solutions compatible with existing systems that can improve connectivity between customs and other regulatory border agencies across the OECS Economic Union 2.3 Expected Results Upon completion of this consultancy, it is expected that the following results will be delivered: A Diagnostic Assessment of the current enabling ICT/ communication frameworks that are in use in customs administrations and other border control agencies to assess and validate the findings of a diagnostic survey to be administered by the OECS Commission. Short and Medium Terms solutions to address communication impediments and facilitate ICT connectivity within and across OECS Protocol member States to support trade and enable the free circulation of goods within the Economic Union Area. 3.0 SCOPE OF WORK / MAIN ACTIVITIES 3.1 General Description of the Assignment This consultancy is primarily concerned with improving communication among border control agencies, through enhanced ICT connectivity in order to enable real time information sharing for the facilitation of the free circulation of goods. In part, the work of this consultancy should entail suggestions for the development of an interoperable ICT system that is compatible with existing 4

5 ICT systems in an effort to facilitate the free circulation of goods, in keeping with the principles of the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union. It is expected that the contractual will work in concert with the OECS Commission and the institutional coordination and monitoring mechanisms established to oversee the implementation of the Free Circulation of Goods project Geographical Scope of Coverage Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia; and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. 3.2 Specific Tasks and Activities The Contractor will: 1. Recommend short and medium term measures for achieving secured and controlled access to information for real time decision making as it relates to free circulation of goods at the national and regional levels given the ICT systems already in place in other trade related agencies in each Member State. These measures should include but not be limited to: o The capacity to allow for information exchange and access as necessary between the ICT systems of Border agencies at both the national and regional levels o The ability for Border agencies to receive information and provide feedback in respect to processing electronic transactions and for compliance purposes by economic operators such as shipping and airline agents, importers, exporters and brokers. o Other enhancements of the existing systems identified by the OECS Commission as being necessary to facilitate trade and ensure the safe and secure movement of goods within the economic union o Automated reports providing details of cargo movement and other defined fields for statistical purposes 2. Design implementation plan for the execution of the short and medium term measures identified under Task Deliverables 5

6 Upon completion of this assignment, the following deliverables are expected: 1. A Work Plan which outlines the various activities to be undertaken during the consultancy 2. A diagnostic assessment of existing trade-related ICT capabilities in the OECS region. This assessment should detail existing systems within Member States and should further identify software incompatibility and inoperability 3. A Report outlining short and medium-term measures for achieving secured and controlled access to information for decision making in real time at borders, including the means and mechanisms through which interoperability of systems can be achieved. These measures should also be presented to relevant stakeholders identified by the Contracting Authority and the OECS Commission. This report should also contain an Implementation Plan for the short to medium term measures. 4. Final reports for items 1-3 inclusive of recommendations made by the RTFFC. 3.4 Schedule of Payment The consultant will be paid in the following installments: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Ten percent (10%) on submission and acceptance of Deliverable 1 by OECS Commission and Compete Caribbean Twenty percent (20%) on submission and acceptance of Deliverable 2 by the OECS Commission and Compete Caribbean Forty percent (40%) on submission and acceptance of Deliverable 3 by the OECS Commission and Compete Caribbean Thirty percent (30%) on submission and acceptance of Deliverable 4 by the OECS Commission and Compete Caribbean 3.5 Project Coordination and Management The technical responsibilities of this consultancy will be coordinated by Mario Umana, Integration and Trade Lead Specialist (INT/TIU) and Project Team Leader. Administrative responsibility of this consultancy will be coordinated by Sylvia Dohnert, Executive Director-Compete Caribbean. The day-today supervision of the consultant will be the responsibility of the OECS Commission in its capacity as focal point for this project. 3.6 Characteristics of the Consultancy 6

7 Consultancy Category & Modality: Product and Services (PEC) Lump Sum to cover all fees and expenses, including travel Duration: May - July 2016 Work Location: The consultant s place of residence. Travel will be required to Saint Lucia to meet with the OECS Commission with stops in other Protocol Member States of the OECS Economic Union (1-3 days each). 3.7 Qualifications o The consultant should be trained/qualified in the Management of Information Systems (MIS) or possess relevant qualifications/skills in the area of information technology and/or information systems. o He/she should possess proven experience working with ICT systems used in the clearance of goods in the region and capable of conducting diagnostic studies on border control agencies. o Knowledge or familiarity with the OECS region, international trade matters, law enforcement or national security environment will be an asset. o Should have at least five (5) years of experience working with national and/or regional information management systems. Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Payment and Conditions: Compensation will be determined in accordance with Bank s policies and procedures. In addition, candidates must be citizens of an IDB member country. Consanguinity: Pursuant to applicable Bank policy, candidates with relatives (including the fourth degree of consanguinity and the second degree of affinity, including spouse) working for the Bank as staff members or Complementary Workforce contractors, will not be eligible to provide services for the Bank. Diversity: The Bank is committed to diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities to all candidates. We embrace diversity on the basis of gender, age, education, national origin, ethnic origin, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and HIV/AIDs status. We encourage women, Afrodescendants and persons of indigenous origins to apply. 7

8 8