Request for Proposal – AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) - Promoting AANZFTA through Communications and Business Engagement

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) Facility supports ASEAN Member States to maximise benefits from the upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.

Also operating under RT4D is the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), an initiative funded by the Australian Government. The incubator tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising examples, that integrate gender in trade policy, technical cooperation, and development programming. The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 48.7 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28

Project Summary

This project will support a series of connected communications activities to promote AANZFTA throughout the Financial Year 2024-25 (until June 2025) under the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) to strengthen public and private sector stakeholders' awareness of its economic benefits.

Objectives:

(i) Increase understanding of AANZFTA, the AANZFTA Upgrade, and AISP activities.

(ii) Build on 2023 AISP-ECWP communications and business engagement initiatives, including:

• A Communications Package on AANZFTA Upgrade benefits.
• Regional and national business roundtables.

(iii) Develop business engagement resources to strengthen partnerships with diverse and potentially marginalised communities.

Key Outputs:

1. Explainers for ASEAN businesses
2. Business Roundtable Factsheets
3. Four Case Studies on AISP success
4. AEM-CER Communications Package and Video

Request for Proposal – Regional Trade for Development

Implementation Consultant and Event Organiser for Building Institutional Capacity for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) Implementation under RCEP

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) Facility supports ASEAN Member States to maximise benefits from the upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.

Also operating under RT4D is the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), an initiative funded by the Australian Government. The incubator tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising examples, that integrate gender in trade policy, technical cooperation, and development programming. The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 48.7 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28.

Project Summary

This project was created to implement activities that align with RCEP Chapter 5 on SPS. The objective is to enhance the practical application of SPS measures by promoting transparency and understanding of the development processes and applications among relevant stakeholders. The project seeks to strengthen coordination, communication, and consultation among the domestic parties involved in SPS measures, adhering to international standards, guidelines, and recommendations. With support from RCEP and the RT4D program, the fundamental goal of this project is to build the institutional capabilities of key stakeholders at the central and provincial levels under the leadership of FDD. This will set up a foundation to establish a modern, comprehensive, high-quality, and mutually beneficial economic partnership, facilitating regional trade and investment expansion and contributing to global economic growth.

Improving inter-departmental coordination is another crucial component of the project; it will establish a collaborative, dynamic platform for stakeholders such as the FDD, Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Livestock and Fisheries (DOLF), and Department of Planning (DOP) to monitor and evaluate the implementation of SPS chapters. This initiative aims to promote transparency, ensuring senior decision-makers and policy formulators have a unified understanding of the SPS chapter and the ASEAN Sectoral Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Inspection and Certification Systems on Food Hygiene for Prepared Foodstuff Products (MRA) guidelines, alongside developing implementation regulations that clarify procedural and operational parameters. This framework seeks to mitigate arbitrary decision-making while reinforcing compliance with national legal standards through stringent oversight and formalised inspection processes.

The specific objectives of this project are to:

• To provide capacity building on implementing the SPS measures and provisions, focusing on Chapter 5 of RCEP commitments
• To strengthen economic cooperation and dialogue that supports the implementation and utilisation of key provisions within the SPS agreement 
• To increase public and stakeholders’ awareness of the benefits and impact of the RCEP and SPS Chapter to enhance access to information for businesses, especially Micro-Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), on the SPS requirements as well as MRA on import-export 
• To strengthen cooperation and exchange experience with RCEP Parties in the SPS Chapter, particularly on the collective participation approach at the ASEAN SPS committee meeting.

Tetra Tech International Development is seeking a Strategic Communications and Public Diplomacy Adviser to develop and lead the Program’s Communications and Public Diplomacy Strategy, and to oversee all communications, advocacy, and public diplomacy efforts in Indonesia.

Contribute to a world where people, communities, and the planet thrive.

Tetra Tech International Development is a leading development consulting firm working with government, businesses, and NGOs to solve complex development challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. For more information, please visit our website.

The opportunity:

• Location: Jakarta, Indonesia (Flexible work arrangements may be considered upon request)
• Open to national and international candidates
• Fixed-term contract with possibility of extension.

Position Overview

Aus4ASEAN Futures builds on the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program phase 2 (AADCPII), a highly regarded program which has provided support to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) for 12 years. Aus4ASEAN Futures is a $204 million, ten-year investment embedded in the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC). It mobilizes resources through an ASEAN trust fund and uses ASEAN procurement systems, showcasing Australia's commitment to ASEAN priorities and partnership. The program supports the ASEAN Political Security Community (APSC), ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), and ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), enabling Australia to engage with ASEAN on various strategic and emerging issues, such as climate change, vocational education, disaster preparedness, social inclusion, and the care economy. The goal is to foster a "peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive" ASEAN by promoting economic recovery, resilient communities, and peaceful, rules-based systems. Additionally, it aims to integrate cross-cutting issues like social inclusion, gender equality, and disability into ASEAN programs, and to enhance Australia's positive contribution to ASEAN.

The Strategic Communications and Public Diplomacy Adviser will ensure adherence to branding guidelines, document Program activities and achievements with high-quality strategic communications tailored to target audiences, support the ASEAN Secretariat in building strategic communications capacity, and manage public information and social media campaigns across traditional, social, and digital media platforms.

Request for Proposal – Regional Trade for Development Program

Technical Consultant, Project “Advancing Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) in Regional Economic Integration and Trade in ASEAN – From Learning to Policy Actions”

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) Facility supports ASEAN Member States to maximise benefits from the upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. Under the operation of the RT4D, the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), with funding support from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising practice to advance gender equality within trade-related policies, technical cooperation, and development programming.

Project Summary

GEDSI-responsive trade policy is important to ensure that all economic actors benefit from regional trade and economic integration. This regional project aims to build ASEAN Member State (AMS) capacity in gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) and trade, such that relevant officials are better able to design and implement GEDSI-responsive trade policy and trade facilitation programs in their countries. TGEI intends a partnership with the World Trade Organization (WTO) to:

1. Adapt existing training materials on gender and trade to the ASEAN context.

2. Deliver these trainings to ASEAN officials (online and in-person).

3. Provide technical assistance to select AMS to implement GEDSI-responsive trade policy.

4. Foster a community of practice to support policymakers in these endeavours.

Submission should be sent to:
pathways.procurement@thepalladiumgroup.com
cc: ramdino.abarico@thepalladiumgroup.com
 

Any enquiries that tenders may have must in in writing and directed to the dedicated emails no later than 29 November 2024, 5:00 PM Close of Business. Indicate ITT 2024-8-17 Learning Site (Impact) Evaluation Study. A design briefing note will be made available within seven days of this procurement being released and Tender Briefing (online) will be held on 03 December 2024. Interested tenderers may request the design briefing note and participation to the tender briefing by emailing the nominated emails above. Any procurement update (such as addendum) in relation to this invitation will be posted at Pathways Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pathwaysdotph. 

Australia Awards and Alumni Engagement Program – Philippines (AAAEP-P) is seeking tenders from Service Providers to provide the services outlined in the Terms of Reference of the following tender:

• Tender Notice – Gender Equality, Disability And Social Inclusion And Climate Resilience Planning And Change Management

There will be a prebid conference on Tuesday, 8 October 2024 at 1:00 PM via MS Teams.

Australia Awards and Alumni Engagement Program – Philippines (AAAEP-P) is seeking tenders from Service Providers to provide the services outlined in the Terms of Reference of the following tender:

• Tender Notice – Strategic Knowledge Management and Data Analytics for Evidence Based Decision Making

There will be a prebid conference on Thursday, 4 October 2024 at 1:00 PM via Microsoft Teams.

We are seeking qualified applications for the position of Human Resource Development (HRD) Specialist as part of our Australia Awards & Alumni Engagement Program – Philippines program.

Tetra Tech International Development (TetraTech) as the managing contractor of Australia Awards and Alumni Engagement Program – Philippines (AAAEP-P) of the Australian Embassy, is seeking tenders from providers/suppliers to provide the services outlined in the Terms of Reference.

The tender documents can be viewed and downloaded through the quick link buttons below.

All proposals must be submitted by uploading the documents through the online form. Once uploaded, you will receive a confirmation email (within 24 hrs). Late tenders will not be accepted.

Please note the following when preparing your proposal for online submission:

• The online submission module will require you to submit a consolidated one document in PDF format. Portable Document Format (PDF) is the de facto standard for the secure and reliable distribution and exchange of electronic documents and forms around the world.
• This means that after you have prepared and formatted your proposal using MS Word, you need to convert the whole document into PDF.
• There are many tools available to do this: you can use free online conversion software (http://www.freepdfconvert.com) or you can download a free desktop application like CutePDF Writer (http://www.cutepdf.com) or a more powerful commercial version Adobe Acrobat writer.

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