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.

KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: G-PSF Analyst
Sector: Local Governance and Economic Development
Position Type: Short-time (possibly of extension)
Duration/Level of Effort: Full-term
Position Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Contractual arrangement: Eligible for Cambodian residents/citizens only
  
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED) is Australia’s flagship bilateral economic development facility in Cambodia. Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and implemented by Cowater International, CAPRED focuses on supporting inclusive economic recovery and boosting resilience and sustainability over the next five years from 2022 to 2027. CAPRED adopts a mix of a programmatic and facility model. The facility model allows CAPRED to flexibly tackle a range of emerging inter-related public and private sector constraints. CAPRED identifies opportunities to promote resilient, inclusive, and sustainable growth (RISE) across different sectors.

KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: G-PSF Associate
Sector: Local Governance and Economic Development
Position Type: Full-time  
Duration/Level of Effort: Full-term
Position Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Contractual Arrangement: Eligible for Cambodian residents/citizens only
  
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED) is Australia’s flagship bilateral economic development facility in Cambodia. Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and implemented by Cowater International, CAPRED focuses on supporting inclusive economic recovery and boosting resilience and sustainability from 2022 to 2027. CAPRED adopts a mix of a programmatic and facility model. The facility model allows CAPRED to flexibly tackle a range of emerging inter-related public and private sector constraints and opportunities to promote resilient, inclusive, and sustainable growth (RISE) across different sectors.

KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Senior Safeguard Specialist
Sector: Social Service Delivery
Position Type: Full-time
Duration/Level of Effort: Full-term
Position Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Contractual Arrangement: Open to Cambodian citizens and foreign nationals with permits to work and reside in Cambodia
 
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
Are you a team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment? Are you looking to grow and develop your skills in the development sector? Join our dynamic team to support sustainable, resilient and inclusive development.
 
The CAPRED Facility is Australia’s flagship bilateral economic development program in Cambodia, focusing on economic recovery and resilience over the next four years, with a possible three-year extension.
 
The Facility supports Cambodia in implementing a range of necessary economic interventions and reforms to maintain the country’s economic transition. These interventions and reforms are primarily aimed at encouraging more productive and inclusive public and private investment, which promotes a resilient, inclusive and sustainable economy (RISE).
 
CAPRED interventions fall under three technical components including: Agriculture and Agro-processing; Trade, Investment and Enterprise Development and Infrastructure Development; and one Cross-Cutting component comprising: Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI); Climate Resilient initiatives, and policy support. GEDSI is at the heart of all that CAPRED does.
 
The Senior Safeguard Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring adherence to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)’s and CAPRED’s safeguarding policies, particularly concerning Child Protection (CP), Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH), modern slavery, and overall risk mitigation. Safeguarding is critical component of the overall CAPRED’s Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS).

KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Systemic Change Research Consultant
Sector: Customs, Trade and Investment Climate
Position Type: Part-time
Duration/Level of Effort: Short-term
Position Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Contractual arrangement: Open to local and international candidates. Individuals and firms may apply.
 
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
The CAPRED Facility is Australia’s flagship bilateral economic development program in Cambodia, focusing on economic recovery and resilience over the next four years, with a possible three-year extension.
 
The Facility supports Cambodia in implementing a range of necessary economic interventions and reforms to maintain the country’s economic transition. These interventions and reforms are primarily aimed at encouraging more productive and inclusive public and private investment, which promotes a resilient, inclusive and sustainable economy (RISE).
 
CAPRED interventions fall under three technical components including: Agriculture and Agro-processing; Trade, Investment and Enterprise Development and Infrastructure Development; and one Cross-Cutting component comprising: Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI); Climate Resilient initiatives, and policy support. GEDSI is at the heart of all that CAPRED does.
 
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION
CAPRED is seeking highly motivated Consultant with excellent organisational, analytical, and communication skills to assist the CAPRED team in understanding the progress and impact of its intervention, identify lessons learned, and propose next steps to further catalyse the systemic change in Cambodia’s water sector. Specifically, this research will:

• Document systemic change signs resulting from CAPRED’s water portfolio activities.
• Analyse the drivers and enabling factors behind observed systemic changes.
• Evaluate the role of key stakeholders in contributing to these changes.
• Identify lessons learned and potential leverage points to amplify systemic impact.
• Providing actionable recommendations for scaling and sustaining systemic changes.

KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: MRM and Systems Development Coach
Sector: Facility Management, Expert Deployment Mechanism and Framework Agreements
Position Type: Part-time
Duration/Level of Effort: Short-term
Position Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Contractual arrangement: International recruitment
 
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
The CAPRED Facility is Australia’s flagship bilateral economic development program in Cambodia, focusing on economic recovery and resilience over the next four years, with a possible three-year extension.
 
The Facility supports Cambodia in implementing a range of necessary economic interventions and reforms to maintain the country’s economic transition. These interventions and reforms are primarily aimed at encouraging more productive and inclusive public and private investment, which promotes a resilient, inclusive and sustainable economy (RISE).
 
CAPRED interventions fall under three technical components including: Agriculture and Agro-processing; Trade, Investment and Enterprise Development and Infrastructure Development; and one Cross-Cutting component comprising: Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), Climate Resilient initiatives, and policy support. and policy support. GEDSI is at the heart of all that CAPRED does.

Role Summary

Reporting to the DFAT Counsellor (Development) and with a high degree of autonomy, the Communications Adviser will assist in the development and delivery of the Mekong Australia Partnership’s communications functions. The role will be responsible for helping develop and implement a communications strategy, determine MAP core messages and ensuring that these core messages reach identified stakeholders and intended audience. The role will work with Investment Managers located in Bangkok and across DFAT’s Posts in the Mekong sub-region to collect, create and disseminate information and messaging. The Adviser will work with the Adviser – Performance, Quality and Risk, to create content to support Monitoring and Evaluation.

The Adviser will be located in the Mekong Hub in Bangkok and work closely with sector specialists, Australian Government posts in the region, implementing partners, Australian Government agencies and DFAT Canberra. 

The Adviser will directly supervise one Locally-engaged Public Diplomacy Officer.

Role Summary

The Adviser is responsible for assisting the MAP Advisor – Performance, Quality and Risk, implement the MAP Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) system, and managing information flows to inform management of lessons learned from investment implementation. This includes working closely with delivery partners to ensure investment MEL systems are fit for purpose, contribute to MAP objectives, are in line with DFAT requirements, and supportive of the overall MAP Performance Assessment Framework (PAF). The Advisor will support DFAT Investment Managers prepare Investment Monitoring Reports (IMRs) for MAP regional programs managed from Bangkok, and assist Posts across the region to report bilateral activities, including through IMRs, within the MAP MEL framework as required.

The Adviser will be located in the Mekong Hub and report to the Advisor – Performance, Quality and Risk. The Advisor will work closely with sector specialists, Australian Government posts in the region, implementing partners, Australian Government agencies and DFAT Canberra.  The position will support coordination within and between Mekong countries and facilitate cross-fertilisation and learning between MAP investments.

Role Summary

Reporting to the DFAT Counsellor (Development) and with a high degree of autonomy, the Operations Adviser will manage a small team to deliver Mekong Australia Partnership accountability and administration functions to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of Official Development Assistance (ODA) investments across the MAP portfolio.  The position will work closely with DFAT staff to design, establish and implement core integrity and administrative measures across the entire MAP portfolio. The position will represent DFAT with external stakeholders across the Mekong sub-region, as we deepen our partnerships. This position will also work closely with Australian Posts in the Mekong subregion, implementing partners, and other Australian Government agencies based in Australia and the region.