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.

About RT4D

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) initiative is funded by both the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. It assists ASEAN Member States (AMS) in meeting their commitments and realising the advantages offered by the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, or AANZFTA, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP.

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.

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

The RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), implemented RT4D Facility, aims to support AMS to realise the full benefits of RCEP through the provision of capacity-building support and access to technical expertise.

The following project is approved under RISP.

• Project Name: Towards Greater Efficiency in Customs Clearance through Enhanced Time Release Study Practices
• Project Objective: This project will support ASEAN Member States (AMS) to understand the current challenges with conducting a TRS as well as best practice approaches that can be used to increase efficiency throughout the trade clearance process. The objectives of this project are to:

o Enhance the capability and capacity of DGCE Indonesia to address pressure points in the trade clearance process by examining the experiences of other agencies as well as private sector actors.

o Share practices, experiences and lessons learnt with other AMS officials who have responsibility for trade clearance processes and TRS activities.

o Support beneficiaries to achieve RCEP objectives, and in particular Articles 4.17 and 4.19.

• The Kemitraan Indonesia Australia untuk Infrastruktur (KIAT) seeks to identify and engage the services of a suitable organisation or joint venture/consortium to undertake the Consulting Services for Strengthening MoF IFF Scheme - Consulting Services for Enhancing Funding and Financing for Solid Waste Management 
• Interested organizations can access the full Request for Tender (RfT) documents by downloading in the following link: https://www.kiat.or.id/opportunities 

• An industry briefing for interested organisations is scheduled on 23 January 2025 at 10.00 WIB (GMT+7, Jakarta time) via a Zoom Webinar.

   

The role is best suited to a candidate with strong leadership, strategic thinking, facilitation, and proven experience in regional program management.

Position: Lead Adviser Infrastructure Funding and Financing

Reports to: Deputy Director-Infrastructure Funding and Financing

Assignment: Full-time assignment based in Jakarta with flexibility for some remote work 

Duration: Full-time (240 input days in a year) 

Commencement: Immediate Location: Jakarta with flexibility for some remote work 

Remuneration: Based on DFAT standard ARF rates. Successful Indonesian nationals will be engaged under a local contract in IDR and will be subject to Indonesian employment regulations and tax obligations.