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.

Abt Global is seeking a highly qualified individual to fill the role of Economic Adviser to be based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and open to all applicants.

Abt Global is seeking highly qualified individuals to provide Expressions of Interest to join a pool of Legal Policy Advisers, based in Port Moresby, PNG and open to all applicants.
 

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.

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

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: Study on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) Reform – Introducing Safeguards in Modern Investment Agreements
• Project Objective: The project addresses the AANZFTA Committee on Investment’s (COI) Sectoral Strategic Directions Priorities Document (SSDP) to ‘Progress in Advancing the Work Programme for the Upgrade AANZFTA Investment Chapter’ and in particular, the COI Work Programme activity to review Section B (Investment Disputes between a Party and an Investor) of the Upgraded AANZFTA. It aims to support AANZFTA Parties’ consideration of modern ISDS safeguards included in recent agreements and ISDS reforms discussed in international fora, in the context of the review of the AANZFTA ISDS provisions. The project is designed with the following objectives:

o Provide AANZFTA Parties with the latest discussions and outcomes on ISDS reform in other fora.

o Enhance AANZFTA Parties’ understanding of the safeguards to protect governments’ right to regulate as introduced in newer International Investment Agreements (IIAs), and its usage under arbitration cases.

o Align AANZFTA Parties’ understanding on the potential benefits of introducing safeguards to the current ISDS provisions under the AANZFTA.

o Provide recommendations for AANZFTA Parties on the potential modern ISDS safeguard elements that are suitable to be considered for inclusion under the AANZFTA ISDS review.

Be part of a panel of agriculture, food/nutrition and water consultants providing advice on the Australian Government’s Climate Resilient Communities program in the Indo-Pacific, covering the Pacific, Southeast Asia and South Asia regions.

Be part of a panel of Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) consultants providing advice on the Australian Government’s Climate Resilient Communities program in the Indo-Pacific, covering the Pacific, Southeast Asia and South Asia regions.

An opportunity to be part of a panel of communications consultants and creatives on the Australian Government’s Climate Resilient Communities program in the Indo-Pacific, covering the Pacific, Southeast Asia and South Asia regions.

Be part of a panel of gender equality, disability and social inclusion consultants providing advice on the Australian Government’s Climate Resilient Communities (CRC) program in the Indo-Pacific, covering the Pacific, Southeast Asia and South Asia regions

Abt Global is seeking a suitably qualified individual to fill the role of Senior Procurement Manager to be based in Port Moresby, PNG. 

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

The General Department of Customs and Excise in Cambodia (GDCE) of the Royal Government of Cambodia is committed to advancing gender equality throughout the whole organisation, at policy, culture, and practice level. TGEI is supporting the GDCE to implement the project Progressing gender equality for all, leading to greater gender equality and inclusion outcomes in GDCE’s policy, practices, and services. In 2024, the GDCE approved an eight-point Gender and Diversity Action Plan to achieve this objective. This work is being conducted in close cooperation with members of the GDCE’s Gender Equality Working Group. The RT4D Facility now seeks a firm/organisation (the Consultant) to support project implementation in line with the project objectives, beneficiaries, outcomes and activities outlined below.

TGEI is supporting the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) through the project “Progressing Gender Equality for All,” which aims to enhance gender equality and inclusion across GDCE’s policies, practices, and services. The project developed an Organisational Gender Equality and Diversity Action Plan for the period of July 2024 to December 2026 with the following intended outcomes:

1. Improved institutional capacity on gender equality and diversity (GED).

2. A safe workplace policy, practice, and culture for all staff and customers.

3. Gender responsive and inclusive trade facilitation for SMEs.

4. Internal recruitment system is prepared to employ and accommodate persons with disabilities in the workplace.

5. Staff and customers who live with disabilities can access GDCE facilities with a high level of safety and comfort.

6. Increased institutional capacity of GDCE to monitor and report the progress of GED initiatives.

7. Increased job satisfaction, particularly among female staff, staff with health conditions, and those with caregiving responsibilities, as well as the provision of flexible work options for all staff.

8. Improved capacity of GDCE staff to effectively integrate GEDSI principles in their communications.