MSI is a Washington, D.C.-based international development firm providing specialized short- and long-term technical assistance. Since its 1981 founding, MSI has grown in size and technical scope, now implementing and managing more than 70 projects worldwide. More than 30 are long-term, many in conflict-prone or fragile states that include Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Today, our range of technical expertise includes analytical and field projects in democracy and governance, economic growth, strategic planning, organizational capacity building, health and the justice sector. MSI focuses on helping our local partners foster progress, manage change and improve the effectiveness of development assistance. We expanded our global footprint in 2008 by becoming part of Coffey International Development, a leading development firm that is part of Coffey International Limited, a publicly traded company on the Australia Stock Exchange. Alongside Coffey, MSI has corporate offices in 17 countries. Together, MSI and Coffey International Development employ more than 1,400 professionals worldwide. For more information on MSI, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.
Proposal Summary:
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) requires technical assistance under the Evaluation Services Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC) to conduct an end of project evaluation of the Competitiveness and Trade Expansion Trade Hub Project (COMPETE) in East Africa. The COMPETE project evaluation purpose is to provide USAID/East Africa and its partners with an independent assessment of COMPETE project performance, highlighting the major achievements, strengths and weaknesses in order to learn from it and use the lessons for future regional programming.
Position Summary:
The Customs and Transit Consultant will provide detailed knowledge of customs operations, policy and customs reform, transport planning, and trade facilitation at the national, regional and/or international level in Eastern Africa. The evaluation is expected to run from September – November 2013.
Please note: This is a local position. Only candidates with citizenship in an East African country will be considered
Responsibilities:
• •Work with the evaluation team leader and evaluation specialist during in country fieldwork, and remotely as needed;
• •Contribute to the writing of the final report and other project deliverables as directed by the Team Leader; and
• •Work closely with evaluation team members, USAID, implementing partners, and other stake holders.
• •Contribute to the writing of the final report and other project deliverables as directed by the Team Leader; and
• •Work closely with evaluation team members, USAID, implementing partners, and other stake holders.
Qualifications:
• •Must have a minimum of Master’s Degree in economics, business management, engineering, or a closely related field.
• •At least eight years’ experience in transport and trade facilitation at the national, regional and/or international level, in Eastern Africa.
• •Experience in transport planning, policy and customs reform, demonstrated ability to implement reforms in a developing country context.
• •Experience in customs operations, trade policy and trade facilitation at national, East Africa regional and international levels.
• •Familiarity with World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Customs Organization (WCO) Conventions on customs facilitation, as well as efforts to harmonize customs and transit procedures in the Eastern Africa Region.
• •Must have participated in evaluation of donor funded development projects in Africa.
• •Sound knowledge of USAID programs and an understanding of the evaluation policy.
• •Excellent analytical and report writing skills.
• •Oral and written fluency in English is required.
• •At least eight years’ experience in transport and trade facilitation at the national, regional and/or international level, in Eastern Africa.
• •Experience in transport planning, policy and customs reform, demonstrated ability to implement reforms in a developing country context.
• •Experience in customs operations, trade policy and trade facilitation at national, East Africa regional and international levels.
• •Familiarity with World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Customs Organization (WCO) Conventions on customs facilitation, as well as efforts to harmonize customs and transit procedures in the Eastern Africa Region.
• •Must have participated in evaluation of donor funded development projects in Africa.
• •Sound knowledge of USAID programs and an understanding of the evaluation policy.
• •Excellent analytical and report writing skills.
• •Oral and written fluency in English is required.
Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.
