National STTA Agricultural Specialized Inspection (SI) Expert

USAID Trade Facilitation Program

SCOPE OF WORK

Support and technical assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)

to review and revise Circular 15/2028/TT-BNNPTNT

Proposed Personnel:           TBD, National STTA Agricultural Specialized Inspection (SI) Expert              

Period of Performance:       o/a 20 January – 28 February 2021

Level of Effort:                    10 days

Origin/Destination:             Hanoi, Vietnam

Travel Dates:                       n/a

Activity No.                          FY2021 Activity 1.3.6 – Specialized inspection reform under management of MARD

MEL indicator(s):                 P-1, IR1-1, and IR1.2-2

Project Background:

The USAID Trade Facilitation Program is a five-year project that aims to support the adoption and implementation of a more risk–based approach to customs and specialized inspection (SI) institutions in Vietnam. The Program works with the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) to strengthen the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) of Vietnam and its Working Groups; streamline border clearance procedures (including specialized inspection implemented by other line ministries and agencies); harmonize the implementation of risk-based approaches between national and provincial levels; train national and provincial customs officers and staff from other ministries on risk management; and facilitate dialogue between customs and business and between stakeholders in Hanoi and in the provinces.

Activity Background:

Objective: The aim is to provide technical assistance and support to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to review and revise Circular No. 15/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated October 29, 2018 promulgating Harmonized System (HS) codes of commodities under the management of MARD (hereinafter referred to as Circular 15/2018/TT-BNNPTNT). 

Background: Reform of administrative procedures for SI has been a key aim and objective of the Government of Vietnam (GVN) for the last few years. The aim is to simplify and streamline import-export activities; cut down clearance times; and reduce costs thereby facilitating international trade, enhancing national competitiveness and improving the business environment in Vietnam. To do this, the GVN has annually introduced a number of initiatives and issued legal instruments, e.g., Resolutions 19 and 02 which identified a series of tasks for relevant line ministries and agencies to comprehensively reform the SI of exports and imports.

Despite these initiatives and reforms, the number of goods subject to SI remains at a high level (i.e., 19.1% of different types of goods imported still required SI at the end of 2018). In the latest Doing Business Report 2020 released by the World Bank in October 2019, Vietnam fell 4 places in the rankings for Trading Across Borders from 100 to 104 in 2020 report. The main problem lies in the institutional issues where there remains an urgent need to simplify several aspects of specialized management and inspection.

In the Program’s Year-3 work plan for FY2021, beside the GDVC, the Program will be supporting some key line ministries including the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and MARD to reform SI procedures.

Regarding the work with MARD, in 2021, the Legal Department of MARD will take charge of developing and drafting a new Circular amending and supplementing Circular No. 15/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated October 29, 2018 promulgating HS codes of commodities under management of MARD. This is the focus activity (related to import and export) of MARD in 2021. The Legal Department of MARD seeks for technical assistance from the Program to this activity as follows:

• Support to organize a focus working group legal review session (about 2 days) with the participation of the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC), the Ministry of Health (MOH), the MOIT, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), selected business associations (e.g. VASEP, AMCHAM, EUROCHAM…), etc.
• Support to organize 01 workshop (half a day) to collect feedbacks from related organizations, individuals and businesses.
• Support of a local/national STTA expert/consultant to participate in this activity.

Methodology: The Program will mobilize a local/national STTA Agricultural SI Expert to support  MARD to review and draft a new Circular revising Circular 15/2018/TT-BNNPTNT. The local/national STTA Agricultural SI Expert will be expected to conduct desk-study, interview relevant stakeholders (if needed), participate with and contribute to a focus working group and the consultative workshop to present the comments and recommendations on the Draft Circular.

The Program will implement this activity in coordination with the Legal Department of MARD. In consultation with the Program’s Senior Trade Facilitation Expert (STFE) and Legal & Regulatory Expert, the local/national STTA Agricultural SI Expert will work closely with the Legal Department of MARD but the local/national STTA Agricultural SI Expert may also be required to work in collaboration with other members of the Program team in order to undertake this activity.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

The local/national STTA Agricultural SI Expertwill be responsible for the following:

• Research and desk study (and interviews relevant stakeholders, if necessary) and preparation of written comments and recommendations on the Draft Circular;
• Attend and present comments and recommendations at the focus working group on reviewing and preparing the Draft Circular;
• Attend and present comments and recommendations at the consultative workshop to get comments on the Draft Circular;
• Produce a Final Report containing proposals for revising and supplementing Circular 15/2018/TT-BNNPTNT.

Deliverables:

• Research paper containing comments and recommendations on the Draft Circular;
• Active participation at a focus working group and giving a presentation on comments and recommendations on the Draft Circular;
• Active participation at a consultative workshop and giving a presentation on comments and recommendations on the Draft Circular; and
• Final Report containing details of all work carried out and proposals for revising and supplementing Circular 15/2018/TT-BNNPTNT.

Qualifications:

The local/national STTA Agricultural SI Expert is required to meet the following essential qualifications:

• Bachelor degree or higher in customs administration, business administration, trade policy, international trade, economics, or similar field;
• Experience and track record of working or collaborating with customs authority and other line ministries in Vietnam;
• Proven knowledge and understanding of customs and non-customs procedures including Specialized Inspection, risk management, and other technical customs matters;
• Capable in word processing, spreadsheets and office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Applications;
• Fluency in Vietnamese and good written, oral, and presentation skills; and
• English language skills preferred.

Reporting:

The local/national STTA Agricultural SI Expertwill be required to report periodically to the Program COP (claudio.dordi@vietnamtfp.com); STFE (alistair.gall@vietnamtfp.com) and on a regular (weekly) basis to the Legal & Regulatory Expert (phuong.vu@vietnamtfp.com).

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