Short-term Rules of Origin (ROO) Policy Experts

ARISE + Viet Nam is seeking to recruit various short-term experts for implementation of the Project Annual Work Plan Year 1 (2021-2022)

“The ASEAN Regional Integration Support by EU (ARISE) Plus – Viet Nam Trade-Related Technical Assistance (ARISE+ Viet Nam)” is a European Union-funded project. The overall objective of the ARISE+ Viet Nam project is inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction in Viet Nam, while the specific objective of the project is to provide technical assistance to the Vietnamese Government to maximise Viet Nam’s benefits from preferential trade regimes, with a focus on regional trade agreements and the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). DAI Human Dynamics is implementing this project together with consortium partners: VCCI, Eurocham and Gopa.

ARISE + Viet Nam is implementing activity FTA 1.2. The primary objective of FTA 1.2 is to educate both exporters and local Vietnamese trade officials on the nuances of ROO and C/O in the EVFTA, which dictate how exporting companies derive benefits from the preferential tariff protocols in the EVFTA. To achieve this, the activity provides, in the form of published guidelines and workshops, education and support on ROO and C/O guidelines for exporters to meet said guidelines.

We are urgently looking for interested candidates to join our team under short-term expert positions as following:

1. Expert 1 – ROO Policy Expert

Tasks

The following tasks will be carried out by the expert:

· Conducting the first meeting with MOIT officials and KE1 to agree on priorities and scope of work and offer suggestions

· Drafting agreed guidelines on topics including but not limited to: how to determine the originating status of goods, C/O, self-certification of origin, product-specific ROO for key Vietnamese exports.

· Provide consultation on Rules of origins via email channel, covering different topics: condition to determine the originating status of export goods, application of the product specific rules, procedure to certify and verify proof of origin, etc.

· Establish regular relationship with ARISE+ project staff and stakeholders to sustainably support above tasks, including one-to-one consultation between experts and exporters/producers on specific C/O application documents.

· Guidance on steps forward to move from C/O application to self-certification scheme.

· E-join in-depth workshop of sharing consultation outcome.

· Advise on inputs funded through incidentals budget

Required qualifications:

· University degree, preferably at a master’s level, in Public Policy or related field

· Significant professional experience a minimum of 10 years of work experience on the operation of Rules of Origin regimes, both in the EU and in international markets, and both the public and private sector

· Detailed knowledge and understanding of the Rules of Origin disciplines of the EVFTA

· Good networks with government agencies and business community

· Experience in the design and delivery of training on ROO preferred

· Experience in the delivery of related trade technical assistance preferred

Place of work: Ha Noi, Viet Nam

2. Expert 2 – ROO Policy Expert

Tasks

The following tasks will be carried out by the expert:

· Supporting, as required, Expert 1 in the drafting of guidelines, particularly making them relevant to Vietnam.

· From guidelines, developing training tools for workshops providing in-depth understanding of ROO provisions of the EVFTA, tailored to industry and public sector audiences

· Leading two workshops providing in-depth understanding of the guidelines, verifying the technical content of the guides and support its dissemination

Anticipated support from KE1/ARISE+ project:

· Provide reference resources and additional information from other EU-FTA signatories and other third countries and their respective ROO training modules and guides as necessary

· Liaise with ARISE+ as necessary

· Provide technical backstopping as necessary

Required Qualifications

· University degree, preferably at a Master’s level, in Public Policy or related field

· A minimum of 3 years of work experience in the operation of Rules of Origin regimes in the Viet Namese, EU and/or international markets

· Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the Rules of Origin disciplines of the EVFTA

· Experience in the design and delivery of training on ROO preferred

· Experience in the delivery of related trade technical assistance preferred

· Excellent skills in both English and Vietnamese languages

Place of work: Ha Noi, Viet Nam

APPLICATION

Interested candidates are requested to send their application in English to DAI via