Strategic Customs Advisor

USAID Trade Facilitation Program

SCOPE OF WORK

Strategic Customs Advisor to the USAID Trade Facilitation Program
Proposed Personnel: StrategicCustoms Advisor to the USAID Trade Facilitation Program
Period of Performance: o/a 1 July – 30 March 2023
Origin/Destination: Hanoi, Vietnam
Travel Dates: from time to time up to specific requests of each activity

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 institutions in Vietnam. The Program will work 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 the Program with technical support for different activities of the Program with the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) in the Year-4 and Year-5 Work Plans, in order to maximize the impact of the Program activities, taking into consideration the features of the institutional and legal environment in Vietnam.

The Strategic Customs Advisor will provide his technical inputs, comments and recommendations to key GDVC activities, such as review the implementation of Customs Law 2014 (Activity 1.6), development and implementation of the Scheme on redesigning the blueprint for an overall Customs IT system (Activity 1.1.bis), Scheme on Customs Value Reform (Activity 2.5.1), Draft Decree on sharing and connecting information on the National Single Window (NSW) (Activity 1.1.2), dissemination of Traders’ Voluntary Compliance Program (Activity 4.1.2), etc. and other requested activities.

Background: The Program is now at the final phase with almost 1 year left to implement Year-4 and Year-5 work plans. There are several important activities that the Program needs to fulfill with the GDVC until the end of the Program. With the issuance of the Customs development strategy till 2030 issued by the Prime Minister on 20/5/2022, the GDVC has to complete its other technical schemes including customs value scheme, voluntary compliance scheme, etc. Besides, the GDVC has been implementing the Government’s request conducting customs administrative reform including improving the customs legal framework, restructuring the customs IT system and the NSW, etc.

The GDVC therefore requested the Program’s support by providing technical inputs for those crucial tasks which are in line with the Program’s objectives.

Methodology: The Strategic Customs Advisor will cooperate and collaborate directly with the Program team to provide feedback to specific activities as requested.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

The Strategic Customs Advisor will be responsible for the following:

Review the Draft NSW Decree, actively participate in the consultation workshops on the Draft NSW Decree and provide comments.
Provide technical inputs for the business requirements on the redesign of the blueprint for an overall Customs IT system.
Review and provide comments for the Draft Customs Value Reform Scheme.
Participate the dissemination workshop and provide technical inputs for the Traders’ voluntary compliance Program.
Provide technical inputs for the review of implementation of Customs Law.
Provide technical inputs for other activities and tasks as requested.

Deliverables:

Written comments on the Draft NSW Decree;
Written inputs on business requirements for the redesign of the blueprint for an overall Customs IT system, focusing on Customs Clearance requirements;
Written comments on the Draft Customs Value Reform Scheme;
Presentations at the dissemination workshops on Traders’ voluntary compliance Program;
Report on technical inputs for the review of implementation of Customs Law;
Technical inputs for other activities and tasks as requested (LOEs is calculated up to actual requests).

Qualifications:

Strategic Advisor

PhD in law, economics, business administration, international trade, trade policy, customs administration, or similar field;
At least 15 years of working experience in Customs and/or Trade facilitation-related issues;
Minimum 5 years of experience in a leadership position (at least Deputy Director General) of a GVN Department in the Ministry of Industry of Trade, in the Ministry of Finance or in any other Ministry relevant for the topics listed in the description of the “tasks” above;
Proven knowledge and deep understanding of trade and customs-related issues; proved understanding and previous involvement in reforms related to administrative and procedural simplification;
Fluency in Vietnamese and strong written, oral, and presentation skills; and
English language skills

Reporting:

The Strategic Advisorwill be required to report to the Program COP (claudio.dordi@vietnamtfp.com), STFE (andy.allan@vietnamtfp.com), Legal and Regulatory Expert (phuong.vu@vietnamtfp.com) and National Customs Expert (tu.pham@vietnamtfp.com)

No.	Deliverable to be submitted & approved before payment	Estimated Completion Date
1	Written comments on the Draft NSW Decree;	January 31, 2023
2	Written technical inputs on business requirements on the redesign of the blueprint for an overall Customs IT system;	January 31, 2023
3	Written comments on the Draft Customs Value Reform Scheme;	January 31, 2023
4	Presentations at the dissemination workshops on Traders’ voluntary compliance Program;	January 31, 2023
5	Report on technical inputs for the review of implementation of Customs Law;	March 31, 2023
6	Technical inputs for other activities and tasks as requested (LOEs is calculated up to actual requests)	March 31, 2023