Canadian E-Commerce Market and FTA Obligations Specialist

Technical Expert Terms of Reference

Technical Assistance (TA) Request: E-Commerce provisions of the Canada-Colombia FTA

Expertise Required: Canadian e-commerce market and FTA obligations Specialist

Deadline to Apply : October 19th, 2020

Background

Funded by Global Affairs Canada, the Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development (EDM provides technical assistance to Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible countries to maximize the development impacts of trade and investment. Over seven years (2018-2025), EDM will invest CAD $16.5 million to support Canada’s developing country trading partners to negotiate, implement and benefit from and adapt to trade and investment agreements with Canada.

EDM is a demand-driven project that will benefit potential partners – including governments, local private sector groups and local civil society organizations – through capacity building and technical advisory support on policy reform issues that have a high potential to reduce poverty and gender inequalities, and support progress in trade and investment agreement negotiations.

After 50 years of internal conflict, relative peace has brought Colombia steady economic growth. Between 2000 and 2017, GDP grew at an average annual rate of 4.3% and nearly doubled in per capita terms.  This growth can be chiefly attributed to increased security, sound macroeconomic policy and strong global demand for commodities and raw materials.  However, the benefits of this growth have flowed disproportionately to the large urban centers.  The growing disparity between urban and rural socio-economic indicators has caused some observers to speak of “the two Colombias”.

To sustain economic growth and address inequality, Colombia has set out a National Development Plan, which includes commitments to: inclusive growth; a lasting peace by strengthening the regions; support for regional governance and industry associations to deliver services; entrepreneurship; formalization of the economy and labour; investment attraction; streamlining regulation; expanding tourism and trade in services (especially the “orange economy”), improve Colombia’s low productivity (31.5% of OECD average); modernize customs administration; improve logistics and further develop “single window” service to exporters.

The National Development Plan signals a shift in Colombia’s trade strategy from an outward-looking trade negotiations agenda to a more inward-looking focus on increasing domestic competitiveness and the export performance of firms. The Government’s priority on taking advantage of existing trade agreements, instead of negotiating new ones, is a response to the decades’ long decline in the competitiveness of the domestic manufacturing sector. The proposed solution in the NDP is the prioritization of domestic economic reforms, such as the reduction of the cost of doing business and increasing business growth through customs administration and other regulatory reforms, increased transparency in government processes, and helping SMEs increase their capacity to compete domestically and take advantage of existing opportunities in international markets.

A mission to Bogota in March 2020 confirmed Colombia’s priority interest in harvesting the benefits of existing trade agreements – including the 2011 Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement – before advancing further in its trade negotiations agenda – including the Canada-Pacific Alliance FTA.  The mission identified opportunities for technical assistance to more fully implement and benefit from the CCFTA and, in so doing, strengthen Colombia’s readiness for next generation trade agreements.  In view of the dramatic growth of the digital economy, one area identified for technical assistance was electronic commerce – how to ensure compliance with the obligations the Agreement and assist Colombian businesses in taking advantage of the market access opportunities of electronic commerce.

Linkage to EDM Performance Measurement Framework

This technical assistance is aligned with the approved Country Needs Assessment Plan – Colombia, Mandate 3: Benefiting from / adapting to trade and investment agreements.  The specific context for this assistance is the Electronic Commerce Chapter of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

This assistance is also aligned with the EDM Performance Management Framework, Intermediate Outcome 1300 (Increased access by private sector organizations and civil society – particularly women, indigenous peoples and other under-represented groups – to the benefits of sustainable and inclusive trade and investment agreements with Canada, in EDM partner countries) and Immediate Outcome 1310 (Increased abilities among targeted private sector organizations to adapt to and benefit from trade and investment agreements with Canada).

Description of Technical Assistance Request

ProColombia, the trade, tourism and investment promotion agency of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia, has requested expert assistance to increase private sector awareness of the obligations and opportunities created by the electronic commerce chapter of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) and to strengthen the capacity of trade support organizations to support the export development efforts of Colombian companies.  The intended result of the assistance is increased trade through electronic commerce.

The technical expert(s) will:

1. Design a training course (in Spanish), to be delivered by officials of Colombian trade support organizations (TSOs) to Colombian businesses, on:
   1. the provisions of the electronic commerce chapter of the CCFTA and the evolution of electronic commerce obligations in trade agreements, including relevant gender equality and social inclusion considerations;
   2. how the Canadian market for electronic commerce operates and how Canadian laws, regulations, policies and procedures are designed to comply with the obligations and achieve the objectives of the Agreement;

1. Draft a business guide to the electronic commerce provisions of the CCFTA and the Canadian electronic commerce market, to be used in the training delivered by TSOs;
2. Provide advice on how to identify barriers to the participation of women, Indigenous populations and other underrepresented groups in trade and electronic commerce, and measures that can be taken to overcome these barriers; and
3. Deliver this training / advice by electronic means to Colombian TSO officials.  

The direct beneficiaries of this technical assistance include the participating officials of ProColombia, industry guilds and associations, regional chambers of commerce and organizations representing women, Indigenous Peoples and other underrepresented groups.  The indirect beneficiaries are the Colombian businesses that will be trained and supported by these trade support organizations.

Technical Expert Profile/Expertise Required

The technical expert(s) must demonstrate expert knowledge and extensive experience in the following areas:

1. Electronic commerce
2. The Canadian electronic commerce market
3. The electronic commerce provisions of the CCFTA and recent trade agreements
4. Export development services and the operation of the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service
5. The design of adult education, including distance learning methods
6. The delivery of technical assistance in developing countries
7. Capacity to deliver technical assistance in Spanish is considered an asset
8. The EDM includes a core focus on gender and social inclusion as well as on environmental issues associated with trade activities. Successful applicants are required to research and integrate specific good and emerging practices in these areas-partnering with other expert consultants if necessary. Any prior experience in the provision of TA on gender equality and social inclusion and environment will be viewed as a strong asset.

Timelines

• Starting date: October 2020
• Proposed duration: 6 months

Deliverables

• A detailed work plan, work schedule and budget for the delivery of activities, taking into account COVID-19-related travel restrictions
• Completed EDM Performance Measurement Framework template for the TA, including baseline data and targets against EDM indicators.
• Training courses and related teaching materials addressing the three training objectives noted above, under Description of Technical Assistance Request.
• Final Narrative Report: Due within 30 calendar days of completion of all TA activities. The report shall describe activities delivered; results achieved (versus initial expected results and baseline); lessons learned of relevance to future EDM activities; expenses incurred by the Consultant in carrying out the activities; document officials trained/participating in activities (name, gender, job title, institutional affiliation); and, include a one-page Story of Change to illustrate the change that has happened, or change that is occurring, as a result of this TA against the Immediate Outcome noted above. This report will be reviewed and approved by EDM prior to being shared with Global Affairs Canada.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PROCESS

For your proposal to be considered, please name your document in the following format:

4.4. Colombia, Last Name, First Name

(Proposals can be submitted by a single consultant or a consortium of consultants).

Your proposal should contain the following sections:

1. Cover letter
2. Proposal that includes the following:
   1. Describe your approach to implementing this TA, taking into account COVID related travel restrictions. Provide as much detail as possible.  (10 pages maximum
   2. Describe your approach to ensuring that gender equality and social inclusion are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery. (2 pages maximum)
   3. Describe your approach to ensuring that environmental impacts are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery.  (1 page maximum)
   4. Outline your project management and monitoring strategy for the implementation of the activities. (2 pages maximum)
   5. Indicate all personnel who are being proposed to implement this project, their roles and responsibilities. Include all CVs of proposed personnel/experts. (3 pages maximum per CV)
3. Provide estimated level of effort (in days) and provide consulting rates (in CAD$) for each proposed personnel and/or expert who will be implementing the project.

Pleae submit your proposal as a single PDF file through the Cowater Career Page, here. Emailed proposals will not be accepted. If you have any questions, please email info@edm-mde.ca . 

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