Customs Intervention Lead, Customs, Palestine [Readvertised]

 
The Project: FCDO Trade Facilitation and Customs Support (TASDEER)  
The FCDO Trade Facilitation and Customs Support programme (Tasdeer) is a £15m programme financed by FCDO and operational from 2020 – 2023. The objective of Tasdeer is to improve the trade performance and customs capabilities in the OPTs. It will ultimately contribute to increased inclusive private sector-led economic growth and fiscal sustainability in the OPTs. The programme is designed to be flexible and adaptable, and it will work politically and technically to make progress across the four key interrelated workstreams. 

• Workstream 1: Support to expedite the movement of goods and reduce transaction costs 
• Workstream 2: Support to improve Palestinian trade-related institutions and business enabling environment 
• Workstream 3: Support to improve the private sector’s skills and innovation to export and create jobs 
• Workstream 4: Support to improve PA’s customs readiness to assume functions from Israel and revenues from trade-related taxes 

The programme is implemented by a Cowater-led consortium on behalf of FCDO. A Steering Committee (including representatives from FCDO, the Ministry of National Economy and the Ministry of Finance) will approve interventions identified and designed by the supplier. Supplier interventions will be reviewed and quality assured by a Strategic Advisory Panel comprised of experts from the core consortium members across the four workstreams. The Steering Committee will also monitor results and provide policy oversight throughout the programme lifetime. 
  
Cowater is responsible for managing the implementation of this programme on behalf of FCDO and under its supervision. This includes designing and implementing interventions and providing quarterly and annual reports. The Cowater-led Tasdeer team is expected to identify and implement interventions that will improve trade performance and fiscal sustainability in the OPTs through the provision of grants for technical assistance, policy dialogue, analysis, and small-scale infrastructure (if needed). This will include interventions that will enhance trade logistics, reduce trade transaction costs, build trade-related institutions, create a more conducive enabling environment for trade, and grants to firms to procure technical assistance and equipment to improve their exports and be competitive. The programme will support interventions to facilitate the transfer of custom functions to the Palestinian Authority. 
  
The Cowater Tasdeer team will develop concepts for the programme’s Steering Committee to approve for implementation. The programme is expected to implement between 40-60 strategic and systematic interventions across the four workstreams.

Job Purpose: 
Workstream 4 Intervention Lead (Support to improve PA’s Customs readiness to assume functions from Israel and revenues from trade-related taxes). Reporting to the Deputy Team Leader, the Intervention Lead will coordinate and manage the technical design and delivery of interventions within their Workstream.
  
Roles and Responsibilities:
The aim of this workstream is to provide technical assistance to the Palestinian Ministry of Finance and Planning to support the expansion of PA Customs scope of work, including the possible transfer of custom functions from Israel to the PA, and limit fiscal losses from inefficient clearance mechanism of trade related taxes between the PA and Israel as stipulated in the Paris Protocol.
The Workstream 4 Intervention lead will be responsible for the following tasks/activities:

• Leading on coordinating the delivery of interventions to support Palestine Customs achieve its strategic priorities and to support its modernisation.
• Working closely with the Customs Department and  Workstream Adviser on drafting all required terms of reference for all required tasks and assignments. Drafting and submitting intervention plans and quarterly reports.
• Coordinating the implementation of approved interventions within the Customs Department and with the relevant experts and line manager.
• With support from the Workstream Advisor, identifying experts to deliver specific technical work in Customs and the quality control of deliverables.
• Working closely with the Customs Department to coordinate the implementation of the interventions.
• Ensuring Workstream 4 activities feed into the programme’s delivery requirements on Women’s economic empowerment.
• Working closely with the Knowledge Management Lead, Communications Lead, Monitoring and Evaluation Team on issues pertaining to their area of responsibility.
• Supporting the Senior Management Team as required in work planning, results measurement, and reporting.

Skills:
Essential:

• Project management/project delivery experience.
• Self-starter – proactive delivery of the interventions.
• Problem solving skills and an ability to be flexible and adaptive.
• Strong interpersonal skills and stakeholder management experience.

Desirable:

• Experience of working with/within Palestinian Government Departments.
• Understanding of customs and trade in the Palestine context.
• Strong verbal and written Arabic and English language skills

  
Location:
The Workstream 4 Intervention lead will predominately be based within the Customs Department to act as the key contact for the Tasdeer team and to be able to respond quickly to requests from the Ministry of Finance.
  
Reporting Lines and Managerial Responsibilities:

• This role reports to the Deputy Team Leader.
• There will be a need to work closely with the International Customs adviser as well as the Strategic Advisory Panel members.
• This role will also involve the management of consultants working within Workstream 4.

How to Apply:

• Candidates must submit a CV and a personal statement of up to 500 words to hr@tasdeer.ps.
• The personal statements should explain why they are suitable for the role, drawing on their past experience and knowledge of the areas described in the Terms of Reference.
• The deadline for receipt of applications is January 1st. 
• Candidates who applied previously should not reapply.