A consulting firm of repute needs to engage a team of consultants for this short-term assignment, in one of its co-managed projects.

1.        Positions Title & level of effort

• Trade Expert            (30 person days)
• Research Associate   (20 person days)

2.        Objective of the Consultancy:

• The objective of this assignment is to sketch out a process map with sequential stages, steps and actions involved in bilateral trade between the U.S. and Pakistan in the form of a document. This guide, informed by available information on various government portals, departments, support organizations will serve as the technical basis for developing animated video(s)capturing on how to trade with the U.S.

3.        Specific Tasks of the Consultants:

• Meet with IPA Chief of Party, Senior Policy Advisor, BEE Lead, IPA team and USAID (if necessary) to understand the scope of the assignment and their expectations.
• Develop and submit a work plan for carrying out the assignment.
• Undertake desk research and review all the literature relevant to the assignment.
• Consultations/ one-on-one meetings with key stakeholders including MoC, FBR, SBP, SECP and other relevant representatives from public and private sector important for this assignment.
• Prepare a short document for IPA based on the initial findings emanating from desk review and stakeholder consultations.
• Development of the process map/ blueprint.
• Conduct meetings with relevant agencies/ entities to confirm the draft contents and identified steps.
• Incorporation of feedback received on the draft outline.
• Support the video production company in finalizing the script for the videos, storyboard and sequence of scenes, based on the final sketch/ blueprint.
• Assist in finalizing the animated videos.
• Work as a team and in close coordination with IPA to complete the tasks mentioned below and complete the deliverables.

4.        Required Qualifications

Required qualifications for respective position are mentioned, below:

Trade Expert

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, International Business, or a related field.
• Experience in international trade, with at least 3 to 5 years in roles related to exporting, importing, or regulatory compliance.
• Experience in developing educational materials or scripts for instructional purposes, preferably in the context of international trade, is highly preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of import and export processes for Pak-US, including customs regulations, regulatory requirements, documentation procedures, and customs clearance processes.
• Strong research skills and the ability to gather comprehensive information from diverse sources to develop educational content.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and consultation, including conducting interviews and gathering insights from industry professionals and government bodies.
• Previous experience of working with USAID projects in the area of trade will be preferred.

Research Associate

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Experience in research, data collection, and analysis, preferably in field of international trade or a related area.
• Proficiency in gathering and synthesizing information from various sources
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Familiarity with media production processes and tools, such as video editing software, graphic design tools, or multimedia content creation platforms, would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of import/export processes and international trade regulations would be beneficial but not essential.
• Previous experience of working with USAID projects in the area of economic growth will be preferred.

5.        Duty Station:

The Consultants will work with related IPA personnel, based in Islamabad. Field visits to various locations for consultations may take place.

6.        Duration of the Assignment:

This will be an intermittent combined effort of 50 days of LOE spread over a period of 3 months. This job is planned to take place as per the start date of on or around April 22, 2024, and end-date of on or June 14, 2024.

A detailed scope of work, with deliverables/activities, is attached with this advertisement.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

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