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

• Investment Expert (27 person days)
• Trade Expert (27 person days)
• Sector Specialist (27 person days)

2. Objective of the Consultancy:

• Understand any significant changes in the investment and trade climate since the previous report was conducted
• Proactively involve stakeholders in a thorough diagnostic and situational analysis. This process aims to identify strengths and challenges, focusing on the improvement of investment policy, regulatory, and institutional frameworks at both Federal and Provincial levels. The critical evaluation seeks to provide insights into areas of success and improvement, understand response of investors and business community to relevant government development, contributing valuable perspectives to foster a more effective and resilient investment and trade climate.
• Understand Pakistan’s current trade performance (with respect to top three trading countries), focusing particularly on US-Pakistan bilateral trade and potential opportunities for growth
• Understand challenges and new developments in IPA’s priority sectors (ICT, Manufacturing, Agri-business and Tourism and Hospitality) through sector-specific analyses
• Assist IPA in identifying new opportunities and adjusting its priority areas/activities based on the current and future economic context.
• Recommend strategic actionable measures that could be taken by key federal and provincial entities such as BOIs, MoC, TDAP, and other relevant ministries to boost FDI and bilateral trade with U.S.
• Identify partnerships with local and international forums, chambers, semi-autonomous bodies that could help boost FDI and bilateral trade.

3. Specific Tasks of the Consultants:

• Hold meetings with the IPA team to understand the scope of the assignment and the expectations. This may include meetings with both the technical and the M&E team, which works on the output indicators.
• Gain a thorough understanding of IPA’s activities in the investment and trade promotion space.
• Gather insights from relevant stakeholders including investors, firms (large and SMEs) and the overall business community to understand the existing bottlenecks.
• Conduct key informant interviews with the stakeholders including select Government and private sector representatives.
• Meet with select companies/startups that have raised investment or been a part of joint ventures where FDI is involved.
• Work as a team and in close coordination with IPA to complete the tasks mentioned below and complete the deliverables.
• Prepare and finalize report.

4. Required Qualifications

Required qualifications for respective position are mentioned, below:

Investment Expert

• Master’s degree in business, Economics, Investment, Finance, or other relevant field from a reputed local or international university (preferred).
• A minimum of 8-10 years of experience of working on similar assignments in the field of management consulting, research, policy, investment analysis, investment promotion, economic analysis, sectoral research and/or program analysis.
• Strong research, analytical and writing skills are needed.
• Familiarity with USAID funded projects and donor funded business enabling environment or policy related areas would be an advantage.

Trade Expert

• Master’s degree in business, Economics, or other relevant field from a reputed local or international university (preferred).
• A minimum of 8-10 years of experience of working on similar assignments in the field of trade promotion, management consulting, research, policy, investment analysis, investment promotion, economic analysis, sectoral research and/or program analysis.
• Strong research, analytical and writing skills are needed.
• Familiarity with USAID funded projects and donor funded business enabling environment or policy related areas would be an advantage.

Sector Specialist

• Master’s degree in economics, or other related field from a university of repute.
• At least 10 years of experience related to sectoral analysis, regulations, and reforms.
• Deep knowledge and understanding of the national, provincial, local regulatory, legal and policy environment pertaining to sectors such as ICT, Manufacturing, Agribusiness, etc.
• Sound understanding of issues related to the role of investment and trade in the economy, particularly in context of IPA’s priority sectors.
• Experienced in conducting desk-based research and primary research.
• Experience in undertaking in-depth consultations with stakeholders at all levels.
• Competent in handling and analyzing data.
• Previous experience of working with USAID projects in economic growth will be preferred.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills.

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 81 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 May 1, 2024, and end-date of on or July 15, 2024.

7. Deliverable:

Final deliverable under this assignment will be the Report, titled:

• Pakistan Investment Outlook and U.S.-Pakistan Bilateral Trade Enhancement Options

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

Client is an equal opportunity employer.