Western Balkans Trade and Transport Facilitation Project: Specialized Technical Advice (any ad hoc specialized consultant short term)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)

            Western Balkans Trade and Transport Facilitation Project

For

Specialized Technical Advice (any ad hoc specialized consultant short term)

Ref. No: WBTTF-ALB-411G

ALBANIA

Project: Western Balkans Trade and Transport Facilitation Project Using the Multiphase Programmatic Approach

Loan No.:IBRD-89330-AL

Assignment Title:Specialized Technical Advice (any ad hoc specialized consultant short term)

Reference No. WBTTF-ALB-411G

The Western Balkans Six (WB6) face a common set of challenges: how to restructure inefficient and often state-heavy economies to foster growth, productivity, and bolster the creation of private sector quality jobs in societies where too many people remain unemployed. Integration has been linked with productivity gains via increased competition, greater exposure to frontier technologies, and, for small economies. Exports create a larger market for firms, allowing them to achieve economies of scale and increase their productivity. The Western Balkans’ pathway to prosperity hinges on furthering regional and international economic integration. 

The development objective of the Trade and Transport Facilitation Project for Western Balkans is to reduce the trade costs and increase transport efficiency in Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The project comprises of four components.

The first component, facilitating movement of goods across the Western Balkans focuses on: (a) the adoption and implementation of the national single window (NSW);

(b) the improvements of border crossing points and crossing points in selected trade corridors; and

(c) the implementation of electronic data interchange (EDI).

The second component, enhancing transport efficiency and predictability will focus on:

(a) the adoption of an intelligent transport system (ITS) and corridor performance monitoring, and

(b) the improvement of railway level crossings (RLC).

The third component will support the implementation of commitments to improve market access in services and foster regional investments.

The fourth component will support project implementation units (PIU) and provide additional technical support, including for policy coordination, operating costs, and monitoring and evaluation of the program.

This component will support project implementation units and provide additional technical support, including policy coordination, operating costs, and monitoring and evaluation of the project. This component will support several citizen engagement and gender related tools: (i) public and multi-stakeholder consultations and surveys; (ii) a grievance redress mechanism; (iii) corridor performance monitoring activities; (iv) audits and (v) user satisfaction surveys. Through another World Bank Group funded and executed Technical Assistance project, several dozens of firms in the business, i.e. shippers, freight forwarders, will be surveyed, and will inform the monitoring, assessment and evaluation of the project.The Technical Advice/Assistant (TA) will be responsible for providing assistance to and supporting the PIU/GDFC to carry out an efficient and effective preparation and review of documents conforming to the Loan Agreements under the Guidelines of the Bank. To strengthen the management and technical capabilities of the PIU. This technical assistance will include assistance with any component of the Project being implemented by the PIU which requires an input from the TA in connection with technical documentation issues developed during the contract time.

This is a part time assignment and is expected that the period over which the consultant shall provide the services will be 75 working days, over a period of 120 calendar days.

During this period of working time, the Consultant is expected to spend at least 60 % of the time on site of the Project. The presence on the site will be provided by at least 3 different missions and travels on site/field.

The consultancy is expected to commence the activities of the Contract from July 2020. An inception report including a clear plan and methodology with a timeline should be submitted 2 weeks after contract signing.

The detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: https://financa.gov.al/

The consultant should have:

• University degree in the relevant field (Economics, Finance, Law or Information Technology IT), Master of Science degree in above mentioned fields is requested.
• General professional experience: Minimum of 15 years of experience in Custom Systems development and/or upgrading.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in the implementation of the IBRD or EU financed Projects.
• A minimum of five years of experience in development and implementation of a Feasibility Studies, Terms of Reference,
• Experience in drafting at least 5 (five) Feasibly Studies, Project Analysis, Terms of Reference and Tender Documents,
• Experience in working with at least 2 (two) international and/or WB or EU projects,
• Good analytical skills in civil or transport Projects.
• Well conversed in data analysis including experience in drafting reports,
• Computer literacy,
• Very good command of English Language.

The service will be selected under the provisions of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (Procurement Regulations), in investment project financing Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services, dated July 2016, revised November 2017, based on the method of Open National Selection of Individual Consultants (IC), Time- Based Contract.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 08:00 to 16:00, Mondays to Thursdays, and from 08:00 to 14:00 on Fridays.

Expressions of interest (CV, Cover letter and documentary evidence for fulfilling the qualifications)  must be delivered in a written form to the address below in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail within June 15^th 2020, local time 12:00 pm.

Mrs. Veronika KORKAJ, General Director

Central Finance and Contracting Unit (CFCU)

Ministry of Finance and Economy

Blvd. "Dëshmorët e Kombit", No. 3, Tirana, Albania

veronika.korkaj@financa.gov.al