Summary of the assignment:

Nature of assignment	Short term
Location	Will vary depending on the respondents
Timeframe	21 working days
Reporting	To Executive Director/CEO

I.    BACKGROUND TO THE EABC TRADEMARK EAST AFRICA PROJECT 

The TMEA project, “Public‐Private Sector Dialogue (PPD) for Trade and Investment ‐ Regional and Country Programmes” mainstreams advocacy throughout TMEA’s project clusters – i.e. in transport and logistics, trade facilitation, customs & tax, standards and NTBs. The new approach presented and approved by the TMEA’s Board will foster closer collaboration across project teams and will contribute to results across all intermediate outcomes. The programme’s core objective is to enhance private sector organization’s (PSO) capacity to proactively and positively influence decision‐making, to accelerate dispute resolution, to sustain political buy‐in, to increase commitment and to reduce overall programme risks in TMEA’s project clusters. This will increase trade and investment in the EAC. The Regional and Country Programmes will contribute to core TMEA corporate results outlined below:

1. Reduce transport (road, rail, and air) cost and time along transport corridors by 10% and increase efficiency in private sector logistics services provision
2. Enhance Customs and other trade‐related agencies efficiency (25% reduction in time to process trade documentation) through integrated trade management systems and greater inter‐agency collaboration.
3. Reduced tariffs, taxes, and levies by 5‐8% overall (including sub‐national) reduce exemption regimes, CET, and increase import/export tax incentives
4. Enhanced efficiency of Bureaux of Standards, reduce related costs and time by 10%, reduce counterfeit and sub-standard goods by 20% through enhanced inter‐agency collaboration and improve private sector compliance.
5. Resolve 30% of all reported NTBs along TMEA project clusters within a year.
6. Catalyzing a 10% increase in exports annually, 93,000 direct jobs and $425m additional investment after seven years in targeted sectors in the EAC under the Compact and TLCs through increased investment incentives.

II.        ABOUT EAST AFRICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL

The East African Business Council (EABC) is the umbrella body of the Private Sector in the East African Community (EAC). It brings together national private sector umbrella bodies, manufacturers, employers, bankers, insurance and transporters associations, chambers of commerce, corporates, and medium and small enterprises from the entire East African region. 

EABC’s mandate is to represent and promote the interests of the EAC business community, provide value-added services that enhance trade and competitiveness, and to participate actively and positively influence legal and regulatory formulation to improve the business environment. EABC works with the majorstakeholders such as the EAC Secretariat, Organs, Institutions and National Governments and provides input in policy discussion while advocating for implementation of resolutions at the national level aimed at increasing intraregional trade. 

For effective implementation of the Regional PPD programme, EABC was selected by TradeMark East Africa as the lead implementing partner for the Private Sector Organizations.

III.                  RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a significant adverse impact in the global economy through the disruption of global supply chains. While the governments have been implementing various mitigation measures, businesses have been faced various challenges and opportunities that have been brought by the pandemic. In Africa, the estimated GDP growth of 3.2% for 2020 is projected to drop to -0.8% due to partial or total lockdown of economies due to the pandemic. Moreover, the outbreak has led to disruptions in various sectors of the economy, with the impact being felt by; large, medium and small enterprises. 

Similarly, EAC trade has been impacted negatively given its trade ties to China, Europe and the Middle East which has caused the disruption of imports by shortages of raw materials, capital goods and consumer goods. Due to restrictions at the borders, there have been delays in the movement of cargo while informal cross border trade that is largely dominated by women SMEs has been halted. 

The tourism and travel-related industry has been negatively impacted following the imposition of travel restrictions by countries affected by COVID-19. In addition, some EAC Partner States suspended air travel services to and from Asia which is among the top sources of tourists to the EAC region. This has impacted earnings from tourism, air travel services and export of fresh produce from the EAC among others.

However, amidst the pandemic, the EAC has realized various opportunities which have resulted to most businesses diversifying markets and production lines. This is not limited to the manufacture of PPEs, other pharmaceutical products, adoption of e-payments, delivery services and e-commerce. 

In view of this, EABC intends to undertake a study that will inform businesses on the post covid-19 rebound strategy so as to recover from the socio-economic impact of the pandemic. It will also provide recommendations to policy makers on the necessary measures that will ensure businesses in the EAC are afloat during and after the pandemic.

IV.                  SCOPE OF THE WORK 

In order to achieve the desired objectives of the consultancy, the technical proposal should detail how the consultancy will be conducted with a detailed work plan, methodology and the proposed budget.  The main activities of the consultant are: 

1. Conducting literature review on available study reports, assessments and other published materials to set the context and the current status of COVID-19 within the EAC,
2. Providing an overview on the impact of COVID-19 to EAC Businesses while highlighting the relevant sectors including Cross Border Trade,
3. Developing a general Post COVID-19 Recovery Strategy for businesses that is tailormade for MNCs, corporates and SMEs,
4. Developing sector-specific recovery strategy focusing on Tourism, Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics and Agriculture.
5. Developing a Policy brief on the post-COVID-19 recovery strategy for the EAC businesses; 
6. Organizing an internal validation meeting with the EABC team.

V.                  DELIVERABLES 

The key deliverables include:

• Inception report which among other things will contain the detailed work plan for carrying out the scope of work, proposed methodology and research design survey instruments
• Draft report which will include the draft proposed post COVID-19 recovery strategy for EAC businesses  
• Final report that includes, the final post COVID-19 recovery strategy for EAC businesses. The report will cover the Consultant’s final findings, after incorporating comments from the validation meeting and other key stakeholders
• Policy brief which will contain summary of post COVID-19 recovery strategy for EAC Businesses and the recommendations to policy makers.

VI.                  QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

A suitable candidate should hold the following qualifications and key competencies:

1. Academic and Professional Experience: A Master degree or postgraduate qualification in any of the following fields: Economics, Business Strategy, International Trade, or any other relevant field is required,

• Work Experience: A minimum of ten (10) years’ demonstrated experience in strategy, advocacy related research and regional trade related issues, 

• Demonstrated work experience in EAC integration matters,

• Proven track-record in related assignments,

• Languages: Fluency in oral and written English is required as it is the main EAC working language. Good working knowledge of French and Kiswahili will be an advantage,

• Additional Skills: Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel), Email, analytical tools/software for data analysis, experience in working with internet searches, online databases, and data retrieval) are required,

• Nationality: The position is only open to Nationals of any of the EAC Partner States, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan.

VII.           THE APPLICATION PROCESS

The technical and financial proposal must be submitted separately addressed to;

The Executive Director / CEO

East African Business Council (EABC) 

Ninth Floor, Mafao House, Old Moshi Road  P. O. Box 2617 Arusha, Tanzania.

Email: director@eabc-online.com with a copy to procurement@eabc-online.com  clearly marked “Consultancy to undertake a post COVID-19 recovery strategy for EAC Businesses”. The proposal should include current curriculum vitae, proposed methodology, work plan and a financial proposal. 

The financial proposal should be protected with a password.

Applications close on (18^th September 2020) at (5.00 p.m.)

VIII.           EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY  

EABC is an equal opportunity employer thus recruitment is on merit and with no regard to one’s, colour, gender, marital status, disability or impairment, race or creed. Canvassing shall lead to automatic disqualification.