Result of Service

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND TIMELINES / RESULT OF SERVICE Output 1: The CART.IS questionnaires for the assigned agencies are pre-filled, discussed with the responsible officers, validated, and submitted to ITC for review.(by mid-April 2025) Output 2: An analytical summary is prepared, highlighting key challenges, gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for improving digitalization in cross-border trade, based on the collected data from meetings with government agencies.(by the end of April 2025) Output 3: The final report is prepared, including an overview of activities conducted, a list of meetings with government entities, and an analysis of the challenges, opportunities, gaps, and overlaps related to the mapped digital services. The report is reviewed and validated by ITC. (by the end of May 2025)

Work Location

Home-based in Astana, Kazakhstan

Expected duration

24.03.25 – 16.06.25

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND:. The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint technical cooperation agency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations. ITC has a unique mandate in the United Nations system to promote increased competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing, transition and least developed countries and assisting them to better use trade as a platform for growth, development and employment creation. ITC supports beneficiary countries to improve their business environment and facilitate better management of border operations, including through the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Starting from September 2024, ITC is implementing the Ready4Trade Central Asia: Fostering Prosperity Through the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor project in five Central Asian (CA) countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The Action is funded by the European Union (EU) and aims to advance the European Union (EU)-Central Asia connectivity agenda through increasing the operational efficiency of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor and internationalization of Central Asian business. This will be achieved through simplifying cross-border formalities in Central Asia to attract trade and sustainable investment; improving regional coordination across Central Asian countries to foster trade and transport connectivity; and enhancing the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to facilitate their access to regional and EU markets, including through the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. The Action will leverage upon the results and achievements of the Ready4Trade Central Asia phase I successfully implemented by ITC from February 2020 until June 2024. The first two outcomes of the project are geared towards improving transparency, predictability and efficiency of trade formalities, advancing digitalization and paperless trade, strengthening bilateral and/or regional frameworks for data exchange and interoperability and improved cross-border coordination to reduce administrative burdens on economic operators. Advancing digitalization and paperless trade requires a systemic and holistic approach that addresses the issue of fragmentation in the digital space. In this context, ITC is initiating a mapping of IT platforms and interdepartmental electronic exchange systems that are enabling cross-border paperless trade in the Republic of Kazakhstan (CART.IS initiative). This mapping will allow governments to identify key bottlenecks towards the establishment of a paperless trade environment and prioritize their digitalization reforms accordingly. In this context, ITC is recruiting a national consultant to support the rolling out and implementation of the CART.IS initiative in the Republic of Kazakhstan. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Associate Programme Officer and the overall supervision of the Senior Trade Facilitation Adviser, Business driven Trade and Investment Facilitation (BTIF), Division of Market Development (DMD). • Conduct desk research to gather open-source information on existing digital services supporting cross-border trade operations in the Republic of Kazakhstan. A list of services and the required data for each will be provided by other experts involved in the initiative. • Review and adapt data collection questionnaires developed by ITC to the context of each relevant government agency involved in cross-border trade operations for the digital mapping initiative. • Facilitate the establishment of a working group dedicated to data collection among government officials from the Ministry of Trade and Integration, “QazTrade” JSC, the Ministry of Digitalization, and other relevant Border Regulatory Agencies. • Pre-fill the CART.IS questionnaires for assigned agencies and submit them to the relevant agency in preparation for interviews and technical discussions. • Contact assigned agencies to collect and verify information, conducting interviews with responsible officers as required. • Review, analyze, and categorize the data obtained from the administered questionnaires, ensuring alignment with ITC’s methodological requirements. • Investigate legal issues related to interagency and intergovernmental information exchange, as well as requirements for the use of electronic documents and ledgers instead of paper documents. This will be done in accordance with ITC’s methodological approach and based on insights from the readiness assessment report on cross-border paperless trade. • Provide legal analysis and recommendations on improving interagency and intergovernmental information exchange, identifying challenges and bottlenecks hindering the transition to electronic information exchange. • Participate (on-line) in weekly coordination meetings with the team of experts involved in this initiative. • Develop and submit regular progress reports documenting the progress of the data collection activities and collaboration with Border Regulatory Agencies. • Prepare a final report that includes: (i) a section detailing activities under this assignment, listing meetings with government entities, dates, participants, and key outcomes; and (ii) an analytical section highlighting key challenges, opportunities, gaps, and overlaps related to the mapped digital services, based on discussions with government agencies and other stakeholders involved in the initiative. Copyright Clause: The consultant has to ensure that he/she has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform the services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons – of all genders – equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Qualifications/special skills

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, IT, International Trade, Customs or any other related fields Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. Minimum of 5 years of experience in IT, trade facilitation or related field. Strong Legal and Regulatory Knowledge: Ability to analyze legal frameworks and policies related to digitalization, cross-border trade, and information exchange. Research and Analytical Skills: Proficient in conducting desk research analyzing complex data, and identifying key challenges, gaps, and opportunities in digital services and trade procedures. Stakeholder Engagement and Diplomacy: Skilled in working with various government agencies, including ministries and regulatory bodies, and adept at documenting and facilitating discussions with a diplomatic approach. Technical Understanding of Digital Services: Familiarity with digital solutions for cross-border trade, e-government platforms, and the digitalization of trade procedures. Project Management and Coordination: Experience in organizing and managing multiple tasks, coordinating with different stakeholders, and meeting deadlines efficiently. Excellent Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication abilities, with experience in preparing reports, concept notes, and conducting interviews. Attention to Detail: High attention to detail in reviewing and validating data, questionnaires, and other documentation. Experience in Data Mapping and Documentation: Proficient in mapping digital services and creating structured documentation, including summaries of findings, reports, and recommendations. Proficiency in Relevant Tools and Platforms: Familiarity with tools for data collection, analysis, and reporting, such as Excel, survey tools, and document management systems.

Languages

Excellent Kazakh and Russian. Working knowledge of English would be an asset

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.