Expert in Developing Country Brands for Export Marketing and Foreign Investment

Job Description

Apply by Date: November 11th, 2024
Type: Part-Time/Short-Term
Position Location: Home-based

Background:
Funded by Global Affairs Canada, the Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development (EDM) provides technical assistance to Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible countries to maximize the development impacts of trade and investment. Over seven years (2018-2025), EDM will invest CAD 16.5 million to support Canada’s developing country trading partners to negotiate, implement, benefit from, and adapt to trade and investment agreements with Canada.

EDM is a demand-driven project that will benefit potential partners—including governments, local private sector groups, and local civil society organizations—through capacity building and technical advisory support on policy reform issues that have the potential to reduce poverty and gender inequalities and support progress in trade and investment agreement negotiations.

Paraguay has been identified by Global Affairs Canada as a priority country for EDM technical assistance, in the context of the ongoing Canada-MERCOSUR free trade agreement negotiations. EDM assistance has been provided to deepen Paraguayan trade officials’ understanding of negotiating issues and develop negotiating positions, including on services, investment, regulatory cooperation, rules of origin and gender provisions in trade agreements.

The Canada-MERCOSUR negotiations have been paused and the focus of EDM assistance has shifted to strengthening trade support organizations, including public and private sector entities. Priority consideration has been given to improving export development services for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and marginalized groups – women, Indigenous and minority-owned businesses. The ultimate objective of this assistance is to increase export revenues, create jobs and reduce poverty.

The Investment and Export Network of Paraguay (REDIEX), the principal Government of Paraguay trade support organization, (a) supports exporters through business development services, (b) manages investment attraction, monitoring and post-investment services; (c) promotes regulatory and administrative reforms to simplify export and investment and (d) manages the Paraguay country brand program to promote exports and investment attraction.

By Decree No. 2056, dated July 2, 2019, the Government of Paraguay approved the Paraguay Country Brand and made its use mandatory for State Agencies and State-Owned Enterprises. At the same time, the Government established regulations to govern the licensing and voluntary use of the country brand by private-sector businesses.

The perceived value of adopting the country brand among private sector organizations is low, likely due to a lack of investment in national and international marketing of the brand. REDIEX is currently developing plans for a significant investment to better position the country brand in export markets and is seeking expert advice in designing its promotion strategy.

Linkage to EDM Performance Measurement Framework:
This assistance is consistent with the EDM Performance Management Framework, Immediate Outcome 1220: Increased capacity of partner country MDAs to expand access to export-oriented economic opportunities for SMEs, particularly those led by women, indigenous or other under-represented groups.

The assistance is also aligned with the EDM Country Needs Assessment Plan for Paraguay, Mandate 1: Strengthening Trade Promotion

Description of Technical Assistance Request/Key Responsibilities:
The technical expert(s) will:

• design a Paraguay Country Brand promotion strategy to improve the positioning of the brand in both the national and international markets, including communications and marketing strategies;
• review and recommend measures to improve Paraguay’s Country Brand regulations and administration, including possible support services to licensees;
• design a performance management framework to monitor and evaluate the country brand program and promote continuous improvement; and
• present this advice in a written report and an in-person workshop for REDIEX, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and other relevant Government of Paraguay officials.

The written report and workshop are to be delivered in Spanish. Translation and simultaneous interpretation services can be provided and funded by EDM.

The EDM promotes gender equality and social inclusion and environmental sustainability as cross-cutting objectives of all technical assistance. Proposals should explain how these objectives will be integrated into the assistance activity, including through the participation of women, Indigenous Peoples and other marginalized groups in the design and delivery of this technical assistance activity.

Technical Expert Profile/Expertise Required:
Experts bidding for this technical assistance activity must demonstrate expert knowledge and extensive experience in the following:

• country brand promotion strategies;
• the administration of country brand programs;
• the delivery of trade-related technical assistance to developing countries;
• an inclusive approach to trade, which considers the perspectives of women, Indigenous Peoples, SMEs, and/or other marginalized groups; and
• the linkages between trade and the environment.

Note: The EDM includes a core focus on gender and social inclusion, as well as on environmental issues associated with trade activities. Successful applicants must research and integrate specific good and emerging practices in these areas, partnering with other expert consultants if necessary. Any prior experience providing TA on gender equality, social inclusion, and the environment will be considered a strong asset. Before starting activities, the successful consultant (s) will be required to complete the Government of Canada’s online Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) training (approximately 2 hours).

Timelines:
The recruitment of experts is expected to be completed by November 30, 2024. The technical assistance activity is expected to be completed by June 31, 2025.

Deliverables:

• A detailed work plan, work schedule and budget for the delivery of activities.
• Completed EDM Performance Measurement Framework template for the TA, including baseline data and targets against EDM indicators.
• Draft and final versions of the report, workshop agenda and presentations.
• Final Narrative Report on Mandate: Due within 30 calendar days of completing all TA activities. The report shall describe activities delivered; results achieved (versus initial expected results and baseline); lessons learned relevant to future EDM activities, and expenses incurred by the Consultant in carrying out this mandate. This report will be reviewed and approved by EDM before being shared with Global Affairs Canada.

Proposal Submission Process:

For your proposal to be considered, please name your document in the following format: 2.16 Consultant Last Name, First Name (Proposals can be submitted by a single consultant or a consortium of consultants). Your proposal should be in English and contain the following sections:

• Cover letter
• Your approach to implementing this TA (up to 10 pages maximum);
• Your approach to ensure that gender equality and social inclusion are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery (up to 2 pages maximum);
• Your approach to ensure that environmental impacts are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery (up to 1 page maximum);
• Your project management and monitoring strategy for implementing the activities (up to 2 pages maximum).
• All proposed personnel to implement this project and their roles and responsibilities. Include all CVs of proposed personnel/experts (up to 20 pages maximum).
• Estimated level of effort (in days) and consulting rates (in CAD) for each proposed personnel member and/or expert implementing the project.

Please submit your proposal as one PDF document through the Cowater Career Page. Emailed proposals will not be accepted. If you have any questions, please email info@edm-mde.ca.

At EDM, we recognize the value of using open AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance productivity. However, for the purpose of this tender, we encourage the bidders to write their responses independently. This will allow us to better understand your expertise, analysis quality, organization of your ideas, etc.

About the Organization

ABOUT US
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.