Expert in Export Development Training

Job Description

1. KEY INFORMATION
   Job Title: Expert in Export Development Training
   Sector: Trade and development
   Position Type: Short-term
   Duration/Level of Effort: Part-time
   Position Location: Remote
   
   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 (2018-2026), 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 benefits 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 a high potential to reduce poverty and gender inequalities and support progress in trade and investment agreement negotiations.  
   
   Global Affairs Canada has identified Panama as a beneficiary of EDM technical assistance to help deepen the trade relationship and to increase the utilization of the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement.  Assistance is also intended to contribute to Panama’s export development strategy, which seeks to improve the quality of exports, take greater advantage of its trade agreements and access new markets.  Panama’s exports are highly concentrated on copper and services (principally fees for the use of the Panama Canal) and the strategy seeks to diversify its exports, both in terms of products and markets.  Priority sectors for export diversification include agriculture, agrifood and fisheries/aquaculture. 
   
   Canada’s assistance is also intended to contribute to poverty reduction and the promotion of gender equality, as part of its Feminist International Assistance Policy.  These goals are shared by Panama, as witnessed by the establishment of its Mujer Exporta Panamá program.  The program was established in 2019 with the aim of promoting, promoting, and strengthening the competitiveness of exporting companies and companies with export potential led by women. 
   
   To support export diversification, the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Panama is seeking expert assistance to strengthen the capacity of trade promotion officials and trade attachés to assist Panamanian businesses in accessing foreign markets, including women-owned enterprises.  The focus of the assistance request is supporting access to the Canadian market and the tools and training are intended to build capacity to export to all foreign markets. 
   
   Short description
   This technical assistance will provide training and tools to strengthen export development services to Panamanian companies, with particular attention to women-owned enterprises.  Focused on increasing access to the Canadian market and utilization of the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement, the training will help diversify Panama’s exports of agricultural, agrifood and fish products. 
   
   Linkage to EDM Performance Measurement Framework
   This assistance is consistent with the EDM Performance Management Framework, Immediate Outcome 1220:  Increased capacity of partner country ministries, departments and agencies to expand access to export-oriented economic opportunities for SMEs, particularly those led by women, indigenous or other under-represented groups. 
   
   Description of Technical Assistance Request/Key Responsibilities
   Under this technical assistance activity, the technical expert(s) will:  
   Design and deliver a gender-sensitive training course to be used by Panama’s trade promotion officials and trade attachés to assist agriculture, agrifood and fish product producers to access the Canadian market, with particular attention to women-owned businesses; 

• public sector export promotion programs and services;  
1. Design and deliver a “train-the-trainer” program to prepare trade officials to deliver the course to Panamanian businesses; 
1. Deliver the course to a group of trade officials and women entrepreneurs, selected from among the participants in the Mujer Exporta Panamá program based on an assessment of their export readiness.  The delivery of the course will serve as a pilot and as part of the train-the-trainer program.  The course will be delivered to approximately 30 participants, including 10 women entrepreneurs; and 
2. Mentor trade officials in the preparation of individual export strategies for the participating women-owned businesses to access the Canadian market.   
   Technical experts are responsible for managing and executing all logistics to ensure the smooth operation of the Technical Assistance Activity.  This includes, but is not limited to, arranging hotels, flights, local transportation, catering, translation services, audiovisual equipment, as well as participant per diems, transportation and accommodation if required.  The EDM team will provide guidance to the technical experts throughout the process, ensuring adherence to EDM and Global Affairs Canada guidelines. 
   
   The training course should include an overview of the export process and expert advice on the Canadian market for agriculture, agrifood and fish products, including market access requirements (mandatory and voluntary product standards), market intelligence briefs for each product category and market entry strategies.  The course should also include a module on sustainable agriculture and fisheries practices, both to address environment and climate change goals and to enhance Canadian market access. 
   
   The training and all related materials will be delivered in Spanish.   The costs of translation and simultaneous interpretation can be funded by EDM separately and do not need to be included in bidders’ proposals. 
   
   Consistent with Canada’s inclusive trade approach, the EDM promotes gender equality and social inclusion, as well as environmental sustainability, as cross-cutting objectives of all technical assistance. Proposals should explain how these objectives will be integrated into the planning/approach, content and conduct of the technical assistance.  
   
   The direct beneficiaries of this technical assistance will be the participating officials from trade and regulatory departments, private sector industry and trade organizations, and women-owned businesses.  In the longer term, the participants will transfer the knowledge to other SMEs and women-owned businesses, increasing exports, export revenues, job creation and poverty reduction.
   
   Technical Expert Profile/Expertise Required
   Bidders for this technical assistance activity must demonstrate expert knowledge and extensive experience in the following: 
   
• the design and delivery of export development training programs; 
• the development of market intelligence briefs; 
• the development of export strategies; 
• adult education methods; 
• the delivery of trade-related technical assistance to developing countries 
• the integration of gender equality and social inclusion considerations in the design and delivery of trade technical assistance; and 
• the integration of environmental sustainability trends in trade policy and negotiations into trade technical assistance. 
  Note: The EDM includes a core focus on gender and social inclusion and 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 deadline to apply is April 30, 2025. The technical assistance activity is expected to be completed by December 30, 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 training program and teaching materials (presentations, handouts, lesson plans, etc.).  
• Draft and final export strategies for participating women-owned businesses. 
• 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: 
  
  9.1 - 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  
• Proposal that includes the following: 
• 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 the implementation of 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.

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