KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Expert in rules of origin under bilateral and regional free trade agreements
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 bilateral trade relationship and to increase the utilization of the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA). 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.
As part of its export development strategy, Panama is seeking to increase the utilization of tariff preferences provided by its bilateral and regional trade agreements. Panama is party to more than 20 preferential trade agreements, each with its own unique rules of origin and origin procedures. Panama lacks specialized training in rules of origin and, given their complexity, preferential tariffs are underutilized and there is a risk that the rules will be applied inconsistently, both by government authorities and private sector firms.
The National Customs Authority (ANA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MICI), has requested technical assistance under the EDM to train government officials, representatives of industry associations and academics on the interpretation and administration of rules of origin. The focus of the training requested is the CPFTA, but the objective is to deepen the understanding of origin rules and procedures in preferential trade agreements more generally. For that reason, the training should provide a detailed examination of the CPFA rules but also highlight the similarities and differences between the rules in Panama’s preferential trade agreements.
For government officials, the training should also address the administration of rules of origin, including monitoring and verification procedures, based on best practices in Canada and elsewhere. Issues of particular concern to officials should be addressed, including customs control during transit or transshipment, and methodologies for the calculation of the regional content of goods.
The training should be designed for continuing use by the participating organizations, including a train-the-trainer component and teaching tools that will serve as resources for ongoing training.
Finally, MICI has requested the development of a guide to the rules of origin of the CPFTA, to be used in the training course and as a standalone public information tool.
The immediate beneficiaries of this technical assistance will be the direct participants in the training, from the ANA and MICI, business associations and academia. ANA participants will include officials from the Department of Rules of Origin and inspectors and examiners from regional operations and related offices involved in the physical and documentary examination of goods. MICI participants will include officials from the National Directorate for Export Promotion, the Single Window for Foreign Trade, the Office of International Trade Negotiations and the General Directorates of Industry, Multinational Companies and Free Trade Zones. In the longer term, the beneficiaries will be exporters, entrepreneurs and students who will benefit from training and advice provided by the participants in the train-the-trainer program.
Short description
This technical assistance will provide training on the rules of origin of the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement and Panama’s other bilateral and regional trade agreements. Training will also be provided to government officials on the administration of rules of origin. The longer-term objective of the training is to increase the utilization of the preferential tariffs provided by Panama’s trade agreements and increase exports, revenues, employment and poverty reduction.
Linkage to EDM Performance Measurement Framework
This assistance is consistent with the EDM Performance Management Framework:
Description of Technical Assistance Request/Key Responsibilities
Under this technical assistance activity, the technical expert(s) will:
The applicant has requested that the training seminar should be delivered in-person, in Panama City, over a three-day period. However, bidders should provide their own advice on the structure, format and duration of the training program to achieve the stated objectives of the technical assistance.
The training, teaching materials and guide will be delivered in Spanish. Translation and interpretation can be funded separately by EDM. An estimate of the translation, interpretation, facility rental and other direct costs do not need to be included in bidders’ proposals.
The technical expert(s) selected to deliver this assistance will be responsible for the management of all logistics related to the training event, including the rental of training facilities, securing interpretation services, hospitality arrangements and travel and accommodation arrangements for participants, if required. A total of 65 participants in the training seminar has been proposed, including 50 from relevant public sector organizations, 10 from industry associations and 5 from academia.
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.
Technical Expert Profile/Expertise Required
Bidders for this technical assistance activity must demonstrate expert knowledge and extensive experience in the following:
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 August 15, 2025. The technical assistance activity is expected to be completed by January 15, 2026.
Deliverables
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PROCESS
For your proposal to be considered, please name your document in the following format:
9.4 - 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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