| Overview : REQUEST FOR QUOTATION
data for development of tariff reforms impact simulation tool (TRIST)
1. Introduction
1.1 Most Developing Countries like Botswana are faced with important trade policy decisions like the Free Trade Agreements, tariff cuts but just to mention a few. However it has been realised that these countries are reluctant to undertake such trade policy reforms fearing for the short term adjustment costs associate with these reforms. Despite all the benefits that can be realised in the long run, the short term adjustment cost associated with these reforms, in terms of fiscal revenue, domestic output and employment loses cannot be ignored. Due to the difficulty in deciding on the trade–off between the short term negative impact and the long term benefits, many developing countries are found to take longer time to decide on trade policy reforms.
1.2 In addition, these countries are also challenged in terms of technical capacity to evaluate the impact of these policy decisions. This lack of capacity to assess the impact of the policy decisions therefore causes further delays in making decisions. It has therefore becomes very important that the effects associated with these trade policy decisions are examined prior to their implementation in order to adequately come up with actions that can counter their effects.
1.3 In response to this lack of technical capacity in Developing Countries and the unpredictability associated with implementation of some trade policy reforms, International Trade Department of the World Bank developed a simulation tool that allows for quick evaluation of the adjustment costs associated with trade policy decisions called the Tariff Reforms Impact Simulation Tool (TRIST). The TRIST is an interactive Excel based tool used to simulate the short term impacts of tariff reform on fiscal revenue, imports, protection and domestic output and employment.
1.4 The TRIST will assist the Department of International Trade and other relevant Government Departments to assess the impact of some policy decision with before they are implemented. This will help in coming up with informed decision. For the Department of International Trade, the tool will be used when formulating country positions for trade negotiations. The Department engages consultants to analyse the modalities with a view to coming up with country positions. This has proven to be inefficient as the trade negotiation process is faster than government procedures will allow to undertake a consultancy. With the TRIST in place, once the modalities are out, analysis could be done in-house and country position formulated well in time to meet the usually tight negotiating schedule.
2. OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
2.1 The primary objective of the project is to collect data on some key economic variables with a view to using the data to develop a Tariff Reforms Impacts Simulation Tool. Data to be collected include detailed information on imports and revenue collected at the border as well as information on output and employment by sector of the economy.
3. Activities
The consultant will be responsible to perform the following tasks;
I. Collect data on imports, country of Origin, HS code, Customs Procedure Code (CPC), Import value, Tariff paid, Tariff exempted, excise tax paid, excise tax exempted, VAT paid, VAT exempted, other taxes paid, other taxes exempted.
II. Collect data on employment by sector and output for the respective sectors.
III. Data collected should be housed on an MS Access spreadsheet
IV. Clean and format data.
5. EXPECTED OUTPUT
This exercise will result in the production MS Access spread sheet containing data as specified in I and II above.
6. REPORTING
- A preliminary work should be presented to the Department of International Trade within 10 working days of commencement of the assignment.
- The final product should be presented to the Department of International Trade within 5 working days of presentation of the preliminary work.
7. SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
The project will require a based Statistician with the following competencies;
Qualification and skills
- A Post-graduate degree in Statistics
- At least 8 years Statistical work experience
- Excellent knowledge of data manipulation using Excel and MS Access
- Experience in dealing with Trade Statistics
- Fluency in spoken , written , reading and understanding English is essential
Application Procedure
Interested parties should send their quotation, CVs enclosed, to the following address, no later than Friday 20 November 2009 at 10:00 hrs ( Time). Applications should clearly state “Data for development of Tariff Reforms Impact Simulation” on the envelopes.
The Operations Manager
United Nations Development Programme
P.O. Box 54
Gaborone
Tel: 3952121 ext 228
Fax +267 3956093
Email: ndapiwa.semausu@undp.org
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