Vacancy for Public Outreach Consultant

 

Public Outreach Consultant

USAID ASEAN Policy Implementation (API) Phase 1

Short-Term Technical Assistance

Location: Brunei Darussalam, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam

 

Background:

IBI International is an international economic development consulting firm whose main client is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Founded in 1996, IBI is headquartered in the Ballston neighbourhood of Arlington, Virginia.

 

This Task Order supports the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the institutional level in developing key policies in a wide range of areas. ASEAN is Southeast Asia’s primary multilateral institution for regional cooperation. Founded on the vision of a rules-based order, ASEAN provides a platform for economic cooperation, the peaceful arbitration of disputes, and the promotion of the rule of law to ensure a free and open Southeast Asia. These policies play an important role in setting common high-level goals that stimulate and guide national reform efforts and encourage regional integration and cohesion. Implementation at the national level varies from issue to issue and from state to state. The overall goal of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) assistance to ASEAN is to build the capacity of ASEAN and ASEAN Member States (AMS) to contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth and encourage rules-based systems to support a prosperous Southeast Asia.

 

The ASEAN Policy Implementation Project (API) funded by USAID/ASEAN is to accelerate implementation of key ASEAN policy agreements at the national level to advance economic prosperity and rules-based governance in the Indo-Pacific region. USAID, through the API project, works toward:

·         Identifying concrete needs and opportunities to advance the implementation of targeted ASEAN policies at the national level.

·         Providing technical assistance to ASEAN Member States to strengthen the implementation of targeted ASEAN Policies.

 

API works in collaboration with other USAID projects including Inclusive Growth in ASEAN through Innovation, Trade and E-Commerce (IGNITE) and Partnership for Regional Optimization within the Political-Security and Socio-Cultural Communities (PROSPECT) to achieve common outcomes and shared goals in the region.

 

On January 20^th, 2019, ten AMS signed the First Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) to implement the ASEAN-Wide Self-Certification (AWSC) Scheme. The First Protocol has since been ratified by all ten AMS and has already taken effect on September 20^th, 2020. AWSC is a trade facilitation initiative which allows Certified Exporters (CEs) in all AMS to self-certify the origin of their exports to avail of preferential tariffs under the ATIGA. Instead of applying for a Certificate of Origin (CO) Form D to an issuing authority, a CE is able to make out an Origin Declaration (OD) on a commercial invoice or other commercial documents such as billing statement, delivery order, or packing list. In November 2020, ASEAN adopted the AWSC Guidebook to assist private sectors/exporters in utilizing the AWSC Scheme.

Objective: The objective of this consultancy is to support public awareness and outreach activities of the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) and the National Single Window (NSW) platforms, in the respective countries of ASEAN Member States as outlined in the key responsibilities section. It also includes overseeing translation of the ASEAN-Wide Self-Certification (AWSC) Scheme guidebook.

Period of Performance: This assignment is expected to begin in February 2021

Level of Effort:

25 days each in Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos

15 days in the Philippines

10 days in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam

Location: ASEAN

Reports To: The STTA will report to the Communication and Learning Officer (CLO) in coordination with Program Manager (PM) under the guidance of the Chief of Party (COP).

Key Responsibilities:

Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, Philippines

·         Work with respective National Single Window (NSW) Lead Public Affairs/Communications office in Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia and Laos, to develop outreach and communication plans to increase public and business awareness on the benefits of NSW and the ASW

·         Advise NSW Lead Public Affairs/Communication office on the implementation of outreach and communication plans in Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia and Laos to include the development of trifold brochures and audio-visual presentations on the benefits of NSW and the ASW, guidance on organizing outreach activities (either face to face or online) including advising on identification of relevant audience and participants

·         Translate the ASEAN-Wide Self-Certification (AWSC) Guidebook (41 pages) into local languages (Cambodian, Laotian & Burmese)

·         Oversee printing of translated guidebook in Cambodia, Laotian and Burmese (100 copies each)

·         Work with Philippines NSW Lead to develop an awareness campaign on the ASEAN Customs Declaration Document (ACDD) covering development of trifold brochure and audio-visual presentations

·         Work alongside USAID API CLO to coordinate the time, resources, and administrative matters to execute the event in a proper manner.

·         Responsible for documenting the event and send/report necessary materials from the event to the CLO.

·         Liaise with USAID API Finance and Administration on procurement issues

·         Other duties as assigned by the COP and CLO.

Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam

·         Translate the ASEAN-Wide Self-Certification (AWSC) Guidebook (41 pages) into local languages (Bruneian, Indonesian, Malay, Thai and Vietnamese)

·         Oversee printing of translated guidebook in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam (100 copies each)

 

Deliverables:

·         Outreach and communication plans in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar

·         Awareness campaign plan in the Philippines

·         Guidance on development of trifold brochures and audio-visual presentation on the benefits of NSW and the ASW, organization of outreach activities and identification of participants

·         Translated AWSC Guidebook in local languages (Bruneian, Burmese, Cambodian, Laotian, Indonesian, Malay, Thai and Vietnamese)

·         Printed guidebooks in the respective local languages (Bruneian, Burmese, Cambodian, Laotian, Indonesian, Malay, Thai, and Vietnamese) – 100 copies each

·         Event reports and materials from the public outreach program activities events in the specific AMS.

Qualifications:

 Must Have

·         Bachelor’s degree in fields of public relations, communication, economics, international trade, international political economy or related fields, Master’s preferred.

·         Minimum 7 years of related work experience

·         Public relations and communication background

·         Having experience in more than one country or a regional knowledge coupled with technical expertise in the subject matter will also be considered

·         Native speaker & writer of local language

·         Excellent written and spoken English

·         Intermediate to Advanced MS Office/Word skills.

Desired

·         Experience working in public relations, communication, non-profit, research institutes and think-thank, specifically with issues relating to trade, economic growth and digital governance

·         Understanding of ASEAN’s development issues and AEC Blueprint 2025

·         Understanding of USAID’s Indo Pacific Strategy and familiarity with bilateral missions in AMS.

 

To Apply: Please go to https://www.ibi-usa.com/job-opportunities and upload your resume for the Public Outreach Consultant position. IBI appreciates all applications, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please.

For full consideration, please apply by:  February 5, 2021

 

For more information about IBI International, please visit www.ibi-usa.com.

 

IBI International is an equal opportunity employer.