Consultancy Opportunity: Institutional Capacity Building Program for RCEP under SPS Job Listing at Tetra Tech in Indonesia (Job ID 48770)

Description

Request for Proposal – Regional Trade for Development

Implementation Consultant and Event Organiser for Building Institutional Capacity for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) Implementation under RCEP

The Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) Facility supports ASEAN Member States to maximise benefits from the upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. Through the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP) and the RCEP Implementation Support Program (RISP), RT4D provides tailored support to enhance the capabilities of ASEAN Member States by strengthening skills, building networks, facilitating policy options and ensuring that trade benefits everyone, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and people with disabilities.

Also operating under RT4D is the Trade and Gender Equality Incubator (TGEI), an initiative funded by the Australian Government. The incubator tests ideas and methods, drawing on promising examples, that integrate gender in trade policy, technical cooperation, and development programming. The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have committed up to AUD 48.7 million to fund RT4D from 2020-21 to 2027-28.

This project was created to implement activities that align with RCEP Chapter 5 on SPS. The objective is to enhance the practical application of SPS measures by promoting transparency and understanding of the development processes and applications among relevant stakeholders. The project seeks to strengthen coordination, communication, and consultation among the domestic parties involved in SPS measures, adhering to international standards, guidelines, and recommendations. With support from RCEP and the RT4D program, the fundamental goal of this project is to build the institutional capabilities of key stakeholders at the central and provincial levels under the leadership of FDD. This will set up a foundation to establish a modern, comprehensive, high-quality, and mutually beneficial economic partnership, facilitating regional trade and investment expansion and contributing to global economic growth.

Improving inter-departmental coordination is another crucial component of the project; it will establish a collaborative, dynamic platform for stakeholders such as the FDD, Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Livestock and Fisheries (DOLF), and Department of Planning (DOP) to monitor and evaluate the implementation of SPS chapters. This initiative aims to promote transparency, ensuring senior decision-makers and policy formulators have a unified understanding of the SPS chapter and the ASEAN Sectoral Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Inspection and Certification Systems on Food Hygiene for Prepared Foodstuff Products (MRA) guidelines, alongside developing implementation regulations that clarify procedural and operational parameters. This framework seeks to mitigate arbitrary decision-making while reinforcing compliance with national legal standards through stringent oversight and formalised inspection processes.

The specific objectives of this project are to:

• To provide capacity building on implementing the SPS measures and provisions, focusing on Chapter 5 of RCEP commitments
• To strengthen economic cooperation and dialogue that supports the implementation and utilisation of key provisions within the SPS agreement 
• To increase public and stakeholders' awareness of the benefits and impact of the RCEP and SPS Chapter to enhance access to information for businesses, especially Micro-Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), on the SPS requirements as well as MRA on import-export 
• To strengthen cooperation and exchange experience with RCEP Parties in the SPS Chapter, particularly on the collective participation approach at the ASEAN SPS committee meeting.

The Opportunity

The RT4D Facility is seeking a consulting firm/consortium (hereafter called the Consultant) to implement the project “Building Institutional Capacity for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) Implementation under RCEP” by providing both technical and event organisation support. The project will be managed by RT4D in close collaboration with Food and Drug Department (FDD) of Ministry of Health (MOH) as the project proponent.

The Consultant must have strong expertise in Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures including food safety, animal health and welfare, and pesticide regulations, especially in the context of Laos. The Consultant should have proven experience in promoting and facilitating MSMEs and GEDSI, extensive networking with SPS bodies in both public and private sectors, and experience working with the Food and Drug Department (FDD). Additionally, the Consultant should be proficient in workshop organisation, data collection, report writing, and consultation with the Project Proponent and the RT4D Facility.

The Consultant will be responsible for providing both the technical support and event organisation for the following seven activities for the project between April 2025 and August 2025.

• Activity 1: Project Launch Ceremony
• Activity 2: Translate the RCEP SPS Chapter and the MRA on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification
• Activity 3: Development of implementation guidelines for SPS and MRA t
• Activity 4: Strengthening the national coordinating committee on SPS implementation and participation in economic dialogues with other RCEP parties
• Activity 5: Awareness and Capacity-Building Workshops on RCEP SPS Chapter, MRA, Implementation Guidelines, and ECS, with a GEDSI session embedded
•  Activity 6: Project Closing Ceremony
• Activity 7: Project monitoring and reporting

The Consultant will follow RT4D standards and FDD branding, use RT4D project templates and be subject to comments, amendments, and approval from the RT4D Facility Team, the Project Proponent, and Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) via RT4D.

Interested applicants should fulfil the following criteria.

Interested consulting firms or consortium partners are invited to propose technical support personnel to assist the RT4D Team in successfully completing the project. To ensure effective project management and alignment with this Terms of Reference (ToR), consulting firms should include key roles such as Team Leader, Coordinator, Trainers, Workshop Facilitator, and Event Organiser.

The consulting team should possess the following qualifications and experience:

• A university degree or higher in relevant fields such as Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS), food hygiene inspection and certification, trade facilitation related to food safety and public health, economics, public policy, or governance.
• A team of skilled and experienced experts with the technical expertise, capacity, and resources to support the RT4D Facility in delivering all project outputs within the defined scope and timelines.
• Proven technical and subject matter expertise in developing legal and strategic frameworks for food hygiene inspection and certification in domestic and international markets, institutional capacity building, public awareness initiatives, and workshop facilitation.
• Demonstrated experience in designing programs and project plans that address the needs, priorities, and concerns of diverse government stakeholders.
• Experience working with ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), or regional projects at the ASEAN level.
• Prior collaboration with the Food and Drug Department of the Ministry of Health, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Livestock and Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Lao PDR.
• Strong networks with businesses in Lao PDR.
• Expertise in designing, facilitating, and delivering both online and in-person consultations and workshops that effectively engage government stakeholders.
• Exceptional report-writing skills, with the ability to incorporate comprehensive feedback at multiple stages.
• A strong understanding of Monitoring & Evaluation, GEDSI, Communications, and Program Management principles as outlined in this Tor.

For a complete Terms of Reference, please click here. Password is TetraTech2025 or visit the RT4D Website .

How to Apply: Click the "Apply for job" button on the Tetra Tech International Development website. Applications will only be accepted via the website. Emailed applications will be disregarded.

Interested candidates may apply for more than one consultancy position. Please visit RT4D Website for more information on how to apply.

Closing Date for Queries: 24/03/2025

Response to Queries: 26/03/2025

Closing Date for Proposals: 10/04/2025

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Please visit RT4D Website for more information on how to apply.

Apply before 11:59 PM (AEST) Thursday 10 April 2025.

Please note that only shortlisted consulting firms / organisations will be contacted. 

Why Tetra Tech International Development?

As a leading development consulting firm, Tetra Tech International Development works with people and communities to solve some of the world's most complex challenges to achieve a positive impact.

Working at Tetra Tech International Development means working within a values-led organisation that invests in flexible work environments built on trust, safety and well-being. Through unified systems, flexible and supportive workplaces, we provide the foundations required for our team to enjoy the work they do and deliver value every day. Read more about our culture, purpose and values here.

Tetra Tech International Development is an equal-opportunity employer and has a genuine commitment to diversity and inclusion. We encourage people with disability; First Nations Peoples; and people of all cultures, genders, abilities and experiences to apply.

Should you require additional support with your application, please email IDEV.HRServices@tetratech.com  or phone (08) 8375 4400.

Position Type 

Project opportunity

Proposal and tender opportunity 

Region

Southeast Asia

• Organization: 755 COZ