AADCP II Consulting Opportunity for Supporting the Implementation of the Roadmap for the Integration of Logistics Services: Priorities and Action Plans (Re-Advertised)

ASEAN – AUSTRALIA DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION PROGRAM (AADCP) PHASE II
CONSULTING OPPORTUNITY
FOR
SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ROADMAP FOR THE INTEGRATION OF LOGISTICS
SERVICES: PRIORITIES AND ACTION PLANS (RE – ADVERTISED)
Closing date: 15 November 2010

The ASEAN Secretariat and Australia, through the AADCP II, invites interested
consulting firms to submit a proposal on the above-referenced study for a
medium-term (4 months) consultancy.

Background
Logistics services are a vital component of ASEAN’s global competitiveness.
Supply chains and location of foreign direct investments (FDIs) within the
region are dependent on them. The ASEAN logistics market has been expanding
driven mainly by the growth of international trade under the auspices of
growing trade liberalization and economic integration, continued shift of
gravity of international trade towards East Asia, the economic rise of China,
growing regionalism of Asia and the growth in outsourcing of logistics
functions. On the other hand, the ASEAN logistics industry is also facing
challenges arising from globalization, significant advances in transport
technology,increasing ship size, and inter-modalism.

Both the Logistic Performance Indexes (LPI) for 2007 and 2010 support the notion
that better logistics performance is strongly associated with trade expansion,
export diversification, ability to attract FDIs and economic growth.
Specifically, for countries at the same level of per capita income, those with
the best logistics performance experience additional growth: 1% in gross
domestic product and 2% in trade (WB, 2010).

In seeking to enhance competitiveness through an improved logistics chain, ASEAN
adopted the Roadmap for the Integration of Logistics Services in 2007.
Subsequently, a study was commissioned in 2009 to look at progress in
implementing the roadmap and to identify constraints and the underlying factors
of any implementation gap.

Needs and Objectives
Improving logistics performance is especially relevant to ASEAN Member
States(AMS) considering the need to boost recovery from the crisis and to meet
the challenges of competition so that ASEAN can emerge stronger and more
competitive. A review of earlier studies have identified where gaps and areas
for improvement exists in. In addition, these studies have provided a myriad of
recommendations intended to foster the integration of the ASEAN logistics
sector. The objective of the current study is to:
· prioritize the existing recommendations from earlier logistics studies;
· develop workplans, identify specific action programs, implementation
arrangements and capacity building plans at both regional and national levels;

· validate these recommendations and workplans, action programs and
implementation arrangements with the relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies and working
groups;

Outputs
The following outputs will be produced as part of the study:
· Inception Report which contains an overall approach to the work,
detailed workplan, and management plan;
· Interim Report that shows the prioritized recommendations and initial
workplans, action programs and implementation arrangements (including timing,
sequencing and resources needed), both at the regional and national levels;
· Presentation and discussion with relevant sectoral bodies and working
groups to review the Interim Report, validate the results and seek agreement to
the recommendations, workplans, action programs and implementation arrangements;
· Revised Interim Report to be circulated to ASEC, sectoral bodies and
working groups for final comments;
· Final Report which should contain :
o An abstract and executive summary;
o The main body of the report containing information collected, analyses
undertaken and key conclusions on current gaps and areas for improvement in the
ASEAN logistics sector at the regional and country levels;
o Compilation and prioritization of recommendations primarily from earlier
studies to improve logistics performance in AMSs and the region as a whole;and,
o Workplans, action programs including capacity building, and implementation
arrangements covering the priority areas.
· Policy Brief for AADCP II publications
· Project Completion Report

Qualifications
The bidder must demonstrate the following qualifications:
· Proven track record of experience in research, activity design and
delivering technical assistance, including effective capacity-building, related
to logistics services;
· In-depth experience and knowledge of logistics services and
integration and of the political economy and other factors affecting reforms;
· Detailed understanding and wide experience across sectoral and
importantly the cross-cutting, including economy-wide, issues affecting ASEAN
logistics development and performance;
· Proven skills in data analysis, assessment and in related policy
advise;

· Proven skills in report writing and conversing in English;
· Extensive experience in dealing with senior government officials,
parliamentarians and other identified stakeholders;

· Thorough understanding of ASEAN, ASEC and AADCP processes.

Visit our website at http://www.asean.org/opportunities for further information
on job specifications and application procedures.

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