Customs and Trade Law Consultant

Result of Service The objective of this consultancy is to provide ESCWA member countries with an assessment of customs law in the Arab region and needed recommendations for development vis a vis technological development and international standards identifying the main challenges and recommendations. A repository of the existing regulatory frameworks in the region pertaining to the customs law.

Work Location Beirut

Expected duration 1 months

Duties and Responsibilities Background

The growing interest in legal and institutional reform, business facilitation and better governance in the Arab region has led governments, donors, and development agencies to increasingly focus their attention on improving the regulatory framework for doing business and ensuring a fair balance between the rights and obligations of various social players. Legal reform, however, is not merely about the production of legislation, but ensuring that such legislation match the technological development and is well understood, applied and integrated into the overall legal framework.

Regulatory reforms are the core of efficient markets and effective governments, they are necessary for successful national development planning towards establishing healthy competition, innovation and sustainable growth that benefits all people. To use the definition of the OECD, "regulatory reform reduces barriers to competition and market openness, and fosters market dynamics, while ensuring essential social and environmental welfare. Incorporating practices for consultation, transparency and access to law, regulatory reform also contributes to reduced corruption". Consequently, and noting the challenges of implementation Agenda 2030 and the achievement of the SDGs in the region, acting on addressing this need is necessary. In this regard, ESCWA launched in 2021 the Arab Business Legislative Framework, a report based on the assessment of the current business regulatory climate in the region, looking at the legislation related to competition, anti-corruption, foreign direct investment (FDI), and consumer protection; as part of its project entitled: "Enhancing Integrated National Development Planning in the Arab Region". This year, the assessment will also include all the legislations related to Customs in the region.

ESCWA also developed the Arab Legislation Portal (ALP), a portal that provides ESCWA member States with access to a repository of regulatory frameworks in the region pertaining to the business environment. Giving the fact that existing laws are always changing, every year ESCWA updates the report and the portal, by reflecting and collecting all the reforms in legislations related to the business environment. This year ESCWA will be introducing a new topic on Customs Law for assessment and in the ALP.

Outputs will be part of the following recurring Publication and Portal:

https://publications.unescwa.org/projects/ablf/index.html#\33

https://alp.unescwa.org/

Duties and Responsibilities:

Giving the above, ESCWA is currently seeking the service of a consultant to assess the customs legislation and regulatory framework in the Arab region. The Main Duties and responsibilities of the consultant are the following: - Develop in coordination with ESCWA key indicators of the evaluation matrix pertaining to the main legislative components in accordance with Information and communications technology development and international standards on Customs Law. - Asses the legislative and regulatory framework of customs law in member countries (this includes through desk review and/or through interviews with officials and administrators and relevant stakeholders). - Assemble a repository of key laws, regulations, and policies in each Arab country on Customs law to be integrated in the portal. - Assess governmental strategies, legislations and/or policies regarding the integration of ICT in Customs Law and operations.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: A Master's degree in trade, public or international affairs or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: A minimum of 10 years of experience in leading or working on development and research projects, including projects in customs, Trade, or other related area is required. Experience in analytical writing is required and evidenced by a record of relevant publications. Previous experience in commercial legislations is desirable. Language: Excellent command of English and Arabic is required.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.