International Consultancy to Support Drafting of the National Smooth Transition Strategy for Bangladesh

Result of Service Draft of the National Smooth Transition Strategy (STS) for Bangladesh

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration 1 May to 30 Sep 2023

Duties and Responsibilities This assignment or international consultancy will fully engage the already established national inclusive consultative mechanism for effective graduation and smooth transition – mainly the NCG and the seven subcommittees and key stakeholders ensuring country-led and owned process and a ‘whole of society’ and systematic approach.

The international consultant along with the national consultant will work directly with the Economic Relations Division of the Ministry of Finance and liaising closely with the UN Inter-Agency Task Force through the country co-leads – the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in-country and UNDESA on behalf of IATF members based in New York, Geneva, Bangkok, etc.

Specifically, the international consultant will: a) Prior to developing or drafting the STS, sensitize the key stakeholders about the roadmap for graduation and smooth transition, impact of graduation and the vulnerabilities that will linger beyond graduation and the strategic focus and process of identifying what specific measures will be required. b) With reference to the seven thematic focuses of the seven subcommittees, review the list of country-specific analyses and studies planned or conducted by the seven subcommittees of the NCG, and identify the gaps for smooth transition. The international consultant will help the NCG, subcommittee on STS and national consultant to prioritise those absolutely essential to inform the STS and prepare timelines so that key findings of each study/analysis are received according to the timeline for drafting specific sections of the STS. c) Using the STS Guidance Note and other international guidance and best practice, the international consultant will review existing national and relevant sector plans, subcommittees’ reports, recommendations, action plans, national policies, strategies, findings of the research/studies and produce a short note proposing: a set of STS key elements; gaps in action plans; key milestones for consultations (with identified/mapped stakeholders), peer-peer learning and quality assurance points; and timeline to prepare and finalize draft STS and submit to the subcommittee on STS and NCG for their consideration. d) Share the experiences of other graduated and graduating LDCs. e) Based on feedback and decision of the subcommittee on STS and NCG on short note produced, the international consultant work with the national consultant to draft the STS. f) Map the direct implications of graduation based on the ex-ante impact assessment conducted by UNDESA and the lingering vulnerabilities identified in the vulnerability profile prepared by UNCTAD as well as any broader implications based on the suite of country-specific studies to inform the STS (e.g. PTPR for Bangladesh, export-oriented SMEs, etc.) and as identified by the NCG and subcommittees, against a comprehensive and coherent set of specific smooth transition measures that are aligned with the development priorities of Bangladesh and reflects the country’s own strengths, specific structural challenges and vulnerabilities and that could be implemented as part of the country’s overall development strategy. g) Provide innovative thinking and approaches to help Bangladesh take forward COVID-19 recovery measures contained in its 8th Five-Year Plan and food and energy insecurity due to ongoing geopolitical tension that are considered in smooth transition measures to be prioritized in the STS. h) Offer new thinking on how the country as a graduated country can navigate the post-graduation landscape in pursuit of achieving its national sustainable development priorities and the 2030 development agenda, achieving upper-middle income status by 2031 and high-income status by 2041 by avoiding the middle-income trap. i) Provide extensive analysis on transition financing and offer roadmap for financing (north-south, south-south, alternative, innovative financing, etc.) for securing smooth transition. j) Identify the problems of aligning the STS with national plan and offer solutions thereof. k) Design a technical-level STS prioritization workshop with the subcommittees including thematic policy and technical analytical documents to ensure the workshop is focused and strategic yet pragmatic and will lead to: i) A set of prioritized themes, smooth transition measures and related specific actions; ii) Possible implementation modalities; iii) Implementation timelines; iv) Responsible agencies, roles and responsibilities for each smooth transition measure and specific action; and v) Supporting agencies, development and trading partners for each smooth transition measure and specific action

l) Working closely with the Chair of the subcommittee on STS and the Chair of the NCG, design a high-level STS prioritization dialogue that presents the agreed outcomes from (k) and helps the NCG finalize the set of prioritized smooth transition measures, specific actions, implementation modalities and timelines, responsible agencies, roles and responsibilities for each smooth transition measure and specific action, and supporting agencies, development and trading partners for each smooth transition measure and specific action. m) Support the subcommittee on STS and national consultant in reviewing/ revising the draft STS for Bangladesh based on feedback from the Chair of the subcommittee on STS and resubmitted by 27 September 2023. n) Conduct training on any aspect of the STS including process and tailored, if needed, to specific groups - government officials, private sector, CSOs and community leaders. o) The international consultant along with the national consultant will prepare a Time-bound Action Plan based on the prioritized actions.

Qualifications/special skills - Master’s degree or equivalent in the field of International and development Economics, Business/Commerce, International Relations, trade and development, sustainable development or other relevant fields. - A minimum of 10 years of extensive professional experience in development economics, trade and development, sustainable and inclusive development, development planning, development cooperation/financing in developing countries in Asia and the Pacific especially LDCs on preparation for graduating out of the LDC category - Demonstrated understanding of the challenges of LDCs and the implications of graduation with the loss of LDC-specific ISMs, and preferably in Bangladesh. - Knowledge and experience in identifying key elements of and/or developing Smooth Transition Strategies. - Ability to design/develop and conduct technical research, new approaches, techniques or policies and/or design guidelines and advise governments in developing policy solutions. - Demonstrable track record in facilitating high-level dialogue and consensus building. - Excellent written and verbal communications and inter-personal skills. - Ability to work and communicate effectively under pressure. - Prior experience with UN agencies and other international organizations is desirable.

Languages Proficiency in spoken and written English

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.