Customs IT systems expert

Trade Facilitation & Customs Support Programme

الوصف الوظيفي

Terms of Reference

FCDO Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) Trade Facilitation and Customs Support (Tasdeer) Programme

Customs IT systems expert

The Project: FCDO Trade Facilitation and Customs Support (Tasdeer)

The FCDO Trade Facilitation and Customs Support programme (Tasdeer) is a £15m programme financed by FCDO and operational from 2020 – 2023. The objective of the Tasdeer is to improve the trade performance and customs capabilities in the OPTs. It will ultimately contribute to increased inclusive private sector-led economic growth and fiscal sustainability in the OPTs. The programme is designed to be flexible and adaptable, and ensures the diverse groups of women and men are benefiting from the opportunities and results of Tasdeer by applying Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) tools. Tasdeer will work politically and technically to make progress across the four key interrelated workstreams.

Workstream 1: Support to expedite the movement of goods and reduce transaction costs
Workstream 2: Support to improve Palestinian trade-related institutions and business enabling environment
Workstream 3: Support to improve the private sector’s skills and innovation to export and create jobs
Workstream 4: Support to improve PA’s customs readiness to assume functions from Israel and revenues from trade-related taxes

The programme is implemented by a Cowater-led consortium on behalf of FCDO. A Steering Committee (including representatives from FCDO, the Ministry of National Economy and the Ministry of Finance) will approve interventions identified and designed by the supplier. Supplier interventions will be reviewed and quality assured by a Strategic Advisory Panel comprised of experts from the core consortium members across the four key inter-related Workstreams.

Workstream 4.006: Support to ASYCUDA and Automation within Customs

Palestine Customs uses the ASYCUDA World (AW) system as a Customs Management System (CMS) that handles data collection of goods being imported and exported.

In order to make best efforts to maintain supply chain control of goods, Palestine Ministry of Finance IT department, along with Customs IT department, have developed several bolt-on modules to AW, as well as stand-alone applications designed to address Customs administrative responsibilities. An assessment of the current usage of ASYCUDA and the optimised usage of the available functions will be dealt with under a separate input. However, the Customs IT systems expert should be able to assist, and if necessary, support the ASYCUDA assessment activities.

The increased global emphasis on the use of electronic business, particularly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the electronic submission and acceptance of documentation, as well as the use of recently developed IT applications, such as Artificial Intelligence, are already deemed not to be innovative but under the banner of ‘new norms’. These dynamic changes in doing business must be recognised when considering a way forward for Palestine Customs IT capabilities. At present, there are several operational work areas where records are maintained in manual silos, with limited ability to transfer data between departments, e.g., Post Clearance Audit and Risk Management. In addition, the current Customs IT systems would benefit from an enhanced ‘state of readiness’, in the event of transfer of Customs responsibilities from Israel.

The WCO SAFE Framework of Standards (FoS) identifies the need for electronic exchange of information Customs to Customs (FoS Pillar 1), Customs to Business (FoS Pillar 2) and Customs to Other Government Agencies (OGAs) (FoS Pillar 3). An understanding of current connectivity and exchange of information arrangements is required. In addition, a comprehensive compendium of IT applications e.g., HR, Asset Management, Debt Management, Budget forecasting, Training, etc., with suitably trained users, would be a crucial asset for Palestine Customs to demonstrate a professional approach to ‘doing business’ and will be included under this assessment.

This intervention is expected to map out and assess the extent of current operational use of Customs IT systems, connectivity with other stakeholders and identify where their use can be enhanced and provide the platform for a roadmap for future operational IT alternatives for Palestine Customs.

Description of Role: Customs IT systems expert

The Customs IT systems expert will:

Undertake a review of Customs IT systems to:

map the current IT infrastructure and connectivity within Customs
map all current IT control systems, including those using Microsoft platforms and internally developed, used across and within Customs.
assess the effectiveness and efficiency of internally/locally developed applications, in terms of control of goods and data records (this will require collaboration with the ASYCUDA input).
map all aspects of inter-Governmental IT systems connectivity in relations to customs
ensure that current systems are being used to their full potential
assess the capability of Customs personnel ‘remote working’, ensuring the assessment includes the diverse groups of women and men across the different functions.
assess business continuity/ crisis management capabilities

Roles and Responsibilities

Work under this intervention will include:

Diagnostic

To examine the key functional areas within the Customs Department in order to determine the extent to which the various Customs IT systems are currently being used and on the basis of the information received, where appropriate, make recommendations for improvements/ revisions/ replacements.

IT systems review – map current systems used across Customs, as well as identify any current manual stand-alone control systems, e.g. Post Clearance debt management, where enhanced connectivity would enhance efficiencies.
Determine the existing knowledge and skills of officers in each of the key

operational areas currently using the IT systems.

Assess Customs ability to optimise operational capabilities of the different systems
Assess the current IT infrastructure including the AW architecher requirements and connectivity

Identify areas where training would be appropriate and suggest a programme of training delivery
Prepare a report with recommendations for the enhanced use of IT systems to ensure optimum usage and identify procedures where new IT systems should be developed.
Prepare a report on the IT infrastructure needs and associated cost implications.

This work will be undertaken with Palestine Customs. It will also require discussions across Government to look at the other connected systems that may exist.

The expert will be expected to work collaboratively, as and when required, with the proposed ASYCUDA expert who will be conducting a comprehensive assessment of ASYCUDA capabilities and current levels of usage.

Programming

Participate in technical meetings and field/partner visits.
Support in the preparation for the Technical and Policy Steering Committees and meetings.
Support Work Stream lead, Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader in formal communication and reporting as needed.

متطلبات الوظيفة

Required Expertise and Competencies:

At least a BA in computer engineering or related field is required
An in-depth understanding of IT systems
Minimum of 5 years experience in operational IT assessments
Knowledge of network interface mapping
Previous experience of Training Needs Assessments
Experience in the delivery of IT Training
Strong analytical, verbal and writing skills in English
Ability to produce accurate and concise reports
Knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage.
This is an equal opportunity assignment, qualified women and men are encouraged to apply.

Reporting Lines and Managerial Responsibilities

This role reports, in the first instance, to the Customs Workstream Lead and as required, to the project deputy team leader.

Duration

Expected Level of Effort is up to Twenty Days over 8 weeks.

Location

The assessment work will require in-country working, based in Ramallah, while some remote report writing may be possible.

تفاصيل الوظيفة

المسمى الوظيفي Customs IT systems expert

آخر موعد للتقديم 27 - Jun - 2021

المكان رام الله والبيرة

نوع الوظيفة دوام كامل

المستوى المهني متوسط الخبرة

الراتب N/A

الدرجة العلمية البكالوريوس

الخبرة 5 سنوات

التصنيف تكنولوجيا المعلومات

آلية التقديم

Interested applicants are kindly requested to submit their CVs with a cover letter clearly indicating the position name and explaining how they qualify to fulfill the specified position requirements.

Completed applications must be sent by email to [email protected]

by June 27th 2021.

Tasdeer is an equal employer.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those shortlisted will be contacted.