Trademark East Africa (TMEA) Border Post Management Expert Career Opportunities in Customs and Border Post Management

Trademark East Africa (TMEA) is a not-for-profit company which is managing a programme of harmonised aid delivery in support of regional trade and economic integration in East Africa. TMEA will provide a platform for delivering significant strategic support to the East African Community’s (EAC) regional integration process, improving the region’s transport corridors and reducing the costs of trade and doing business in East Africa.
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional organisation comprising Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda whose agenda is to attain economic, social and ultimately political integration. The Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community entered into force in July 2000.
Under the Treaty, Partner States undertook to establish among themselves a Customs Union followed by a Common Market subsequently a Monetary union and ultimately a Political federation. To support implementation of this process, EAC would like to recruit a Customs Training Expert, a Border Post Management Expert, and a Customs IT Expert.
TMEA therefore, on behalf of EAC, wishes to invite applications from suitably qualified individuals for the positions of:

Terms of Reference for a Border Post Management Expert
1. Background

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional organisation mandated by the governments of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda to spearhead the East African economic, social and political integration agenda. The Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community was signed in November 1999 and entered into force in July 2000.
In compliance with the time bound programme for the integration process, protocols for the Establishment of EAC
Customs have been developed to ease cross border movement of goods.
Further, legal and operational instruments on movement of services, labour and capital will be developed. Currently an EAC Protocol and model legislation on One-stop Border Posts (OSBPs) is being developed for the administration of
common borders.
As the EAC moves to these deeper levels of integration with easy cross boarder movement of goods, services, capital and labour it is pertinent to establish regional Coordinated Border Management systems.
The EAC wishes to recruit a Border Post Management Expert to coordinate programmes and activities on border management systems, particularly related to OSBPs, including development of the necessary legal, procedural and institutional frameworks under the Customs Union and Common Market
2. Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Coordinate the development and finalization of legal and operational instruments for coordinated border management
  • Coordinate the implementation of the proposed EAC One Stop Border Act
  • Initiate and coordinate studies and research on coordinated border management
  • Coordinate, guide and facilitate the efficient functioning of the institutional structures on OSBPs as established by Council
  • Initiate and coordinate the development of transit systems including regional cargo tracking interconnectivity and bond systems in the region
  • Design and coordinate training and sensitization programs necessary for the implementation of coordinated border management
  • Propose harmonization of policies and regulatory instruments implemented by border agencies
  • Advise on management systems that enhance coordination and cooperation at the intra-services and inter-service levels for border agencies for both domestic agencies and cross-border agencies
  • Coordinate the development of standard operating procedures for coordinated border management that are compliant with the Revised Kyoto Convention and International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Control of Goods (Geneva Convention)
  • Liaise with the various border agencies on matters that require policy development and channel matters to the respective Sectoral Councils for consideration
3. Deliverables
The deliverables under this Terms of Reference will be:
1. An inception report to include:
  • the current status of legislation and operational instruments identified in Section 2.1
  • the current status of all planned OSBP infrastructure developments
  • the current status of IT connectivity between Revenue Authorities and any proposals to extend connectivity to other interested Government Agencies
  • the current status of current border crossings activities by all interested Government Agencies in Section 2. 10
  • To be presented within 60 days of commencement of the assignment.
2. Prepare a strategy to:
a) effectively integrate the recommended measures and approaches into the programs of the EAC, Corridor management authorities and other key regional players and identify key opportunities for harmonization, collaboration and mutual strengthening of safety approaches and programs among the major partners of the transit corridors
b) develop a central OSBP information library, capture and disseminate information to all interested parties both public and private sector to include;
  • A means of presenting regular updates to all interested parties and the general public e.g. press releases
  • A simple informative guide capturing the key processes, requirements and benefits of OSBPs and Integrated Border Management for public consumption
  • A budget estimate to finance setting up and maintaining the OSBP Office for initially a 3 (three) year period
To be presented within 90 days of the assignment.
3. Complete all other duties as set out in Section 2 above
4. Qualifications and Experience
  • Possession of an advanced university degree in Economics, Law, Business Administration, Customs or related field.
  • At least 8 years of senior management practical experience in organizations with functional scope on customs and related border management activities.
  • A strong understating of border operations and the roles of border control agencies in a Customs Union setting
  • In-depth understanding of trade policies both at the national, regional and international levels;
  • Knowledge of customs law and laws of border control agencies
  • Knowledge on regional integration particularly the EAC integration process
5. Desirable qualities
Candidates must demonstrate
  • Strong analytical, oral and written communications skills
  • Strong managerial skills with teamwork orientation
  • Experience of working in a multinational, multicultural and multiethnic environment
  • Ability to forge strong networks with others
6. Duration
The experts will be hired on a contract for period of three years as professional non-established staff based at the EAC Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania and may be involved in traveling in the region.
7. Remuneration
The expert’s remuneration will be in accordance with the EAC financial regulations
Applications including a covering letter demonstrating that you meet the requirements for the position, a detailed curriculum vitae, a working e-mail address, and daytime telephone contacts should be sent electronically in PDF file format to:
Executive Selection Division,
KPMG East Africa,
E-mail: esdtmea@kpmg.co.ke
on or before Monday, 4 October 2010 by 4.30pm East African time.
Applications received after the deadline time and date will not be accepted.
Our clients reserve the right to accept or reject any application.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

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