Expression of Interest For Tfwa Training Of Small-Scale Cross Border Traders

Expression of Interest are invited for TFWA Training of Small-Scale Cross Border Traders in Guinea Bissau. Publication Date: 3/7/2024 12:00 AM EST EOI Deadline: 3/19/2024 11:59 PM EDT Across West Africa, small-scale cross-border trade is an important source of income for many men and women. However, these small-scale cross-border traders (SSCBTs) are relatively young, generally poorly educated and run businesses that are often unregistered and/or of limited profitability. According to a 2018 study of West African SSCBTs by the Trade Facilitation West Africa (TFWA) Program, 40% of those surveyed earned less than $99/month. Low profitability is perpetuated by a myriad of constraints, including SSCBTs nearly inexistant knowledge of national and regional trade rules and regulations. This limited knowledge renders SSCBTs, and women in particular, vulnerable to abuse by border officials, and contributes to mutual distrust between traders and border authorities. Supporting SSCBTs to overcome barriers to cross-border trade will require capacity building to improve the relationships between traders and border officials, in particular in partnership with trade associations. Training is needed to mitigate very low SSCBT awareness of trade rules and regulations. This includes both technical and behavioral content. Technical content is needed to cover national and regional trade and customs rules and regulations, as well as trader rights and obligations. Behavioral content is needed to cover key competencies needed for traders to stand up for their rights and meet their obligations by respecting said rules and regulations. These behaviors include personal initiative, communication, confidence, persistence and resilience. To meet these needs, TFWA developed a training syllabus and modules that combine the abovementioned technical content with the behavioral content covered by the Personal Initiative (PI) training methodology already rigorously tested and proven in Togo. The refined modules will now be adapted and delivered to SSCBTs in Guinea Bissau. In order to execute the training adaptation and execution, The World Bank will procure the services of a qualified firm to manage preparation and delivery of training to 200 small-scale cross-border traders (SSCBTs) in Guinea Bissau. Tender Link : https://wbgeprocure-rfxnow.worldbank.org/rfxnow/public/advertisement/index.html