Request for Proposals -
Technical Assistance for Conducting
an Environmental Assessment and GHG Protocol Assessment of PSW Operations

Technical Assistance for Conducting an Environmental Assessment and GHG Protocol Assessment of Pakistan Single Window Operations

Scope of Work (SOW)

Introduction:

The USAID-funded Pakistan Regional Economic Integration Activity (PREIA) is a nine-year (2015-2024) Project that provides technical, advisory, and capacity building support to the Government of Pakistan (GoP) and private sector stakeholders with an aim to enhance Pakistan’s trade competitiveness and increase its trade volumes. In doing so, the Activity primarily focuses on policy development and reform, customs facilitation, regional integration, and trade/investment promotion to strengthen Pakistan’s ability to compete in international markets.

USAID PREIA consists of two key components: Component 1 aims to improve Pakistan’s business enabling environment so that policies, laws, and regulations are adaptable and more reflective of on-the-ground needs; and Component 2 is geared towards improving Pakistan’s capacity to access regional markets by identifying bottlenecks and practical solutions for increasing export efficiency and lowering trade costs.

Component 2 addresses constraints at Pakistan’s borders that adversely affect trade and transit traffic with neighboring countries. PREIA’s technical assistance under this component is two-pronged: 1) improving customs facilitation; and 2) promoting regional integration. Towards that end, PREIA engages with key Government of Pakistan stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Commerce, the Federal Board of Revenue, and the Pakistan Single Window Company (PSWC).

PREIA’s efforts so far have helped the GoP increase automation within Pakistan Customs and other government agencies (OGAs), to increase efficiency and transparency; and has helped both the GoP and the private sector involved in trade leverage international best practices and technology to increase trade and transit competitiveness.

In its 9th year, the project aims to align trade policies with climate change risk mitigation strategies, emphasizing the adoption of green practices, green technologies and climate-conscious regulations to support cross-border trade efficiency. 

Background:

Over the last half century global emissions have increased rapidly and according to estimates have not peaked yet. These have led to increases in average global temperatures that have deleterious consequences for human life. Scientists say that every 0.1°C of temperature increase brings with it greater risks for the planet - longer heatwaves, more intense storms and wildfires. Unfortunately, human emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are the primary drivers of the global rise in temperatures.

Source : Global Carbon Budget (2023)

According to the UNEP Emissions Gap Report (2019), if 10 years ago, countries had acted on science, governments would have needed to reduce emissions by just 3.3% each year compared to much greater reductions currently needed. Over 75 per cent of methane emissions could be mitigated with technology that exists today – and up to 40 per cent at no net cost according to the International Energy Agency.

Pakistan ranks among the most vulnerable countries to climate change impacts like floods, droughts, and extreme weather events. It faces some of the highest disaster risk levels in the world, ranked 18 out of 191 countries by the 2019 Inform Risk Index. Recognizing the imminent threat, the Government of Pakistan has been steadily incorporating climate change mitigation strategies as a central theme of governance.

Government of Pakistan (GoP) as a Party to the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is firmly committed to supporting the global efforts in combating climate change. Pakistan’s climate change trajectory is guided by its growing climate vulnerability and its active contribution to the Paris Agreement that aims to limit the global average temperature increase between 1.5°C and 2°C. Moreover, Pakistan intends to set a cumulative ambitious conditional target of overall 50% reduction of its projected emissions by 2030.

The global focus on boosting cross-border trade using technology, while also addressing environmental concerns, has resulted in organizations like the Pakistan Single Window Company (PSWC).

The PSWC, a public sector company incorporated under Section 42 of the companies Act, 2017 by Pakistan Customs has been notified as the ‘Operating Entity’ of the PSW system by the Federal Government under the provisions of the PSW Act, 2021. The Pakistan Single Window initiative led by Pakistan Customs aims to reduce the time and cost of doing business by digitalizing Pakistan’s cross border trade and eliminating paper based manual processes.

PSW aims to provide an integrated electronic platform that allows parties involved in international trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single-entry point to fulfill all import, export, and transit regulatory requirements that are administered by various government departments and regulators involved in international trade.

The establishment of PSWC arises from Pakistan’s commitments under the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, which contains provisions for addressing border inefficiencies, complex customs rules, and other trade barriers by removing red tape, increasing transparency and access to information, enhancing predictability in trade operations and processes, and taking advantage of new technologies and automation.

Amidst evolving trade paradigms and heightened environmental consciousness, the partnership between the Pakistan Regional Economic Integration Activity (PREIA) and the Pakistan Single Window Company (PSWC) is the need of the hour.

In line with PREIA’s plans to support series of activities to promote climate change risk mitigation and at the request of PSW, the services of an internationally recognized firm are being sought to conduct an Environmental Assessment of PSW in line with the global GHG accounting framework.

Objectives and Scope

PREIA is seeking the services of a firm to conduct an Environmental Assessment of PSW in line with the global GHG accounting framework. The key objective of the activity is to evaluate the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the PSW’s operations in the country especially Karachi, and to identify opportunities for further reductions. This project will take two and a half (2.5) months in total.

The specific objectives of the proposed activity are as follows:

1. To prepare a GHG inventory that represents a true and fair account of the emissions related to PSWC, customs and related operations, using standardized approaches and principles. The report should be in accordance with the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard.

2. A study of the legal framework of PSW in an environment impact context and recommendations for possible future legislations.

3. To develop detailed descriptions of the existing environmental conditions in the Customs Operations in Karachi and Islamabad and surrounding areas in light of the efforts of development and introduction of PSW.

4. Document the positive and negative impact that PSW’s operations will have on the environmental and social aspects of its operating area. Utilize relevant templates, checklists, matrices, etc. for this task.

5. Suggest Possible alternatives for PSW and its operations in terms of design, site, technology, implementation, etc. to minimize negative environmental impact.

6. Identify and address any potential stakeholder concerns related to proposed changes to be introduced to reduce GHG emissions.

7. Develop a monitoring and evaluation framework that will be used to ensure that mitigating measures are implemented and future problems are avoided.

8. Draft a plan to obtain binding commitment from the PSW’s Board of Directors to be implemented as presented.

9. Identify areas of technical assistance for PSW to promote climate change mitigation objectives through policy, regulation, and firm level action.

10. Review of international best practices, costs, threats, and opportunities for Pakistan in PSW’s context.

Tasks (Performance Requirements)

The firm would be required to perform the following specific tasks:

1. Measure and report GHG emissions inventory on six key gases with high environmental impact including:

                                 i.            carbon dioxide (CO2),

                               ii.            methane (CH4),

                              iii.            nitrous oxide (N2O),

                              iv.            hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),

                               v.            perfluorocarbons (PFCs),

                              vi.            sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).

2. Utilize the official tools available from the GHG Protocol Initiative to calculate GHG emissions from specific sources.

3. Conduct an analysis of renewable energy sourcing and energy efficiency measures in place.

4. Review existing emissions reductions achieved by PSW and set future targets for PSW and provide roadmap towards achieving them.

5. Assess green practices adopted by PSWC, green practices adopted by OGAs due to establishment of PSWC, assess waste management practices and efforts to reduce waste and GHG emissions.

6. Collect required information via site visits, consultations, inventory verifications, and a review of available documentation.

7. Review the legal framework of PSW that covers the following: -

1. Existing environmental policies and regulations.

2. Compliance with relevant laws and regulations e.g., Pak EPA, etc.

3. Evaluation of current climate change mitigation strategies and sustainability reporting practices.

8. Design a Monitoring & Evaluation framework as per international best practice incorporating key performance indicators (KPIs) for tracking, data collection and reporting processes, evaluation and verification protocols, and resulting in a system that brings about continuous improvement.

Required Deliverables and Payment Schedule

The company/firm will be responsible for delivering the following:

1. Completed Inception Report that includes include project scope, team structure, roles and responsibilities, work plan, project execution/ implementation methodology, risks and mitigation actions. Completed GHG Emissions Inventory Report that covers six greenhouse gases as identified by the Kyoto protocol.

2. Impact analysis of PSW on operations of Customs, other government agencies and related stakeholders (such as banks, terminal operators, shipping lines, clearing agents etc.) in terms of climate change mitigation, reduction in GHG emissions and other positive environmental impacts.

3. Legal framework review, including an Environmental Management Plan (EMP), for the implementation of proposed measures to mitigate negative impacts and optimize positive ones.

4. Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation framework for PSW as per agreed guidelines.

Sr#	Deliverable Title	Deliverable Description	Submission/Delivery Format	Payment Schedule	Deliverable Submission Timelines
1	D1	Completed Inception Report and GHG Emissions Inventory report. The GHG emissions inventory report is to be based on the Green House Gas Protocol. It should also analyze energy efficiency measures and provide a roadmap/target for emission reductions.	MS Word document + MS Excel Workbooks (Including charts and tables) + MS PowerPoint Presentation	40% of total Budget	Week 4
2	D2	Impact analysis of PSW on operations of Customs, other government agencies and related stakeholders in terms of climate change mitigation, reduction in GHG emissions and other positive environmental impacts.	MS Word document + supplementary MS Excel Workbooks if needed + MS PowerPoint Presentation	30% of total budget	Week 7
3	D3	Legal framework review of PSW and Environmental Management Plan	MS Word document + MS PowerPoint Presentation	15% of total budget	Week 9
4	D4	Monitoring and Evaluation Framework	MS Word document +MS PowerPoint Presentation	15% of total budget	Week 10

Qualification and Experience

Only firms (not individual consultants) are eligible for this consultancy.

• The firm should have prior national/international experience and capacity of working in context of climate change mitigation and reduction of GHG emissions. Experience of working with Single Window environment, Customs operations and other cross border trade related solutions either directly or in partnership with other firms will be an added advantage. Specific experience with the implementation of the IPCC and UNFCCC guidelines is considered an asset.

• The firm should have demonstrable track record of successfully managing and delivering complex projects on time;

• Team Leaders proposed by the firm must have a minimum of 10 years’ relevant prior experience and should possess knowledge of environment, climate change, project management, and good practices.

• The team members should possess Masters or higher degree in relevant field such as environmental science, energy economics, sustainability, climate change, or a related field.

• The team members must have experience in GHG emissions reporting and accounting.

• Solid experience delivering technical assistance to public or private sector in the area of Climate change risk management and global trade;

• Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and operations in relation to Climate Change in developing countries.

• Professional-level fluency in English;

Base of Operations: 

Karachi primarily with occasional visits to Islamabad and Lahore. Travelling to the locations and accommodation will be the responsibility of the selected firm. 

Reporting:

The company/firm will report to the Customs and Trade Facilitation Advisor (Component 2a Lead) of USAID PREIA.

Payment Schedule

Please refer 11.1.3 above for details.

(Please use attachment 11.2 template)      

Estimated Completion Time

The assignment needs to be completed within two and a half (2.5) months.