Budget: £15,000 (all-inclusive fee)
Location: Home-based
Closing date: 5:00 PM BST 9 December 2022
The Trade, Oceans and Natural Resources Directorate (TONRD) is one of the three Directorates of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Directorate brings together work in Trade Policy, Competitiveness, Hub and Spokes and Oceans and Natural Resources. TONRD is responsible for delivering on two strategic outcomes:
- Effective policy mechanisms for increased trade, increased access to trade, employment and business growth and
- Sustainable development of marine, other natural resources, including blue economies.
A significant part of the Directorate’s work is of a consultancy and advisory nature, delivered through a combination of in-house and external expertise.
Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda
At the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the Commonwealth adopted the Declaration on the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda for Trade and Investment (CCA). The CCA is a major new member-state led initiative to grow intra-Commonwealth trade and investment to US$2 trillion by 2030 and promote expanded investment to support global growth, create employment, and promote knowledge exchange among Commonwealth members.
The CCA focusses on five clusters of work: physical connectivity to reduce physical barriers to trade; digital connectivity to enable all members to take advantage of the opportunities presented by digital trade; regulatory connectivity to reduce regulatory barriers to trade; business to business connectivity focussing on investment and public-private dialogue and supply-side connectivity to encourage the participation of all members in global value chains. Throughout these areas, inclusive and sustainable trade, addressing women’s economic empowerment and youth unemployment, will be mainstreamed.
Each cluster acts as a platform, bringing together regulators/implementing agencies and users from across Commonwealth member states, as well as knowledge partners such as other international organizations to collaborate on hard and soft connectivity, as well as undertake capacity building.
Purpose of the assignment
The consultant is being engaged to assess and evaluate the current state of Mauritius’ manufacturing sector and the level of maturity and capabilities of Mauritian manufacturing enterprises to adopt high-end “Manufacturing 4.0” technologies and processes.
The assignment is expected to comprise an extensive study of local manufacturers based on industry surveys and engagement with local stakeholders, including industry associations and relevant government agencies and departments.
The outputs are expected to provide an effective foundation for a future capacity building program to advise and upskill Mauritian manufacturers to adopt Manufacturing 4.0 technologies and processes.
Scope of Work
The consultant will:
- Review existing studies and literature related to manufacturing in Mauritius and the current capabilities of Mauritian manufacturing enterprises in select sectors: textiles and clothing, food processing and fish preparations, jewellery, and medical devices.
- Conduct an extensive industry survey(s) and stakeholder engagement-based study to assess the level of digitalisation and existing IT infrastructure of manufacturing enterprises in Mauritius, as well as their propensity towards technology adoption in these select sectors.
- Develop criteria for the selection of enterprises in these select sectors to support the implementation of new and emerging technologies to make their business processes more efficient and more cost effective via a capacity building program.
- Complete a baseline report compiling findings from above literature review (i), industry survey(s) and stakeholder engagement (ii), and identified enterprise selection criteria (iii) to inform a future capacity building program for Mauritian enterprises to assist in the adoption of Manufacturing 4.0 technologies and processes.
Deliverables
- The consultant will deliver a written report on the findings of the study, detailing assessment of the state of the Mauritian manufacturing sector, capabilities of Mauritian manufacturing enterprises, and enterprise selection criteria for the capacity building program.
- The consultant will deliver a presentation of their findings to project stakeholders.
Person Specification
- Be located in or have the ability to spend sufficient time in-country in Mauritius to undertake and deliver project
- 8+ years’ experience in policy-related research and analysis related to industrial policy, digitalisation and/or economic development
- 8+ years’ experience engaging with private sector enterprises at a senior level, with established networks in Mauritius an advantage
- Specialised knowledge of digital industrial policy, Manufacturing 4.0 technologies and/or industry impacts is a distinct advantage
- Knowledge of LDC and SIDS context is an advantage
- Ability to constructively and tactfully engage with senior stakeholders and policymakers to solicit relevant information, demonstrated by relevant experience
- Experience working with government officials and stakeholders from academia, private sector and civil society is an advantage
Closing date: 17:00PM, 9 December 2022