Conformity Assessment, Quality Infrastructure & CoC Process Reform Expert – MOROCCO

1. BACKGROUND

The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (the Alliance) is a public-private mechanism created to support effective implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) through partnerships between governments and the private sector. GATF is funded by the governments of Canada, Germany, EU, and Sweden.

The Alliance is composed of the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC-WBO), and the World Economic Forum (WEF), in collaboration with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The Alliance is preparing to implement a project in Morocco titled “Streamlining the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) for Safer Trade”. The project aims to reduce time, cost, and uncertainty associated with Morocco’s Certificate of Conformity regime while preserving consumer safety and strengthening Morocco’s competitiveness as a trade hub. The project focuses on procedural streamlining, risk-based approaches, digital solutions, and structured public–private dialogue.

Key public sector partners include the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Moroccan Customs, and PortNet. Private sector stakeholders include Moroccan importers, business associations, and international companies exporting regulated products to Morocco.

The project is structured around four workstreams:

• Diagnostic and Problem Analysis: Mapping existing CoC processes end-to-end, documenting product-level case studies, and establishing baselines for time, cost, and procedural complexity.
• Procedural Pilots and Optimization Measures: Designing and testing targeted procedural improvements to reduce unnecessary steps, delays, and costs while maintaining product safety and regulatory objectives.
• Technology Pilots and Digital Solutions: Supporting incremental improvements and better integration of digital systems involved in the CoC process, including PortNet and e-CoC-related workflows.
• Public-Private Dialogue and Policy Engagement: Facilitating structured dialogue between authorities and the private sector through working groups, advisory mechanisms, and knowledge-sharing to inform reforms and promote alignment with international best practices.

To support delivery of the reform design, the Alliance seeks to engage an expert on Conformity Assessment, Quality Infrastructure & CoC Process Reform.

 

2. GENERAL OBJECTIVE

The objective of this consultancy is to:

• Analyse and diagnose the current CoC regime;
• Propose targeted, and practical improvements;
• Define a new operating environment with updated risk management principles;

 

3. SCOPE OF WORK

The expert will provide technical advice to analyze and diagnose the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) regime in Morocco. The assignment will cover the entire end-to-end conformity control process, including institutional roles, decision points, risk management logic, documentary and inspection workflows, interfaces with digital systems involved in import clearance, and its overall effectiveness.

The expert will assess how the current CoC regime operates in practice and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, and transparency while preserving Morocco’s legitimate product safety and consumer protection objectives.

The assignment includes review of all operational arrangements related to control at origin and control at destination, interaction with accredited inspection companies, coordination with Customs and PortNet, and the broader use of conformity evidence, product risk criteria, and operator compliance history within the CoC process.

The expert will work closely with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, PortNet, Moroccan Customs, accredited conformity assessment and inspection bodies, and private sector stakeholders to ensure that recommendations are realistic and feasible.

 

4. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

The consultant is expected to carry out, at a minimum, the following activities:

1. 1. 1. Diagnostic of current COC processes (AS-IS):
         • Develop a comprehensive end-to-end AS-IS mapping of the CoC process (including, but not limited to: CoC requirement identification, sampling/testing, inspection, decision-making, release/hold procedures, and appeals).
         • Identify root causes of delays, costs, inconsistencies, and ambiguity.
         • Assess the existing institutional, regulatory, operational, and incentive-related factors that help explain why the current CoC regime functions as it does, including any interests, risk perceptions, or governance arrangements that may sustain the status quo or create resistance to reform;
         • Conduct extensive consultations with stakeholders, including inspection companies, importers, exporters and customs brokers.
         • Undertake and document in-person observations of critical steps of the COC regime such as clearance processes at the port of arrival.
         • Produce a structured diagnostic report including process maps, narrative analysis, and key findings.
      2. Recommendations for Improvement. Based on the diagnostic assessment, the expert will develop a detailed, practical, and prioritized inventory of recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Morocco’s CoC regime. Recommendations should address the full operating environment of the regime and may include, among others:
         • Process and procedural improvements, including simplification of documentary requirements, elimination of duplicative steps, streamlining of decision points, clarification of workflows, and reduction of unnecessary delays or burdens for traders and authorities;
         • Institutional and governance improvements, including clearer allocation of roles and responsibilities, stronger coordination among the Ministry, Customs, PortNet, and inspection bodies;
         • Legal and regulatory reforms, including proposals related to laws, decrees, ministerial decisions, circulars, technical rules, or other normative instruments that may be needed to support a more risk-based, coherent, and efficient conformity assessment regime;
         • Human resources and organizational capacity measures, including recommendations related to staffing profiles, internal division of functions, training needs, and incentives or practices affecting implementation;
         • Technology, data, and digital systems improvements, including upgrades to existing systems (specially PortNet) such as interoperability, data exchange, automation opportunities, risk targeting, inspection workflows, and the reduction of duplicate data or document submission requirements;
         • Infrastructure and equipment needs, where relevant, including tools, inspection equipment, connectivity, or other physical and operational resources required to support implementation of the recommended reforms.

         The expert will prioritize recommendations using clear criteria such as expected impact, implementation feasibility, cost and resource implications, complexity, sequencing, dependencies, and political or regulatory constraints. Where possible, the expert should distinguish between short-term “quick wins,” medium-term operational reforms, and longer-term structural changes.

      3. Future-State Design and Transition Pathway. Building on the diagnostic assessment and inventory of recommendations, the expert will develop a practical future-state model for the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) regime, aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and risk targeting while remaining feasible within Morocco’s institutional, legal, and operational context.Rather than proposing a purely ideal end-state, the expert will define a realistic reform scenario and a sequenced pathway for transition from the current system to an improved model. This should include proposed future-state process flows, key institutional roles, decision points, operational changes, and any required legal, organizational, technological, or capacity-related enablers.A central element of the future-state model should be the progressive incorporation of risk management principles into the CoC regime. In consultation with the Ministry of Trade, GATF, and relevant public and private stakeholders, the expert will propose a practical risk-based control approach that may take into account factors such as, but not limited to:

1. 1. 1. • Product risk;
         • Operator compliance history;
         • Trader quality control systems or certifications;
         • Manufacturer’s record of product quality and safety;
         • Country of origin or source of supply;
         • Domestic or international alerts;
         • Any other relevant factors.

 

5. DELIVERABLES

1. 1. 1. Inception Report: At the start of the assignment, the expert will submit an inception report confirming the proposed methodology, work plan, timeline, consultation strategy, and approach to fieldwork.
      2. AS-IS Diagnostic Report: The expert shall prepare a structured diagnostic report presenting the current-state (“AS-IS”) analysis of the CoC regime. The report shall include, at a minimum:
         • an end-to-end mapping of the current CoC process, including key procedural steps, institutional roles, decision points, handoffs, and interactions with relevant actors and systems;
         • identification of bottlenecks, delays, costs, inconsistencies, ambiguities, and duplication affecting the operation of the regime;
         • analysis of the institutional, regulatory, operational, and incentive-related factors that help explain why the current CoC regime functions as it does, including factors that may sustain the status quo or create resistance to reform;
         • findings from stakeholder consultations and in-person observations of critical operational steps; and
         • process maps, narrative analysis, and key findings in a format suitable for discussion with Moroccan counterparts and project stakeholders.
      3. Consolidated Recommendations Report. Based on the diagnostic assessment, the expert will prepare a detailed, practical, and prioritized inventory of recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Morocco’s CoC regime. The recommendations will address, as relevant, process and procedural improvements, institutional and governance arrangements, legal and regulatory reforms, human resources and organizational capacity, technology and digital systems, and infrastructure or equipment needs. The report shall clearly indicate, to the extent possible, the rationale for each recommendation, its expected impact, implementation feasibility, level of complexity, and any major dependencies or constraints. Recommendations should be prioritized and organized in a way that distinguishes between short-term quick wins, medium-term operational reforms, and longer-term structural changes.
      4. Future-State Design and Transition Pathway. Building on the diagnostic assessment and inventory of recommendations, the expert shall prepare a practical future-state design and sequenced transition pathway for theCoC regime. This deliverable shall present a realistic reform scenario, rather than a purely ideal end-state, and should reflect Morocco’s institutional, legal, and operational context. The report shall include, at a minimum:
         • proposed future-state process flows;
         • key institutional roles, decision points, and operational changes required under the improved model;
         • a practical risk-based control approach for the CoC regime, including relevant targeting criteria and operational implications;
         • key legal, organizational, technological, and capacity-related enablers required to support implementation; and
         • a sequenced pathway for transition from the current system to the improved model.

 

6. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

The duration of the contract is expected to be a maximum of Eight (8) months, with an expected level of effort of up to 80 working days spread over the period.

 

7. REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS

The consultant will report to the Alliance team composed of: Program Director, Regional Technical Expert and local Project Coordinator.

 

8. ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS

1. 1. • Travel within Morocco to meet stakeholders will be required; project travel outside the normal place of work is covered in accordance with Alliance rules.
      • The consultant is expected to work at stakeholder premises (MOT, PortNet,…) as needed.

 

9. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Payments will be made based on deliverables, as follows:

1. 1. • 15% upon approval of the Inception Report;
      • 20% upon approval of the AS-IS Diagnostic;
      • 35% upon approval of the Consolidated Recommendations Report;
      • 30% upon approval of the Future-State Design and Transition Pathway;

 

10. TECHNICAL PROFILE OF CANDIDATE

1. 1. • University degree in engineering, computer science, economics, or another relevant field.
      • At least 10 years of experience in conformity assessment and/or product control and safety systems.
      • Strong knowledge of Moroccan and international conformity assessment / quality infrastructure environments and standards (technical regulations, standardization, accreditation, testing, certification schemes, market surveillance/border controls).
      • Demonstrated ability to redesign processes and operating models in public-sector regulatory contexts.
      • Experience working with inspection bodies is an asset.
      • Strong facilitation skills with public agencies and private stakeholders, including inspection companies.
      • Full proficiency in French required. Strong command of English desired.
      • The successful candidate must demonstrate sensitivity to political economy considerations and institutional constraints.

 

11. APPLICATION

To apply for this opportunity, please submit the following documents in English to tradejobs@cipe.org by April 6, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with the subject line: “GATF Morocco Conformity Expert – [YOUR FULL NAME]”:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV);
• Cover letter;
• Technical proposal (maximum 2 pages), describing the applicant’s proposed methodology, and overall approach to carrying out the work; and
• Financial proposal, including:
  1. a proposed daily rate in EUR; and
  2. confirmation that the proposed rate includes all applicable taxes and statutory charges.
  3. The financial proposal should exclude travel expenses outside the consultant’s normal place of work. Any approved project-related travel outside the normal place of work will be covered separately by the project, in accordance with applicable GATF travel and reimbursement policies.

Any questions should be communicated in writing before the due date to the same email address.

 

12. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY

Evaluation of an applicant’s suitability for this assignment will be based on the applicant’s background as provided on the resume, technical proposal, as well as the applicant’s financial requirements.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to an interview.