Subject Matter Expert (SME) - Air Cargo & Logistics – Development of the Airport Community System under the Pakistan Single Window Initiative

Introduction and Background

The Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade (REMIT) is a 39-month (2021 – 2025) program funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and is implemented by Adam Smith International (ASI). The program provides technical assistance (TA) to Pakistan with a broader objective to implement reforms for strengthening macroeconomic stability and improving conditions for high and sustained growth, mutual prosperity, job creation, and poverty reduction. The Programme works towards supporting the Government of Pakistan, its relevant ministries, institutions, and departments to strengthen revenue mobilization reforms/initiatives, address investment environment challenges, facilitate trade and drive competitiveness by reducing trade barriers, and improve the macroeconomic policy and its management.

As part of REMITs work to facilitate trade, the programme is working closely with the Pakistan Single Window (PSW). Part of PSW’s brief is to modernize and optimize air cargo operations, which they envision achieving through the development of an Airport Community System (ACS) at all major airports in Pakistan. An Airport Community System (ACS) can be defined as a neutral and open electronic platform enabling intelligent, efficient, and secure information exchange between all stakeholders of airport, either public or private. These systems are like single windows of trade.

PSW conducted a diagnostic study with technical assistance received from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in 2022 to identify and highlight the gaps in the existing air logistics supply chain and evaluate the possibilities of developing an Airport Community System. Based on the findings of the study, PSW has initiated the design for the ACS and intends to commence the software development by January 2026. To achieve this, PSW is in the process of assembling a suitable team and is partnering with REMIT in the recruitment of international experts to guide and steer the ACS design process to ensure it is aligned with globally accepted best practices and international standards.

Overall objectives of the Assignment

The wider deliverables of this Project include end to end design, development and implementation of an Airport Community System in Pakistan that shall connect all stakeholders of air cargo supply chain including airlines, air cargo agents, ground handling agents, Customs, regulatory agencies, etc. on a single electronic platform

Pakistan Single Window (PSW) envisages successful implementation of end to end solution that integrates multiple actors in the air cargo landscape that will not only help businesses grow will also strengthen economy in the long run; this will open further avenues for foreign direct investment, importers and exporters. The real time data exchange among different actors has its own advantages that will yield considerable advantages in various terms.

One of the most important milestones would be moving towards international best practices in terms of processes and procedures and in terms of technical standards.

Therefore, for the technical area, PSW will be moving towards international best practices for the air cargo industry by following IATA Cargo-XML and other relevant industry standards; these include standardized messaging protocol, multimodal and cross-border messaging etc.

Job Summary

The assignment requires an individual with deep understanding of the air cargo industry and with extensive experience of working with air cargo logistics systems, procedures and regulations. The expert will be expected to develop design documents as per the below deliverables, provide informed guidance and advice on all aspects of air cargo logistics operations during the design phase of Pakistan’s ACS.  The design phase entails project planning including suggested roadmap, detailed requirement analysis, and comprehensive architectural. The ultimate objective of the consultancy is to review the ACS design developed by PSW and develop detailed user level documents aligning with global best practices and applicable standards.

The consultant is supposed to play a pivotal role during whole lifecycle of the project. Expected deliverables from the consultants are very crucial for successful implementation of the project as per international best practices. The expertise and knowledge of the consultants in air cargo handling domain will help design the system as per state-of-the-art technological trends, preparation of technical documents and assist in implementing integrations with various stakeholders

Duties and Responsibilities:

·        Identify business needs across the air cargo value chain and evaluate air logistics procedures and systems.

·        Develop detailed business requirement specifications for all stakeholders as per PSW guidelines to define requirement specifications technically.

·        Facilitate ACS team in defining user journeys and preparation of detailed software requirements specifications.

·        Ensure incorporation of international best practices in the ACS design.

·        Perform gap analysis and review technical documentation.

·        Provide functional and detailed support to the ACS Project team.

·        Ensure adoption of the latest industry trends, regulations, and global standards.

·        Conduct research and analysis to support the development of the airport community system in Pakistan.

·        Knowledge building of the ACS Project Team of PSW. 

Deliverables

Base of Operations

This assignment will be completed remotely with occasional travel to Karachi and Islamabad as per the agreed duration and frequency on the basis of the technical proposal.

Qualifications and Experience:

·        Minimum 8 years of relevant post-graduate professional experience in implementation of Airport Community Systems/automation of air cargo handling and clearance processes.

·        Demonstrable working experience with a customs administration preferably in air freight units/customs formations for handling of international air cargo including express mail shipments/immediate release items.

·        Experience supporting regulatory and/or legislative reform relevant to implementation of the ACS.

·        Familiarity with international trade environment and global best practices in movement of commercial air cargo.

• Experience of working with complex, multi-system environments in public sector.

• Previous experience of working on IT development and integration in a Single Window environment will be considered an asset.

• Consultant must have relevant 16 years of education degree from a recognized university preferably in Computer Science, Information Technology, IT Management or equivalent.

• Consultant must have strong written and verbal skills in English.

• Ability to meet tight deadlines.

Reporting

PSW has constituted a Project Team led by a Domain Expert, and comprising of resources from the Business Process Mapping (BPM) Team, Integrations & Enterprise Quality Management (EQM) Team and a Project Manager from Digital Transformation Office (DTO). Software Development Team,  and Operations team will chip in after preparation of design documents at the relevant time. The consultants would be working closely with the Project Team during the design and implementation of the project. The consultants will report to the Chief Domain Officer who will supervise the design and implementation of the system.

The consultant will have report to the Chief Domain Officer, Pakistan Single Window. From the REMIT side, this activity will be overseen by the Responsive Policy Function (RPF) Manager and Other Governmental Department (OGD) Coordinator.