Expert on Indigenous trade policy and programs in Canada

Job Description

KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Expert on Indigenous trade policy and programs in Canada
Training Sector: Trade and development
Position Type: Short-term
Duration/Level of Effort: Part-time
Position Location: Remote

Background
Funded by Global Affairs Canada, the Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Development (EDM) provides technical assistance to Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible countries to maximize the development impacts of trade and investment. Over seven years (2018-2025), EDM will invest CAD 16.5 million to support Canada’s developing country trading partners to negotiate, implement, benefit from, and adapt to trade and investment agreements with Canada.  

EDM is a demand-driven project that will benefit potential partners – including governments, local private sector groups and local civil society organizations – through capacity building and technical advisory support on policy reform issues that have a high potential to reduce poverty and gender inequalities and support progress in trade and investment agreement negotiations.  

Global Affairs Canada has identified Ecuador as a beneficiary of EDM technical assistance in the context of the free trade negotiations between Ecuador and Canada launched in April 2024 and concluded in January 2025.  The objective of the agreement is to deepen the trade relationship with Ecuador as part of Canada’s export diversification strategy.  Canada-Ecuador bilateral trade is small, but growing, totaling $1.3 billion CAD in 2023, an increase of 36% over 2021.    Canada also has significant investments in Ecuador, principally in the mining sector and totaling $4.4 billion in 2023.  Canadian foreign direct investment has tripled over the past five years, making Canada the largest foreign investor in Ecuador.  

Ecuador made significant progress between 2000 and 2019 in expanding the economy and improving development indicators.  However, the COVID-19 pandemic had a dramatic impact on the economy, reducing GDP by 7.8% in 2020.  The Government of Ecuador seeks to reestablish stability and economic growth, and to build “an economy at the service of society” (National Development Plan 2021-2025).  An important part of the plan is to diversify export products and markets, and to attract foreign investment through new trade agreements.  New agreements were negotiated with Costa Rica and China in 2023. 

More recently, the Government adopted the 2024-2025 Development Plan for the New Ecuador which aims to promote economic diversification and sustainable growth through an increase in trade openness with strategic partners and countries that constitute potential markets. In May 2023, Ecuador joined the Global Trade and Gender Arrangement (GTAGA) and the Inclusive Trade Action Group (ITAG) as means to work closely with Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, New Zealand and Peru to promote more inclusive international trade policies, including advancing gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.   

Another objective of the Government of Ecuador is to promote the participation of Indigenous Peoples in trade and trade policymaking.  Under the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador, the government has committed to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including their right to be consulted on issues affecting their communities.  In giving effect to this commitment in the area of trade and investment, the government faces the challenge of addressing deep concerns in Indigenous communities regarding foreign investment in the extractives industries, the protection of intellectual property and other issues included in free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.  

EDM has provided technical assistance to Ecuador to deepen trade negotiators’ understanding of FTA provisions that directly address Indigenous Peoples, as well as of the policies and programs Canada has established to promote exports by Indigenous-owned businesses.  To build on this assistance, the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries of Ecuador (MPFTIF) has requested support to convene a dialogue between Canadian and Ecuadorian Indigenous Peoples to exchange experiences in exporting and on the benefits of FTAs.   This dialogue is intended to strengthen the capacity of Indigenous Peoples to engage with the Government of Ecuador on trade policy issues and to design and execute export development strategies. In addition, the goal is to foster permanent relationships between Ecuadorian and Canadian Indigenous organizations.

Short description
This technical assistance will strengthen the capacity of Indigenous Peoples in Ecuador to participate in trade policymaking and to take advantage of the export opportunities created by the Canada-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement.

Linkage to EDM Performance Measurement Framework
This assistance is consistent with the EDM Performance Management Framework, Immediate Outcome 1120 - Enhanced ability of civil society organizations, particularly those focused on women’s empowerment, labour standards, indigenous rights, or environmental causes, to engage in trade and investment strategies or agreements - and Outcome 1320: Improved capabilities among targeted civil society organizations focused on women, labour standards, environment or Indigenous Peoples to support their stakeholders in benefitting from trade and investment agreements with Canada.

Description of Technical Assistance Request/Key Responsibilities
The technical expert(s) will: 
Prepare short written background briefs on Indigenous businesses in Canada and Ecuador and their export activities, to provide context to the dialogue; 

• Design and deliver a four-day mission to Quito including: 
• A seminar on the provisions in free trade agreements that directly and indirectly address the interests of Indigenous Peoples; 
• An exchange between representatives of Ecuadorian and Canadian Indigenous Peoples (including both women and men) to discuss the benefits of trade and FTAs; and 
• Visits to local Indigenous-led businesses to discuss challenges, strategies and success stories in exporting. 

The composition and the number of Canadian delegates will be decided in consultation with EDM program staff but is expected to include:   

• Indigenous organizations engaged in the delivery of export development support services and/or trade policymaking, including the development of Indigenous provisions in Canadian FTAs; 
• Indigenous-owned or led businesses actively engaged in exporting to foreign markets. 
  

Technical experts are responsible for managing and executing all logistics to ensure the smooth operation of the Technical Assistance Activity. This includes, but is not limited to, arranging hotels, flights, local transportation, catering, translation services, audiovisual equipment, as well as participant per diems, transportation and accommodation if required. The EDM team will provide guidance to the technical experts throughout the process, ensuring adherence to EDM and Global Affairs Canada guidelines.  

The composition of the Ecuadorian delegation will be determined by MPFTIF, based on the selection criteria agreed with the technical experts. 

This dialogue between Indigenous Peoples is to be convened in Quito, Ecuador, and conducted in Spanish with simultaneous interpretation (funded separately by EDM).   

Consistent with Canada’s inclusive trade approach, the EDM promotes gender equality and social inclusion, as well as environmental sustainability, as cross-cutting objectives of all technical assistance. Proposals should explain how these objectives will be integrated into the planning/approach, content and conduct of the Dialogue.  

The direct beneficiaries of this technical assistance will be the participating Indigenous organizations and businesses which are expected to increase their knowledge of trade policy and export development.  The participants can be expected to demonstrate increased capacity to contribute to trade policymaking and expand their exports.  In the medium/longer term, the beneficiaries will be all Indigenous Peoples in Ecuador through better trade policies and programs.

Technical Expert Profile/Expertise Required
Teams bidding for this technical assistance activity must demonstrate expert knowledge and extensive experience in the following: 

• the provisions in Canadian trade agreements that address issues of interest to Indigenous Peoples; 
• Canadian government policies and programs to promote the participation in trade of Indigenous businesses; 
• Canadian Indigenous Peoples’ organizations that are engaged in trade policy and the delivery of export development support services; 
• Canadian Indigenous businesses that have experience in the development of export markets; 
• Indigenous businesses in Ecuador and their engagement in exporting; 
• Trade policy issues of concern to Indigenous communities in Ecuador; 
• the integration of gender equality and social inclusion considerations in the design and delivery of trade technical assistance; 
• the integration of environmental sustainability trends in trade policy and negotiations into trade technical assistance; 
• the delivery of trade-related technical assistance to developing countries. 
  

Note: The EDM includes a core focus on gender and social inclusion and environmental issues associated with trade activities.  Successful applicants must research and integrate specific good and emerging practices in these areas, partnering with other expert consultants if necessary.  Any prior experience providing TA on gender equality, social inclusion, and the environment will be considered a strong asset. Before starting activities, the successful consultant(s) will be required to complete the Government of Canada’s online Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) training (approximately 2 hours).

Timelines
Deadline to apply June 16th, 2025.  The technical assistance activity is expected to be completed by December 31, 2025.

Deliverables

• A detailed work plan, work schedule and budget for the delivery of activities. 
• Completed EDM Performance Measurement Framework template for the TA, including baseline data and targets against EDM indicators. 
• Final proposed composition of the Canadian delegation to the two-day dialogue. 
• Draft and final background briefs on Indigenous businesses in Canada and Ecuador and their export activities; 
• Draft and final program / agenda and presentation for the dialogue. 
• Final Narrative Report on Mandate: Due within 30 calendar days of completing all TA activities. The report shall describe activities delivered; results achieved (versus initial expected results and baseline); lessons learned relevant to future EDM activities, and expenses incurred by the Consultant in carrying out this mandate. This report will be reviewed and approved by EDM before being shared with Global Affairs Canada.
  

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PROCESS
For your proposal to be considered, please name your document in the following format: 

8.6 - Consultant Last Name, First Name 
(Proposals can be submitted by a single consultant or a consortium of consultants).  

Your proposal should be in English and contain the following sections: 

• Cover letter  
• Proposal that includes the following: 
• Your approach to implementing this TA (up to 10 pages maximum); 
• Your approach to ensure that gender equality and social inclusion are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery (up to 2 pages maximum); 
• Your approach to ensure that environmental impacts are considered in all aspects of the TA, including approach, content, and delivery (up to 1 page maximum); 
• Your project management and monitoring strategy for the implementation of the activities (up to 2 pages maximum). 
• All proposed personnel to implement this project and their roles and responsibilities. Include all CVs of proposed personnel/experts (up to 20 pages maximum). 
• Estimated level of effort (in days) and consulting rates (in CAD) for each proposed personnel member and/or expert implementing the project.  
  

Please submit your proposal as one PDF document through the Cowater Career Page. Emailed proposals will not be accepted. If you have any questions, please email info@edm-mde.ca.

About the Organization

ABOUT US
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017. 

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