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AID FOR TRADE: MOBILIZING AID FOR TRADE

Aid for Trade Global Review 2009

The Second Global Review provided an opportunity to give added impetus to the ambitious mandate on Aid for Trade, agreed at the WTO's Hong Kong Ministerial Conference in 2005, which aims to help developing countries, and the least developed in particular, to build the supply-side capacity and infrastructure they need to take advantage of trade opening and to connect with the global economy.

> Summary report
> Programme
with links to presentations, papers, audio and video

See also:
> More on aid for trade
> Regional events

News
29 June 2009:
> WTO launches second global review of Aid for Trade

6 July 2009:
> Lamy: Aid for Trade will help developing countries to exit the economic crisis

7 July 2009:
“We must keep the foot on the gas on Aid for Trade” — Lamy

Final reports from Regional Reviews 2009:
> Asian Development Bank Report
> Inter-American Development Bank Report

The Second Global Review evaluated progress made since the First Review held in November 2007 and scrutinized how Aid for Trade is being operationalized on the ground. Progress in securing additional, predictable financing was discussed and views exchanged on how aid flows can be maintained against the backdrop of the global recession. Central to this process was the examination of the conclusions from the three-tiered monitoring framework which has been put in place: tracking of Aid-for-Trade flows through the OECD Creditor Reporting System; monitoring of mainstreaming and implementation through self-assessments based on a joint OECD-WTO questionnaire; and establishing the impact of Aid for Trade at a national level through appropriate indicators. The monitoring framework was complemented with case studies across different regions to disseminate good practices with the underlying aim that Members disseminate them amongst themselves.

Key Objectives:

Moving from commitment to implementation

How is Aid for Trade making good on its promise as the agenda moves from commitment to implementation at multilateral, regional and national level?

Mainstreaming trade in national and regional development strategies

What are the obstacles encountered by partner countries in mainstreaming trade into national and regional development strategies? How can this mainstreaming process be encouraged? How can the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) support this process in Least-Developed Countries (LDCs)?

Sustaining aid flows during the global economic downturn

What impact will the global economic downturn have on Aid-for-Trade flows? How can OECD donors be persuaded to engage long term through additional and predictable financing? What role can emerging South-South donors play in Aid for Trade?

Assessing the effectiveness of Aid for Trade

What conclusions emerge from the monitoring framework for Aid for Trade and how is Aid for Trade working at a thematic level?

> Photo gallery

Aid for Trade at a Glance 2009: Maintaining Momentum
> Publication details > Download pdf

Background information
Includes examples of actions taken by WTO Members, international financial instituions and UN agencies

Partner institutions discuss Aid for Trade
> Transcript

Interview with DDG Valentine Rugwabiza about the Second Aid for Trade Global Review objectives

Videos of regional case studies
> North-South corridor — Africa
> Mekong Delta — Asia

> The IIRSA Initiative
> Mesoamerican Integration Corridor