Two Decades of Trade and Development Partnerships
Trends and impact of the Aid for Trade initiative

Since the launch of the Aid for Trade initiative in 2006, US$ 795 billion has been disbursed to bolster infrastructure, build productive sectors and strengthen trade institutions in developing economies. These efforts have played an important role in helping these economies increase their participation in the multilateral trading system. This publication examines trends in trade-related development assistance and the evolving participation of developing economies, including least developed countries, in global trade.

The publication explores emerging priorities for developing economies in a changing trade and development cooperation landscape, which is facing deep cuts in official development assistance. The report sheds light on how partnerships for trade and development can be strengthened in the future to mobilize additional resources for trade, including from the private sector, to help developing economies benefit more fully from global trade.

Co-published with OECD in 2026.