ICTSD-SAWTEE Programme on Monitoring Effectiveness and Development Impact of Aid for Trade

SAWTEE, together with International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), Geneva, have successfully completed a programme to evaluate the effectiveness and development impact of Aid for Trade (AfT). SAWTEE was involved with the programme since the inception of the idea in early 2010. For the programme, SAWTEE prepared the methodology for conducting country case studies in six countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America/Caribbean. SAWTEE also implemented the Nepal component of the programme. AfT was launched during the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in December 2005, following which there has been steady increase in funding under the initiative. The WTO, together with Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), has been involved in monitoring and evaluation of the initiative, among others, through the publication of Aid for Trade at a Glance Report, and the organization of AFT Global Review in Geneva on a biennial basis. Three such events have been organized so far, in 2007 and 2009, and the next one is planned for June 2011. These events are preceded by the AfT regional review events. The programme sought to complement the global and regional review processes by conducting case studies at the country level and generating primary data from partner countries as well as disseminate the findings at the national level. The specific objectives of the programme were to:

  • prepare a benchmark for monitoring the progress in commitment, disbursement, and utilization of AfT resources and evaluate its effectiveness as well as development impact at the country level.
  • collect/collate data/information to help various stakeholders, including donors, partner governments, private sector and civil society make informed interventions/decisions on AfT issues.
  • supplement and contribute to the global as well as regional review processes.