WT/COMTD/AFT/W/95  
 
10 February  2023 
(23-1002) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Aid for Trade    
 
  
2023 -2024 AID-FOR-TRADE WORK PROGRAMME  
PARTNERSHIPS FOR FOOD SECURITY , DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY   
AND MAINSTREAMING TRADE1 
OVERVIEW  
1.  The objective of the Aid-for-Trade Initiative, as stated in its mandate (WT/AFT/1)2, is to help 
developing countries and in particular least developed countries (LDCs), to build the supply -side 
capacity and trade -related infrastructure that they need to implement and benefit from 
WTO Agreements and to expand their trade. Economic and export diversification is integral to trade 
expansion and is a critical trade and development policy objective , as highlighted by the latest  
monitoring and evaluation ( M&E) exercise. Th is biennial Work Programme seeks to build on policy 
insights from past Work Programmes , as well as discussions held at the Global Review on 
27-29 July 2022 (WT/COMTD/AFT/W/93) .3, 4  
2.  The context in which the policy objectives of trade expansion , economic diversification  and 
industrial development  are being pursued has changed significantly as a result of the COVID -19 
pandemic and growing concerns about  digital connectivity , food security  and energy crises  
exacerbated by conflict s, supply chain resilience and climate change.  Against this background, the  
rationale and need for Aid for Trade is more important than ever.   
3.  Effective support should be grounded in needs -based, demand -driven priorities identified  by 
developing countries , including LDCs , in their development strategies. In the MC12 Outcome 
Document, Members recognize the importance of Aid -for-Trade  (AfT) initiatives in trade -related 
capacity building for the LDCs .5  
4.  Furthermore, noting that graduation from the LDC category may present spe cific challenges, 
certain AfT activities will target capacity building for a smooth and sustainable transition for these 
countries after graduation, as well as better integrating LDCs and other developing countries into 
the multilateral trading system.  
5.  Supporting developing countries , including  LDCs, in enhancing their agricultural  and agribusiness  
productive and trade capacity is a focus area  of the new Work Programme, with a view to promoting 
resilience  and strengthening  food security.  
6.  Participation in the digital economy  is another key topic. The new Work Programme will build on 
past insights with respect to  digital connectivity as a critical pathway to engagi ng in global trade , 
taking into account the specific challenges faced by developing countries , including  LDCs. The Work 
Programme  will discuss  the issue of infrastructure , technology transfer,  on voluntary and mutually 
agreed terms,  and skills development for enhanced productivity . 
 
1 This Work Programme is issued under the responsibility of the Chair of the Committee on Trade and 
Development.  
2 Recommendations of the Task Force on Aid for Trade, contain ed in document reference WT/AFT/1 . 
3 "Promoting Connectivity"  2016-17 (WT/COMTD/AFT/W/60 ); "Economic Diversification and 
Empowerment" 2018 -2019 (WT/COMTD/AFT/W/75 ); and "Empowering Connected Sustainable Trade" 2020-22 
(WT/COMTD/AFT/W/81/Rev.1).  
4 Summary Report of the Global Review of Aid for Trade 2022 (WT/COMTD/AFT/W/93).  
5 MC12 Outcome Document  (WT/MIN(22)/24) . WT/COMTD/AFT/W/95  
 
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  7.  Another area of thematic focus is on the  opportunities  identified by developing countries for 
sustainable economic and export diversification , as well as supply chain resilience. Here the 
emphasis will be on  how Aid for Trade can be mobilized by AfT  stakeholders for such opportunities.  
8.  Formal meetings  will include an opportunity for Members to voluntarily  share their trade and 
development strategies and initiatives with the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD)  Aid for 
Trade , in particular for  LDCs. A series of thematic workshops are also planned un der the auspices of 
the Committee . Outreach events with  AfT stakeholders will also be held. Considering  that technical 
cooperation among developing countries is a valuable tool to deliver effective results because of 
their common experiences and understand ing of the challenges they face, the events may also 
provide the opportunity for exploring possibilities of using technical expertise of the South to 
implement projects through triangular schemes of cooperation. The focal point of the Work 
Programme is the  2024 Global Review - the ninth such review since 2007. The Review will be 
informed by an M&E exercise . 
9.  The purpose  of these events is to mobilize action to address trade policy  capability , supply -side 
capacity and trade -related infrastructure issues in a coherent manner  in line with the objectives, 
guiding principles and programme strengthening (demand -side, donor response, bridge between 
demand and supply, monitoring and evaluation), as outlined in paragraphs F1 to F6 of the Task 
Force report on Aid for T rade (WT/AFT/1).  
WORK PROGRAMME - AREAS OF FOCUS  
Food Security  
10.  Global food demand continues to grow, with the world's population expected to reach 9.6 billion 
people by 2050 while 820 million people were suffering from hunger as of 2021 according to 
United Nations  estimates .6 At the same time, climate change is having a dramatic impact on 
agricultural land and livestock productivity .7  
11.  Ensuring stability of agricultural production and agri -food supply chains is an on -going , 
multi-faceted  challenge  that involves , inter alia , enhancing  production capacity for fertilizers and 
agricultural  machinery, facilitating efficient logistics, improving capacity to comply with standards8 
for trade of agriculture products and the development and mainte nance  of storage , transport and 
warehousing  infrastructure . 
12.  The Global Report o n Food Crises notes that, at the start of 2022, there were already 276  million 
people facing acute hunger in 81 countries served by the World Food Programme , while at least 
44 million people in 48 countries are on the edge of famine.9 The Food and Agriculture Organization 
of the United Nations estimates that 400 million peop le in the Asia -Pacific region are malnourished, 
most of them in South Asia, with 40 % of all the region's inhabitant s unable to afford a healthy diet .10  
13.  Trade  has an important role in ensuring that food , and other essential goods , and services get 
to where they are needed .11 In the 2019 monitoring exercise, partners and donors reported positive 
impacts of AfT support in improving export diversification  of agricultural exports .  
14.  Against this background, Aid for Trade  can play a valu able role in  further advancing economic 
diversification and empowerment in agriculture . Agriculture is  a critically important economic sector 
for developing countries, including  LDCs, on account of its size, centrality for supply chain resilience , 
 
6 https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news22_e/fsec_08nov22_e.htm   
7 "Special Report on Climate Change and Land", Chapter 5 on food security, UN Intergovernmental 
Panel on Climate Change . Available at:  
https://www.ipcc.ch/site/asset s/uploads/sites/4/2022/11/SRCCL_Chapter_5.pdf  
8 The work of the Standards and Trade Development Facility and Trade Facilitation Assistance Facilit y 
are germane in this context.  
9 Global Report on Food Crises , World Food Programme . Available at 
https://www.wfp.org/publications/global -report -food-crises -2022  
10 The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World , Food and Agriculture Organization. A vailable at 
https://www.fao.org/publications/sofi/2022/en/   
11 "Chokepoints and Vulnerabilities in Global Food Trade", Chatham House, Available at: 2017-06-27-
chokepoints -vulnerabilities -global -food-trade-bailey -wellesley -final.pdf (chathamho use.org)  Chokepoints and 
Vulnerabilities in Global Food Trade  WT/COMTD/AFT/W/95  
 
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  exposure to external shocks,  export potential,  and role in meeting food security needs and providing  
livelihood s. 
Digital Connectivity   
15.  The uptake of digital technologies  was boosted  by the physical distancing measures taken by 
governments to contain the s pread of the COVID -19 pandemic. Digital connectivity has been a factor 
for resilience  among those online , especially micro, small and medium -sized enterprises ( MSMEs ). 
Figures from the I nternational Telecommunication Union estimate that the pandemic -induced move  
towards remote  work and e -government contributed to an increase of 20% internet use in 
developing regions.12 However, the pandemic also revealed shortcomings in digital connectivi ty, 
including infrastructure deficits and those related to skills. Aid-for-Trade activities under the current 
Work Programme should contribute to bridging gaps in digital connectivity and information 
technology (IT) to support  an enabling environment for business and trade facilitation. These are 
fundamental elements of the digital economy, which are key to MSMEs , growth  and development.  
Figure 1: Most commonly cited issues where COVID -19 pandemic has exposed 
shortcomings for  digital connectivity   
 
Source:  OECD -WTO Monitoring and Evaluation exercise, 2022  
16.  Supporting digital skills development  is an important aspect to take advantage of the 
opportunities offered by e-commerce . The AfT community  is partner ing with the public and private 
sector s to provid e the required technology  and upskil l the workforce . Digital skills and IT literacy can 
have a powerful effect in unlocking opportunities for those groups that are facing higher obstacles 
to digital trade entry, such as women  and MSMEs ,  in exploring paperless compliance at trade 
borders as a form of promoting inclusive trade through digital connectivity . 
17.  In the 2020-22 M&E exercise, a large proportion  of developing countr y respondents  emphasized  
the importance of providi ng support to MSMEs. Responses cited  the positive impact that 
MSME  growth can have on economic  growth, and their specific  business  needs in terms of access to 
training, finance, information, and connectivity.  It also  highlight ed the importance of women's 
economic empowerment for developing countries and their financing partners  as well as the need to 
upgrade digital skills among  youth, disabled persons, senior citizens , and start-ups MSMEs .13 
 
12 Measuring Digital Development, Facts and Figures, I nternational Telecommunication Union. Available 
at https://www.itu.int/en/ITU -D/Statistics/Documents/facts/FactsFigures2021.pdf   
13 Ninety -six per cent  (96%) of developing countries  recogni ze the role that Aid for Trade can play in 
addressing trade constraints faced by women. In addition priorities relat ed to women's economic 
empowerment are included in 92% of Aid-for-Trade strategies.  Aid for Trade 2022 Global Review publication 
(WTO) available at https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/aid4trade22_e.pdf   
WT/COMTD/AFT/W/95  
 
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  Mainstreaming Trade  
18.  Efforts  by develo ping countries  to mainstream  trade, including sustainability objectives and 
poverty reduction strategies in their national development plans are on -going. This message 
emerges clearly from the 2022 M&E exercise. The exercise highlighted  such efforts by p artners and 
regional economic communities (RECs). Reponses also indicate Aid for Trade's role in stimulating 
transfers of environmentally sound technologies14 and promoting circular economy p ractices. At the 
2022 Global Review , some  Members also pointed to  AfT's role in addressing issues related to the 
sustainable use of plastics.15 
Figure 2: Percentage of Aid -for-Trade respondents with sustainable development 
strategies that include trade obj ectives  
 
Source:  OECD -WTO Monitoring and Evaluation exercise, 2022  
19.  Developing countries , including  LDCs, face various  constraints that inhibit their efforts to 
mainstream  trade in national development plans , including  sustainability  objectives . Challenges 
include a lack of access  to finance , the balance between grants and soft loans , a deficit of data 
measurement capabilities , shortfalls in institutional capacity , gaps in the availing of technical 
assistance,  lack of access to environmentally sou nd technology  and technology transfer options , and 
information deficits . 
20.  Another  focus of the 2024 Global Review will be on  the economic and export diversification 
opportunities for developing countries . Aid for Trade is playing a catalytic role by helping  to mobilize 
finance for sustainable supply -side infrastructure and by supporting the private sector to take 
advantage of trade opportunities. More in -depth work is needed to understand and analyse the se 
opportunities and challenges . 
WORK PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES  
21.  Aid-for-Trade  outreach and advocacy efforts will continue to promote mainstreaming trade by 
developing countries , including  LDCs,  and their development partners, implementation of national 
and regional AfT strategies, and for the mobil ization of additional, predictable, sustainable and 
effective Aid for Trade. Advocacy on resource mobilization should reflect the views of developing 
countries with regard to their development and financing needs, in particular those of LDCs. The 
Enhanced Integrated Framework has  been one of several pertinent  programmes and may hold 
relevant experience  in this context.  
22.  Formal AfT sessions of the CTD will be regularly scheduled by the CTD Chairperson. These 
meetings provide a forum to discuss , share information  and exchange perspectives on  current and 
planned  Aid-for-Trade  programmes . In this connection, f ormal meetings  will also now include an 
 
14 "The Future We Want ", Resolution  adopted by the United Nations General Assembly  on 27 July 2012, 
A/RES/66/288,  Availa ble at: 
https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/generalassembly/docs/globalcompact/A_RES_
66_288.pdf   
15 Summa ry Report of the Eight Global Review of Aid for Trade (WT/COMTD/AFT/W/93) . 
WT/COMTD/AFT/W/95  
 
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  opportunity for Members to voluntarily share information about their trade and development 
strategies with t he CTD A fT Committee, in particular for  LDCs.   
23.  Thematic workshops and other events will also be organized back -to-back with the formal 
CTD AfT sessions. These workshops will provide an opportunity to explore the themes identified in 
the areas of focus  outlined earlier in the Work Programme . Topics could include: Aid for Trade in 
support of boosting agricultural production  and agr ibusiness , food security , livelihoods and trade ; 
Promoting digital connectivity and e -commerce , including through technology transfer , on voluntary 
and mutually agreed terms ; Mainstreaming  trade, including sustainability objectives , in national 
development plans;  and Results of the 2023 -24 M&E exercise.  Members are encouraged to make 
suggestions of speakers and topics to be discussed at these events.  
24.  Noteworthy here is the global engagement of South -South partners as highlighted by 
respondents in the 2019 M&E exercise. Activities to  provide perspective s on South -South assistance 
and triangular cooperation will be organi zed during the biennium.  
25.  The centrepiece of the Work Programme will be the 2024 Aid for Trade Global Review. It will be 
underpinned by an  M&E exercise.  
26.  Efforts will be made to engage a br oad range of partners in the M&E exercise, and to use 
innovative methods and approaches, whilst ensuring continued broad engagement and participation. 
Results of the Global Review will be reported to the CTD and the General Council.  
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