WT/COMTD/AFT/W/97  
 
12 October 2023  
(23-5045) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Aid for Trade    
 
AID-FOR-TRADE MONITORING EXERCISE  
 
"MAINSTREAMING TRADE: SELF -ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRES"  
BACKGROUND NOTE BY THE WTO SECRETARIAT1 
INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  The focal point of the 2023 -2024 Aid -for-Trade Work Programme (WT/COMTD/AFT/W/95) is 
the 2024 Aid for Trade Global Review. As per past practice, the 2024 Global Review will be informed 
by a joint OECD -WTO monitoring and evaluation (M&E) exercise.2 Information collected by the 
M&E exercise will be analysed and reported in joint OECD -WTO public ations, notably in the "Aid for 
Trade at a Glance" series.  
1.2.  The purpose of the M&E exercise is to survey Aid -for-Trade priorities of developing countries 
and regional economic communities, and policies (including financing flows) of bilateral, regional 
and multilateral donors, as well as South -South partners. Information on outcomes, outputs and 
impacts will also be collected as part of the M&E exercise.  
1.3.  The joint OECD -WTO monitoring and evaluation exercise is conducted at three levels. 
Aid-for-Trade stake holders are invited to reply to a self -assessment questionnaire. Separately, the 
Organisation for Economic Co -operation and Development (OECD) tracks AfT financing flows . Lastly, 
information on outcomes, outputs and impacts are collected from various sourc es.3  
1.4.  The focus of this document is the self -assessment questionnaire. It explains the themes to be 
surveyed, the approach to be taken, who will be surveyed and how the information collected will be 
used. This background document also includes the self -assessment questionnaire for developing 
countr ies (referred to as partner countries in the survey)4 as addenda . The questionnaires directed 
to donors, regional organizations and South -South partners mirror the same structure and questions 
as the partner questionnaire.  
MONITORING AND EVALUATION SURVEY THEMES  
1.5.  The main theme of the 2023 -2024 M&E self -assessment exercise is how trade is being 
"mainstreamed" (i.e. reflected as a priority) in development strategies, how Aid -for-Trade support 
is aligned with the pr iorities of partner  countries and regional economic communities and the 
outcomes and impacts being achieved by beneficiaries.  
1.6.  The self -assessment questionnaire is organized in seven sections. The first section (A) of the 
questionnaire surveys Trade priorities found in national development plans or strategy(ies). A further 
set of questions covers (B) Trade priorities in other nati onal policy documents or strategies. Section 
(C) looks at Sectoral and Regional trade objectives, while (D) examines Financing national 
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  
2 So far eight rounds of Monitoring and Evaluation exercises have been comple ted and the reports can 
be accessed at www.wto.org/aidfortrade  and http://www.aid4trade.org . 
3 A separate background note on monitoring and evaluation indicators has been issued with the 
document symbol WT/COMTD/AFT/W/96.  
4 Partner countries are WTO developing country Members and countries or customs territori es in the 
process of WTO accession.  WT/COMTD/AFT/W/97  
 
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  development and trade priorities. The last three sections examine (E) Alignment of Aid-for-Trade 
support , (F) Outcome an d impacts of Aid-for-Trade support , and (G) Future Aid-for-Trade needs.  .  
APPROACH  
1.7.  This M&E  exercise is a self -assessment exercise. Respondents are invited to complete and 
return the questionnaires online.  
WHO WILL BE SURVEYED?  
1.8.  Questionnaires are being disseminated using an electronic survey tool and should be completed 
online .  
1.9.  The self -assess ment questionnaires are addenda to this document and distributed to the 
following recipients:  
• Developing countries, including Least Developed Countries  (i.e. partner countries) ; (Add.1);  
• Donors (Bilateral, Regional and Multilateral);  (Add.2);  
• South -South partners; (Add.3); and 
• Regional economic communities and transport corridors  (Add.4) . 
Questionnaire recipient  Survey links  to complete Questionnaire s online  
Developing countries, including 
Least Developed Countries  
(i.e. partner countries)  Online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PAR23EN   
WT/COMTD/AFT/W /97/Add.1   
Donors (Bilateral, Regional and 
Multilateral)  Online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DON23EN  
WT/COMTD/AFT/W/97/Add.2   
South -South partners  Online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SOU23EN  
WT/COMTD/AFT/W/97/Add.3   
Regional economic communities 
and transport corridors  Online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/REC23EN  
WT/COMTD/AFT/W/97/Add.4   
 
1.10.  Outreach efforts are being undertaken with all stakeholders to publicize the monitoring 
exercise and to assist Members in responding to the questionnaire. The final approved questionnaires 
are also being circulated  as addenda to this document  to help solic it responses from those Members 
who may face difficulties completing the forms online and to facilitate intra -ministerial coordination. 
Dates for online regional training events to help stakeholders complete the survey will be 
communicated in a separate document .  
HOW WILL THE INFORMATION COLLECTED BE USED?  
1.11.  All information collected through the monitoring and evaluation exercise will be made publicly 
available through the website http://www.aid4trade.org . Information collected will be examined and 
an analysis of it published in joint OECD  and WTO publications, notably the "Aid for Trade at a 
Glance" series.  
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES  
1.12.  The deadline for the submission of completed monitoring formats is 30 November 2023 .  
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