WT/COMTD/AFT/W/77  
 
7 November 2018 
(18-6979) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Aid for Trade    
 
2019 GLOBAL REVIEW  
AID-FOR-TRADE MONITO RING EXERCISE  
 
"SUPPORTING ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AND EMPOWERMENT FOR INCL USIVE, 
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPM ENT THROUGH AID FOR TRADE " 
BACKGROUND NOTE BY THE OECD AND WTO SECRETARIATS1 
 
1 INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  The aim of this background note is to outline the monitoring and evaluation (M&E)  exercise 
that will underpin the 2019 Global Review of Aid for Trade. The theme of the 2018 -2019 
Aid-for-Trade Work Programme a nd the 2019 Global Review of Aid for Trade is: " Supporting 
economic diversification and empowerment for inclusive, sustainable development through Aid for 
Trade ". The next M&E exercise will explore this theme in detail. The M&E  will also complement the 
on-going Review of Aid for Trade Achievements.  
2 OVERVIEW  
2.1.  The 2018 -2019 Aid -for-Trade Work Programme (WT/COMTD/AFT/W/75) is built around, and 
will lead to, the 2019 Global Review of Aid for Trade. Past Global Reviews have been informed by a 
joint OECD -WTO moni toring and evaluation (M&E) exercise that has surveyed Aid -for-Trade 
implementation by partner countries, bilateral and multilateral donors, South -South partners and 
regional economic communities. Efforts have been made to reach out to the private sector a nd to 
engage a broad range of stakeholders in the M&E exercise. Information collected by the M&E exercise 
have been analysed and reported at past Global Reviews in a joint OECD -WTO publication: "Aid for 
Trade at a Glance". The 2019  Global Review of Aid for  Trade, to be held in mid -2019, will follow the 
same approach, using the M&E exercise to inform discussion at the Global Review meeting, and as 
the basis for a further edition of the "Aid for Trade at a Glance" publication.  
2.2.  The M&E exercise will seek to fu rther develop analysis on how trade can contribute to economic 
diversification and empowerment, with a focus on eliminating extreme poverty, particularly through 
the effective participation of women and youth, and how Aid for Trade can contribute to that 
objective by addressing supply -side capacity and trade -related infrastructure constraints, including 
for Micro, Small and Medium -sized Enterprises (MSMEs) notably for those MSMEs in rural areas.  
3 MONITORING AND EVALU ATION SURVEY THEMES  
3.1.  The M&E exercise will  focus on three  main themes: Aid -for-Trade priorities and how these have 
changed since the last monitoring exercise; Aid-for-Trade support for economic diversification ; and 
Aid-for-Trade support for economic empowerment . Analysis of Aid -for-Trade financin g will focus on 
the six Aid -for-Trade categories defined in the 2006 Aid for Trade Task Force Recommendations.2 
                                                
1 This document has been prepared under both Secretariats' own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  
2 Trade policy and regulation, trade development, trade -related infrastructu re, building productive 
capacity, trade -related adjustment and other trade -related needs . (WT/AFT/1) . WT/COMTD/AFT/W/77  
 
- 2 - 
 
  3.2.  The first topic to be surveyed is how and why Aid -for-Trade priorities have changed since 2016. 
It will explore factors driving these changes (su ch as the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, 
industrialization, and regional trade integration objectives), and how changes are being 
mainstreamed into national and regional development planning frameworks and policies. On the 
donor and South -South partn er side, the exercise will assess changes in donor programming such 
as priority partners and themes, and changes in approach. Aid -for-Trade flows will be analysed with 
a view to understanding current trends and future projections.  
3.3.  The second topic to be s urveyed is Aid -for-Trade support for economic diversification . It gives 
an opportunity for partner countries to highlight economic diversification objectives in their national 
or regional development strategies  and how Aid-for-Trade support received is aligned with these 
priorities . Likewise donors and south -south partners will be encouraged to elaborate if and how 
economic diversification is reflected in their policies and programmes. Other factors reviewed will 
include those that may have contributed to the success of  support provided or received, i mpacts 
reported, main donors or south -south partners providing support in this thematic area and future 
support needs for economic diversification .  
3.4.  The third topic to be surveyed is Aid -for-Trade support for economic empowerment . The 
questionnaire examines three dimensions to economic empow erment: micro, small and 
medium -sized enterprises, women's economic empowerment and youth empowerment. Similar to 
questions on economic diversification, it will ask part ner countries to  highlight economic 
diversification objectives in their national or regional development strategies and how Aid -for-Trade 
support received is aligned with these priorities. It will encourage  donors and south -south partners 
to elaborate if a nd how economic empowerment  is reflected in their policies and programmes. Other 
factors reviewed include those that may have contributed to the success of support  provided or  
received, impacts reported, main donors or south -south partners providing suppor t in this thematic 
area and future support needs for economic empowerment .  
4 APPROACH  
4.1.  This M&E exercise is a self -assessment exercise. Respondents are invited to complete 
questionnaires.  
5 WHO WILL BE SURVEYED ? 
5.1.  Questionnaires will be disseminated using an el ectronic survey tool and completed on -line.  
5.2.  The self -assessment questionnaires will be distributed to the following recipients:   
• Partner countries;  
• Donors (Bilateral, Regional and Multilateral);  
• South -South partners; and  
• Regional economic communities and  transport corridors.  
5.3.  Outreach efforts will be undertaken with all stakeholders to publicize the exercise and to assist 
Members in responding.  
5.4.  The deadline for the submission of completed monitoring formats is 31 December 2018.  
Submissions will still be accepted until 31 January 2019.   
6 HOW WILL THE INFORMA TION COLLECTED BE US ED? 
6.1.  All information collected through the monitoring and evaluation exercise will be made publicly 
available through the website http://www.a id4trade.org . Information collected will be examined and 
an analysis of it published in a joint OECD -WTO publication "Aid for Trade at a Glance 2019".  
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