WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
WT/COMTD/AFT/M/25 
30 August 2012 
 (12-4678) 
Committee on Trade and Development 
Twenty-Fifth Session on Aid for Trade  
 
 
 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 11 JULY 2012 
 
Chairman:  H.E. Dr. Anthony Mothae Maruping (Lesotho) 
 
 
A.  ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  ........................................................................................................ 1  
B.  PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2012-2013  AID-FOR-TRADE WORK 
PROGRAMME  .............................................................................................................................. . 1 
1.  Resource Mobilization and Implementation Activities ......................................................... 1  
2.  Mainstreaming ................................................................................................................. ......... 1 
3.  Regional Dimension ............................................................................................................ ...... 3 
4.  Private Sector ................................................................................................................ ............ 3 
5.  Monitoring and Evaluation of Implementa tion and Development Effectiveness ............... 3  
C.  OTHER BUSINESS  ........................................................................................................................ 5  
 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  
1. The Agenda, as circulated in WTO/AIR/3968, was adopted. 
B. PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2012-2013  AID-FOR-TRADE WORK PROGRAMME  
1. Resource Mobilization and Implementation Activities 
2. No item was raised under "Resource Mobili zation and Implementation Activities".  
2. Mainstreaming 
3. The representatives of China, Colombia, Cô te d'Ivoire, and Guinea reported on their 
Aid-for-Trade (AfT) activities in the context of  their recently completed Trade Policy Reviews 
(TPRs).1 The representative of China stated that, since 2008, China had contributed a total of 
US$600,000 to the Aid-for-Trade Initiative and that  in July 2011 it had donated US$400,000 to 
establish "China's LDCs and Accessions Programme".   A further US$400,000 contribution would be 
made to continue the Programme.2  He informed of the joint communiqué on cotton cooperation 
signed with Cotton 4 countries (Benin, Burkina F aso, Chad and Mali) and the identification of 
specific areas for further cooperation with these c ountries over the next three years.  These include: 
(i) the provision of cotton seeds that adapts to local  soil condition and climate pattern, small-type farm 
machinery, chemical fertilizers and pesticides;  (ii)  technical training and extension;  (iii) technology 
                                                      
1 The TPRs can be viewed at: http://www .wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tpr_e.htm 
2 For more information see: http://www.wto.org/english/ne ws_e/pres12_e/pr666_e.htm  
  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/25 
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  upgrading for cotton processing facilities and provisi on of ginning equipment to cotton processing 
factories; and (iv) support to scientific and tec hnology research program related to cotton production 
and processing. 
4. The representative of Colombia reported on how AfT support from a number of donors – 
including, inter alia , the United States, Canada, the European  Union and the European Free Trade 
Association (EFTA) – had had a positive impact on th e internationalization of its economy and on its 
productive transformation which had resulted, for exampl e, in an increase of foreign direct investment 
of US$13million.   She noted, in particular, the im portance of sharing experience and lessons drawn 
and said that, in Colombia, Aid for Trade was not  playing the role it should as far as trade was 
concerned due to the focus of donors on social de velopment.  Better and closer donor/beneficiary 
coordination was needed to meet Colombia's specifi c needs and priorities.  She also highlighted the 
importance of sustainability of projects – with resu lts going further and being maintained – as well as 
of measuring the impact of assistance. 
5. The representative of Côte d'Ivoire noted that  his country had experienced a socio-political 
crisis which had considerably inhi bited trade, held back the count ry's economic development and had 
led to the partial suspension of official devel opment assistance. He highlighted the importance for 
Côte d'Ivoire of donor support for regional trade and to increase the competitiveness of small- and 
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and noted his coun try's intention to respond to Members' specific 
questions and concerns raised in its TPR exercise. 
6. The representative of Guinea provided inform ation on the multilateral, sub-regional and 
bilateral AfT support it was receiving, particularly under the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF). 
She noted that Guinea had signed cooperation agreemen ts with Malaysia, South Korea, China, and the 
United Arab Emirates, to build production capacity a nd training and to support the agricultural sector 
in particular.  
7. The representative of India reported on its South- South cooperation activities, in particular the 
training and capacity building programmes. He informed Members that during the last six months 
India had conducted several training programmes focu sing on WTO issues with the participation of 
officials and experts from several developing c ountries, including least-developed countries (LDCs). 
These training programmes were jointly funded  under the Indian Technical and Economic 
Cooperation programme and by the Centre for WTO Studies. 
8.  The representatives of Rwanda and Nigeria ma de statements about the value of including 
AfT reports within the TPR exercise.  Nigeria noted the positive results that mainstreaming of AfT in 
TPRs had achieved thus far and stressed the need to  carry the exercise forward to also highlight 
supply and demand issues.  Rwanda noted that its AfT activities would be reported in the upcoming 
joint TPR of EAC.3  The representative of Rwanda highlighted  the importance of mobilizing adequate 
resources for the smooth running of projects and said that Rwanda was encouraged by the support it received from regional development banks as far as regi onal integration was concerned.  He noted, in 
particular, the African Development Bank's support in Africa, for which, he said, regional integration 
would soon be a reality.   
9. The representative of United Nations Committee on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 
informed of its AfT-related work and activities,  noting: the organization of a Forum on "Green 
Economy and Trade as a Mechanism of Intern ational Cooperation on Trade – Related Green 
Economy Challenges" as a follow-up to Ri o+20, the joint FAO-ITC-UNCTAD-UNEP-UNIDO 
initiative regarding Voluntary Sustainability Standa rds, the Global Organic Market Access Project, 
UNCTAD's contribution to strengthening analytical  tools and databases, support to the African 
                                                      
3 East African Community:  Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/25 
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  Union (AU) Action Plan to Boost Intra-African Tr ade, and to strengthening partnerships between 
development finance institutions from Africa (A frican Export Import Bank), and Latin America 
(Development Bank of Latin America and th e Foreign Trade Bank of Latin America). 
3. Regional Dimension 
10. The representative of the African Development Bank (AfDB) reported on the Aid for Trade 
and Regional Integration event that was jointly organized by the AfDB and the WTO in Arusha, 
Tanzania on 30 May 2012.  He noted that the even t had provided the opportunity for representatives 
of African regional economic communities, governme nt officials, development partners, private 
sector and civil society representatives to discuss and explore how Aid for Trade can help in removing barriers to regional integration.  He also reporte d on preparations for the Aid for Trade Review for 
Central Africa.  The Review will cover three pillars:  physical infrastructure, trade and transport and 
productive capacity and be aligned with the AU Ac tion Plan to Boost Intra-African Trade.   
11. The representative from the United Nations  Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) 
provided an update on the UNECA-Africa Trade Policy Centre which is continuing to strengthen its 
work with regional economic commissions to assist in the development and formulation of AfT 
strategies and bankable development projects. 
12. The WTO Secretariat reported on behalf of  the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) on the 
IsDB seminar on "Aid for Trade: Leading Towa rds Poverty Alleviation" held in Tunisia on 
25-27 June 2012.  The main objectives of the seminar  had been to discuss and analyse the role of the 
IsDB Group in the area of Aid for Trade, to inform  participants about IsDB's regional initiatives in 
relation to Central Asia, to discuss the Aid-for-Tra de Initiative for Arab States, to share national 
experiences and views on Aid for Trade, and to info rm IsDB's participation in the Fourth Global 
Review of Aid for Trade (4GR). 
4. Private Sector 
13. The representative of the International Trad e Centre (ITC) reported on a "Sourcing from 
Women Vendors Platform"4 which aims to increase the share of majority women-owned enterprises in 
corporate, government and institutio nal procurement. She noted that through greater participation in 
government procurement (preferen tial procurement policies and prac tices), women entrepreneurs can 
achieve greater success, contributing to economic gr owth; attain human and social development; and 
contribute concretely to the realizati on of the Millennium Development Goals. 
14. The representatives from Kenya, Mexico, a nd the Philippines commended ITC for the 
Sourcing from Women Vendors initiative and also emphasized the importance of women not only for 
national trade but also for countries' exports. 
5. Monitoring and Evaluation of Implemen tation and Development Effectiveness 
15. The representative of Norway reported on a r ecently-conducted independent  evaluation of its 
AfT-related support which, inter alia , assessed the experience and resu lts of Norwegian support for 
trade-related assistance channelled through multilateral organizations.5  The evaluation highlighted 
                                                      
4 http://www.intracen.org/projects/wo men-and-trade/the-global-platform-for-action-on-sourcing-from-
women-vendors/   
5 Multilateral organizations and facilities that have received 97 per cent of the Norwegian trade-related 
support since 2007 are: Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), United National Industrial Development 
Organization (UNIDO), International Trade Centre (ITC), World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO), Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), United Nations  Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 
and Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL).  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/25 
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  the fact that Norway was a key donor for almost  all trade-related technical assistance by multilateral 
organizations and the largest funder of the EIF in terms of disbursement.  Norway provided core 
funding to all organizations except UNIDO and UNC TAD (and partly soft-earmarking to ITC).  
16. The evaluation noted the following: weaknes ses in monitoring and evaluation systems; 
project evaluations were rare and often focused on outputs, with a lack of quantifiable targets and 
performance; and the review of multilateral organizations provided a mixed picture. 
Recommendations made included: applying the broa d AfT agenda in reporting and planning; more 
attention to the division of labour between different  institutional partners in Norway; more project 
funding to raise Norwegian profile, strengtheni ng priorities and improving accountability; putting 
pressure on the multilaterals for better and more tr ansparent monitoring and evaluation (M&E); focus 
on cross-cutting issues which were not mainstreamed  such as social responsibility, climate change; 
and reconsidering the balance of b ilateral and multilateral support.   
17. The representatives of Rwanda, Nigeria, and Kenya, commended Norway for the support it 
was providing and raised questions with regard to sustainability, as well as the M&E component of 
the evaluation.  In particular, questions were rai sed regarding how the evaluation would be continued 
on a sustainable basis while taking into considerati on partner countries' needs and priorities, how the 
M&E component had been evaluated per country, pa rticularly if the budget regarding project funding 
had not been disclosed, and what was the value fo r money in such an evaluation from a user and 
donor perspective. 
18. The representative of the World Bank reporte d on the third version of its Logistics 
Performance Index which provides qualitative and quantitative assessments of countries' logistics 
"friendliness".  She also noted plans to organize an  event in the fall on private sector development 
focusing on how multinationals could plug SMEs in developing countries into their supply chains. 
Ongoing work with the World Economic Forum on product-level mapping of barriers in supply 
chains was also cited.   
19. The WTO Secretariat updated Members on the 4G R's central theme of global value chains 
and private sector development as well as plans for the next M&E exercise, focusing on the format, 
content, and timetable for the exercise.  It w as envisaged that discussion at the 4GR would be 
informed by monitoring of AfT flows, responses  to self-assessment questionnaires (global theme 
including outreach to a new privat e sector audience, and regional, e.g., African regional integration as 
a follow-up to the AU Action Plan on Boosting Intra- African Trade); country factsheets which, this 
time, would be dynamic and based on tracking dis bursements and other indicators over time; and 
reports by Members, multilateral development banks, agencies, etc. (i.e. research to deepen the 2011 
case story analysis as well as other relevant messages).  Strategic partnerships at sectoral and thematic level would be sought to assist in the disseminati on of the questionnaires and collection and analysis 
of responses. An informal consultation process with Members to discuss and fine tune the content of 
both the questionnaires and factsheets would begin in September.   
20. The representative of Benin, on behalf of th e African Group, expressed support for the focus 
of the 4GR and the envisaged format for the M& E exercise and suggested that the M&E factsheets 
should be forward looking.  He noted the need to take  into account the large informal private sector in 
many developing countries and cautioned against inclusion of remittances in AfT factsheets. 
21. The representatives of Kenya, Jamaica, and El Sa lvador commented on the issue of global 
value chains and Aid for Trade and welcomed further clarity and detail as the drafting process of the 
questionnaires and factsheets evolved.   
22. The WTO Secretariat gave a brief summary of the OECD's Managing for Development 
Results (MfDR) work being conducted in collabora tion with WTO. It was noted that this built on  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/25 
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  conclusions arising from the 3GR and the Busan Part nership for Effective Development Cooperation.  
The MfDR work aims to provide the AfT community with good practices in designing and 
introducing results frameworks for AfT projects a nd programmes.  A series of country-defined 
quantifiable targets and a menu of a limited numbe r of indicators will be examined to measure 
performance (i.e. outcomes and impacts). 
23. The WTO Secretariat also provided a brief overview of the second dedicated thematic 
Workshop on Aid for Trade and Trade Finance that took place on 15 May 2012.  The 
Director-General had made a keynote address that focu sed on "structural access" issues that affect the 
market for trade finance, notably as they relate to  issues "collateral" and "confidence" which limit the 
ability of some developing countries and micro, sm all- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to 
access trade finance.  The Directo r-General noted that the 2009 global financial crisis had amplified 
access and affordability issues and recalled the role played by the WTO in galvanizing the 
international community's response to the crisis  – as well as the actions led by the multilateral 
development banks (MDBs).  In his concluding re marks he noted how trade finance had adapted to 
the needs of global value chains and suggested that fu rther analysis of the implications of this trend 
was needed in the context of addressing the trad e finance constraints of developing and LDCs.6  
24. The representative of the European Uni on summarized the "Accountability Report on 
Improving EU Support to Developing Countries in  Mobilizing Financing for Development".7 The 
report confirmed the collective EU and member States position as the largest provider of Aid for 
Trade in 2010, accounting for approximately 32 per cent of total AfT flows and reaching more than 
€10.7 billion (€8.2 billion from EU member States and €2.5 billion from the EU).  Key areas to 
further enhance the effectiveness of the EU's AfT work were noted, inter alia : paying more attention 
to LDCs including with regard to supporting the mainstreaming of trade into their national and 
regional strategies; continuing to improve c oordination and dialogue between the European 
Commission and member States; the need for more  transparency and efficiency in trade policy 
making; and the need to continue to provide supp ort to partner countries' own monitoring of results 
and impact of Aid for Trade and the process of thei r trade development strategies.  The Chair invited 
the EU to present the report in more detail at a future CTD-AfT meeting. 
C. OTHER BUSINESS  
25. No item was raised under "Other Business".   
26. The Chairman informed that the next regul ar AfT session of the Committee on Trade and 
Development was tentatively scheduled to take place in November.   
27. The meeting was adjourned. 
__________  
 
                                                      
6 Information regarding the Workshop – including copies of the agenda and presentations and an audio 
podcast – can be found on the WTO website. 
7http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/what/development-policies/financing_for_development/documents/com-
366.pdf