. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/AFT/W/6 
16 June 2008 
 (08-2815) 
Committee on Trade and Development 
Aid for Trade  
 
 
 
2008 AID-FOR-TRADE ROADMAP1 
 
 
Objectives: 
 
• Increase developing country ownership of Aid for Trade. 
• Shift emphasis to monitoring implementation - w ith a focus on country, regional and sectoral 
priorities. 
• Launch work programme to develop perfo rmance indicators and to strengthen self 
evaluations. 
 
Strategy: 
 
Global Monitoring  
 
• Assess results of the first year of monitoring. 
• Update donor and (especially) partner-country questionnaires. 
• Explore ways of increasing partner-county invol vement (including by streamlining surveys 
and improving incentives). 
• Examine how TPRs could be further adapted to Aid-for-Trade monitoring, building on 
existing work. 
• Identify a cluster of indicators to benchmark progress in building trade capacity. 
• Hold an Expert Symposium on Evaluation. 
• Work with the OECD to implement an Aid -for-Trade "knowledge network" – i.e., using 
information technologies to establish contact point s, highlight activities, share best practices, 
etc. 
 National and Sub-regional Reviews 
 
 
• Take the initiative to the "next level" by holding a series of selected National and Sub-
Regional Aid-for-Trade Reviews in Africa, La tin America and the Caribbean, and Asia and 
the Pacific.  These Reviews would be focused, t echnical, and results-oriented, with the aim of 
assisting in advancing – and then monitoring – the implementation of concrete national and 
sub-regional strategies. The broad objectiv e would be to showcase how Aid-for-Trade 
strategies can progress – and are progressing – an d to create incentives for others to follow 
suit.    
• Work with countries, donors, regional banks, and other key stakeholders to identify ready and 
eligible "first generation" Review candida tes (e.g., having an Aid-for-Trade plan, 
coordinating structure, completed needs ass essments, identified priorities, etc.). 
                                                      
1 As approved by Members at the Committee on Trade and Development meeting of 25 February 2008. WT/COMTD/AFT/W/6 
Page 2  
 
  • Convene national and sub-regi onal reviews – co-hosted by the participating national 
government and/or REC together with the Regional Aid-for-Trade Support Network (as 
recommended by the regional reviews) – with the aim of: 
o assessing and improving national/regional plans (and coordinating structures) 
o identifying binding constraints and key priorities 
o agreeing on the roadmap for implementation (including timetables, institutional 
mandates, and financial requirements). 
• Use OECD/WTO self-assessments as "living documents" to develop actionable plans, 
monitor progress, and encourage mutual accountability. 
• Report on progress to periodic meetings of the CTD. 
• Profile results at the next Global Review – to monitor progress and encourage "peer" review 
and incentives. 
 
Regional Aid for Trade Networks
 
 
• Encourage early establishment of Regional Ai d-for-Trade Networks – comprised of key 
stakeholders (RDBs, OECD, World Bank, UN economic commissions, WTO, lead donors, 
etc.) – as recommended by last year's regional reviews, to assist countries and sub-regions in identifying priorities, drawing up plans and mobilizing resources. 
 
Global Review
 
 
• Hold next Global Review in Spring/Summer 2009 to provide political guidance, momentum 
and the "big picture" on implementation and evaluation. 
 Committee for Trade and Development
 
 
• Consult the CTD in the development and im plementation of the 2008 roadmap.  Report 
regularly on progress and results.  
  
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