devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
Zimbabwe: UK Trade Partnerships Programme The UK Trade Partnerships Programme is designed to ensure countries maximize benefits of Economic Partnership Agreements especially trade with the UK under EU EPAs or UK specific EPAs. The programme will increase awareness on EPA preferences by increasing availability and uptake of trade intelligence and build capacity of targeted firms/products to export to UK/EU market in selected pilot countries. The Programme will also allow DFID and ITC to learn lessons to inform future UK programming in export and import promotion. ITC will deliver the Programme in two phases: an inception phase of six months to tighten project design and an implementation phase of 28 months. ITC will measure impact in two ways: (1) increased trade between EPA partner countries and the UK and EU markets and (2) increased jobs supported through that trade. The programme will measure a variety of outcome level results, especially more competitive firms.  All ODA eligible EPA Countries will benefit from assistance in trade intelligence. In selected pilots the programme will conduct more targeted export promotion support including Cameroon, Comoros, Côte D’Ivoire, Fiji or Papua New Guinea in the Pacific, Ghana, Madagascar and Zimbabwe and two to three countries in the CARIFORUM region.
EAC: EU Market Access Upgrade Programme Phase II (MARKUP II) The Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II) aims to promote economic growth in the East African Community (EAC) through private sector development and export promotion. It seeks to enhance sustainable and inclusive intra-African trade, pan-African trade, and trade with the European Union (EU). MARKUP II will address trade barriers, value addition, compliance, trade facilitation, investment, technology transfer, and institutional support. The programme has a total budget of &euro;40 million, funded by the EU under the Sub-Saharan Africa Multi-Annual Indicative Programme from 2023 to 2027. The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the only implementation agency, working in partnership with the EU regional Delegation, the EAC Secretariat and the governments of six EAC member states. MARKUP II builds on the achievements of its predecessor, MARKUP I, streamlining procedures, supporting enterprises, and facilitating international trade. The sectors of intervention are: avocado, cocoa, coffee, essential oils, French beans, gum Arabic, horticulture, leather, packaging, spices and tea.
Myanmar Trade and Investment Project (TIP) Myanmar Trade and Investment Project (TIP) is a comprehensive three-year project, implemented by International Trade Centre (ITC). TIP aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth and decent work for citizens of Myanmar through increased trade and investment. It focuses on enhancing Myanmar's trade competitiveness and supporting promotion of inward investment to build productive capacities at both Union and state/regional levels. TIP activities are based on a participatory approach, involving a wide range of public and private stakeholders, to meet the needs of MSMEs as ultimate beneficiaries.
Lao PDR: ASEAN Regional Integration Support (Laos-ARISE Plus) The ARISE Plus Lao PDR programme contributes to the integration of the Lao economy into global production chains through targeted support to both the public and private sectors, with a focus on smallholders and SMEs. It concerns the specifically targeted sectors Wood processing and Coffee. The project aims at contributing to a sustainable growth in Lao PDR through job creation and mitigation of vulnerability, via three expected outputs: (1) an increased regional integration, (2) enhanced benefits from trade opportunities and market linkages with potential markets, and (3) an improved participation in global value chains of the two selected sectors.
Tunisia: Improving the international competitiveness of the textile and clothing sector (GTEX/MENATEX) This project builds on lessons learned and achievements realised in previous projects in Tunisia. The envisaged impact of the project is to increase employment and income along the Textile and Clothing (T&C) value chain in Tunisia. To achieve this long-term objective, the project foresees to accomplish, by its completion, two major outcomes. One is related to the institutional infrastructure around the T&C sector, including policy aspects, where required, and is formulated as “Enhanced TISI performance and regional collaboration in the T&C sector”. The second outcome targets the enterprise level which is formulated as “Improved competitiveness of SMEs in the T&C sector”.
Supportive business ecosystem: Institutions and Ecosystems for Business Support Business support organizations (BSOs) are critical actors in an ecosystem of business support, categorized by the formal and informal connections among service providers that recognises and takes advantage of shared objectives and complementary strengths.ITC has developed a unique centre of excellence in the establishment, improvement and connectedness of business support organizations. This work with BSOs is embedded as a core service area for ITCs strategy and recognises the role that BSOs play in delivering results to all stakeholders through their ability to create scale, systemic change and sustained resultsIn this strategic cycle (22-25), ITC will continue to serve a broad range of BSOs including those active in ITC&rsquo;s priority impact areas of youth entrepreneurship, green trade, digitalisation and gender, with managerial and operational solutions, but also invest more in ecosystem level interventions, and make use of digital channels for efficiency, scale and value.This document sets out a 4-year perspective (2022-20225) and 4 strategic objectives for supportive business ecosystems with, specific outputs and activities describing the year-on-year contribution of W1 funding to the strategic core service area 2.
Trade for Sustainable Development (T4SD) - Database This project represents the core funding for the T4SD database and IT systems (Sustainability Map and its related modules) that is provided by the German vernment W1 contribution.The 2018-2019 project activities included:1. Identification, referencing and updating of standards in the T4SD global database.2. Improving the taxonomy of the the T4SD database and data entry tool (DET) functionality.3. Organisation and implementation of the 5th and 6th annual T4SD Forum, as well as any other relevant awareness-raising events (2019).4. Maintaining and improving the Sustainability Map platform. In 2020, the project activities will largely mirror the activities in 2018-2019, as the funding is dedicated to supporting T4SD's core work in providing transparency and awareness of voluntary sustainability standards, namely through the T4SD Global Database of VSS and the related Sustainability Map platform. In 2020, the activities will be centered around:1. A complete update of the taxonomy of the T4SD Database and the data entry tool (DET), resulting in a DET10. Identification, referencing and updating of standards in the T4SD Database.3. Altering the IT infrastructure underpinning the Sustainability Map platform to offer updated functionalities to users.4. Organisation of the 7th T4SD Forum, similarly to the 5th and 6th edition. ITC/T4SD is uniquely suited to provide this data to all actors in the value chain from upstream producers to BSOs, to downstream buyers and industry associations – accessible to all via a Global Public Good solution. T4SD will therefore continue implementing similar activities in 2021 as it has in the previous years, to ensure continuity and highest possible quality of the relevant standards’ data and the database underpinning it. Expansion and maintenance of the good usability of the database and its public interface will remain big priorities for the project in 2021. In addition, new initiatives will be added in 2021: increased efforts in enhancing the transparency on VSS globally, namely through the roll-out of the T4SD Executive programme to MSMEs, developing new features of the Standards Map and hosting an event to mark the Standards Map's 10 year anniversary in serving its global stakeholders. The project will also contribute to the development of the new umbrella market linkages sustainability platform, co-funded by W2 project B036 (Sustainability Gateway). The team will also plan for its annual T4SD Forum (or, the Good Trade Summit) under this project. The Outcome of this project:  Business and trade community have a better understanding of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS), is linked the T4SD programme's theory of change outcomes A and B across all beneficiaries (policymakers, TISIs, MSMEs, and market partners). The project's outputs directly contribute to scaling the T4SD W2 results, as the W2 B036 project co-funds and uses the core T4SD platforms for its outputs and outcomes (Sustainability Gateway / Sustainability Map).
Pakistan: Growth for rural advancement and sustainable progress (GRASP) The Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress (GRASP) programme contributes to the reduction of poverty through development of rural SMEs in the Sindh and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan. As such the programme contributes directly to the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. GRASP will create gender inclusive employment and income opportunities in the rural areas through targeted support to both the public and private sectors. The programme is part of the focal sector "Rural Development" of the Multiannual Indicative Programme for Pakistan MIP: 2014-20. It will be implemented from 2019-2025.
Euromed: Providing trade and market intelligence for better informed decisions (TIFM 2) The Euromed Trade and Investment Facilitation Mechanism project (TIFM) phase II builds on the success of phase I, implemented by ITC between Jan. 2014 and Jun. 2017. On 30th June 2017, ITC launched the Euromed Trade Helpdesk, an online tool and problem-solving network enhancing regional trade transparency. In March 2018, Trade Ministers from the Mediterranean region endorsed the Helpdesk as a pioneering tool for comprehensive regional trade intelligence. During the first 3 years of its existence, the Helpdesk attracted more than 34,000 users who accessed transparent and reliable market information. Following positive feedback and requests for more information and engagement, ITC designed TIFM II to include more data, covering investment and trade in services, to deepen the understanding of trade obstacles in the region, and to strengthen the sustainability and ownership of the initiative. ITC will implement this new phase in collaboration with public and private sectors in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia, providing support by fostering regional trade integration, reducing risks within global value chains, and addressing COVID-19 challenges.
Curaçao: National Export Strategy and Implementation Management Mainstream trade in Curaçao's economic planning, through the design and management of a National Export Strategy, with a view to better preparing and integrating the island into the multilateral trading system, strengthening SMEs competitiveness and trade/investment support institutions, diversifying the economy, and focusing on priority sectors and markets.
Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Uganda: Building Resilient Trade Competitiveness by Fast Tracking the Digital Technology Sector (NTF V) ITC and CBI have been cooperating for decades. This cooperation led to a series of sector development programmes under the Netherlands Trust Fund (NTF) since 2005. The current project is part of the NTF V programme funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands and implemented in close coordination with the Dutch Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI).The NTF V programme was approved in July 2021 and will run until June 2025. Its ambition is to contribute to building back better in the partner countries with a focus on creating a link between MSMEs in the digital technologies with a focus on agritech. To this end, agritech start-ups will be supported to improve their understanding of agribusinesses; needs, to gain more agribusinesses partners, and, in some instances, to help digitalize agribusinesses. Project activities will foster business-friendly tech ecosystems, strengthen business support organizations such as tech hubs and equip tech start-ups with resilient business models, linking them to business, partnership and investment opportunities while contributing to the digitalization of traditional SMEs in other sectors. Benin, Cote dIvoire, Mali and Uganda are part of the targeted countries for NTF V. NTF V Multi-country Tech will build on the work initiated under NTF IV spin-off #FastTrackTech Africa and NTF IV Uganda. The project aims at contributing to the creation of sustainable jobs in the digital technologies sector and the modernisation of agribusiness through digital technologies.
EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme - MARKUP The Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP) is a regional initiative aiming at improving market access to the European Union (EU) and the East African region for five East Africa Community (EAC) partner countries - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda - agro-industrial crop and horticultural sectors. MARKUP is funded by the EU 11th European Development Fund over the period 2018-2022. The Program is implemented by various partners, including ITC, GIZ, UNIDO and other partners that will be selected by the EAC Partner States. The intervention of ITC focuses on improving product quality compliance, value addition, access to finance and business promotion as well as business advocacy to facilitate trade in the EAC region.
ECOWAS: West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) The overall objective of the regional programme is to strengthen the competitiveness of West Africa through an enhanced level of production, transformation and export capacities of the private sectors, in line with the regional and national industrial and SME strategies. The specific objective is to improve the performance and growth of selected priority sectors and value chains and related services by stimulating their contribution to industry, regional trade and exports. The intervention of ITC in the framework of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) will entail the implementation of the activities related to the promotion of better regional linkages among selected value chain, support to key regional intermediary organizations and the reinforcement of industrial competitiveness in the region.
Trade and market intelligence for the Eastern Partnership Countries The Eastern Area Partnership (EaP) Helpdesk will provide economic operators, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), trade and investment support institutions (TISIs) and policy makers in EaP countries with an interactive online platform that offers access to trade information (e.g. tariffs, non-tariff measures, taxes, trade statistics, trade procedures and company data) necessary to do business in the region and with the European Union (EU). An online feedback mechanism will allow companies to report on difficulties they face in international trade. Surveys of trade barriers in each country will enable an increased understanding of the regulatory and procedural obstacles that companies face and help policy makers to identify options to reduce trade costs. Training on the analysis of the information available via the Helpdesk will allow SMEs and TISIs to identify export opportunities and the capacity of institutions to collect and process services data for selected sectors will be be strengthened.
Jordan: Improving the international competitiveness of the textile and clothing sector (MENATEX) The MENATEX Jordan project is part of the Textiles and Clothing (T&C) programme for the MENA region (MENATEX) which, in addition to Jordan also covers Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. The project is funded by the Government of Sweden. MENATEX Jordan intends to increase Jordan’s export competitiveness in the T&C sector. The envisaged impact of the project is to increase employment and income along the T&C value chain. To achieve this long-term objective, the project foresees to accomplish two major outcomes. The first one is related to the institutional infrastructure around the sector, including policy aspects, where required, and is formulated as “Improved business environment and TISI performance in the T&C sector”. The second outcome targets the enterprise level, which is formulated as “Improved competitiveness of SMEs in the T&C sector”. A total of 25 enterprises are benefiting from in-depth project support.
Jordan: Trade for Employment Project:“Improving Business Environment for SMEs Through Trade Facilitation” In the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, ITC, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Government of Jordan are jointly implementing the project ‘Improving Business Environment for SMEs through Trade Facilitation’, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, within the framework of the  larger ‘Trade 4 Employment (T4E)’ programme, funded by BMZ and co-implemented by GIZ.

The overall objective of the project is to create jobs and increase employment by improving Jordan's cross border trade environment, stimulating the competitiveness of Jordanian SMEs and fostering the growth of Jordanian exports. 

The specific objective is to improve the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and boost exports from Jordan through trade facilitation reforms, in line with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The project is articulated around ten (10) outputs.
St. Lucia: Strengthening the institutional infrastructure for export promotion This project is strengthening the capabilities of St Lucia's Trade Export Promotion Agency (Export St. Lucia) and its network of Trade and Investment Support Institutions (TISIs) to provide coherent capacity building programmes for potential and incipient exporters aligned with the newly designed “Tastes of Saint Lucia” brand. In addition, the project also seeks to build the capacity of public and private institutions to jointly develop, under the leadership of Export St. Lucia, a dynamic plan of action that will ensure the sustainable development of the export sectors. The plan provides a roadmap of activities to address Saint Lucia's main supply-side, business environment and market entry constraints while building on existing opportunities. A Strategic Trade Development Roadmap has been finalized and validated by relevant stakeholders including list of constraints analysis, strategic objectives, five priority sectors (Information and Communication Technology; Creative Industries; Tourism; Food and Beverages; and Renewable Energy) and four trade support functional strategies (Trade Facilitation and logistics; Innovation; Skills development and educational services; and Access to Finance). ITC’s unique and recognized expertise for reinforcing Export St. Lucia capabilities as a national trade and investment support institution translated into a solid and improved understanding of Export St. Lucia strengths and challenges and informed several strategic changes done by the organization. This support facilitated first-hand access and exposure to unrivalled knowledge and innovations regarding management of trade support institutions, but also introducing Export St. Lucia to a regional and global network of top performing trade and investment support institutions through the participation into several events and networking activities. The re-design of the “Tastes of Saint Lucia” (ToSL) brand has created a lasting impact. ITC worked with Export St. Lucia to adapt and convert the agency’s “Taste of Saint Lucia” (TOSL) trademark into a sustainable and commercial brand that will be carried by approved Saint Lucian products and services in export markets. These activities included: i) The creation of an umbrella branding, comprising the development of a strategy and guidelines for its implementation; ii) The formation of a National Brand Committee established to manage the Export Brand, and defined policies for the brand roll out; and ii) The organization of several promotional activities on the island, with key markets via online and at a trade events in the UK. These activities have resulted in: 10 companies have made enquiries for the use of the trademark; four products were included in a pilot exercise carrying the new “Taste of Saint Lucia” Brand are now being sold at a number of outlets on the island; and Significant increase in Website and Social Media traffic
Innovative MSME and Value Chain development through Alliances in cocoa coffee and associated crops sectors in Ghana and Ethiopia Ghana (Sankofa). ITC and its partners- Chocolats Halba (Coop), Kuapa Kokoo Farmer Union, Niche Cocoa, Max Havelaar Foundation, Fairtrade Africa, Yam Development Council and the vernment of Ghana are working together to achieve transformative impact by supporting smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana to improve their livelihoods through income diversification, adoption of climate smart agriculture and market linkages through the Alliances for Action approach. Ethiopia. The project focuses on value chain development for sustainable sourcing in coffee in Ethiopia by building alliances for enhanced market linkages and capacity of MSMEs, cooperatives and producers in their supply chains. The project facilitates a number of sustainable sourcing partnerships and market linkages through assessment of market opportunities in various international markets, improving branding and marketing strategies and facilitating active participation in specialty coffee fairs globally. The implementation of this W1 project supports the scaling-up and expansion of the ITC Alliances for Action by developing a multi-channel approach in cocoa, coffee and associated crops.
Malaysia: Trade-Related Assistance (Arise + Malaysia) The ASEAN Regional Integration Support by the EU (ARISE) Plus Malaysia aims to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Malaysia through international trade and economic integration. It supports greater connectivity and economic integration between Malaysia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region in line with the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025.The 3-year project, worth EUR 3 million, which started on 1 February 2021, comprises of the 3 following outcomes and outputs: Outcome 1. Trade policy formulation and implementation is aligned with regional and international commitments Output 1: Strengthened institutional capacities to formulate and implement trade policies aligned with ASEAN and international commitments Outcome 2. Quality Infrastructure System is aligned with ASEAN and EU standards Output 2: Enhanced capacity to develop and implement a quality infrastructure system (standards, certification and metrology) compliant with ASEAN and EU commitments and practices Outcome 3. Sustainable practices in the agri-food sector is enhanced and disseminated, in line with ASEAN, international and EU standards Output 3: Enhanced understanding and implementation of sustainable production standards and practices in agriculture and fisheriesThese priority areas of support were identified together with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and Malaysian stakeholders to help tackle specific trade-related challenges faced by Malaysia. They are also relevant to support Malaysia in managing the economic and trade impact of Covid-19.Ultimate project beneficiaries include Malaysian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), which will benefit from improved business environment, policies and processes to increase their competitiveness. The focus on supporting Malaysia’s trade integration, which can positively impact job creation in export-oriented sectors, will notably contribute to addressing disadvantages faced more intensely by women and youth-owned businesses.