Newsletter Volume: 1 Issue No. 1. 2009

Editor’s Note

Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) is a measure to bridge the gap between demand and supply as effectively as possible and mainstream trade into national development strategies. It is the main mechanism through which least developed countries (LDCs) can access additional Aid for Trade (AfT) resources in order to be integrated into the world trading economy. The EIF provides a procedure for:

clearly mapping out and prioritizing key needs for trade-related assistance and capacity building, including trade infrastructure, supply and productive capacity; and

submitting these demands to the donor community of each country for accessing funding beyond the resources available in the Framework's own Trust Fund.

The EIF process not only assists LDCs in mainstreaming trade into their national development strategies but also allows them to translate their trade-related needs into funded and deliverable projects, hence, the need to be sustainable.

Tier 1 of the EIF Trust Fund provides funding to strengthen LDCs' capacity to manage the benefits of AfT. Tier 2 provides bridging funding to “jump start” activities. However, for most activities identified through the EIF, resources for implementation have to be mobilised from other sources beyond the EIF Trust Fund.

In this issue:

News

• Accelerating the EIF

• Finland donates to EIF Trust Fund

• Diagnostic Trade Integrated Study (DTIS)

• New EIF Executive Director

• Challenges to a Successful EIF

• Trade and Commerce

Events

• Roundtable with EIF Director

• Workshop under EIF Project

• Provincial Sensitisation Workshop on the EIF

• EIF National Sensitisation Workshop

Accelerating the EIF

The introduction of EIF by World Trade Organisation (WTO) is a most welcome development. EIF will help integrate the LDCs into the world trading system and will make it possible for them to positively participate in international trade. “Developed countries should agree to channel considerable savings to developing countries to finance the scale up of sustainable investments bilaterally or multilaterally”. <<More>>

Finland donates to EIF Trust Fund

Finland declares that it seeks to reduce poverty, particularly in LDCs, by increasing Aid for Trade and enhancing its effectiveness in the context of environmentally and socially sustainable development. “I welcome Finland’s valuable and timely donation to the EIF. These contributions will allow LDCs to expand their markets, integrate in the global economy and take better advantage of the multilateral trading system”, declared the WTO Director General Pascal Lamy. <<More>>

Diagnostic Trade Integrated Study (DTIS)

Every country benefiting from the EIF initiative must prepare a Diagnostic Trade Integrated Study (DTIS). It is a document that provides avenues that evaluate internal and external constraints on a country’s integration into the world economy, and recommends areas where technical assistance and policy actions can help the country overcome these barriers. <<More>>

New EIF Executive Director

The EIF board recently appointed Dorothy Tembo, former Foreign Trade Director in Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI), as the EIF Executive Director to head the EIF Executive Secretariat, Geneva. She brings in with first hand experience and understanding of IF implementation. <<More>>

Challenges to a Successful EIF

For Zambia the EIF is relevant and pertinent to the process of developing Zambia’s natural resources, trade and industry potential. The challenges that have been identified with EIF being a success are its management structure, capacity to absorb aid and trickle down effect through value addition. There is a need of fine tuning of the EIF to ensure that it is responsive enough to the dynamic and complex web of obstacles to Zambia performing to it’s potential and being able to benefit from the EIF. <<More>>

Trade and Commerce

Zambia is signatory to many trade protocols, agreements, and policies. In addition, it has own development plans that are devised every five or six years. The EIF process requires that all these instruments need to be harmonised so that there are very few clash points. The case for supporting and facilitating trade and commerce in the domestic economy is very compelling. Local businesses are here to stay, and they will eventually become the backbone of the economy of tomorrow, if only Zambia makes a deliberate effort to develop them through the EIF process. <<More>>

Roundtable with EIF Director

A roundtable meeting was organised by CUTS ARC Lusaka where the EIF Executive Director, Dorothy Tembo strongly commended CUTS for taking up the role of sensitising other civil society organisations (CSOs) on the importance of the EIF process to LDCs such as Zambia. The EIF Secretariat describes this initiative as overwhelming. <<More>>

Workshop under EIF Project

On February 11, 2009 CUTS ARC Lusaka hosted a provincial workshop in Kitwe Town of the Copperbelt Province in continuation with the lined up activities on the EIF for poverty reduction project. The workshop was attended by representatives from government, civil society, media and the private sector. <<More>>

Provincial Sensitisation Workshop on the EIF

CUTS ARC, Lusaka with Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) hosted a sensitisation workshop on the EIF. The objective of the workshop was to build awareness about the EIF and trade, identifying the needs of those involved in trade and those marginalised during trade, and formulating strategies to improve trade and integrate these strategies into national programmes. <<More>>

EIF National Sensitisation Workshop

CUTS ARC, Lusaka hosted a national sensitisation workshop on the EIF for poverty reduction in Lusaka, Zambia on January 21, 2009. The main aim of this event was to raise awareness among all stakeholders working on trade and development issues on the importance of the EIF process to LDCs such as Zambia. It was also envisaged that the workshop could also be used as a platform to sensitise and engage stakeholders on the EIF process so that they can assess the opportunities of the EIF to LDCs. <<More>>