The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) is an Aid for Trade partnership among LDCs, donors and international agencies, which helps 50 poorest countries to be more active players in the global trading system.
A warm welcome to the first issue of the EIF partnership’s newsletter.
In keeping with the renewed strategic thrust of the EIF, which includes enhanced communication and outreach, we are pleased to present the first issue of the revived and revamped avatar of the EIF Newsletter. Reflecting the diversity of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the programme serves as well as supports countries' trade agenda and this newsletter covers a wide spectrum of these issues.
Yemen: New tools, skills and opportunities are shaping a way beyond a difficult past
Trade continues to play a pivotal role in Yemen’s development. As a Least Developed Country (LDC) with one of the lowest per-capita ODA flows, the country is using the EIF process and enhanced donor coordination to leverage additional Aid for Trade (AfT) resources. Read more
Projects on the ground
EIF state of play (Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects)
The EIF programme is currently focused on supporting EIF Countries to deliver quality projects and activities with an impact on poverty reduction. This is enabled through Tier 1 and 2 windows of support for institutional capacity building and building capacity to trade through addressing various national supply-side constraints.
The EIF in Cambodia is working to deliver pro-poor change on the ground and leverage additional finance for high-impact poverty reduction projects through a nationally owned Trade Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp). The Trade SWAp is a tool used for trade mainstreaming as well as an effective mechanism available to donors for aid delivery. Through the EIF Tier 1 project, projects supporting trade facilitation, tourism and the export of milled rice and high-value silk, as well as cassava and fisheries are being implemented.
Djibouti: Partnering up public and private sectors on trade priorities means improving the doing business environment
The President of Djibouti, H.E. Mr Ismail Omar Guelleh officially launched the High National Council of Public-Private Dialogue on 23 March 2014. The event was organized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and supported by the EIF programme in Djibouti. The High-level event brought together Members of Government, the National Chamber of Commerce, private sector operators and policy makers in the public sector.
Chad: Supporting gum arabic value chain in rural areas
On 14 March 2014, Chad’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, H.E. Mr Abderahim Bireme Hamid launched the first EIF Tier 2 project in Chad. The Tier 2 project seeks to promote the gum arabic sector in Chad in view of the expanding export base that is predominately based on oil.
Lao PDR: Quality infrastructure and access to market information key to regional integration and post WTO accession action plan
The National Quality Infrastructure and Industrial Statistics project responds to Lao PDR’s trade and development priorities as set out in the 7th National Socio-Economic Development Plan VII and is in line with Lao PDR’s Trade and Private Development Roadmap 2012.
Solomon Islands: Branding as a tourism destination in the Pacific Region
The tourism project will support areas of policy and legislations related to the tourism sector; promote Solomon Islands as a distinct visitor’s destination in the Pacific Region and strengthen the linkages of the tourism sector with auxiliary sectors like agriculture, fisheries and handicrafts.
Nepal: Boosting competitiveness of the unique pashmina brand
Nepal’s second Tier 2 project, the Pashmina Enhancement and Trade Support (PETS) project was officially launched on 10 March 2014 in Kathmandu by Nepal’s Minister for Finance, H.E. Dr Ram Sharan Mahat. The PETS project was launched with the aim of promoting Nepal’s unique Chyangra Pashmina brand in the international market and stregthening the competitiveness of the domestic pashmina sector.
Cambodia: Prime Minister launches first EIF 3rd generation trade study
On 18 February 2014, His Excellency, Prime Minister Hun Sen launched the update to Cambodia’s Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS), referred to as Cambodia Trade Integration Strategy 2014-2018 (CTIS 2014-2018). The Strategy aims at assisting the country to effectively integrate into the global trading system and to use trade as the main engine of economic development.
From landlocked to land-linked: unlocking the trade potential of least developed Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)
The work of the EIF Partnership in LLDCs received a lot of attention during the Second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries held in Vienna, Austria, from 3 to 5 November 2014.
The EIF engagement in the 2014 WTO Public Forum aimed at enhancing awareness and visibility among the Public Forum visitors. It focused on three events: the Trade and People Fair; the Trade around the World exhibition; and the EIF Working Session.
The EIF: a partnership at work for productive capacity building in LDCs
As a partnership at work for productive capacity building, the EIF actively participated in the recent LDC Ministerial Conference on "New Partnerships for Productive Capacity Building in the Least Developed Countries", held in Cotonou, Benin from 28 to 31 July 2014.
M&E and communications regional workshops for French-speaking African and Asia and Pacific EIF countries
Regional workshop report on module rolled out to capture programme's results and communicate them to different EIF stakeholders, at global and country levels.
In line with the provisions of the EIF Compendium, the comprehensive evaluation of the EIF was carried out from June to October 2014. The draft evaluation report was presented at the EIF Board Meeting on 30th October 2014 by Capra International Inc., an independent external evaluation company, that was retained after a competitive selection process, managed by WTO, where the EIF is administratively housed. The consultants are now working on a final report due to be presented to the EIF Partnership on 28th November and to be considered by the EIF Board at its 17th December EIF Board Meeting.
Review of the EIF Trust Fund Manager's operating tools and procedures
Subsequent to the extension of the EIF Programme in December 2012 following the EIF Mid-Term Review (MTR), the EIF Board considered and approved the extension of the mandate of UNOPS as the Trust Fund Manager (TFM) to December 2017. As part of the extension of the TFM mandate, the EIF Board decided to request a review of the TFM operating tools and procedures.
