Africa's Positive Aid for Trade Trends - More Needed to Overcome Constraints

14 June 2013
press release

Addis Ababa — Although Aid for Trade in Africa is starting to show results, interventions are urgently needed to overcome the short and long term constraints this was the key message by the Economic Commission for Africa underlining "African Case Stories: A Snapshot of Aid for Trade on the Ground in Africa". The publication captures the African experiences on how AfT is progressing on the continent from a total of 114 submitted case stories.

"Since the AfT Initiative was launched in the Hong Kong Ministerial Meeting in 2005, Africa has received technical and financial assistance for trade-related activities. In addition, "AfT funding has been kept and priority areas and categories identified by beneficiaries are being targeted," according to ECA experts.

The study's baseline period (2002-2005) shows the momentum of increasing commitments and disbursements has been sustained, with the structure of allocations remaining the same.

In 2009 Africa surpassed Asia, becoming the first recipient of AfT disbursements since the initiative was launched.

Although AfT continues to be primarily channelled to infrastructure, a growing share of commitments is going to building trade capacities and trade policy and regulations. This progress, says ECA is promising - largely because AfT is increasingly matching expectations in the continent and all partners are showing strong willingness in supporting the initiative.

AfT that is aimed at projects with a regional dimension is on the rise, with an emphasis on economic infrastructure, building productive capacities and trade facilitation. However, more interventions are urgently needed to overcome the short and long term constraints. In addition, it has been difficult to target greater employment, diversification or positive gender or poverty impacts through AfT interventions.

With improved M&E mechanisms and tools, it might be possible to fine-tune AfT responses to desired outcomes.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.