Trade is an essential source of economic growth, has important impact on job creation, peoples’ income and poverty reduction. Better integration into international trade also plays an important role in global efforts to reduce poverty. The Aid for Trade (AfT) agenda is one of key global initiatives aimed at strengthening the capacity of developing countries to participate in and benefit from international trade. A large part of AfT is focused on strengthening domestic production, such as creating an enabling business environment for enterprises or building economic infrastructure. It covers five main areas: 1) Trade Policy and Regulations, 2) Trade Development, 3) Economic Infrastructure, 4) Productive Capacity, 5) Adjustment Costs. The Wider Europe Initiative is a framework programme for Finland’s development cooperation with former Soviet republics in order to promote stability and well-being extensively both in partner countries and in the whole continent. The initiative comprises three regional cooperation programmes to be launched in Western CIS (Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine), South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). Taking into account the similar sectoral and geographical priorities of Finland’s development cooperation and of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS (UNDP RBEC), the Aid for Trade project (implemented in 2011-2013) builds on Phase I (2009-2011) and depends the existing work in trade related development assistance to the countries of the Western CIS, South Caucasus and Central Asia. The overall goal of the project is to foster inclusive growth in the region through the promotion of trade and the enhancement of each country’s competitiveness. to support these countries’ efforts to reduce poverty and improve people`s lives. The gains from trade are numerous, and extend beyond purely economic benefits. Trade and investment can contribute to human development by helping to raise productivity, employment and economic growth. In this context, the human development concept central to UNDP`s work helps highlight inclusiveness as a key implication of sound trade policies. Therefore, a particular purpose of this project is the implementation of trade capacity development measures at the local level and to certain extend at the national level, the transfer of best practices and knowledge exchange with special reference to the challenges Of small enterprises and micro businesses. The project implements technical assistant interventions in selected regions located outside the main cities. Thus, beneficiaries and stakeholders include a wide range of private and public entities in the countries of Central Asia, South Caucasus and Western CIS, especially men and women living in underdeveloped areas outside the main cities in the countries covered by the project. More specifically the project aims to - Support the development of trade related capacities and help small and micro entrepreneurs in remote urban and rural areas, as well as farmers and farmers` associations to gain from the opportunities that expanded trade possibilities may bring to the regions and local communities
- Facilitate trade at the national and local level through strategic documents to develop trade and by optimizing the institutional framework.
- Articulate national and sub-regional AfT issues with special reference to the challenges cased by small entrepreneurs and micro businesses operating in local areas, shadow economic activities and informal cross border trade; facilitate the transfer of best practices in developing trade capacities of small enterprises and micro businesses through knowledge sharing, discussion of national and regional policies and diffusion of good practices in several thematic areas with special reference to (i) tools for better market access; (ii) the diffusion of knowledge and new technologies through international trade and (iii) the impact of trade ( including informal trade) and internal trade barriers on local development and micro businesses.
The project focuses on three sub-regions: Western CIS, South Caucasus and Central Asia and consists of the following four components: - Support to economic development along trade corridors linking countries of Central Asia, South Caucasus and Western CIS with key markets for their products.
- ITrade development: Technical assistance for better use of trade opportunities.
- Understanding informalities and overcoming informal trade barriers faced by small enterprises and micro businesses, especially women entrepreneurs.
- Creating opportunities for small enterprises and micro-businesses to benefit from trade.
The project document can be found on BRC`s website.
The project is implemented jointly by UNDP Europe and the CIS Bratislava Regional Centre (UNDP/BRC) and UNDP country offices in eleven countries of Central Asia, South Caucasus and Western CIS. The role of BRC in the management of this project is that of a main coordinator and provision of policy advise in the implementation of the different activities upon request of the country office. The assignment will require frequent travels in the region. The AfT Policy Specialist is expected to maintain good relations and work closely with UNDP/BRC staff and UNDP country offices in the region.
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