Aid for Trade Initiative - African Development Bank

This grant is Canada’s contribution to the African Development Bank (AfDB) for its Aid-for-Trade programming. The goal of aid-for-trade is to help developing countries to engage effectively in trade negotiations with other countries and to implement trade reforms and projects within their own country. The AfDB plays a leadership role in the implementation of Aid-for-Trade activities in Africa. It supports trade-related infrastructure assists in strengthening institutions provides trade-related expertise enhances monitoring and evaluation and ensures the sharing of lessons learned between donors AfDB member countries and regional economic communities. The AfDB focuses its Aid-for-Trade support in the following areas: strengthening regional integration; trade facilitation including the improvement of logistics and transport; simplification of customs procedures and harmonization and modernization of customs operations; private sector development; and enhancing skills and expertise in trade policy trade negotiations and the implementation of trade agreements. The economic empowerment of women is addressed within each of these areas. The Aid for Trade Initiative was launched in 2005 as a result of an agreement between World Trade Organization members to help developing countries use trade as an engine for growth and poverty reduction. The Aid for Trade Initiative helps developing countries build the production capacity and trade-related infrastructure needed to implement and benefit from trade agreements and to expand their trade. It also supports the implementation of trade facilitation measures and the improvement of trade standards.

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include building production capacity and strengthening infrastructure services; increased support to developing countries in delivering technical assistance; improved trade facilitation and trade liberalization; and economic empowerment of women.