International Development Grant
Independent Evaluation of the International Trade Centre
Project Number: CA-3-M013902001
Status: Closed
Country/Region: Unknown
Regional Focus:
Maximum Contribution: $100,000.00
Start Date: March 21, 2013
End Date: December 31, 2014
Duration: 1.8 years
Project Description
This project supports an independent evaluation of the International Trade Centre to help improve the Centre’s effectiveness and efficiency. The evaluation aims to develop concrete recommendations to improve the impact strategic directions and management of the Centre. It also seeks to strengthen the ability of contributors such as Canada to account for their efforts. The evaluation includes a comprehensive desk review country case studies and interviews with key stakeholders and is following international best practices. Other Centre donors are also contributing to the evaluation. The Centre acts as the focal point within the United Nations system for trade-related assistance to developing countries. Established in 1968 its mission is to help small enterprises in developing countries achieve success as exporters. The Centre provides assistance by making policy environments friendlier for export business by strengthening the institutions that provide support to exporters and by assisting small export enterprises and communities to reach global markets with products and services.
Expected Results
The key result of the evaluation is the development of concrete recommendations to improve the impact strategic directions and management of the Centre. The evaluation will also strengthen the ability of contributors such as Canada to account for their efforts.
Progress & Results Achieved
The independent evaluation was completed on May 2014 and the ITC completed a management response to the evaluation. Donors presented a Common Donor Statement at the informal Joint Advisory Group of the ITC in January 2015. Donors acknowledged and approved ITC’s management plan and donors were pleased that the ITC management agreed with the Evaluation’s recommendations. The independent evaluation provided four strategic recommendations. Strategic Recommendation 1: •Move to a strategic base for supporting and deploying ITC’s unique strengths in the global Aid for Trade effort. •Provide substantial longer-term financial support (5 year minimum) to the six clustered focus areas in the current ITC Operational Plan and Case for Support and have the ITC develop and deploy them in genuinely strategic ways for a wide range of countries and regions. •De-emphasize ambitions for conventional country programmes in favour of capitalizing on proven ITC strengths globally and regionally. Strategic Recommendation 2: Protect and develop ITC’s main and distinctive working assets: its special capacity to deal with the private sector in trade and its excellence in technical expertise and appropriate technical assistance. Strategic Recommendation 3: Pragmatically strengthen governance and continue to strengthen accountability while minimizing bureaucracy. Strategic Recommendation 4: Move ITC up to the next level of visibility engagement and effectiveness as a key player in the global Aid for Trade effort.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
ITC - International Trade Centre
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Contributions to specific-purpose programmes and funds managed by implementing partners
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP