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DEVELOPMENT: INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK

Key principles, steps and funding of the enhanced Integrated Framework

The enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) is based on: country ownership of the EIF process; tripartite partnership (least-developed countries, EIF agencies, and donors); a demand-driven and tailor-made approach; a participatory approach, involving the private sector at all stages.



 


What are the steps and sequence of the EIF?

The EIF process consists of a number of phases:

  • awareness-building of the importance of trade for development in the least-developed country (LDC);

  • preparation of a Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) or DTIS-update to identify constraints to overall competitiveness and supply chains and sectors of greatest export potential; and an Action Matrix — a list of trade priorities — for better integration into the global trading system;

  • preparation of a multi-year work plan for the EIF implementation and integration of the priority DTIS recommendations (Action Matrix) into the national development strategy; and

  • implementation of the Action Matrix in partnership with the development partners.

 

Funding

Funding of the actions identified in the EIF's DTIS is provided through the following channels:

  • the enhanced EIF's own Trust Fund (EIFTF). This consists of two financing arrangements: Tier 1 and Tier 2. Tier 1 is intended to support greater in-country capacity and ownership of the EIF process. It funds activities to strengthen local capacity to manage the EIF process, finances updates/preparation of the DTIS and supports trade mainstreaming activities. Tier 2 provides funding for priority activities as identified in the DTIS, its updates and its Action Matrix.

  • bilateral, regional or multilateral development partners active in the LDC. In this respect, the enhanced IF is a way of leveraging additional Aid-for-Trade resources. Indeed, most funding for the actions included in the DTIS — for example, infrastructure projects — needs to come from the LDCs' development partners over and above the EIFTF. The funding needed to address the trade priorities listed in the Action Matrix of the DTIS and which cannot be met by the EIFTF can be accessed by submitting these demands to the development partner community of each country. An effective way of doing this is to integrate the trade priorities into the country's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper or any other national development strategy. In this way, the country sends a strong signal to its development partners on the importance of growth through trade.

  • the national budget, especially in countries where assistance by development partners is largely delivered by budget support and where the country's financial state allows for the government's investment in trade development.

The private sector — domestic or foreign — could also be a source of funding.

 


  

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