SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICA, THE DOHA AGENDA AND AID FOR TRADE

The document examines the 'aid for trade' framework, focusing on the WTO Task Force's recommendations and the African Group's position. It argues that aid for trade should complement, not replace, market access gains from the Doha Development Agenda. The paper details the roles of the World Bank, IMF, and the Integrated Framework for LDCs, while also analyzing regional trade agreements like the EU's Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and the US-SACU FTA. It recommends that African nations establish national and regional coordination committees to align aid with national development strategies and the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.

• The WTO Task Force on Aid for Trade defines the scope of the initiative across six categories: trade policy and regulations, trade development, trade-related infrastructure, building productive capacity, trade-related adjustment, and other trade-related needs.
• The African Group's common position emphasizes that aid for trade must be owned by Africa, provided as grants without conditional ties, and should not serve as a substitute for the development benefits expected from the Doha Development Agenda.
• The WTO Task Force recommends that aid for trade be guided by the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, which focuses on five principles: ownership, alignment, harmonisation, managing for results, and mutual accountability.
• The Enhanced Integrated Framework (IF) for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) includes a proposed funding increase to US$400 million over five years and the creation of an Executive Secretariat housed within the WTO Secretariat.
• Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the EU and ACP countries aim to coordinate trade and aid, with the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) budgeted at approximately Euro 24 billion over six years, including a Euro 2 billion contribution from the European Investment Bank.
• The document identifies significant administrative failures within the European Development Fund (EDF), describing it as having 'cumbersome implementation procedures' and a 'culture of risk-aversion' that hinders the spending of available funds.
• To effectively manage aid for trade, the author suggests that African countries establish National Aid for Trade Committees to coordinate between government agencies and stakeholders, and Regional Aid for Trade Committees to address cross-border infrastructure and policy integration.
• The WTO Task Force explicitly rejected the recommendation to create a new stand-alone fund for aid for trade due to donor opposition, opting instead to strengthen existing funding mechanisms.

APA

Grant, C. (2006). SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICA, THE DOHA AGENDA AND AID FOR TRADE. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Grant-2006-A4T-discussion-paper-web.pdf

Chicago

Grant, Catherine. SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICA, THE DOHA AGENDA AND AID FOR TRADE. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2006. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Grant-2006-A4T-discussion-paper-web.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Grant |first1=Catherine |title=SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICA, THE DOHA AGENDA AND AID FOR TRADE |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=9 April 2006 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Grant-2006-A4T-discussion-paper-web.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{grant2006southern, author = {Grant, Catherine}, title = {{SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICA, THE DOHA AGENDA AND AID FOR TRADE}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2006}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Grant-2006-A4T-discussion-paper-web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }