TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES: REVIEW OF TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES OF UNCTAD

The Trade and Development Board,

1. Takes note of the report on the review of technical cooperation activities of UNCTAD (TD/B/50/2-TD/B/WP/163 and Add. 1 and Add. 2);
   
   
2. Welcomes the increase in extrabudgetary financial resources while expressing concern over the declining share going to LDCs and Africa;
   
   
3. Recommends that the secretariat implement the text attached to this decision as the strategy for UNCTAD´s technical cooperation activities, taking into account the ideas contained in the note on capacity development (TD/B/50/9-TD/B/WP/168);
   
   
4. Invites the secretariat to further strengthen the coordination between the different entities of the secretariat with a view to integrated approaches and through dissemination of this strategy among all staff members, particularly project managers;
   
   
5. Invites the secretariat to make a presentation on this strategy and its implementation on the occasion of UNCTAD XI, and to make sustained efforts to promote it among donors and beneficiary countries;
   
   
6. Requests the Working Party on the Medium-term Plan and the Programme Budget, at its annual sessions dealing with technical cooperation activities, to review progress in the implementation of this strategy and report the outcome of such reviews to the Trade and Development Board;
   
   
7. Requests donors and beneficiaries to support the strategy and to ensure the availability of predictable and sustainable resources for its implementation.

1. The strategy for UNCTAD’s technical cooperation was prepared in accordance withthe agreed conclusions of the second part of the fortieth session of the Working Party, held in May 2003, in which the Working Party took note of the information provided by the secretariat in document TD/B/WP/167, ‘Note by the secretariat’, and of the indication that a new draft strategy for UNCTAD’s technical cooperation would be prepared and presented to the Working Party at its forty-first session for consideration by member States.

Scope, guiding principles and objectives

2. The strategy sets out the operational activities of UNCTAD that address the practicalproblems of trade and development in an era of globalization and liberalization. It is designedto strengthen the effectiveness and impact of the overall technical cooperation of UNCTADas an essential complement to the institution’s policy analysis and the work of itsintergovernmental machinery.

3. The objective of UNCTAD’s technical cooperation is to assist developing countries tointegrate into the global economy. This strategy aims at enhancing their endogenous capacityto face challenges and reap opportunities to be derived from that integration, and to set andimplement their own development strategies. The effectiveness of technical cooperationdepends on national inputs, particularly the level of ownership and local capacity developedby each operation, and on the symbiosis between national development strategies anddevelopment-friendly global mechanisms.

4. In this regard, UNCTAD’s technical cooperation will particularly emphasize thedevelopment of human, institutional, productive and export capacities of all beneficiarycountries. Activities will be supportive of poverty reduction policies and the implementationof the international development goals, including those contained in the MillenniumDeclaration, and the relevant recommendations of global conferences.

5. UNCTAD’s technical cooperation should be directed towards developing countrieswith greatest need. Least developed countries will have priority in assistance provided byUNCTAD. Specific needs of small island developing States, landlocked and transitdeveloping countries and certain developing countries with structurally weak and small,vulnerable economies should be addressed. UNCTAD should continue to provide technicalcooperation to economies in transition.

6. In providing its technical cooperation services, UNCTAD will draw on its expertise asthe focal point within the United Nations for the integrated treatment of trade anddevelopment and the interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment andsustainable development. In doing so, analytical work and operational activities will befurther supportive of each other, aiming at ensuring coherence among the thematic areas ofUNCTAD’s expertise.

7. UNCTAD’s technical cooperation will be determined in the light of the outcome ofUNCTAD XI, by its work programme priorities set out in the final document of UNCTAD X,and as reflected in the relevant decisions of the Trade and Development Board, as well asrelevant outcomes of recent global conferences, such as the International Conference onFinancing for Development, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Third United Nations Conference on LDCs, the fourth and fifth WTO Ministerial Conferences, and the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries.

8. Member States will review and update this strategy as appropriate in the light ofevolving development needs and UNCTAD mandates.

9. Different short- and long-term technical cooperation instruments will be used asappropriate, according to the nature and objectives of each operation or programme and inorder to respond to the different needs of beneficiaries. UNCTAD’s technical cooperationwill focus on capacity development, while not losing sight of short-term and targetedinterventions. This focus implies enhancing developing countries’ endogenous capacity toformulate, implement and evaluate home-grown policies for: (i) the development anddiversification of their domestic productive sector, (ii) the design and implementation of tradeand investment policies and negotiating strategies, and (iii) the development of trade supportservices, within the framework of their development goals and taking into account theevolving international environment.

10. Stemming from the focus on capacity development, UNCTAD’s technicalcooperation will have the following features:

1. It will be demand-driven, based on beneficiaries’ needs;
   
   
2. It will be designed and implemented in such a manner as to ensure theownership of the beneficiaries and to be supportive of national developmentefforts;
   
   
3. Programme design, formulation and implementation will be carried out inclose consultation with beneficiaries and donors;
   
   
4. The main thrust will be to target long-term development needs such as humanand institutional capacity;
   
   
5. Particular attention will be paid to the goal of sustainability of projects andprogrammes;
   
   
6. With a view to increasing the effectiveness and enhancing the impact oftechnical cooperation activities, a well sequenced approach will be adopted inthe formulation and implementation of programmes and activities; and
   
   
7. The programmes will be designed and implemented in cooperation withinternational and regional agencies providers of trade- and investment-relatedtechnical cooperation, and in partnership with academia, the businesscommunity and NGOs.
   
   

11. An integrated approach for the delivery of technical cooperation will be pursued atboth the UNCTAD and the inter-institutional level.

1. (a) At the UNCTAD level, through more inter-divisional cooperation, the integrated approach will provide for delivery of holistic and multidisciplinarytechnical cooperation and capacity development in UNCTAD’s areas ofexpertise. This will provide more coherence in UNCTAD’s operation andlessen the incidence of fragmented interventions; and
   
   
2. At the inter-institutional level, UNCTAD will seek to strengthen cooperationand increase joint activities with other agencies providers of trade andinvestment technical assistance, and in particular with the United Nationsregional commissions, UNDP, WTO, ITC, the World Bank and otherintergovernmental institutions, including regional and subregional institutions.The main goal of UNCTAD’s cooperation with other providers of trade andinvestment technical cooperation will be to maximize the impact of operationsand increase the complementarities between institutions, so as to takeadvantage of their respective expertise, taking into account their mandates andcomparative advantages, increase synergy and avoid duplication. Instrumentssuch as Memoranda of Understanding and inter-agency task forces will beused as appropriate to determine the specific content of inter-institutionalcooperation and complementarities.
   
   

12. According to the needs identified in each case, as well as to the human and financialresources available, regional and interregional activities benefiting a larger number ofbeneficiaries will be encouraged.

13. Subject to availability of human and financial resources, country-level activities willbe intensified. This in particular applies to topics and modalities of technical cooperation thatrequire customized, long-term and intense national-based operations, according to beneficiaryinterests and commitment in support of the operation. In this connection, cooperation andjoint undertakings with United Nations Resident Coordinators and relevant agencies withfield representation will be increased, particularly in the formulation and implementation ofcountries’ national trade and development strategies. Similarly, UNCTAD will seek increasedparticipation in country-level mechanisms such as the CCA/UNDAF, the World BankConsultative Groups, and UNDP Round Tables.

Main forms of technical cooperation

14. UNCTAD’s technical cooperation will revolve around policy analysis, institutionalcapacity development, and human capacity development. With regard to forms of technicalcooperation, UNCTAD’s technical cooperation will include, among others:

1. Exchanges of development experiences;
   
   
2. South/South cooperation and technical cooperation among developingcountries (TCDC);
   
   
3. National case studies and thematic studies on particular development issues aspart of the secretariat’s work programme and as a contribution to intergovernmental and expert deliberations;
   
   
4. Policy reviews in the areas of development, trade, investment and science,technology and innovation, and assessments of the efficiency of tradesupporting services;
   
   
5. Advisory services at the country, subregional and regional level;
   
   
6. UNCTAD-wide integrated country-level activities for selected countries,within the context of country-level coordination, in particular for leastdeveloped countries; these should also contribute to policy dialogues at WorldBank consultative groups and UNDP round tables;
   
   
7. Support for human resources and institution-building, including thedevelopment of tool kits (e.g. software and manuals on best practices) andadvice and training on their application and utilization by beneficiarycountries;
   
   
8. Training activities encompassing both structured HRD programmes that seekto strengthen local training and research capacities, as well as ad hoc trainingworkshops and familiarization seminars; and
   
   
9. Dissemination of information on trade, investment and related matters fromUNCTAD databases to developing countries, for use by Governments or civilsociety.

15. UNCTAD should also further develop guidelines for partnerships with NGOs,especially regarding their involvement in thematic discussions and in delivering technicalcooperation services. Several NGOs are nowadays full-fledged partners of some UNCTADprogrammes, and this situation should occur more often in the future. Cooperation with theprivate sector, civil society and the academic community from all regions of the world will bestrengthened: in part as beneficiaries, in accordance with national priorities, of UNCTAD’soperational activities, and in part as sources of relevant experience and expertise for suchactivities. Partnerships with beneficiaries’ stakeholders will be given special attention in thedesign and implementation of operations.

16. In carrying out technical cooperation, and in order to facilitate the exchange of thelessons of development experiences, efforts should focus on institutional capacity building.UNCTAD will:

1. Enhance and make full use of national expertise and institutions, so as toensure that national stakeholders are active partners in the design andimplementation of activities in the form of priority setting, skills andresources;(a) At the UNCTAD level, through more inter-divisional cooperation, theintegrated approach will provide for delivery of holistic and multidisciplinarytechnical cooperation and capacity development in UNCTAD’s areas ofexpertise. This will provide more coherence in UNCTAD’s operation andlessen the incidence of fragmented interventions; and
   
   
2. At the inter-institutional level, UNCTAD will seek to strengthen cooperationand increase joint activities with other agencies providers of trade andinvestment technical assistance, and in particular with the United Nationsregional commissions, UNDP, WTO, ITC, the World Bank and otherintergovernmental institutions, including regional and subregional institutions.The main goal of UNCTAD’s cooperation with other providers of trade andinvestment technical cooperation will be to maximize the impact of operationsand increase the complementarities between institutions, so as to takeadvantage of their respective expertise, taking into account their mandates andcomparative advantages, increase synergy and avoid duplication. Instrumentssuch as Memoranda of Understanding and inter-agency task forces will beused as appropriate to determine the specific content of inter-institutionalcooperation and complementarities.

Monitoring and evaluation

17. Projects and programmes will be monitored on a continuous basis for theirdevelopment impact – particularly from the point of view of the development of nationalcapacities – and for their cost-effectiveness. To facilitate this, measurable targets will be setup when projects begin. This includes benchmarks and indicators of achievement at the stageof project formulation that will also set the ground for project evaluation.

18. Selected projects and programmes will be subject to independent evaluation inagreement with both the beneficiary country(ies) and the donor(s). Evaluations will examinethe impact of activities against their objectives and will propose practical recommendations todeal with deficiencies. The Working Party on the Medium-term Plan and the ProgrammeBudget will consider each year an in-depth study on a technical cooperation programme.

19. The Board will review the technical cooperation activities of UNCTAD, includingtheir cost-effectiveness. It will be assisted in this task by the Working Party, which will meetfor this purpose immediately prior to the Board.

20. In order to ensure the effective integration of analytical work with technicalcooperation, responsibility for project preparation and implementation is entrusted to thecorresponding secretariat entity responsible for the work programme. UNCTAD’s TechnicalCooperation Service will have responsibility for ensuring the overall coherence of thesecretariat’s technical cooperation activities and the implementation of the strategy.

21. Strict quality control will be exercised by the secretariat through adherence tocommonly established quality standards at the project design, implementation, monitoringand evaluation stages.

22. The management of technical cooperation will be improved by streamliningadministrative procedures. An appropriate share of the support costs received by UNCTADfor project execution will be allocated to the responsible substantive programme in atransparent and equitable manner.

Support by member States

23. In order to support the long-term goals entailed by the focus on capacity development,donor and beneficiary countries as well the secretariat will cooperate in ensuring that thehuman and financial resources allocated to the implementation of this strategy achieve therequired predictability and sustainability. For this purpose, priority will be given to longer-term sustainable activities, particularly through multi-year funding mechanisms and interdivisionaloperations based on the thematic priorities set by the UNCTAD work programme.