1 Europe and CIS Jacek Cukrowski Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Advisor, UNDP, Europe and the CIS Bratislava Regional Centre Aid for Trade (AfT) Roadmap for Central Asia SPECIAL PROGRAMME FOR THE ECONOMIES OF CENTRAL ASIA (SPECA) Project Working Group on Trade (Fourth session) Geneva, Switzerland, 26 October 2009

2 Outline  Background  Objectives and focus  Aft Roadmap for SPECA  A framework  Financial support  Division of responsibilities  Progress until the date  Next steps and urgent needs Europe and CIS

3 Background  Central Asia countries have been marginalized in the overall AfT discussion at the WTO  In 2008 the Government of Azerbaijan proposed the initiative called: “Aid for Trade (AfT) Roadmap for SPECA countries” AfT Needs Assessments in SPECA countries AfT Needs Assessments in SPECA countries Experts meeting in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) Experts meeting in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) Ministerial meeting in Baku (Azerbaijan) Ministerial meeting in Baku (Azerbaijan)  Strong commitment and support from international organizations and governments UNDP, UNECE, UNESCAP, WTO, UNCTAD, ITC, EBRD, IDB UNDP, UNECE, UNESCAP, WTO, UNCTAD, ITC, EBRD, IDB Government of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan Government of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan Europe and CIS

4 Objectives of AfT Roadmap for SPECA Articulate AfT national and regional priorities for the SPECA countries with special reference to the challenges and prospects during and after the global economic crisis Europe and CIS

5 AfT Roadmap for SPECA: a framework Development of national needs analysis to identify AfT priorities  Afghanistan  Azerbaijan  Kazakhstan  Kyrgyzstan  Tajikistan  Turkmenistan  Uzbekistan Europe and CIS Preparatory process Experts meeting  to take stock of national and regional priorities and prepare for Ministerial meeting Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) Ministerial meeting  to engage with development partners in an AfT regional review Baku (Azerbaijan) Final event Timing: January /February 2010 Timing: October January 2010 January 2010Timing: May 2010

6 Financial support  Islamic Development Bank (International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation -ITFC)  Expert meeting  Ministerial conference  UNDP (Regional Centre for Europe and the CIS)  Regional Project: Wider Europe: AfT for Central Asia, South Caucasus and Western CIS funded by the Government of Finland  Preparatory process  AfT Needs Assessments in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan  AfT Regional Review  ITC  Funding participation of the representatives of the private sector in Ministerial meeting (to be confirmed) Europe and CIS

7 Division of responsibilities (1)*  UNDP  lead the preparatory phase in cooperation with all stakeholders (AfT needs Assessment, AfT Regional Review, agenda of the meetings)  assist hosting governments in the organization of the logistics of the meetings  Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC)  provide funds for the two meetings; sign co-invitations with the hosting Governments and organizations  Governments of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan  organize Ministerial and Expert meetings (in collaboration with ITFC) Europe and CIS * As agreed on Preparatory and Consultative Meeting on: AfT Roadmap for SPECA, Bishkek, March 25-26, 2009

8 Division of responsibilities (2)*  ITC  endeavour to engage the private sector and identify representatives from the private sector; organize a private sector forum during the Ministerial meeting  UNECE and ESCAP  continue to provide support for the SPECA intergovernmental mechanism  organize a session on AfT at the SPECA PWG on Trade in Geneva (October 2009) and work with the national representatives both in the capitals and in Geneva  The SPECA Project Working Group on Trade  provide institutional support for the process Europe and CIS * As agreed on Preparatory and Consultative Meeting on: AfT Roadmap for SPECA, Bishkek, March 25-26, 2009

9 Progress until the date  Preparatory and Consultative Meeting on: AfT Roadmap for SPECA (Bishkek, March 25-26, 2009)  The overall concept developed and agreed  Funding secured (UNDP/Finland and ITFC)  International partners and the governments of the countries hosting the events committed  Preparatory process started  Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan: AfT Needs Assessments in advanced stage  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan: Local experts identified analysis on initial stage)  Uzbekistan: Letter to the government offering assistance sent in September  Afghanistan - … Europe and CIS

10 Methodology in place Guide: How to Conduct AfT Needs Assessments Europe and CIS 8BD35D19-F203-1EE9-B08767E3833D66C6 Regional guide Global guide AFT%20web.pdf

11 National partners  Azerbaijan  Team Leader: Vagif Rustamov (Institute for Scientific Research on Economic Reforms)  Kazakhstan  Selection of the team planned for November 2nd  Kyrgyzstan  Team Leader:Umurzakov Kubat  Team Leader: Umurzakov Kubat  Tajikistan  Team Leader:Khodjamakhmad Umarov  Team Leader: Khodjamakhmad Umarov  Turkmenistan  Team Leader: Irina SuhInstitute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development)  Team Leader: Irina Suh (Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development) Europe and CIS

12 National ownership  Preparation of AfT Needs Assessments and identification of national priorities by local experts  Establishment of AfT Country Teams  advisory bodies and assure national ownership  composed of members of the government, representatives from the civil society and private sector, and development partners  to ensure effective coordination and buy-in among government agencies and other stakeholders; assess and validate the AfT Needs Assessments; monitor and encourage AfT Needs Assessment follow up actions  National consultations  Peer review  National debate (roundtables) Europe and CIS

13 Next steps  Development of the drafts of AfT Needs Assessments October-December 2009 October-December 2009  Organization of national debates December 2009/January 2010 December 2009/January 2010  Expert meeting January/February 2010) January/February 2010)  Development of AfT Regional Review February-April 2010 February-April 2010  Preparation of the Ministerial meeting (agenda, key note speakers, background materials, etc.) February-May 2010 February-May 2010  Ministerial meeting May 2010 May 2010 Europe and CIS

14 Urgent need  Nomination of focal points  in government structures  in international organizations involved Europe and CIS

15 Thank you… United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Development Programme, Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, Bratislava Regional Centre Europe and CIS