EIF GLOBAL PLATFORM

EIF GLOBAL PLATFORM

17 to 19 March 2015, Geneva

Background

The EIF is the only global Aid for Trade programme supporting Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to better integrate into the global trading system, as a means to achieve economic growth and development.

Since 2008, the EIF has been supporting LDCs to:

• Develop institutional capacity to formulate and implement trade‑related policies and strategies;
• Use trade to achieve a country's development objectives through its mainstreaming into national development plans; and
• Secure and coordinate the delivery of Aid‑for‑Trade resources based on country priorities.

The EIF is a partnership which brings together LDCs, donors and international organizations. Country ownership is at the core of the programme and reflected both in-country and through the global governance arrangements.

In 2014, the EIF underwent an independent Comprehensive Evaluation which found that:

• The EIF is highly relevant to the trade needs of LDCs;
• LDCs are showing results with sustainable prospects;
• The EIF support is used to set trade‑related priorities and mainstream trade into national development plans; and
• Institutional and management capacity has been built, with variations across countries.    

Challenges have been identified, including:

• Weak in-country capacity to implement plans and strategies;
• Mixed results across countries on donor coordination and building broad‑based support for the trade agenda; and
• Limited results on leveraging additional resources at the country level.      

The 2014 Evaluation highlighted the need for improvements in management and governance in order to increase the programme's effectiveness and efficiency. The Evaluation also recommended that the EIF's scope incorporate global value chains, regional integration and private sector engagement with the objective of enhancing the relevancy of the programme.

Based on these findings, the EIF Steering Committee endorsed an extension of the programme into a second phase. The second phase of the EIF will be based on agreed scope and modalities, and is scheduled to commence in January 2016. The scope will determine the areas of focus, whilst the modalities will set out the way in which the programme will operate in the second phase, namely the main elements of the programme cycle and its related processes and governance arrangements. This will be brought together in the form of a programme framework. 

The first draft of the programme framework for the second phase of the EIF is scheduled to be submitted to the EIF Board at the end of March 2015. The work is underway by independent Consultants. A draft of their work will be presented during the EIF Global Platform for discussion and advice, before submission to the EIF Board.  

Purpose of the EIF Global Platform

The EIF Global Platform is a critical part of the consultative process for ensuring an inclusive and collective approach towards shaping the second phase of the EIF, based on knowledge sharing and in-country experiences.   

Objectives

To seek input from key EIF stakeholders on shaping the second phase of the EIF programme;

To facilitate interaction between global and country‑based EIF stakeholders; and

To ensure a clear and shared understanding of the goals and role of the EIF programme by all.

Main themes to be addressed (a detailed programme will be distributed closer to the event)

•    2014 Comprehensive Evaluation findings
•    Elements of the second phase of the EIF
•    Programme cycle and management
•    Governance structure (global and in-country)
•    Capacity building
•    Mobilizing resources
•    Ownership and sustainability
•    New issues (regional integration, global value chains and private sector engagement)
•    Monitoring and Evaluation
•    Role of communications
•    EIF partnership approach
•    Next steps after the EIF Global Platform

Expected Outcomes

The main outcome of the EIF Global Platform will be a report containing inputs on the draft programme framework for the second phase of the EIF programme and its revised governance arrangements.  

A process for ensuring ongoing engagement by all stakeholders throughout development of the new phase will also be agreed at the EIF Global Platform. 

The outcomes of the EIF Global Platform will contribute to developing a more dynamic, flexible and results‑oriented EIF, which demonstrates improved effectiveness, efficiency and value for money.  

Venue and Format

The three-day event will be held at the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland, between 17 and 19 March 2015. A combination of plenary and working sessions will provide EIF stakeholders with the opportunity to share their experiences and ideas. Participants may be requested to present in‑country case experiences. Background material will be provided in advance of the event.

Participation

All EIF Focal Points, EIF National Implementation Unit Coordinators, EIF Donor Facilitators, Donors to the EIF Trust Fund and EIF Core Partner and Observer Agencies are invited.