Stories of Change: Trade Behind the Headlines

While Least developed countries (LDCs) account for 13% of the global population, their participation in global trade remains very low. LDCs account for less than 1% of global trade exports. Trade offers important opportunities for LDCs to grow their economies, reduce poverty and enhance people's livelihoods.

The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) is a multilateral partnership programme supporting 51 Countries, 47 LDCs and 4 recently graduated countries to bring trade to support sustainable economic growth and development.  The EIF has supported partner countries to define country national priorities on trade development and proposed roadmaps for LDC trade.  

This working session will highlight the results achieved on the ground and lessons learned by five countries and organizations under the auspices of the EIF- Malawi, Nepal, Senegal, Togo and Vanuatu.  These countries have taken significant steps to complement countries' ambitions in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through trade development.

Through the eyes of people working on the ground, the session will explore the challenges and opportunities to turn country roadmaps into businesses- small and medium - with the capacity to trade regionally or internationally.  The session will highlight stories that can have real impact on poverty alleviation, women's economic empowerment and resilience to climate change.

The session will also explore how institutional capacity building and multistakeholder coordination for trade policy and implementation is key to promote an enabling environment for trade.