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Aid by Sector
Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme
HM Revenue and Customs
The Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme aims to promote the economic development of developing countries, as per the OECD definition of Official Development Assistance (ODA), by delivering capacity building, supporting eligible countries in implementing provisions of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Trade facilitation is recognised as a key contributor towards economic development. The TFA aims to improve trade efficiency worldwide and lower trade costs by cutting red tape at borders, increasing transparency and predictability, reducing border-related corruption and taking advantage of new technologies. The Programme is delivered primarily through our two delivery partners: World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the UN Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD), who each bring unique expertise and experience in border management, processes and procedures. HMRC also brings together experts from across HMRC to provide support and knowledge sharing to partner countries on a government-to-government level.
African Continental Free Trade Area Support Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will support the successful negotiation and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It will contribute to the reduction of barriers to trade across the continent, increase economic integration and improve the trading environment for both UK and African business. The programme will support faster and more complete implementation of the AfCFTA, working at both continental and national levels. Fully implementing the AfCFTA could lift an additional 30 million people from extreme poverty and 68 million people from moderate poverty.
Good Governance Fund (Phase 3) Eastern Neighbourhood: Supporting Governance and Economic Reform
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Good Governance Fund Phase 3 will deliver demand-led support to governance reforms that allow open societies and economies to flourish. The Good Governance Fund will focus on improving democratic and economic governance, primarily through strategically targeted technical assistance. The Good Governance Fund programme will deliver interventions on a flexible basis, based on identified needs and/or requests from government counterparts or civil society in beneficiary countries (Armenia, Georgia and Moldova) in support of governance and economic reforms. This will support delivery and seek to prevent/reverse democratic backsliding. The Good Governance Fund is part of an integrated portfolio of programmes operating in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate region and supports the delivery of four National Security Council strategies and the Integrated Review.
TradeMark East Africa - Strategy 2 (Regional)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The programme aims to increase sustainable and shared prosperity in East Africa by increasing trade within the region and with the rest of the world. Specifically, it supports three intermediate outcomes that contribute to reducing barriers to trade (1) improved sustainable efficiency and capacity of transport infrastructure (2) effective trade systems and procedures, and (3) improved trade regulatory environment. The programme is implemented by TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), which is an aid-for-trade organisation established by the UK in 2010. ARD co-funds TMEA with Kenya (300137), Uganda (205164), Tanzania (300529), and Rwanda (204495). Ultimately it intends to indirectly alleviate poverty by increasing trade and economic growth in such a way that improves the the well-being of poor people, particularly those working in sectors and geographic areas most affected by international trade.
Sustainable Inclusive Livelihoods through Tea Production in Rwanda
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The project supports job creation and increased incomes by working with smallholder farmers to develop greenfield tea. The Wood Foundation Africa (TWFA) will set up and run two Services Companies supporting approximately 12,000 smallholder tea farmers over 7,500 hectares. Farmers will be supported to produce tea for the first time, employing best farming practices, including understanding and managing climate risk and variability.The Services Company will be co-owned by the farmers. This will lead to improved incomes and livelihoods (in particular nutrition and education) for the farmers and their families. Unilever and Luxmi will build a factory which will heavily rely on the tea supplied by the smallholder farmers with support from The Wood Foundation Africa.
SheTrades Commonwealth +
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
SheTrades Commonwealth aims to increase economic growth and job creation in Commonwealth countries by enabling the increased participation of women-owned business in trade.
Climate Smart Jobs Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To strengthen the climate smart agribusinesses, creating jobs, support climate smart land management & services and to remove barriers that stop businesses getting deals.
The Growth Gateway programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To establish a coordinated and improved service to businesses exporting to, importing from and investing in developing markets and businesses from developing markets to access UK Government trade, investment and finance services that increases trade and investment to developing markets. The programme will prioritise for support businesses who through their operations and products can deliver positive environmental and development impact, and support for businesses and governments will include promoting climate sensitive approaches and international standards on environmental practice, and identifying and supporting opportunities for climate smart investment.
The UK-Rwanda Trade and Investment Partnership programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The programme aims to promote bilateral trade between the UK and Rwanda and support Rwanda to take advantage of trade preferential agreements, diversify its export base, and build capacity for enabling market access for the private sector both within the region and globally. This will increase FDI flows into critical sectors in Rwanda and increase export from Rwanda to UK.
Development of Mahagi One Stop Border Post and customs process and procedures in DRC - TMEA Strategy 3
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The programme aims to improve the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)'s Mahagi One Stop Border Post infrastructure and operational efficiency, to facilitate reduction of crossing time and cost, and to integrate cross border traders in the OSBP ecosystem. Through these activities, the programme aims to promote economic development and welfare of the primary beneficiary country, the DRC. This programme is covered by the Concept Note and the Business case for the Programme 300257 of the Africa Programme and Expertise Department (APEX). All spend is earmarked.
Eastern Neighbourhood Small Projects Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will provide the mechanism for embassies to develop small projects to further the aims of the Country Business Plans and develop learning to support wider programming initiatives, with the overall aims of supporting development in the region. This is part of the FCDO’s official development assistance and falls under the OECD DAC ODA rules.
Supporting Environmentally-friendly Mineral Extraction and Sustainable Trade in Agriculture (SEMESTA)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Indonesia is making efforts to decouple commodity production from deforestation, most successfully in the timber sector with its timber legality system (SVLK). A similar approach is in train with Indonesia’s palm oil standard, Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO). Learning from the timber experience, the programme will support Indonesia’s sustainable commodities production, including for exports to the UK. SEMESTA will address concerns that undermine sustainability, including upgrading ISPO by establishing a licensing unit and supporting the merger of regulations and to establish national system for other strategic commodities, including nickel. The programme will also support further necessary strengthening of SVLK, including on geolocation.
Trade Centre of Expertise
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Trade COE aims to increase trade from developing countries in order to drive export-led growth which reduces poverty and increases people’s resilience to climate change. It will provide technical assistance to governments and businesses in developing countries and in multilateral fora to enable them to overcome the barriers to trade, to compete in global markets and to make the global trade rules work for developing countries. It will provide world-class expertise on trade to Posts that is responsive, flexible and value for money and accompanied by a separate Trade COE Evidence and Innovation programme.
Trade Centre of Expertise - Evidence and Innovation Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Trade Centre of Expertise - Evidence and Innovation Programme accompanies the Trade Centre of Expertise Programme and will improve the use of evidence across HMG’s Aid for Trade (AFT) Portfolio through targeted research and evidence, and coherent and effective Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation and Learning. It will aim to increase HMG and international understanding of what works in Trade for Development policy, driving forward improvements in evidence and data and use this to influence the policies of development partners and partner governments. It will provide a shop-front function for the main Trade Centre of Expertise, undertaking scoping exercises to define where, when and how support should be provided in order to maximise impact, both through the Trade Centre of Expertise (COE) and the broader HMG Aid for Trade Portfolio.
Bilateral projects in support of Commonwealth thematic priorities
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Our bilateral policy projects are designed to sustain Commonwealth networks and contribute to our policy priority areas, including promoting democracy and good governance and building capability to support trade and investment, as agreed by Ministers. We work with trusted delivery partners including the Commonwealth Accredited Organisations to design impactful projects which make use of the Commonwealth advantage
UK Hosting of the Berlin Process 2025
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Established in 2014, the Berlin Process aims to increase connectivity and cooperation in the Western Balkans, with the ultimate goal of supporting the EU accession of the six Western Balkan countries (WB6): Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The Prime Minister agreed that the UK will host the Berlin Process in 2025. As the UK resets its relationship with Europe, the Berlin Process will support stability, security and economic growth, combat irregular migration, and tackle gender inequality. This programme will deliver increased UK leadership and stronger relationships with European partners on the Western Balkans, and tangible progress the WB6 on their Euro-Atlantic paths.
Extra Budgetary Resource (EBR) projects with the Commonwealth Secretariat 2025/26
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Support for designated project activity in line with UK priorities for the Commonwealth, including on trade and investment, democracy, good governance and the rule of law, and climate finance
Commonwealth Investment Network
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) find it harder than other nations to attract the investment they need. The Commonwealth Investment Network will establish an ecosystem of growth-oriented local, regional and international partners working together to identify investment opportunities across Commonwealth SIDS, provide tailored technical assistance to select projects to increase their bankability, and nurture investment pipelines that will build climate-resilient and sustainable economies.
The Commonwealth Standards Network
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Commonwealth Standards Network engages CSN stakeholders to act as a collaborative network with an influential international voice that supports the increased use of international standards in Commonwealth ODA-eligible countries – primarily by strengthening the capacity of their National Standards Bodies (NSBs) so they can support their stakeholders (Policy Makers, Private Sector etc) to use international standards as tools to enhance trade and development and strengthen Regulatory alignment. It will build on the wider FCDO-funded work under the Standards Partnership Programme and complement other relevant programmes including the Commonwealth Investment Network.
Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade Programme - ReMIT
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The programme, through provision of high quality technical assistance, aims to support Pakistan to implement reforms that lock in macroeconomic stability and improve conditions for high and sustained growth, mutual prosperity, job creation and poverty reduction. The TA will be provided to; • Strengthen tax revenue mobilisation, helping to raise Pakistan’s tax to GDP ratio from 13 percent to 18 percent by increasing the number of tax payers; • Address the investment environment challenges faced by local and UK businesses, moving Pakistan towards being one of the top 50 countries to do business in; • Facilitate trade and drive competitiveness, addressing barriers to trade in order to reduce Pakistan's trade deficit; • Modernise macroeconomic policy making and implementation process.
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