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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.
Africa Food Trade and Resilience programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The programme will stimulate an increase in regional food trade in sub Saharan Africa (SSA), contributing to satisfying a growing food demand and to addressing food shortages through regional food production, processing and trade, and generating more rural jobs, climate resilience and income for farmers. The programme will: (i) work with companies that source, process, and trade food in the region, to maximise investment, coordination and benefits to smallholder farmers and (ii) contribute to improve the transparency and predictability of government policies to unlock regional food trade. By 2023, we expect the programme will increase income for 1.8 million farming families. DFID funding will de-risk and stimulate over £100 million in private sector investment aimed at enhancing smallholder farmers’ productivity and resilience.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Supporting Economic Empowerment and Development in Palestine (SEED)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will focus on the UK International economic development assistance to Palestine in the areas of water, electricity, access & movement and trade, and fiscal losses and customs. Programme activities will support institutional capacity building and infrastructure development, working closely with the Palestinian Authority and Government of Israel. The overarching goal is to support economic growth and job creation in Palestine.
Malawi Trade and Investment Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
MTIP aims to stimulate a step change in Malawi’s growth by promoting higher value export sectors, cutting time and costs of trade and logistics, and raising international and domestic investment in new exports. Underpinning this will be a focused effort to improve the business enabling environment. Higher economic growth is expected to translate into sustained poverty reduction, creating new jobs and income generating opportunities and much needed revenue to fund the public services needed for a fast-growing population. Specifically, programme aims include reducing the costs of trade for Malawi by 10% and converting over 5,000 hectares of land to more productive high value export crops.
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.
ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The programme will leverage expertise in UK institutions to support the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states implement ASEAN initiatives that will reduce poverty in the region and in particular support women’s economic empowerment and small businesses. It aims to reduce barriers to development in ASEAN Member States (AMS) and the overall ASEAN Economic Community, to increase prosperity and provide the foundation for more inclusive economic development that benefits the poorest. The programme will support reforms covering regulatory reform, financial services, and trade through technical assistance, capacity building and knowledge-transfer partnerships. It will look to harness the potential of digitalisation in ASEAN.
Regional Economic Development for Investment and Trade (REDIT) Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The programme aims to increase sustainable and shared prosperity in Kenya by increasing Kenya’s trade with the region and the rest of the world. Specifically, the programme will (i) invest in improving the efficiency and capacity of transport, logistics and trade infrastructure at Mombasa Port and key border points; (ii) invest in systems to improve trading standards, reduce non-tariff barriers and enhance transparency in trade processes; (iii) improve the regulatory and policy environment for trade; and (iv) support private sector advocacy for trade competitiveness, the export capacity of Kenyan businesses and the greater participation of women and small and growing businesses in trade. ICF component is supporting Kenya Ports Authority to develop and implement a Green Port Policy to help the port adapt and become resilient to climate change. Key objectives include introducing new climate friendly technologies into the port’s operations.
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.
Private Enterprise Programme Zambia Phase II
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To create investment in Zambia by building the capacity of micro, small and medium sized enterprises. The programme will aim to systematically transform the finance and investment environment for SMSEs in Zambia, by helping companies with potential to grow and become the engine of job creation in the economy. In addition, the programme will also provide independent technical advice and assistance to Zambian government bodies and private sector organisations engaged in projects that harness the potential of Zambia’s infrastructure, cities and towns to act as drivers for economic growth and job creation. Furthermore, the programme will support trade facilitation initiatives that will help reduce time spent at the Nakonde boarder post. The programme will create jobs at scale, including for women, disabled, and rural communities with high levels of poverty. SMSEs supported by the programme will help to improve nutrition outcomes and improve climate resilience of smallholder farmers.
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.
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.
Human Rights Thematic Programming
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To improve human rights and provide better access across the world through strengthening institutions and grassroots organisations.
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