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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 Organization (WCO) and UN 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.
Pakistan Economic Corridors Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Improved transport infrastructure in Pakistan along with enhanced private sector involvement in infrastructure financing, road safety interventions and support to regulatory environment, leading to increased trade and economic growth in Pakistan
Tax Transformation Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To transform Ethiopia’s tax system so that the Ethiopian Government can fund more services for its population from its own revenues and become less dependent on aid. It takes an accelerated ‘delivery approach’ to tax reform that will generate at least £295million of additional tax revenue, reduce compliance costs for taxpayers, and support a better environment for businesses by improving clarity and the fairness of the tax system for businesses and investors. In doing so, it will create a platform for further sustainable increases in tax revenue and improve the Government's ability to assess the distributional impacts of its tax policies, particularly on the poor.
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.
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.
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.
Trademark Tanzania Strategy 2
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The programme aims to increase sustainable and shared prosperity in East Africa by increasing East Africa’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 key port and 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 East African businesses and the greater participation of women and small and growing businesses in trade.
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.
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.
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.
Economic Development In the Caribbean
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will support inclusive economic growth and build economic resilience in the ODA eligible Caribbean countries (Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) enabling the region to better respond to economic and climate shocks. The programme will have three core pillars: 1) small business development focusing on key growth sectors and diversification; 2) macroeconomic sustainability to generate fiscal buffers and strengthen government capacity in economic management; 3) strategic inclusive economic development interventions, focusing on core policy themes including women’s economic empowerment, social inclusion, skills and data. The main implementing partners include the IMF and the IDB. Caribbean governments will benefit through technical assistance, and businesses will benefit through business advisory support.
UK-Nigeria Growth Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
As a macro economic programme, UK-Nigeria programme will assist the machinery of Government to reform the macroeconomic environment and create the conditions for an inclusive economic transformation. The programme will do this by working primarily with Federal Government (FGN) institutions responsible for economic strategy, policy to strengthen the business, investment, regulatory and enabling environment. It will operate as a demand-led facility, working closely with government clients to identify and shape a portfolio of activities that will improve the productivity and resilience of firms and micro-entrepreneurs in a scalable way.
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.
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.
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.
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