The Global Aid-for-Trade Review has three objectives: to take stock of what is happening on Aid for Trade; to identify what should happen next; and to improve WTO monitoring and evaluation.

Taking stock of what is happening

The first objective is to draw together the various monitoring inputs into a coherent picture. Members will have an opportunity to examine and discuss the results of the “three tiers?of monitoring ? the global numbers, and the partner- and donor-country self assessments, summarized in the joint WTO-OECD Aid for Trade at a Glance 2007. The Report and Recommendations of the three Regional Reviews in Lima, Peru for Latin America and the Caribbean, in Manila, Philippines for Asia and the Pacific, and Dar es Salaam Tanzania for Africa will also be discussed.

Identifying what should happen next

The second objective is to shift the focus from analysing needs and priorities, to implementing responses. Donors, agencies and partner countries will be encouraged to identify key objectives and to discuss how they should be met ?including their national and regional strategies. Another focus will be the recommendations of the regional reviews which include proposals to (i) encourage countries and sub-regions to map out key constraints and priorities (ii) develop country and sub-regional action plans, (iii) create a regional Aid-for-Trade network to help map priorities and develop plans; and (iv) set out a roadmap for assessing progress and implementing results. Examining progress on current Aid-for-Trade initiatives such as the STDF, Trade Facilitation and Trade Financing will also be highlighted. The aim is to use WTO monitoring ?the spotlight effect ?to create incentives for key actors to provide more and better Aid for Trade. The aim is not to tell countries and agencies how to achieve these objectives.

Better monitoring and evaluating progress

The third objective is to begin examining how to better monitor and evaluate progress ?by launching a work programme aimed at developing qualitative targets for improving trade capacity. While this year has mainly been focused on establishing a system for measuring Aid-for-Trade flows, more conceptual work needs to be undertaken on the qualitative assessment of Aid for Trade, and on identifying indicators or benchmarks that can better measure results and encourage mutual accountability. The main proposal is to hold an Experts Symposium on Aid-for-Trade Evaluation and indicators in the late Spring/early Summer. The aim will be to build on existing approaches and mechanisms, so key actors in this area, such as the World Bank and the OECD, will be encouraged to play a lead role.