7.2. Description of the bodies composing the EIF governance structure

The enhanced Integrated Framework (IF) is expected to be launched in 2008 as a result of two years’ work by WTO members to remedy the past shortcomings of the Integrated Framework (IF). It was prepared on the basis of the Draft Guidelines for the Implementation of the enhanced IF for LDCs [note 1] and recent updates provided by the WTO on the state of play.

The IF Steering Committee serves as the overall governing body of the IF. It is responsible for general oversight, reviewing progress and promoting coordination and information-sharing among IF participants. It is comprised of representatives from all six IF agencies (i.e. IMF, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, the World Bank, and the WTO), LDCs and donors to the IF.

The IF Board replaced the IF Working Group on 1 May 2007 as the main decision-making body of the enhanced IF. It comprises representatives from three LDCs,[note 2] three donors [note 3] and the six IF agencies. Its responsibilities will include reporting to the Steering Committee on IF progress, providing policy directions to the Executive Secretariat and overseeing the Trust Fund management as well as approving programmes and funding for projects under Tier 2.

Once established, the IF Executive Secretariat’s main functions will be to help countries mainstream trade into their national development plans and PRSPs and coordinate assistance activities in liaison with the in-country institutions and IF agencies. The Executive Secretariat will be available to assist LDCs with every step of the IF process, including establishing the national institutional arrangements, mainstreaming trade into the PRSPs and addressing any problems encountered. Although administratively housed by the WTO Secretariat (i.e. governed by WTO administrative rules and regulations), it will be independent from the WTO Secretariat, operating under the authority of its own Executive Director. The Director will report to the Board on policy issues but will not have any voting powers at the Board’s meetings.

The IF Trust Fund will finance programmes and activities under both Tier 1 and Tier 2 (formerly Window I and II). It will be managed according to an independent accountability framework by a Trust Fund manager, which will work closely with the Executive Secretariat and be responsible to the IF Board. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) was selected on 15 April 2008 to serve as the Trust Fund Manager.

The National Steering Committee is a political authority located in each IF recipient country and composed of senior officials, civil society and private sector representatives. It will coordinate the IF process at the national level, conduct monitoring and support mainstreaming of trade into the PRSP.

The National Focal Point is a recipient country official, usually from a core Ministry (e.g. Trade, Finance or Planning), appointed by the National Steering Committee. The National Focal Point will coordinate IF activities and serve as principal point of contact for donors, the IF Executive Secretariat and local institutions.

The National Implementation Unit will be supervised by and appointed in consultation with the National Focal Point. This body will coordinate the IF among national institutions and provide support in administering the day-to-day operations of the IF. It will be composed of at least four officials, including a Coordinator, and a representative from the local private sector. Staff could be partly remunerated under Tier 1 funds.

The local Donor Facilitator should be the most active donor in the field of trade-related technical assistance (TRTA) in the country. It should have an established office in the country, or at least in the region. To avoid conflicts of interest, the agency appointed to act as the facilitator cannot be in charge of the implementation of projects. It will be responsible for coordinating funding activities and ensuring coherence of donors’ projects with the Action Matrix priorities. The donor facilitator will share its expertise and experience with the National Implementation Unit in order to ensure the fulfilment of the mandate. A support person (possibly a national) may be hired to ensure the facilitator’s mandate is fulfilled.

A high-level inter-ministerial Committee should be created at the local level in recipient countries to ensure senior level engagement of all the ministries concerned by the IF process (i.e. finance, planning, agriculture etc). It should meet on a regular basis. The donor facilitator will be consulted in the set-up of such coordination mechanisms.

The Tier 1 and Tier 2 Appraisal Committees replace the former “Local Project Appraisal Committee”. The composition of each committee would vary according to the objective and the technical content of the types of projects under appraisal. Both committees are chaired by the Focal Point, and include the Donor Facilitator and a representative of the Ministry of Trade (if the Focal Point is not from such ministry). Regarding Tier 1 projects, a member of the National Steering Committee will be part of the team. Regarding Tier 2, more flexibility is given in the set-up of the committee. Representatives from other core ministries such as Finance and/or Planning and a representative of the Private Sector may be invited to participate in the assessment of the projects.

The stakeholder process, called for by the enhanced IF recommendations, should ensure that all stakeholders from the government, civil society and the private sector are involved in identifying and prioritising trade development needs across all sectors. The reinforcement of the national structure should greatly contribute to improving coordination.

Note 1: Also called the Compendium of working documents. This document was adopted on 1 May 2007 at a Meeting of the IF Working Group and the IF Steering Committee. (return to text)

Note 2: Currently Rwanda, Senegal and Yemen. (return to text)

Note 3: Currently Canada, Switzerland and the UK. (return to text)

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