Annex 1B Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies International donors have increased their efforts in providing trade-related technical cooperation to least developed countries (LDCs) under the auspices of the Integrated Framework (IF) for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to LDCs. The IF is supported by six multilateral institutions—the International Monetary Fund, the International Trade Centre, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization. The IF has two objectives (i) to mainstream (integrate) trade into national development plans, such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, of LDCs, and (ii) to assist in the coordinated delivery of trade- related technical assistance in response to needs identified by LDCs. IF implementation comprises three broad stages Preparatory activities, which typically include an official request from the country to participate in the IF process a technical review of the request establishment of a national IF steering committee and, to the extent possible, identification of a lead donor Diagnostic phase, which results in the elaboration of a diagnostic trade integration study (DTIS) • Follow-up activities, which begin with the translation of the diagnostic findings into an action plan to serve as the basis for trade-related technical assistance delivery. To date, DTISs have been completed on 26 Sub-Saharan African countries Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, the Comoros, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Based on the findings of the DTISs, an action matrix is developed in consultation with all stakeholders. 01-Chap1:01-Chap1 10/8/06 5:47 AM Page 57
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