The funding will enable UN Trade and Development and its partners to continue driving progress, fostering collaboration and building trade resilience amid global uncertainties.
© Shutterstock/Eo naya | Walvis Bay, Namibia.
The United Kingdom has announced nearly $1 million in new funding to extend the decade-long “Accelerate trade facilitation” programme for another year.
Established in 2015, the programme is a collaborative initiative led by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the United Kingdom, and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
Designed to streamline the movement of goods and foster greater public-private cooperation, it plays a pivotal role in advancing the implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
So far, the programme has benefitted 27 countries: 15 in Africa, 3 in Asia and 9 in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Its extension will enable continued support and the inclusion of two additional countries through 2026.
“In a world of growing uncertainty, where aid financing is becoming less predictable and protective trade measures threaten development, long-term commitment from donors – such as UK Customs – is crucial,” said Angel Gonzalez Sanz, acting director of technology and logistics at UN Trade and Development.
“This commitment enables UN Development and Trade to stand alongside countries throughout their journey in implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.”
10 years of partnership yielding global impact
Over the past decade, what began as a modest initiative with an annual contribution of $125,000, supporting four developing countries in Africa, has evolved into a comprehensive programme with funding exceeding $6 million.
By ensuring ongoing and dynamic coordination, the “Accelerate trade facilitation” programme adapts to the evolving needs of partner countries and global crises, significantly aiding recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through the programme, UN Trade and Development works to deepen its engagement with national trade facilitation committees (NTFCs), offering a suite of digital tools and learning products to promote essential reforms.
With financial support from the United Kingdom, the programme has trained more than 3,300 government officials and trade experts, helping enhance the capacities of NTFCs to monitor and coordinate the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.
“We are excited to continue helping countries to implement the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement and empower NTFCs in their role as key coordinators of trade facilitation transformation” said Megan Shaw, head of International Customs and Border Engagement at the HMRC.
Another key component of the programme is the Reform Tracker, an innovative web-based project management and monitoring tool designed to improve coordination and streamline trade facilitation reforms.
The tool bolsters interagency collaboration and coordination between public and private sector stakeholders, ensuring a consensus-driven approach to implementing trade facilitation reforms.
By leveraging these tools alongside UN Trade and Development’s advisory services and intensive executive training sessions for NTFC secretariats and chairpersons, countries are improving their alignment with TFA provisions and enhancing their capacity to meet obligations under TFA institutional arrangements.
Additionally, the programme fosters an exchange framework among UK and WCO experts and partner countries, promoting knowledge sharing and best practices.
“Namibia really benefits from the technical support rendered by the ‘Accelerate trade facilitation’ programme,” said Commissioner Sam Shivute of the Namibia Revenue Agency.
“UN Trade and Development helped empower our national trade facilitation committee, while WCO’s hands-on capacity building on coordinated border management and time release studies led to tangible results.”