NIU of the Enhanced Integrated Framework

Introduction

Yemen places high importance to the development of its trade dimension as an important pillar of the comprehensive development agenda. Nonetheless, the trade agenda has not received enough attention neither from the government nor from the donor community. Yemen's participation in the Integrated Framework (IF) came as a step towards enhancing the trade component in playing its pivotal role in the development of Yemen.

In 2009, the Ministry of Industry and Trade established a National Implementation Unit (NIU) of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) programme. The main objective of the unit is to implement the EIF programme in order to further integrate into the global trading system. Through the work of the NIU, Yemen expects an increase in donor support for its trade development agenda and formulation of a National Trade and Export Development strategy which will ultimately result in securing more funds for financing pro-poor activities and growth strategy targeting the areas identified as conducive to poverty reduction.

The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)

The Integrated Framework (IF) was launched in October 1997 at the WTO High Level Meeting on Integrated Initiatives for LDCs’ Trade Development, as a follow-up of the Plan of Action in favour of the least-developed countries (LDCs), adopted at the First WTO Ministerial Conference in Singapore in 1996. Its objective was to coordinate the existing trade-related capacity-building programmes of the following six international organizations: the IMF, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, the World Bank and the WTO to assist LDC governments in integrating their trade-related policies into their national development strategies and thus to be more active in the multilateral trading system.

After a revamp in 2000 and several more recent evaluations on how to strengthen the IF’s capacity to fulfill these objectives, the Development Committee of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposed to enhance the IF in September 2005. WTO members endorsed this recommendation at the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference in December 2005.

In June 2006, the Task Force on the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) of donor and recipient country representatives submitted proposals on i) securing additional and predictable funding for the EIF; ii) strengthening in-country capacities to manage, implement and monitor the EIF process; and iii) improve the programme’s governance.

Yemen and the Integrated Framework (IF)

The Republic of Yemen joined the list of Least Developed Countries that benefit from the Integrated Framework programme at the end of 2001, in the second group of the pilot scheme. The Ministry of Industry and Trade acted as the coordinating Ministry and worked with the IF team and the Task Manager to prepare a terms of reference and establish working arrangements. Under Window 1, the DTIS was prepared in 2002, and a National Workshop was conducted in June 2003, which induced a revision of the Technical Assistance Matrix (or Action Matrix). A steering committee chaired by H.E. Minister of Industry and Trade was established and a Focal Point within the Ministry was appointed.

Under Window 2, Yemen prepared proposals for projects in three sectors (agriculture, trade and fishery) to be funded under the programme. The projects were accepted and implementation started in 2005 with UNDP’s office in Sana’a leading the implementation and supervising the three projects.

Objectives of the Unit

The specific objectives of the NIU are to:

1. Address the lack of a Trade and Export Development strategy and an Aid for Trade strategy.

2. Mainstream trade into national development plans.

3. Set up donor coordination on the trade agenda.

4. Prepare proposals for trade-related technical assistance projects to facilitate funding and implementation.

5. Update the Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS).

6. Increase awareness among stakeholders about the important role of trade in development.

Contact us

NIU of the Enhanced Integrated Framework

Ministry of Industry & Trade

P.O. Box 8278

Sana’a, Republic of Yemen

Tel: + 967 1 237229 / 237551 / 237544

Fax: + 967 1 237466

Email: yemeneif@gmail.com