Voluntary donor contributions assist ITC in fulfilling its mission of assisting developing countries to achieve sustainable development through exports. Through donations, ITC’s bilateral development partners have made strong commitments to help poorer countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals through increased trade, and play a crucial role in promoting and financing trade strategies and programmes that will enhance the capacity of developing countries.

ITC’s budget

ITC’s consolidated budget in 2011 amounted to US$ 87.2 million, up from US$ 71.1 million the previous year. Regular budgetary payments from the United Nations and the World Trade Organization made up 46% of ITC’s funding last year; voluntary donor contributions provided the funding for the remaining US$ 42.5 million. Extra-budgetary funds are activated through the ITC Trust Fund, which represents voluntary donor contributions. The ITC Trust Fund consists of two categories of funds known as “windows.” Window I consists of contributions from donors that are used to fund research and development, innovation and design work for new projects and core staff.

Donor contributions

Voluntary contributions to ITC’s programmes and activities are provided chiefly by governments, both traditional donors and emerging donors who until not long ago may have been ITC beneficiary countries.There are two categories to which these contributions, or extra-budgetary funds, are allocated: general (un-earmarked and soft-earmarked) funding under the ITC Trust Fund and earmarked contributions financing specific projects.

• ITC spent US$ 15.75 million under the un-earmarked and soft-earmarked component ITC Trust Fund last year. A major part of this spending was devoted to delivery of innovative technical assistance programmes, innovation in product development and maintenance and global public goods. About 15% enabled improvements in corporate efficiency.
  
  
• Expenditure of earmarked extra-budgetary funds amounted to US$ 32.05 million in 2011. These are bilateral contributions for specific projects or programmes, often in specific countries.

Schedule of voluntary contributions received for technical cooperation projects as of December 2011 (US$)^*

* Excludes contributions received under inter-organizational arrangements and revolving funds

To help ITC achieve more “Export impact for good” prospective donors should contact Mr. Robert Trocmé, Senior External Relations Officer, who will organize a meeting with ITC’s senior management.