The International
Trade Centre (ITC) has successfully completed its inaugural Trade Leaders
Programme, sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Three trade leaders from Burkina
Faso, Malawi and Kenya took part in the six-month
work and training programme in Geneva.
The in-depth
programme was designed so that participants can lead ongoing trade development
initiatives in their countries by applying their newly acquired knowledge,
network of contacts and work experience. The participants will act as
ambassadors of ITC’s mission to generate ‘export impact for good’ and build
long-term partnerships between ITC and the national partner institutions.
The trade leaders
worked in ITC’s Market Analysis and Research section but were also involved in
other ITC programmes including on women in trade. The trade leaders received a
strong grounding in the fundamentals of trade-related analysis, including
identifying opportunities to improve national export performance through
product and market diversification and analysing market access
opportunities and obstacles.
Programme head Helen
Lassen said: ‘The ITC Trade Leaders Programme is designed to have a profound effect
on a small group of influential individuals, who can then act as national
multipliers, helping their countries derive sustainable social, environmental and economic impact from
their exports.’
ITC will provide
regular ongoing mentoring and follow-up support to the participants. In 12
months’ time they will report on how the training and work experience has
contributed to building sustained capacity to conduct market analysis and
research in their country and how this translates into export impact.
One of the participants, Catherine Kithinji, said: ‘I have gained a wealth of knowledge and
experience that will enhance my ability to make a strong future contribution to
trade and development in Kenya.
Working in a multicultural and international United Nations environment was an
interesting and very positive learning experience.’
During their six
months at ITC, participants contributed to ITC’s mandate ‘Export Impact for
Good’ by working on specific projects and drawing on their specialist knowledge
of the potential for, and obstacles to, trade expansion of their countries or
region.
Following a five-week
induction programme, each trade leader was given a work programme customized to
their particular skills and experience. Each focused on areas of export potential
and strategy, non-tariff measure analysis and becoming a trainer of ITC’s
market access tools.
Mondher Mimouni,
Chief ad-interim of the Market Analysis and Research section said, ‘In addition
to receiving training, our 2010 Trade Leaders made an important contribution to
ITC’s analysis of non-tariff market access obstacles facing exporters in their
countries. Their insight and network of contacts increased the relevance of the
studies, national ownership by public and private sector stakeholders and
therefore the likelihood of real follow-up action.’
In September, the
trade leaders travelled to Chongqing, China to participate in ITC’s World
Export Development Forum where they had the opportunity to network with other trade and development
professionals and share knowledge about export-led growth strategies.
Following the
success of the inaugural programme, ITC’s Executive Director Ms. Francis said ‘The
2010 Trade Leaders Programme is a good example of the direction we want to head
with our capacity building. Through in-depth training like this we build deep
capacity and long-term relationships that have the greatest potential to
generate impact. We will run the programme again in 2011 if funding can be
sought.’
About the participants:
Catherine Kithinji
Senior Trade Development Officer, Ministry
of Trade, Kenya
Ms.
Kithinji has been involved in negotiating bilateral trade agreements between Kenya
and the Middle East and has worked in
pro-women empowerment projects in the agricultural sector. Following her ITC
placement and return to Kenya’s Ministry of Trade Ms. Kithinji aims to deliver
training for Kenyan women entrepreneurs and exporters on ITC’s market analysis
tools.
Paulin Gueswinde
Zambelongo
Councillor of
Economic Affairs, Ministry of Trade,
Burkina Faso
Mr.
Zambelongo has contributed to Burkina
Faso’s export
promotion strategy and is a founding member of the Trade Experts Network in the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). At ITC he played a key role
in an analysis report outlining the key non-tariff market access issues for
Burkina Faso. Returning to the Ministry of Trade he will be actively involved
in the implementation of a trade related programme under the Enhanced
Integrated Framework.
Max John Wengawenga
Senior Economist,
Ministry of Trade &
Industry, Malawi
Mr. Wengawenga is an
adviser to senior management on Malawi
export promotion and has trained officials in marketing, food security and
vulnerability analysis. At ITC, he has been instrumental in obtaining
national-level commitment to an analysis of Malawi’s non-tariff market access
measures, which he will continue to follow on his return and will also conduct
a study of Malawi’s export potential.