Delegates at the
International Trade Centre’s (ITC) 45th annual Joint Advisory Group
(JAG) have recognized ITC for its technical assistance programmes and its
progress toward embedding results-based management (RBM).
The JAG was held
on 30 June and 1 July 2011 and was chaired by His Excellency Mr. Hisham M. Badr of the Arab Republic of Egypt. It is a meeting at which governments of states which are
members of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and
members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) review ITC’s work as reported in
its Annual Report and make recommendations to the UNCTAD Trade and Development
Board and the WTO on ITC’s programme of work.
Addressing the delegates, Ambassador Badr spoke
about the historic events in the Arab World.
He said a key challenge
that all countries undergoing such transition face today is to stimulate the
economy and all its productive capacities, in addition to attracting private
and foreign investments, with a view to create the needed work opportunities
for the millions of unemployed and new entrants in the job market. Ambassador Badr said, ‘I have no doubt that
ITC has an important role to play in this regard, to assist all countries during
these challenging times to assist them in achieving their objectives.’
ITC Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Jean-Marie Paugam, provided an update
on ITC activities. He said that
growth in ITC’s delivery in 2010 had been satisfactory and sustained, with a
13% expansion compared to 2009. The target of US$ 40 million gross had been
exceeded, and 55% of delivery had been focused on the least developed countries
(LDCs), land-locked developing countries (LLDCs), small island developing
states (SIDS) and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
Mr. Paugam described
the highlights of 2010 in four areas: quality management, new programmes,
customer satisfaction and corporate events. In quality management, he said good
progress had been made in embedding and implementing results-based management
(RBM). Among new programmes launched he singled out Women and Trade, Poor
Communities and Trade, Climate Change and Environment. On customer
satisfaction, he noted that 70% of clients reported positively on the quality
and relevance of ITC services.
Turning to
delivery in 2011, Mr. Paugam said the first five months had shown growth
compared to 2010 and the organization was on track to meet its targets by the
end of the year (10% growth).
Delegates broadly
welcomed progress made in the development of an RBM approach to project
development and delivery, and also the introduction of quality assurance
mechanisms.
The JAG also had a
strong consensus in recognizing ITC on its technical assistance programmes and
its progress on implementing results-based management (RBM).
There was
consensus among delegates in applauding ITC’s increased focus on delivery to
the most vulnerable countries – the LDCs, LLDCs, SIDS and sub-Saharan Africa.
Some delegates from countries in other regions not falling into these
categories expressed the hope that donors would not forget their needs for
ITC’s support.
In his final
response, Mr. Paugam said that ITC understood a first key message from
delegates was the need to remain focused on LDCs. Secondly, ITC needs to remain reactive to
changes affecting developing countries’ economies both from the political and
economic global landscape.
On trade in
services, he said ITC is developing further internal thinking on the strategic
approach to this area, building on work that has already been conducted within
projects.
‘Partnerships
remain an important tool for technical assistance and ITC remains committed to
strengthening partnerships,’ said Mr. Paugam, singling out the CEB Cluster, the
One UN initiative and the EIF, and to reinforce partnerships with regional
organizations.
ITC welcomed the
support of delegations and noted that the organization is currently in the
implementation phase of RBM, with an emphasis not only on establishing
procedures but ensuring that RBM is embedded in the ‘mind’ of the organization.
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