ITC's new senior management is using the recommendations of a
major external evaluation of ITC, led by Denmark, as a point of
departure to initiate a change management process. The aim is to
transform the organization into a centre of technical excellence
that responds effectively to its clients in developing and
transition economies.
The first step was to set up focus groups at the beginning of
the transition process in June 2006, to explore areas outlined in
the evaluation report. This has provided useful insights and
recommendations for ITC's future orientation and programme of work.
It has resulted in some initiatives being launched and decisions
being taken.
These include:
- Updating ITC's mission statement and strategic objectives
(see box).
- Setting up pilot country teams to review how ITC can have a
more strategic, coherent and holistic approach to country projects,
using sound results-based principles.
- Strengthening the strategic planning, resource mobilization,
monitoring and evaluation function within the Office of the
Executive Director.
- Taking measures to strengthen the communications team,
including consolidation of communications-related functions under
one umbrella.
- Introducing an Operations Committee to review and decide on
operations-related matters.
- Reviewing ITC's suite of tools and products to ensure the
alignment of ITC's toolkit to client needs, assess possible
redundancies or overlaps and identify new areas where tools,
products and services need to be developed.
- Researching the potential to provide a methodology for Trade
Promotion Organization Benchmarking.
- Reviewing ITC performance standards.
- Closer, more frequent consultation with stakeholders.
- Preparing an annual Consolidated Programme Document (CPD) that
includes ITC's yearly work programme in the form of a "logical
framework" and introduces targets and expected results.
Ongoing discussions
Recommendations related to ITC's governance structure, resource
mobilization and trade-related technical assistance (TRTA) delivery
mechanism were the subject of a retreat with stakeholders in
October 2006. At the meeting, stakeholders agreed that further
consultation and research were necessary before changes could be
made to the governance structure. ITC will continue to discuss this
subject with different groups in order to prepare a proposal which
will increase efficiency and improve oversight of the organization.
This will be done in 2007.
On the other hand, stakeholders unanimously welcomed the idea of
presenting a Consolidated Programme Document linked to ITC's work
programme and endorsed its proposed format. ITC is looking to
expand the number of donors and develop more partnerships with
United Nations agencies and other organizations. It is hoped that
donors will consider the CPD as a basis for voluntary contributions
to ITC.
A new management tool
The Consolidated Programme Document is designed to facilitate a
more results-oriented approach in planning ITC's activities. It
aims to respond to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and
promote country ownership of ITC's programmes. The CPD aims
to:
- Ensure that ITC's programme of technical assistance remains
relevant and addresses the needs articulated by its clients.
- Ensure that ITC does not work in isolation but situates itself
in the broad context of trade-related technical assistance,
focusing on its competitive advantages and working together with
strategic partners, where possible.
- Provide a framework for monitoring and measuring the impact of
ITC's activities with appropriate levels of transparency and
accountability.
- Provide a road map for the coordination of ITC's work programme
within the organization.
The CPD will reflect the results of the organization's strategic
planning, resource needs, targets and measurement indicators. ITC
management presented a framework version of the CPD, which
elaborated an outline of ITC's work programme for 2007, at an
informal meeting of its Joint Advisory Group in December 2006.
ITC's management will refine the document to reflect both the
comments made at the meeting and the wide and intensive
consultation with ITC's clients in the field and donor partners.
The regional chapters of the document will provide the basis for
defining programme goals for each region. ITC will also identify
performance indicators to allow for efficient monitoring and impact
measurement.
A full-fledged version of the Consolidated Programme Document will
be presented to ITC's stakeholders at the next meeting of the Joint
Advisory Group in 2007.
Integrated approach to trade development
ITC will continue to apply an integrated approach to trade
development, which takes into account the complexity and
interrelatedness of trade and development issues. Its interventions
to build trade capacity at three levels - firms, trade support
institutions and policy- or strategy-makers - help provide
sustainability for trade development initiatives.
ITC works to build bridges and partnerships between the private
sector, government institutions and civil society organizations,
all of which have an important role in trade development.
ITC will also enhance its collaboration with other TRTA
providers, to ensure coherence and synergy in the delivery of
technical assistance for trade to clients. Focusing on its
specialized mandate and competitive advantages, ITC will promote a
business orientation in the design and delivery of TRTA, in
particular within the context of Aid for Trade and the Enhanced
Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance.
Redefining ITC
ITC is the joint technical cooperation agency of UNCTAD and WTO
for business aspects of trade development.
ITC's mission
Contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable development
through technical assistance in export promotion and international
business development.
Strategic objectives
- Strengthen the international competitiveness of enterprises and
sectors to increase employment and incomes.
- Increase the capacity of trade support institutions to help
businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in
particular.
- Support the design and implementation of national trade
development programmes that help the business sector integrate into
the global economy.
This report was prepared by ITC staff in the Office of the
Executive Director.