ITC provides a wealth of information and resources on trade for businesses in developing countries. The tools below (some of them joint projects with other organisations, such as the WTO, UNCTAD, World Bank Group, are intended to explore and facilitate trade with other countries.
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We provide tailored support, aligned with national objectives, to grow trade opportunities for micro, small and medium businesses in developing countries.
<p>The SADC regional component of the Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) programme, funded by the European Union, aims to enhance livelihoods, employment, and economic growth by increasing sustainable intra-African and EU-Africa trade. Implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) in close partnership with the SADC Secretariat, this ATCMA component focuses on boosting African SMEs' trade competitiveness and expanding their market access.</p><p>The Programme will facilitate intra-African trade, strengthen regional quality infrastructure, and support a green transition through a holistic value chain approach. The initiative will benefit export-oriented SMEs, with a focus on women and youth-led businesses, ensuring value addition, regulatory improvements, and enhanced trade competitiveness. The programme will align with existing ATCMA components including EAC, COMESA, ECCAS, and ECOWAS and other regional initiatives to maximize impact.</p>
<p>The Skills for Economic and Social Inclusion through Alliances programme aims to empower<em style="background-color: initial; text-align: initial;"> disadvantaged youth and women in vulnerable situations in order to improve their economic and social inclusion</em><span style="background-color: initial; text-align: initial;">. The overall objective of the action is to contribute towards human development and social inclusion by strengthening vocational education and training in line with labour market demands and skill needs, with a particular focus on the economic empowerment and inclusion of unemployed youth, women and other disadvantaged groups in Eswatini.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: initial; text-align: initial;">The programme is funded by the European Union (EU) and special focus will be on skills needed in the agri-food sector including agro-processing value chains that have the potential for decent and green job creation, trade-led growth and offer opportunities for synergies with ongoing EU programmes and projects. Other priority sectors include hospitality and sustainable tourism, renewable energy, manufacturing (including textiles), Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and creative industries, including through support of youth and women entrepreneurs and circular business models.</span></p><p>The overall Action has two outcomes that will be implemented by three implementing partners : 1) Outcome 1: To support the youth by enhancing skills through market driven vocational education and training, and alliances with the private sector, for employability and self-employment which will be implemented by GIZ and 2) Empowerment of disadvantaged youth and women in vulnerable situation in order to improve their economic and social inclusion, which will be implemented by ITC and another partner to be identified by the EU later. </p><p>ITC will implement Output 2.1: Strengthened employability, entrepreneurial and life skills for disadvantaged and vulnerable women and youth. The programme will build on the ITC ongoing programme in Eswatini including lessons learned and best practices. It will also <span style="background-color: initial; text-align: initial;">work in partnership with CSOs, NGOs and community leaders to reach disadvantage ground in rural Eswatini to gain skills for employment and/or self employment. </span></p><p><br></p>
<p>The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme<span> </span>is part of a broader initiative under the ATCMA <span> </span>Programme, with other regional components such as the ECCAS ATCMA<span> </span>, the SADC ATCMA<span> </span> and the ECOWAS ATCMA<span> </span>. It is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The programme aims to enhance trade competitiveness and market access in Eastern and Southern Africa. In line with the AfCFTA, the programme focuses on improving regional competitiveness, integrating economies into continental and global value chains, and promoting sustainable trade between Africa and the EU.</p><p>Key objectives include supporting African countries in meeting international trade standards through improved testing, certification, and accreditation, while maximizing MSMEs' export potential by addressing market access barriers, enhancing value addition, and promoting sustainability and technology transfer. The programme contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals, including economic growth, sustainable industrialization, responsible production, and gender equality. </p>
