| |
Introduction
As the pace of globalisation accelerates, enhanced trade and investment
flows confront an increasing number of developing countries and countries
with economies in transition with a diverse set of trade, environment and
development challenges. It is now widely recognised that capacity building
is urgently needed to assist decision-makers in successfully addressing
the challenges, and fully capturing the benefits, of globalisation. Launched
in March 2000, the UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment
and Development (CBTF) provides a unique and flexible framework to implement
a coordinated and comprehensive set of highly participatory activities to
respond to these capacity building needs (overview of the CBTF initiative).
Through activities in five clusters - thematic research, country projects,
training, policy dialogue and networking - the CBTF aims to help beneficiaries,
in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to
effectively address trade-environment-development issues at the national
level and to participate effectively in related deliberations at the international
level. Training raises awareness and broadens the information base on
critical trade, environment and development issues. Thematic research
and country projects, through a self-initiated learning by doing process,
directly enhance the capacities of practitioners to assess and manage
policy integration challenges in beneficiary countries. Policy dialogue
and networking reinforce the learning process by allowing CBTF beneficiaries
to exchange ideas, experiences and perspectives and to develop partnerships
through which expertise is shared and transferred.
Following a March 2000 briefing session attended by officials from more
than 40 Geneva Missions, the CBTF Terms of Reference were established and
the task force was officially launched. Meetings with representatives of
potential donor countries were held in May and November 2000 inviting governments
to collectively contribute to the funding of first year activities of the
CBTF activities. To date (February 2001), contributions have been received
from the Governments of Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom, enabling
the establishment of the UNEP-administered trust fund that underpins the
activities of the CBTF. However, additional financial contributions from
other donors are sought to support a full and balanced offering of CBTF
activities during 2001.
A June 2000 briefing session was organised to solicit governments' input
on proposed first year activities of the CBTF and to more deeply engage
interested governments in future CBTF activities. Pursuant to this briefing,
a 'Call for Proposals' from governments and national research institutions
for activities to be undertaken by the CBTF was widely circulated and was
issued to all Geneva Missions. Over 25 countries responded to the call for
proposals with 40 proposed projects.
Due to the extra-budgetary nature of the CBTF, its activities are launched
in phases according to the timing and availability of financial resources
contributed by donors.
Evaluation of country proposals is now complete and projects selected for
first round implementation are now underway. As additional funds are contributed,
the scale and scope of CBTF implementation will increase, supporting a greater
number of proposed projects in the future. A new CBTF call for proposals
has been issued on 31 January 2001 inviting other interested national institutions
in developing countries and countries with economies in transition to prepare
and submit proposals for CBTF projects. And during the Spring of 2001, a
special CBTF Programme for LDCs has been developed with plans for its implementation
later in the year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Mission Statement
At the start of the new millennium, and in the context of future trade,
environment and development discussions, many countries have expressed their
desire that UNEP and UNCTAD should step-up their joint efforts to further
strengthen country capacities to promote trade expansion and develop their
economies in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. The UNEP
and UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development
(CBTF) was conceived as a response to expressed needs and requirements of
Governments.
The CBTF has been conceived to combine the unique strengths of UNEP to build
capacities on environmental aspects of trade, and of UNCTAD to build capacities
on the development aspects of trade. By enhancing synergies between UNEP
and UNCTAD, and drawing on the two organisations' technical expertise and
comparative advantages, the CBTF will more efficiently make resources available
to a wider range of beneficiaries in developing countries and countries
with economies in transition. With access to both organisations' global
networks, and through cooperation with the WTO, interested Governments,
intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) and non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), the CBTF is able to launch and sustain a coordinated global programme
of demand-driven activities, and make a long-term commitment to them.
There is a need to ensure proper communication, coordination and collaboration
between international organisations working in the trade-environment-development
domain. The CBTF thus seeks to build synergies and enhance coordination
between these organisations and to draw on the technical expertise of NGOs
in an effort to foster capacity building for balanced integration of trade,
environment and development policies.
The overall purpose of the CBTF will be to strengthen the capacities of
countries, particularly developing countries and countries with economies
in transition, to effectively address trade-environment-development issues.
To support this aim, the CBTF will help beneficiaries, at their request,
to:
- assess the environmental and developmental impacts of trade policies,
as well as the trade and developmental implications of environmental
policies with a view to maximising the potential benefits;
- undertake comprehensive analyses of the relationships between trade,
environment and development;
- develop and implement policy packages to promote integrated national
trade, environment and development policies;
- explore approaches to address trade-environment-development issues
at the domestic level with national stakeholders, and at regional and
global levels with international experts, practitioners and negotiators;
- participate effectively in trade-environment-development deliberations;
- access information from, and build cooperation with, relevant organisations
working in the trade-environment-development domain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Partnerships with Countries Participating in CBTF Projects
The CBTF will work closely with Governments and civil society, particularly
those of developing countries, to assist them in their efforts to enhance
their institutional and human capacities for integrating environmental considerations
in development planning and decision-making. Efforts will also be made to
ensure a balanced geographical distribution of beneficiaries. Special attention
will be given to providing services to least developed countries, where
the combined developmental and environmental challenges are greatest, and
where limited financial, technical and human capacities are currently unavailable
to address them.
Partnerships with Donor Countries Supporting CBTF Activities
Many developing countries and countries with economies in transition
require, and have requested, financial and technical support to develop
mutually supportive trade, environment and development policies and strategies
that respond to the challenges they face in the globalising economy.
Recognising the need for capacity building, a growing number of developed
country governments seek to complement their own development assistance
programs by establishing a partnership with the CBTF and its network of
collaborating national institutions in beneficiary countries.
As an entirely extra-budgetary initiative of UNEP and UNCTAD, the CBTF relies
on contributions from donor governments in order to support its activities.
Both UNEP and UNCTAD are pleased to acknowledge the financial contributions
provided to the CBTF by the governments of Germany, Norway and the United
Kingdom. Their contributions are supporting first round implementation of
CBTF projects in 2001.
Consultations with Governments
The CBTF will convene periodic meetings (monthly/or as agreed upon)
for Governments' Permanent Representatives in Geneva and Nairobi. These
meetings will provide a consultation forum between UNCTAD-UNEP and Governments
on priority setting of activities for implementation, the development of
the CBTF's detailed work programme, the preparation of terms of reference
of studies and research, collaboration with intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations and policy dialogue topics and venues. The meetings are also
intended to brief Geneva and Nairobi-based Officials on the overall status
of implementation of CBTF activities.
Collaboration with other Organisations and Institutions
The CBTF will work closely with the WTO as well as other relevant organisations
within the United Nations system in particular UNDP, FAO, UNIDO, the United
Nations University (UNU), UNITAR, The World Bank as well as regional UN
economic commissions. In consultation with Governments, the CBTF will
also coordinate its activities with intergovernmental and non-governmental
organisations, particularly from developing countries, and with regional
and sub-regional organisations and trade agreements. Additionally, the
CBTF will promote collaboration with national and regional institutions
and will identify/designate regional centers of excellence to assist in
the implementation of the CBTF activities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|