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Global level
At the global level, the IF has two governing bodies: the IF
Steering Committee (IFSC) and the IF Board, whose meetings
take place at the WTO.
The IFSC is composed of all least-developed countries (LDCs),
the six IF agencies and all bilateral development partners
with the IF. Members of the WTO that are not in the IFSC
have automatic observer status. The following organizations
are also observers: the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD): ( the Development
Co-operation Directorate (DAC)), United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO). The IFSC serves as the
overall governing body of the IF. Its functions are to:
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establish overall policy direction and oversee the work of
the IF
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keep under review the overall effectiveness of IF
operations
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promote coordination among participants
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ensure transparency of the IF process.
The IF Board is composed of one representative from each of
the six IF agencies, three representatives of the LDCs and
three representatives from the donor community. The Board
serves as the key decision-making body for operational and
financial oversight and policy direction within the broad
context set by the IFSC. The role of the IF Board is to:
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supervise the management of the IF process
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provide policy direction to the Executive Secretariat (ES)
of the enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)
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take funding decisions under the EIF Trust Fund in
accordance with the approval process and the terms set forth
in the enhanced IF Accountability Framework and the
Compendium
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monitor, review and evaluate country-specific progress and
operations, including on the basis of in-country monitoring
reports.
The IF Board may delegate specific operational tasks to the
ES but retains ultimate responsibility.
The Executive Secretariat of the EIF was established on 1
October 2008, when Mrs Dorothy Tembo assumed her position as
Executive Director. Housed within the WTO, the ES reports to
the IF Board on policy and programme implementation issues
and to the Director-General of the WTO on Secretariat
administrative issues. The functions of the ES include:
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supporting LDCs' participation in the IF process
— frequent contact through visits, e-mails, phone calls, etc.
— to ensure progress is in step with the pace dictated by
the beneficiary LDC
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supporting IF governing bodies (IF Board and IFSC)
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coordinating and monitoring IF processes, including
diffusion of best practices, and facilitating communication
among stakeholders
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outreach — national/regional/global workshops, website
maintenance, newsletters, etc.
National level in the LDCs
One of the key elements of the IF is to build strong
capacities in the LDCs to manage, implement and monitor the
IF process. Accordingly, the IF foresees a number of
National Implementing Arrangements (NIAs).
The NIAs include:
Moreover, the LDC is supported by a Donor Facilitator.
Some of these structures may already be in place in many IF
beneficiary countries. It is important to note that the IF
is, by no means, proposing to set up new structures in
addition to implementation arrangements that already exist.
The IF seeks to propose ways of strengthening the existing
structures. In fact, these NIAs should normally be
integrated into an existing governance structure and process
rather than be created as new, independent structures,
isolated from the rest of the government. What is important
is that the NIAs provide for ownership, leadership and
participatory IF management in the countries.
The IF Tier 1 financing arrangement foresees funding to
support the NIAs. Financial support (except to the Donor
Facilitator) is set at a maximum of US$ 300,000 per annum
over the enhanced IF programming period of five years, i.e.
a total of US$ 1.5 million.
The LDC government will appoint a Focal Point (FP) who will:
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oversee the functioning of the National Implementation
Unit and advise the LDC government on the Unit's staffing
and operations
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chair the appraisal committees for Tier 1 and Tier 2 and
decide, in consultation with the other members, whether to
invite other representatives to participate in these
committees
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work closely with the relevant line ministries, the Donor
Facilitator, the Executive Secretariat, and other
development partners, including the IF agencies, to ensure
that technical assistance projects are mainstreamed into the
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper or other national
development plans and respond to priorities in the
Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS)
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lead on the preparation of the DTIS and its updating
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report to the LDC government and the Executive Secretariat
on IF progress.
National Implementation Unit
The beneficiary countries are expected to set up a National
Implementation Unit (NIU) to strengthen the IF Focal Point.
The NIU is responsible for coordinating IF activities in the LDC and for IF implementation at the national level.
Supervised by the Focal Point, the NIU:
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works with the Ministries of Trade, Finance and Planning,
and other ministries and trade-related institutions, such as
the Chamber of Commerce, the private sector and civil
society to ensure coordination at all stages of the IF
process
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works closely with the Executive Secretariat, the Donor
Facilitator and IF agencies for the preparation of the DTIS,
the formulation and appraisal of Tier 1 and Tier 2 project
proposals and other activities, as appropriate
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monitors the implementation of Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects
under National Steering Committee supervision and reports on
progress to the Executive Secretariat. Organizes, as
appropriate, IF implementation meetings to assess progress
of the IF initiative
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works with all relevant partners to assist in the
inclusion of a trade integration strategy and its priorities
in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper or national
development plans
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prepares its multi-year work plan and a detailed annual
operational plan.
The Focal Point and the NIU could be an existing structure,
or if an appropriate structure does not yet exist, an
additional one could be created within an appropriate
entity. For the NIU to work effectively, it is important
that the government gives the NIU the necessary authority
and provides support. In some countries where an NIU is
already in place, it is called the National IF Secretariat.
The name may vary; what is important, however, is that the NIU (or whatever it is named) is there to support the Focal
Point in the management of the IF process.
National Steering Committee
Beneficiary countries will have in place a high-level
inter-ministerial committee — a National Steering Committee
— to provide senior level engagement and coordination on
trade policy and to provide political commitment.
The role of this committee is to:
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monitor the overall IF process and activities, including
mainstreaming trade into the country's Poverty Reduction
Strategy Paper and other development plans
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ensure effective coordination and buy-in among LDC
government institutions, the private sector, civil society
and other IF stakeholders
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based on the NIU's proposal, approve Tier 2 projects in
close consultation with the Donor Facilitator and the
Executive Secretariat. A member of the National Steering
Committee designated by the Chair participates in the
appraisal and approval process of Tier 1 projects
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decide to submit Tier 2 proposals to the bilateral or the
multilateral window of Tier 2
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ensure that trade-related issues are included and receive
due attention in development partners' conferences, such as
the Consultative Group Meetings and Round Table Meetings.
The National Steering Committee should work closely with the
governmental committee in charge of the national development
strategy, the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper or similar.
Ideally, the Steering Committee should be represented in
this governmental committee. It is advisable that the
Steering Committee be composed of high-level members of the LDC government, for instance from the Trade, Finance,
Planning and Development Ministries, and representatives of
civil society and the private sector. The IF Focal Point
should also be a member of the Steering Committee, whose
composition should ideally reflect the fact that the IF's
scope and process are broader than the traditional trade
domain and encompass several development issues and
dimensions.
Donor Facilitator
To provide an effective response and avoid duplication, the
IF agencies, development partners and beneficiaries need to
work together through local processes. To this end, it is
vital that an effective local Donor Facilitator, with clear
terms of reference adapted to the local situation, be
appointed by donors in consultation with the local
authorities. In principle, the main role of the Donor
Facilitator is to help mainstream trade into development
partner programming to ensure timely implementation of the
Action Matrix.
To this end, the Donor Facilitator:
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assists the LDC government to enlist and coordinate
development partner responses to the Action Matrix,
including liaison with development partners to ensure
effectiveness, complementarity and harmonization of
interventions, including exploring the possibilities for
pool funding arrangements for implementation of the Action
Matrix
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follows up on the Action Matrix, especially on development
partners' responses, to promote maximum coordination among
development partners
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supports the NIU and the Focal Point in the conduct of
their responsibilities as per the established terms of
reference
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assists the NIU to formulate and appraise Tier 2 projects
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assists the NIU to formulate and appraise Tier 1 projects
and participates in their approval process
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facilitates the LDC government's contacts with the
development partners by functioning as a link between the
development partners and the LDC government (when the LDC
government and development partners so desire). This entails
ensuring that all relevant information regarding the IF and
its implementation are adequately transmitted to IF
stakeholders, including from the development partners to the
government and from the government to the development
partners. It also entails close coordination with, and being
sensitive towards, the wishes of the NIU and the National
Focal Point
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provides regular briefing updates to development partners
on IF progress and arranges for consultation and
coordination possibilities for the development partners
present in the country
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informs stakeholders, including the development partners,
on the progress and results of IF implementation
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assists the local authorities in creating knowledge and
understanding of the IF process in the country, especially
at the higher political level.
Trust Fund Manager for the enhanced IF
The Trust Fund Manager for the enhanced IF is the United
Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). This is a
separate, self-financing entity established by UN General
Assembly decision 48/501 of 19 September 1994 to provide
management and other support services for the benefit of the
member countries of the United Nations. UNOPS's headquarters
are in Copenhagen, Denmark. It also has an established
office in Geneva. The enhanced IF Trust Fund Manager
activities are handled by the Geneva office by staff
dedicated to the enhanced IF, supported by regional offices
in Bangkok, Dakar and Nairobi.
The Trust Fund Manager under the IF, predecessor of the
enhanced IF, was the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Funds approved for on-going activities under the IF will
continue to be managed by UNDP for their duration.
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