Evaluation

A mid-term evaluation was undertaken for JITAP in August-September 2000. The evaluation mission commended the conceptual framework of the programme and described as a trend-setting programme for trade related technical assistance in the aftermath of the Uruguay round and globalization of the world economy. It was also described as an effective framework for catalyzing initiatives on other TRTA initiatives. The evaluation confirmed that the programme was building capacity in the partner countries for participating actively in the evolving multilateral trading system. It recommended that the programme be consolidated during the period 2001-2002, and subsequently extended to a new group of countries. Currently, more than twenty five countries are requesting to be associated with the programme.

A summative evaluation was undertaken between February and May 2002 by a team of two international evaluators and a national external evaluator in each participating country. The evaluation also examined the MTS-related capacity in two non-participating countries as benchmarking cases, to assess the progress made towards the objectives of the programme. The CTF Steering Group reviewed the conclusions and recommendations of the summative evaluation in June 2002.

The CTF Steering Group Meeting appreciated the extensive findings and recommendations of the evaluation mission. The group concurred with the overall conclusion that JITAP makes an important contribution to raising awareness and developing capacities in the beneficiary countries for managing their integration into the multilateral trading system (MTS).

On 19 December 2002, the JITAP Common Trust Fund Steering Group (CTF SG) met in Geneva and endorsed the JITAP II Programme Document, effectively extending the programme for another four years (2003-2006) and expanding it to eight new countries, i.e. Botswana, Cameroon (non-LDCs) and Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Senegal and Zambia (LDCs). In this respect, several donors pledged substantial support to the programme. In total, sixteen African countries will be covered under JITAP II.

• The CTF Steering Group agreed on a set of criteria for starting work in JITAP countries under the new phase:

• The confirmation of the countries’ interest in benefiting from JITAP;

• The readiness to allocate counterpart resources, both human and financial in the form of budgetary allocations to support activities to be initiated under the programme;

• The setting up of a JITAP National Steering Committee (NSC) and the designation of a National Focal Point for JITAP, with whom all contacts would be undertaken;

• The creation/institutionalisation of an Inter-Institutional Committee on the WTO; and

• The commitment to the mainstreaming of trade as an instrument for poverty reduction.

JITAP is a new type of partnership between WTO, UNCTAD, ITC, the participating countries and the donors that presents a solid vehicle for providing MTS-related support and allows seizing the vast opportunities made available by the emerging Multilateral Trading System.