Trade Analysis & Reform Project
Building regional trade policy capacity		 A partnership between the Governments of Cambodia,
Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam and Australia



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PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Trade Analysis and Reform Project (TARP) (formerly called the Regional WTO Capacity Building Project) was initiated by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs following the Doha Ministerial meeting of the WTO. In January 2002, AusAID commissioned a desk study on how the Asia Regional Program could contribute towards trade-related capacity building in Southeast Asia. Following consideration of this report, a pre-feasibility study assessed the involvement of six countries in the project: (Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) in July and August 2002. After discussions between AusAID and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in August and September 2002, a decision was made to limit the project to four countries: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, due to their sharing of borders and subsequently the similarity in trade related issues.

The four designated project countries expressed the opinion that they would benefit from greater understanding of the implications for economic and social development of commitments made in WTO accession and membership negotiations, and other trade agreements. Information on the economic and social implications of proposed commitments is often only partial and can reflect the views of interest groups. As such, analysis of trade policy issues requires critical analysis skills to adequately assess what is in the national interest. Also, effective interaction requires that governments receive good advice that is reflective of the economic and social development goals of the country and is from sources that they trust. To this effect TARP has been designed.

TARP was approved for support by the Government of Australia in 2004, and subsequently approved by the Governments of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The Project commenced on 23 September 2005, is of 3 years duration. TARP is supported by considerable financial and in-kind assistance from the Governments of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand, as well as through an allocation of some $A4.8 million from the Government of Australia.

An outline of the Project Logframe is provided as Diagram 1.

Goal

To promote effective interaction with the WTO in the development of policies on economic integration that support economic growth and social development.

Purpose

To raise the quality and utilisation of information and analysis going into trade policy development and engagement with the WTO through building demand for, and capacity to, supply high quality trade policy analysis.

Component Objectives

Component 1:
To improve understanding of the role of analysis in trade policy development and the capacity to incorporate analysis into the policy development cycle.

Component 2:
To strengthen the capacity of researchers in government agencies and the research community to deliver high quality trade policy relevant analysis.

Component 3:
To deliver a high quality capacity building project in a cost-effective and cooperative way.

Outputs

1.1

Training Needs Analysis (TNA) for policy personnel conducted in each country

2.1

In-country briefing on the role of researchers and mentors, and clarification of research briefs

3.1

Regional inception workshop conducted

1.2

Regional policy analysis course conducted

2.2

Regional progress workshop conducted

3.2

Project Newsletter prepared and distributed on a six monthly basis

1.3

In-country briefing for Participating Agency Senior Manager

2.3

Research paper for each case study finalised

3.3

Project activities effectively and efficiently planned, coordinated and managed

1.4

In-country policy adviser workshop conducted

 

 

3.4

AusAID and Partner Agencies informed of project progress through effective monitoring, review and reporting of project plans and achievements

1.5

Dissemination seminar conducted

 

 

 

 

For more information about how TARP will improve trade policy and analysis of trade related issues click on the Project Activities link.