Enhanced Integrated Framework Fas 2 2017-2022

Resultat

Background Despite COVID 19 and other challenges persisting in 2021, least developed country (LDC) exports increased by an estimated 22% for the year. This maintains the share of the LDCs in global non-oil exports at 1% of the global total, though sustainably up from 0.5% in 2010. There has been continued and increasing commitment by the LDCs themselves to take a lead role in improving their economic situation, working handin-hand with EIF partners to build institutional and productive capacities, thereby contributing to strengthening their standing in the global trade market and their resilience to national and global shocks and challenges. The EIF Agencies remain a central pillar for technical assistance to the LDCs (with 20% of all projects implemented directly, and more where EIF Agencies provide specialist services to projects). In total, 75 partners supported EIF Countries globally, including women entrepreneurs, micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) associations and regional development banks. This is aligned with the goal of EIF Phase Two, as well as the global recognition of the importance of cross-sectoral and crossthematic partnerships for effective sustainable development and trade. The case for enhanced integration of the LDCs into global and regional trade markets continues to gain attention. Over 2021, the EIF's communication and advocacy efforts showed an increase of more than 116,500 new website users. EIF Country partners engaged in more than 88 meetings at the ministerial and expert level, again showcasing the interest, importance, and effectiveness of bringing country expertise and examples into the global policy dialogue. Learning and accountability were strengthened through a participatory programme evaluation. Hereunder are some examples of concrete results achieved by 2021. The results are illustrated by the major components of the EIF programme. A) Improved trade environment for inclusive and sustainable growth 1) 15 new trade and investment regulations adopted (59 in total), including the revision of the Investment Code in Comoros and the Decree on Cross-Border Trade in Equatorial Guinea. 2) 6 new trade- and investmentrelated policies with support from the EIF (52 in total), such as the Trade Policy Document in Guinea and an Intellectual Property policy in Rwanda. 3) 2 additional countries with government-donor dialogue mechanisms (45 in total), with the EIF playing a lead role in the coordination of project support towards Timor-Leste's accession to the WTO. 4) 1 country (Vanuatu) now leading regional indicators for digital and sustainable trade facilitation B) Increased exports and access to international markets for the LDCs 1) 52 new international market transactions facilitated through EIF support (211 in total), such as dried fruit from Benin to Switzerland, Coffee from the Central African Republic to Nigeria, Cassava from the Solomon Islands to Australia, and honey from Zambia to Norway. USD 2) 210 Millions USD in new exports with contributions from EIF interventions (USD 680 million in total), including products such as cashew nuts from Togo and shea butter from Burkina Faso. 3) 60% of beneficiaries from EIF productive capacity-building projects are women (up from 56% in 2020), with women-centric projects being implemented in countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Haiti, South Sudan, TimorLeste and Uganda. Around 4,500 new jobs have been created with contributions from EIF projects (36,000 in total), such as horticulture in Lesotho or ecotourism in Comoros. Sida has contributed in the strengthening of the EIF reporting and monitoring system through a call off agreement which has led to a marked improvement in the EIF capacity in monitoring and evaluating its support to LDCs. The results achieved by the EIF are in in line with Sida's objectives in the area of trade. The EIF has contributed at both normative and operational levels. It has constributed to institutional strengthening in a number of LDCs. The EIF programme, phase 2, is planned to be finalised by end of 2024. Sida's last disbursement of 15 MSEK scheduled for 2022 has been postponed to 2023. This postponement will not affect the programme as there are enough cash in UNOPS account which will be carried over to 2023. All the resources are now being used to complete all the ongoing projects, including reporting and evaluation. It is assessed that the objectives of the EIF programme will be met. Important to note that Sida has contributed with additional consultancy support to the EIF in order to strengthen the its RBM system.