Technical Assistance to Least-Developed Countries in the Context of the Doha Development Round : High Risk of Failure

In 2002, World Trade Organization (WTO) Members pledged more than 30 million Swiss francs to ensure the achievement of the Doha Development Round (DDR). This amount was meant to finance 514 technical assistance and capacity building activities listed in the WTO Annual Technical Assistance Plan (TAP). In addition, 49 least-developed countries (LDCs) would receive assistance through the Integrated Framework (IF), to help them integrate trade policy into their development strategies. Concerns have arisen as to the scope, effectiveness and efficiency of the IF, as well as other trade-related technical assistance programmes. While the activities planned are laudable, the authors question whether they can be achieved and suggest a reassessment of the IF in order to fulfil the objectives of the DDR