Upload
others
View
2
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
CUTS International
CUTS INTERNATIONAL, GENEVA
ANNUAL REPORT
2013 2014
CUTS International
CUTS International
Established in 1983-84 as a rural development communications initiative,
Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) is now at the cutting edge of the
consumer movement in India as well as across the globe, and has expanded into
trade and development, competition, investment and economic regulation, and
human development. Today, CUTS, with a staff strength of over 100, operates
out of:
Three programme centres in Jaipur (CUTS Centre for International
Trade, Economics & Environment, CUTS Centre for Consumer Action,
Research and Training, and CUTS Centre for Competition, Investment
& Economic Regulation), one in Chittorgarh (CUTS Centre for Human
Development)
An advocacy centre in New Delhi, and a Centre in Calcutta (focusing on
Consumer Safety and Grassroots Economic Development), India, and
Five centres at Lusaka, Zambia; Nairobi, Kenya; Hanoi, Vietnam and
Geneva, Switzerland; and Accra, Ghana.
The organization elects its Board/Executive Committee every fourth year, while
the Secretary General heads the Secretariat. The organization is accredited by
Credibility Alliance and affiliated with the United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development (UNCTAD) and several other inter-governmental and non-
governmental organisation.
CUTS International’s vision is “Consumer Sovereignty” and mission is
“Consumer Sovereignty in the Framework of Social Justice and Equality, within
and Across Borders”. In all its work, it follows the method of research-based
advocacy and connects the grassroots with the international policy making
processes.
CUTS International, Geneva was established with initial inputs and support from
CUTS, in 2008 under the name CUTS Geneva Resource Centre and has since
been renamed CUTS International to better reflect the spread of the activities of
the Centre beyond Geneva and their international character.
Contents
Contents From the Secretary General, CUTS 4
From the Chairman of the General Assembly 6
Director’s Overview 8
The Organisation 10 Brief History 10 Strategy 12 Governance 13 Accountability 16 Our Outreach 16
Global South & Multilateral Trade 20 Supporting WTO Negotiators 21 Trade Facilitation 24 The Bali WTO Ministerial Conference 26
Regionalism & Cooperation 28 BIEAC: Evaluating our Impact 29 Aid for Trade 30 The PACT EAC Project 33 Contribution to Kenya Environment Policy 35 Campaigns for Early Warning Systems 35 Influencing Rwanda Trade Policy Revision 37 Charcoal Trade and Deforestation 38 Linkages in Multilateral Debates 38
Empowering Stakeholders 42 The EIF sPokes project 42 Institutional Partnerships 44 Representations 45
Audit Report 48
Annex 1: Members of the Stakeholder Forum 52
Annex 2: CUTS Centres in The World 54
From the Secretary General, CUTS
From the Secretary General,
CUTS
After years of stalemate, the WTO 9th Ministerial Conference, held in Bali,
Indonesia in early December 2013, delivered positive movement in the Doha
Development Round. CUTS welcomed this breakthrough with relief for it restored
confidence in the multilateral trading system and in the WTO as a negotiating
forum. Failure to agree on a package at this “conference of the last chance”
would have considerably weakened the WTO and its rule-based system, leaving
the poorest countries worse off in a trading system increasingly dominated by
regional and plurilateral initiatives.
However, this is not the end of the road. The Bali success, no matter how
important, is only the beginning of the more important tasks of implementing the
Bali decisions as well as drawing up a credible agenda to deal with the remaining
Doha Development Agenda issues. Remember that the Bali deal addressed only
a minimal part of what is on the table and there is still much to be done to re-
energise multilateral negotiations towards concluding the round and thereby
firmly rehabilitate the WTO’s importance.
Moreover, other challenges such as climate change, food security, and their
interface with trade are increasingly becoming more urgent. In fact, food
insecurity is a daily reality for the poorest people in many parts of the world,
especially in Africa. Climate change is exacerbating the problem and its adverse
impacts are becoming more and more obvious. Arguably, trade has the potential
to either further aggravate the situation or be an important part of the solution.
However, this will largely depend on whether the policies related to food security,
climate change and trade are developed and implemented coherently or not.
Over the past three years, CUTS International has been implementing a project
that seeks to address this particular challenge in the East African Community
(EAC). It is heartening to note that the project has led to visible impact on the
ground as confirmed by an internal assessment carried out by CUTS
International, Geneva through its own resources.
This year is a special one for the CUTS family of organisations, since we are
celebrating our 30th Anniversary through public lectures around the world.
Started as a small, local consumer group in 1983, we are proud to have become
an international NGO recognised for its committed and evidence-based work on
From the Secretary General, CUTS
issues related to trade and development, regulation, and governance. The
organisation has evolved over the last 30 years and so too has the geo-political
landscape.
In Geneva, CUTS International will be soon starting its 6th year of presence at
the heart of international trade and development debates since its establishment
in 2008. It has now consolidated its work on the ground and is well positioned to
play a positive role to support international economic dialogue, strengthen the
multilateral trading system, and continue to provide the much needed services to
developing and least developing countries on trade and related issues. These
include international trade, competition, investment, agriculture and food security,
environment and climate change, governance and regulatory reform, and
consumer protection.
Going forward, CUTS International will in the coming year continue to work on
these linkages and scale up its WTO-related work to support developing
countries in their Post-Bali work. Important areas in this regard include trade
facilitation, services as well as the difficult task of putting together a post-Bali
work programme towards concluding the DDA.
I thank our donors for the continued support of CUTS’ work and projects that are
aimed at addressing global challenges in a holistic and sustainable manner. I
also extend my thanks to colleagues and partners in Geneva, Africa and other
parts of the world in our effort to make this world a better place to live in.
Pradeep S. Mehta
Secretary General
CUTS
June 2014
Jaipur, India
From the Chairman of the General Assembly
From the Chairman of the
General Assembly
As the voice of the global south in international Geneva on trade and economic
policy, CUTS International is completing another successful year. It is with great
pleasure that I present to you our sixth annual report, outlining the main activities
and achievements of CUTS International Geneva between April 2013 and March
2014.
Since our establishment in 2008, we have made a name for linking people and
issues in the world of multilateral trade with their counterparts in related policy
areas such as regional integration, agriculture, environment, competition,
investment, and consumer protection among others. It heartening to note that our
organic ties in the developing world – where our unique approach to research-
based advocacy projects often made a difference - greatly contributed to making
us a credible interlocutor of developing countries and international organisations
in Geneva.
This year, while continuing our close collaboration with developing country trade
negotiators in Geneva, our support to domestic processes in several developing
countries contributed to more coherent policies on trade, climate change and
food security in East Africa, as well as improved public-private dialogues on trade
in several countries. These efforts were much appreciated by government
officials and civil society alike.
Looking back at the past twelve months, I can see many achievements, the
following being the most noteworthy:
Supporting WTO Negotiators: Through our EAC Geneva Forum, we served
as a platform for exchange, interaction and technical support between
negotiators, experts and civil society. French-speaking WTO negotiators also
welcomed the release this year of the French edition of our publication
“Reflections from the Frontline: Developing Country Negotiators in the WTO”.
Greater policy coherence across climate, food and trade: the successful
implementation of our 3-year PACT EAC project is leading to positive policy
changes in East African countries, and is triggering a number of locally-
owned initiatives. With funding support by Sida of Sweden, this path-breaking
initiative addresses several gaps in the current thinking, policies, and
From the Chairman of the General Assembly
interactions by providing avenues for creating and sharing knowledge on the
linkages of issues as well as between stakeholders and policy through
research, advocacy, networking and training activities.
Impact on East African regional integration: Early findings of our ongoing
evaluation of the BIEAC project indicate that it helped CSOs in the region to
be more actively involved in the EAC integration process. Since the project
completion in 2010, CSOs have achieved a number of successes through
effective advocacy.
Training trade officials on stakeholder consultations: Under its EIF sPokes
project, CUTS Geneva is designing and piloting a capacity-building module
for Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) National Implementation Units to
help them improve the participation of Non-State Actors in EIF activities and
trade-related public-private dialogues more generally. The module was
successfully piloted in Zambia, Nepal and Burkina Faso and will soon be
available to other LDCs.
I congratulate our Director, Rashid S Kaukab, and his dedicated team of Josiane
Rufener, Julian Mukiibi, Julien Grollier, Krista Joosep and Nathan Sologny for
their commitment and hard work for these achievements. I am also thankful for
our organic relationship with the CUTS family of organisations that remains
invaluable as we continue to strive to achieve our goal and objectives.
As always, I look forward to your comments and feedback on this annual report
that gives an overview of our main activities during the past year as well as our
vision for the next.
Philippe Brusick
Chairman
CUTS International, General Assembly
June 2014
Geneva, Switzerland
8
Director’s Overview
Director’s Overview
The point between the end of a year and the start of another is always a time for
reflection. As CUTS International, Geneva is completing its sixth year of
existence and work, this annual report looks back into the past twelve months to
review our many recent achievements. Equally important, this report is also an
opportunity to reflect on the emerging challenges that will shape our work in the
near future.
Over the period from April 2013 till March 2014 covered by this report, our hard
work and dedication to social justice and economic equity materialised into a
number of achievements for our beneficiaries. Prime among them is our
contribution to better policy coherence across climate change, food security and
trade policies in East Africa, regularly echoed in the regional media. Some of our
most significant breakthroughs in this regard were achieved on the Kenyan and
Rwandan policy scenes under the PACT EAC project.
In Kenya, we inspired the inclusion of a dedicated section on “Trade and
Environment” in the newly-adopted Kenya National Environment Policy, whereby
the government also endeavours to mainstream environmental considerations
into the National Trade Policy. This linkage built between the two policies helps
breaking the “silo mentality” in policy planning and paves the way for a more
holistic approach to climate change adaptation in Kenya.
In Rwanda, we successfully established through our local partner a joint lobby
committee comprising representatives of the Ministries of Trade and Environment
to promote the inclusion of climate change issues in the Trade Policy.
Subsequently, the government publicly announced in March 2014 that it is
reviewing the National Trade Policy to address new challenges, especially those
posed by climate change, acknowledging that the current trade policy does not
draw linkages between trade and climate change.
Other policy efforts are ongoing, including contributions to the revision of the
Tanzania Forest Policy, and stakeholder feedback already indicate that the
project has triggered a number of initiatives that will sustain impact beyond the
project’s lifespan. The project evaluation currently being undertaken by an
external consultant is expected for release this June.
We remain extremely grateful to the Swedish International Development
Cooperation Agency (Sida) for its generous contribution to this project. I am
proud to state that all of the above has been achieved with limited human and
9
Director’s Overview
financial resources, thus ensuring valuable returns for the tax payers’ money on
the one hand, and tailored and demand-driven services to the beneficiaries on
the other.
In our role of connecting Geneva and domestic trade-related processes, we have
also been closely involved in the implementation of the Enhanced Integrated
Framework through our EIF sPokes project started in August 2013. Under this
project, we are currently designing and piloting a capacity-building module for
EIF National Implementation Units in Zambia, Nepal and Burkina Faso that will
help them improve the participation of Non-State Actors in EIF activities and
trade-related public-private dialogues more generally.
Finally, this year was also a challenging one at the WTO front in Geneva. After
years of uncompromising stances that continuously culminated in collapsed
negotiations and less than optimum outcomes, the Bali Ministerial marked the
first substantive breakthrough for the WTO since the launch of the Doha Round
in 2001. At Bali, members of the WTO agreed on a package that included three
important issues under the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). We remained
closely involved in this process by continuing our support to developing country
delegates, e.g. through forum meetings and technical analysis, as well as regular
public events.
As another year begins, we are confident that with the continued support of our
well-wishers and donors, CUTS International Geneva will continue to deliver as
much value for people in the years to come as it did last year. This will focus
particularly on: strengthening and deepening the impact of PACT EAC through
promoting holistic approaches in the EAC to deal with climate change, food
security and trade; building on the success at Bali to contribute to the revival of
the multilateral trading system through substantive and technical support to
developing country delegates and improving their linkages with their capitals and
grassroots; and promoting broader stakeholder participation in trade-related
policy making and implementation to contribute to inclusive development in LDCs
and developing countries.
Rashid S. Kaukab
Director, CUTS International
June 2013
Geneva, Switzerland
10
THE ORGANISATION
The Organisation
BRIEF HISTORY
CUTS International, Geneva (hereinafter referred to as
CUTS Geneva) was established as CUTS Geneva
Resource Centre in November 2007 as a non-profit
NGO under the relevant Swiss and Geneva cantonal
laws. To better reflect its sphere of activities, it was
renamed as CUTS International in May 2011. CUTS
Geneva is part of the CUTS family of organisations.
Establishment of CUTS Geneva was the fulfilment of
the dream of Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General
CUTS, to have a credible, Southern, pro trade, pro
equity NGO voice in Geneva, the centre of multilateral
trade and other important international economic and
social discussion and negotiations. Based on the
unique advantages of CUTS, it aimed to link Geneva
with grassroots, Missions and International
Organisations with non-state actors, and trade with
other relevant issues (e.g. agriculture and food
security, climate change, competition, investment and
economic regulation, consumer protection, etc.) to
provide holistic analysis, solutions and services to all
relevant stakeholders with a view to promoting
development.
We have made a name for linking
people and issues in the world of
multilateral trade with their
counterparts in related policy
areas.
Potential beneficiaries of the work of CUTS Geneva
include all the key stakeholders in and from developing
countries: governments and inter-governmental
"CUT'S success in
addressing contemporary
development issues from
the grassroots to the
international policy arena,
has made it one of the
globally-noted
organizations."
Hanna S. Tetteh,
Minister of Foreign Affairs
and Regional Integration,
Ghana
11
THE ORGANISATION
organizations, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, and the private
sector.
CUTS Geneva completed all the formal requirements under the relevant
Swiss/Geneva cantonal laws, secured a well-located premises, and contracted a
small but well-qualified and dedicated staff in a short period of six months. It was
formally launched in July 2008 at an event in the presence of the representatives
of Geneva Mission, IGOs and NGOs.
The period of almost five years, i.e. from July 2008 till early 2013, can be divided
into two phases. The first phase of about three years focussed on consolidation.
During this period CUTS Geneva implemented two big projects (“Fostering
Equity and Accountability in the Trading System” funded by the William and Flora
Hewlett Foundation of the US and “Building an Inclusive East African
Community” with funding support from the GTZ of Germany); established formal
and informal links with many other IGOs and NGOs, demonstrated the need of its
credible and neutral work, and established itself as an important actor in Geneva.
The second phase that is still continuing is one of strategic growth based on the
unique advantages of CUTS to fill in the gaps while avoiding duplication. Several
new projects are undertaken (e.g. “Facilitating Equitable Agricultural
Development in sub-Saharan Africa “ funded by the Hewlett Foundation of the
US, preparation and publication of a Negotiators’ Handbook funded by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden and FES of Germany, “Promoting
Agriculture-Climate-Trade Linkages in the EAC” with funding support from the
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency); research and
analytical studies are prepared (e.g. for the ITC, the Commonwealth Secretariat,
GTZ, etc.); tailored and demand-driven services are provided to groups of
developing countries (e.g. work on EIF and A4T, support to LDCs particularly in
preparations for the LDC IV held in 2011, establishment and regular functioning
of informal forums for SAARC, EAC, Eastern and Southern Africa, and Western
African countries); and bridges are built among various groups of stakeholders
(e.g. state and non-state actors, developing and developed countries, Geneva
and grassroots).
CUTS Geneva is now well-positioned to play a positive role to support
international economic dialogue, strengthen the multilateral trading system, and
provide the much-needed services to developing and Least-Developed countries
on issues and their interlinkages related to international trade, competition and
investment, agriculture and food security, environment and climate change,
governance and regulatory reform, and consumer protection.
12
THE ORGANISATION
The role and services of CUTS Geneva are based on its unique advantages: the
only Southern NGO in Geneva with linkages with the grassroots in developing
countries, holistic approach to issues, neutral and objective analysis, needs-
based and demand-driven services, and efficient, cost-effective and accountable
operations.
STRATEGY
Vision
To pursue social justice and economic equity within and across borders by
persuading governments and empowering people”
Mission
To establish and promote a pro-trade pro-equity credible Southern NGO voice as
well as the means to achieve this in the policy making circles working on trade
and development and other related issues in Geneva.
Goal and objectives
The goal of CUTS International Geneva is to contribute to the achievement of
development and poverty alleviation through trade and investment in their
economic, environmental, social and political dimensions. Specific objectives
include:
Improving inclusivity in relevant policy-making processes and decisions
through better participation of developing countries’ stakeholders
including the grassroots
Building capacity of policy-makers, negotiators, and other important
stakeholders through demand-driven and need-based research and
analysis and training
Contributing to deeper and broader understanding of relevant issues
through targeted and research-based outputs
Enhancing policy coherence at all levels through the analysing of and
raising the profile of pertinent issue linkages
Facilitating mutual learning through information and knowledge sharing
in networks
Stimulating common interests among developed and developing
countries through advocacy, dialogues and networking
13
THE ORGANISATION
Programme Areas
Based on the knowledge, expertise and experience built up over the past years,
our new Business Plan 2013-2017 has established the thematic focus of CUTS
Geneva work programme as the following:
Global South & Multilateral Trade
Regional Integration & South-South Cooperation
Regulatory Reforms
Linkages for Holistic Policies
Empowering Stakeholders
GOVERNANCE
The main organs of CUTS International Geneva are the General Assembly, the
Executive Committee, the Stakeholder Forum and the Secretariat.
General Assembly
The General Assembly comprises eight members, including its President,
Secretary and Treasurer. The General Assembly meets at least once a year.
Under circumstances requiring urgent action, decisions by circular letter,
telephone or email conference are admissible. The General Assembly takes its
decisions by consensus. If there is no consensus then decisions shall be taken
by a simple majority of those present.
Mr. Philippe Brusick, Chairman Former Head Competition Branch, UNCTAD
Mr. Pradeep S. Mehta, Member Secretary-General CUTS
Mr. Rashid S. Kaukab, Secretary Director CUTS International Geneva
Mr. Bipul Chattopadhyay, Treasurer Deputy Executive Director CUTS
14
THE ORGANISATION
Prof. Lichia Saner-Yiu, Member President Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development
Carlos A. Primo Braga, Member Director of The Evian Group@IMD
Mr. Khalil Hamdani, Member Visiting Professor Pakistan Institute for Development Economics of Islamabad
Dr. Anh-Nga Tran-Nguyen, Member Growth and Development Bridge, Geneva
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of CUTS International, Geneva is composed of five
persons and is headed by the President of the General Assembly. The Director is
ex-officio member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee meets
twice a year. For decisions to be valid, at least half of the Executive Committee
members must be present. By mutual agreement, decisions by circular letter,
telephone or email conference are admissible. Decisions of the Executive
Committee are taken by consensus. If there is no consensus then decisions shall
be taken by a simple majority of those present.
Mr. Philippe Brusick, Chairman Former Head Competition Branch, UNCTAD
Mr. Pradeep S. Mehta, Member Secretary-General CUTS
Prof. Lichia Saner-Yiu, Member President Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development
Mr. Bipul Chattopadhyay, Member Deputy Executive Director CUTS
Mr. Rashid S. Kaukab, Member Secretary (Non-Voting) Director CUTS International Geneva
15
THE ORGANISATION
Secretariat
The Secretariat is managed by the Director of CUTS International Geneva. The
duties of the Director include the preparation of annual programme of work for
approval by the Executive Committee, the management of CUTS International
Geneva in accordance with the administrative and financial rules, the
implementation of the decisions of the General Assembly and the Executive
Committee, resource mobilisation, and providing strategic leadership.
Stakeholder forum
The Stakeholder Forum monitors the activities of CUTS International Geneva
and offers advice to the Executive Committee and General Assembly. Current
membership of this forum includes 20 representatives of inter-governmental
organisations, non-governmental organisations, developing and developed
country missions in Geneva, relevant government agencies in capitals,
academics, and the media.
The Team
Rashid S. Kaukab
Director
Josiane Rufener
Administrative Officer
Julian Mukiibi
Senior Programme Officer
Julien Grollier
Assistant Programme Officer
Krista Joosep
Assistant Programme Officer
Nathan Sologny
Research Trainee
The following voluntary interns, engaged during the course of the year have also
made valuable contributions: Karia Sekumbo, Max Hasan, Hannah Leigh,
Danièle Stübi, Marietta Angeli, Carolin Ehrensperger, Shashay Tadesse, Valeria
d’Agostino, Anna Brezhneva, David Schwebel, Diana Hughes, Leslie Debornes,
Matthias Maltha.
16
THE ORGANISATION
ACCOUNTABILITY
We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and
accountability to both our beneficiaries and donors. This is why we have adopted
policies and rules on procurement, finance and accounting, fraud prevention,
donor-recipient relationship and service rules.
Our financial management systems are robust and have handled multi-million US
Dollar projects. Our accounts are audited annually by an independent auditor
affiliated to the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), and special
project audits are also undertaken when required.
CUTS International, Geneva receives funding from a range of donors, including
government agencies, multilateral institutions and foundations. Funding may be
unrestricted or directed to specific projects or programmes.
OUR OUTREACH
New website
In January 2014, CUTS Geneva launched a
new website, organised around our different
areas of work. It is regularly being populated
with press releases, events, reports,
pictures, advocacy documents and other
materials in order for it to be an effective
outreach and communication tool. Besides
this, CUTS Geneva continues maintaining
the website and social network dedicated to
the PACT EAC project.
http://www.cuts-geneva.org
Mailing list
The mailing list is a key element of CUTS Geneva’s outreach and is regularly
updated as new networking activities take place. With a 33% growth this year,
the list now contains about 2’700 trade and development stakeholders from both
developed and developing countries.
17
THE ORGANISATION
Mailing list composition by category
Media Relations
Press relations have also been taken to a higher level this year with a number of
press outlets and TV channels reporting CUTS Geneva’s work, as a result of
sustained efforts to build relationships with selected journalists. Press releases
are still prepared and released promptly after every event.
This year, CUTS Geneva’s work was reported in about 30 press articles and
about 15 times on TV daily news.
18
THE ORGANISATION
CUTS Geneva in Action
Every quarter, CUTS Geneva releases an update of its latest
activities, publications, events etc.
CUTS' 30th Anniversary Lectures: Pascal Lamy and Supachai Panitchpakdi
On July 9, 2013 the Thought Leadership lectures to celebrate CUTS’ 30th
anniversary were delivered by Pascal Lamy, Director-General WTO, and
Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General UNCTAD, at the margins of the 4th
Aid for Trade Global Review. Frederic Jenny, Chairman of the OECD
Competition Law and Policy Commission, moderated the event. These 30th
Anniversary Lectures were live streamed on the internet so they could be
followed live from all over the world. The video record is also available at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxqAp30zal8
New brochure
Brand-building has also been improved with a new brochure in
line with CUTS Geneva’s programme areas as outlined in the
new Business Plan 2013-2017.
19
THE ORGANISATION
20
GLOBAL SOUTH & MULTILATERAL TRADE
Global South &
Multilateral Trade
CUTS Geneva was founded to place the CUTS
family of organisations at the centre of multilateral
trade negotiations and become a Southern voice in
Geneva.
The rules-based World Trade Organization is facing
formidable challenges and the multilateral trading
system is under serious threat of becoming weaker.
This must be avoided as it is a critical global public
good. A strong, rule-based, and equitable WTO is in
the interest of both the developed and developing
countries.
The need of the hour is to increase the engagement of
all stakeholders in the WTO and not to withdraw due to
the slow pace of negotiations. It is particularly
important to facilitate the participation and integration
of developing countries as they comprise the vast
majority of the WTO membership and their support to
it can be the main source of strength in the 21st
century.
We assist developing country negotiators
in the WTO, while connecting them to
non-state actors in the Global South.
We also collaborate regularly with international
organizations in trade-related capacity building
initiatives such as Aid for Trade and the Enhanced
Integrated Framework.
"CUTS has become a truly
global institution respected
by governments and civil
society alike"
Pascal Lamy,
Director General World
Trade Organization (2005-
2013)
21
GLOBAL SOUTH & MULTILATERAL TRADE
As an observer to the WTO and UNCTAD, we
organise and participate in a variety of public
meetings with a view to bring our lessons from the
ground into multilateral debates. CUTS has
participated in all WTO Ministerial Conferences
since the creation of the organization, and this year
was not an exception.
SUPPORTING WTO NEGOTIATORS
Given both the challenges and the
benefits that the multilateral trading
system holds for development, we
focus on empowering developing
country negotiators to effectively
advance their interests in WTO negotiations. We
therefore serve as a platform for exchange and
interaction between negotiators and experts, civil
society and others.
We hold regular consultations with developing
country negotiators of the same region to respond to
their expressed needs. In particular, CUTS’ bi-
monthly EAC Geneva Forum brings together East
African negotiators to discuss WTO issues of
common interest and provide them technical
support. Below is a summary of the forum meetings
held this year.
The Bali Trade Facilitation Outcomes and the
Road Ahead
Jan. 29, 2014. At the 14th EAC Geneva Forum ,
country updates notes provided by the EAC capital-
based partners on “Implementation of the Trade
Facilitation Agreement from the EAC stakeholders’
perspective” were discussed, as well as an issue
paper was on the “9th Ministerial Conference: Trade
Facilitation Outcomes and the Road Ahead”.
“I would like to appreciate
what CUTS in Geneva is doing
to assist the EAC countries in
developing trade related-
issues.”
Christopher Onyanga Aparr
Permanent Representative,
Ambassador of Uganda to the
UN and the WTO in Geneva
22
GLOBAL SOUTH & MULTILATERAL TRADE
WTO Bali Ministerial Outcomes And Priorities For The EAC
Dec. 11, 2013. The 13th EAC Geneva Forum was held on December 11th, 2013
to discuss the WTO Bali Ministerial outcomes and priorities therefrom for the
EAC. The other issues for discussion were an issue paper on “Emerging SME
and Consumers Trade Facilitation issues in LDCs” and country update notes on
the US-EAC Investment partnership.stakeholders’ perspective” were discussed.
An issue paper was also provided on the “9th Ministerial Conference: Trade
Facilitation Outcomes and the Road Ahead”. Delegates’ interventions focused on
the post-Bali agenda.
Processes & Issues towards the WTO Bali Ministerial Conference
Sep. 23, 2013. The 12th EAC Geneva Forum took place on the sidelines of the
second Regional Annual Meeting of the PACT EAC project in Kampala, Uganda.
In addition to the Geneva based EAC WTO delegates the forum was attended by
the PACT EAC Country partners. The meeting focused on the highlights and
ways forward from the five national studies of the PACT EAC project “Climate,
Food, Trade: Where is the Policy Nexus?” as presented by the country partners,
and an issue paper on the “Processes and Issues towards the WTO Bali
Ministerial Conference” as presented by CUTS International.
Geographical Indications: Establishing and applying an effective protection
system in the EAC countries
Jul. 18, 2013. The 11th EAC Geneva Forum meeting under the PACT EAC
project was held on 16 July 2013. At the meeting under discussion were two
topics: one on “Geographical Indications (GI) – Establishing and applying an
effective protection system in the EAC countries” and second on “Strategizing for
the UNFCCC COP 19 in November 2013 in Warsaw – the view from the EAC
countries.”
AGOA and the EAC: A re-look after 13 years of Africa-US trade relations
May. 28, 2013. The 10th EAC Forum meeting under the PACT-EAC project was
held on Tuesday 28th May 2013. The issues under deliberation were EAC
member country perspectives on the African Growth and Opportunity Act
(AGOA) preferences and the impacts they have had on their respective countries
to-date; as well as Trade Facilitation scenarios in EAC.
23
GLOBAL SOUTH & MULTILATERAL TRADE
Publication
French edition of “Reflections
from the Frontline: Developing
Country Negotiators in the WTO”
Two years after its
first edition in
English, “Reflections
from the Frontline:
Developing Country
Negotiators in the WTO” is now available
in French. This edition contains several
new features, including a new chapter on
the cotton initiative. The authors, past
and present developing country
negotiators, take the reader through the
evolution of the negotiations of the Doha
round and are best placed to provide us
a view “from the frontline”.
http://bit.ly/1kiHX58
Advocacy
Call for an EAC Bloc in WTO
Negotiations
Despite the
establishment of both
a customs union and
a common market,
the EAC member
states are still
represented individually in WTO
negotiations. We argue that there is now
a momentum for the EAC as a customs
territory to become a member on its own
and act on behalf of its five member
states, which would substantially
increase their bargaining power. An
urgent must-do towards achieving this is
the adoption at the national level of the
2007 East African Trade Negotiation
Act. http://bit.ly/1kiHXSG
Geographical Indications: How
can East African agriculture
benefit more?
Aug 01, 2013. The TRIPS Agreement
provides for the protection of
Geographical Indications (GIs). Since all
the EAC countries are contracting
parties to the TRIPS, they are
responsible to make available a GI
protection system for the registration of
products. So far in the EAC only
Burundi, Rwanda and Zanzibar have a
sui generis GI system in place and only
very few products have been registered
as GIs, even though numerous benefits
may arise from the registration, such as
important value addition within the
region.
http://bit.ly/1kiHXSH
24
GLOBAL SOUTH & MULTILATERAL TRADE
TRADE FACILITATION
This year, expectations regarding a potential trade facilitation outcome in WTO
negotiations have progressively built up as the WTO Bali Ministerial Conference
was approaching. CUTS contributed to the debates in the run-up to the
conference, and advocated for addressing the specific interests of SMEs and
consumers.
In fact, SMEs are the “traders” that have less capacity to overcome customs,
documentation and infrastructure barriers while remaining the larger employer in
both developed and developing countries. They have specific needs and
considerations that still need to be addressed, whether in the WTO trade
facilitation agreement or in the national implementation phase.
Event | WTO Public Forum
Trade Facilitation: Addressing Consumer and SME Interests and Concerns
in Developing Countries
Oct 03, 2013. This workshop organised by CUTS International
aimed to identify key issues of interest to consumers and SMEs
in trade facilitation, and how they are being considered in the
current WTO negotiations. It also discussed how trade
facilitation can contribute to consumer welfare and SME
competitiveness.
25
GLOBAL SOUTH & MULTILATERAL TRADE
Briefing Papers
Trade Facilitation as a Means to
Improve SME Competitiveness
and Consumer Welfare
The briefing paper
outlines the potential
benefits of the WTO
Trade Facilitation
Agreement (TFA)
from the perspective
of the LDC and developing country
consumers and small and medium-size
enterprises (SMEs). The consumers are
expected to benefit from general cuts to
prices of goods while the SMEs should
benefit from more predictable
administrative procedures and
formalities, which currently create
disproportional disadvantages to them.
The concerns and needs of LDCs and
developing countries are also outlined
that require urgent, substantial and
demand-driven capacity building
assistance and balanced
implementation of TFA.
http://bit.ly/1aGBM4b
A Case of Implementing Trade
Facilitation Measures in LDCs
The paper makes a case for
implementing trade facilitation measures
in LDCs that would provide opportunities
for expanding supply-side capacity and
trade-related infrastructure; allowing
them to take greater advantage of trade
liberalization. This can potentially help to
break the cycle of low productivity and
investment that hinder economic
expansion and competitiveness. The
time it takes to import a container in
Africa (37 days) versus East Asia (22
days) reveals the competitive edge that
Trade Facilitation is capable of
providing.
http://bit.ly/1zrE2F5
26
GLOBAL SOUTH & MULTILATERAL TRADE
THE BALI WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
CUTS Geneva actively participated in the Ninth WTO
Ministerial Conference organised in December 2013 in Bali,
Indonesia. After years of uncompromising stances that
continuously culminated in collapsed negotiations and less
than optimum outcomes, the Bali Ministerial marked the first
substantive breakthrough for the WTO since the launch of the
Doha Round in 2001. At Bali, members of the WTO agreed on a package that
included three important issues under the Doha Development Agenda (DDA):
trade facilitation, some agriculture issues including public stockholding for food
security measures, and development and least-developed country issues.
CUTS @Bali Daily Bulletin
Every day, people around the world
were able to track the conference’s
proceedings thanks to our daily
bulletin disseminated every night to
thousands of interested
stakeholders. CUTS’ daily bulletin
provided highlights of plenary
discussions, negotiations insights,
reporting on side events etc.
“Thank you for your news from
Bali. Let's hope that there will be
found a common ground for
especially key questions on food
security.”
Philbert Ntibitangira,
Burundi
Event | WTO Ministerial Conference
Trade Facilitation: Identifying and Addressing SMEs and Consumers'
Needs and Considerations
Dec 04, 2013. The main objective of this side event to the 9th
WTO Ministerial Conference was to identify what are the key
issues of interest to consumers and SMEs in TF in light of the
experience of Members, international cooperation agencies and
other key stakeholders. The event also explored regulatory and
institutional options to respond to those needs and considerations and on how a
potential WTO TF outcome could contribute to consumer welfare and SMEs
competitiveness.
27
GLOBAL SOUTH & MULTILATERAL TRADE
Advocacy
Media interviews
Throughout the conference,
considerable number of media across
the world contacted CUTS for their
views on the chances of successful
outcome of Bali ministerial. Pradeep S
Mehta spoke with some of the well-
known broadcasting media such as BBC
News, Al Jazeera and TV Globo.
Press releases
Who is going to be the spoilsport, if at all
Dec. 4, 2013. “Blaming India is the
flavour of the week, but is that right”,
said Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary
General of CUTS International and
Member of the WTO’s High Level Panel
on the Future of Trade here today on the
second day of the 9th WTO Ministerial,
while speaking to the press here today...
We need a Bali accord: Friends of MTS
Dec. 5, 2013. A coalition of pro-trade
NGOs: “Friends of the Multilateral
Trading System” from around the world
led by CUTS International have
appealed to WTO members to arrive at
a deal at Bali, rather than not.
So Close, Yet So Far
Dec. 6, 2013. “Let there be no encore of
July, 2008, when WTO members had
come close to signing a deal on the
Doha Development Agenda”, said
Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General of
CUTS International and former member
of the WTO’s High Level Panel on the
Future of Trade in the 21st Century.
“There was no deal on the full package
of the DDA at Geneva in 2008, and the
efforts now to get a small package face
the same gloomy prospects”.
Multilateralism Survives
Dec. 7, 2013. “The Bali package struck
today is a win of multilateralism and
would go a long way in the history of
trading system”, said Pradeep S Mehta,
the Secretary General of CUTS
International and former member of the
WTO High Level Panel on the Future of
Trade in the 21st Century. He stated
that the Bali deal has restored
confidence in the multilateral trading
system and it is not just a win for the
WTO but the entire developing world.
28
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
Regionalism &
Cooperation
We support regional integration and promote
experience-sharing through inter-regional
cooperation projects in the South.
Beginning as an Indian NGO, CUTS International has
expanded its project activities and physical presence to
other countries and regions, to unlock the potential of
South-South cooperation, not only among civil society
organizations but also governments and business
communities.
South-South cooperation remains an extremely
significant process in contemporary international
development and continues to motivate CUTS. Our
approach to South-South cooperation has been shaped
further by the philosophy of trilateral development
cooperation: provision of technical assistance between
Southern countries funded by a Northern donor.
CUTS International, Geneva further contributes to
regional integration efforts, which allows developing
countries to benefit to a greater extent from
globalisation by providing larger economic spaces,
alignment of policies, pooling of resources and a
stronger voice in international policy making.
We see regional integration as a building
block towards global integration, which
should not lead to fragmented world and
"regional fortresses".
In this spirit, our projects tend to adopt a regional
approach. CUTS International, Geneva has worked in
cooperation with regional institutions and their member
"I am glad that CUTS is a
partner in our agenda for
integration and
development, including our
collaboration in EAC
agriculture - climate
change- trade linkages and
the EAC Geneva Forum. I
thank you for this
partnership."
Richard Sezibera,
Secretary-General East
African Community
Secretariat
29
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
countries, to build relationships with and between governments, trade
negotiators, the civil society and businesses of different parts of the world.
BIEAC: EVALUATING OUR IMPACT
Four years down the road, CUTS International is
undertaking an evaluation of its project “Building an
Inclusive East African Community” (BIEAC) that was
completed in 2010.
In 2008-2010, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) of Germany provided funding
support to CUTS for building the capacity of East African CSOs to better
participate and engage in the EAC integration process, as well as Economic
Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations with the European Union (EU). In
fact, very few CSOs were engaged on trade issues at this time. Issues examined
under the project included regional migration, informal cross-border trade, tax
policy and regulatory harmonization, non-tariff barriers, accession of Burundi and
Rwanda to the EAC, competition law among other trade opportunities and
challenges in the region.
In 2013, GIZ commissioned CUTS to establish the extent to which CSOs have
been involved in EAC, EPA and COMESA-SADC-EAC negotiations since the
completion of the project. Interviews were conducted in March 2014 with all
relevant stakeholder in the five member countries of the EAC, as well as the EAC
Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania. Stakeholders indicated that thanks to the BIEAC
project CSOs in the region have since been more actively involved in the EAC
integration process and have achieved a number of successes through effective
advocacy. These findings will be compiled in an evaluation report expected for
June 2014.
30
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
AID FOR TRADE
CUTS has for several years been actively involved in Aid for Trade and the
Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), including through implementing capacity-
building projects in LDCs.
Since August 2013, CUTS Geneva is closely involved in the implementation of
the Enhanced Integrated Framework (therefore Aid for Trade) through its EIF
sPokes project. Under this project, CUTS Geneva is designing and piloting a
capacity-building module for EIF National Implementation Units in Zambia, Nepal
and Burkina Faso. This will help them improve the participation of Non-State
Actors in EIF activities and trade-related public-private dialogues more generally.
More details are provided in the section “Empowering Stakeholders”.
In Geneva this year, the Fourth Global Review of Aid for Trade organised around
the theme “Connecting to value chains” was an opportunity for international
organizations, the private sector, governments, civil society and academia to
discuss the changing nature of value chains and how developing countries,
especially LDCs can best derive value from them.
CUTS participated in this year's Global Review and organised an event themed
“Aid for Trade, Regional and Global Value Chains and the Role of Trilateral
Cooperation”.
Event | 4th Global Aid for Trade Review
Aid for Trade, Regional and Global Value Chains and the Role of Trilateral
Cooperation
Jul 09, 2013. Multi-stakeholder coordination is inherent to the
Trilateral Development Cooperation model of implementing aid
projects, which provides an ideal platform for regional Aid for
Trade projects. It goes far beyond simple tripartite aid initiatives
involving donors from developed and developing regions and
recipient countries. It involves participation of a wide range of stakeholders in
various capacities. In this session, the state of regional value chains in selected
developing regions, particularly in South Asia, Eastern and Southern Africa and
in Mercosur, and possibilities of linking them with global value chains, were
explored.
31
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
32
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
Linkages for Holistic
Policies
We analyse and sensitize about the linkages
existing across economic sectors and issues like
trade, agriculture, the environment etc. This is to
"break silos" towards more holistic and coherent
policies.
International trade offers a chance for producers to
specialise in production that maximises efficiency and
buffers against domestic shocks or natural disasters.
However, this requires that domestic trade policies are
in line not only with international trade agreements but
also with other related domestic policies. It is how
these policies work together that constitutes the key to
sustainable development.
Trade policy does not take place in a vacuum and
needs to consider reforms and changes in other parts
of the economy to be effective and contribute to
development. Our work aims to think outside pre-
defined boxes and link issues, such as climate change,
food security and agriculture with trade. Sector-specific
policies have far-ranging effects through their linkages
across specific sectors and issues. A key task therefore
is to understand these linkages, improve
communication and coordination among stakeholder,
and develop holistic policies.
We strive to "break silos" towards more
holistic and coherent policies.
This "breaking of silos" is at the heart of CUTS
International's know how, which it undertakes not only
at the national but also the international level.
“I thank CUTS International
for championing the
promotion of linkages
between climate, food and
trade for better planning
within the EAC region”
Hon. Flavia Nabugere
Munaaba,
Minister of State for Water
and Environment, Uganda
33
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
Training
THE PACT EAC PROJECT
In the next decades, the critical situation of food security in the
East African Community is expected to aggravate as climate
change worsens in a region where most of East Africans rely
on agriculture for their living. Early action and adoption of
sound policies harnessing the potential role of trade is a must.
Through a project entitled “Promoting Agriculture-Climate-
Trade Linkages in the East African Community” (PACT EAC), CUTS International
Geneva and its partners throughout the region aim to contribute to this process.
The project was launched in October 2011 and is funded by the Swedish
International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
Through an integrated set of research-based advocacy, networking and training
activities and by linking grassroots with Geneva, the project seeks to build human
and institutional capacity of East African Community (EAC) stakeholders to help
them take better advantage of international trade for their growth and
development and poverty reduction, particularly in the context of climate change.
Climate, Food, Trade: Developing
Coherent Policies and
Programmes
This year, CUTS
collaborated with the
Trade Policy Training
Centre in Africa
(trapca) to deliver
national and regional training
programmes on “Climate, Food, Trade:
Developing Coherent Policies and
Programmes”. The workshops built
policy makers and other stakeholders’
capacities to initiate, formulate, revise
and monitor programmes and policies
cutting across the three issues.
Certificates of competence were
delivered to participants having
successfully completed the course.
34
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
Event | PACT EAC Project
Promoting Food Security through Climate Smart Agriculture and Policy
Coherence
Mar. 04, 2014. The five national multi-stakeholder meetings
held throughout May 2014 took forward advocacy campaigns
for the inclusion of climate issues in trade policy and
negotiations (Rwanda, Uganda); inclusion of trade issues in
environmental policy (Tanzania); and stronger climate early
warning systems (Burundi, Kenya). Participants also discussed existing gaps in
research and capacity building related to agriculture, climate change and trade,
to which future interventions should be directed.
Event | PACT EAC Project
Climate, Food, Trade: Bringing Coherence into East African Policy
Responses
Sep. 23, 2013. From 23 to 24 September, leaders from diverse
backgrounds coming from all parts of the East African
Community (EAC) gathered in Kampala to take forward several
recommendations made by the PACT EAC Project - a CUTS
International Geneva-led regional initiative that aims to build
capacities in the region for more coordinated policies at the interplay of trade,
climate change and food security, and strengthen Geneva-grassroots linkages.
Event | PACT EAC Project
Climate, Food, Trade: Campaigning for Change
Jun. 24, 2013. From June 24 to July 29, partners in Burundi,
Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda launched advocacy
campaigns for promoting a more harmonious policy framework
on issues at the interface of trade, climate change and food
security. These campaigns launched on the occation of the
fourth National Reference Group meetings of CUTS International's PACT EAC
Project focus on key recommendations of national research studies released in
March under the title “Climate, Food, Trade: Where is the Policy Nexus?”.
35
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
Publication
Climate, Food, Trade: Where is
the Policy Nexus? – Lessons
from the East African Community
This synthesis report
summarises the
findings of five
national research
studies in East Africa that aimed at
outlining a more coherent policy
framework at the interface of climate
change, food security and trade...
http://bit.ly/1dsIc9d
CONTRIBUTION TO KENYA ENVIRONMENT
POLICY
In Kenya, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (MEWNR)
adopted the National Environment Policy in 2013. According Mr Paul Kere,
Director Policy Formulation Interpretation and Implementation in MEWNR, the
PACT EAC project materials, especially research study reports, have been used
as references for this policy on climate, food and trade linkages.
More specifically, a dedicated section (section 5.2) on “Trade and Environment”
expressly states, inter alia, that “The Government will mainstream environmental
considerations into the National Trade Policy.” Mr Kere is a member of the Kenya
National Reference Group under PACT EAC and was also a reviewer of the
Kenya research study.
CAMPAIGNS FOR EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS
In Kenya and Burundi, enhancing early warning systems has become a priority
for advocacy under the PACT EAC project as extreme weather conditions have
affected agricultural productivity, and directly affected farmers’ livelihoods.
36
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
In Burundi for instance, the region of Bujumbura experienced the worst floods in
30 years which, besides many lost lives, took farmers by surprise and destroyed
crops. This demonstrates the urgent need to implement information and early
warning system for producers and traders, as had been already proposed by the
Ministry of Agriculture. CUTS’ project partner (ADIR) therefore launched an
advocacy campaign which managed to bring together the Head of Weather
forecasting at the Ministry of Environment and an expert in the Ministry of
Agriculture to collaborate on a pilot early warning system for farmers that would
timely disseminate appropriate information through appropriate channels. The
draft mechanism was presented at a meeting on 12 March 2014 where it
received wide media coverage.
In Kenya, CUTS Geneva is joining hands with its sister organistion in Nairobi on
an advocacy campaign that will help to bridge the information dissemination gap
between the Kenya Meteorological Service (KMS) and stakeholders, especially
farmers, as well as promoted community-based early warning systems. The
campaign is taking advantage of the recent decentralization of meteorological
services whereby KMS County Directors have been appointed. This made it
possible to cooperate with Murang’a and Makueni County Directors in
awareness-raising activities directed to rural livelihoods.
Briefing Paper
Early Warning System: A Critical
Aspect in Promoting Agricultural
Productivity in the Face of
Climate Change
This briefing paper suggests a number
of good practices that Kenya could learn
from in improving its early warning
system.
In spite of strides in the Meteorological
service, Kenya still has inadequate
systems to warn farmers on climate
changes. As a result, farmers are
exposed to extreme weather conditions
i.e. drought/floods which undermines
farming.
http://bit.ly/1hSYOXK
37
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
Advocacy
Timely Knowing What Threatens
Our Cultures Will Help us Protect
Them.
This Action alert in
French calls for
urgently devising and
implementing an
agro-climatic early warning system for
Burundian farmers and traders. In
February 2014, the region of Bujumbura
experienced the worst floods in 30
years. These have cost many lives and
worsened an already precarious food
situation. This catastrophe demonstrates
the urgent need to implement such
information and early warning systems.
http://bit.ly/1kiHX58
INFLUENCING RWANDA TRADE POLICY
REVISION
In Rwanda, where the National Trade Policy is currently under review, CUTS’
partner in Rwanda (RCSP) is implementing an advocacy campaign under the
PACT EAC project to lobby for the inclusion of climate change issues in the
Trade Policy, as well as representation of Rwanda Environmental Management
Authority (REMA) in the National Trade Policy Forum (NTPF) to work on the
issue.
As a result, a joint lobby committee
comprising representatives of the
Ministry of Trade and REMA has
been setup to work on the issue in
March 2014. The government has
publicly announced that it is
reviewing the National Trade Policy
to address new challenges,
especially those posed by climate
change, and has acknowledged that
the current trade policy does not
directly show the linkage between
trade and climate change. The
announcement was widely covered
by the media.
“The government is reviewing the
national trade policy to address
new challenges, especially those
posed by climate change.”
John Mwesige,
Trade Negotiator at
the Ministry of Trade
and Industry,
Rwanda
38
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
CHARCOAL TRADE AND DEFORESTATION
In Tanzania, CUTS Geneva is partnering with the Economic and Social Research
Foundation (ESRF) on an advocacy campaign for the government to tackle
deforestation through stronger regulation of the informal charcoal trading sector.
As the Tanzania Forest Policy is being reviewed, the campaign voiced concerns
in an Action Alert that “weak governance has led the charcoal industry to become
the second main cause of deforestation in the country”. Several
recommendations of the alert were discussed in a meeting between ESRF and
the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT), which promised to
incorporate recommendations from the alert in the revised policy. CUTS and
ESRF will closely monitor how these are being integrated over the coming year.
Advocacy
Managing Biomass Trade in
Tanzania to Tackle Deforestation
In Tanzania,
unsustainable and
inefficient biomass
production has led to
deforestation
and soil degradation, thereby putting
livelihoods at risk. The Government
through the Ministry of Tourism and
Natural Resources, Regional
Secretariat, and District Councils should
support measures geared towards
sustainable charcoal production.
http://bit.ly/1lqZojz
LINKAGES IN MULTILATERAL DEBATES
The "breaking of silos" is at the heart of our know-how, which we undertake not
only at the national but also the international level. In fact, international
organisations often tend to work within their narrow areas of specialisation
without adequate knowledge-exchange and collaboration with other relevant
international organisations. This is why our participation in this year’s UNCTAD
39
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
Public Symposium tackled the issue of linking multilateral trade and investment
debates. This is also why we participated in the first ever Global Landscapes
Forum on the sidelines of the UNFCCC CMP/COP19 in Warsaw, Poland which
linked environmental and agricultural issues.
Event | UNCTAD Public Symposium
Towards a Multilateral Consensus on Trade and Investment: Bali and
Beyond
Jun 25, 2013. This breakout session during the UNCTAD Public
Symposium 2013 brought together relevant stakeholders to
discuss a Multilateral Consensus on Trade and Investment that
would lead to a balanced world economy in the long term, while
guiding preparations for Bali Ministerial in the immediate term.
Balanced and fair trade and investment rules are a pre-requisite for a balanced
world economy characterised by substantially reduced poverty, job creation, and
access to essential services. However, development of such rules requires inputs
from, participation of, and ownership by all relevant stakeholders who too often
work in their respective silos – a situation that must be reversed by encouraging
and organising multi-stakeholder discussions. This is urgent as the preparations
for the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in Bali, Indonesia in December
2013 pick gears which will be an important occasion to shape a Multilateral
Consensus for balanced and fair multilateralism.
Event | WTO Public Forum
The Neglected Imperative in Trade and Development: Innovation as a
Growth Strategy for the Global South
CUTS International and the Organisation Internationale de la
Francophonie organised this session that examined the
relationship between innovation and trade in developing and
least-developed countries, with an emphasis on Francophone
nations.
40
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
Representation
Participation in CMP/COP19
November 16, 2014. CUTS Geneva participated in the first-ever Global
Landscapes Forum on the sidelines of the UNFCCC COP19 at the University of
Warsaw, Poland. This forum allowed the agricultural and the forest policy
communities to come together and was a landmark evolution in thinking as forest
and farming are intimately interlinked.
Advocacy
Agriculture at COP19: It is Time
for Emerging Powers to Lead!
Nov 01, 2013. Diverging interests in
climate talks have left potential
agreements over climate change and
agriculture at an impasse. While
developed countries favor an approach
centered on mitigation, developing
countries strongly advocate for an
adaptation-oriented approach that would
provide them with enough support to
preserve their agriculture in the face of
climate change. While COP 19 may
provide a window of opportunity for a
positive move on adaptation, active
support by emerging powers will be
necessary to achieve meaningful
results.
http://bit.ly/1aAavvw
41
REGIONALISM & COOPERATION
42
EMPOWERING STAKEHOLDERS
Empowering
Stakeholders
Policy-making should not be the preserve of a few
if they are to balance interests and be owned by the
people. This is why we help relevant stakeholders
navigate and participate in policy processes.
CUTS activities and interventions extend to all groups
of consumers, and emphasise supporting marginalised
groups by empowering and facilitating their
participation in economic governance. Thus, the
objective is to enhance the sovereignty of all groups of
consumers and the pursuit for social justice and
economic equality.
The involvement of relevant stakeholders also benefits
the policy-making and implementation processes by
bringing in invaluable knowledge and insights, balance
various interests, and by creating a sense of
ownership. Our expertise in stakeholder empowerment
includes awareness-raising and promotion of
transparency, building multi-stakeholder networks and
assessing the inclusiveness of policy making
processes.
This year, CUTS Geneva started a capacity-builing
project to improve Non-State Actors’ participation in
Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and related
trade mainstreaming processes.
THE EIF SPOKES PROJECT
In August 2013, the EIF Executive Secretariat
commissionned CUTS Geneva to design and pilot a
capacity-building module for EIF National
Implementation Units in Zambia, Nepal and Burkina
“The findings and
analysis of the study
will go a long way in
terms of helping
stakeholders sharpen
their engagement in
the EIF process in
Zambia.”
Kelvin Kamayoyo,
National Trade Expert,
EIF National Implementation
Unit, Zambia
43
EMPOWERING STAKEHOLDERS
Faso. This one-year project will help them improve the participation of Non-State
Actors in EIF activities and trade-related public-private dialogues more generally.
CUTS is therefore developing a methodology for an integrated set of activities
that will culminate in the collaborative development of a roadmap to address
country-specific challenges to NSAs’ engagement. This step-by-step
methodology also includes stakeholder mapping, outreach, situational
assessment, and engaging NSAs in a workshop towards a Roadmap.
The module was successfully piloted in Zambia in February 2014, wherey a
roadmap was adopted by all stakeholders. Over the coming months, the
experience of piloting in Nepal and Burkina Faso will also inform the creation of
an “EIF Guidebook on Effective Engagement of NSAs”, which will compile good
practices relevant for all LDCs. More information is avalable at www.cuts-
geneva.org/EIF_sPokes.html
Event | EIF sPokes Project
Non-State Actors in the EIF: Towards a Roadmap
Feb 12, 2014. This EIF sPokes capacity building workshop
aimed to present the findings of CUTS' assessment of practices
for engagement of Non-State Actors in the EIF, as well as
finalize and adopt a roadmap for addressing current challenges.
A refresher course on the importance of trade mainstreaming
for development was also delivered.
Training
Trade Mainstreaming for
Development in Zambia
In February 2014, the
EIF sPokes workshop
was an opportunity to
deliver a “refresher
course” to Zambian
stakeholders on trade
mainstreaming in order to ensure that
NSAs contextualise the initiative and are
able to actively provide insights beyond
the implementation of the module. This
short course discusses the role of trade
mainstreaming for development, and
explains trade policy mechanisms in the
country as well as ways for NSAs to
participate in them.
http://bit.ly/1r5TllH
44
EMPOWERING STAKEHOLDERS
Partnerships
As a vibrant advocate of South-South Cooperation, CUTS has been forming
and maintaining strategic alliances with like-minded organisations in over
40 countries, particularly in the developing world.
This has helped CUTS to work in trenches so as to reach out to a large
community of practitioners, policymakers and experts beyond its direct sphere of
influence. We contribute to the expansion of CUTS' networks by forming new
partnerships not only with non-state and state institutions in developing countries,
but also in Geneva with permanent missions, trade negotiators and
representatives of international organisations.
Our working methodology places emphasis on engaging with a multitude of local,
national and international stakeholders around the world. It is our close
involvement with stakeholders in the Global South that makes CUTS
International, Geneva, a credible Southern NGO voice in Geneva.
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
At the international and regional levels, we have established formal institutional
relationships with several International Governmental Organizations (IGOs)
which our work seeks to influence. Our work this year has contributed to
strengthening these relationships:
World Trade Organization (WTO): CUTS Geneva is an accredited
NGO to the WTO. This year, CUTS Geneva organised two events on
how trade facilitation can address consumers’ and SMEs’ interests as
part of the 9th Ministerial Conference and the WTO Public Forum.
Another CUTS session at the WTO Public Forum dealt with the theme
“The Neglected Imperative in Trade and Development: Innovation as a
Growth Strategy for the Global South”. In addition, CUTS was an active
participant to the 4th Global Review of Aid for Trade, where it organised
a session themed “Aid for Trade, Regional and Global Value Chains
and The Role of Trilateral Cooperation”.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD):
CUTS Geneva has an observer status with UNCTAD. This year, we
again participated in the UNCTAD Public Symposium through an event
titled “Towards a Multilateral Consensus on Trade and Investment: Bali
and Beyond”
45
EMPOWERING STAKEHOLDERS
East African Community Secretariat (EAC): The implementation of
CUTS’ Memorandum of Understanding with the EAC Secretariat has
continued through the implementation of the PACT EAC Project. Among
other participations, the Deputy Secretary General addressed the 3rd
Regional Annual Meeting of the project.
Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF): Building on
their collaboration initiated on the French edition of the publication
“Reflections from the Frontline: Developing Country Negotiators in the
WTO”, CUTS and the OIF have taken their collaboration to a higher
level this year. Besides organising a joint event themed “The Neglected
Imperative in Trade and Development: Innovation as a Growth Strategy
for the Global South” at the WTO Public Forum, the two organisations
have undertaken to sign an MoU in the coming months.
REPRESENTATIONS
CUTS International Geneva was invited by a number of other inter-governmental
and non-governmental organisations in Geneva and elsewhere to participate and
make presentations to the meetings and events organized by them. These have
been good opportunities to present the interests and concerns of developing
countries on trade and development related issues to a wider audience and to
share the work and knowledge of CUTS.
DFID’s Trade Advocacy Fund
April 30, 2013. Rashid S Kaukab participated as a trainer in
DFID’s first Trade Advocacy Fund training seminar on WTO
issues in London, UK. The training seminar was designed to
enhance the capacity of senior trade negotiators, trade officials
and legal experts from TAF eligible beneficiary countries on
international
Commonwealth Secretariat
June 25, 2013. Rashid Kaukab made a presentation at the Commonwealth
Secretariat Workshop on “Multilateral Trade Issues: Developing Perspectives for
Small and Vulnerable Economies and Least Developed Countries”.
46
EMPOWERING STAKEHOLDERS
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
October 23, 2013. Julian Mukiibi attended a GIZ workshop held at the Mandela
Institute, University of Witwatersrand South Africa on “Trade Perspectives in
Services Regulation”.
Washington International Trade Association
December 4, 2013. Rashid Kaukab was a speaker to a side event to the Bali WTO Ministerial Conference on “What will a post-Bali agenda for the WTO look like?”, organised by Washington International Trade Association.
Centre for Policy Dialogue
December 5, 2013. Rashid Kaukab was a speaker to a side event to the Bali
WTO Ministerial Conference on “Integrating trade issues in post-2015
international development framework”, which the Centre for Policy Dialogue was
co-organising.
Africa, Caribbean, Pacific Group of States (ACP)
January 22, 2014. Rashid Kaukab attended an ACP meeting on discuss Bali outcome and post-Bali issues.
March 11, 2014. Rashid Kaukab participated in an ACP Brainstorming and made a presentation on possible approaches for post-Bali work programme of the WTO. He contributed a paper titled “WTO Bali Ministerial Conference: An Outcome Evaluation and Suggestions for Way Forward for ACP States”.
OECD Global Forum on Competition
February 27, 2014. Julien Grollier participated in the OECD
Global Forum on Competition at Paris, France. The Forum
brought together over 100 different delegations to discuss issues
relating to fighting corruption, and competition issues in the
distribution of pharmaceuticals. A daily bulletin was issued to
keep stakeholders up-to-date around the world.
Connexion: Graduate Institute Careers Forum
March 8, 2014. CUTS International Geneva had a stand at the
Graduate Institute’s Career Forum, where Krista Joosep delivered
a presentation on its work. This career fair is an event organised
by the Graduate Institute for employers looking for potential
collaborators with an international profile as well as students and
graduates looking to jump start a career in the public, non-profit and private
sectors.
47
EMPOWERING STAKEHOLDERS
Lahore School of Economics
March 26, 2014. Rashid S. Kaukab participated in the 10th
annual conference on management of Pakistan's economy
organised by the Lahore School of Economics. In is presentation,
he provided a comprehensive overview of Regional Trade
Agreements (RTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs)
around the world.
48
AUDIT REPORT
Audit Report
49
AUDIT REPORT
50
AUDIT REPORT
51
AUDIT REPORT
52
ANNEX 1: MEMBERS OF THE STAKEHOLDER FORUM
Annex 1: Members of the
Stakeholder Forum
IGOs
Dr. Edwin Laurent Former Adviser & Head-International, Trade and Regional Co-operation, Economic Affairs Division Commonwealth Secretariat Email:[email protected] Mr. David Luke Senior Advisor & Coordinator, Trade and Human Development Unit, UNDP 11-13, Chemin des Anémones, CH-1219, Châtelaine/GE, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] Mr. Habib Ouane Former Director, Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes, UNCTAD E-mail : [email protected] Mr. Shishir Priyadarshi Director, Development Division, WTO Rue de Lausanne 154, CH-1211, Geneva 21, Switzerland Email: [email protected]
CIVIL SOCIETY
Mr. Christophe Bellmann Programme Director, ICTSD 13, Chemin des Anemones, 1219, Geneva, Switzerland Email: [email protected] Ms. Nathalie Bernasconi Programme Leader, IISD
International Environment House 2, Chemin de Balexert 9 CH-1219 Châtelaine Geneva, Switzerland Email: [email protected] Ms. Caroline Dommen Representative, Global Economic Issues, Quaker United Nations Office, Quaker House, Avenue du Mervelet 13, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland Email: [email protected] Mr. Nicolas Imboden Executive Director, IDEAS Centre rue de l'Arquebuse 10, CH-1204 Geneva, Switzerland Email:[email protected] Ms. Maria Rosaria Iorio International Policy Analyst, TPCS Email: [email protected] Mr. Geert Laporte Head of Institutional Relations & Partnerships, ECDPM Rue Archimede 5, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Email: [email protected]
MEDIA
Mr. Dipankar De Sarkar Chief of European Bureau, Indo-Asian News Service, IANS India Private Limited 48, Beverley Gardens Wembley,Middx. HA9 9QZ, UK [email protected]
53
Mr. D. Ravi Kanth Geneva Editor, Deccan Herald (India) & Washington Trade Policy 57 Rue Rothschild, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland Email: [email protected] Mr. Alan Beattie World Trade Editor, Financial Times, Number One Southwark Bridge London SE1 9HL, UK Email: [email protected] Mr Jonathan Lynn World Trade Correspondent, Chief Correspondent, Geneva Reuters News, Geneva Email: [email protected]
ACADEMIC/
RESEARCH BODIES
Dr. Thomas Cottier Managing Director, World Trade Institute Hallerstrasse 6, 3012 Berne, Switzerland Email: [email protected]
Dr. Joost Pauwelyn Co-Director, CTEI, GIIDS 132, rue de Lausanne, P.O. Box 136, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland Email: [email protected]
GOVERNMENTS
Mr. Ujal Singh Bhatia Former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the WTO Email:[email protected] Ms. Claire Durkin Formerly with the Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform Email: [email protected] Mr. Peter R. Janus Trade Counsellor, Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 31-33 Avenue Giuseppe-Motta, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] Mr Luzius Wasescha Former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the WTO and EFTA (UN/ECE, UNCTAD, ITC) E-mail: [email protected]
54
ANNEX 2: CUTS CENTRES IN THE WORLD
ANNEX 2: CUTS CENTRES IN THE
WORLD Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) D-217, Bhaskar Marg, Bani Park Jaipur 302 016, India. Ph: 91.141.228 2821 Fx: 91.141.228 2485 Email: [email protected] Web: www.cuts-international.org CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment (CUTS CITEE) D–217, Bhaskar Marg, Bani Park Jaipur 302 016, India Ph: +91.141.2282821 Fx: +91.141.2282485 Email: [email protected] Web: www.cuts-citee.org CUTS Centre for Competition, Investment and Economic Regulation (CUTS C-CIER) D–217, Bhaskar Marg, Bani Park Jaipur 302 016, India Ph: +91.141.2282821 Fx: +91.141.2282485 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.cuts-ccier.org/ CUTS International, Geneva 37-39 rue de Vermont CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland Ph: +41 22 734 6080 Fax: +41 22 734 3914 Email: [email protected] Web: www.cuts-geneva.org
Lusaka Resource Centre 4th Floor, Main Post Office Building, Cairo Road, PO Box 37113,Lusaka, Zambia Ph: +260.1.224992 Fx: +260.1.225220 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.cuts-international.org/cuts-arc.htm Nairobi Resource Centre Co-op Trust Plaza, 1st Floor Lower Hill/Bunyala Roads Upper Hill, PO Box 8188-00200, Nairobi, Kenya Email: [email protected] Web: www.cuts-international.org/cuts-arc.htm Accra Resource Centre No 30 Oroko Avenue (Near Accra Central ViewHotel and ATTC Kokomlemle), Accra, Ghana Ph: + 233 24 392 0926 Email: [email protected] Web: www.cuts-international.org/arc/accra Hanoi Resource Centre No 112 Kham Thien Str. Dong Da District Hanoi, Vietnam E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.cuts-hanoi.org
55
ANNEX 2: CUTS CENTRES IN THE WORLD
Delhi Resource Centre 62, Qutab View Apartments, Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi 110 016, India Ph: +91.11.26863021 Fx: +91.11.26856288 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.cuts-international.org/cuts-drc.htm Calcutta Resource Centre 3, Suren Tagore Road, 2nd Floor, Calcutta 700 019, India Ph: +91.33.24604985 Fx: +91.33.24604987 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.cuts-international.org/cuts-crc.htm
Centre for Human Development (CHD) Rawala, Senti, Chittorgarh 312 025, Rajasthan, India Ph: 91.1472.241 472 Fx: 91.1472.247 715 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.cuts-international.org/chd/