Trade and Development Studies Centre Trust [TRADES CENTRE] formerly known as Lome Trade Research Unit [LOTRU] is an independent research and training Centre incorporated and registered with the Deeds Register in Zimbabwe. It is a non-profit making organisation controlled by a Board of Trustees whose members are eminent persons drawn from various sectors in Southern Africa

Our Vision
The economic renaissance of Southern Africa and its poor communities in the Third Millennium will more than ever before depend on the impact of current fundamental global changes in the international, regional and national trading policy regimes being driven by the momentum of technological revolution, information technology and the neo-liberal philosophy. In the same region this problematic issue is not subjected to assiduous close scrutiny. TRADES CENTRE'S vision is through rigorous and consistent research to develop into a national and regional centre of excellence on trade and development policy research and analysis and civil society capacity building on issues of WTO, ACP-EU co-operation, EU-SADC, regional, national trade and development policies.

Our Objectives
The main objective of Trade and Development Studies Centre is policy-relevant training, research and analysis particularly focusing on the nexus between trade and development, aid and development, poverty alleviation and welfare in the context of WTO, post Lome IV ACP-EU co-operation, SADC-EU co-operation SA-EU trade and economic agreement, regional trade/economic agreements and national trade and development policies. Central for TRADES CENTRE is providing southern Africa with technical support and backstopping their positions in multilateral trade negotiations such as post Lome IV ACP- EU negotiations and regional trade arrangements. We also want to build the capacity of poor communities in trade issues to enable them prepare for new trade related challenges.

Our Approach
TRADES Centre aims to undertake practical, realistic, concrete and technically competent research work and training of civil society that produce feasible and implementable results taking into account circumstances obtaining on the ground. Like its predecessor [LOTRU], TRADES CENTRE would adopt both a demand driven and a proactive approach in bringing up issues that affect its target group.

Our Bias
TRADES CENTRE is biased in favour of developing countries in particular southern Africa and its poor communities. Our aim is to analyse trade and development issues from the perspectives of southern Africa's poor communities, to explore the implications of the various international, regional and bilateral trade agreements, regional integration, national trade and development policies and other policy options on southern Africa and our target groups.

Our Target Group
The consumers of the results of the work of TRADES CENTRE include policy makers, parliamentarians, business community, professionals, NGOs, civil society and donor community. These groups are central in influencing policies that affect poor communities and developing country positions. It is therefore the objective of TRADES to improve the capacity of its target group to engage and interpret policy issues and decisions.

Philosophy
Generation and delivery of quality products timely. Practical, realistic research and training easily accessible and implementable and which produces concrete policy proposals aimed at improving the welfare of poor people and communities in Southern Africa.

Trades Centre has five major structures namely: the Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee, Director, four pillars of core researchers/trainers, the Information Officer, Administrator, Bookkeeper and support staff. It currently employs twelve permanent workers of which 3 are core researchers/trainers including the director, an information officer, administrator, bookkeeper, librarian, secretary, a driver, gardener and office orderly. TRADES Centre is an equal opportunity employer.

Board of Trustees

Trades Centre is a Trust registered with the Registrar of Deeds in Zimbabwe. The supreme organ is the Board of Trustees, which is constituted by eminent persons drawn from the region. The Board of Trustees has the responsibility of policymaking, general control of the Trust, custody of assets of the Trust, ensuring the fulfillment of the objectives of the Centre, appointing of, and delegating to the Director authority to execute the programmes of the Centre.