TRADES CENTRE STRATEGIC PLAN 2006-2008
1. TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES
A striking feature in Southern Africa is the litany of poverty statistics (low HDI, high indebtedness, high mortality rates, malnutrition, low per capita income, etc). Poverty levels in some African countries have shot up to unprecedented high levels in the last two decades. HIV/AIDS now cuts across nations, creating severe demographic and socio-economic problems. Some countries such as Zimbabwe, have witnessed critical governance problems resulting in decades of socio-economic development being brought to a halt. In contrast to global developments, policy reversals have been seen in keys sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing. Such developments do not only hamper national development, but have serious implications for regional integration in Southern Africa.
Nevertheless, trade provides an avenue for poverty reduction if the region can push for just and fair trade policies for its people. It is, however, disturbing to note that Africa in general is being marginalised in global trade - it now accounts for less than 2% of global trade. The distribution of benefits from globalisation of trade is still skewed against poor countries and their communities. The poor are not aware of the various emerging multilateral, regional and national trade policy changes and regulations that affect them. Major trade matters affecting the poor communities without their knowledge are WTO, ACP-EU, SADC/COMESA regional integration; AGOA, EBA, GSP schemes and SAPs.
It is very important to note that Southern African countries are currently involved in a multiplicity of trading arrangements and negotiations at different levels. Key negotiation processes going on simultaneously in Southern Africa are:
(i) multilateral trade negotiation within the WTO
(ii) bilateral trade negotiations between ACP countries and the EU
(iii) regional integration negotiations in southern and eastern Africa
(iv) AGOA
(v) NEPAD.
An overriding feature of all these trade relations is the neo-liberal philosophy which emphasises the market approach in all trade relations. The main driving forces of the processes are big business, technological revolution, and information technology. These agreements may imply significant loss of sovereignty over national and regional trade and economic policy.
In addition, the United Nations General Assembly came up with resolutions on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Some the goals are to reduce poverty, hunger and the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015 (goals 1 and 6) as well as develop global partnership for development based on open, rule based and non-discriminatory trading system (goal 8).
The above-mentioned processes and initiatives may have profound positive and negative impacts on socio-economic development in Africa. If done responsibly, the processes have the potential to transform Africa from a poverty stricken continent into a prosperous one. However, if current structural and policy deficiencies are allowed to continue, the processes could translate into a social disaster for Africa. What is particularly disturbing about the processes is that the poor are not fully aware of negotiations and agreements and what such agreements mean for their welfare.
Weak institutions usually force African countries to enter into trade negotiations without clear objectives or a full understanding of the implications of agreements they sign. Further, a diversity of interests often forces countries at times to join multiple regional trade arrangements with overlapping interests, conflicting agendas and timetables. This has tended to weaken regional integration efforts.
It is in the above context that TRADES Centre proposes a three-year programme (2006-2008) that will seek to closely analyse the growing nexus between trade, poverty, and socio-economic development in Southern Africa. The rationale of the programme is therefore to build capacity for key trade players in southern Africa through information generation and training. This will certainly enable Southern African communities to take advantage of opportunities arising from globalisation and regional integration. At the same time, it will enable them to take informed positions and actions that will minimise adverse effects of free and unfair trade.
The programme primarily focuses on the impact of WTO, ACP-EU, AGOA, regional integration and NEPAD on socio-economic development in southern Africa. The understanding of how trade addresses the rising problems of poverty and HIV/AIDS in this region is of particular importance. To address these issues TRADES Centre strategy has three main components namely:
2. THE PLAN
The TRADES Centre’s plan for the period 2006 – 2008 is graphically illustrated in Fig 1. Objectives of the programme are to undertake policy-relevant research, capacity building and information dissemination, focusing on:
• Nexus between trade, poverty and development
• Impact of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements (ACP-EU, WTO, AGOA) on the welfare of the poor and marginalised in Southern Eastern Africa
• Regional trade co-operation within southern Africa (COMESA, SADC, SACU)
Figure 1: TRADES Centre Programme Framework : 2006 - 2008
Geographical coverage
Geographically, the plan focuses on Southern Africa. However, Eastern Africa will also be covered where necessary, especially when dealing with overlapping issues of regional integration.
Areas of focus
The plan focuses on three key areas, viz:
• Training
• Research
• Information Dissemination and Advocacy
2.1 PROGRAMMES
2.1.1 Training
Training is a key programme for TRADES Centre and will gain more significance in the 2006-2008 programme. Considering a multitude of trade negotiations currently going on simultaneously at different levels, southern Africa requires strengthening of its institutions through training; this explains why TRADES Centre has decided to intensify this component in its 2006 – 2008 Plan.
The overall objective of the training programme is to assist key stakeholders in southern Africa to identify and utilise trade opportunities as well as take appropriate measures that mitigate negative effects emanating from the new trade arrangements.
Specific objectives are to
• Strengthen institutional capacity in southern and eastern Africa to effectively participate in trade negotiations and implementation.
• Assists SADC/COMESA countries to conclude viable trade arrangements with the EU and/or develop workable alternatives to EPAs.
Main activities under this programme will include organising training workshops (no certificates issued) as well as disseminating training material through various means such as printed training manuals and the internet. The programme will be linked to the research arm that will provide the critique of current trade regimes. The training will be implemented in conjunction with other civil society organisations such as farmers’ unions and associations, small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), trade unions and consumer groups. Key areas covered under the training programme are EPAs, WTO, regional integration in southern Africa and how these are linked to the issues of poverty and access to basic human requirements like food, health, and education.
The training will be conducted at three levels, namely; basic, intermediate and advanced.
Basic training will be targeted at grassroots and organisations such as farmers’ unions/associations, women’s groups, SMEs, informal traders, trade unions and community based organisations (CBOs). The training will be undertaken in the form of trade literacy and awareness campaigns on key trade issues and implications for the poor. The specific objectives of the basic training are to:
• Create awareness on key trade agreements, key topical issues and how they impact on poverty and socio-economic development
• Raise awareness on how these people, groups and institutions can contribute to a fair and just trading system that reduces poverty and promotes socio-economic development
Generally, this form of training is aimed at creating a critical mass of people who understand different dimensions and implications of trade so that they can effectively lobby policy makers from informed positions.
Intermediate Training is targeted at civil society groups, parliamentarians, trade unions and media. The primary aim of the training is to analyse key trade agreements and their implications for socio-economic development in Southern Africa. The training will also help to sharpen lobby and advocacy skills for the target groups.
Advanced Training is targeted at top level policy makers such as senior government trade officials, negotiators, diplomats and the private sector. The aim of this training is to sharpen trade negotiation and analytical skills.
Specific modules for different target groups will be developed and used, giving special focus on cross-cutting issues such as gender. The training will be more focused on stimulating debate rather than imparting knowledge. Training of trainers at all levels will be undertaken at different training institutes, such as Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management (ZIPAM - train civil servants)
2.1.2 Research
TRADES Centre will continue to do research like it has done since its formation. The general objective of the research is to find strategies to defend the economic space of countries and regional economic blocs in southern Africa for poverty reduction and eventual eradication.
Specific objectives are to:
• Analyse positions of different players under bilateral and multilateral negotiations
• Assess implications of such positions on the poor
• Develop options for sustainable socio-economic development in Southern Africa
Research results will be used the training and advocacy programmes.
2.1.3 Information Dissemination and Advocacy
TRADES Centre recognises that there is a dearth of information among communities in southern Africa and this particularly affects the poor, who are left out in major decisions affecting their livelihoods. Therefore, the main objective of the information dissemination and advocacy programme is to achieve broad trade and economic literacy by equipping our target groups with relevant information that allows them to take informed positions usable in advocating for pro-poor and pro-development policy change. Information dissemination will be done through, workshops, seminars, conferences, meetings, media as well as timely distribution of position papers, fact sheets, policy briefings, strategies and study reports. This programme will build on the results of training and research programmes. TRADES Centre will also use its website www.tradescentre.org.zw and its quarterly news letter “Southern African Trade and Development Newsletter (SATDN)”.
2.2 THEMATIC AREAS
The key thematic areas for the 2006 -2008 plan are:
2.2.1 Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)
TRADES Centre strongly believes that EPAs can fundamentally change the development pattern and trend in southern Africa. If effectively negotiated and properly implemented, EPAs have a great potential to promote socio-economic development as well as reduce poverty in the sub-continent. However, if southern African countries are forced to negotiate under current weak institutions and other capacity constraints, EPAs will certainly exacerbate poverty.
The overall objective of the EPA programme is to assist key stakeholders in Southern Africa to identify and utilise trade opportunities as well as to take appropriate measures that mitigate negative effects emanating from new trade arrangements.
Specific objectives are to:
In order to achieve this goal, activities will be undertaken in research, training and information dissemination as outlined in Table 1.
Table 1.
| Overall Objectives | Specific Objectives | Activities |
|
|
Research
Training
Information Dissemination and Advocacy
|
2.2.2 World Trade Organisation (WTO)
WTO negotiations, in which most African countries participate, have made slow progress in addressing their socio-economic needs. The WTO agenda is unfortunately seen to cater for the needs of the rich. This explains why there is tension and polarisation of views between the rich and the poor as attested by the landmark failures of the Seattle and Cancun Ministerial conferences.
Paradoxically, the failures of Seattle and Cancun provide important lessons for shaping up a fair and just global trading system for the future. A notable development under WTO negotiations is that developing countries, including Southern African countries have managed to form alliances with other interested groups and have managed to resist or slow down negotiations on issues they view as undermining their development. For instance, they have managed to resist the incorporation of Singapore Issues in the WTO negotiations. It must however be noted that some of the said issues are being introduced under EPAs.
TRADES Centre’s work under the WTO theme will focus on the Doha Round of Negotiations, including the outcome of the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference. The overall objective under this thematic programme is to assist SADC/COMESA countries to participate meaningfully in the designing and implementation of a just and fair multilateral trading regime.
Specific objectives are to:
2.2.3 Regional Integration
A remarkable feature about regional integration in Southern Africa is the proliferation of regional bodies, which in some instances overlap in terms of objectives and timeframes. Southern African states are involved in a web of regional and bilateral trade arrangements. The majority are members of four regional preferential trading arrangements namely the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and Economic Community of Central African States [ECCAS]. Except for Mozambique, all of the SADC Member States belong to at least one other arrangement. SACU is the only customs union, but all of the arrangements have plans for deeper regional integration. The situation has been exacerbated by EPAs, which treat LDCs and developing countries differently. Key challenges facing the region are the implementation of SADC FTA and COMESA Customs Union in relation to NEPAD and the African Union (AU).
The overall objective of the Regional Integration thematic programme is to assist SADC/COMESA countries to harmonise and deepen regional trade integration policies.
Specific objectives are to:
2.2.4 Other - AGOA, NEPAD and TICAD
In addition to working on EPAs, WTO and regional integration, TRADES Centre will also undertake activities on AGOA, NEPAD and TICAD.
2.3 INPUTS
In order to effectively implement its plan, TRADES Centre needs sufficient and sustainable resources in terms of finance, staff and leadership.
2.3.1 Staffing and leadership
The main resource for the TRADES Centre is its visionary leadership and a committed team of professionals on trade within its permanent staff. The Board of Trustees is composed of highly experienced and reputable people.
TRADES Centre seeks to maintain current staffing levels. The Centre currently has seven professional staff with expertise in ACP-EU and WTO issues, business management and accounting. These comprise of the principal researcher, two researchers, a book keeper, an information officer, an administrator and a librarian.
2.3.2 External Pool of Experts
Since TRADES Centre has limited financial resources, it is not in a position to engage enough qualified personnel to meet demand for its research, training and advocacy work. A strategy employed to meet such demand is to engage external experts as and when required. The Centre has created a regional pool of experts, who closely work with it to undertake extra work which internal staff cannot fulfil. This is done on consultancy basis and has proved very effective since the formation of the pool two years ago.
2.3.3 Networks and strategic alliances
TRADES Centre has throughout the years developed strong networks and strategic alliances with similar and complementary organisations in Zimbabwe and abroad. These include academic institutions, NGOs, farmers groups, women’s groups and organisations representing SMEs and the informal sector. The networks and alliances help the Centre to effectively deliver its outputs as well as cut costs through joint work with other organisations. The networks are shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2 Networks and Strategic Alliances for TRADES CENTRE
