Building on these themes, the following recommendations are being put forward by the ECA, the AfDB
and the WTO, for consideration at the Global Review of Aid for Trade on 20-21 November. These
recommendations should be seen as a roadmap for developing concrete Aid-for-Trade strategies for
Africa:
y Awareness and understanding of Aid for Trade. The ECA and ADB, in collaboration with the WTO,
should continue to play a dynamic role in raising awareness about – and helping to advance – the
Aid-for-Trade initiative in Africa.
y Identify trade priorities. Africa’s trade needs are well known. It is important to go to the next level
by encouraging countries and sub-regions to map out the priority structural bottlenecks or binding
constraints to trade at the national – and especially at the regional – level, building on existing
studies and assessments.
y Aid-for-Trade action plans. Encourage countries and sub-regions to develop Aid-for-Trade action
plans, mainstreamed with country priorities, to address key priorities identifi ed in the fi rst stage,
including the identifi cation of actors and activities, fi nancing needs and an implementation schedule.
At sub-regional level, where possible projects and programmes identifi ed and develop by the REC's
should form a basis of these plans.
y African Aid-for-Trade network. Create an “African Aid for Trade Network” – led by the ECA
and the AfDB, including countries, donors, regional and multilateral agencies, and private-sector
representatives – to assist countries and sub-regions in mapping out priorities – in developing
action plans – in mobilizing resources and in monitoring and evaluation of progress.
y Progress report in Autumn 2008. Task the ECA and AfDB to report regularly on progress. Hold a
regional stocktaking conference in the autumn of 2008.