Telling the trade stories of least developed countries

The World Bank warned that recovery will be slower in low-income countries, especially small, fragile and conflict-affected states. This is due to lower vaccination rates, tighter fiscal and monetary policies, and more persistent scarring from the pandemic.

  Originally published by the World Economic Forum on 19 August 2021

Originally published on Devex on 3 August 2021

In some least developed countries, COVID-19 causing a shift in tourism plans Lake Assal. The Moucha-Maskali Islands. Lake Abbé. Heard of them?

The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges Least Developed Countries (LDCs) face in accessing vital trade finance, as many have seen their local dollar liquidity shrink while foreign banks take a dimmer - and not always accurate - view of emerging market risk.

Looking ahead to the next decade of action to transform economies Thriving economies produce. What they produce could be export commodities, human enterprises, linkages to supply chains, data innovations, i.e. the whole range of things that generate profit today.

Tourism, apparel and sustainable development strategies are covered in new series of policy briefs from the Enhanced Integrated Framework

Trade has a critical role to play in rebuilding developing and least developed countries’ economies, alleviating rising poverty and creating a greener, more inclusive future for all.

Recovery taking a different shape than expected 

A year into Covid-19 being declared a global pandemic, this month’s Aid for Trade stocktaking event, organized by the Development Division of the World Trade Organization (WTO), offers a timely opportunity to assess impact on developing and least developed countries’ (LDC) trade needs, discuss how to make the recovery sustainable and mobilize financing where it is needed most.

David Luke, Judith Ameso, Mahlet Girma Bekele

Adopting such standards in LDC production offers promise, but work remains

Originally published by Thomson Reute

by Brendan Vickers, Salamat Ali, Dr. Neil Balchin, Hilary Enos-Edu

Multinationals and governments need to recognize the trade world’s interconnectedness, and its impact

Originally published by Thompson Reuters Foundation News on 22 December 2020

Country embarking on a new tourism strategy as part of its building of trade sector When one thinks about tourism hotspots, Burundi is not the first that comes to mind. But, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t get there.

As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic kick in, hopes for better progress, at least in the short term, appear to be fading.

The government of Uganda put containment measures in place to tackle COVID-19. These included quarantines; bans on public gatherings and weekly markets; closures of schools, borders and nonessential retail outlets; and the suspension of international flights.

The combined and cumulative effect of pre-existing technological, policy and sustainability trends and the current COVID crisis is set to strike a perfect storm in the system of international production and GVCs.

Cabo Verde is often described as “off the beaten path”, whatever that means. In reality, the tiny country of 10 islands has been on many paths since the 15th century, when Portuguese sailors first stopped in the uninhabited archipelago.

Myanmar was already moving to get its businesses online. With COVID-19, they were able to speed things up.

Companies have a key role to play in building societal resilience to crises, including the current pandemic and climate impacts, across their value chains. 

With a sharp decline in tourism in 2020, what does the future look like?

On transforming healthcare where it’s needed most

Originally published by the World Bank on 1st October 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is a testament to the global value chain (GVC) world we live in; what happens in one country has profound impacts, intended and unintended, across countries.

Medicine retail and logistics in Africa are a highly fragmented business.

How can the country build back better?

COVID-19 is highlighting the interconnectedness of agri-food trade; and work needs to be done to mobilise action to build safe food systems

New paper looks at the supply chain dimension of African trade during and post-COVID

Originally published by THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION NEWS on 18 August 2020

Partnerships with development agencies and government efforts to boost the digital economy are helping soften the economic blow of the pandemic.

Originally published in World Economic Forum Agenda on 6 July 2020

Food products comprise around 17% of LDC merchandise imports – more than double the world average of 8%.

Originally published in OECD-Development Matters on 6 July 2020

As LDCs grapple with ongoing economic fallout from COVID-19, EIF activities have yielded valuable insights for recovery.

The macroeconomic context for developing country trade in the time of COVID-19

Ways for LDCs to adapt amid global turmoil

Women’s specific needs and potential as leaders and agents of change must be considered for COVID-19 mitigation and recovery measures.

OECD’s Seed Schemes are working to protect food systems globally, with important benefits for least developed countries

An uptick in business, especially in the delivery of food and essential items, is enhancing resilience in the wake of the crisis.

Although LDCs are home to 13.3% of the world’s population, their share of COVID-19-related medical imports is just 1%.

Six new objectives for regional policy cooperation

Originally published by UNIDO in May 2020

Originally published in OECD-Development Matters on 28 April 2020

COVID-19 has led to a steep decline in business for operators in protected areas, coupled with a substantial drop in future booking requests.

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFRPRI) Senior Research Fellow discusses the challenges and opportunities for food security in least developed countries amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Pandemic response highlights resilience of already-fragile countries

Halting of travel devastating sector that is a key driver of growth in the world’s poorest countries

The world is changing, and so should our support to the world’s poorest countries

Originally published by UNCTAD on 7 May 2020

Supply chains are vulnerable, but there is also promise in new sectors for least developed countries

To get LDC graduation back on track, and to help other LDCs, reform of the international system of support must be fundamental and far-reaching.

How will graduation impact countries in South Asia and the trade support they benefit from? How can they prepare?

Examining the potential impact of tourism disruption in LDCs; developing policy recommendations to limit the damage, initiate recovery and build resilience

Originally published in World Economic Forum Agenda on 24 April 2020

Trade ministry fast-tracks measures to ease access to essential goods and services during the pandemic.

COVID-19 is highlighting the need for paperless trade in developing countries; a recent assessment offers recommendations for how to start

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s travel impacts, West Africa’s objectives remain valid

Originally published by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) on 1 April 2020

Trade ministers are playing an essential role in the pandemic response

A roundup of recent news on the global pandemic, covering issues facing some of the world’s poorest countries – and what they are doing

Originally published in World Economic Forum Agenda on 23 March 2020

Poverty, inequality and exclusion are key factors contributing to the devastating effects of COVID-19 on all African countries.

Originally published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on 27 March 2020

What are international institutions pledging in the wake of the pandemic?

Originally published by Peterson Institute for International Economics on 27 March 2020

A compendium of recent news on the global pandemic and what some of the world’s poorest countries are doing

The right trade policies would help the world combat current pandemic