Ian Gillson, ODI, speaking at the opening session of the first UK national dialogue

TDP Project

Linkages between trade, development and poverty reduction (TDP)

Background

International trade is widely perceived as a means to reduce poverty, not an end in itself. Linkages between trade and economic growth, and economic growth and poverty reduction are well established in the economic literature. Yet, despite the existence of theoretical literature explaining the linkages between trade, development and poverty reduction, insufficient empirical evidence exists to prove the robustness of this linkage. However, in this era of globalisation, the role of international trade in poverty reduction cannot be denied and therefore more research and discussions are required to explore these issues objectively.

TDP is supported by the UK Department for International Development (DfID) and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Project activities

Through background research, a wide range of national and international dialogues and output based advocacy, the TDP project aims to promote more effective linkages between trade, and efforts aimed at development and poverty reduction in 13 developing countries in Asia and Africa, and two European countries (the UK and Netherlands). This is a four year project, which started in March 2005.

The background research to be undertaken through the project will provide new insights into TDP linkages at the grass-roots level, identify key areas where greater TDP coherence is required and the key stakeholders in the TDP policy coherence debate. These research outputs will then be used to guide the organisation of a wide range of national, regional and international dialogues to bring together stakeholders to debate country-specific issues related to TDP coherence. In addition, the project outputs will be utilised for advocacy activities such as media work, the dissemination of project outputs, and attendance at relevant national and international meetings to promote greater TDP coherence.

LRC is coordinating the project activities in the UK and the Netherlands.

Project Objectives

To facilitate cross-fertilisation of experiences and lessons learnt on linkages between trade, development and poverty reduction in the developing countries, in order to develop appropriate policy responses.
To help strengthen the ability of developing countries through the provision of policy support and other know-how and do-how on trade and development issues, and to defend their viewpoints and negotiating and advocacy positions on issues of concern, prevailing and emerging in the international trading system and their relationship with development and poverty reduction.
To facilitate synergy between governments and civil society organisations (between and among the Northern and Southern stakeholders) to learn from each other and strengthen their collective perspectives and positions in the emerging debate on the linkages between trade, development and poverty reduction.
To advocate development-oriented trade policies, based on learning from research and other activities, by taking into account the interests and priorities (needs and aspirations) of the poor and marginalised sections of the society and look into the aspects of policy coherence.

UK and Dutch Dialogues

A background paper investigating the development impacts of UK and Dutch trade policy and providing an overview of the key stakeholders in the TDP debate in the UK.
- To access the UK background paper use the following link: Link to paper.
- To access the Dutch background paper use the following link: Link to paper.
A national dialogue every year of the project which will bring together a wide range of UK stakeholders to debate key issues relating to TDP coherence.
- To read the report from the first UK National Dialogue (July 2005), use the following link:
  - Link to report .
- To read the report from the first Dutch National Dialogue (February 2006), use the following link:
  - Link to report .
- To read the reports from the second UK National Dialogue (May 2006), use the following links:
  - Link to Session 1 report: Emerging trends in trade, development and poverty linkages in the textiles sector
  - Link to presentations from Session 1:
    - Jeff Readman: The clothing industry in Sub-Saharan Africa
    - Josaphat Kweka: TDP in Tanzania's textile sector: Missing impacts or links?
  - Link to Session 2 report: Fisheries - emerging trends in trade, development and poverty linkages
  - Link to presentations from Session 2:
    - Ulrich Kleih: Implications of the Doha Round for fisheries trade and development
    - Josaphat Kweka: TDP in Tanzania: Case study on the fisheries sector
  - Link to Session 3 report: Implications for the Doha Round
A range of advocacy activities to take forward the outputs of the project activities in promotion of greater TDP coherence.

European Dialogue

Making the Integrated Framework a Tool for Poverty Reduction

Geneva, 18th October 2007

Click here for a brief summary of the discussions; and you can read a full report of the workshop in PDF format here.

You can also view the workshop programme here.

Partner organisations

Unnayan Shamannay , Bangladesh

Economic Institute of Cambodia , Cambodia

National Economic Research Institute, China

Overseas Development Institute, UK

Kenya Institute for Public Policy, Kenya

Institute of Economic Affairs, Kenya

South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment, Nepal

Forum for Protection of Public Interest , Nepal

National Institute of WTO and International Trade Laws, Pakistan

Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Pakistan

Southern African Regional Poverty Network, South Africa

Institute for Global Dialogue , South Africa

Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka

Law & Society Trust , Sri Lanka

Economic and Social Research Foundation , Tanzania

Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations, Uganda

Consumer Education Trust of Uganda , Uganda

Centre for Development and Integration, Vietnam

Organisational Development and Community Management Trust, Zambia

CUTS Africa Resource Centre , Zambia

CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics and the Environment, India