-
-
This handbook draws on the experiences of the Commonwealth Secretariat in delivering technical assistance to Member States in the area of export development. Three approaches have been used to deliver this assistance. One approach has been to engage a consultant on a short-term basis to provide support to a member country in producing a framework for export development. Another has been to engage a consultant to work with a member country on a more long-term basis, usually two years, during which time an export development plan is produced and the first phase of its implementation is achieved. From the beginning of 2006, a third and now more preferred approach was adopted. This approach involves the technical staff at the Commonwealth Secretariat working closely with stakeholders in member countries in addressing the impediments to export competitiveness and developing strategies to improve export performance. The output of this exercise is the national export strategy document. Sometimes, but not always, the Secretariat engages an external consultant to provide support for the exercise.
-
-
-
Technical assistance is generally defined as any form of aid given to less developed countries by international organisations such as the United Nations and its agencies, individual governments, foundations and philanthropic institutions. The objective of technical assistance is to provide those countries with the expertise needed to promote economic development. More specifically, the World Bank defines technical assistance as the transfer of ideas, practices, knowledge, technologies or skills with the objective of fostering economic development. Technical assistance is classified according to the function it performs, for example, policy or institutional development, capacity building or programme support. National export strategy projects fall under the category of ‘capacity building’.
-
-
-
-