Challenge

A clear assessment was required to determine whether trade was being integrated into national development and poverty-reduction priorities. The review needed to examine policy alignment, institutional capacity, stakeholder participation, implementation and monitoring, and coordination between government and development partners.

The Quicksteps Approach

Quicksteps reviewed national strategies, institutional arrangements, regional trade commitments, Aid for Trade flows, donor-coordination mechanisms, and related evidence. The work assessed trade mainstreaming at three connected levels: policy, institutions, and donor-partner dialogue. It identified gaps in coordination, capacity, accountability, stakeholder participation, and monitoring, then developed recommendations for a coherent trade-policy framework, institutional strengthening, structured public-private dialogue, and better donor alignment.

Outcome

The engagement produced a completed national country review that consolidated the findings into one decision-ready document for the organization and set out recommendations across policy, institutional, and donor-coordination levels.