UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development (CBTF)..
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Implemented by:	UNCTAD and UNEP
Status:	On-going
Web-site:	www.unep-unctad.org/cbtf/index
Objectives:	Recognizing the need for technical assistance on trade and environment in favour of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, UNCTAD and UNEP launched, in 2000, a Capacity-Building Task Force for Trade, Environment and Development (CBTF). The objective is to help developing countries enhance understanding of trade, environment linkages, address trade-related environmental and environment-related trade problems and participate effectively in international negotiations. UNEP and UNCTAD also launched a special programme for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to help implement the Programme of Action for the LDCs for the decade 2001-2010, adopted at the 3rd UN Conference for the LDCs (Brussels, May 2001). So far, the Governments of Germany, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States as well as the European Commission have funded the CBTF.
Projects:	Several CBTF projects were initiated in 2001. These include a regional workshop in Mexico and projects on integrated assessments of trade policies in Lebanon and Indonesia. One thematic project, designed and implemented in close co-operation with the secretariat of the Basel Convention aims to support some 10 countries in Central America and the Caribbean to build capacity of sound management of used vehicle batteries, including through regional co-operation. In addition, several training programmes were initiated (see next section).
Workshops:	A CBTF workshop was held in Brussels (21-22 February 2002) to discuss, among other things, policy options to promote production and trading opportunities for organic agricultural products from developing countries. The workshop, which was funded by a grant from the European Commission and hosted by the ACP secretariat, allowed for a very informative and constructive dialogue that involved more than 50 policy makers and representatives of certification bodies, intergovernmental organizations, aid agencies, civil society, academics and other stakeholders from developing and developed countries. Experts from 16 developing countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia, as well as around 35 representatives from ACP missions in Brussels attended the meeting. An expert from Madagascar also contributed to the meeting.
LDC's	Considerable progress has been made in assisting LDCs identify capacity-building needs. Under the special CBTF programme for LDCs three projects are being implemented with the financial contribution of the Government of Sweden. These include a capacity building needs assessment seminar for Lusophone countries hosted by the Government of Mozambique, a workshop on selected global environmental issues for Lusophone countries hosted by the Government of Brazil and a project on environmental impact assessment in the agriculture sector of Cambodia, with particular focus on castor seed production and export (including options for organic agricultural produce).
	So far, CBTF has completed relatively small but highly successful projects. Other projects are being implemented. On many occasions member States have welcomed UNCTAD-UNEP cooperation and expressed strong support for the CBTF. However, demand for capacity building under the CBTF, including the special programme for LDCs, far exceeds current levels of funding. A large number of highly valuable proposals for CBTF projects submitted by governments and research institutes in developing countries and countries in transition, as well as the secretariats of regional integration organizations, await funding.
Project Managers:	Rene Vossenaar (UNCTAD) and Hussein Abaza (UNEP)
Project Officer:	Nuria Castells (UNCTAD)