A technical cooperation approach: How to participate in TrainForTrade?
Countries and regional organizations are the main beneficiaries of TrainForTrade technical cooperation projects.
The overall objective of these projects is to foster appropriate changes and policy orientation in international trade, trade-related services and investment in beneficiary countries through training and capacity building activities. The ultimate goal is to promote mastery of international trade exchange flows and increase participation in the globalized economy, thereby contributing to economic growth and sustainable development.
Once a country or region has made an official request, the TrainForTrade team carries out a training needs analysis in the country or region and identifies institutional and technical potential partners in the public and private sectors. Based on the results of the analysis, the team prepares a tailor-made proposal to address those needs under a technical cooperation project.
The project encompasses activities such as:
- the strengthening of training capacities in international trade, trade-related services and investment (through course design, update, adaptation and delivery) and the establishment of a self-sustained training system (training of trainers and tutors)
- the strengthening of institutional capacities in order to ensure sustainability of the project activities (through the creation of national /regional pedagogical and technical committees)
- the follow-up of measures identified during training activities, in order to facilitate the formulation and orientation of policies in the field of trade and investment for a better integration of the beneficiary country or region in the global economy
- networking (both South-South or North-South cooperation) as well as increased regional integration through close-knit cooperation with relevant regional integration groupings
The launching of the project depends mostly on financial contributions from donors. However, the country or region is also asked to share in the project resources (either financial resources or in kind), in order to ensure long-term sustainability.
In 2007, six train-the-trainers courses, out of which three for distance learning tutors, were organized for 79 African, Asian and Latin American participants who can now take an active part in local seminars, and initiate autonomous training schemes in their countries. Out of the 79 trainers who participated in the 2007 courses, 71 have delivered training in the framework of a TrainForTrade workshop this year. The number of trainers has more that doubled since 2006.
For more information, take a look at a step-by-step description 
of TrainForTrade technical cooperation.
Evaluation
Evaluation is a very important element of TrainForTrade. Evaluation activities are carried out during training activities and after them (up to 6 months later) in order to verify the level of implementation of the skills and knowledge acquired.
An evaluation is also carried out at the end of each technical assistance project. An UNCTAD or external team assesses the efficacy, efficiency, relevance, impact and sustainability of activities carried out over the project cycle.
Evaluations from:
2007- An independent evaluation of the four-year TrainForTrade project for Cambodia and Laos funded by France praised the results both in terms of its relevance and impact for the development of these countries (UNCTAD: RAS/OT/2CK French Ministry of Foreign Affairs FSP 2002-95) . The evaluation report suggested that UNCTAD considers the extension of the TrainForTrade approach to other developing countries, in the framework of national or regional programmes of technical assistance
2004 - “Capacity building programme on training in selected international economic issues: Distance learning techniques”
Summary of the evaluation report prepared by Alain Caristan (Independent consultant) Paris, 17 November 2004.2002 - TRAINFORTRADE Project for strengthening training capacities in international trade in Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali
Summary of the evaluation report prepared by Dominique Malsch (Consultant) Lyon, 20 February 2003.