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Participation

Stakeholder participation is an integral part of the work of RTPAs and TPAs. In many countries, civil society organisations (CSOs) already play a critical role in delivering public goods and services, deepening democratic processes through enhancing public participation, and promoting consultation, transparency and public accountability.

The Project aims to integrate and mobilise all other stakeholders involved in the process of trade policy formulation and multilateral trade negotiations, including professional organisations and associations, private sector representatives, universities and other academic institutions, non-governmental organisations and consumer associations.

The Regional Trade Policy Advisers will identify and support appropriate fora and mechanisms for regional and national dialogue between key stakeholders and promote the effective participation of government officials in this dialogue.

Pilot Project

Pilot phases 1 and 2 of the "Hub and Spokes" project (2000-2002 and 2003-2004) benefited the Pacific region in particular. 

It was designed to enhance the Pacific region's limited technical capacity to formulate policy negotiating positions, especially for the EU/ACP EPA negotiations and in the WTO and to implement related obligations and rights. Under the pilot project, the following was provided:

(i) Trade Policy Analysts posted in Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

(ii) Trade Policy Analysts posted in Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea to assist Governments (Spokes) to undertake trade analysis, formulate trade policy, to assist with the development of negotiation positions and to assist in implementing obligations.

(iii) A Regional Trade Policy Adviser and Trade Policy Analyst attached to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (Hub) to ensure coherency in trade policy, to deliver trade advice to member countries of the Forum and to develop joint/regional programmes of assistance.