This report is published in the context of the joint OECD-WTO Aid for Trade Monitoring and Evaluation exercise, which underpins the WTO’s 8th Global Review of Aid for Trade on “Empowering Connected, Sustainable Trade” (July 2022). This is the eighth volume of the Aid for Trade at a Glance series.

The 2022 Aid for Trade Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) exercise takes place amidst crises of unprecedented magnitude, significantly affecting trade and investment. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe human and economic losses, slowing down and in some cases reversing hard won progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Countries lacking the capacity to implement large monetary and fiscal stimuli were hit hard, experiencing widening inequalities. While 2021 showed signs of a swift recovery, in early 2022 Russia’s war against Ukraine created a major humanitarian crisis and derailed economic growth prospects. Spikes in the price of energy and food caused by the war, combined with rapidly rising inflation, are posing serious food security risks in low-income countries (LICs).

This chapter provides an overview of the evolution of Aid for Trade flows in a context marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. It reviews key trends affecting the trade and investment landscape and their repercussions on Aid for Trade flows. Finally, it analyses the role of Aid for Trade in supporting an equitable global economic recovery

This section provides insight into the role of Aid for Trade in fostering sustainable development and helping developing countries address emerging challenges, such as navigating transitions towards low-carbon economies and accelerating digital transformation. It reviews how sustainability considerations have been embedded into Aid for Trade projects and programmes, and highlights the contribution of Aid for Trade towards various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDGs related to gender equality and climate action.