Aid-for-trade flows and financing

This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of aid-for-trade flows, ODA commitments and disbursements, trade-related Other Official Flows (OOF) and South-South trade-related co-operation. It examines aid-for-trade flows using data from the OECD Creditor Reporting System (CRS), complemented by findings from the OECD/ WTO monitoring survey. It examines recipients and providers of assistance, the financial terms of assistance, and the outlook for aid for trade. In the context of the economic crisis in many OECD member countries, aid for trade (scaled up since 2005) has for the most part been maintained. Aid-for-trade flows declined in 2011, with decreasing support for infrastructure, particularly in Africa. Least developed countries (LDCs) experienced a fall in funding, but they did not bear the brunt of the decline. The flows indicate a shift in funding towards private sector development and value chain promotion. Consequently, flows to meet trade objectives in sectors such as agriculture, industry, and business services are continuing to increase.