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Fostering Equity and Accountability in the Trading System (FEATS) Project: Meeting with Key Stakeholders Dar-Es-Salaam, 3 March 2010 Inclusiveness of Trade Policy Making in Tanzania: Presentation of the Main Findings of the First Phase Research. By Atul Kaushik
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Fostering Equity and Accountability in the Trading System (FEATS) Project: Meeting with Key Stakeholders Dar-Es-Salaam, 3 March 2010 Inclusiveness of Trade Policy Making in Tanzania: Presentation of the Main Findings of the First Phase Research By Atul Kaushik Director, CUTS Geneva Resource Centre ak@cuts.org www.cuts-grc.org
Structure of Presentation • Introduction • Trade policy making process in Tanzania: key consultative mechanisms • Challenges in participation: views of stakeholders • Measuring inclusiveness: the Inclusive Trade Policy Making (ITPM) Index • Conclusions and Recommendations
I. Introduction • FEATS first phase research focus on trade policy making process and role of stakeholders in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia • Importance of inclusive trade policy making to ensure national multi-stakeholder ownership • Two publications titled “Towards More Inclusive Trade Policy Making: Process and Role of Stakeholders in Select African Countries” (full research publication) and “Improving Ownership through Inclusive Trade Policy Making Process: Lessons from Africa” (short advocacy monograph) • Measuring inclusiveness: Inclusive Trade Policy Making (ITPM) Index
II. Trade Policy Making Process in Tanzania: Key Consultative Mechanisms
II. Trade Policy Making Process in Tanzania: Key Consultative Mechanisms
III. Challenges in Participation as Viewed by Stakeholders Ministry of Industry, Trade and Marketing (MITM) • Lack of capacity and technical human resources • Issues of internal and external coordination • Lack of financial and human resources to ensure regular functioning of consultative mechanisms • Complex and evolving nature of trade issues
III. Challenges in Participation as Viewed by Stakeholders Other relevant Government Ministries and Agencies • Lack of capacity and technical human resources • Issues of coordination among governmental machinery • Lack of regular and timely information flow on trade issues • Trade is not primary mandate
III. Challenges in Participation as Viewed by Stakeholders Private Sector Umbrella Organizations • Limited technical understanding, and advocacy capacities • Tight timelines to provide feedback on trade issues • Need to improve opportunities for less powerful business associations • How to represent the informal sector?
III. Challenges in Participation as Viewed by Stakeholders Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) • Limited technical understanding of complex issues • Need for better coordination and information sharing among CSOs • Occasional tensions with the government • Limited opportunities for participation • Lack of resources to maintain sustained engagement and retain the knowledge and expertise gained on trade issues • Issues of representation and mandate?
IV. Measuring inclusiveness: the Inclusive Trade Policy Making (ITPM) Index IPTM Index: Action Variables, Actors and Values Part I: Ministry Responsible for Trade Policy
IV. Measuring inclusiveness: the Inclusive Trade Policy Making (ITPM) Index IPTM Index: Action Variables, Actors and Values Parts II, III, and IV: Other Relevant Government Ministries, Private Sector, and CSOs
IV. Measuring inclusiveness: the Inclusive Trade Policy Making (ITPM) Index Explanation of Possible Action Values • Yes = maximum value of 1 = when appropriate action has been taken by the actor concerned • Many/Most = high value of 0.75 = when quite a lot has been done but some gaps remain • Some = intermediate value of 0.5 = when action has been taken but is not sufficient • Few / Little = low value of 0.25 = when some action has been taken but much remains • No = 0 value assigned = when no action has been taken by the actor concerned
IV. Measuring inclusiveness: the Inclusive Trade Policy Making (ITPM) Index MITM SCORE
IV. Measuring inclusiveness: the Inclusive Trade Policy Making (ITPM) Index Scores by Other Groups of Stakeholders
IV. Measuring inclusiveness: the Inclusive Trade Policy Making (ITPM) Index
IV. Measuring inclusiveness: the Inclusive Trade Policy Making (ITPM) Index
IV. Measuring inclusiveness: the Inclusive Trade Policy Making (ITPM) Index
V. Conclusions and Recommendations • Several consultative mechanisms on trade issues established; however • Lack legal mandates and adequate resources • Not all trade issues covered by multi-stakeholder consultative fora • Irregular and ad hoc functioning • Improved stakeholders participation; but • Not all stakeholders being represented • Not all stakeholders have equal opportunities to participate
V. Conclusions and Recommendations • Remaining challenges classified in three broad categories • Related to capacity (limited technical, human, and financial capacities of stakeholders) • Related to institutional and structural issues (design and functioning of consultative mechanisms) • Related to challenges internal to each group of stakeholders
V. Conclusions and Recommendations • Identification and involvement of remaining stakeholders: action by government and concerned ministries needed • Regular information flow on trade issues to key stakeholders: action by concerned ministries needed • Rationalization and strengthening of consultative mechanisms: action by government and concerned ministries needed • Better coordination among relevant government ministries and agencies on trade issues: action by government needed
V. Conclusions and Recommendations • Better opportunities for CSO participation: action by MITM needed • Better feedback and input loops between CSOs and the private sector umbrella organisations on the one hand, and their constituencies on the other: action by private sector umbrella organizations and CSOs needed • Investment on knowledge and expertise building: action by all including development partners needed • Promotion of a culture of dialogue and inclusiveness: sustained efforts by all stakeholders needed
Inclusiveness will generate national ownership which is the best guarantee for effective implementation of trade policy as part of overall development policy