"The EIF fills a critical gap in the global Aid for Trade ecosystem. Its support for connecting small-scale producers and women entrepreneurs to world markets, raising the quality standards of exports, and for supplying digital readiness diagnostics, is instrumental in promoting inclusive and sustainable development in countries most deserving of assistance by the donor community."
"The EIF stands out as the only multilateral Aid for Trade mechanism focusing solely on LDCs. It provides a unique opportunity for development of new trade policies and strategies where it is most needed. This is why Norway continues to be a strong supporter of the EIF and why we urge others to cooperate in any way they can.”
"The Commonwealth Secretariat partnership with the Enhanced Integrated Framework builds on support we offer member countries, which are preparing to graduate from Least Developed Countries status or have recently done so. Working alongside countries as they graduate, we develop frameworks to open up new horizons of diversification, creating employment and sustainable growth towards greater resilience with broader social and economic inclusion through global trade.”
Mr Chakib Belhassan has over 25 years of experience with the UN system, mainly with UNOPS, where he has been occupying increasing managerial responsibilities in the organization, as Project Manager, Portfolio Manager, Unit Manager and then Office Director.
During his career, he acquired a large experience in different working environments from conflict/post‑conflict, crisis, transition and development situations.
Mr Belhassan has covered a wide range of managerial functions that forged a style of results‑based management and team‑building approach.
Mr Belhassan has worked with a range of organizations and institutions, recipient government institutions, donor institutions, multilateral organizations, International Financial Institutions and Non-Governmental Organizations. Within the UN family, his experience has been with a range of organizations in the development and humanitarian fields.
Mr Belhassan has been operating in different parts of the globe, in the Middle East (Yemen, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine), in Africa (Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Senegal, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria and Morocco), in Central Asia and in Europe.
Mr Belhassan has been advocating for partnerships and inter-agency cooperation to achieve results. Analysis of country situations, design of projects with intervention strategies, provision of implementation support with a problem‑solving approach have all been part of Mr Belhassan's strengths throughout his professional career.
Mr Belhassan is a dual national, Moroccan and Canadian. He was born in Casablanca and has a background in international development, medical and social sciences. He studied in Universities of Ottawa and Sherbrooke in Canada and at the University Hassan II in Casablanca.
Consistent with Government strategies to promote export diversification and value-added agricultural products, this project is strengthening the commercialization capacities of the dried mango and processed cashew nut sectors in Burkina Faso in order to generate increased export revenues and household incomes. The project is working specifically with several umbrella organizations in both the cashew and mango industries in order to have a wide impact.
Results:
Shea almond covers 70% of Burkina Faso's surface area, and each year approximately 850 tons of shea nuts are produced and 250 tons of shea butter is processed. Shea almond provides substantial revenues for rural producers, including the 500,000 women whose livelihoods depend on shea almond. Despite the importance of shea almond for the country, Burkina Faso possesses neither a detailed analysis of shea almond performance, nor an action plan to guide stakeholder activities.
Burkina Faso is currently one of the top sesame producers in the world, but lack of organization and low quality crops have inhibited the sesame sector from reaching its full potential. Through this project, the operational capacities of sesame processors are being strengthened in order to increase the amount and value of exports. Sesame producers and processors are being trained in areas including Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS), quality standards, and best hygiene practices.
The goal of the project is to increase exports by strengthening institutional capacities to formulate and implement national trade strategies and policies. This will result in poverty reduction and sustainable development in Burkina Faso through trade.
Results
This blog was co-signed with Ratnakar Adhikari and originally published on Monday 24 October 2016 in the World Economic Forum Agenda
The goal of the project is to strengthen the national institutional capacity and develop human resources for mainstreaming trade into the national development plan as well as supporting deeper integration into the global trading system.
Results
The analytical work undertaken provides inputs for the trade policy as well as for Bangladesh's 7th five year plan. Recommendations are centered on four pillars including: breaking into new markets; breaking into new products; improving worker and consumer welfare; and building a supportive environment.