International Trade Centre: Trade Policy for Human Development?

Résumé du document

The International Trade Centre (ITC) of the United Nations defines its role as enabling 'small business export success in developing countries by providing, with partners, sustainable and inclusive trade development solutions to the private sector, trade support institutions and policymakers'. The discourse is clearly trade and business oriented, but surprisingly, 'human development' is not mentioned. Nevertheless, their ultimate objective should still be the promotion of social and economic progress. The definition of the ITC's role by its management is quite vague. ITC has a business obsession: the need for quantifiable, tangible and growing results. But why?

Extraits

[...] harvesting techniques in cachou nuts production) and organizes trade fair events (OLS) to promote the local production of cashew nuts. Apparently it sounds fine and this example might not surprise most of the policy makers unless they have a clear ideological positioning in trade and development policy. Or whether could it be a deliberate strategy to win on both sides, trade capability and human development? The dichotomy between both approaches is such that it restrains their complementarily. Overall, ITC is OLS-oriented with minor ILS policies plugged into OLS-oriented programs, why? [...]

[...] Ideologically, OLS and ILS are antinomy. Firstly, OLS promotes protectionism for indigenous and weak industries whereas ILS promotes trade liberalization of all industries; Secondly, ILS is rooted in universal human values whereas OLS is rooted in the liberal economic paradigm; as a consequence, traditional cultures might be threatened by OLS. Thirdly, OLS sees human development as a mean to achieve economic growth through trade liberalization whereas ILS sees human development as the end of the process. Finally, economic growth is not always an engine of social progress and vice versa; it can even have a negative impact on human values (e.g. [...]

[...] Project documents are marketing tools (hence a business-oriented language) and might loose sense in their contents in terms of human development policies. The paradox is that, in trying to enhance its credibility, ITC might have lost sense. Ethics are sometimes unpractical. Excess of accountability hinders ethical values in development programs. Ideally, program documents with their beautiful phrases must not be the fashion window of sterile institutions, but a modest, practical and ethical proposition of making a change for good. basic purpose of development is to enlarge people's choices. [...]

[...] International Trade Centre: Trade Policy for Human Development? The language used by international institutions often reflects their vision, ideology and culture. It is acknowledged that the United Nations is the legitimate institution bringing all nations together to work for and “human development” “well-being”, “social progress”, etc.). The International Trade Centre (ITC) of the United Nations (Geneva) - the designed UN organization for technical assistance and export promotion in developing countries - defines its role as enabling “small business export success in developing countries by providing, with partners, sustainable and inclusive trade development solutions to the private sector, trade support institutions and policymakers[1]”. [...]

[...] International institutions rely on funds from public and private donors (companies, governments, NGOs, etc.). There is a demand and an offer of international funds for development policies. As the offer is limited, there is a high level of competition between institutions. They have to resort to more accountability and visibility, in order to ensure their credibility and “raison d'être”. Qualitative variable do not offer clear comparisons and measurements institutions' capability. As a result, institutions tend to look for quantifiable results. [...]