Promoting and mainstreaming inclusive and green trade

Increased trade alone is not sufficient to improve livelihoods. The benefits of trade growth do not necessarily reach vulnerable groups such as women, young people or marginalised communities, and excessive costs may be placed on the environment. ITC works with its clients to integrate sustainable development objectives into all its trade development programmes, while maintaining its focus on demand-led initiatives. The agency implements specific programmes focused on the economic empowerment of women, promoting youth entrepreneurship, connecting poor communities to value chains, and promoting green trade. ITC also integrates environmental sustainability and gender objectives across its entire portfolio.

On environmental sustainability, there will be greater focus on sustainability of sourcing, addressing NTMs related to the environment, addressing climate impacts on development and the role of trade in mitigation and adaptation, and addressing biodiversity loss related to trade.
ITC’s Poor Communities and Trade Programme aims to reduce global poverty by strengthening the capacities of developing country micro-entrepreneurs, social enterprises and emerging designers to trade through an inclusive business model which connects them with international buyers in the global value chains.
Women’s economic empowerment is a particular focus of ITC’s work in developing countries as women-owned companies represent close to 40% of all SMEs. ITC’s Women and Trade Programme, works directly with women entrepreneurs and TSIs in selected value chains to help them capitalise on the opportunities offered by international trade.
ITC launched its Youth and Trade programme in 2014 with a pilot initiative in Morocco focused on youth entrepreneurship and incubators. The lessons from the pilot will be used to refine and extend the programme in 2015.