Building a competitive & vibrant private sector in Sudan (2023-2024)

I was commissioned by the International Trade Centre to prepare a paper that might provide ideas for a foundation for a formal private sector export development policy to be discussed by the organised private sector and the government when conditions allow. The paper assesses the potential opportunities and makes 20 recommendations for specific actions that could be undertaken by business and trade associations acting collecting or individually as well as recommendations for activities that would require partnership with government. The paper was then presented in a webinar to business and trade associations, many of which have moved to Cairo whilst the conflict continues.

BMO member business development in Myanmar (2023-2024)

The International Trade Centre undertook a survey (using questions that I provided) of business and trade associations in Myanmar to map their reach and activities. This was followed by work directly with selected trade associations to identify trade constraints and to highlight barriers and priorities for action and to suggest possible mitigating actions. Given the inability, currently, of associations to influence public policy, it was concluded greater impact could be achieved through working with selected trade associations to prepare 'member development' strategies, that is, strategies through which the associations could help businesses in general and their members in particular to grow and to engage in more international trade. Associations were subsequently invited to participate in a training programme - with four modules delivered by me over a period of four weeks - to raise their awareness, knowledge and skills to equip them both to prepare and implement member development strategies. Between sessions, associations undertook assignments designed to prepared chapters of their member development strategy. Following the training, ITC facilitated me to deliver further coaching and mentoring as associations continued to refine their strategies and explore how to secure the resources so that they can implement those strategies as well.

Developing dialogue & advocacy skills in Vietnam (2020-2023)

I was commissioned by the International Trade Centre to work with both trade associations and the Ministry of Industry & Trade to develop skills in dialogue and advocacy. The original intention had been to visit Vietnam to assess knowledge and skills but covid meant that was unable to happen; instead a local team was commissioned to undertake interviews based on protocols that I developed. The answers contributed to the preparation of a detailed diagnostic assessment. This was eventually followed by the delivery of a training programme - to a mixed audience of public and private stakeholders - in 2023. Recommendations for further development were made.

Supporting private sector advocacy in Iraq (2021-2022)

I was commisioned by the International Trade Centre to deliver a training programme to business and trade associations in Iraq to develop their competences to engage in dialogue and advocacy. My mission to Iraq was cut short by a re-emergence of covid in mainland Europe. However, I followed up teh training by interviewing selected association to assess their general competence and then offered recommendations for further support.

Trade association dialogue in Nepal (2021-2024)

I was commissioned by the International Trade Centre to review materials and to deliver a training programme focused on dialogue and advocacy to trade support institutions, mainly trade associations. This was followed by working with a select group of business and trade assocaitions to review major constraints inhibiting growth in internaitonal trade and to develop proposals. This cukminated in the preparation of a detailed policy position on a particlar constraint.

Developing dialogue & advocacy skills in ECOWAS (2021)

The International Trade Centre in partnership with UNIDO were providing support to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to implement an EU-funded West Africa Competitiveness Programme, aiming to support selected value chains at national and regional levels to promote transformation and better access to regional and international markets. There was a desire to build teh capacity of regional business associations (RBA) (including the Federation of Business Women and Entrepreneurs, the Federation of West African Manufacturers' Associations, the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce & Industry and the Federation of West African Employers' Associations). International travel was not possible at this time, due to covid, so I prepared three 90-minute webinars with assignments to be completed by participants after the first and second session. Sessions covered an introduction to dialogue and advocacy, preparing policy positions and argumentation and planning advocacy communications. Participants were attentive and motivated and several indicated that they woyuld like further support. As a result, a follow-up webinar was held to enable the RBAs to communicate and debate their priorities for action.

Developing dialogue & advocacy skills in Bhutan (2018-2021)

I was commissioned by the International Trade Centre to work with both trade associations and the Ministry of Economic Affairs to build skills in dialogue and advocacy for both public and private sector stakeholders with an intent to improve regulation related to international trade. I met with representatives of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry which helped to identify the constraints faced by businesses wishing to export and to support the Government achiees its target of becoming one of the top 50 countries in the World Bank's Doing Business ranking. In 2018, I ran a training course primarily for public sector participants.

I subsquently organised a study tour to Brussels and London - though in the end the London leg was cancelled as it proved impossible to get visas organised in the timsecale available - to look more closely at how governments and provate sector organisations engage in effective dialogue.

I returned to Bhutan in 2020 when I ran five training programmes aimed at representatives of business member organisations. These covered an introduction to advocacy & dialogue, undertaking research, preparing policy positions, business planning for trade associations and roles & functions of trade associations. There was an expectation that this would be followed by two further missions but unfortunately covid intervened. Further support to develop detailed policy position papers was provided remotely.

Developing dialogue & advocacy skills for women's associations in Africa (2020)

International Trade Centre’s SheTrades Initiative aims to increase economic growth and job creation in Africa by expanding the international trade activities of women-owned businesses. Inter alia, ITC has partnered with the African Union Commission to support women’s business associations (WBA) to identify policy issues related to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Whilst I was commissioned to provide a general introduction to dialogue and advocacy, there was a much more urgent requirement to ensure that the participants were able to engage in a Ministerial meeting and to seek to influence them. I thus facilitated four workshops backed up wth factsheets and workbooks. As part of the workshops, we narrowed down a large list of issues to just four:

• Ensure equitable representation of WBAs on AfCFTA national committees and on trade facilitation committees
• Digitise cross-border documentary and taxation requirements
• Improve the briefing and training provided to customs officials
• Strive for continent-wide agreement on both common quality standards (for goods) and on mutual recognition of professional qualifications (for trade in services)

We then agreed the people who would present each issue, prepared detailed argumentation for each issue and then rehearsed.

Developing dialogue & advocacy skills in East Africa (2016)

During 2016, David contributed to International Business Centre's Business Process Analysis work in East Africa through delivering workshops focusing specifically on planning for advocacy projects and with an overarching objective to enhance business processes for export competitiveness. Workshops were delivered in Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania.

Developing dialogue & advocacy skills in Oman (2017)

In 2017, David ran a training programme in Oman covering aspects of public private dialogue and advocacy for a mixed audience of public and private sector pulled together by the Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry

International trade and regulatory reform, Zimbabwe (2014-2015)

IGA has undertaken several assignments in Zimbabwe for the International Trade Centre including working with the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, the Business Council of Zimbabwe, the Women's Alliance of Business Associations in Zimbabwe and cross-border traders. Support typically embraced training and mentoring in support of the preparation of policy position statements but also included research to understand better the cosntraints facing international traders.

Developing dialogue & advocacy skills in OPT (2012)

David was commissioned by International Trade Centre to deliver a training programme on dialogue and advocacy - with a focus on trade policy - for representatives of the Palestine Trade Centre (Paltrade).

Developing dialogue & advocacy skills in East Africa (2012)

David was first invited to work for International Trade Centre in 2011 when they had agreed with the East African Business Council (EABC) to run a training course on dialogue and advocacy for business associations from around East Africa and EABC requested that I should be asked to deliver that training.

The training was followed by mentoring two associations - the Private Sector Federation in Rwanda and the Chamber of Commerce in Burundi - with the twin objectives of assisting them to each to develop a policy position related to reforming public policy on trade in services (at the time, being slowly liberalised as part of the Common Market Protocol adopted by the East African Community) and to build the skills of the nominated advocates.