TRADE IMPACTFOR GOOD
MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE
26 JANUARY 2015
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Trade Centre concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
This document has not formally been edited by the International Trade Centre.
MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE
26 JANUARY 2015
MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE
ii
This document has not formally been edited by the International Trade Centre.
MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE
iii
Contents Acronyms ......................................................................................................................................................... iv Information Note .............................................................................................................................................. 1 Strategic Recommendation 1 .......................................................................................................................... 2 Strategic Recommendation 2 .......................................................................................................................... 4 Strategic Recommendation 3 .......................................................................................................................... 6 Strategic Recommendation 4 .......................................................................................................................... 8 Common donor statement to the informal Joint Advisory Group (JAG) ........................................................ 10
MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE
iv
Acronyms
AP Action Point
CCITF Consultative Committee on the ITC Trust Fund
CRM Client Relationship Management
DBIS Division of Business and Institutional Support
DCP Division of Country Programmes
DMD Division of Market Development
DPS Division of Programme Support
EIF Enhanced Integrated Framework
H1 First Half
H2 Second Half
IPSAS International Public Sector Accounting Standards
ITC International Trade Centre
JAG Joint Advisory Group
MR Management Response
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
OED Office of the Executive Director
SME Small and Medium-sized Enterprise
STDF Standards and Trade Development Facility
SPPG Strategic Planning, Performance and Governance
SR Strategic Recommendation
TSI Trade Support Institution
UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNGA United Nations General Assembly
WTO World Trade Organization
MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE
1
Information Note
Final evaluation report submission date:
30 May 2014
Presentation of the Evaluation and Initial Management Response at the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) meeting:
11 June 2014
Consultative Committee on the ITC Trust Fund (CCITF) discussion of the draft Management Response:
28 October 2014
Presentation of the second phase of the Management Response at the JAG informal meeting:
26 January 2015
Key references for preparing the Management Response:
1. The Independent Evaluation of ITC 2014
2. Executive Summary of the Independent Evaluation of ITC 2014
3. ITC Strategic Plan 2015-2017
4. ‘One ITC’ Intervention Logic for SME International Competitiveness, 2014
5. Operationalizing the Strategic Plan 2015-2017, Defining projects and programmes
6. CCITF discussion on 28 October 2014
7. Related communications between ITC and stakeholders
Consultation process with Members
The present Management Response has been drafted in consultation with Members both informally as well as in the context of the CCITF. This exercise has been conducted in an inclusive and transparent manner to ensure the support of ITC clients and partners. ITC Donors have decided to contribute to this Management Response by providing a Common Donor Statement which is available at the end of the ITC Management response, pages 10 to 12.
Follow up reporting Progress on the implementation of these recommendations will be regularly reviewed and reported to the JAG.
Note: The implementation of the below-described recommendations, in particular the pace in moving to more strategic, better prioritized, more impact-driven, more coherent programmatic approach will be greatly aided by longer term financial commitments from funders. The same applies to the coverage of the deployment of ITC services in a wide range of countries and regions.
MA
NA
GE
ME
NT
RE
SP
ON
SE
TO
TH
E IN
DE
PE
ND
EN
T E
VA
LUA
TIO
N O
F TH
E IN
TER
NA
TIO
NA
L TR
AD
E C
EN
TRE
2
Stra
tegi
c R
ecom
men
datio
n 1
Mov
e to
a s
trate
gic
base
for s
uppo
rting
and
dep
loyi
ng IT
C’s
uni
que
stre
ngth
s in
the
glob
al A
id fo
r Tra
de e
ffort.
• Th
e si
x cl
uste
red
focu
s ar
eas
in th
e cu
rren
t ITC
Ope
ratio
nal P
lan
and
Cas
e fo
r Sup
port
shou
ld b
e pr
ovid
ed w
ith s
ubst
antia
l lon
ger-
term
fina
ncia
l sup
port
(5
yea
r min
imum
) and
sho
uld
be d
evel
oped
and
dep
loye
d by
ITC
in g
enui
nely
stra
tegi
c w
ays
for a
wid
e ra
nge
of c
ount
ries
and
regi
ons.
• D
e-em
phas
ize
ambi
tions
for c
onve
ntio
nal c
ount
ry p
rogr
amm
es, i
n fa
vour
of c
apita
lizin
g on
pro
ven
ITC
stre
ngth
s gl
obal
ly a
nd re
gion
ally
.
Rec
omm
ende
d A
ctio
ns to
ITC
’s M
anag
emen
t:
I. U
se a
sm
all
high
-leve
l pr
ogra
mm
e-de
velo
pmen
t an
d su
ppor
t un
it, m
ade
up o
f ex
perie
nced
ope
ratio
nal
offic
ers,
to
flesh
out
6-1
0 ye
ar s
trate
gic
prog
ram
mes
and
long
er-te
rm s
uppo
rt un
der t
he c
lust
ers,
in p
ro-a
ctiv
e di
alog
ue w
ith p
oten
tial b
enef
icia
ries,
ope
ratio
nal s
taff
and
dono
rs.
II.
Task
this
uni
t with
repo
rting
in o
ne y
ear t
o m
anag
emen
t and
JAG
on
initi
al e
xper
ienc
e, in
clud
ing
less
ons
for t
he re
spon
sibi
litie
s an
d w
orki
ng re
latio
nshi
ps
of te
chni
cal a
nd g
eogr
aphi
cal u
nits
, any
sug
gest
ed p
runi
ng o
f non
-stra
tegi
c se
rvic
es o
r pro
duct
s, a
nd p
ossi
ble
stru
ctur
al o
r oth
er im
plic
atio
ns.
III.
Do
not a
ccep
t sho
rter-
term
, one
-off
proj
ects
that
do
not c
apita
lize
on IT
C’s
pot
entia
l con
tribu
tions
, but
inst
ead
detra
ct fr
om it
s st
rate
gic
effe
ctiv
enes
s.
ITC
act
ions
C
ompl
etio
n da
te
Res
pons
ible
pa
rtie
s M
eans
of
verif
icat
ion
1.
Stra
tegi
c P
lan:
Th
e ne
w S
trate
gic
Pla
n 20
15-2
017
has
artic
ulat
ed IT
C’s
uni
que
stre
ngth
s an
d ce
men
ted
its s
trate
gy a
roun
d th
e si
x fo
cus
area
s. It
rein
forc
es IT
C’s
key
role
in th
e A
id fo
r Tra
de
land
scap
e. T
he fo
cus
area
s ar
e un
derp
inne
d by
a p
rogr
amm
atic
app
roac
h w
hich
aim
s to
cla
rify
the
ITC
por
tfolio
and
alig
n it
with
its
stra
tegi
c go
als.
Don
e SP
PG
Stra
tegi
c Pl
an 1
5-17
2.
Theo
ry o
f ch
ange
: I
TC h
as a
lso
deve
lope
d an
int
erve
ntio
n lo
gic
that
fur
ther
det
ails
the
co
rres
pond
ing
theo
ries
of c
hang
e th
at IT
C d
eplo
ys a
s se
t out
in th
e St
rate
gic
Pla
n.
Don
e SP
PG w
ith
inpu
t fro
m
divi
sion
s
“One
ITC
” Int
erve
ntio
n Lo
gic
3.
Prog
ram
mat
ic A
ppro
ach:
U
nder
eac
h of
the
six
foc
us a
reas
rel
evan
t pr
ogra
mm
es w
ill be
de
velo
ped.
ITC
’s p
rogr
amm
atic
app
roac
h w
ill in
clud
e an
int
erve
ntio
n lo
gic
that
ana
lyse
s an
d or
gani
zes
curr
ent
ITC
ser
vice
s in
to a
log
ical
and
coh
eren
t se
quen
ce,
iden
tifyi
ng n
eeds
for
im
prov
emen
t an
d in
nova
tion,
as
wel
l as
gaps
to
be a
ddre
ssed
for
eac
h pr
ogra
mm
e. T
his
will
de
term
ine
stan
dard
suc
cess
crit
eria
attr
ibut
able
to
activ
ities
del
iver
ed b
y IT
C S
ectio
ns a
t eac
h st
ep
of
bene
ficia
ries’
ch
ange
pr
oces
s,
and
supp
ort
eval
uatio
ns
of
the
impa
ct
of
ITC
’s
inte
rven
tions
on
the
grou
nd.
It
will
also
incl
ude
the
intro
duct
ion
of p
rogr
amm
e m
anag
emen
t st
anda
rds
such
as
prog
ram
me
boar
ds a
nd s
pons
ors.
H2
2015
D
BIS,
DM
D
and
DC
P
Prog
ram
me
docu
men
ts
MA
NA
GE
ME
NT
RE
SP
ON
SE
TO
TH
E IN
DE
PE
ND
EN
T E
VA
LUA
TIO
N O
F TH
E IN
TER
NA
TIO
NA
L TR
AD
E C
EN
TRE
3
4.
Cat
alog
ues
of IT
C P
rodu
cts
and
Serv
ices
: It
will
focu
s on
are
as w
here
ITC
has
gre
ater
val
ue
adde
d an
d di
scon
tinue
in
the
area
s w
ith l
esse
r co
mpa
rativ
e ad
vant
age.
The
pro
gram
mat
ic
appr
oach
and
he
cata
logu
e w
ill e
nsur
e be
tter p
riorit
isat
ion,
few
er ‘s
horte
r-te
rm, o
ne-o
ff pr
ojec
ts’,
and
ultim
atel
y, g
reat
er im
pact
H1
2015
SP
PG
Cat
alog
ue o
f ITC
Pr
oduc
ts a
nd S
ervi
ces
5.
Prog
ram
me
Dev
elop
men
t: A
task
forc
e w
ill be
set
up
char
ged
with
pro
gram
mes
/ pr
ojec
t des
ign
to e
nsur
e co
here
nce
and
effic
ienc
y.
H1
2015
IT
C M
gt
Setti
ng u
p of
task
forc
e w
ith o
bjec
tives
and
su
cces
s cr
iteria
6.
Annu
al O
pera
tiona
l P
lan:
Th
e go
als
outli
ned
in t
he S
trate
gic
plan
will
be i
mpl
emen
ted
via
Annu
al
Ope
ratio
nal
Pla
ns.
The
impl
emen
tatio
n an
d ac
com
plis
hmen
ts
will
be
repo
rted
to
mem
bers
thro
ugh
Annu
al R
epor
ts.
H2
2017
O
ED a
nd
DPS
O
pera
tiona
l Pla
n
Annu
al R
epor
t
7.
Serv
ing
Cou
ntry
Nee
ds:
At t
he c
ount
ry a
nd r
egio
nal l
evel
, eac
h pr
ogra
mm
e w
ithin
eac
h of
the
six
focu
s ar
eas
will
be a
dapt
ed a
nd c
usto
miz
ed in
to c
lient
-focu
sed
inte
grat
ed s
olut
ions
. H
2 20
17
ITC
Mgt
An
nual
Rep
ort
Rec
omm
ende
d A
ctio
ns to
ITC
’s G
over
nors
and
Sup
port
ers:
I. Pr
ovid
e su
bsta
ntia
l fun
ding
for
the
ove
rall
prog
ram
me
or in
divi
dual
clu
ster
s an
d de
sign
ated
fin
anci
ng t
o en
sure
ade
quat
e m
ediu
m-te
m s
uppo
rt fo
r th
e in
tern
al p
rogr
amm
e de
velo
pmen
t uni
t.
II.
Prom
ote
and
ensu
re it
s ac
tive
enga
gem
ent a
nd c
oope
ratio
n w
ith th
eir o
wn
and
othe
r Aid
for T
rade
sup
porte
rs c
ham
pion
ing
an IT
C ro
le th
at is
‘out
side
the
box’
of c
onve
ntio
nal d
evel
opm
ent c
oope
ratio
n ag
enci
es a
nd a
lead
er in
spe
cial
ized
col
labo
rativ
e TR
TA.
III.
The
CC
ITF,
at a
mba
ssad
oria
l lev
el, n
eeds
to ta
ke o
n a
stro
nger
role
and
del
iver
on
the
reci
proc
al re
spon
sibi
lity
to IT
C to
gen
erat
e ad
equa
te, p
redi
ctab
le
and
suffi
cien
t fun
ding
to s
uppo
rt a
high
qua
lity,
resu
lts o
rient
ed a
nd a
ccou
ntab
le IT
C p
rogr
amm
e.
ITC
’s G
over
nors
and
Sup
port
ers
actio
ns
See
the
Com
mon
don
or s
tate
men
t to
the
info
rmal
Joi
nt A
dvis
ory
Gro
up (
JAG
), of
the
Inte
rnat
iona
l Tra
de C
entre
(IT
C)
by d
onor
s an
d m
embe
rs o
f ITC
Eva
luat
ion
Ste
erin
g C
omm
ittee
26
Janu
ary
2015
, bel
ow p
ages
10
to 1
2.
MA
NA
GE
ME
NT
RE
SP
ON
SE
TO
TH
E IN
DE
PE
ND
EN
T E
VA
LUA
TIO
N O
F TH
E IN
TER
NA
TIO
NA
L TR
AD
E C
EN
TRE
4
Stra
tegi
c R
ecom
men
datio
n 2
Prot
ect a
nd d
evel
op IT
C’s
mai
n an
d di
stin
ctiv
e w
orki
ng a
sset
s: it
s sp
ecia
l cap
acity
to d
eal w
ith th
e pr
ivat
e se
ctor
in tr
ade
and
its e
xcel
lenc
e in
tech
nica
l exp
ertis
e an
d ap
prop
riate
tech
nica
l ass
ista
nce.
Rec
omm
ende
d A
ctio
ns to
ITC
’s M
anag
emen
t:
I. R
egul
arly
mai
ntai
n an
d us
e th
e ne
w C
lient
Rel
atio
nshi
p M
anag
emen
t Sys
tem
as
an e
ssen
tial p
illar
of IT
C’s
priv
ate
sect
or a
dvan
tage
and
its
wor
ldw
ide
netw
ork
of c
lient
s an
d pa
rtner
s.
II.
Stag
e an
d ph
ase
furth
er re
form
s an
d gr
owth
to e
xist
ing
and
deve
lopi
ng c
apac
ities
to a
void
ove
rload
and
con
stan
t im
prov
isat
ion.
III
. Bu
ildin
g on
pro
gres
s to
dat
e; r
apid
ly f
inal
ize
“goo
d en
ough
” sy
stem
s of
pro
ject
cyc
le m
anag
emen
t, re
sults
-bas
ed m
anag
emen
t an
d re
porti
ng a
nd
know
ledg
e m
anag
emen
t tog
ethe
r with
the
othe
r key
cha
lleng
es id
entif
ied.
IV
. R
esol
ve a
nom
alie
s in
man
agem
ent p
ract
ice
and
in th
e st
atus
, rec
ogni
tion
and
depl
oym
ent o
f the
who
le IT
C w
orkf
orce
and
man
ager
s.
Bui
ld in
the
time,
re
sour
ces
and
ince
ntiv
es fo
r pro
per p
erfo
rman
ce a
ppra
isal
and
sta
ff de
velo
pmen
t.
ITC
act
ions
C
ompl
etio
n da
te
Res
pons
ible
pa
rtie
s M
eans
of
verif
icat
ion
8.
Impr
ovem
ent
in C
RM
: I
n 20
13 I
TC r
olle
d ou
t an
org
anis
atio
n-w
ide
Cus
tom
er R
elat
ions
hip
Man
agem
ent s
yste
m. T
his
vita
l too
l is
stea
dily
bei
ng in
tegr
ated
into
dai
ly o
pera
tions
. In
2015
the
focu
s w
ill b
e on
mak
ing
this
tool
wor
k ev
en b
ette
r: w
orkf
low
s an
d pr
oces
ses
to u
pdat
e da
ta w
ill
be e
stab
lishe
d; n
ew r
epor
ts w
ill be
ena
bled
allo
win
g be
tter
man
agem
ent
info
rmat
ion;
and
m
odifi
catio
ns w
ill be
mad
e to
enh
ance
cor
e pr
oces
ses
such
as
the
Not
e fo
r Fi
le,
and
the
scan
ning
of b
usin
ess
card
s.
H2
2015
D
MD
C
RM
mee
ting
deve
lopm
ent c
riter
ia
9.
Qua
lity
Con
trol P
roce
ss:
Sin
ce 2
012
ITC
has
fol
low
ed a
qua
lity
cont
rol p
roce
ss f
or a
ll TR
TA
proj
ects
. Th
is h
as s
igni
fican
tly r
aise
d th
e qu
ality
of
proj
ect
deve
lopm
ent.
Eve
ry p
roje
ct h
as a
lo
gfra
me,
whi
ch s
how
s di
rect
con
tribu
tion
of t
hat
proj
ect
to t
he o
vera
ll co
rpor
ate
goal
s. S
ince
20
13
key
feat
ures
of
su
cces
sful
pr
ojec
ts
(ris
ks,
exit
stra
tegi
es
etc.
) ar
e sy
stem
atic
ally
co
nsid
ered
. In
201
4 th
e qu
ality
ass
uran
ce p
roce
ss w
as s
tream
lined
, qu
ality
ass
uran
ce w
as
plac
ed a
t th
e he
art
of t
he P
roje
ct A
ppra
isal
Com
mitt
ee (
PAC
), co
re i
nfor
mat
ion
need
s w
ere
rede
fined
, and
a s
corin
g sy
stem
to g
rade
pro
posa
ls o
n th
eir q
ualit
y w
as in
trodu
ced.
Don
e O
ED
Com
mun
icat
ion
on
qual
ity c
ontro
l pro
cess
at
ITC
10.
Proj
ect
Cyc
le M
anag
emen
t: A
s pa
rt of
its
com
mitm
ent
to c
ontin
uing
to
impr
ove
proj
ect
cycl
e m
anag
emen
t, IT
C is
fur
ther
inte
grat
ing
all s
teps
of
the
proj
ect
cycl
e fo
r al
l ITC
pro
ject
s in
an
upda
ted
vers
ion
of i
ts P
roje
ct P
orta
l. It
will
be u
pgra
ded
in t
hree
sta
ges.
The
firs
t st
age
will
de
liver
all
the
core
func
tions
nee
ded
desi
gn, i
mpl
emen
t and
repo
rt on
pro
ject
s an
d pr
ogra
mm
es.
This
is
due
to b
e co
mpl
eted
in
the
first
hal
f of
201
5. T
he s
econ
d st
age
will
add
bette
r m
anag
emen
t re
porti
ng a
nd t
he f
ull
mig
ratio
n of
pro
ject
s. T
he l
ast
stag
e w
ill a
dd w
orkf
low
au
tom
atio
n an
d U
moj
a in
tegr
atio
n. T
his
shou
ld r
educ
e in
tern
al t
rans
actio
n co
sts,
incr
ease
the
us
abilit
y of
the
sys
tem
and
pro
duce
bet
ter
man
agem
ent
info
rmat
ion,
inc
ludi
ng m
onito
ring,
ev
alua
tion
and
impa
ct d
ata.
H1
2016
O
ED
Roa
dmap
for I
TC’s
N
ew P
roje
ct P
orta
l
Acco
mpl
ishm
ent o
f ne
w P
roje
ct P
orta
l
MA
NA
GE
ME
NT
RE
SP
ON
SE
TO
TH
E IN
DE
PE
ND
EN
T E
VA
LUA
TIO
N O
F TH
E IN
TER
NA
TIO
NA
L TR
AD
E C
EN
TRE
5
11.
Eval
uatio
n:
Sinc
e th
e en
d of
201
3 IT
C h
as b
een
impl
emen
ting
a m
ore
syst
emat
ic a
ppro
ach
to
eval
uatio
ns th
at is
bet
ter a
ligne
d w
ith c
orpo
rate
goa
ls a
nd s
trate
gies
. B
y 20
15 th
is w
ill c
ompr
ise
in-d
epth
eva
luat
ion
thro
ugh
a lim
ited
set o
f stra
tegi
c-le
vel i
ndep
ende
nt e
valu
atio
ns, f
ocus
ing
on
prio
ritie
s de
fined
in
the
ITC
Stra
tegi
c P
lan.
ITC
is
also
inc
reas
ing
the
exte
nt o
f ev
alua
tion
cove
rage
thro
ugh
self-
eval
uatio
ns. T
hese
will
be
subj
ect t
o a
form
al v
alid
atio
n pr
oces
s to
ens
ure
that
they
mee
t qua
lity
stan
dard
s. IT
C e
valu
atio
n fu
nctio
n w
ill su
ppor
t the
gra
dual
dev
elop
men
t of
stan
dard
cor
pora
te p
ract
ices
gov
erni
ng t
he u
se a
nd d
evel
opm
ent
of i
mpa
ct m
easu
rem
ent
tech
niqu
es
i.e. s
elec
tion
crite
ria, q
uest
ionn
aire
s an
d m
etho
ds th
at e
stab
lish
clea
r at
tribu
tion
of
obse
rved
cha
nges
to IT
C a
ctiv
ities
.
H2
2016
O
ED
Eval
uatio
n gu
idel
ines
an
d de
velo
pmen
t of
stan
dard
cor
pora
te
prac
tices
for i
mpa
ct
eval
uatio
n
12.
Impr
ove
‘eva
luab
ility’
of
proj
ects
: I
TC is
als
o bu
ildin
g be
tter
logi
c ch
ains
to
esta
blis
h cl
eare
r at
tribu
tion
betw
een
ITC
act
iviti
es a
nd c
laim
ed re
sults
, bui
ldin
g in
bet
ter ‘
eval
uabi
lity’
, em
bedd
ing
impa
ct in
to e
very
pro
ject
and
ens
urin
g th
e in
tegr
atio
n of
eva
luat
ion
reco
mm
enda
tions
bac
k in
to
the
proj
ect c
ycle
.
H2
2015
SP
PG w
ith
DBI
S, D
MD
, D
CP
Proj
ect/P
rogr
amm
e
plan
s as
app
rove
d by
SM
C
13.
Dev
elop
men
t and
Ret
entio
n of
ITC
Exp
ertis
e:
ITC
pla
ces
the
deve
lopm
ent a
nd r
eten
tion
of it
s ex
perti
se a
t th
e he
art
of it
s ap
proa
ch.
The
Stra
tegi
c Pl
an 2
015-
17 p
lace
s th
e de
velo
pmen
t of
ex
perti
se a
s on
e of
its
top
fiv
e pr
iorit
ies
for
incr
easi
ng t
he e
ffect
iven
ess
of i
ts i
nter
vent
ions
. In
crea
sing
inve
stm
ent i
n st
aff t
rain
ing
on c
ritic
al k
now
ledg
e ar
eas
such
as
proj
ect m
anag
emen
t, SM
E co
mpe
titiv
enes
s an
d fu
nctio
ning
of
supp
ly c
hain
s w
ill be
a p
riorit
y m
ovin
g fo
rwar
d. I
n ad
ditio
n to
its
regu
lar s
taff
satis
fact
ion
surv
eys,
ITC
will
impl
emen
t 360
deg
ree
feed
back
sta
rting
w
ith s
enio
r man
agem
ent i
n 20
15.
H2
2017
D
PS
Annu
al R
epor
ts
Rec
omm
ende
d A
ctio
ns to
ITC
’s G
over
nors
and
Sup
port
ers:
I. In
vest
the
finan
cial
and
mor
al a
nd p
oliti
cal s
uppo
rt to
ena
ble
ITC
to m
aint
ain
and
build
its
netw
orks
and
spe
cial
, fle
xibl
e w
orki
ng re
latio
nshi
ps w
ith p
rivat
e se
ctor
act
ors
in tr
ade.
II.
Al
low
for t
he ti
me
and
reso
urce
s fo
r the
Cen
tre to
stre
ngth
en q
ualit
y, p
lan
bette
r, re
cogn
ize
and
deve
lop
its s
taff,
and
to fo
llow
-up
its p
roje
cts
to e
valu
ate
resu
lts, a
ccom
pany
ben
efic
iarie
s an
d en
sure
sus
tain
able
ben
efits
.
ITC
’s G
over
nors
and
Sup
port
ers
actio
ns
See
the
Com
mon
don
or s
tate
men
t to
the
info
rmal
Joi
nt A
dvis
ory
Gro
up (
JAG
), of
the
Inte
rnat
iona
l Tra
de C
entre
(IT
C)
by d
onor
s an
d m
embe
rs o
f ITC
Eva
luat
ion
Ste
erin
g C
omm
ittee
26
Janu
ary
2015
, bel
ow p
ages
10
to 1
2.
MA
NA
GE
ME
NT
RE
SP
ON
SE
TO
TH
E IN
DE
PE
ND
EN
T E
VA
LUA
TIO
N O
F TH
E IN
TER
NA
TIO
NA
L TR
AD
E C
EN
TRE
6
Stra
tegi
c R
ecom
men
datio
n 3
Prag
mat
ical
ly s
treng
then
gov
erna
nce
and
cont
inue
to s
treng
then
acc
ount
abilit
y w
hile
min
imiz
ing
bure
aucr
acy.
Rec
omm
ende
d A
ctio
ns to
ITC
’s M
anag
emen
t:
I. St
reng
then
the
info
rmat
ion
to J
AG a
nd C
CIT
F on
pla
ns, p
erfo
rman
ce a
nd re
sults
– u
nder
eac
h of
ITC
’s fu
ndin
g st
ream
s, in
clud
ing
the
Reg
ular
Bud
get –
as
wel
l as
on in
tern
al m
anag
emen
t and
eco
nom
ical
ope
ratio
n.
II.
Be tr
ansp
aren
t and
ass
ertiv
e ab
out b
oth
the
real
pro
gres
s an
d th
e lim
its in
def
inin
g, a
dvan
cing
and
rep
ortin
g re
sults
in IT
C’s
wor
k an
d in
in m
akin
g an
d de
fend
ing
adju
stm
ents
and
ada
ptat
ions
to
stan
dard
ized
UN
req
uire
men
ts t
hat
may
be
nece
ssar
y to
acc
omm
odat
e its
dis
tinct
ive
mis
sion
and
ess
entia
l bu
sine
ss re
quire
men
ts.
ITC
act
ions
C
ompl
etio
n da
te
Res
pons
ible
pa
rtie
s M
eans
of
verif
icat
ion
14.
Impr
ovem
ents
in A
ccou
ntab
ility:
IT
C M
anag
emen
t is
com
mitt
ed to
impr
ovin
g ac
coun
tabi
lity.
To
this
end
in 2
014
it co
mm
issi
oned
an
acco
unta
bilit
y fra
mew
ork,
in c
onju
nctio
n w
ith O
IOS
. Th
e fra
mew
ork
was
del
iver
ed in
201
4 an
d is
cur
rent
ly b
eing
impl
emen
ted.
ITC
is a
lso
prep
arin
g to
ca
rry
out a
sim
ilar p
roce
ss o
n ris
k m
anag
emen
t.
H2
2015
D
PS, O
ED
ITC
Acc
ount
abilit
y Fr
amew
ork
ITC
Ris
k M
anag
emen
t Fr
amew
ork
15.
Bette
r R
epor
ting:
Th
e ne
w s
trate
gic
focu
s ar
eas
and
the
unde
rpin
ning
pro
gram
mat
ic a
ppro
ach
intro
duce
d in
the
Stra
tegi
c Pl
an 2
015-
17 w
ill si
gnifi
cant
ly a
id r
epor
ting
and
acco
unta
bilit
y. I
TC
has
impr
oved
its
repo
rting
on
resu
lts a
nd im
pact
to th
e C
CIT
F an
d JA
G a
nd w
ill co
ntin
ue to
do
so.
H2
2017
O
ED
Rep
orts
to C
CIT
F an
d JA
G
16.
Tran
spar
ency
and
Im
pact
: I
n 20
13 I
TC p
rovi
ded
onlin
e tra
nspa
renc
y on
all
its t
echn
ical
as
sist
ance
pro
ject
s in
clud
ing
deve
lopm
ent t
arge
ts a
nd r
esul
ts. T
his
trans
pare
ncy
will
be fu
rther
im
prov
ed i
n th
e ne
w p
roje
ct p
orta
l cu
rren
tly b
eing
dev
elop
ed.
ITC
has
alre
ady
impr
oved
re
porti
ng o
n its
im
pact
, w
ith t
he 2
013
Cor
pora
te I
mpa
ct S
urve
y, a
nd w
ill c
ontin
ue t
o fin
d in
nova
tive
way
s to
bet
ter u
nder
stan
d, a
nd m
easu
re, i
ts im
pact
. ITC
will
cont
inue
to w
ork
on a
set
of
‘im
pact
sto
ries’
to
bette
r te
ll th
e IT
C s
tory
pub
licly
and
will
cont
inue
to
build
on
this
in t
he
com
ing
year
s.
H1
2016
O
ED
Rep
orts
to C
CIT
F an
d JA
G, A
nnua
l Rep
ort,
Impa
ct S
torie
s
17.
Impr
oved
Acc
ount
ing
Prac
tices
: I
n 20
15 I
TC w
ill co
mpl
ete
the
full
trans
ition
to
accr
ual b
ased
ac
coun
tabi
lity
follo
win
g In
tern
atio
nal P
ublic
Sec
tor A
ccou
ntin
g St
anda
rds
(IPSA
S) p
rinci
ples
. H
1 20
15
DPS
An
nual
Rep
orts
and
ac
coun
ts 2
014
and
2015
MA
NA
GE
ME
NT
RE
SP
ON
SE
TO
TH
E IN
DE
PE
ND
EN
T E
VA
LUA
TIO
N O
F TH
E IN
TER
NA
TIO
NA
L TR
AD
E C
EN
TRE
7
18.
Ente
rpris
e R
esou
rce
Plan
ning
: I
TC w
ill im
plem
ent
the
new
UN
Ent
erpr
ise
Res
ourc
e P
lann
ing
appl
icat
ion,
Um
oja,
and
will
fina
lize
the
initi
ativ
e to
ass
ess
the
full
cost
ing
of it
s pr
ogra
mm
es a
nd
proj
ects
. It w
ill co
ntin
ue to
redu
ce a
nd a
utom
ate
inte
rnal
pro
cess
es a
nd c
hang
e pa
per p
roce
sses
in
to e
lect
roni
c on
es.
Toge
ther
the
se e
lem
ents
will
deliv
er a
mor
e tra
nspa
rent
, le
aner
, m
ore
effic
ient
ITC
.
H2
2016
D
PS
Annu
al R
epor
ts
Rec
omm
ende
d A
ctio
ns to
ITC
’s G
over
nors
and
Sup
port
ers:
I. R
athe
r th
an a
ttem
ptin
g fo
rmal
cha
nge
in I
TC’s
hea
vy b
ut m
anag
eabl
e go
vern
ance
sys
tem
, co
nven
e sm
all a
nd in
form
al,
“frie
nds
of t
he C
hairs
” gr
oups
(b
alan
ced
betw
een
enga
ged
bene
ficia
ry a
nd n
on-b
enef
icia
ry c
ount
ries)
to a
llow
for
adva
nce
and
follo
w-u
p di
scus
sion
of f
orm
al IT
C g
over
nanc
e m
eetin
g ag
enda
s an
d m
anag
emen
t re
ports
, an
d to
enc
oura
ge a
ctiv
e en
gage
men
t w
here
ver
nece
ssar
y by
the
rep
rese
ntat
ives
of
thos
e co
untri
es i
n G
enev
a,
capi
tals
and
UN
New
Yor
k.
II.
Con
vene
a re
gula
r ann
ual m
eetin
g of
the
thre
e H
eads
of I
TC, W
TO a
nd U
NC
TAD
and
thei
r clo
se c
olla
bora
tors
, in
adva
nce
of J
AG m
eetin
gs, w
hich
cou
ld
also
ser
ve to
ens
ure
syne
rgie
s am
ong
the
Gen
eva
trade
inst
itutio
ns.
III.
Be p
repa
red
to s
uppo
rt ne
cess
ary
adju
stm
ents
or a
dapt
atio
ns in
sta
ndar
dize
d U
N re
quire
men
ts to
acc
omm
odat
e a
smal
ler,
mor
e en
trepr
eneu
rial,
priv
ate
sect
or-o
rient
ed o
rgan
izat
ion
like
ITC
.
ITC
’s g
over
nors
and
Sup
port
ers
actio
ns
See
the
Com
mon
don
or s
tate
men
t to
the
info
rmal
Joi
nt A
dvis
ory
Gro
up (
JAG
), of
the
Inte
rnat
iona
l Tra
de C
entre
(IT
C)
by d
onor
s an
d m
embe
rs o
f ITC
Eva
luat
ion
Ste
erin
g C
omm
ittee
26
Janu
ary
2015
, bel
ow p
ages
10
to 1
2.
MA
NA
GE
ME
NT
RE
SP
ON
SE
TO
TH
E IN
DE
PE
ND
EN
T E
VA
LUA
TIO
N O
F TH
E IN
TER
NA
TIO
NA
L TR
AD
E C
EN
TRE
8
Stra
tegi
c R
ecom
men
datio
n 4
Mov
e IT
C u
p to
the
next
leve
l of v
isib
ility,
eng
agem
ent a
nd e
ffect
iven
ess
as a
key
pla
yer i
n th
e gl
obal
Aid
for T
rade
effo
rt.
Rec
omm
ende
d A
ctio
ns to
ITC
’s M
anag
emen
t:
I. Ke
ep a
ste
ady
focu
s an
d IT
C’s
sub
stan
tive
expe
rtise
and
cre
dibi
lity
aim
ed a
t the
stra
tegi
c ho
rizon
sug
gest
ed in
Rec
omm
enda
tion
1 an
d su
ppor
ted
by th
e ot
her R
ecom
men
datio
ns.
II.
To r
ealis
tical
ly e
nhan
ce IT
C’s
link
s am
ong
bene
ficia
ry c
ount
ries
and
regi
ons,
rec
ogni
zing
its
cons
train
ts, c
onsi
der
a ve
ry fe
w c
aref
ully
-des
igne
d, ju
stifi
ed
and
eval
uate
d lia
ison
arr
ange
men
ts fo
r key
regi
ons.
III.
With
JAG
and
CC
ITF,
enl
ist a
sm
all b
ut r
epre
sent
ativ
e gr
oup
of e
ngag
ed r
epre
sent
ativ
es o
f in
tend
ed b
enef
icia
ry c
ount
ries
and
inst
itutio
ns,
in G
enev
a an
d/or
in c
apita
ls, t
o ad
vise
at r
egul
ar in
terv
als
on c
oope
ratio
n po
ssib
ilitie
s, s
trate
gic
desi
gn, k
ey c
onta
cts
and
expe
rtise
and
pro
file-
rais
ing
oppo
rtuni
ties.
IV.
Con
tinue
to te
ll th
e IT
C s
tory
pub
licly
, hig
hlig
htin
g pr
omis
ing
inno
vatio
ns a
nd b
reak
thro
ughs
as
just
ified
, whi
le a
lso
usin
g th
em to
focu
s at
tent
ion
on th
e le
ss g
lam
orou
s, lo
nger
-term
wor
k of
bui
ldin
g su
stai
nabl
e re
sults
in s
uppo
rting
trad
e.
ITC
act
ions
C
ompl
etio
n da
te
Res
pons
ible
pa
rtie
s M
eans
of
verif
icat
ion
19.
Enha
ncin
g Vi
sibi
lity
of IT
C: I
n th
e pa
st y
ear I
TC h
as s
ubst
antia
lly ra
ised
its
visi
bilit
y. It
com
plet
ely
reva
mpe
d its
web
site
and
its’
Ann
ual R
epor
t, si
gnifi
cant
ly r
aisi
ng it
s so
cial
med
ia p
rese
nce
– Tw
itter
, Fac
eboo
k an
d Li
nked
In fo
llow
ers
have
gro
wn
to th
e m
any
thou
sand
s ea
ch -
and
mak
ing
a m
uch
grea
ter
impa
ct a
cros
s tra
ditio
nal p
rint a
nd o
nlin
e m
edia
. In
2013
, clo
se to
3,0
00 a
rticl
es
rela
ting
to IT
C w
ere
publ
ishe
d in
prin
ted
and
onlin
e m
edia
, whi
ch w
as u
p si
x-fo
ld o
n 20
12.
ITC
als
o su
cces
sful
ly h
eld
its W
orld
Exp
ort D
evel
opm
ent F
orum
for
the
first
tim
e in
Afri
ca, i
n a
land
lock
ed c
ount
ry, R
wan
da. I
TC c
eleb
rate
d its
50t
h an
nive
rsar
y in
201
4 w
ith a
hig
h le
vel e
vent
, an
eth
ical
fash
ion
show
and
the
publ
icat
ion
of a
50t
h an
nive
rsar
y bo
ok o
n SM
E co
mpe
titiv
enes
s.
ITC
als
o co
-hos
ted
the
bi-a
nnua
l WTP
O in
Dub
ai.
ITC
will
also
hos
t an
Ann
ual
Ope
n-D
oor
Day
to
prov
ide
Gen
eva-
base
d st
akeh
olde
rs w
ith a
be
tter u
nder
stan
ding
and
inte
ract
ion
with
the
orga
niza
tion.
2015
-201
7 O
ED
Prog
ress
on
enha
ncin
g vi
sibi
lity
will
be re
porte
d in
Ann
ual
Rep
orts
20.
Stra
tegi
c P
artn
ersh
ips:
ITC
will,
in a
dditi
on t
o en
hanc
ing
its d
irect
inte
ract
ion,
ens
ure
its li
nks
with
ben
efic
iary
cou
ntrie
s an
d re
gion
s ar
e en
hanc
ed b
y st
reng
then
ing
stra
tegi
c pa
rtner
ship
s w
ith
othe
r in
tern
atio
nal o
rgan
izat
ions
thro
ugh
join
t in
itiat
ives
for
gre
ater
impa
ct in
the
field
. Thi
s w
ill
incl
ude
stro
nger
col
labo
ratio
n w
ith U
N a
genc
ies
thro
ugh
the
One
UN
and
UN
DA
F in
itiat
ives
, and
al
so c
ontin
ued
invo
lvem
ent w
ith in
the
Enh
ance
d In
tegr
ated
Fra
mew
ork,
STD
F an
d ot
her s
imila
r pr
ogra
mm
es.
ITC
will
als
o co
ntin
ue to
enh
ance
its
colla
bora
tion
with
the
priv
ate
sect
or.
2015
-201
7 O
ED w
ith a
ll di
visi
ons
Annu
al R
epor
ts
MA
NA
GE
ME
NT
RE
SP
ON
SE
TO
TH
E IN
DE
PE
ND
EN
T E
VA
LUA
TIO
N O
F TH
E IN
TER
NA
TIO
NA
L TR
AD
E C
EN
TRE
9
21.
Inte
ract
ion
with
ITC
Sta
keho
lder
s:
In a
dditi
on t
o th
e re
gula
r av
enue
s of
CC
ITF
and
JAG
, IT
C
Man
agem
ent w
ill un
derta
ke re
gula
r st
rate
gic
dial
ogue
s w
ith it
s Pa
rent
Org
aniz
atio
ns, f
unde
rs o
f th
e IT
C,
bene
ficia
ries,
as
wel
l as
the
priv
ate
sect
or a
nd t
rade
sup
port
inst
itutio
ns.
It w
ill al
so
cont
inue
to re
ach
out t
o th
e co
untry
/regi
onal
gro
ups
in G
enev
a. D
urin
g vi
sits
to th
e fie
ld, I
TC w
ill
also
re
ach
out
to
loca
l st
akeh
olde
rs
to
enha
nce
the
visi
bilit
y an
d ef
fect
iven
ess
of
the
orga
niza
tion.
ITC
will
also
act
ivel
y pa
rtici
pate
in
the
on-g
oing
dia
logu
e to
cra
ft a
post
-201
5 de
velo
pmen
t ag
enda
.
2015
-201
7 O
ED
Annu
al R
epor
ts
22.
Liai
son
with
Reg
ions
: I
TC M
anag
emen
t is
exp
lorin
g en
hanc
ing
liais
ons
with
sta
keho
lder
s in
pa
rticu
lar p
riorit
y re
gion
s.
2015
-201
7 O
ED
Annu
al R
epor
ts
23.
Bran
ding
and
Out
reac
h:
ITC
will
cont
inue
to
impr
ove
its b
rand
ing
and
glob
al v
isib
ility
thro
ugh
the
deve
lopm
ent
and
impl
emen
tatio
n of
a c
ompr
ehen
sive
com
mun
icat
ion
stra
tegy
. C
entra
l to
th
is w
ill be
the
re-d
efin
ition
of I
TC’s
stra
tegi
c ap
proa
ch in
the
Stra
tegi
c P
lan
2015
-17
arou
nd th
e si
x fo
cus
area
s. T
his
will
enab
le I
TC t
o pr
ovid
e be
nefic
iarie
s an
d w
ould
be
supp
orte
rs w
ith a
cl
eare
r und
erst
andi
ng o
n th
e sc
ope
and
impa
ct o
f ITC
’s te
chni
cal a
ssis
tanc
e.
2015
-201
7 O
ED
Annu
al R
epor
ts
Rec
omm
ende
d A
ctio
ns to
all
Aid
for T
rade
don
ors,
esp
ecia
lly m
ultil
ater
al a
nd la
rge
dono
rs:
I. Ta
ke g
reat
er a
dvan
tage
of I
TC in
thes
e pr
ogra
mm
es a
s a
dist
inct
ive
asse
t to
the
glob
al a
id fo
r tra
de e
ffort,
with
its
stre
ngth
s in
ski
lls a
ttune
d to
pra
ctic
al
expo
rter n
eeds
and
ada
ptab
le to
diff
eren
t cou
ntry
situ
atio
ns.
II.
Cal
l on
ITC
to s
uppo
rt an
d co
mpl
emen
t maj
or p
rogr
amm
es w
hile
hel
ping
sup
port
the
nece
ssar
y du
ratio
n an
d fo
llow
-up
of IT
C’s
con
tribu
tions
.
Aid
for T
rade
don
ors,
esp
ecia
lly m
ultil
ater
al a
nd la
rge
dono
rs a
ctio
ns
See
the
Com
mon
don
or s
tate
men
t to
the
info
rmal
Joi
nt A
dvis
ory
Gro
up (
JAG
), of
the
Inte
rnat
iona
l Tra
de C
entre
(IT
C)
by d
onor
s an
d m
embe
rs o
f ITC
Eva
luat
ion
Ste
erin
g C
omm
ittee
26
Janu
ary
2015
, bel
ow p
ages
10
to 1
2.
MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE
10
Common donor statement to the informal Joint Advisory Group (JAG)
of the International Trade Centre (ITC) by donors and members of ITC Evaluation Steering Committee
26 January 2015
Delivered by Chair of ITC Evaluation Steering Committee, Ralph Osterwoldt (Canada)
Happy New Year, and welcome all. As chair of the ITC Evaluation Steering Committee, I have been asked to read this common statement by its members, which include donors and interested developing country partners. Donors to the International Trade Centre (ITC) have together decided to present their response to the Evaluation in this common statement. These points may be elaborated in individual country statements. As we all know, this informal Joint Advisory Group (JAG) meeting is focussed on your ITC management response to the Independent Evaluation. Donors found both to be comprehensive, useful and well-done. To follow up on the ITC Evaluation, endorsed at the JAG of June 2014, we welcome and support the ITC Management Response (MR), circulated by ITC on 28 November. Donors have analyzed and discussed this at donor coordination meetings in December and in January 2015. We are pleased to note that ITC management agrees with the Evaluation’s recommendations, both strategic and action-oriented ones, and indicates that it is already implementing most of them. We have carefully compared the Evaluation and the Management Response. ITC management has indeed incorporated the recommendations of the Evaluation into its forward planning and operations. Next, for ITC management, donors, and partners alike, our common focus is on implementation for results. The ITC independent evaluation contained 4 Strategic Recommendations (SRs) with Action Points (APs) clustered under each, adding up to 24 further, more specific, action-oriented recommendations. These were divided into two categories: first, actions for ITC and, secondly, actions for ITC’s “governors and supporters”, i.e. donors. This statement first covers the actions expected of ITC itself, and addresses the second group later. This common donor statement serves as our acknowledgement and approval of the ITC management’s plan; it thus also serves as the donor response to the Evaluation. Accordingly, for the record, this statement now recaps items proposed in ITC’s response to the Evaluation. Regarding the ITC actions, the ITC management response provides an action matrix, as donors requested at the CCITF on 30 October. For each action item, it specifies: “completion dates, responsible parties, and means of verification” (by when? by whom? how do we know?). ITC’s MR proposes 23 separate actions in respect of the 13 action points recommended by the Evaluation to ITC. The matrix details the proposed ITC actions under each of the 4 strategic recommendations. In our recap and endorsement of ITC actions, we use the ITC’s enumeration for ease of reference. This listing provides a useful baseline for monitoring progress and future evaluation. Strategic Recommendation (SR) #1 calls for a more strategic programming approach, rather than one-off, country-specific projects. The Evaluation proposed 3 action points,
MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE
11
and ITC plans 7 actions: 1. Its Strategic Plan; 2. a logical framework ‘theory of change’, 3. a programmatic approach with 6 baskets or programme areas; 4. a catalogue of products and services; 5. a task force for programme development (this responds to the Evaluation call for a “high-level programme development support unit”). Further, 6. annual Operations Plans, and 7. adapting programmes to country and regional needs. We note that these satisfactorily address the Evaluation’s action points. SR #2 calls for building up ITC’s assets, engagement with the private sector, and technical expertise. Responding to the Evaluation’s 4 recommended action points, ITC undertakes 6 actions, as the Executive Director has said, “to invest in its people and processes”. Continuing here with the enumeration of ITC actions, we take note of and approve of: 8. ITC improving its Client Relationship Management (CRM) system; 9. continuing its Quality Control process, which is already in place; 10. improved management of its project cycle; 11. evaluations which also assess programmes in light of corporate objectives; 12. Better logical frameworks to aid results-based management; and 13. developing and retaining ITC expertise with 360 degree feedback and appraisals. Donors view these to be logical and appropriate. SR # 3 calls for strengthening governance, reducing bureaucracy. The ITC MR offers: 14. an improved ‘accountability framework’, 15. better reporting on results and impact; 16. more transparency through its project portal and corporate impact survey; 17. accrual-based accounting using the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS); and 18. use of the UN’s new “Umoja” Enterprise Resource Planning application. All are sensible responses, working within the existing governance and UN system, which the Evaluation report authors felt would be too difficult or impossible to change more broadly, and certainly not specifically for the ITC here in Geneva. SR #4 calls for raising ITC’s visibility in Aid for Trade. Responding to the Evaluation’s 4 action points, ITC undertakes the following 5 actions: 19. improving the website, its annual report, and use of social media. ITC cites its first ever Forum in Africa (Sept 2014) and Open Door event (2 Dec 2014); 20. strengthening strategic partnerships with joint initiatives, such as with WTO and its Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF); UNCTAD with which ITC recently signed an MoU; and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), which is embarking on its second phase. ITC also promises 21. interaction with stakeholders, such as private sector actors and trade-supporting institutions (TSIs) via dialogues in addition to the standard governing meetings of CCITF and JAG; 22. exploring liaison arrangements within key regions; and finally 23. branding and outreach through its communications strategy. These build on or continue efforts which have borne fruit so far. In summary, then, the donor countries are pleased with the ITC’s management response, both in its substance and form. It covers all of the Evaluation’s recommendations directed to ITC and the action matrix enables tracking of actions: by when, who is responsible, and how to verify compliance. Specifically, the ITC MR provides an acceptable menu of 23 planned actions by ITC with respect to the 13 evaluation-recommended action points, and thus to their four umbrella Strategic Recommendations. With respect to the second group of the Evaluation recommendations mentioned earlier, donors reiterate the views made at the CCITF and donor coordination meetings that the ITC MR should not include or cover “actions recommended for ITC’s governors and supporters.” Each donor’s support to ITC is subject to policy, programmatic and political considerations. As principles of aid effectiveness, donors understand and respond to calls for coordinated, predictable, and
MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE
12
demand-driven funding. But no large, long-term, un-earmarked funding can be committed to in this format -- especially not in an ITC Management Response document, which is purely a reaction and commitment from ITC management. Thus donors ask that the empty boxes and rows entitled “ITC’s Governors and Supporters Actions” be deleted from the ITC Management Response document. Instead, in their place, donors consider this common statement to be our own donor response. This statement, which endorses the Evaluation recommendations and approves of the Management Response list of actions, constitutes our response. We also state our recognition, as supporters of ITC, of the importance of continuing efforts: -- to coordinate and to complement each other’s funding where possible, and to endeavor to support ITC with longer-term, sustained, and predictable funding. Further, now that the Evaluation and the Management Response to it have been completed, with an Action Matrix setting out actions, responsibilities, timelines and indicators, we take note that the Strategic Plan for 2015-17 covers the main issues. Donors look forward to the promised action items being reflected in the more detailed Annual Operational Plans. Donors invite ITC management to consult ahead of the next Strategic and Operational Plans so that we can liaise with other interested parties, such as our capitals and representatives at the relevant UNGA committees in New York, to support those adjustments which fit ITC’s distinctive nature. We appreciate the ITC Executive Director’s offer for informal preparatory and follow-up discussions for “engagement” of donors and recipient countries with ITC officials on any issues arising from the Management Response, the Evaluation, or the Strategic Plan. We will also continue to express our support and “champion” the innovative work which ITC does, within its mandate, for SMEs in developing countries. Such support conforms with the Evaluation recommendation to us as “friends of the Chair”. In conclusion, the ITC Evaluation Steering Committee appreciates the hard work that went into the Evaluation and its Management Response. While the steering committee has completed its assigned task with respect to the Evaluation, we will continue, as donors, to monitor progress on implementing the listed action items. To that end, we note the MR reference to progress reports to the JAG, and we look forward to receiving regular updates on results, and, if necessary, on how plans are adjusted to ensure the desired results are achieved. Thanks to you at ITC for a job well done, during this long process of evaluation and response, which will assist ITC operations for some years to come. I take this opportunity to thank all of you who have assisted in making the work of the ITC Evaluation Steering committee constructive and helpful to ITC and all its stakeholders. I enjoyed very much serving as its chair. Thank you. Presented on behalf of donors by Ralph Osterwoldt (Canadian permanent mission, Geneva), chair of ITC Evaluation Steering Committee, 26 January 2015.
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P: +41 22 730 0111F: +41 22 733 4439E: [email protected]
Postal addressInternational Trade CentrePalais des Nations1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Street addressInternational Trade Centre54-56 Rue de Montbrillant1202 Geneva, Switzerland
P: +41 22 730 0111F: +41 22 733 4439E: [email protected]
Postal addressInternational Trade CentrePalais des Nations1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Street addressInternational Trade Centre54-56 Rue de Montbrillant1202 Geneva, Switzerland
P: +41 22 730 0111F: +41 22 733 4439E: [email protected]
Postal addressInternational Trade CentrePalais des Nations1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Street addressInternational Trade Centre54-56 Rue de Montbrillant1202 Geneva, Switzerland
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations.