Publications

Abordar las cuestiones medioambientales a través de la Ayuda para el Comercio, es una buena manera de reducir la pobreza y proteger el medio ambiente. De hecho, al incorporar las cuestiones de medio ambiente en los proyectos de Ayuda para el Comercio, se podrían anular los efectos negativos que, a menudo, se asocian con el desarrollo comercial, como el agotamiento de los recursos naturales, la contaminación o el cambio climático.

Estos fueron los principales mensajes del evento paralelo" Incorporación del medio ambiente en la iniciativa Ayuda para el Comercio: desarrollar la sostenibilidad de las cadenas de valor mundiales", copatrocinado por el Centro de Comercio Internacional (ITC) durante el Cuarto Examen Global de la Ayuda para el Comercio el día 9 de julio.

"La incorporación del medio ambiente en la iniciativa Ayuda para el Comercio significa dos cosas", explicó Jean-Marie Paugam, Director Ejecutivo en funciones del ITC, al inicio del debate. "Promover las oportunidades de exportación de los productos y servicios ecológicos, y mejorar la sostenibilidad ambiental y la resistencia climática del comercio". Están emergiendo nuevas oportunidades de mercado que apoyan el comercio ecológico y mejoran los incentivos para las empresas, a fin de asegurar tanto la competitividad como la sostenibilidad ambiental, declaró, añadiendo que los responsables del desarrollo "deben aprovecharse de estas oportunidades para integrar la sostenibilidad ambiental en la iniciativa Ayuda para el Comercio".

El biocomercio ha desempeñado un papel importante en la diversificación de las exportaciones en el Perú, señaló Luis Enrique Chávez Basagoitia, Embajador y Representante Permanente del Perú ante la OMC y las Naciones Unidas en Ginebra. "El desarrollo de la industria de los productos naturales y sostenibles ha supuesto una gran contribución al crecimiento económico del Perú durante la última década. Con la ayuda de la iniciativa Ayuda para el Comercio, el Perú ha tenido la capacidad para desarrollar una industria competitiva que utiliza los recursos de nuestra rica biodiversidad de forma sostenible", explicó el Sr. Chávez Basagoitia, añadiendo, además, que la industria ya ha generado más de 10.000 puestos de trabajo.  

Reformular la Ayuda para el Comercio 

El Instituto Internacional para el Desarrollo Sostenible (IIDS) ha presentado una publicación durante la reunión que proporciona información práctica para los profesionales sobre cómo incluir consideraciones ambientales en sus proyectos de desarrollo. "Manual para integrar el medio ambiente en la iniciativa Ayuda para el Comercio". Además, este manual también explica por qué el medio ambiente es importante para la Ayuda para el Comercio.

Los participantes del evento compartieron varios ejemplos de casos de éxito de iniciativas de Ayuda para el Comercio en los sectores de la alimentación, la energía y el comercio de fauna silvestre, que a su vez incluyen un programa ambiental y consejos para la promoción de las exportaciones y la creación de vínculos con las cadenas de valor mundiales.

Stefan Maard, Asesor Superior de Desarrollo Empresarial en Novozymes, una empresa de biotecnología danesa, compartió con los asistentes la exitosa experiencia de inversión de su empresa en Mozambique para implantar tecnologías innovadoras y expandibles que utilizan el etanol como combustible. Estas tecnologías han permitido que los hogares ya no tengan que depender de la combustión de carbón para obtener energía, que es una de las principales fuentes de deforestación, emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI) y contaminación del aire en el interior. En colaboración con otros asociados internacionales, Novozymes también ha desarrollado una planta de procesamiento de alimentos que genera etanol a partir de los restos de alimentos. La tecnología ya ha generado empleo a nivel local, ha aumentado los ingresos familiares y ha llevado a una reducción de la deforestación y de las emisiones de GEI.

Salvaguardar la biodiversidad y la subsistencia

Alex Kasterine, Jefe de Comercio y Medio Ambiente del ITC, explicó que el comercio de fauna salvaje proporcionaba beneficios para miles de familias en Asia Sudoriental, sin embargo, su sostenibilidad, y por tanto su viabilidad económica para el futuro, se veía amenazada por sistemas de trazabilidad inadecuados. Además, añadió que "la iniciativa Ayuda para el Comercio puede colaborar con el sector privado y con la comunidad científica, a fin de fortalecer la sostenibilidad del abastecimiento y, de esta manera, salvaguardar tanto la biodiversidad como la subsistencia".

Asimismo, los oradores debatieron sobre el impacto que el cambio climático tiene sobre los países en desarrollo y la necesidad de apoyar a las empresas y a los exportadores a la hora de hacer frente a los retos que presentan la adaptación. Vinaye dey Ancharaz, Economista Superior de Desarrollo del Centro Internacional de Comercio y Desarrollo Sostenible (ICTSD, por sus siglas en inglés), sugirió que existía la necesidad de que el Apoyo para el Comercio desempeñara un papel más fuerte en la adaptación al cambio climático y mitigación del mismo.

"Se pueden obtener claras ventajas si unimos los fondos destinados al cambio climático con los fondos para la Ayuda para el Comercio", afirmó el Sr. Ancharaz, "entre estas se incluyen unos flujos comerciales más sostenibles y resistentes".

Este evento fue copatrocinado por el ITC, los gobiernos de Dinamarca y Canadá, el IIDS y el ICTSD.

Apporter une réponse aux questions environnementales à travers l'Aide pour le commerce est une manière réussie d'atteindre des résultats dans le domaine de la réduction de la pauvreté et de la protection de l'environnement. En effet, en intégrant l'environnement dans les projets d'Aide pour le commerce, les effets négatifs souvent associés au développement du commerce tels que l'épuisement des ressources naturelles, la pollution et le changement climatique pourraient être renversés. 

Ces messages figuraient parmi ceux de la session parallèle « Intégrer l'environnement dans l'aide pour le commerce: améliorer la durabilité des chaînes de valorisation au niveau mondial", évènement parallèle co-dirigé par le Centre du commerce international (ITC) et l'Examen global de l'Aide pour le commerce de l'OMC le 9 juillet.

‘Intégrer l'environnement dans l'aide pour le commerce veut dire deux choses, a dit Jean-Marie Paugam, Directeur exécutif a.i. de l'ITC, en ouvrant le débat. "Exploiter les opportunités de commerce pour les produits et services verts et améliorer la durabilité de l'environnement et la résistance climatique du commerce".

De nouvelles opportunités de marché voient le jour qui soutiennent le commerce vert et améliorent les incitations pour que les entreprises assurent compétitivité et durabilité environnementale, a-t-il dit, ajoutant que les acteurs du développement "doivent utiliser ces opportunités pour intégrer la durabilité environnementale dans l'Aide pour le commerce ».

Biotrade a joué un rôle important dans la diversification des exportations au Pérou, a dit Luis Enrique Chávez Basagoitia, Ambassadeur du Pérou et Représentant permanent du Pérou auprès de l'OMC et des organisations des Nations Unies à Genève. "Le développement d'une industrie de produits naturels durables a grandement contribué à la croissance économique du Pérou au cours des dix dernières années. Avec le soutien de l'Aide pour le commerce, le Pérou a pu développer une industrie compétitive qui utilise notre biodiversité de manière durable", a affirmé M. l'Ambassadeur Chávez Basagoitia en ajoutant que l'industrie a géré plus de 10'000 emplois.

Repenser l'Aide pour le commerce

L'institut international pour le développement durable (IISD) a lancé une publication durant l'évènement, laquelle offre des conseils pratiques sur comment inclure des questions environnementales dans les projets de développement. « Intégrer l'environnement dans l'Aide pour le commerce: un guide » aborde aussi la raison pour laquelle l'environnement compte pour l'Aide pour le commerce.

L'environnement peut être essentiel pour l'initiative Aide pour le commerce,’ a dit Chris Beaton, analyste de recherche à l'IISD. "Une bonne performance en matière d’environnement peut augmenter les exportations et il existe aussi une demande croissante pour des produits respectueux de l'environnement. Cependant, l'Aide pour le commerce doit aussi réfléchir à la manière dont elle peut réduire son impact négatif."

Les participants de l'évènement ont partagé plusieurs exemples d'initiatives d'Aide pour le commerce réussies dans les secteurs de l'alimentation, de l'énergie et du commerce d'espèces sauvages, qui intègrent également un programme environnemental parallèlement à la promotion do commerce et créent des liens avec les chaînes de valeur mondiales.

Stefan Maard, conseiller principal, secteur des affaires et du développement chez Novozymes, entreprise danoise de biotechnologie, a partagé l'expérience réussie de son entreprise au Mozambique dans le lancement de technologies innovantes et évolutives en matière de combustibles à base d'éthanol. Ces technologies ont permis de modifier l'habitude des ménages de brûler le charbon pour de l'énergie - une source majeure de déforestation, d'émission de gaz à effet de serre et de pollution de l'air ambiant. Conjointement avec d'autres partenaires internationaux, Novozymes a également développé une usine de traitement d'aliments qui produit de l'éthanol combustible à partir de déchets alimentaires. Cette technologie a déjà créé des emplois à l'échelle locale, amélioré les revenus des ménages et permis la réduction de la déforestation et des émissions de gaz à effet de serre.

Sauvegarder la biodiversité et les moyens de subsistance

Alex Kasterine, Responsable du secteur Commerce et développement à l'ITC, a dit que le commerce d'espèces sauvages a fourni des moyens de subsistance à des milliers de ménages en Asie du Sud-Est, mais sa durabilité et donc sa viabilité économique future était menacée par des systèmes de traçabilité inadéquats. "L'Aide pour le commerce peut collaborer avec le secteur privé et la communauté scientifique pour renforcer la durabilité de l'approvisionnement et par conséquent sauvegarder la biodiversité et les moyens de subsistance", a-t-il dit.

Le département Commerce et développement de l'ITC est en train de développer un partenariat public-privé avec Kering, la société mère de Gucci, et l'Union internationale pour la conservation de nature en vue d'améliorer la durabilité de l'approvisionnement en peaux de serpent utilisées par l'industrie de la mode de luxe, a dit M. Kasterine.

Les intervenants ont discuté l'impact du changement climatique dans les pays en développement et le besoin de soutenir les commerces et les exportateurs dans la gestion des défis en matière d'adaptation. Vinaye dey Ancharaz, économiste en chef, développement, auprès du Centre international de commerce et de développement durable (ICTSD), a suggéré que l'Aide pour le commerce devait jouer un rôle plus important dans l'adaptation au changement climatique et dans l'atténuation de celui-ci.

"Il y a plus a gagner en apportant un complément aux fonds destinés aux changement climatique avec un financement spécifique pour l'Aide pour le commerce", a dit M. Ancharaz, "ce qui comprend des flux commerciaux plus résistants et durables."

L'évènement a été dirigé conjointement par l'ITC, les gouvernements du Danemark, du Canada, l'IISD et L'ICTS.

Addressing environmental issues through Aid for Trade is a successful way to achieve results for both poverty reduction and environmental protection. In fact, by mainstreaming the environment into Aid for Trade projects, negative effects often associated with trade development – such as natural resource depletion, pollution and climate change – could be reversed.

Those were among the main messages at ‘Mainstreaming Environment into Aid for Trade: Improving Sustainability of Global Value Chains’, a side event co-hosted by the International Trade Centre (ITC) at the Global Review of Aid for Trade at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 9 July.

‘Mainstreaming the environment into Aid for Trade means two things,’ said Jean-Marie Paugam, Acting Executive Director of ITC, opening the debate. ‘Harnessing export opportunities for green products and services and improving the environmental sustainability and climate resilience of trade.’

New market opportunities are emerging that support green trade and improve the incentives for business to ensure both competitiveness and environmental sustainability, he said, adding that development actors ‘need to use these opportunities to integrate environmental sustainability into Aid for Trade.’

Biotrade has played an important part in Peru’s export diversification, said Luis Enrique Chávez Basagoitia, Peru’s Ambassador and Permanent representative to the WTO and United Nations organizations in Geneva. ‘Development of a sustainable natural products industry has made a strong contribution to Peru’s economic growth over the past decade. With the support of Aid for Trade, Peru has been able to develop a competitive industry that sustainably sources our rich biodiversity,’ Mr Chávez Basagoitia said, adding that the industry has created more than 10,000 jobs.

Rethinking Aid for Trade

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) launched a publication at the meeting, providing hands-on advice to practitioners on how to include environmental considerations in development projects. ‘Integrating Environment into Aid for Trade: A handbook’ also argues why environment matters in Aid for Trade.

‘The environment can be fundamental to the Aid for Trade initiative,’ said Chris Beaton, a research analyst at IISD. ‘High environmental performance can increase exports and there is also a growing demand for environmentally classified products. But Aid for Trade also needs to rethink how it can reduce its [negative] impact.’

Participants at the event shared several examples of successful Aid for Trade initiatives in the food, energy and wildlife trade sectors, which also integrate an environmental agenda alongside export promotion and build linkages to global value chains.

Stefan Maard, a Senior Business Development Adviser at Novozymes, a Danish biotechnology company, shared his firm’s successful investment experience in Mozambique to roll out innovative and scalable ethanol fuel technologies. These technologies have enabled households to break their reliance on burning charcoal for energy – a major source of deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions and indoor air pollution. In partnership with other international partners, Novozymes has also developed a food processing plant that generates fuel ethanol from food waste. The technology has already created local jobs, improved household incomes and led to reductions in deforestation and greenhouse emissions.

Safeguarding biodiversity and livelihoods

Alex Kasterine, Head of Trade and Environment at ITC, said that the wildlife trade provided livelihood benefits to thousands of households in South-east Asia, but its sustainability and thus future economic viability was threatened by inadequate traceability systems. ‘Aid for Trade can work with the private sector and the scientific community to strengthen sustainability of sourcing and so safeguard both biodiversity and livelihoods,’ he said.

ITC’s Trade and Environment Unit is developing a public-private partnership with Kering, the parent company of Gucci, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to work towards improving the sustainability of python skin sourcing used by the high-end fashion industry, Mr Kasterine said.

The panellists also discussed the impact of climate change on developing countries, and the need to support businesses and exporters in dealing with adaptation challenges. Vinaye dey Ancharaz, a Senior Development Economist at the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), suggested that there was a need for a stronger role to be played by Aid for Trade in climate-change adaptation and mitigation.

‘There are clear gains to be made by complementing climate change funding with specific Aid for Trade funding,’ said Mr Ancharaz, ‘these include more resilient and sustainable trade flows.’

The event was co-hosted by ITC, the governments of Denmark and Canada, IISD and ICTSD.

Learn more about how ITC is training Kenyan tea farmers to reduce the effects of climate change

Linda Yaa Ampah’s mission is clear: she wants to empower women through training and job creation.

Linda is the Managing director and co-founder of KAD Manufacturing, a Ghanaian company dedicated to producing apparel and pet toys.

Linda started off her entrepreneurial journey with a made-to-measure tailoring business, then it shifted to ready-to-wear business before it became an apparel and pet clothing manufacturing company in 2012.

“One night, we walked around Accra, that was when we saw young women sleeping in front of some shops. We talked to them with a counsellor and offered them the opportunity to learn the skills that would get them a job in our factory,” remembers the young Ghanaian manager.

Within 10 years, her business has grown into a medium-sized business prepared to attract international buyers. The business obtained the environmental and social compliance standards Sedex (SMETA) certificate and is working towards ISO certification. Through certification, Linda wants to improve her export competitiveness.

A network with success

To further boost the company’s trade capacity and benefit from the market, KAD Manufacturing joined the Africa Fashion and Textile Accelerator Network (Africa FAN). Thanks to the network, KAD Manufacturing established business connections with international brands and retailers. The company engaged in facilitated B2B meetings, showed their production facility to international buyers, and presented samples to prospective clients.

“The project brings us buyers whom we never would have met otherwise. That was a great opportunity.”

The company’s first highlight was a first order from European brand Panafrica.

“It was the first time for KAD Manufacturing to collaborate with a European brand, and the learning experience could not be found in a manual!”

They are currently preparing for the next order and hope to make this a long-term collaboration.

After having participated for one year in Africa FAN, KAD Manufacturing has gained essential skills to trade and first-hand experience in dealing with international buyers – from understanding their expectations to preparing for shipment and customs declaration.

Gearing up to meet increasing orders, the company expanded its production capacity and created over 230 new jobs targeted at women. The new hiring opportunities contribute to Ghana’s job market and the local community’s economic and social empowerment.

What’s next?

For the future, KAD Manufacturing’s goal is to secure long-term partnerships with international buyers to create more jobs, not only at the factory but also at the management level.

The strategy is to optimize its social media and online presence.

In addition, the company remains up to date with the latest trends and technology of the manufacturing industry.

Finally, as a founder who always puts her staff first, Linda is keen to improve her staff’s skills in merchandising and product development.

KAD Manufacturing is optimistic about the future of Ghana’s manufacturing. “This is a good moment for us. We get a lot of attention.”

About the project

African Fashion & Textile Accelerator Network (Africa FAN) is jointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the International Trade Centre's GreenToCompete initiative. The project aims to increase the sourcing of sustainably produced textiles from emerging textile and apparel production hubs in Africa, thereby creating jobs for the region’s growing workforce.

WEAR Ghana is a women-led Ghanaian apparel company, whose story began in 2013 when two young women, Awura Abena Agyeman (AA) and Angorkor Nai-Kwade (KK), left their corporate jobs.

Although they did not have any formal training in apparel manufacturing, they were firm in their decision to pursue their entrepreneurial journey. “Entrepreneurship holds the key to transform Africa,” says Awura.

Today the company is run by a team of young professionals mostly under 30 years old, of which 90% are women. These women have diverse backgrounds – some did not finish school and some hold Master’s degrees from overseas universities. But they share a common purpose: celebrate African culture, inspire the next generation, and create opportunities for women.
 

Shifting the business model in a timely fashion

As a brand that started by making made-to-measure clothes, shifting to a ready-to-wear business model is a challenge. Not only did the company have to adapt its brand identity, it also needed to recalibrate their corporate culture and strategy.

“Ready-to-wear is the only way we could scale our business,” explains KK. They had been producing everything in-house, but they realized this model is not sustainable in the long run.

Both AA and KK believe that talent plays an important role in the success of every apparel manufacturing business.

“Building an apparel brand that can be the next global company requires professional experts to support and train our staff, advise us on how to expand the supply chain and how to develop sellable products. There are highly skilled producers behind high-quality product.”

The company took the opportunity to join a coaching programme on product design and development for apparel manufacturing companies offered by the Africa Fashion and Textile Accelerator Network (Africa FAN) project.

The Africa FAN trainings gave the co-founders and the team insight on how to develop products tailored to different segments and seasons, as well as fashion trend forecasting. “Forecasting is a great tool to build apparel stock that we can sell ahead of the season,” says AA.

WEAR Ghana's plan to focus on brand building and product development while outsourcing some of the production, has been reinforced since joining the project.
 

Growing communities across the African continent. Next: Go global

Although the business model is shifting, the goal stays the same.

“We are a community-built brand, and we intend to grow this community to include people from all parts of the world, people who feel aligned with our ‘why’,” says AA.

She wants her customers to talk about WEAR Ghana; be it in the street, at community events or in the social media space.

WEAR Ghana has also benefited from the Africa FAN’s coaching programme on branding and marketing to leverage their digital marketing channels. The training helped them explore different social media channels suitable for their needs. Whatsapp has proven to be very effective for sales.

Through the ITC training, they also learned the importance of streamlined visual brand identities, especially for applications such as Instagram. Encouraged by the coach, WEAR Ghana hired a social media manager who took their online presence to the next level. Combined with the other practical advice received through the coaching, WEAR Ghana’s Facebook page reach increased by 260%, while Instagram went up by 85% within a year.

While most customers are Ghanaian, the company hopes to reach out to customers in Africa and beyond. “We want to be Africa’s most loved brand. We want to have a presence across the continent, and cover Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States.”
 

About the project

African Fashion & Textile Accelerator Network (Africa FAN) is jointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the International Trade Centre Green to Compete initiative. The project aims to increase sourcing of sustainably produced textiles from emerging textile and apparel production hubs in Africa, thereby creating jobs for the region’s growing workforce.