EU Strategy on Aid for Trade: Enhancing EU support for trade-related needs in developing countries: Conclusions, 29 October 2007

“3. Enhancing the Pro-poor Focus and Quality of EU AfT

The EU will intensify its activities in a range of areas in order to ensure the quality of its AfT. In particular, in response to partner countries’ own trade-related priorities, in the context of poverty reduction strategies, it will help facilitate, implement and adjust to trade reform and liberalization paying specific attention to their impact on poverty reduction.

(a) To enhance the impact of AfT on sustainable poverty reduction and the further economic empowerment of women as a cross-sector dimension of AfT, the EU will:

• Continue to assist governments in their efforts to include poverty and gender issues in trade needs assessments and subsequent action plans, including by supporting active involvement of relevant community-based organisations;
• Exchange information with partners regarding best practices in maximising the poverty reduction impact of AfT.”