The United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund provides USD $1,077,624 to strengthen the capacity of LDCs to formulate policies on trade diversification for resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and implementation of the Doha Programme of Action

In 2016, the Chinese Government pledged to contribute $200 million to the United Nations over a ten year period.

The United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF) was established to channel these earmarked funds to specific projects in coordination with the UN.

The UNPDF is divided into two sub-funds: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund and The Secretary-General's Peace and Security Sub-Fund.

Approved in 2022 by UNPDF, USD $1,077,624 was allocated from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund to increase the capacity of policymakers in three LDCs (least developed countries) to formulate and implement effective strategies to diversify exports and integrate into global value chains.

Under the Doha Programme of Action-- whose emphasis on enhancing international trade and regional integration, highlights the potential of digital trade to level the playing field for LDCs--this project aims to conduct a comprehensive review of policy instruments and trade datasets over the past decade to understand past bottlenecks, identify opportunities for trade diversification, and develop actionable recommendations that will direct efforts to build the capacity of national stakeholders to unlock and further develop the existing potential.

The research finding will form the basis of country-level capacity building workshops and global meeting to disseminate knowledge and promote experience sharing among LDCs in trade diversification and forge partnerships to promote effective integration of LDCs into the global trading system. Recipient countries are Bangladesh, Rwanda, and Uganda.

The implementing entity is UN-OHRLLS and ITC.

Collaborating partners include RCOs of participating LDCs, ECA, ESCAP, National governments, Chamber of Commerce and sector associations, Ministry of Commerce of China, Southern Voice, and Third World Network. The project's scheduled duration is from May 2023 - April 2026.