Lessons learned from Lessons learned from pilot studiespilot studies

Irina TochitskayaIrina Tochitskaya

Istanbul, TurkeyIstanbul, Turkey18-19 November 200818-19 November 2008

Trade and Human Development Workshop

OutlineOutline

review of pilot studiesreview of pilot studies

challenges and lessons learned from the challenges and lessons learned from the

process process

Why do the pilot studies matter?Why do the pilot studies matter?

specifics of the trade-human development specifics of the trade-human development nexus varies from country to country, and nexus varies from country to country, and from sector to sectorfrom sector to sector

the only way to know the reality, and thus the only way to know the reality, and thus to properly inform policy-making is through to properly inform policy-making is through empirical researchempirical research

ContributorsContributors

countries’ research teams conduct study countries’ research teams conduct study on the most salient linkages at the national on the most salient linkages at the national levellevel

• KazakhstanKazakhstan• KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan• Uzbekistan Uzbekistan

which is complemented by research from which is complemented by research from the international levelthe international level

• International expertsInternational experts

Research rests on assumptions:Research rests on assumptions:

we want to increase human well-being on we want to increase human well-being on an economically and environmentally an economically and environmentally sustainable basissustainable basis

trade and trade policy should primarily trade and trade policy should primarily work toward that end rather than work toward that end rather than increased trade flowsincreased trade flows

links between trade and human links between trade and human development run in both directionsdevelopment run in both directions

Human development

Economic growth and trade

Studies supported some general Studies supported some general conclusions drawn in empirical conclusions drawn in empirical

literatureliterature liberalizing trade does not automatically ensure liberalizing trade does not automatically ensure

human development (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan)human development (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan) increasing trade does not always have a positive increasing trade does not always have a positive

impact on human development (Kyrgyzstan, impact on human development (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan).Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan).

trade policy has very different effects on women trade policy has very different effects on women and men (Kyrgyzstan)and men (Kyrgyzstan)

It was hard to give an unambiguously positive It was hard to give an unambiguously positive answer to the question: “Does the current trade answer to the question: “Does the current trade regime enable Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, regime enable Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan to design policies that promote Uzbekistan to design policies that promote human development?”human development?”

Some positive points of the Some positive points of the studiesstudies

the first time that researchers have tackled the first time that researchers have tackled the human development-type issues in the human development-type issues in CISCIS

they may contribute to the mainstreaming they may contribute to the mainstreaming of human development in trade dialog of human development in trade dialog

Some shortcomings of the studiesSome shortcomings of the studies scope of the research was too broad, scope of the research was too broad, lack of guidance lack of guidance

((Toolkit on human development impact assessment of Toolkit on human development impact assessment of trade policytrade policy))

reports are too focused on the trends in foreign trade reports are too focused on the trends in foreign trade policy making process and less emphasizes the way in policy making process and less emphasizes the way in which trade influenced/ influences/ or might influence which trade influenced/ influences/ or might influence people’s lives (e.g. poverty, employment, education, people’s lives (e.g. poverty, employment, education, gender, environment and etc )gender, environment and etc )

too much emphasis on description of foreign trade too much emphasis on description of foreign trade regulationregulation

exports/imports with high potential for human exports/imports with high potential for human development and less potential for human development development and less potential for human development (impact on employment, environment, health, education, (impact on employment, environment, health, education, gender issue and etc) are not fully addressed gender issue and etc) are not fully addressed

Lessons learnedLessons learned

reports represent the fist attempt in CIS to reports represent the fist attempt in CIS to address address human development impact human development impact assessment of trade policyassessment of trade policy but more holistic but more holistic framework is neededframework is needed

tighter ToR is needed and as well as detailed tighter ToR is needed and as well as detailed template of the report structuretemplate of the report structure

Guidance/Toolkit Guidance/Toolkit on human development impact on human development impact assessment of trade policy is neededassessment of trade policy is needed

Lessons learned (II)Lessons learned (II) continuous framework for the development of trade policy and

human development is needed. The studies should not be the end of the story. They should pave the way for setting up a mechanism for long-term inter-regional cooperation on trade and human development

macro perspective is an important stage, but only part of the story. Specific ways of addressing human development concerns should be identified, i.e. ask what specific micro-initiatives work, and perhaps suggest ideas to support them

interaction of international consultants and local researchers

• face-to-face contact is needed (international consultant is needed (international consultant spend time in each country; workshops)spend time in each country; workshops)

• researchers also appear to have considered researchers also appear to have considered themselves to be consultants. They had a conflicting themselves to be consultants. They had a conflicting role as 'student' and consultantrole as 'student' and consultant

The findings of the studies:The findings of the studies: should be of interest to all those who work on these should be of interest to all those who work on these

issuesissues

should be shared with governments and civil society with should be shared with governments and civil society with the aim of creating national networks of interested the aim of creating national networks of interested stakeholdersstakeholders

revealed the need for more research, capacity buildingrevealed the need for more research, capacity building

reveal the need for strategic trade policy, i.e. active reveal the need for strategic trade policy, i.e. active promotion of sectors with long-term dynamic promotion of sectors with long-term dynamic comparative advantage, using such tools as tariffs and comparative advantage, using such tools as tariffs and subsidies. It is not enough to rely on minerals and subsidies. It is not enough to rely on minerals and resources. resources.

Thank youThank you