Market Access & Trade Programme

The Global Mechanism (GM) developed its Market Access & Trade (MAT) Programme in order to include trade processes in its efforts to promote investments in sustainable land management (SLM). The role of SLM in trade processes is not insignificant: land degradation poses a very real threat to communities whose livelihoods depend on natural resources. When local, national, regional and global economies suffer environmental losses, the industrial sector ultimately bears additional costs.

 

How does it work?

At the global level, the MAT Programme builds strategic partnerships with trade-related institutions to help create linkages with international trade initiatives such as Aid for Trade (A4T) and their corresponding implementation processes and financing mechanisms. The programme also draws on the technical expertise and networks of such initiatives. These include Geneva-based trade institutions, notably the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Secretariat, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD).

 

At the regional and national levels, the MAT programme works to mainstream SLM issues into trade policy frameworks and their related implementation processes, financing mechanisms and investment frameworks. For example, in Mali the programme focuses on channeling trade resources to the country’s integrated investment framework through a project on trade development of gum Arabic.

 

At the technical level, the MAT programme helps build to awareness and understanding of inter-sectoral linkages of the ministries of trade, agriculture and environment ministries. This is done through capacity-building and knowledge exchange.

 

The MAT programme also supports the ministries in the use of use trade processes and financing mechanisms to promote rural development through SLM, and by mobilizing complementary financing for trading through environment financing mechanisms Inter-ministerial dialogue and collaboration are central in the implementation of cross-sectoral initiatives.

 

 

More dialogue, better understanding: through discussions between the UNCCD and trade and market stakeholders on the constraints and opportunities for SLM financing under current trade regimes and on potential instruments to make regimes, trade-related processes and financing mechanisms more supportive of SLM.

Informed policies, increased investment: by proposing practical tools and coherent incentive frameworks for channeling investments towards productive practices, sectors and business models that encourage the sustainable use of natural resources, with greater private sector participation and local community involvement.

New partnerships, new resources: by enhancing technical knowledge, capacities and outreach through systematic collaboration with trade institutions, related trade development programmes and multilateral environmental agreements, particularly at the national level.

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