The Aid for Trade initiative calls for additional resources to address trade-related obstacles, strengthen developing countries’ capacity, and build the infrastructure they need to harness the benefits of global value chains and the international trading system. 

The Task Force created in 2006 to operationalise the initiative defined the scope of Aid for Trade as covering the following categories: 

• technical assistance for trade policy and regulations (e.g. helping countries to develop trade strategies, negotiate trade agreements, and implement their outcomes)

• trade-related infrastructure (e.g. building roads, ports, and telecommunications networks to connect domestic markets to the global economy) 

• productive capacity building, including trade development (e.g. supporting the private sector to exploit their comparative advantages and diversify their exports)

• trade-related adjustment (e.g. helping developing countries with the costs associated with trade liberalisation, such as tariff reductions, preference erosion, or declining terms of trade)

• other needs, if identified as trade-related development priorities in partner countries' national development strategies

A total of US$ 648 billion has been disbursed for Aid for Trade programmes since 2006. After a drop in 2021, both disbursements and commitments soared in 2022, reaching US$ 51.1 billion and US$ 65 billion, respectively. 

Economic infrastructure increased by 28 % to reach US$ 27.9 billion in 2022, primarily due to a corrective period following the pandemic. Growth was driven by transport and storage, as well as energy projects, with a 16 % increase in renewable energy generation compared to 2020.

Africa and Asia jointly accounted for 70 % of Aid for Trade disbursements in 2022. Disbursements to Asia increased by 22 % to US$ 18.2 billion, while disbursements to Africa experienced a 2.5 % decrease at US$ 17.54 billion.

Europe is the third largest recipient of Aid for Trade, mainly due to support for Ukraine, which surged to US$ 2.2 billion in 2022 (with 60 % of the total going to infrastructure projects).

Aid for Trade disbursements to LDCs reached US$ 14 billion in 2022. However, progress remains insufficient to meet the commitments made in 2018 to significantly increase Aid for Trade with the objective of doubling support by 2031 from 2018 levels.   

In 2022, a total of US$ 54 billion was mobilised from the private sector through official interventions in trade-related sectors (25 % growth). This represents 88 % of total resources mobilized through official interventions. 

96% of partner countries anticipate financing needs for Aid for Trade sectors, particularly trade facilitation, digital trade and e-commerce, agriculture, and trade education/training. While 97% of partner countries foresee future financing needs to address SDG priorities, including those linked to climate change.