UNCTAD provides a broad range of technical assistance and capacity building activities in the field of trade facilitation, including:

• a) elaboration of trade facilitation road maps, implementation plans and needs assessments;
• b) assistance with the ratification, categorization and notification of WTO TFA obligations; 
• c) development of project proposals and plans; and 
• d) advisory services in all fields of trade, transit and transport facilitation reforms.

UNCTAD delivers targeted and specialized training and support on trade facilitation, including to national trade facilitation committees through the UNCTAD Empowerment Program, comprising monitoring and evaluation support of trade facilitation initiatives; in-person and online capacity‑building and technical assistance on trade facilitation reforms; as well as assistance with the implementation of trade facilitation measures. UNCTAD has developed a dedicated e-learning platform providing specialized training modules on trade facilitation. New specialized courses on emerging topics such as climate-smart trade facilitation and the use of blockchain technology for the implementation of trade facilitation reforms have and are being developed and delivered. This includes UNCTAD projects such as Reform Tracker, Trade Information Portal, Transit Coordination, NTFC Database etc.

The UNCTAD ASYCUDA programme for Customs and Trade Automation provides a host of automation options in relation to implementation of Customs and trade facilitation, also including Single Window solutions. Its systems that include ASYCUDAWorld, Single Window, ASYHUB, ASYPM, ASYREC and eCITES, are running or being implemented in more than 100 countries and territories.

TFA Specific TACB resources

UNCTAD is delivering its technical assistance on TFA implementation in the framework of multi‑country projects. All of these project, with the exception of the UK funded Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, have closed list of beneficiaries and pre-defined thematic focus.

• UK funded Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme: Digitalizing the coordination and monitoring of trade facilitation reforms. Focusing on NTFC, open for selected UK ODA recipient countries, with a focus on Least Developed Countries.
• AfDB funded Capacity building for East African Community trade portals connectivity and trade facilitation support. Focusing on NTFC, Transparency, Customs digitalization.
• Multi-donor (TFWA) funded Strengthening the capacity of national trade facilitation committees in the ECOWAS region. Focusing on NTFC TF training.
• UN funded Blockchains for facilitating trade and enhancing competitiveness. Focusing on blockchains
• Australia and New Zealand (PACER Plus) funded Transparency in trade regulation and facilitation in the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus. Focusing on transparency.ests for UNCTAD assistance please contact tfs [at] unctad.org (tfs[at]unctad[dot]org).