The WBG is the one of the largest multilateral providers of financial and technical assistance support for trade facilitation, and the TFA provides the framework for the WBG's trade facilitation support. The WBG works closely with the WTO, and other partners (including Annex D) and donors, in supporting developing and least developed countries in TFA implementation. WBG support on trade facilitation is implemented through a mix of technical assistance, investment lending, and policy development operations.

The WBG assists countries to identify existing constraints and bottlenecks to cross-border trade; design and plan for the implementation of practical and demand-driven reforms; support the sustainability of public-private dialogue mechanisms, and increase the predictability, transparency, and harmonization of systems and procedures in line with international standards covering import, export, and transit activities. The WBG focuses on supporting the full and effective implementation of the WTO TFA and related trade facilitation reforms through a whole-of-government approach that takes into account the varied capacities of border agencies to implement reforms. 

Supported technical assistance can include help with preparatory activities (such as preparing for ratification of the WTO TFA or scheduling commitments), capacity building (such as strengthening the National Trade Facilitation Committee), technical assistance (such as establishing and publishing average release times), and/or regional activities (such as implementing external border agency collaboration). 

Recognizing the important roles of both the public and private sectors in trade facilitation, the World Bank Group implements support by drawing on the unique expertise of both the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and partnerships with other Annex D organizations.

TFA specific TACB resources

• The WBG provides global TFA implementation support through the Trade Facilitation Support Program (TFSP) – its flagship trust fund programme launched in 2014. The TFSP has provided or is providing multi-year implementation assistance to 58 countries and is supported by nine donor members. The WBG also co-manages the Trade Facilitation West Africa (TFWA) programme with the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ), and it aims to promote trade facilitation and regional integration in West Africa. TFWA strives to reduce the time and cost of regional trade by improving the movement of goods along six selected corridors.