Description

The ICTSD Regional Trade and Environment Seminars for Civil Society and Government Participants grew out of a strategic opportunity presented by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) initiative to organise regional seminars on trade and environmental issues for government representatives in developing countries.   With a view to expanding the scope and depth of discussions and to bring together both government and civil society representatives, ICTSD convened back-to-back seminars in conjunction with two of six WTO events, in Chile and Zimbabwe. These seminars aimed to foster dialogue in Latin American and Sub-Saharan African countries and to contribute to a better understanding of trade and environment issues in the regional and multilateral contexts. They provided a platform to explore both government and broader civil society concerns, with the ultimate goal of enabling participants to develop their own agendas and enhance their participation in WTO discussions on trade and environment issues.

The second ICTSD 'Regional Trade and Environment Seminar for Governments and Civil Society' was held back-to-back with a WTO Regional seminar on Trade and Environment for Sub-Saharan African countries. It was organised with the support of Africa Resources Trust (ART) and ZERO, both based in Zimbabwe and financed through the resources of the Dutch Ministries of the Environment and Development Cooperation, the UK Department for International Development, and the Directorate-General I of the European Commission.

The Seminar was attended by more than 110 participants from 19 Sub-Saharan African countries. It brought together government officials including two State Ministers, researchers, leading African NGOs active on trade and sustainable development, private sector members,  and representatives of the WTO, UNCTAD, UNEP and SADC. It provided a unique opportunity for African government officials and civil society representatives to exchange views and practical experiences relative to trade and sustainable development issues in the region. The content and the form of the seminar was designed to build on issues already identified in the region and to explore and connect them within the local context.

The seminar's specific objectives were to (a) promote dialogue between government officials and civil society in Sub-Saharan Africa;  (b) build capacity in the identification of issues relevant to these countries in the trade and sustainable development debate; and  (c) assist Sub-Saharan governments and civil society in their preparations for the two WTO High Level Symposia on Trade and Environment and Trade and Development.

Participants addressed a wide range of topics, including the multilateral trade and environment regimes, as well as specifically regional concerns regarding the interface between trade and environment.