Trade and SME-led growth in fragile and conflict affected settings: Key principles for inter-agency collaboration

In fragile and conflict affected countries, small businesses and trade play a critical role. Their populations rely heavily on small businesses for essential goods and services. International trade, while affected by conflict, remains a lifeline, helping to sustain economies and vulnerable populations. 

The private sector can help tackle the causes and consequences of conflict through employment and income generation, building stability and resilience. Trade can help stabilize regions, facilitating the flow of essential goods and services and economic interdependence. There are also downsides and risks. Some businesses may engage in destructive entrepreneurship, moving into predatory and illegal activities. Many conflicts are also centred around control and access to resources that hold significant trade value. 

Understanding what works and what doesn’t is critical, as is agreeing on key principles to improve intra-agency collaboration and coordination in such settings.  Many agencies have worked on private sector development and trade in fragile and conflict affected settings, developing in-depth understanding. This workshop brings practitioners together to share lessons and best practices around four themes: 

1. Foundational research, assessments, and market system diagnostics for fragile conflict-affected environments

2. Trade policy and business environment reforms for private sector growth, peace and stability

3. Strengthening Small Businesses in Fragile Settings: Compete, Connect, and Change

4. Sustainable growth: promoting economic opportunities for youth, women, and vulnerable conflict-affected population

Participants will agree on recommendations for future interventions and discuss options for a working group on trade and SME-led growth in fragile and conflict affected settings.

Speakers

• Dorothy Tembo, Deputy Executive Director, International Trade Centre
• Maika Oshikawa, Director Accessions Division, World Trade Organization
• Dragan Radic, Head of the MSME Branch, International Labour Organization
• Giorgi Gigauri, Country Director for Iraq, International Organization for Migration
• Ted Holmquist, Peace & Conflict Director, Technical Resources and Quality Unit, Mercy Corps
• Eric Buchot, Conflict-Responsive Market Development Unit, International Trade Centre, Facilitator

Main Organizer

• International Trade Centre

Co-Organizers

• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• World Trade Organization (WTO) 
• International Labour Organization (ILO)
• Mercy Corps