This paper investigates The Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP). The vision of RTFP is ‘making it easier and quicker for businesses to trade between countries in Southern and Eastern Africa so that economies in the region become more competitive and people benefit through job creation and increased wealth’ (www.rtfp.org/). It has components that can be described as innovative Aid for Trade programmes, which have engaged in responsive and pioneering work to develop and implement a regional approach to trade-related assistance, in terms of both infrastructure and trade facilitation.

Kate Bird, Tali Diamant, Ursula Grant, Kate Higgins, Rainer Quiztow, Liz Turner, Milo Vandemoortele