Evaluation report on UNECE/CEFACT 2005 - recommendations for Trade

["G. Ken Holman" <gkholman@CraneSoftwrights.com>]

Hi folks,

This came across my radar today ... a blog entry from 16 Sept. 2005 
by Klaus Korners[1] referring to an evaluation report[2] (similar to 
an auditor's report) on UNECE/CEFACT triggered during the 59th Annual 
Session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) 
in which Member States decided to commission a comprehensive report 
on the state of the UNECE.

The report is dated June 30, 2005 and OASIS is mentioned in the report.

The PDF file of the report created by the external evaluators makes 
interesting reading in Chapter 7.6 "Trade Development and Timber 
Division" summarizing their analysis of UNECE Sub-programme 6: "Trade 
Development".  Page numbers below are from the evaluators' report.

Page 61 mentions references member country replies recommending "to 
leave trade facilitation issues to other organizations, such as the 
World Bank (for policy and technical assistance), the WTO (for 
negotiations and technical assistance) and UNCTAD (for policy 
discussions), and the development of e-business tools to the private 
sector, OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured 
Information Standards) and ISO (International Organization for 
Standardization), to name but a few."

In "Findings (Trade)": (p.62) "Besides the WTO and the UNECE, there 
are many other international organizations active in trade 
facilitation." and (p.63) "It is likewise difficult to see a role for 
the UNECE in the area of technical assistance in trade facilitation."

In "Recommendations (Trade)": (p64) "To embark on technical 
assistance interventions only if they support and contribute to the 
programmes of these other players."

And on the same page 64: "In addition the evaluation team recommends 
that the UNECE consider: ... Leaving the development of standards for 
electronic business to other players, notably to private sector 
enterprises and their organizations;"

I don't know what weight this evaluation report has, but I found it 
interesting reading and thought others might as well.  I apologize if 
committee members are already aware of the report ... I don't 
remember seeing the report being cited on the list.

. . . . . . . . . . . . Ken

[1] Klaus Korners - 16 September 2005:
http://www.klauskorner.com/MyBlog/E03545EB-B9E8-435B-94AB-20DC8AB5C732.html

But let's get to the bottom line auditors message without any further delay.
The report looked at the core issue of relevance of UNECE programs and
generally recommended to focus on roles in which it has a clear competitive
advantage and in the case of CEFACT to leave the development of standards for
electronic business to other players, notably to private sector enterprises
and their organizations. The report lists OASIS (Organization for the
Advancement of Structured Information Standards) and ISO (International
Organization for Standardization), to name but a few of those other
organizations. The auditors also said other organizations providing
development of trade-related standards, including the ITU and ISO, were said
to be working in a more efficient and transparent way.

[2] THE STATE OF THE UNECE - External evaluation report - June 30, 2005:
http://www.unece.org/commission/2005/UNECE_Evaluation_Report_2005.pdf



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