Measuring Progress - Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation

Quantitative & Qualitative

Systematic and Comprehensive

Standardised measurement is essential for assessing the impact of projects and the differences they make. To capture quantitative benefits, the Alliance mainly uses standard Business Process Analysis (BPA) and our bespoke Total Trade and Logistics Cost (TTLC) methodology, originally developed by A.P. MøllerMaersk A/S.

Time and cost savings for business are analysed from the perspective of three supply chain flows: the material flow of goods, the financial flow of payments, and the information flow of trade-related documentation. Though separate, they are interlinked, and sub-optimal operation in any of these can slow down the entire process or lead to unpredictable outcomes.

Indirect Costs

The Alliance measures the impacts that a faster and more reliable flow of information can have on cross-border trade. This includes capturing the indirect costs of delays and long lead times, such as wasted work hours, late delivery penalties, lost orders, extra storage and inventory costs, and demurrage and detention charges. Such frictions can severely impact supply chains, driving up production costs and hurting the reputations of both importers and exporters, significantly eroding trade competitiveness.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)

Qualitative assessment is also key in every project. The M&E team is central to fulfilling an Alliance commitment to keep its finger on the pulse of every project, capturing as many impacts as possible to inform future work and sharing this knowledge externally. The team is active at every stage of every project:

Guiding development based on the Alliance Theory of Change – a roadmap outlining how a project will effect change and deliver benefits.
Continually monitoring implementation through data collection and analysis to measure progress against key project indicators.
Helping to assess impact, including by devising a comprehensive plan for data collection, analysis, and communication.

M&E contributes to data-driven decision-making, accountability, and continuous knowledge acquisition. The team is engaged across every Alliance function, providing key data to everyone from senior management to in-country project officers.