Annual Report: January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016: US-APEC Technical Assistance to Advance Regional Integration (US-ATAARI)

The program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is implemented by Nathan Associates Inc. The program's primary objective is to support APEC member economies in their efforts to implement policies and programs that promote economic growth, trade, and investment. To achieve this objective, US-ATAARI provides technical assistance to APEC member economies in six program areas: Green Growth, Trade and Investment Facilitation, Regulatory Reform, Human Security, Women's Economic Empowerment, and Host Year Capacity Building and APEC Secretariat. In 2016, US-ATAARI implemented a range of activities across these program areas. In the Green Growth program area, US-ATAARI provided technical assistance to APEC member economies to develop and implement policies and programs that promote sustainable economic growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This included the development of a Green Growth Action Plan for APEC, which outlines a framework for APEC member economies to achieve their green growth goals. In the Trade and Investment Facilitation program area, US-ATAARI provided technical assistance to APEC member economies to improve their trade facilitation policies and procedures. This included the development of a Trade Facilitation Action Plan for APEC, which outlines a framework for APEC member economies to improve their trade facilitation practices. US-ATAARI also provided technical assistance to APEC member economies in the Regulatory Reform program area to improve their regulatory frameworks and reduce regulatory barriers to trade and investment. This included the development of a Regulatory Reform Action Plan for APEC, which outlines a framework for APEC member economies to improve their regulatory frameworks. In the Human Security program area, US-ATAARI provided technical assistance to APEC member economies to improve their capacity to respond to natural disasters and other humanitarian crises. This included the development of a Human Security Action Plan for APEC, which outlines a framework for APEC member economies to improve their humanitarian response capabilities. US-ATAARI also provided technical assistance to APEC member economies in the Women's Economic Empowerment program area to improve their capacity to promote women's economic empowerment. This included the development of a Women's Economic Empowerment Action Plan for APEC, which outlines a framework for APEC member economies to promote women's economic empowerment. In addition to these program areas, US-ATAARI also provided technical assistance to APEC member economies in the Host Year Capacity Building and APEC Secretariat program area to improve their capacity to host APEC meetings and events. This included the development of a Host Year Capacity Building Action Plan for APEC, which outlines a framework for APEC member economies to improve their capacity to host APEC meetings and events. Overall, US-ATAARI's activities in 2016 were focused on supporting APEC member economies in their efforts to implement policies and programs that promote economic growth, trade, and investment. The program's technical assistance activities were designed to help APEC member economies improve their capacity to respond to economic challenges and opportunities, and to promote economic growth and development in the APEC region. US-ATAARI's work in 2016 was guided by a range of key performance indicators (KPIs) that measured the program's progress and impact. These KPIs included the number of APEC member economies that implemented US-ATAARI's technical assistance recommendations, the number of APEC member economies that developed and implemented policies and programs to promote economic growth and trade, and the number of APEC member economies that improved their capacity to respond to economic challenges and opportunities. Overall, US-ATAARI's activities in 2016 were designed to support APEC member economies in their efforts to promote economic growth, trade, and investment, and to improve their capacity to respond to economic challenges and opportunities. The program's technical assistance activities were guided by a range of KPIs that measured the program's progress and impact, and were designed to help APEC member economies achieve their economic development goals.