Concept+Note


 * CONCEPT NOTE**

The implementation guide project will produce four main outputs; i) a hard copy guide, ii) a wiki web portal, iii) a training package, and iv) a set of case studies.Here, I would like to focus on the wiki style web portal as it is the feature of this guide project that distinguishes it from the other guides that have be produced on the topic of trade facilitation, such as the [|ESCAP Trade Facilitation Implementation framework]or the World Bank [|Border Management Modernisation book], to only name too of the many publications.

Usually two aspects come to mind when referring to a wiki; a collection of websites that are interlinked and are collaboratively produced and edited. Rather than have a formalized structure of information and navigation, wikis allow a user-defined navigation. A wiki brings to this project the possibility to create interconnectedness between topics, areas, and tools that reflects not only the complex reality of trade facilitation but also the information needs of the users. As a result, the users can individually compose the information content based - they decide if and on which topic they would like to read more. Thus, it is a more “agile” provision of contents - something that is difficult to achieve in a hard copy book. The sponsors of this project do not attempt to write a fully encompassing book on trade facilitation. They focus instead on the objective of providing an introduction and compilation of already existing instruments, best experiences, case studies, guidelines and recommendations for trade facilitation. In fact, knowledge on trade facilitation, its objectives, challenges and benefits, has grown in the past 10 years. The attention of policy makers, country delegates, and administrative officials has now moved to the implementation aspect of trade facilitation. Government officials are looking for assistance on how to use the concepts that underpin trade facilitation. The guide aims to respond to this need by rendering these instruments user-friendlier. It will place the various tools, instruments and best practices in the context of planning and implementing trade facilitation reforms. It will explain not only the instrument in itself but also how to use it - under which circumstances and what would be the impact of and conditions for using it. This implies that each instrument can no longer be presented in an isolated manner but rather in a web of linkages to the overall policy objective, to the necessary implementation steps and to other related trade facilitation measures. The wiki style approach and wiki software should provide us with the technological and structural underpinning to achieve this. The wiki style approach has of course implications for the drafting of the content. Clearly, the purpose is not to write a 25 (or less or more) pages document that is in itself closed - coherent and logical. On the contrary, the information has to be divided / segmented into pieces of information, so-called articles in keeping with the wiki approach. Each of these articles is one part of an overall topic but nevertheless has to be stand-alone piece of information. A second implication of the wiki approach is the importance of ”information architecture" of the web-based guide. Information architecture encompasses the way information is grouped and the navigation methods and terminology. The functionality and content of the web-based guide has to be structure so that the users are able to navigate intuitively. No decision on the navigation and structure has been made. It is the first step of the project and will be done collaboratively. The starting point is the user's perspective and information needs. It will informs us how the users may use the web-portal, meaning with what type of information needs and questions they will use the web portal. This in turns allows us to structure the information and navigation. The   representing three user groups of the guide h elp understanding the user's needs underpinning this project - these personas can be updated and change as you like. They show that they will not only come to the portal to look for information on a concrete instrument. They will also come to the site to understand how this topic relates to other TF topics and instruments and how this particular instrument fit into an overall TF ambition. Hence, the portal cannot only feature articles on the various instruments. It has to add conceptual and practical explanation and allow the user to move to this information at it's own ease and need.
 * What is a wiki style web portal and how does it apply to this guide?**
 * Why is this so important and unique?**
 * What are the implications for the drafting and producing of the content?**

In terms of navigation, three possible approaches come together; the search approach looking for content using the "search function", the navigation through links inside the articles, and a more formal navigation based on categories or topic areas etc. The structure will look like this.

The first task is to decide collaboratively how the content of the web portal of the guide is organised.

The deadline for developing the “outline” of the information architecture of the wiki style guide is the 30 October. Ideally, a first prototype of the structure is ready before the 17 October so that we can use the face-to-face meeting to make adjustments and discuss it together. In order to advance on developing the structure different information is needed from the experts. A template to collect this information will be circulated.
 * What are the next key milestones?**