An Enabling STEP

Providing technical support across trade, governance, and export strategy — from design to delivery.

STEP Institute delivers a focused suite of services designed to enhance policy design, institutional capacity, impact analysis, and trade research. Each offering is practitioner-led, evidence-based, and geared toward real-world results.

Policy Design & Evaluation

STEP Institute supports the full policy lifecycle, from agenda setting to evaluation, by offering technically sound, evidence-driven, and implementation-ready support to public institutions and development partners.

Key Services:

  • Policy Briefs on Strategic Economic and Trade Issues
    Concise, data-informed analysis to support high-impact policy decisions.
  • Policy Drafting for Government Institutions
    Development of technically sound, stakeholder-informed policy drafts for federal and provincial ministries, departments, and agencies.
  • Review and Evaluation of Policy Documents
    Critical assessments of policy drafts and implementation outcomes, including mid-cycle and post-policy reviews.
  • Feasibility and Impact Assessments of Policy Proposals
    Evaluation of the economic, social, and trade-related outcomes of proposed or ongoing policy initiatives.
  • Gender Audits of Policy Documents
    Review of trade, skills, and economic policies through a gender lens to ensure alignment with national and global equity goals.

Trade Research & Intelligence

We produce actionable research products to inform strategic decision-making, support reform planning, and improve export competitiveness across sectors and markets.

Key Services:

  • Product-Level Export Intelligence Reports
    Insights into high-potential, emerging export products aligned with global demand trends.
  • Market Reports and Export Potential Mapping
    General and product-specific market studies that assess and prioritise Pakistan’s export opportunities.
  • Market-Specific Product Studies
    Analysis of specific product-market combinations to map viability, demand trends, and fit.
  • Market Access Requirement Studies
    Mapping of compliance standards and regulatory conditions for entry into target markets.
  • Regulatory Gap Assessments
    Sectoral and trade-related assessments aligned with WTO, GSP+, ESG, and other global benchmarks.

Impact Assessment & Pre-Feasibility

We conduct targeted evaluations and institutional assessments to inform smarter resource allocation, guide reforms, and strengthen results-based policymaking.

Key Services:

  • Performance Audits of Public Sector Institutions
    Evaluation of governance, delivery models, and relevance to industry needs, particularly for skills and export support institutions.
  • Impact Assessments of Incentives and Policy Actions
    Examination of actual outcomes to inform course correction and future policy design.
  • Mid-Term and Post-Policy Evaluations
    Assessments conducted during and after policy implementation cycles to guide mid-course adjustments and long-term learning.
  • Pre-Feasibility Studies for EDF-Funded or Public Investment Projects
    Identification and screening of promising investment ideas for further development into bankable projects.

Capacity Building & Training

We design and deliver training programmes that build institutional capacity, improve export readiness, and strengthen policy implementation skills.

Key Services:

  • Export Readiness Training for SMEs and New Exporters
    Foundational training on export documentation, compliance, and market access, delivered in collaboration with federal and provincial government bodies, chambers, and trade associations.
  • Export Operations Training for Multinational Enterprises
    Full-spectrum workshops for corporate export departments, covering procedures, compliance, market intelligence, data mining, and global access strategies.
  • Policy-Focused Capacity Building for Government
    OfficialsCustomised training for ministries and departments on policy development, regulatory reform, and implementation oversight.
  • Inclusive Access Emphasis
    Strong focus on gender inclusion and underserved geographies through partnerships with women’s chambers, trade associations, and sectoral councils.