Taking You One STEP Ahead
Bridging Policy and Practice with Research, Strategy, and Skill
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Testimonials
“STEP’s brief gave our team the evidence we needed to change policy for exporters.”
Ministry
Government Organisation
“We’ve worked with many research groups, but STEP stood out for their ability to bridge evidence and execution. Their work helped shape decisions that directly influenced our programme design.”
Development Partner
“STEP’s export intelligence and regulatory insights were a game changer. Their ability to break down market requirements into actionable guidance helped our members plan smarter and scale faster.”
Trade Association
“The STEP training helped our export team look beyond documentation. We now understand market access, data mining, and compliance in a way that’s aligned with global trade dynamics.”
Multinational Enterprise
“STEP Institute brings a rare mix of strategic clarity and operational practicality. Their work is as sharp in its analysis as it is relevant on the ground.”