Institutional frameworks often govern access to the international market place, both in developed and developing countries. Significant development resources have been focused on trying to change the way organisations operate. However, there is limited success without change to the institutional framework, which governs the way organisations behave, their relationships and accountability mechanisms. Similarly, without empowering local organisations and SME to have agency there will be limited change in their ability to access trade promotion services.

Sustainable institutional development includes institutional reform and organisational development. It is about changing the formal and informal rules of the game, which govern the relationships between policy-makers (the enablers), service providers (the responders) and entrepreneurs in developing countries, both as consumers of services and as citizens with voices.