WORLD TRADE

ORGANIZATION

WT/COMTD/W/178

15 June 2011

(11-3002)

Committee on Trade and Development

ANNUAL REPORT ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING

(1 JANUARY TO 31 DECEMBER 2010)

Table of Contents

Page

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... 3

II. A BROAD OVERVIEW OF THE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN ..................................... 4

III. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRESSIVE LEARNING STRATEGY

(PLS): E-LEARNING, GLOBAL AND THEMATIC TRAINING COURSES,

REGIONAL TRADE POLICY COURSES, GENEVA-BASED TRAINING

ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................................................... 11

A. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLS ................................................................................................. 11

B. E-LEARNING: PLS LEVELS 1 AND 2 ........................................................................................... 11

C. REGIONAL TRADE POLICY COURSES: PLS LEVEL 2 ................................................................. 14

D. GENEVA-BASED TRAINING ACTIVITIES: FOCUS ON PLS LEVEL 3 ............................................ 16

IV. OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, ACADEMIC COOPERATION AND INTENSIVE

COURSES ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS SKILLS .......................................................... 21

A. OUTREACH ACTIVITIES FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS, PRIVATE SECTOR, MEDIA AND

CIVIL SOCIETY ........................................................................................................................... 21

B. ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR TRAINING AND CAPACITY-BUILDING ................................................ 22

C. INTENSIVE COURSE ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS SKILLS .............................................................. 24

D. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED UNDER ART. 27.2 ............................................................ 25

V. REGIONAL APPROACHES TO TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL

ASSISTANCE AND PARTNERSHIPS ................................................................................ 26

A. AFRICA ...................................................................................................................................... 26

B. ASIA PACIFIC............................................................................................................................. 28

C. ARAB COUNTRIES AND THE MIDDLE EAST ............................................................................... 29

D. CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA AND CAUCASUS COUNTRIES .............. 30

E. LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN ..................................................................................... 30

VI. TRAINEE PROGRAMMES AND INTERNSHIPS ............................................................ 33

A. NETHERLANDS TRAINEE PROGRAMME ..................................................................................... 34

B. THE MISSION INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME .................................................................................. 37

C. THE WTO REGIONAL COORDINATOR INTERNSHIP ................................................................... 39

VII. REFERENCE CENTRES ...................................................................................................... 40

VIII. THE GLOBAL TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DATABASE........... 43

IX. FINANCIAL SITUATION .................................................................................................... 44

ANNEX 1 .............................................................................................................................................. 46

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ANNEX 2 .............................................................................................................................................. 49

ANNEX 3 .............................................................................................................................................. 50

ANNEX 4 .............................................................................................................................................. 51

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I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. In 2010 the WTO launched the process of introducing Results Based Management (RBM)

process in alignment with the monitoring and evaluation framework under the Aid for Trade

programme. The concept of RBM will gradually be incorporated into the design, management and

delivery of WTO's trade CB programmes, thus streamlining activities and permitting a more

systematic evaluation of the impact of these activities.

2. The year 2010 was the first year where the changes in the institutional organization of

Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC), were fully put into effect, including the

strengthened coordination role of the Regional Desks. Further progress was made in the rethinking of

the training events, with particular emphasis being put on the gradual and progressive learning,

referred to as 'progressive learning strategy (PLS)', with a clearer differentiation between the products,

each being geared to attaining agreed objectives. This has wider implications for the organization of

events, the selection process of participants and the reporting. Efforts were geared towards sensitizing

beneficiaries of these changes and explain its rationale.

3. The capacity of the ITTC to interact with beneficiaries in all regions was reinforced, and the

scope for coordination with regional and multilateral partners enhanced. The internal coordination of

trade-related technical assistance (TRTA) programmes at all levels within the Secretariat has been

assured through the Technical Assistance (TA) Coordination Task Force. The consultation process

with the other agencies was strengthened through the establishment of the Global Trade Related

Technical Assistance Database (GTAD), which was officially launched by the Director General in

November 2010 and with the presence of a dozen agencies. A Steering Committee was set up to take

collective responsibility of GTAD and give strategic direction, to review its functioning, and

determine the way forward, including possible enhancements to better reach the GTAD's target

audience. Brochures have been produced, and the GTAD systematically features in the programme of

WTO RC activities. During the year, several coordination meetings were held with the partner

institutions to share information on upcoming activities and with a view of creating synergies between

them.

4. It is recalled that the main purpose of the Secretariat's trade capacity-building (CB)

programmes, is to provide direct support to beneficiaries enhancing their human and institutional

capacities to deal with the challenges emerging from the multilateral trading system (MTS). All the

products and TRTA activities have been geared towards achieving that objective and are regularly

reviewed in light of that objective. The Secretariat's TRTA efforts are part of the broader Aid for

Trade initiative and can be seen as the Secretariat's contribution to the implementation of Aid for

Trade. In addition to providing a forum for regular review of Aid for Trade, the Secretariat is

expected to make a solid input in the upcoming Global Aid for Trade Review in 2011 and has

prepared a case story to that effect.

5. In line with the priorities established in the 2010-2011 Biennial Technical Assistance and

Training Plan (WT/COMTD/W/170/Rev.1) (TA Plan), specific attention was given to three broad

areas, including the accessions, notification and scheduling. In practice this has translated into special

support in these fields, either in the form of national and regional seminars and dedicated workshops.

6. As a first element in the process of strengthening the concept of gradual learning,

considerable efforts were pursued to not only reposition and revamp eLearning within the means of

delivery of TRTA, which permeates all other products, but also to make the online eLearning courses

available all year round. In other words, now, any participant accepted, once duly registered to the

course, can start it any time during the year. This is considered a main improvement as it eliminates a

major restraint. Through eLearning the Secretariat has been able to incorporate the concept of

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progressive learning ensuring that participation in advanced WTO courses is premised on a full

understanding of basic WTO concepts and principles.

7. A second salient element continued to be the strengthening of the regional dimension of

TRTA, by continuing working systematically with the regional secretariats and partnering with field

based agencies. Over half of all activities are conducted with partner agencies. This cooperation is

being undertaken through a number of activities including the Regional Trade Policy Courses

(RTPCs) that are organized and conducted with the participation of regional and national academic

institutions and experts. The RTPCs are being re-engineered, so as to specifically bring out the

regional dimension to trade policy formulation. The role of regional economic communities and

economic commissions and other relevant regional institutions in the delivery of TRTA will remain a

central element of the WTO TRTA programme. This regional approach to addressing capacity

constraints is consistent with overall approach on aid for trade strategies.

8. Thirdly, in line with recommendations, the Secretariat continued to deliver on its outreach

programmes, including its work with parliamentarians, private sector, media, civil society, academics

and universities. A particular highlight was the launching of the WTO Chairs' Programme (WCP) by

the Director-General, Spring 2010. It triggered off a series of missions to the 14 selected Universities

in support of the official launching by the Chair holders. Also, during this period the TRTA

reinforced its activities with parliamentarians and media, following the recommendations made by the

Committee on Trade and Development (CTD).

9. Fourthly, the Regional Desks in the ITTC, continued their close interaction with the

beneficiaries in all the regions and with the regional partners to discuss the national and regional

TRTA requirements, based on their needs assessments.

10. Fifthly, the year 2010 saw a further consolidation and strengthening the intern programmes,

including the Netherlands Trainee Programme (NTP) and the Mission Intern Programme (MIP),

which were very positively rated by audit reports and seen as making a valuable contribution to the

trade CB programmes. These programmes have been found particularly welcome in light of the

challenges that small delegations encounter in following the Doha Development Agenda (DDA)

negotiations and being represented at meetings.

11. Sixthly, the Reference Centre (RC) Programme has been re-launched after a reflection

process that led to the design of a new strategy, which includes more emphasis on enhancing local

ownership, sharing of information between the WTO and the RCs as well as creating more interaction

between the various centres, through the RC network, and a fuller and in-depth training of the RC

managers in operating the centres and getting access to all trade-related data. It also includes an

important component consisting of outsourcing of the procurement of the hardware, the installation of

the RCs and the aspects related to maintenance.

II. A BROAD OVERVIEW OF THE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN

12. This Report provides a brief qualitative and quantitative overview of the TA and training

activities undertaken in the year 2010, as contained in the TA Plan. The Report will cover eLearning,

global training courses (RTPCs, Trade Policy Courses (TPCs), Academic programmes), followed by a

discussion of the regional activities (seminars, workshops), trainee programmes and internships, RCs

and the financial situation. Special attention was given to three broad areas, including accessions,

scheduling and notifications, as detailed in boxes 1 and 2.

13. The main objective that was pursued in the preparatory process of drafting the new TA Plan,

which was adopted in November 2009, was to build long-lasting human and institutional capacity and

to enhance ownership. It should be recalled that, to ensure that such commitment could be met to the

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best of the Secretariat's and the recipients' ability, intensive consultations were held between the

different stakeholders, in different formats, including with all regional groupings, through the ITTC’s

Regional Desks, as well as with the least-developed countries (LDCs). All the products were, as

much as possible, tailored to the needs of the beneficiaries. Consultations also included partners such

as regional development banks, and other international organizations, with a view to enhance the

coordination, coherence and efficiency in the delivery of the Secretariat's TRTA. In addition, as in

previous years, beneficiary countries were invited to submit to the Secretariat, their requests for

national TA at any time during the year, based on their individual needs assessments. This approach

was supplemented by direct contacts between the ITTC Regional Desks and local authorities, through

their representations in Geneva, so as to fine-tune the identification of priority areas for the countries.

This further contributed to a timely delivery of TA activities that were targeted and tailored to the

needs identified.

14. The WTO initiated the process of introducing the RBM process in alignment with the

monitoring and evaluation framework under the Aid for Trade programme. The concept of RBM will

gradually be incorporated into the design, management and delivery of WTO's trade CB programmes,

thus streamlining activities and permitting a more systematic evaluation of the impact of these

activities. Having a results framework and an adequate reporting mechanism, woven into the TA Plan

will assist in determining whether a positive contribution has been made to building the capacity of

beneficiary countries in trade policy matters and helping them to derive significant benefits from the

MTS. The RBM approach is supporting the WTO in its continuous efforts towards improvement in

results-orientation, focus, efficiency and accountability.

15. Efforts undertaken by the Secretariat since 2009 to implement the Institute's new strategy led

to the introduction of the progressive learning approach, which was explained in the TA Plan. The

content of Geneva-based TPCs and field based RTPCs was fundamentally reviewed, and the last

Geneva-based regular TPC implemented in the first part of the year, gave way to the First Advanced

Trade Policy Course (ATPC) in the Autumn. As mentioned earlier, coordination of TRTA was

further strengthened, especially through the regional desks, both within the Secretariat and with

Members and international agencies. The reinforcement of the Secretariat's academic programmes

culminated through the WTO Chairs programme, which was launched officially in Geneva and

Barcelona in May 2010.

16. The MIP was strengthened by the joining of France to long-time MIP funders like Ireland and

previously Denmark, which enabled the number of interns to be considerably increased in 2010. At

the regional level, conscious of the risk of duplication of activities in the field of TRTA, and of the

limited resources available, the Secretariat intensified the utilization of partnership arrangements with

other institutions. Thus, more than half of all regional events were conducted in close co-operation

with a partner agency.

17. The visibility of the Secretariat's activities and lines of communication with the stakeholders

were enhanced: In addition to the circulation of the bi-monthly Newsletter, to provide a more

interactive tool to which other agencies could actively contribute, the GTAD, was officially launched

by Director-General Pascal Lamy in November 2010.

18. Building on past experience, the Secretariat has continued using all opportunities to explain

the features of the TA Plan and beneficiaries' entitlements, and to draw their attention to how TA can

be requested, both in Geneva and in the regions. Short presentations on TRTA were made in different

settings, explaining to Members and participants in TA events the state-of-play in the implementation

and providing specific information on the programmes. This effort in communication was undertaken

between all stakeholders: the regional desks of the ITTC continued to interact with beneficiaries, to

ensure that the proposed TRTA would meet the countries' needs and requirements and in close

coordination with the line divisions in the Secretariat, with whom they ensured that the right terms

and conditions for successful TRTA were set. TRTA further featured prominently on the agenda of

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the Geneva Week, so as to explain to non-residents the possibilities to benefit from WTO programmes

and consulting them on their needs and priorities.

19. Back-to-Office Reports (BTORs) are systematically completed after each TA-related event.

This reporting process highlights the main features and monitors the quality in the delivery of the

activities. Through this internal monitoring tool, activities are assessed and systematically analysed

by the Technical Cooperation Audit Unit (TCAU), who follows-up with recommendations for future

similar events.

20. The present report will focus on activities implemented over a twelve-month period in 2010.

Activities which were of significantly different durations, varying between one day to 12 weeks and

may have involved as little as one WTO official, or as many as over two dozen for the longer training

courses, or the tutoring of interns, doctoral studies and research collaboration programmes. In

addition, it should be noted that the number of participants varied from one activity to another. As

highlighted above, a majority of these activities were organized in partnership with other international

organizations or regional secretariats or financial institutions, such as the United Nations Economic

Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), the Organisation

internationale de la francophonie (OIF), and others. Finally, statistics will show the emphasis on

providing assistance to Africa and more specifically to LDCs, whose integration into the MTS

remains a priority for the WTO. The report provides detailed information about the activities

undertaken, the specific means of delivery and the beneficiary countries, from January to December

2010.

21. To achieve the goal of sustainable CB and in line with expectations, a total of 279 field-based

events (189 national and 90 regional activities) were implemented over the period under review. In

addition, 58 so-called global events, which cannot be allocated to a specific region, included Geneva-

based training activities as well as topic-specific workshops and eLearning courses. Thus, 337 TRTA

activities were implemented in 2010. WTO officials provided their inputs and expertise in an

additional 97 conferences and meetings to which the Secretariat was invited to participate. The slight

decrease in the implementation of activities, compared to the year 2009 (a little over 5 per cent), is

mainly due to the smaller number of regional and global events undertaken last year, while a modest

increase (2 per cent ) could be observed in the implementation of national activities over the same

period. Following the approach that was adopted in 2009, in order to have each specific programme

reported as one entry, and not on the number of beneficiaries, the intern programmes (NTP, MIP,

Regional Coordinator Internship Programme (RCI) are each counted once. In addition, the report

does not include EIF or STDF-related activities, unless they directly involved the participation of

WTO staff.

22. Taking into account the constituency of each region, a balance in the distribution of the TA

activities was maintained (cf Table 1 and Graph 1). The majority of activities were held in Africa

(129), representing 30 per cent of WTO's TRTA, followed by Asia and Pacific (81), representing 19

per cent of all. A total of 54 activities were organized for Latin America (12 per cent), 35 for the

Central and Eastern Europe Central Asia and the Caucasus (CEECAC) (8 per cent, 23 for the Arab

and Middle-East countries (5 per cent), and 20 for the Caribbean (5 per cent). It should be noted that

LDCs have been associated with over 43 per cent of all activities. This includes national activities

held in LDCs (51) as well as regional seminars, workshops and training activities in which LDCs

participated.

23. In terms of national versus regional activities, it can be observed that a total of 189 activities

were held at the national level and 148 activities were regional and global events. This trend is

consistent with the notion that more targeted TRTA is required at the national level. In addition, some

97 activities consisted of WTO's participation in activities organized by other agencies and to which

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the Secretariat was asked to make a contribution, as well as WTO's representation in trade-related

conferences, symposia and high-level meetings.

24. The total number of regional and global activities undertaken includes WTO's regional

workshops and seminars, preparatory workshops for the RTPCs, the eLearning modules, as well as

regional events that were proposed under partnership arrangements with other agencies and bodies, at

which each institution provided a specific input, such as Short Trade Policy Courses (STPCs) or

Advanced Training Programmes for Senior Government officials with, for example, the OIF, the

Inter-American Development Bank / Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean

(IADB/INTAL), the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the Southern African

Development Community (SADC), the Organization of American States (OAS), or the UNESCAP.

Examples of the considerable number of activities undertaken as part of partnership arrangements

with other agencies that the WTO cooperates with are discussed further in the report.

25. The logistical and administrative arrangements, as well as the human resource inputs and the

cost relating to the regional seminars, the three-month TPC and ATPC, held either in Geneva or in the

RTPCs in the regions, are highly demanding, and partnerships with regional or local institutions can

contribute to reducing the demand on the Secretariat, both in terms of resources and timing.

26. In line with the Doha Declaration, priority attention continued to be given to LDCs with a

view to facilitating their full integration into the MTS. Not only is this confirmed with the absolute

and relative numbers, i.e. the frequency with which LDCs have been associated with TRTA, but this

is also expressed through the products, several of which are specifically and/or largely geared towards

LDCs. Last year, LDCs benefited from 43.2 per cent of all WTO TRTA activities. Out of the 189

national activities that were held, 51 took place in LDCs. With respect to regional seminars, LDCs

participated in 67 out of a total of 90 activities that were organized (74 per cent). They also were

associated with 48 global activities that were organized (over 82 per cent). In addition, LDCs were

given priority in our internship programmes, i.e. the NIP and the MIP. Last year, out of the 13 NTPs,

ten came from LDCs. Out of the 16 MIPs, nine came from LDCs. Conscious of the capacity

constraints of LDC and other developing country missions in Geneva, the Secretariat is positively

predisposed to making available interns to assist countries which may be coordinating a regional

grouping such as the LDC Group, the African Group or the Cotton-Four. With the introduction of the

progressive learning strategy, and to ensure that LDCs have the same exposure to it as other

developing countries, the Secretariat continued to hold two Introduction Courses in Geneva in 2010,

to enable them to participate in Level 2 activities. Internet and CD-based training materials were

made available on a continuous basis, to help LDCs overcome interconnectivity problems and other

challenges. Least-developed countries were also given priority under the new strategy for RCs, and

five out of nine RCs were established in an LDCs, to further assist them, and more particularly those

without a representation in Geneva to keep abreast of WTO-related issues. Government officials in

LDCs and other developing countries, used the facilities to complete as many online eLearning

courses as possible in order to fully benefit from the introduction of the progressive learning strategy.

It should be noted that, to make activities more relevant for LDCs, the ITTC has been working with

LDCs to assess their TRTA needs, and it was against that background that priority was given to

accessions, notifications, and scheduling in the TA Plan. It should be further highlighted that LDCs

will continue to be the primary beneficiaries of the WTO's TRTA programme, not least through their

entitlement to three national activities under the TA Plan.

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Table 1: Trade-Related Technical Assistance by Region in 2010 (1 January to 31 December)

TRTA BY REGION National TA Regional Global(

1)

Other

(Conferences etc.) Total

Africa 75 40% 29 32% 25 26% 129 30%

Arab and Middle East countries 12 6% 8 9% 3 3% 23 5%

Asia and Pacific economies 43 23% 22 24% 16 16% 81 19%

Central and Eastern Europe, Central

Asia and the Caucasus 16 8% 10 11% 9 9% 35 8%

Caribbean countries 14 7% 5 5% 1 1% 20 5%

Latin America 29 15% 16 17% 9 9% 54 12%

Sub-Total 189 100% 90 100% 63 65% 342 79%

Global 58 34 35% 92 21%

Total 189 100% 90 100% 58 97 100% 434 100%

(1) Activities under the TRTA Global region include those that are not targeted at a specific region, such as the Geneva-based

courses and topic-specific workshops and symposia, distance learning, internship programmes and the advisory role on legal

issues – dispute settlement understanding (DSU) - Article 27.2.

Graph 1: Trade-Related Technical Assistance by Region in 2010

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Graph 2: Trade-Related Technical Assistance by Region in 2009 and 2010

Box 1

Accessions – Technical Assistance and Capacity Building, and Outreach

Accessions-related TA has been designed around several key elements. The starting point is to build

capacity on accessions substance, process and procedures. As the process advances, there are

packages for workshops with Parliamentarians, engagement with the media, raising awareness, and

responding to questions on the value of WTO Membership. There are also dedicated activities for

private sector support, in coordination with the International Trade Centre (ITC).

In 2010, several modalities were deployed in the delivery of TA and CB. These included: national

and regional seminars, workshops, technical missions, Working Party Chairpersons' visits, briefings

and e-communication. The e-training module on WTO accession has been available on the Website

since 2009. Accession training modules have also been included in the WTO TPCs (Geneva-based

and regional). In the year under review, for the first time, a specific workshop was organized to assist

an acceding government at the initial stage, to design its Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime.

The workshop also focussed on promoting WTO awareness within the government and assisting in the

assessment of further TA needs.

Acceding governments participated in over 140 WTO TA activities and benefited from a dozen

accessions-specific TA activities. For example, in cooperation with the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF),

a regional seminar on WTO Accessions for Arab and Middle-Eastern governments was organized in

September 2010. The seminar provided a platform for the eight acceding governments from the

region to share accession experiences, identify challenges, and engage with AMF country economists

and WTO Secretariat experts. Throughout the year, national activities were undertaken in response

to individual requests from acceding governments (with a priority accorded to the LDCs), based on

their specific TA needs.

(cont'd)

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A major challenge for acceding governments is building and sustaining broad support for trade

opening. Multilateral institutions, in partnership with WTO Members, provide assistance to acceding

governments to address this challenge. The WTO Secretariat also participates in outreach, including

national activities and Working Party Chairperson's visits. The Secretariat also continues to promote

inter-agency partnerships with other organizations and specialized agencies and in 2010 participated

in events organized jointly with the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), the ITC and United

Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

To further bolster outreach and assistance to acceding governments, in 2010 a monthly "Accessions

Newsletter" was initiated to provide acceding governments with regular information that would assist

them manage their accession process with the WTO Membership. This includes encouraging these

governments to take a more active interest in other Accession Working Parties. The Director-

General's Annual Report on WTO Accessions has now been regularized and institutionalized. The

Report is prepared around a thematic focus that provides useful information and sound substantive

advice to enhance the ability of acceding governments to more efficiently and rapidly navigate their

accession process.

Box 2

Technical Assistance Activities in 2010 – Impetus on Scheduling and Notifications.

Scheduling

Since mid-2009 all non-agricultural market access (NAMA) TA activities where Integrated Database

(IDB) staff contributed have included presentations and practical exercises on scheduling. This

included regional and national NAMA workshops as well as RTPCs. The practical exercises covered

normally a 2 hour session where participants had the opportunity to practice how current draft

modalities could be translated into electronic comprehensive draft schedules based on the proposed

draft electronic negotiating files. The scheduling exercises provided an excellent opportunity to

familiarize capital based experts with the detailed technical work that will have to be done once

modalities are finalized. Participants had mostly very positive feedback on the scheduling part of the

workshops. For future TA activities we consider though that training on scheduling can be more

focussed and better appreciated in national workshops where the Member's own NAMA modality can

be used as the example and the presentation can really be tailored to the Member's particular

situation.

Notifications

It should be recalled that TA was explicitly mentioned when the notification of tariff and detailed

import statistics to the IDB was approved by Members (see WT/L/225).

Presentations on notifications to the IDB have always been an integral part of all NAMA TA

activities, RTPCs and some specialized workshops. Since the explanation of the submission formats is

quite straightforward the training was in the form of presentations and in the review of data submitted

by participants. In a number of cases it also involved direct contact with and visits to national

agencies, ministries, customs authorities and/or national statistical offices. Participants always

appreciate the hands-on session on the market access databases' online applications and they realize

that full compliance with IDB notification requirements would make these databases even more

useful. Gaps in IDB submissions are always highlighted by the WTO and noted by participants

themselves for their respective country. In some cases – and this is mentioned in the letters of

invitation – recent data is provided as notifications by the participants.

(cont'd)

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Since July 2009 when a new framework for data collection of IDB notifications was approved "TA" is

also provided to delegations in Geneva by identifying sources of information (in national websites or

in information provided to other regional or international organizations) that could be used as

notifications. These concerted efforts have led to a significant increase in submission to the IDB.

III. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRESSIVE LEARNING STRATEGY (PLS): E-

LEARNING, GLOBAL AND THEMATIC TRAINING COURSES, REGIONAL

TRADE POLICY COURSES, GENEVA-BASED TRAINING ACTIVITIES

A. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLS

27. In 2010, the ITTC continued to put in place clear and coherent WTO training paths based on

the PLS: a progressive, multi-modular approach, exploiting synergies among training products and

programmes. The primary aim of the PLS is to promote higher levels of learning and to encourage

the development of participants' autonomy, with a view to building and sustaining the long-lasting

human and institutional capacity of beneficiary countries to participate most effectively in the rules-

based MTS.1

28. Along with the realignment and improvement in the design and content of face-to-face

training activities, online eLearning -- both as a training tool and as a selection tool -- functioned as a

key element in the PLS.

B. E-LEARNING: PLS LEVELS 1 AND 2

1. Overview

29. WTO eLearning aims at providing online training on matters related to international trade and

WTO Agreements to government officials from TA recipient governments. In particular, the

eLearning programme aims to give participants a homogeneous and strengthened understanding of the

MTS; enhanced knowledge of the basic principles of the WTO and the legal structure of the WTO

Agreements; and improved capability to interpret relevant information and documents on WTO-

related issues, as well as to use the WTO legal texts and legal background material.

30. The progressive learning approach involves the sequencing of products in order to improve

the delivery of TRTA, with a view to gradually and progressively moving to higher levels of learning.

Progressive learning is an important element in the eLearning Programme, with online courses -

introduction courses and courses on specific trade-related topics - being a pre-requisite for

participation in more advanced online and face-to-face technical assistance activities. The objective is

to ensure that participation in courses with higher levels of learning is premised on a full

understanding of basic WTO concepts and principles as well as of the main provisions of the

Agreements.

31. This approach continued to be used in the 2010 eLearning Programme and was strengthened

further. In 2010, candidates were required to successfully complete an online Introduction Course on

the WTO on the basic principles of the MTS and the main disciplines of WTO Agreements before

they could be selected to participate in higher levels of learning. Online PLS Levels 1 and 2

eLearning courses were used, as appropriate, as a prerequisite for participation in RTPCs, in Geneva-

based advanced generalist and thematic courses and in a number of regional seminars.

1 Annex I contains a diagram of PLS training paths.

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2. Delivery

32. In 2010, a total of 25 eLearning courses were offered (13 in English, six in French and six in

Spanish) on the distance-learning platform. Courses were clustered in 8 different sessions. Each

session lasted from six to eight weeks and was delivered in one of the three WTO official languages.

Table 2: Number of Online Courses Held in the Three Official Languages, 2007-2010

Year Number of courses held Number of courses held, by language

(English=E, French=F, Spanish=S)

2007 18 E=10; F=4; S=4

2008 27 E=16; F=6; S=5

2009 27 E=14; F=9; S=4

2010 25 E=13; F=6; S=6

33. In 2010, two new courses – launched in 2009 in English – were translated into French and

Spanish and prepared for online use in the 2010 course catalogues: a course on trade in services (PLS

Level 2) and a more advanced course (PLS Level 2) covering the WTO Agreements and the main

trade-related cross-cutting subjects (Multilateral Trade Agreements (MTAs) and the WTO2). In

addition, the training material for an additional course on market access was finalized in English and

formatted for Web-use. The course will be available in the 2011 course catalogue in English. In

2010, the online course programme included the following available courses:

(a) Progressive Learning Strategy Level 1

- Introduction to the WTO

(b) Progressive Learning Strategy Level 2

- Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)

- Trade Remedies

- Agriculture in WTO

- Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)

- Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)

- Trade in Services

- Multilateral Trade Agreements and the WTO3

34. Substantive progress in the development of two other courses, on trade and environment and

on Market Access issues and NAMA negotiations, was made in 2010, with a view to finalizing and

launching both training courses in 2011.

35. A total of 3060 participants participated in an online course in 2010, among which 1070 from

Africa, 1058 from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), 660 from Asia and the Pacific, 344 from

the Arab and Middle-East region and 163 from CEECAC. Following website disruptions experienced

in 2009, the number of selected online participants was monitored in 2010 to ensure that the number

of simultaneous website users did not go beyond the distance-learning platform capacities and

therefore provide adequate participants in online courses held in parallel with adequate website

performances

2 This online course was formerly entitled "eWTO: the Multilateral Trade Agreements".

3 This online course was formerly entitled "eWTO: the Multilateral Trade Agreements".

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Graph 3: Number of Participants in Online Courses, 2007-2010

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

2007 2008 2009 2010

Graph 4: Participants by Region, 2007-2010

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Africa Asia and

Pacific

Latin

America

and

Caribbean

Arab and

Middle-

East

Central

and

Eastern

Europe

Central

Asia

2007

2008

2009

2010

36. In 2010, participation of LDCs in the online course programme was strongly encouraged.

The number of participants from LDCs rose from 195 in 2007 to 700 in 2010. The percentage of

LDC participants among the total number of eLearning participants reached a 23 per cent share in

2010. 43 LDCs out of 50 benefited from the online course programme and participated in at least one

online activity last year.

Table 3: Percentage of Participants from Least-Developed Countries in WTO E-Learning, 2007-2010

2007 2008 2009 2010

Percentage LDCs/Total number of participants 11% 10% 19% 23%

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Graph 5: Number of Participants from LCDs, 2007-2010

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2007 2008 2009 2010

3. Self-Training Courses

37. In 2010, a number of self-training modules covering a wide range of WTO topics (overview

of the WTO, legal and economic underpinnings, dispute settlement, SPS measures, trade in services,

accessions, trade facilitation, trade and finance, etc.) were available online through the WTO

Webpage on distance learning, the eLearning Website and on CD-Rom or DVD.

38. The modules were accessible free of charge and open to all Website users. Each module

included theory and exercises through multiple choice questions with an automatic correction

mechanism.

C. REGIONAL TRADE POLICY COURSES: PLS LEVEL 2

39. Regional Trade Policy Courses are classified as a PLS Level 2 training activity on the

"generalist" training path.

40. Four RTPCs were implemented in 2010: one in partnership with the Universidad Sergio

Arboleda (Colombia) for Latin America; one with the National University of Singapore (NUS) for the

Asia-Pacific region; one in partnership with the University of Swaziland for English-speaking Africa;

and one in partnership with l'Université d'Abomey-Calavi (Benin) for French-speaking Africa. Four

RTPC preparatory workshops were also held at the WTO in 2010. As usual, the purpose of the

workshop was to bring together the academics who would be co-delivering the RTPC with WTO

officials for a three-day update and meetings. The Preparatory Workshop for the Latin America RTPC

took place at the WTO in December 2009.

41. 2010 was the second year of partnership for both the Universidad Sergio Arboleda and the

University of Swaziland, while it was the third year of partnership for l'Université d'Abomey-Calavi

(Benin) and the fourth and final year of the RTPC partnership with NUS for the Asia Pacific RTPC.

42. There were a number of highlights for the RTPC programme during 2010, specifically, the

successful conclusion of a four-year RTPC partnership with NUS; the agreement of the Director-

General to extend the RTPC partnerships with Universidad Sergio Arboleda, University of Swaziland

and l'Université d'Abomey-Calavi for a fourth year; the selection of the Centre for WTO Studies at

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the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) as the new partner for the 2011 RTPC for Asia Pacific;

the expansion of the paperless RTPC to all the partnerships in 2010, and finally, the impact of the

enhancement of the progressive learning strategy on the structure and content of the RTPC.

43. The WTO RTPC partnership with NUS drew to a successful close with the 2010 edition of

the RTPC. This was the first RTPC partnership to have been extended to four years and followed a

re-evaluation of the optimal length of RTPC partnerships by senior management in 2009 which

introduced flexibility in determining whether a partnership should last for three or four years. The

RTPC partnership with NUS was very successful. Throughout the four-year partnership NUS showed

its inherent strength as a partner, with the very valuable input of two academic coordinators of

extremely high calibre and commitment; through providing excellent on-site management of the

course; through the consistent support of the management and Law Faculty members of NUS,

together with the support and involvement of the Singapore government. Over the four years, the

RTPC product was greatly enhanced through the partnership with NUS as valuable lessons were

learned about the content and delivery of the RTPC. WTO will continue to work with NUS on post-

RTPC activities.

44. Also during 2010, the Director-General, responded positively to requests from the three

current RTPC partners, Universidad Sergio Arboleda (Colombia), the University of Swaziland and

l'Université d'Abomey-Calavi (Benin) for an extension of the RTPC partnerships to four years. Each

university identified specific objectives that they hope to achieve through the extension of the

partnership.

45. The selection process for a new partner for the 2011 Asia-Pacific RTPC was carried out in

2010. An open and transparent process was launched in February 2010 in which universities in Asia-

Pacific were invited to submit proposals for partnering on the RTPC. A total of 12 proposals were

received which were short-listed by the WTO Selection Committee to six candidates. As part of the

selection process, members of the Selection Committee visited each of the short-listed candidates.

Following a detailed review of the candidates, which were of very high quality, the Director-General

announced the selection of the Centre for WTO Studies at the IIFT as partner for the 2011Asia-Pacific

RTPC.

46. The "virtual classroom", or electronic resource-sharing platform, was first introduced in

RTPCs in 2009 thanks to the initiative of our Latin American RTPC partners Universidad Sergio

Arboleda, and it has now spread to all RTPCs with, for the first time in 2010, the virtual classrooms

being used in the African RTPCs (thanks to the technical support of Universidad Sergio Arboleda).

The virtual classroom changed the way in which RTPCs were delivered in 2010 by totally

overhauling the way the course was conceived, prepared, delivered and assimilated. By storing all the

training material for the course electronically in one place, participants now had complete access to

their entire library of training material at any given time. The use of the electronic environment made

it much easier for participants to manipulate the material than was possible with paper documentation.

The trainers, too, having access to the virtual classroom, were able to see what has been covered in

other topics, allowing them to refine and nuance their own material, as required, to increase its

coherence with the overall course (even simply by reducing repetition and reinforcing linkages to

other modules). The autonomous aspect of the virtual classroom reinforced the need for trainers to

prepare a clear, structured programme for their modules which defined the objectives and content,

allowing participants to easily navigate the training material on the virtual classroom. As a result, in

2010, RTPC co-trainers worked more closely together in preparing their programmes and defining

each other's role and the RTPC has become a more integrated package.

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47. As part of the development of the PLS in 2010, the RTPC Unit reviewed the content and

delivery methodology of the RTPCs (level 2 training activity for generalists) in order to align them

with the newly introduced ATPC (level 3 training activity for generalists). This alignment was

necessary to ensure coherence and progressivity in the design and the implementation of the two

products. During 2010 the RTPC Unit was involved in extensive discussions on a secretariat-wide

basis to clarify the alignment and the outcome was that as of 2010, RTPCs reinforced their focus on

providing a substantial and comprehensive coverage of the WTO Agreements, as well as an

introduction to the DDA, while retaining their focus on regional and development challenges. The

ATPC would go on to provide more in-depth coverage of the WTO Agreements, as well as a more in-

depth overview of the DDA negotiations, with a focus on implementation. As a result of the

realignment there should be a clear progression between the content and delivery methodology of the

RTPCs and the ATPCs ensuring that beneficiaries build cumulatively on the knowledge and skills of

each progressive level to allow them to conduct WTO work.

48. The ITTC continued its practice of appointing an official Patroness for each RTPC, who

through her own experience and expertise provided inspiration, guidance and leadership to the

participants in these Courses. The Colombian RTPC valued the patronage of Dra. María Fernanda

Campo, President of Colombia Chamber of Commerce. In Singapore, Ms Chong Siak Ching,

President/CEO of Ascendas, honoured the participants by being Patroness of the RTPC. The RTPC in

Swaziland had the privilege of the Patronage of Ms. Sibongile G. Mdluli, Deputy Governor of the

Central Bank of Swaziland for the second year, while Mrs Rékyath Madougou, Minister of

Microfinance, Youth and Women's Employment, honoured the participants of the RTPC in Benin

with her patronage. In each case, the Patroness met with the RTPC participants, discussed her

professional experience with them and encouraged the participants to benefit to the maximum from

their participation in the RTPC and to work to strengthen the MTS.

D. GENEVA-BASED TRAINING ACTIVITIES: FOCUS ON PLS LEVEL 3

1. Overview

49. Geneva-based training activities draw upon a rich tradition with a steady record of success

spanning over fifty years. In 2010, the WTO Secretariat delivered a series of training activities as part

of its Geneva-based training programme. These courses were conducted under the responsibility of

the Geneva-Based Courses Unit (GBCU) of the ITTC, in collaboration with officials from other

Secretariat divisions.

50. During this year, the Geneva-based course curriculum continued its re-orientation in line with

the PLS to focus on the design and delivery of advanced (PLS level 3) training activities in both the

"generalist" and "specialist" PLS paths. Ranging in length from one week to three months4, these

Geneva-based training activities included the first ATPC5 and advanced thematic courses on particular

WTO-related topics (i.e. dispute settlement, agriculture, SPS, TBT and TRIPs).6 In order to ensure

the effectiveness of the PLS, prerequisites (in the form of eLearning, other face-to-face training

activities and/or commensurate knowledge or experience) were imposed in respect of more advanced

activities. In parallel with this advanced emphasis, attention to the particular needs and interests of

LDCs continued in Geneva: two Introduction Courses for LDCs (PLS Level 1) took place at the

4 A total of 262 government officials – 139 men and 123 women – participated in 2010 Geneva-based

one-week to three-month training activities. 5 The long-standing flagship of Geneva-based training activities has, until mid-2010, been the

comprehensive twelve-week TPC. Following the final (49th

) TPC, which took place from January to April

2010, the transition was made to the ATPC. The first ATPC took place from September to December 2010. 6 In addition, advanced WTO/Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Rules capacity-building took

place in conjunction with the Negotiating Group on Rules in 2010.

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WTO Headquarters in Geneva in 2010, one in English and one in French. Three Introduction Days

rounded out the Geneva-based curriculum.

51. Geneva-based training courses provide an opportunity for participants to have first-hand

exposure to, and on-site experience of, the functioning of the WTO. These activities derive full

benefit from numerous attributes inherent and unique to the Geneva location at the heart of the WTO

and its Secretariat. This offers an authoritative and comprehensive platform for the delivery of

training and includes certain special features such as attending meetings of WTO bodies (e.g., General

Council, CTD, the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB), the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB),

accession Working Parties, etc.), updates on DDA negotiating issues and "Round Table"-type

discussions (featuring, for example, Geneva-based Committee chairpersons, delegates, and Secretariat

staff dealing with a particular trade or negotiating topic) and exposure to other international

institutions in Geneva active in trade-related matters. Contacts with officials in the WTO Secretariat

and other international organizations – including ITC, UNCTAD, the Agency for International Trade

Information and Cooperation (AITIC) the World Bank, the Advisory Centre for WTO Trade Law

(ACWL) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - as well as delegates from

Geneva Missions and from capitals, and speakers from NGOs and think tanks have been a dynamic

and rewarding feature. An additional and important feature of Geneva-based courses is their global

reach, by bringing together participants from all global regions which encourages the sharing of best

practices beyond the regional contexts.

52. In order to maximize the effectiveness of its face-to-face training activities, the pedagogical

approach followed in Geneva-based training activities continues to evolve toward resolutely

interactive and participatory training. Moreover, these training activities constitute synergistic

laboratories for the development and continuous updating and adaptation of training materials and

modules. The material generated is then made widely available in order to support other WTO

training and capacity-building activities.

2. Advanced (Progressive Learning Strategy Level 3) Training Activities

(i) Generalist Path: the new Advanced Trade Policy Course

53. In terms of the PLS "generalist" path, the year 2010 witnessed the final (49th) TPC and the

inauguration of the WTO's first three-month ATPC, the most advanced comprehensive training

activity under the WTO's training umbrella. Completion of a Level 2 "generalist" activity (i.e. RTPC,

TPC, eWTO online eLearning) was a prerequisite for selection for the first ATPC. Twenty four

participants were selected out of approx. 100 applications received.

Graph 6: Prerequisites of the participants in the 1st Advanced Trade Policy Course in Geneva

7

7 TPC: 10 participants; RTPC: 9 participants; eWTO: 7 participants (2 participants completed both a

TPC and online eLearning eWTO).

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54. The ATPC aims to promote a higher level of learning and to encourage the development of

participants' autonomy to conduct WTO-related work. The ATPC culminates in the completion and

presentation of an individual project by the participants on a trade-related topic of their choice.8 In

addition to completing the project, the participants are exposed to the different areas of WTO work

through the consideration, not only of the legal aspects of the WTO Agreements and use of certain

trade policy instruments, but also the economic implications of implementing the Agreements and

making use of these instruments. This is largely achieved by encouraging 'learning by doing' through

shifting the focus from lecture-based teaching to interactive teaching methods including case studies

and exercises. For the first time in a Geneva-based course and in line with the Director-General's

initiative towards a 'paperless' Secretariat, each participant was provided with a laptop for use over the

three-month period to enable access to a 'virtual classroom' in which all documentation was available

as well as to facilitate completion of the individual projects.

55. The ITTC continued to appoint an official Patron for each TPC, to provide inspiration,

guidance and leadership to the participants. The Patron for the 49th TPC was H.E. Ambassador Karen

Tan of Singapore. Ambassador Tan met with the participants on several occasions, allowing them to

benefit from her perspectives, drawn from her many and various experiences working in an

international environment. She highlighted the experience of Singapore in the MTS, underlining the

importance of TA and CB in that context. The Patron of the 1st ATPC was H.E. Ambassador Venetia

Sebudandi of Rwanda, who shared her perspectives and experience as a busy Geneva-based

Ambassador of an LDC, responsible not only for WTO matters, but also for UN and related agencies.

She praised the participants of the first ATPC for their hard work and commitment during their three-

month stay in Geneva.

(ii) Specialist Path: Advanced Thematic Courses

56. In terms of the PLS "specialist" path, the year 2010 also saw the delivery of five advanced

thematic activities, ranging from one to three 3 weeks in duration, addressing: Agriculture, TBT,

Dispute Settlement, SPS and TRIPS (the latter conducted jointly with WIPO). Hallmarks of these

activities include: a rigorous selection process, screening candidates on the basis of successful

completion of online or face-to-face training activities and/or demonstrably commensurate knowledge

or professional experience; active involvement of the international trade community in Geneva; and

an emphasis on more interactive sessions, comprising exercises, case studies and simulations. Such

interactive pedagogical tools aim to consolidate the knowledge already transferred in earlier training

steps, and to encourage participants to develop their conceptual understanding of the topic and their

autonomy to analyse and critically assess issues through active application of their knowledge.

(iii) Advanced Agriculture Course

57. The Agriculture and Commodities Division (AGCD) and the ITTC organized jointly the first

Geneva-based Advanced Course on the Agreement on Agriculture, which took place at WTO

Headquarters, in Geneva, from 8 to12 March 2010. Twenty-three participants representing both

developing (20) and developed (three) countries9 participated in the Course. This ensured a rich

variety of perspectives and experiences. The primary goals of the Course were to explore issues of

monitoring and surveillance in the context of the Agreement on Agriculture and to develop analytical

skills based on WTO database tools. The Course consisted of interactive sessions including case

studies and a hands-on notification exercise which enabled the participants to put their knowledge of

8 As mentioned above, the content and delivery methods of RTPCs (PLS level 2 training activity for

generalists) and ATPCs (PLS level 3 training activity for generalists) were re-aligned on a secretariat-wide basis

with a view to ensuring that beneficiaries build cumulatively on the knowledge and skills of each progressive

level to allow them to conduct WTO work. 9 The latter on a self-financing basis.

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the Agreement on agriculture into practise. In order to provide participants with the necessary tools

for completing the case studies, time was dedicated to familiarising them with the IDB and the

Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database. The participants also had the opportunity to attend a

meeting of the Regular Session of the Committee on Agriculture as well as to benefit from the

knowledge and expertise of Geneva-based delegates who participated in a Roundtable on

Transparency in Agriculture. In addition, the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable

Development (ICTSD) provided a lunch-time briefing on some of the research carried out by ICTSD

on agriculture issues.

(iv) Advanced Technical Barriers to Trade Course

58. The Trade and Environment Division (TED) and the ITTC-GBCU organized jointly a two-

week Advanced Course on the TBT Agreement which took place at WTO Headquarters, in Geneva,

from 14-25 June 2010. The 23 selected participants already possessed a sound knowledge of the TBT

Agreement and the WTO system in general; most of them had completed the relevant eLearning

modules. The Course aimed to consolidate participants' knowledge and understanding of the TBT

Agreement as well as to overcome challenges related to the implementation of the Agreement. It also

addressed negotiations, dispute settlement and transparency in the area of TBT. As indicated in the

original letter of invitation, participation in this advanced course was subject to the completion of a

pre-course questionnaire. The aim was to encourage participants to gather as much information as

possible on issues related to the implementation of the TBT Agreement in their economies, including

mechanisms and resources (human, financial, etc.) supporting its implementation.

59. During the two weeks, participants debated various aspects of the TBT Agreement, including

issues being discussed under the Non Tariff Barriers-related NAMA negotiations. In addition, the

course consisted of interactive sessions and provided participants with a unique opportunity to discuss

and hear others' experiences in the field of standards and regulation, and to make contacts with a wide

range of experts and officials. The course included a highly appreciated "hands-on" notification

exercise focusing upon strategies as to how to react to, and derive maximum benefit from, another

Member's WTO TBT notification. Another key advantage of the Course was the opportunity to

attend the regular meeting of the TBT Committee as well as its Sixth Special Meeting on Procedures

for Information Exchange (on transparency). Participants benefited from the involvement of WTO

Secretariat staff from the Council and TNC, Market Access, Agriculture and Legal Affairs Divisions,

as well as from the involvement of expert speakers and delegates from China, the European Union,

India, Mexico, the United States – as well as organizations such as the the International

Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization

(UNIDO), ITC and ACWL. Participants also had the opportunity to visit the International

Organization for Standardization (ISO) and to discuss current issues, including the ISO 26000

standard, with the Secretary-General.

(v) Advanced Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights Course

60. The eight-day 2010 Joint WIPO-WTO Advanced Course on Intellectual Property (IP)

(organized by WIPO and the WTO Secretariat (Intellectual Property Division and ITTC)) took place

from 26 April to 5 May 2010. Participants were required to have completed the WTO online TRIPs

eLearning module or the WIPO Distance Learning Course (or have commensurate knowledge or

professional experience). This enabled the activity to continue to concentrate on advanced, focused

themes and exploration of the frontiers of current IP issues. The first part of the course took place at

the WIPO Headquarters, and the course finished up at the WTO Headquarters in Geneva. The main

objective of the Course was to update participating government officials on the activities and

instruments of the WIPO and the WTO and to provide a forum for an exchange of information and

ideas between them and the two secretariats on these matters. The activity included a rich range of

perspectives, as a result of involvement of Geneva-based TRIPs delegates and the private sector in

certain sessions. This second Geneva-based advanced TRIPs Course for government officials built on

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the success of the WIPO-WTO Colloquium for teachers of IP, which has been held annually since

2004.

(vi) Advanced Dispute Settlement Courses

61. Two one-week thematic courses on dispute settlement took place at WTO Headquarters in

Geneva in 2010, organized jointly by the Legal Affairs Division (LAD), the Appellate Body

Secretariat (ABS) and the ITTC. An advanced ("level 3") dispute settlement course, in Spanish, from

6 to 10 December, consisted of interactive presentations, lunch conferences, round tables, group

discussions and practical exercises given both by in-house experts from the WTO Secretariat and the

ABS, as well as many guest speakers from other international organizations (such as the ACWL), the

private sector, missions and academia.10

Participants in this advanced course were asked to have

already completed a thematic dispute settlement course (or have commensurate knowledge or

professional experience). In addition, a renovated "level 2" course, in English, from 30 August to 3

September, aimed to provide a better understanding of the WTO dispute settlement rules and

procedures through a combination of lectures and interactive exercises. Participants also benefited

from the opportunity to attend a DSB meeting.

(vii) Advanced Sanitary and Phytosanitary Course

62. The 2010 Advanced Course on the WTO Agreement on the Application of SPS Measures,

jointly organized by the AGCD and the ITTC, was held in English, from 11 to 29 October 2010, at the

WTO Headquarters in Geneva. Twenty-six government officials participated in the course, which has

been run for six consecutive years. All participants had to undertake two pre-requisites prior to their

final selection: (i) successfully complete the SPS eLearning course; and (ii) respond to a questionnaire

on the level of implementation of the SPS Agreement in their countries. The completion of the SPS

eLearning course prior to the Course ensured that all the participants had learned the basic principles

and provisions of the SPS Agreement, and allowed for in-depth lectures and discussions. The Course

focused on transmitting knowledge and awareness about the SPS Agreement and the work of the SPS

Committee at an advanced level, as well as skills to enable participants to address specific

implementation challenges and opportunities at the national level. A team of WTO staff and external

experts coached the participants during the Course. In addition, representatives of the three

international standard-setting bodies referred in the SPS Agreement were invited for specific sessions.

63. The first and third weeks of the course included sessions on how to increase the

understanding of the Agreement at both the national and regional levels; to create a national agenda

in order to establish priorities and ensure follow-up, including different national stakeholders; to learn

more effective ways to promote national and regional coordination; and to establish sustainable SPS

leadership. In addition, each participant was called on to share his/her knowledge and experience on

the implementation of certain aspects of the SPS Agreement in specific sessions of the course. In the

second week, participants attended the SPS Committee meetings, as well as a workshop on

transparency. They also attended briefing sessions organized for them in the margins of the

Committee meetings. "Graduates" of former advanced courses, who were attending the SPS

Committee on behalf of their countries, were invited to share their experience with the participants.

64. Each participant elaborated an action plan to address at least one or two challenges/difficulties

encountered in their countries. They are expected to implement this action plan upon return to their

10

The Course also benefited from the special collaboration of the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de

México (ITAM), WTO Chairs Programme.

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countries. The implementation stage will be assisted and monitored through periodic progress reports

and a follow-up activity in June 2011.11

(viii) Basic (Progressive Learning Strategy Level 1) Introduction Courses for Least-Developed

Countries

65. In parallel with the advanced orientation of the Geneva-based curriculum, attention to the

particular needs and interests of LDCs continued in Geneva: two Introduction Courses for LDCs took

place at the WTO Headquarters in Geneva in 2010, one in English and one in French. The

Introduction Courses for LDCs focus on issues and perspectives of specific concern to LDCs and

open the door for participants to proceed to further, higher level, training activities such as RTPCs.

66. This activity introduces participants to the WTO, its basic rules and disciplines and its

functioning for the benefit of government officials from LDCs. Briefing on overall WTO work-in-

progress is an integral part of the course. The development dimension, with a particular focus on

LDC-related issues, constitutes an important component of the programme. The course benefits from

involvement of the ITC, UNCTAD, AITIC, the World Bank and the ACWL.

(ix) Introduction Days

67. The Geneva-based course training programme was rounded out by three one-day Introduction

Days: two on general WTO matters, and one relating specifically to TRIPs. Intended for newly

arrived delegates in Geneva, non-governmental organizations, new WTO staff members, interns

working in the Secretariat and interested officials from other international organizations, the general

Introduction Days allow for the dissemination of information about the WTO, its basic principles, its

functioning and current issues, as well as about ways to access WTO-related information through the

WTO Library and Internet. Based on the long-standing demand from newly arrived Geneva-based

WTO delegates, a specialized Introduction Day workshop was also held for those delegates who deal

with TRIPs issues. This specialised one-day workshop, the first of its kind, was also warmly

welcomed by the participants. The objective of this activity was to introduce the TRIPs Agreement

and the relevant on-going work in the WTO to newly-arrived delegates and to allow for informal

dialogue to clarify TRIPs-related issues among Geneva-based delegates and with the WTO

Secretariat.

IV. OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, ACADEMIC COOPERATION AND INTENSIVE

COURSES ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS SKILLS

A. OUTREACH ACTIVITIES FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS, PRIVATE SECTOR, MEDIA AND CIVIL

SOCIETY

68. Outreach activities for Parliamentarians, civil society and media are part of an overall WTO

strategy to help these stakeholders better understand and engage in informed debate on the provisions

of WTO agreements, the Doha Ministerial Declaration and the DDA negotiations. In 2010, Outreach

activities aimed towards building dialogue and capacity within WTO TRTA's overall aim of

sustainable capacity building. Five Regional activities were carried out, targeting Parliamentarians,

media and Civil Society including the private sector. The Regional initiatives complemented or were

backed up by national outreach workshops, which are carried out as part of the WTO’s regular

technical assistance work. In 2010, several efforts were made to engage with national media, all

11

An SPS follow-up session was organized for the participants of the Specialized Course on the SPS

Agreement held in 2009 to report on the implementation of the Action Plans they developed during the course.

The follow-up session was organized from 23 to 25 June 2010 just prior to the SPS Committee meeting week,

so the participants could also participate in the Committee meetings.

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carried out back-to-back with other WTO TA activities. Therefore, the cost of engaging with the

media was marginal, while reaching out to a wider, non-Geneva based media constituency.

69. All of the five Outreach activities implemented in 2010, involved partnerships with regional

Parliamentary, Civil Society organizations or Foundations. These partnerships have become regular

and involve long lasting relationships with Parliamentary associations of the Commonwealth and the

Francophonie, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Foro Inter-Parlementario de las Americas. The

partnership normally includes joint funding arrangements and help in the logistics involved in

organizing the events. The joint funding has increased the possibilities offered by the TRTA Budget.

70. Regional balance has been crucial in delivering the outreach activities. Parliamentarians, Civil

Society and Media from Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Pacific and Latin America were engaged in

2010. Unfortunately, there was no outreach activities organized in the Arab and Middle East region

for 2010. Demand from developing countries is clearly high for these activities in all regions. Best

efforts were made to match available resources with a growing demand in 2010.

71. Regional outreach is aimed at complementing some of the WTO's Geneva-based outreach

activities such as the Public Forum and Open Day. The Public Forum is consolidating its status as a

prominent fixture on the international calendar and brings together Government officials, Civil

Society, Academics, Parliamentarians, Media and the general public to debate multilateral trade

issues. The Open Day held its second edition in 2010 and proved to be a fruitful transparency

exercise. WTO involvement with the Parliamentary Conference on WTO is strengthened as the WTO

is the host for the 2011 session of this Annual Conference.

B. ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR TRAINING AND CAPACITY-BUILDING

1. Overview

72. During 2010, the number of activities involving academic support and cooperation increased

considerably in relation to previous years. This is partially due to the launching of the WCP early in

the year, which gave rise to interaction with most universities hosting a WTO Chair (launching

ceremonies), and a rise in the number of academic seminars, conferences and teaching activities

undertaken by the WTO. The WTO implemented 62 activities and initiatives related to academic

cooperation and support. The funding for 2010 activities was provided by the Global Trust Fund

(GTF) and the WTO Regular Budget.

73. This increase in academic activities may be attributed to more information becoming

available to WTO Members and their national academic institutions about possible support

possibilities available from the WTO. Activities remain demand-driven, which also signals growing

interest by beneficiary institutions in receiving support from the WTO for academic projects.

74. There is also an evolution towards more coherence within and among the existing

programmes (WCP and Academic Support Programme). In this sense, the WCP integrates financial

and substantive support to a reduced number (14) of universities, through a multi-year agreement with

beneficiary institutions, thus providing predictability and continuity and favouring the attainment of

the beneficiary's objectives. Similarly, activities under the Academic Support Programme tend to

follow a locally-owned programme-based approach, thus also seeking to enhance their impact,

reducing ah-hoc activities, while preserving flexibility for new "entrants".

2. Academic Support

75. Under the Academic Support Programme, activities included several regional events which

were organized in partnership with regional secretariats (UNESCAP, OIF-AUF, the United Nations

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Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)) and with associated academic institutions. The WTO

supported these by providing co-financing and/or through the participation of WTO officials. During

2010, the WTO co-sponsored five regional activities and funded the participation of its staff in 20

academic conferences and seminars. Furthermore, the WTO also financed the participation of staff in

the delivery of lectures and training modules in 25 national activities. Under the Academic

Programme, the WTO also funded seven PhD fellowships (Brazil, Chine, Egypt, Iran, Kyrgyz

Republic, Pakistan, Zimbabwe under the doctoral studies programme). Some of the activities

implemented were conducted in collaboration with academic institutions hosting a WTO Chair

(Argentina, Morocco and Senegal), as part of the apporach leading to increasingly involve WTO

Chair holder institutions in the implementation of WTO activities within their respective countries and

regions.

76. The WTO continued donating WTO publications to academic institutions and to individual

scholars taking part in its activities. Publications were donated in relation to 36 activities and requests

received from individual universities, for a total of 948 sets of publications donated during 2010.

3. WTO Chairs Programme

77. TheWCP started operating in 2010 in a very active way. On the part of the WTO Secretariat,

an Inaugural Conference was organized in the month of May, with the presence of WTO Director-

General and WTO Senior Management; a Website was also created to provide basic services the

parties of the programme. National Launching Ceremonies were organized by the Chairs, with the

participation of senior national officials, WTO Director-General and WTO Deputy Directors-General,

thus initiating the work contemplated in their respective projects.

78. The WCP Inaugural Conference was held both in Geneva and in Barcelona on 25-26 May

2010, in collaboration with the University of Barcelona. The Conference was attended by the 14

Chair holders, members of the WCP Advisory Board, and by WTO staff who contributed to the

programme as WTO Secretariat counterparts for each Chair. The Conference provided the

opportunity to present and to discuss the projects to be developed by the 14 WTO Chair holder

institutions and facilitated an exchange of ideas on issues related to the functioning of the WCP.

During the meeting, the Chair holders made presentations about their specific projects in the areas of

teaching, research and outreach, while members of the Advisory Board, acting as discussants,

provided valuable comments and suggestions for the implementation of the projects and the general

functioning of the WCP. Discussions highlighted the global nature of the WCP, including from

geographical and linguistic points of view, and the relevance of the WCP in promoting applied

research to assist governments in policy making. The importance of possible joint activities among

Chairs to enhance the regional impact of their respective activities was deemed very valuable in order

to strengthen the programme and its expected impact. The meeting also provided the opportunity for

WTO Secretariat counterparts and their corresponding WTO Chairs to engage in discussions aiming

at clarifying priority areas in which the WTO Secretariat would be substantively supporting the

projects undertaken by the Chairs.

79. Nine of the 14 WTO Chairs organized national Launching Ceremonies during the year. The

WTO was represented by its Senior Management, including the Director-General. National

governments were present at senior level at these events, through the participation of ministers and

Rectors of universities. These launching ceremonies were held in the context of academic

conferences and contributed to highlighting the presence of the corresponding institutions as WTO

partners for trade policy and WTO matters.

80. WTO Director-General officially launched the work of three of the Chairs (established in

Chile, China and Senegal), while, on one occasion (Senegal), the ceremony was chaired by the

President of the Republic. The participation of senior-level WTO officials in these ceremonies

reaffirmed the commitment of the WTO to this programme, and highlighted the importance it attaches

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to contributing to CB in academic institutions in developing countries. National launching

ceremonies took place in respect of the Chairs established in Argentina, Chile, China, PR of, Kenya,

Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Russian Federation, Senegal and Vietnam.

81. Towards the end of the year, WTO Chairs were requested to provide their respective 2010

annual reports which include detailed information regarding the specific activities undertaken during

2010, as well as expenses incurred, outputs generated, an identification of operational challenges and

an overall an assessment of results for the year. These reports are a pre–requisite for any further

disbursement during 2011. An assessment is being undertaken by the WTO and the external

Advisory Board established under the programme.

C. INTENSIVE COURSE ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS SKILLS

82. During the course of 2010, close to four hundred Government officials benefited from the

advanced trade negotiations simulation skills course (ICTNS) held for the various regions in nine

regional and three national TA activities.

83. The ITNSC is designed to provide participants with skills and knowledge concerning

appropriate strategies and tactics for the conduct of trade negotiations, as well as techniques of

systematic decision analysis for monitoring and managing the negotiating process. Participants

applied the Doha framework modalities on Agriculture, NAMA and Trade in Services to bilateral and

multilateral trade negotiations. The course contributed directly to the objectives of the Doha DDA by

improving, deepening and enhancing participants' understanding of the DDA negotiations, more

particularly the Crawford Falconer Draft Modalities for Agriculture, Luiz Wasescha Draft Modalities

for NAMA, 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, and the 2004 July Package. The core of the

Course encompasses all the stages in trade negotiations—from the consultation stage to actual

negotiations, involving real give-and-take. The use of the DDA mandate for the simulation exercise

makes this training program particularly relevant since participants can apply their strengthened skills

immediately to real world negotiations in Geneva and other fora.

84. The Course has been found to be extremely valuable, bringing participants into real

negotiation mode. Feedback from participants has been very positive and reassuring. A computed

average score for 2010 shows that 96 per cent of participants found the TA activity professionally

useful or relevant and equally 96 per cent had an excellent/very good opinion about the TA activity.

Virtually all participants indicated in the evaluation forms that they had benefited from the Course and

expanded their knowledge of bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations. A number of participants

indicated that they would use the knowledge and skills acquired in their daily work, bilateral and

international trade negotiations, free trade agreements (FTAs) and at the policy-making support level.

85. The training material has evolved over the years on the basis of feedback from participants

and colleagues. Regional-targeting of the working documents has produced the most interesting

results e.g. as in Kenya, Hong Kong, Antigua, Tunisia and Swaziland where the participants inter alia

gave a score of 100 per cent for the high quality of the training materials. A selection process has

been introduced to improve the quality of the results. Selected participants are those who have good

knowledge of the WTO Agreements, have previously attended a WTO workshop or seminar on any

topic, or have followed the WTO e-training. The results of the ICTNS are of immediate application.

86. Over the years, the WTO has built partnership with the APEC-Economic Integration project,

Thailand Institute for Trade and Development (ITD), Canadian International Development Agency

(CIDA) and the Conference Board of Canada in running intensive courses on trade negotiations skills

in Asia. In Africa, partnership has been built with the OIF, University of Pretoria, University of the

Western Cape (South Africa), University of Dar es Salaam and the University of Nairobi. The

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Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has been involved in partnership arrangements in the middle east.

Our partners did contribute in terms of both facilitators and financial resources.

D. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED UNDER ART. 27.2

87. The provision of TA to developing countries, upon request, pursuant to Article 27.2 of the

Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU) is as an integral part of the WTO's overall TA programme.

DSU 27.2 requires the "technical cooperation services" of the WTO to make available, upon request,

qualified persons to assist developing countries with respect to a dispute.

88. TA under DSU 27.2 is provided under the following parameters:

(i) the Secretariat must, as far as possible, accommodate all requests for

assistance made under this provision. However, there could be exceptional

situations where this may not be possible due to, for example, time

constraints on the consultants, or conflict of interest as a result of an

adversarial party to the dispute having already been given this assistance by

the Secretariat;

(ii) in light of the need for "impartiality" of the Secretariat in discharging any

functions under DSU 27.2 (expressly provided in the Article), this assistance

is provided exclusively by "independent" consultants paid out of the WTO's

TA budget, and not by Secretariat staff;

(iii) there is no expectation that the consultants are to provide services similar to

full-fledged legal counsel in a case. It is more of advisory services usually at

the beginning of the dispute, to make proper assessment of facts and explore

legal avenues possible, and in some cases extending to subsequent checking

of documents to be submitted, but largely prepared by the country itself,

albeit with input from the consultants;

(iv) the consultants engaged under DSU 27.2 do not appear in any panel or

Appellate Body hearing on behalf of a party; and,

(v) for obvious ethical reasons, the service can only be provided to one

party/parties to a dispute (although it could be provided to multiple parties on

the same side of a dispute). Consequently, in the event of two developing

countries being parties against each other, the assistance can only be provided

to the country which seeks the assistance first.

89. For the year 2010, seven requests for assistance were made with respect to actual disputes, all

of which were accommodated by the Secretariat. The requests were both as initiator of a dispute and

as defendant. Five of these requests were from Latin American countries, one from Asia, and one

from Eastern Europe. Latin America is the biggest requester of the TA provided under DSU 27.2,

which reflects the regions heavy involvement in dispute settlement. The average time spent on each

case is approximately three months, since the consultants are engaged on the basis of only one day per

week. Work on some of these requests spilled over into 2011, just as work on some requests made in

2009 was only concluded in 2010.

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V. REGIONAL APPROACHES TO TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

AND PARTNERSHIPS

A. AFRICA

90. Pursuant to overall WTO policy, Africa remains a major priority area for the TA programme

of the WTO, and this is reflected in Africa's high proportion of overall TA activities. In 2010,

approximately 40 per cent of all WTO national TA activities were delivered in Africa, as were 30 per

cent of all regional activities. In addition, participants from Africa were also admitted to most of the

Geneva-based global TA activities. The priority given to African countries demonstrates WTO's

commitment to strengthening the human and institutional capacity of African countries to better

implement the WTO Agreements and derive significant benefits there from with a view to facilitating

their full integration into the MTS. It should also be recalled that 42 of the continent's 53 countries

are WTO Members. In addition, priority is also given to LDCs under the WTO's TRTA programme.

In view of the fact that Africa has the vast majority of LDCs (33 of the 49 LDCs), WTO's

prioritization of Africa and LDCs is mutually consistent and reinforcing.

91. In 2010, a number of national activities and internship programmes, as well as regional

seminars and workshops, were organized for African countries. National activities are considered the

primary means by which specific needs of countries are met through tailor-made programmes, based

on carefully drawn needs assessments. Thus, national activities are meant to address specific capacity

constraints of countries and create institutional knowledge so as to facilitate continuous engagement

in theMTS.

92. The subjects covered in the national activities in 2010 included agriculture, trade facilitation,

the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs), TRIPS,

NAMA, TBT, SPS, customs valuation, trade remedies, government procurement and trade negotiation

skills. These activities reflected growing demand for subjects connected to the ongoing DDA

negotiations, as well as other topical issues relevant to Africa's integration into the MTS. Delivery of

TA to Africa continued to emphasize that TA is only effective if it addresses clearly identified needs.

Consequently, most of the subjects covered at national seminars were identified by the beneficiary

country using the new standard format for national requests which require the matching of a request

with an established need for a particular activity. The priorities of countries are usually reflected in

Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies (DTIS) prepared in connection with the EIF (see below), or in

the context of a trade facilitation needs assessment report or within the framework of the Standards

and Trade Development Facility (STDF).

93. Over the years, the Trade Policy Review (TPR) exercise, which is carried out periodically for

each WTO Member, has emerged as one of the most important sources for identifying the TA needs

of a country. In recent years, every TPR of a developing country or LDC Member includes a specific

chapter on Aid for Trade/TRTA which, inter alia, contains a detailed analysis of a country's TRTA

needs, as well as other challenges to its integration into the MTS, including its supply-side constraints.

Thus, the TPR process has now become a major source of information on the TRTA needs of African

countries. In 2010, six African countries12

had their trade policies reviewed. This interplay of TRTA

needs assessments and TPRs has necessitated a collaborative relationship between the Trade Policies

Review Division (TPRD) and the ITTC.

94. With respect to LDCs, the EIF (through the DTIS) is the main source of needs identification

for LDCs, and also provides the platform by which TA delivery under various configurations can be

delivered. In view of the fact that the EIF is a multi-agency programme, it seeks to identify all forms

12

Benin, Burkina Faso, Congo, Democratic Republic, the Gambia, Malawi and Mali.

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of TRTA needs of LDCs (of which African countries constitute the vast majority), and not necessarily

only those needs than can be delivered by the WTO.

95. Although national activities remain the primary means of addressing TA needs, there are

situations where the TRTA needs of many African countries converge around a core number of

subjects. In this regard, regional activities are used to meet the collective needs of many countries for

a particular WTO subject of interest. In addition, human and financial resource constraints make

regional activities a very good alternative to delivery of TA at the national level. Regional activities

have, therefore, remained a major plank of WTO's TA programme. In the planning and delivery of

regional activities, the ITTC has in recent years taken advantage of its working relationship with

regional partners involved with human and institutional capacity-building in Africa. These include

the United UNECA, with whom the WTO has concluded a Memorandum of Understanding, the

African Development Bank (AfDB) as well as sub-regional institutions such as the Southern African

Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

(COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of West African States

(ECOWAS), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the Central African

Economic and Monetary Cooperation (CEMAC).

96. The WTO has also concluded mutually beneficial arrangements with a number of institutions,

including the OIF. The co-operation with OIF covers a broad range of activities, including

collaborating on trade-related research projects and the organization and delivery of training projects

for developing countries which are members of the La francophonie. In 2010, four regional activities

were jointly organized by the two institutions on a costs-sharing basis. The OIF also helped in

financing the installation or upgrading of RCs in several African countries.

97. Activities held jointly with regional cooperating partners have the distinct advantage of

allowing for complementary contributions by resource persons with expertise in specific trade issues

from the Secretariats of the relevant cooperating partner, as well as from the respective national

Government departments represented at these activities. Such synergies are helpful in building a base

of potential trainers within each sub-region, which could gradually reduce the burden on the

Secretariat as a result of ever increasing demands for delivery of TA. The regional partners are also

increasingly helping with logistical arrangements enabling the WTO to focus on substantive aspects

of the training programmes and making cost savings by not sending staff from Geneva to oversee

logistical issues.

98. To deepen the knowledge of officials and equip them with the necessary skills that would

enable them to discharge their duties efficiently, the WTO has begun implementing the PLS in its

programmes in all regions, including Africa and also in Geneva-based programmes. This ensures that

participants attending activities have nearly the same level of knowledge base and are able to enhance

their understanding of WTO Agreements generally or particular Agreements relevant to their areas of

work. Given the challenges facing a number of African countries, including limited internet

connectivity, efforts have been made to ensure that they fully benefit from the PLS. In this context,

participants attending the three-week Introduction Courses for LDCs are exempted from the

requirement to complete the eLearning module on “Introduction to the WTO” and are eligible to

apply for level two courses. Greater use of CD-Roms is also being promoted so as to overcome

interconnectivity problems. As a result of these efforts, participants from several African countries

were admitted to the first ATPC,.

99. The WTO also continued its collaboration with various academic institutions in order to assist

them to develop and enhance their curricula on international trade. The partnership is expected to

generate many benefits, including the training of trainers so as to create institutional knowledge about

the WTO and the MTS. The flagship programme is the three-month RTPC which is held with a

selected academic partner. In 2010, the RTPC for French-speaking African countries was held in

Cotonou, Benin, while the RTPC for English-speaking African countries was held in Manzini,

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Swaziland. Five African Universities were selected under the WCP, namely Cheikh Anta Diop

University, the University of Namibia, the University of Nairobi, the University of Mauritius and

Mohammed V University-Souissi. In addition, the WTO collaborated with a number of African

universities by establishing RCs, participating in symposia and conferences and providing resource

persons to teach specific modules on international trade.

100. The priority given to Africa is not limited to delivery of activities at the national or regional

level. Several other TA initiatives also accord priority to African countries and LDCs. For example,

under the NTP, a programme designed to bring officials to the WTO for a ten-month period, the

majority of the selected participants are from LDCs and African countries. In 2010, ten out of the 13

candidates admitted to the NTP were officials from African countries. This programme allows

African officials to further broaden their exposure to the day- to-day work of the WTO in all the

relevant areas.

101. The RC programme continues to be a major source of assistance to African countries for the

transfer of trade-related information from Geneva to the capitals. The strategy behind the RCs

continues to be aimed at utilizing them as "one-stop" information centres on all MTS-related issues,

but also as a valuable tool for the private sector in search of new market opportunities. In 2010, seven

African countries benefited from an upgrade of their RCs enabling them to keep abreast of

developments in the Doha negotiations and in the MTS generally. It is widely acknowledged that

properly functioning RCs could also be an effective medium for the WTO's e-learning activities.

B. ASIA PACIFIC

102. Given the diversity of the level of economic developments and participation of economies in

the Asia and Pacific region in the MTS, the main objective of the Desk is to tailor TA to the specific

needs of the beneficiaries through different modalities and products offered in the TA Plan. In

addition to the three-month RTPC held in partnership with the NUS, in 2010, the WTO organized 22

regional workshops and training courses. These activities were held at advanced level, covered a

wide range of WTO-related areas including: agriculture and agriculture negotiations, DDA

negotiations, fisheries subsidies, GATS and the services negotiations, market access issues (rules of

origin, customs valuation, import licensing, etc.), NAMA, SPS, trade and development, trade and

environment and TRIPS, as well as those targeting the parliamentarians and researchers.

103. A key feature of the regional workshops is the involvement of regional institutions such as

UNESCAP and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS). The involvement of these institutions

has enriched WTO TA by providing technical inputs and regional perspectives on different WTO

issues, in addition to the financial and logistical support. In 2010, the WTO organized five joint

activities with UNESCAP, ranging from seminars on WTO-specific issues such as agriculture and

services, high level consultations on DDA negotiations for senior government officials, to workshops

for junior and senior researchers from the region. With the PIFS, our partner in the Pacific region, the

WTO held two activities, focusing WTO negotiating issues to inform the state of play for the Pacific

member states, all of which have no diplomatic representation in Geneva. In addition, several

activities were conducted under partnership arrangements, including with the Temasek Foundation

Centre for Trade Negotiations (TFCTN) for an outreach activity for the parliamentarians, and with the

Government of Singapore on advanced training on TRIPS. Furthermore, close working relations were

maintained with other regional institutions such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the APEC,

the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the South Asian Association for Regional

Cooperation (SAARC), which were regularly invited to and participated in WTO activities.

104. In 2010, 43 national workshops were held in the Asia and Pacific region. Subjects covered

included: Accessions, Agriculture, Aid for Trade, Dispute Settlement, EIF, fisheries subsidies,

government procurement, NAMA, notifications, SPS, trade and development, trade and environment,

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trade in services, trade negotiations skills, TPR, TRIPS, trade remedies, and WTO and the DDA

negotiations. Due to human and financial resource constraints, the Secretariat was not able to respond

to all the requests submitted by WTO Members and Observers from the region, but those unmet

requests will be incorporated in the TA delivery in 2011.

105. Like in other regions, the needs assessments have been conducted in the context of TPRs, and

the EIF DTIS in the case of LDCs. In 2010, the Secretariat Reports of the TPR contained a section on

Aid for Trade for Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka.13

Within the context of the EIF, Nepal

completed its DTIS update, building on its earlier DTIS done in 2003; and Samoa finalised its first

DTIS. In 2010, Bangladesh and Bhutan also started the preparation of their respective DTIS, which

are expected to be completed in the course of 2011.

C. ARAB COUNTRIES AND THE MIDDLE EAST

106. The objectives of the desk covering the Arab and Middle East countries (AMEC) are to put in

place clear and coherent WTO training paths based on a progressive, multi-modular approach. In

2010, at the regional level, Arab countries have significantly benefited from WTO's TA and CB

activities. A large number of government officials participated in eight WTO regional seminars and

training events, covering a wide range of WTO-related areas including accessions; dispute settlement;

market access issues (rules of origin, customs valuation, import licensing, etc.); NAMA; GATS and

the services negotiations; trade and development; as well as trade facilitation.

107. Twelve national activities were organized in AMEC in 2010. Subjects covered included

recent developments of the DDA, GATS and services negotiations, accessions; energy services and

the GATS; accessions: workshop on the Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime; TPR; as well as,

The Financial Crisis and the DDA State of Play. The low figure is mainly due to the fact that some

needs were being addressed at the regional level or by other partner institutions. An additional facture

which hampered any effort by the Secretariat to organize specific events related to the security

situation in some countries. This was somehow addressed by organizing specific programmes in

Geneva funded by other partner institutions for groups of officials coming from these countries and

accepting more of their officials to benefit from internship programmes on offer at the WTO in

particular within the NTP or MIP.

108. Due to human and financial resource constraints, the Secretariat was not in a position to

organize a full-fledged three-month RTPC for the Arab Countries as is the case for other regions.

Until this objective is achieved, the Secretariat has been working closely with academics from the

region with a view to co-delivering some joint activities. A one-month STPC was organized with the

AMF for the Arab countries in 2010. Due to an insufficient number of nominations the course had to

be cancelled.

109. Partnership arrangements with the main regional economic organizations such as the United

Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA), the AMF, IsDB, the Gulf

Cooperation Council (GCC), continued to play a significant role in achieving the desired common

objectives of empowering and enhancing the participation of the Arab countries in the MTS. Several

regional events were organized in collaboration with partner institutions during 2010. The Secretariat

has been working with its partners in the various regions to go beyond the traditional TRTA activities

it provides to government officials, and has worked directly with other stakeholders, such as private

sector representatives, academia, journalists, and civil society.

110. Several Arab countries, including the GCC countries completed their needs assessments in the

context of the trade facilitation negotiations. Others benefited, from the EIF and the STDF, such as

Yemen. Finally, AMEC (Members and Observers) were continually invited to all Geneva-based

13

Contained in WT/TPR/S/239 and S/237, respectively.

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activities planned in 2010, such as the specialized courses and the ATPCs as well as e-training

modules.

D. CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA AND CAUCASUS COUNTRIES

111. The CEECAC economies have benefited from the WTO's TA and CB activities in 2010.

Officials from CEECAC economies have participated in ten WTO regional seminars and training

events, covering The Agreement on Agriculture and the Agriculture negotiations; NAMA; SPS; trade

negotiations skills; as well as Advanced Training Programme for Senior Government Official. The

region also benefited from a workshop for wniversity professors.

112. During 2010, efforts by the Secretariat were focused on assisting the CEECAC countries to

identify their TA needs. For Members, this was carried out, to the extent possible, in collaboration

with the TPRD through the trade policy review mechanism. For Observers, the ITTC has been

working closely with acceding countries as well as with the Accessions Division with a view of

identifying the specific TA needs of each individual observer.

113. Due to human and financial resource constraints, the Secretariat was not in a position to

organize a three-month RTPC for the CEECAC countries. Until this objective is achieved, the

Secretariat has been working closely with academics from the region with a view of co-delivering

some joint activities. The second such activity was organized in close collaboration with the Bilgi

University, for government officials for one month, in Istanbul, Turkey. While shorter than a normal

RTPC, it will still qualify officials from the region to the new ATPC (level 3) that will be held in

Geneva in 2011. This Course was well designed and achieved to a large extent its set objectives.

114. During 2010, the contribution of regional institutions was crucial to the efficient delivery of

WTO TRTA. For the CEECAC region, the Joint Vienna Institute (JVI) is an important partner. A

large number of the regional activities (four) were organized jointly with the JVI at their Headquarters

in Vienna, Austria. This successful collaboration continued to be practical and beneficial for the

WTO in 2010. Partnership arrangements ensure high quality interaction in the preparation and

implementation of joint technical cooperation and CB activities.

115. Countries from the region also benefited from other TA-related programmes, such as the EIF,

the STDF; a large number of Geneva based activities and the internships programmes.

E. LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

116. The ITTC has continued delivering TRTA throughout the region and has put particular care in

pursuing consultations with delegations and capitals to better tailor workshops and seminars to actual

national needs. In delivering our regional activities we have put special zeal in our partnerships with

our regional partners.

117. Partnerships with regional organizations are multipurpose. Firstly, they allow for cost

savings, not a minor endeavour at a time in which many WTO Members, and particularly donors, are

engaged in fiscal consolidation. Secondly, it helps to better focus on regional needs, as our regional

partners have a better understanding of regional challenges and opportunities. Thirdly, it also

broadens regional partners' awareness of multilateral challenges and the need to strive for coherence

in global economic policy making.

118. Out of numerous regional partnerships that with the INTAL, the development institute of the

IADB is clearly outstanding. This is a very well established relation that has kept consolidating over

time. There is a very fluid dialogue with the Director of INTAL and IADB staff are regularly invited

to speak at workshops. In 2010, IADB/INTAL has co-financed six of our regional activities.

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119. Other partnerships, as those with the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean

Community Secretariat (CARICOM), the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the

Secretariat for Centro-American Integration (SIECA), Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on

Agriculture (IICA) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). This year also was

initiated a cooperative relation with FLACSO, the Latin American School of Social Sciences and this

first activity was a remarkably successful workshop on the main topics discussed in WTO's 2010

World Trade Report. All of these partnerships have been of invaluable help to make WTO’s TRTA

activities more effective and successful.

120. Thanks to the aforementioned partnerships, the enhanced in-house coordination and the use of

new technical tools it has been possible to minimize the constraints imposed by staff competing

activities. However, it should be noted that some activities had to be rescheduled for 2011 due to

human resources constraints. The stepping-up of the DDA negotiations could only exacerbate this

limitation. Participants' evaluation reports continue to suggest that after the delivery of the majority

of TRTA activities, benificiaries generally have a better appreciation of WTO rules and their interest

in successful DDA negotiations. In this respect some activities were extended or modified in order to

include more exercises. The logistic cost was reduced thanks to the use of Websites to upload

training materials. These changes were very well received, as participants now have the opportunity

to check the training materials before the activity, study the topics in more depth and do more

practical exercises. Consistent with the PLS, candidates submitted by governments are required to

have previously completed the relevant online training or to be able to demonstrate having acquired

equivalent knowledge through professional experience. Also, in selecting candidates, particular

attention has been paid to avoid selecting the same candidate for successive analogous activities.

121. Forty-three national and 21 regional activities were conducted in the Latin American (LAC)

region in 2010, this included activities programmed for 2010 and carry-over from 2009. It is worth

noting that four countries from the region: Jamaica, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador conducted

their TPRs in 2010. These meetings were informative and revealed many areas of progress due to

reforms undertaken by the selected benificiaries. The reports also signalled the challenges that some

benificiaries face in the process of trade reform, making recommendations for improvements. These

recommendations inform specific requests and delivery of TA in the particular area of concern.

122. In the LAC region, the main national activities included topics covering agriculture, dispute

settlement, TBT/SPS, services, rules, trade and environment, TRIPS, government procurement, TPR

and RCs. Twenty nine national and 16 regional activities were conducted in the region. There is

increasing interest in the financial crisis and the impact of fiscal and monetary stimulus measures on

trade. Interest is also high on climate change and its impact on trade.

123. In the Caribbean region, national requests have been related to TPR, TRIPS, trade negotiation

skills, notifications, rules, customs valuation, services and RCs. Fourteen national and five regional

activities were carried out in the region.

124. In more specific areas, Haiti is the only LAC Member benefiting from the implementation of

the EIF activities. The EIF stakeholders had agreed in 2008 to start the EIF process – namely the

DTIS in Haiti, after the lead agency has been notified. In 2009, Haiti notified the stakeholders of its

intention to work with the World Bank as DTIS lead agency. However, due to the tragic events in

Haiti, 2010 DTIS activities had to be cancelled. Nevertheless, current political situation permitting,

the DTIS will start quite soon. In fact, there is a plan to conduct an EIF familiarisation workshop in

the first half of 2011.

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Graph 7

Graph 8

Graph 9: Funding 2010

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Graph 10

VI. TRAINEE PROGRAMMES AND INTERNSHIPS

125. The WTO Secretariat operates three main trainee programmes and internships, as contained in

the TA Plan. The programmes are all geared towards trade capacity-building in beneficiaries and

include:

the Netherlands Trainee Programme,

the Mission Internship Programme and,

the WTO Regional Coordinator Internship (RCI).

126. According to the terms of reference of the internship programmes, the interns under the NTP

are working in the Secretariat to perform specific tasks that were agreed prior to their arrival and

following discussions with each of them upon their arrival, the interns under the MIP provide direct

support to essentially small Geneva-based missions and the regional coordinator interns provide direct

support to the regional coordinators. The NTP and MIP programmes last for ten months, the Regional

Coordinator for six months, as this function normally rotates.

127. These programmes are implemented in close cooperation between ITTC and the Human

Resources Division (HRD), which provides the administrative support. ITTC is responsible for the

overall supervision of the programmes and associates as much as possible the line divisions with it

and allocates interns, in consultation, to other divisions. This allows the participants to broaden their

horizons.

128. In 2010, 13 interns were selected under the NTP, 16 under the MIP and eight under the RCI.

The year 2010 is the first time that the in-take has been so large, with altogether over 120 applicants

and some 30 participants retained, thanks to the generous contributions of the Netherlands (NTP),

France and Ireland (MIP). The regional coordinator programme is financed from the Doha

Development Agenda Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF).

129. Since the launching of the intern programmes, a total of 179 interns have been recruited, with

73 trainees under the NTP, 67 interns have benefited from the MIP, and 39 officials have benefited

from the RCI programme. After completion of their internship, most of them return to their capital

and often assume high level positions in their national administrations.

130. In 2010 several initiatives have been implemented in order to give the programmes a dynamic

impulse and provide the participants with additional tools to deepen their expertise. While most of the

interns have been working with the ITTC Regional Desks, many have also been working on a variety

of topics with other divisions, including on accessions, on the STDF, on the EIF, on trade facilitation,

on services, on NAMA and on the TPR. They have all followed the DDA negotiations, attended the

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General Council and committee meetings, as well as interacted with their regional groups and

provided support in terms of briefs and analysis. Many of them have prepared briefing (country) notes

for the Director-General.

131. They have had specific training on a variety of issues, including on the operation of the RCs,

on the IDB, i.e. tariffs and schedules, worked on their countries' TRTA needs assessment etc.. They

have also had a day of training at ITC and attended UNCTAD meetings. Several have interacted with

ACWL and got advice from them. Most of them have closely interacted with their missions, prepared

reports on meetings and interacted with Secretariat staff on specific issues. They have been associated

with the Geneva weeks, introduction days and sometimes been able to take part in specialized

workshops, e.g. for the Advanced Course on SPS, or in other Geneva-based courses. The Secretariat

has always followed a pragmatic approach and tried to accommodate as much as possible.

Representatives from other organizations were invited to brief the participants and the Ambassador of

the African Union briefed the interns and invited them to actively participate in the Africa Day. A

concluding session was organized with the Director General and Senior Management, and they were

provided with certificates at the end of their stay.

132. It is also worth mentioning that this year, a novelty was introduced as every month a meeting

was held with all of the trainees, to discuss on-going issues, but also to have them make presentations

on WTO Agreements, on a topic of their choice and with the presence of the expert from the relevant

WTO Division. The idea was to give them a chance to test their ideas informally, to allow them to

develop their presentation skills and get feedback from the line divisions, with a possibility to follow

up. The quality of the (Power point) presentations was of very high standing and this exercise was

particularly appreciated.

133. A few interns started later and therefore stayed on for a few more months. All interns will be

part of an alumni network that has been established and they will receive regular updates and info

from the Secretariat. They will also be able to chat between themselves through the network, and

exchange experiences. We hope that they will stay in touch between themselves and with the

Secretariat.

134. The interns are considered in many ways WTO's 'ambassadors' in the field and it is hoped that

they will disseminate the information they have gathered here in Geneva. Also, it is good to note that

quite a few of them re-appear in Geneva in another capacity, e.g. as a delegate in the mission. In some

cases, actually, the trainees had the specific task to open the mission, as was the case for Niger. They

have had first-hand exposure to what happens in the kitchen of the WTO which is a unique

opportunity, particularly for countries without a local antenna, i.e. permanent mission. They have got

a better understanding of the sensitivities in the negotiations, specifically the DDA. The programmes

allow them to actively take part in the Geneva process and to acquire the tools to accomplish the

complex WTO related tasks at home.

A. NETHERLANDS TRAINEE PROGRAMME

135. The main objective of the NTP is to generate tangible and measurable results and thus leave a

lasting trace, including through:

(i) building sustainable capacity in beneficiary countries, by providing officials

with an opportunity to directly participate in WTO's work in Geneva;

(ii) providing exposure to ongoing activities in the Secretariat, which will assist

officials in enhancing their understanding of the functioning of the WTO and

the MTS, and providing relevant policy advice to the governments;

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(iii) facilitating the implementation of Member's commitments in the WTO; and,

(iv) contributing to the achievement of the goals of the DDA, and more

specifically, those set out in the Decision of the General Council in August

2004 (the "July Package").

136. The NTP is designed in a manner to build in-country capacity in the most effective ways, to

assist in the economic and social development of LDCs, low income countries and comparable poor,

small and vulnerable economies in areas related to trade policy. It thus provides officials with a direct

opportunity to learn about matters dealt with within the WTO, under the direction of staff members of

the WTO. According to the terms of reference of the intern programmes, as reflected in the TA Plan,

particular attention is given to African countries. The interns under the NTP are working in the

Secretariat to perform specific tasks that were agreed prior to their arrival and following discussions

with each of them upon their arrival in close collaboration with ITTC Regional Desks.

137. During its lifespan, a total of 73 candidates were retained from 53 different countries (Cf.

Table 4). In the Autumn 2010, another ten candidates were selected for 2011. In terms of regional

distribution of participants under the NTP, as can be seen from graphs 12 and 13, most trainees came

from Africa (48 or 66 per cent), followed by Asia (13 or 18 per cent), CEECAC and AMEC (eight or

eleven per cent) and LAC (four or five per cent). Particular attention was given to LDCs who had the

largest number of trainees (51 or 70 per cent). Most trainees stayed for ten months.

Graph 11

0

10

20

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

16 16

8 911

13

Netherlands Training Programme

Number of participants per year

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Table 4: Netherlands Training Programme - Beneficiary countries

1 Afghanistan 28 Liberia

2 Angola 29 Madagascar

3 Armenia 30 Malawi

4 Bangladesh 31 Mali

5 Benin 32 Mauritania

6 Bhutan 33 Mongolia

7 Botswana 34 Myanmar

8 Burkina Faso 35 Namibia

9 Burundi 36 Niger

10 Cambodia 37 Nigeria

11 Cameroon 38 Pakistan

12 Central African Republic 39 Paraguay

13 Chad 40 Rwanda

14 Comoros 41 Saint Kitts and Nevis

15 Côte d'Ivoire 42 Saint Lucia

16 Democratic Republic of the Congo 43 Senegal

17 Djibouti 44 Sierra Leone

18 Nepal 45 Sudan

19 Gambia 46 Swaziland

20 Ghana 47 Tonga

21 Guinea 48 Uganda

22 Guinea-Bissau 49 Vanuatu

23 Kenya 50 Viet Nam

24 Kyrgyz Republic 51 Yemen

25 Lao People's Democratic Republic 52 Zambia

26 Lebanon 53 Zimbabwe

27 Lesotho

Graph 12

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Graph 13

B. THE MISSION INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

138. This Programme was developed in early 2001; the main objectives are similar to the ones

contained in the NTP, but the programme is geared towards providing support to Geneva-based

missions. The candidates work in their own country Mission in Geneva and not in the WTO

Secretariat, and can represent their country in the various bodies within the WTO. This Programme is

available primarily to missions of LDCs and small and vulnerable economies. Preference is given to

countries with the least number of staff in Geneva.

139. The MIP interns benefit from the same training than the that of the NTP and attend the

monthly internship programmes meetings.

140. In 2010, 14 candidates were selected. Since the creation of this programme, a total of 67

officials have been recruited from 36 different countries (cf. Table 5). In line with the main objective

of the programme, LDCs benefited mostly from the programmes (cf. Graph 16), with a total of 38

interns or 57 per cent. The regional repartition shows that 55 per cent of the participants are from

Africa, 21 per cent from Asia and the Pacific, 21 per cent from LAC and three per cent from

CEECAC and AMEC (cf. graph 15).

Graph 14: Mission Internship Programme - Number of Participants Per Year

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Graph 15

Graph 16

Table 5: WTO Mission Internship Programme - Beneficiary Countries

1 Bangladesh 19 Mauritania

2 Barbados 20 Mauritius

3 Benin 21 Mongolia

4 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 22 Mozambique

5 Burkina Faso 23 Namibia

6 Burundi 24 Nepal

7 Cambodia 25 Nicaragua

8 Congo RC 26 Nigeria

9 Côte d'Ivoire 27 Rwanda

10 Cuba 28 Sri Lanka

11 Djibouti 29 Sudan

12 Dominican Republic 30 Tajikistan

13 El Salvador 31 Tanzania

14 Guinea 32 Uganda

15 Kenya 33 Uruguay

16 Laos 34 Viet Nam

17 Lesotho 35 Yemen

18 Mali 36 Zambia

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C. THE WTO REGIONAL COORDINATOR INTERNSHIP

141. In this Programme, the mission of a rotating group coordinator is eligible to have an intern,

paid by the WTO, for a period of six months. At the end of six months, the system rotates to the next

designated group coordinator. The interns under the regional coordinator interns provide direct

support to the regional coordinators. They are invited to attend the monthly internship programmes

meetings.

142. A total of 38 officials have been funded under this programme (Cf. Table 6), providing

support to 24 missions.

Table 6: Regional Coordinator Internship – List of Coordinators

Country Interns Country Interns

ACP Mission 10 Morocco 1

Bangladesh 1 Pacific Islands Forum 1

Barbados 1 Rwanda 2

Belize 1 Sri Lanka 1

Benin 2 St. Kitts and Nevis 1

Côte d'Ivoire 1 Tanzania 1

Egypt 3 Trinidad and Tobago 2

Gabon 1 Uganda 1

India 1 Vietnam 1

Jamaica 1 Zambia 1

Lesotho 2

Mauritius 2 Total 38

Graph 17

10

14

3

56

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

ACP Mission Africa CEECAC &AMEC

Asia &Pacific

LA &Caribbeans

RCI Regional Distribution

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Graph 18

Graph 19

20

18

17

18

19

20

21

LDCs Others

RCI - Number of interns from LDCs

Graph 20

VII. REFERENCE CENTRES

143. 2010 was the first effective year of the implementation of the new RC strategy. This strategy

was implemented in close partnership with the ITTC Regional Desks, and allowed for nine updated or

newly created RCs for the year. In line with the new strategy and to respond more adequately to

specific needs, the programme has been streamlined to focus more specifically on those countries that

are most in need (LDCs, Sub-Saharan Africa, non-residents).. . All these missions were delivered in

close collaboration with the ITTC Regional Desks as well as with other WTO divisions. This new

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approach took into account the recommendations made through BTORs, as well as the outcome of

evaluations conducted in recent years by the TCU, in an attempt to tailor the RC programme to the

specific needs of its clients.

144. The ownership of the RCs has been enhanced at the national level through the appointment of

a RC Manager who receives adequate training on the access and use of relevant information. The RC

Unit contributed significantly to the operational implementation of the new strategy by establishing

procedures for administrative and logistical (e.g. equipment) follow-up to optimize the management

of the programme and insure quality and results based management in the execution of this product

for Members.

145. Since the creation of the RC programme, a total of 153 RCs have been established in 107

countries. During this year, the RC Unit organized a global review and audit to examine the needs and

the follow-up required for the RC programme to have a clearer understanding of the state of these

centres throughout the world. This exercise allowed us to identify the fully operational RCs as well as

those which require more attention on our part in terms of equipment and training. Following the

global review, we have determined that 96 RCs in 85 countries are effectively in working mode. Of

these, 35 RCs (40 per cent) are in Africa, 30 (34 per cent) in Asia and Pacific, 14 (16 per cent) in LAC

and nine (ten per cent) in CEECAC and AMEC.

146. There are several factors that can affect the functioning of RCs. First, due to the pace of

technological development, the maintenance of the equipment need to occur frequently. Furthermore,

a lack of available staff possessing adequate training could make RCs less functional. The lack of a

functional working place has also been an issue; including, for example, temporary restructuring and

repositioning of some RCs or natural disaster (Haiti earthquake). Information flows from the WTO

Secretariat are also very important to the functioning of the RCs. Some problems have been

encountered by RCs with respect to receiving timely, up-to-date information from WTO

Headquarters. Nearly two thirds (69 per cent) of RCs, especially those based in LDCs, encounter

difficulties related to Internet connectivity. Thus, improving internet connectivity appears to be a

fundamental issue – especially since one of the main objectives of the RC Programme is to provide

beneficiaries with a dedicated physical location where any relevant information on the WTO can be

accessed via the WTO Website.

147. The review also demonstrated that the documentation available to RCs is deemed sufficient

most of the time. More than one half (60 per cent) of the respondents found that the documentation

was "always" or "often" sufficient. However, the remaining respondents indicated that the

documentation only was sufficient either "sometimes" (28 per cent) or even "never" (12 per cent).

About one-half (48 per cent) of the RCs make their computers available for WTO e-Training purposes

which is incremental in the new PLS. Of those RCs who do not make their computers available for

WTO e-Training purposes, a primary reason for this appears to be a lack of equipment.

148. Specific training events were developed to the benefit of the interns of the NTP and MIP.

The programme for this activity was defined in close collaboration with the Statistics Section of the

Economic Research and Statistics Division (ERSD), the Library and Information Management

Service of the Languages Documentation and Information Management Division (LDIMD), and the

Information, Media and External Relations Division (IMRD). This programme included theoretical

training sessions, practical workshops and discussion meetings. During these events, the tools

necessary for the efficient running of a RC were presented and discussed. This activity was

established with a view to creating synergies between the RC programme, NTP and MIP and thus

reinforcing their collective impact. Participants will be in a position to relay this knowledge once

back in the capital. This training will be extended to the 2011 cohorts.

149. Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of RCs noted that their coordinator was not fully trained,

whereas only 35 per cent affirmed that their coordinator had indeed received some training. More

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training would enhance the effectiveness of these RCs. Levels of inter-RC communication are low –

80 per cent of the RCs are not in touch with other RCs. A worldwide network of WTO RCs, with a

communication and discussion platform between RC Managers to enable RCs to learn from each

other's experiences is a priority for the new RC Strategy in 2011.

150. In order to respond to the specifics needs raised by the staff of the RC and further develop its

cooperative links with coordinators of these centres, the WTO will organize a Symposium for RC

managers in 2011 This will be the first symposium of its type organised by the Secretariat, and aims

to provide RC managers with the knowledge and tools necessary to run a RC, including skills in

information management and accessing relevant WTO information resources. The Symposium will be

delivered through a combination of presentations and hands-on exercises. As a response to the lack of

interaction among RC managers, the Symposium is also intended to strengthen the network of RC

Coordinators, in ways that they could benefit from the experience and knowledge of their colleagues

working in trade ministries in other Member states. Emphasis will also be placed on developing the

RC network at the national level, such that all local stakeholders can benefit from the advantages

provided by the programme.

151. During the year the Secretariat updated the RC contacts list, which will help to better identify

how to improve the network among RC coordinators, and develop a new more global approach on the

nature of documentation to be sent to the centres. A new internal and external communications

strategy was developed aimed at increasing the visibility of the RCs through the creation of posters

and new information media.

152. A communication and visibility tool, another important aspect of the new strategy, has been

developed during the year under review, in direct line with the enhancement of the Programme and

the mandate of ITTC. In addition to a logo which was created last year and which has provided a

stronger identify to the Programme, several other products were elaborated, i.e. a wall plate (one for

each RC), a brochure, various posters (to be sent to the RC). They are distributed during the

installation missions, open door events or any other pertinent forum. Separately, a mailing list was

created for regular dissemination of WTO-related information.

153. Numerous requests were received by the Secretariat, which demonstrates the interest of the

Members for this Programme. From the survey, most of the individuals who use the RCs are students,

government officials, researchers and business people.

Graph 21 Relative Share of RCs Per Region:

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Table 7

Reference Centres’ Summary

RCs host countries 85

LDCs 35

WTO Members 69

WTO Observers 14

Not Members or observers 2

RCs with no permament mission in Geneva

14

WTO Members with no permanent mission in Geneva

7

WTO observers with no permanent mission in Geneva

7

LDCs with no permanent mission in Geneva

7

RC Africa Desk 33

RC Arab & Middle East Countries 5

RC Asian & Pacific 23

RC CEECAC 5

RC LAC & Caribbean 16

RC (no desk) : Kiribati, Romania, Switzerland

3

English-speaking countries 53

French-speaking countries 25

Spanish-speaking countries 9

RC LDC English-speaking countries 19

RC LDC French-speaking countries 18

RC LDC Spanish-speaking countries 0

VIII. THE GLOBAL TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DATABASE

154. It is recalled that GTAD is the portal for exchanging and sharing information on the future

execution of TRTA and CB activities and is mainly forward looking; it was launched officially by the

Director-General in November 2010. Uploads by the WTO and partner agencies to the GTAD are

done twice a month and the database now holds some 255 upcoming activities. Obviously, as time

passes, the database will also contain information on past activities, so it may at some point fulfil an

unintended, but potentially useful, reporting function. There are overall nearly 900 activities contained

in GTAD.

155. While there are nearly a dozen of agencies that have expressed an interest in GTAD as a

contributing partner, the GTAD at present contains data from the WTO, EIF, STDF, ITC, the

UNCTAD, and UNIDO.

156. The WIPO is soon expected to be a partner agency, and potentially a very important one, as

the Secretariat has been working very closely with WIPO and assisted them to set up a similar

database as the internal WTO TRTA database. The WIPO is working with WTO to upload data to the

GTAD.

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157. Other partner agencies that have expressed interest in uploading projects include the World

Bank, OIF, FAO, UNECA, and UNECE. The Secretariat is closely interacting with them to sort out

any issues that may stand in the way. While at the outset the objective was to closely associate the

Geneva-based agencies to the GTAD, this will gradually be expanded to include other bodies and

secretariats. Also, the Director-General has raised the existence of GTAD at the meeting of the UN

Chief Executives Board (CEB).

158. In terms of visits of the relevant Web pages, since the GTAD was made available to the

public early Summer 2010, and after the official launch by the Director-General in November, the

number of hits has steadily been growing, with several thousands of hits per month. Since the site is

very young, it is difficult to extract precise numbers, but the trend is clearly upwards. More elaborate

tools are being considered to display and analyse these data. It is noted that in the first few months

since its launch, we have mainly had visits to the GTAD from institutional and academic sources.

The WTO’s GTAD mail box receives on a regular basis requests for more information on WTO

activities, including on training that is available, which underscores the utility of GTAD.

159. It is also recalled that at the official launch meeting in November a Steering Group was set

up, which will hold a meeting with all the agencies in the Spring 2011. This will be an opportunity

for stakeholders to share views on how the GTAD is working, to discuss possible enhancements

which could be made to the interface, and to explore future developments to increase its visibility.

The good functioning of the GTAD is a shared responsibility.

160. The Secretariat has used every single opportunity available to make a presentation on the

GTAD and enhance its visibility, including at the ITTC's Open Door, the WTO's Open Day as well as

at the Public Forum; the ITTC Open Doors have been organized to coincide with official WTO

meetings, so as to reach out to Members on the margin of those meetings, as well as to WTO staff

who have always received an invitation in this regard; WTO staff has been briefed through the TA

Coordination Task Force, with a live presentation, followed by a good discussion. Of course, the

WTO colleagues also benefited from the information presented on GTAD through the open day/door

events as well as through the Public Forum. In order to disseminate the information wider, brochures

were prepared and distributed. They can also be downloaded from the GTAD Website homepage.

161. Finally, with a view to promoting this tool at the regional level, thus reaching stakeholders in

the field, RC Managers were informed of the official launch in November, and information on the

GTAD is now systematically being provided by WTO officials undertaking missions in the

framework of the RC Programme.

IX. FINANCIAL SITUATION

162. Globally, the total cost of the activities included in the TA Plan for each year of the biennium

2010 -2011 had been estimated at CHF 30.9 million to be financed from the DDAGTF, regular

budget, and other trust funds as follows:

CHF million

Regular budget 5.7

DDAGTF 24.0

Other Trust Funds 1.2

TOTAL 30.9

163. Actual expenditures in 2010 amounted to CHF 4.1 million, CHF 18.1 million and CHF 1.7

million financed from the regular budget, DDAGTF and other trust funds respectively.

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164. Table 8 and Annex 4 present further details regarding the voluntary contributions received

and the actual expenditures incurred in the last four years for the DDAGTF.

165. It can be noted that, unlike previous years, incoming funds in 2010 were not sufficient to

cover the expenditures during the year. This represents a deterioration in the financial situation of the

DDAGTF and requires some caution as it is obviously not sustainable to spend more than is received

on an on-going basis.

166. The DDAGTF was established in December 2001, pursuant to the commitment contained in

paragraph 40 of the Doha Declaration, to finance TA programmes and training activities for

developing and LDCs as well as economies in transition. One of the purposes for creating a global

fund was to consolidate the extra-budgetary funds in one single un-earmarked fund, so as to provide a

solid and stable financial basis for the delivery of a global programme. Following the finalization of

the TA Plan in Autumn 2009, the General Council approved the recommended target amount of CHF

24 million for the planned volume of TA to be financed from the DDAGTF in 2010, thus maintaining

the cost of the TA Plan at the same level since 2003.

167. Implementation of the activities under the DDAGTF is subject to the availability of financial

resources, which rely on voluntary contributions. In order to ensure a smooth implementation of the

TA Plan from the beginning of the year, timely and adequate levels of funding are required. Most

activities to be financed under the DDAGTF, and more specifically larger scale programmes, e.g.

regional seminars undertaken by the WTO or in partnership with other organizations and RTPCs,

require advance planning of at least three months, if not more. Under the financial rules, activities

can only be committed to, if the necessary financing is in the bank. The funding benchmarks for the

DDAGTF, as established by the Members, were as follows: (i) by 31 December of the year preceding

the fund's revolving annual target period, contributions amounting to 25 per cent of the total estimated

costs of the TA Plan should be in the bank, (ii) by 31 March, another 50 per cent for an overall 75 per

cent of the total, and (ii) by 30 June, 100 per cent of the funds needed. Unfortunately, the

benchmarks were missed in 2010, thus resulting in deferral or cancellation of some activities planned

under the DDAGTF.

Table 8

DDAGTF – CHF

2007 2008 2009 2010

Brought forward from previous year 7,266,603 7,778,416 9,541,433 10,868,997

Contributions received 18,701,871 18,575,868 19,676,896 16,108,998

Transfers from/to other funds 281,163 0 0

Interest earned 212,821 221,935 46,180 28,124

Total funds 26,462,458 26,576,219 29,264,509 27,006,120

Total expenditures 18,684,042 17,034,786 18,395,512 18,126,556

Balance to be carried forward 7,778,416 9,541,433 10,868,997 8,879,564

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ANNEX 1

Overview of TRTA provided from 1/01/2010 to 31/12/2010

TA Plan chapters National

activities

Regional

activities

Global

events

Other

(Conferences,

etc.)

Total

A General WTO-related Technical

Assistance and Training 19 23 11 53 12.2%

A 1. Trade Policy Courses 11 2 8 21 4.8%

A 1. (i) Geneva-based Trade Policy

Courses (TPCs) 2 2 0.5%

A 1. (ii) Regional Trade Policy Courses

(RTPCs) 8 7 15 3.5%

A 1. (iii)

Short Regional Trade Policy

Courses and follow-up

(SRTPCs)

3 1 4 0.9%

A 2. Geneva-based Introduction Courses 2 2 0.5%

A 3. Geneva-based Thematic courses 9 9 2.1%

A 4. WTO Introduction Days 3 3 0.7%

A 5. Geneva Week 2 2 0.5%

A 6. Geneva-based Topic-specific

Symposia 7 1 8 1.8%

A 8.

Regional and Sub-regional

Capacity-building programmes(

Short Trade Policy Courses)

8 8 1.8%

B Specialised & Advanced Training &

Technical Assistance 147 63 4 2 216 49.8%

B 1. Geneva-based Specialised Courses 1 1 0.2%

B 2. National Technical Assistance

Activities 144 1 145 33.4%

B 2. (i) National topic-specific activities 108 1 109 25.1%

B 2. (ii) Technical Assistance within the

TPRM Framework 27 27 6.2%

B 2. (iii) Assisting beneficiaries in

conducting Needs Assessment 1

B 2. (iv) Reference Centres 9 9 2.1%

B 3. Regional Seminars 48 3 51 11.8%

B 3. (i) Agriculture 3 3 0.7%

1 Assisting beneficiaries in conducting Needs Assessment does not require missions per se, and is

mostly taken care of through the Netherlands Trainee Programme, the TA missions within the Trade Policy

Review Mechanism Framework, and other national activities.

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TA Plan chapters National

activities

Regional

activities

Global

events

Other

(Conferences,

etc.)

Total

B 3. (ii) Dispute Settlement 2 2 0.5%

B 3. (iii) Government Procurement

(Plurilateral Agreement on) 2 2 0.5%

B 3. (iv) Non-Agriculture Market Access

(NAMA) 9 9 2.1%

B 3. (ix) TBT 1 1 0.2%

B 3. (v) Regional Trade Agreements 3 3 0.7%

B 3. (vi) Rules 1 1 0.2%

B 3. (vii) SPS 3 3 0.7%

B 3.

(viii) Services 6 6 1.4%

B 3. (x) T & Development 6 6 1.4%

B 3. (xi) T & Environment 2 2 0.5%

B 3. (xii) Trade Facilitation 4 3 7 1.6%

B 3.

(xiii) TRIPs 6 6 1.4%

B 4. Advanced Training Programme for

senior government officials 3 3 0.7%

B 5. Intensive Course on Trade

Negotiations Skills 3 6 9 2.1%

B 6. Outreach Activities for

Parliamentarians and Civil Society 5 1 6 1.4%

B 7. Accessions 1 1 0.2%

C

Academic Support for Training and

Capacity-building: an integrated

approach

35 5 2 20 62 14.3%

C 1. WTO Chairs programme 10 3 13 3.0%

C 2. University programme 25 5 17 47 10.8%

C 2. (ii) Workshops for University

Professors 5 5 1.2%

C 2. (iii) National workshops 25 2 27 6.2%

C 2. (v) Other academics events 15 15 3.5%

C 3. Doctoral Studies 1 1 0.2%

C 5. Research Collaboration 1 1 0.2%

D Trainee programmes and Internships 3 3 0.7%

D 1. Netherlands Trainee Programme 1 1 0.2%

WT/COMTD/W/178

Page 48

TA Plan chapters National

activities

Regional

activities

Global

events

Other

(Conferences,

etc.)

Total

D 2. WTO Regional Coordinator

internship 1 1 0.2%

D 3. WTO Mission internship 1 1 0.2%

E E-learning programme 26 26 6.0%

E 1. eTraining: online courses (incl.

enhancement and misc.) 25 25 5.8%

E 2. Self-training modules: computer-

based training modules2 1 1 0.2%

F Other Programmes and Support

Activities 6 4 10 2.3%

F 2. Programme activities 6 4 10 2.3%

F 2. (ii) Integrated

Framework/Enhanced IF 1 2 3 0.7%

F 2. (iii) Standards and Trade

Development Facility (STDF) 2 2 0.5%

F 2.

(Viii)

Trade Facilitation Needs and

Priorities 5 5 1.2%

G Participation in conferences 1 3 60 64 14.7%

Total 189 90 58 97 434 100%

2 Include Training Modules in English, French and Spanish on the following subjects: Overview of the

WTO - Trade Finance - Dispute Settlement - Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures - Trade and Services - WTO:

Economic Underpinnings - WTO: Legal Underpinnings - Accessions procedures - Trade Facilitation - Trade

Facilitation Needs Assessment - WTO Coherence Mandate - Docs Online - WTO Library.

WT/COMTD/W/178

Page 49

ANNEX 2

Participation to the Netherlands Training Programme from 2005 to 2010

Country Status Year Nb of trainees Region

Afghanistan LDC 2007 & 2010 2 CEECAC & AMEC

Angola LDC 2006 1 Africa

Armenia Low income 2005 1 CEECAC & AMEC

Bangladesh LDC 2006 1 Asia & Pacific

Benin LDC 2006 & 2010 2 Africa

Bhutan LDC 2005 & 2009 2 Asia & Pacific

Botswana Upper Middle income 2009 1 Africa

Burkina Faso LDC 2007, 2008, 2010 3 Africa

Burundi LDC 2005 & 2010 2 Africa

Cambodia LDC 2007 1 Asia & Pacific

Cameroun Lower Middle Income 2010 1 Africa

Central African Republic LDC 2006 & 2010 2 Africa

Chad LDC 2008 & 2010 2 Africa

Comoros LDC 2009 1 Africa

Côte d'Ivoire Low income 2008 1 Africa

Congo DRP LDC 2008 1 Africa

Djibouti LDC 2006 1 Africa

Nepal LDC 2006 1 Asia & Pacific

Gambia LDC 2007 & 2010 2 Africa

Ghana Low income 2009 1 Africa

Guinea LDC 2005 & 2009 2 Africa

Guinea-Bissau LDC 2007 1 Africa

Kenya Low income 2005 1 Africa

Kyrgyz Republic Low income 2006 & 2008 2 CEECAC & AMEC

Lao PDR LDC 2005 & 2008 2 Asia & Pacific

Lebanon High income 2005 1 CEECAC & AMEC

Lesotho LDC 2005 1 Africa

Liberia LDC 2009 1 Africa

Madagascar LDC 2007 1 Africa

Malawi LDC 2006 1 Africa

Mali LDC 2005 & 2007 2 Africa

Mauritania LDC 2005 1 Africa

Mongolia Lower Middle income 2005 1 Asia & Pacific

Myanmar LDC 2009 1 Asia & Pacific

Namibia Lower Middle income 2005 1 Africa

Niger LDC 2008 1 Africa

Nigeria Low income 2009 1 Africa

Pakistan Other Low income 2009 1 Asia & Pacific

Paraguay Low Middle 2006 & 2010 2 LAC & Caribbean

Rwanda LDC 2006 1 Africa

Saint Kitts and Nevis High income 2005 1 LAC & Caribbean

Saint Lucia High income 2006 1 LAC & Caribbean

Senegal LDC 2006 & 2010 2 Africa

Sierra Leone LDC 2006 1 Africa

Sudan LDC 2006 & 2009 2 Africa

Swaziland Low Middle 2008 & 2010 2 Africa

Tonga Low Middle 2006 1 Asia & Pacific

Uganda LDC 2005 & 2008 2 Africa

Vanuatu LDC 2006 1 Asia & Pacific

Viet Nam Other Low income 2009 1 Asia & Pacific

Yemen LDC 2007 & 2010 2 CEECAC & AMEC

Zambia LDC 2005 & 2010 2 Africa

Zimbabwe Low income 2005 1 Africa

WT/COMTD/W/178

Page 50

ANNEX 3

Participation to the Mission Internship Programme from 2005 to 2010

Country Status Years Nb of interns Region

Bangladesh LDC 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 4 Asia & Pacific

Barbados Upper Middle Income 2009 1 LAC & Caribbeans

Benin LDC 2003, 2006 2 Africa

Bolivia, Plurinational

Sate of Lower Middle Income 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 4 LAC & Caribbeans

Burkina Faso LDC 2009 1 Africa

Burundi LDC 2006 1 Africa

Cambodia LDC 2006 1 Asia & Pacific

Congo RC LDC 2010 1 Africa

Côte d'Ivoire Low Income 2010 1 Africa

Cuba Upper Middle Income 2010 1 LAC & Caribbeans

Djibouti LDC 2009, 2010 2 Africa

Dominican Republic Lower Middle Income 2009 1 LAC & Caribbeans

El Salvador Lower Middle Income 2003, 2006, 2007 3 LAC & Caribbeans

Guinea LDC 2004, 2006 2 Africa

Kenya Low Income 2003, 2006, 2010 5 Africa

Laos LDC 2010 1 Asia & Pacific

Lesotho LDC 2004, 2006, 2007 3 Africa

Mali LDC 2006, 2010 2 Africa

Mauritania LDC 2006 1 Africa

Mauritius Upper Middle Income 2007, 2009 2 Africa

Mongolia Lower Middle Income 2007, 2010 2 Asia & Pacific

Mozambique LDC 2010 1 Africa

Namibia Lower Middle Income 2010 1 Africa

Nepal LDC 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010 4 Asia & Pacific

Nicaragua Lower Middle Income 2003, 2005, 2006 3 LAC & Caribbeans

Nigeria Low Income 2006 1 Africa

Rwanda LDC 2004, 2007, 2009 3 Africa

Sri Lanka Lower Middle Income 2009 Asia & Pacific

Sudan LDC 2010 1 Africa

Tajikistan Low Income 2010 1 CEECAC & AMEC

Tanzania LDC 2004, 2005 2 Africa

Uganda LDC 2005, 2006, 2007 3 Africa

Uruguay Upper Middle Income 2003 1 LA & Caribbeans

Viet Nam Low Income 2003 1 Asia & Pacific

Yemen LDC 2006 1 CEECAC & AMEC

Zambia LDC 2003, 2008 2 Africa

WT/COMTD/W/178

Page 51

ANNEX 4

DDAGTF Contributions 2007-2010

(in CHF)Donor 2007 2008 2009 2010 Totals

Sweden 2,852,720 2,697,280 2,026,384 2,353,920 9,930,304

Australia 735,875 986,050 1,525,650 1,952,400 5,199,975

Norway 1,994,414 2,005,214 1,710,279 1,784,440 7,494,347

European Union 1,669,450 1,513,520 1,518,550 1,574,550 6,276,070

Netherlands 1,395,349 1,472,990 1,472,990 1,472,990 5,814,319

Germany 1,627,000 1,566,000 1,509,500 1,438,500 6,141,000

Finland 619,500 1,347,225 1,534,000 1,364,000 4,864,725

United States 1,123,664 943,941 1,026,109 1,002,654 4,096,368

France 2,250,500 655,500 2,906,000

Spain 573,650 571,550 533,750 467,950 2,146,900

Ireland 1,000,700 1,547,000 1,357,200 409,200 4,314,100

Japan 648,499 489,316 474,637 395,604 2,008,056

Korea 427,000 359,800 357,000 344,400 1,488,200

Austria 320,780 322,320 302,480 285,640 1,231,220

China 205,600 211,000 200,300 616,900

Denmark 758,027 205,779 616,746 180,019 1,760,571

New Zealand 234,450 158,000 392,450

Liechtenstein 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 160,000

Estonia 32,038 49,425 28,932 110,395

Luxembourg 722,250 771,500 754,000 2,247,750

Canada 415,000 404,621 456,121 1,275,742

Switzerland 800,000 800,000

Czech Republic 87,265 87,288 174,553

Romania 165,200 79,450 244,650

Slovak Republic 60,000 60,000

Turkey 60,000 50,000 110,000

Italy 607,840 607,840

Hong-Kong, China 300,000 300,000

Lithuania 220,000 220,000

Iceland 60,000 60,000

Latvia 11,200 11,200

Total Contributions Received 18,701,871 18,575,869 19,676,896 16,108,999 73,063,635

Total Number of Donors 27 24 19 19 31

Pledges are indicated in italics

21.3

18.4

16.4

18.719.5

18.7 18.619.7

16.1

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

DDAGTF Contributions Received (in MCHF)

2.4

2.0

1.8

1.6

1.5

1.4

1.4

1.0

0.7

0.5

0.4

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.18

0.16

0.0

0.0

Sweden

Australia

Norway

European Union

Netherlands

Germany

Finland

United States

France

Spain

Ireland

Japan

Korea

Austria

China

Denmark

New Zealand

Liechtenstein

Estonia

DDAGTF Contributions by Donors in 2010

__________