WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/COMTD/W/103
24 September 2002
(02-5118)
Committee on Trade and Development
ACTIVITIES OF THE WTO T RAINING INSTITUTE IN 2003
Note by the Secretariat1
A. PURPOSE OF THIS NOTE
1. As the October session of the Committee will be devoted inter alia  to examining the
Coordinated Technical Assistance Plan for 2003, complementary information about the WTOInstitute's training activities is being submitted herewith in order to provide a fuller picture of the
Secretariat's planned activities in the areas of technical assistance and training.  As the Institute's
programme is not directly linked to the Doha Development Agenda, the information is not presented
in terms of paragraphs of the Doha Development Declaration.  Since also the new Senior
Management has not had the opportunity of examining in detail the array of activities delivered by theInstitute, the list presented below is merely indicative at this stage.  It will, of course, be followed by
further communications when this examination has taken place and the consequent budgetary
implications have been determined.
2. While a good part of the present note repeats the descriptive information contained in the
document WT/COMTD/W/89/Rev.1 of January 2002, it is also intended to provide preliminary andprovisional information to the beneficiaries' authorities on the WTO Training Institute's activities
aimed at progressively and consistently strengthening human capacities in the area of WTO affairs.  It
should be viewed as a contribution to facilitate medium-term national training strategies and planning
by beneficiaries.  It is hoped that eligible countries/customs territories will nominate their candidates
to the various courses offered with a view to progressively building and strengthening a core group of
experts in WTO matters.  In that context, the following elements could be considered:
(a) The variety of formats of available courses that are presented below should allow to
progressively build competence.  The different durations (ranging from one day for
the induction courses to three months for the residential Trade Policy Courses) should
also be taken into account.
(b) For the three-month courses a six-course-cycle approach is used to ensure equitable
participation between eligible countries/customs territories, taking into account thepriority given by the WTO Members to least-developed countries for technical-
assistance and capacity-building activities.
3. The note is also intended to provide informatio n on the type of funding by activity, including
estimated costs.  While some programmes or elements of programmes benefit from secured funding
(regular WTO budget; or earmarked extra-budgetary funds), others still remain without securedfinancing for the time being.  An appeal is cons equently made to interested donors for allocating
existing or new financial support either for the activities of the Institute at large – preferably on a
multi-year basis – or for one or more of its specific projects.  For more detailed information on
projects, interested donors are invited to contact the Director of the WTO Training Institute.
                                                     
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and without prejudice to
the positions of Members and to their rights and obligations under the WTO.WT/COMTD/W/103
Page 2
4. The note, therefore, presents what can be reasonably offered in 2003 by the WTO Training
Institute in terms of training activities at or from the WTO Headquarters2, taking into account
resources, both human and financial, allocated to it.
B. FIELDS OF ACTIVITY OF THE WTO T RAINING INSTITUTE
1. Training Courses
5. Training is being offered at the WTO Headquarters primarily to government officials of
beneficiary countries/customs territories.  The main activity of the Institute is to develop and conduct
training courses in trade policy.  Different formats corresponding to specific objectives in transferring
knowledge and skills are being offered:
Format 1: One-day Induction Courses, such as those held in 2001 and 2002.
Format 2: Two- or three-week Introduction Courses, such as the courses for LDCs.
Format 3: Three-month Trade Policy Courses of the type conducted since 1956 and
progressively adapted to developments in the multilateral trading system.
Format 4: Specialised Courses focusing on specific topics, such as the ones conducted
on Dispute Settlement.
6. In order to develop complementarity and coherence among its newly regrouped activities, the
Institute will continue rationalizing its procedures pertaining to the management and conduct of its
activities.  The bulk of the exercise has already been concluded.  A horizontal approach relating to,
inter alia , the following elements has been developed, in co-operation with the other WTO Divisions
or services involved:  calendars; language(s) in which the activities are conducted;  invitation
procedures;  number and nature of participants;  selection criteria and procedures (when applicable);conditions applicable for travel and hotel accommodation and participants' allowances and medical
insurance;  communication with eligible countries/ customs territories authorities/Permanent Missions;
evaluation procedures and reporting;  and, lastly but not the least, training material and teaching
support material.
2. Training-of-Trainers programme
7. A special emphasis will progressively be put on complementary training addressing especially
the needs of trainers.  In that context, the first phase of the WTO Training-of-Trainers programme
(ToT) - launched in February 2002 and nearing completion - consisted in a series of 17 courses
addressed to WTO staff delivering training at the Headquarters or in the field.  The objective of this
first stage of the ToT programme was to improve the training efficiency of the WTO Secretariat with
a view to ensuring a higher quality response to the increasing training needs identified by the
Members.  The second phase of the ToT programme, to be initiated in principle in early 2003, will beaddressed to trainers in developing countries active in training on WTO-related matters.  Thought is
being given to combining this activity with a un iversity-networking programme that is also under
consideration.
3. Distance-learning programme
8. In terms of training delivery, the Institute continues to rely on human resources available at
the WTO and the training-support technology currently at its disposal.  It also draws on outside
expertise to complement existing human resources.  Projects involving modern communication
technology such as distance learning via Internet or video conferencing have been developed and
tested.  In this respect, the Institute is currently assessing  the internet-based pilot project that ran from
mid-June through July 2002.
                                                     
2 This note does not deal with the regional ad hoc trade policy courses of the type currently offered in
Nairobi and Casablanca, which will be the object of a thorough evaluation in the coming weeks.WT/COMTD/W/103
Page 3
4. Co-operation between the WTO and the academic community
9. It is generally recognized that universities and other institutions of learning are strategically
well placed to diffuse knowledge and information on issues which are important to the civil society at
large, and that activities developed through the ac ademic community have an effective 'multiplier'
effect.  Consequently, the Institute had intended, also as part of its mandate, to enhance co-operationlinks between the WTO and the academic commun ity, with the general objective of assisting
developing countries in strengthening the capacity of their academic sectors to train and teach WTO
and WTO-related topics at universities and other institutions of learning.  Although the main focus of
such activities would have been placed on training  professors, thus seeking to ensure a 'multiplier'
effect, other complementary actions are also envisaged to address the academic public at large.
10. However, because of the lack of funding in 2002, the Institute has not been in a position to
deliver substantial results in this area, despite the very large number of contacts and offers receivedfrom universities and institutes of learning all over the world.  The Institute's ambitions have had,
therefore, to be scaled down considerably.  It woul d now be intended to proceed in a more modest and
less costly way by offering one-week training sessions for professors at the regional or sub-regional
level, in one university at a time, whereby full explanation of possible curricula would be presented
and accompanying didactic material supplied to the participants.
11. Information on the costs of this activity and the tentative implementation programme is only
approximate at this time.
C. P
ROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES FOR 2003
12. The tentative Institute's Programme of Activities for 2003 is presented in the Annex, which
also provides information about, inter alia , the language used, the duration of the course, the number
of participants, the estimated budget and the type of funding.  Additional details will be provided in
the invitation circular for each activity.  The latter will be sent, usually through the Permanent
Missions, to the authorities of each eligible country/customs territory well in advance of the
concerned event.
13. Additional courses and activities may be included in the programme or existing ones deleted,
depending on the progress made in the context of the various projects, and on availability of training
capacities and financial support.WT/COMTD/W/103
Page 4ANNEX:  WTO TRAINING INSTITUTE'S TENTATIVE PROGRAMME OF COURSES FOR 2003
Date Title Language Duration Number of
participantsBudget Estimate Funding
Jan. – April 23rd Trade Policy Course English 3 months 30 CHF 580'000.-3
(fellowships for 27
participants)BUDGETED (WTO regular budget 2003)
Jan. – April 24th Trade Policy Course French 3 months 30 CHF 580'000.-
(fellowships for 27
participants)BUDGETED (WTO regular budget 2003)
February Induction Day Trilingual 1 day open-e nded N.A SECURED through the WTO regular
budget  (running costs)
March 3rd Introduction Course
(for LDCs)English 3 weeks 25 max. CHF 241'000.-4
(fellowships for 25
participants from
LDCs)BUDGETED (WTO regular budget 2003)
April 5 th Specialized Course on
Dispute SettlementTrilingual 1 week 30 CHF 60'000.-5
(fellowships for 10
participants fromLDCs)IN PRINCIPLE SECURED through Trust
Funds for TA  (it is assumed that such
funds will continue to be available for thisactivity)
April – July 25th Trade Policy Course English 3 months 30 CHF 580'000.-
(fellowships for 27
participants)BUDGETED (WTO regular budget 2003)
April – July 26th Trade Policy Course Spanish 3 months 30 CHF 580'000.-
(fellowships for 27
participants)BUDGETED (WTO regular budget 2003)
Summer Induction Day Trilingual 1 day open-ended N.A SECURED through the WTO regular
budget  (running costs)
Sep – Dec 27th and 28th Trade Policy
CoursesEnglish 3 months 60 (of whom
54 fellows)CHF 1'160'000.-
(fellowships for 54
participants)It is unlikely that these courses will be held
because of TELECOMS 2003 in October,
as no hotel accommodation might be
available for 2 weeks.  If it is so, substituteactivities will, therefore, have to be
arranged prior to and after that period
1st Semester  -
date to be decidedTrainers-Training
Programme, Phase IIto be
decidedto be
decidedGovernment
officialsCHF 250'000 .- BUDGETED (WTO regular budget 2003)
                                                     
3 Estimate, based on current budgeted costs for "residential trade policy courses".
4 Indicative; based on costs of Short Trade Policy Courses for LDCs organised in the past.
5 Estimate, based on current budgeted costs for "courses on Dispute Settlement".WT/COMTD/W/103
Page 5Date Title Language Duration Number of
participantsBudget Estimate Funding
Throughout the
yearUniversity networking
project – 9/10 regionalmissionsIn the 3
WTOlanguagesone week University
professors(Groups of
25 at a time)CHF 250'000 .- BUDGETED (WTO regular budget 2003)
To be decided 3 Specialized Courses To be
decided2 weeks
each25 max. CHF 560'000 BUDGETED (WTO regular budget 2003)
To be decided Internet-based Courses English /
French /
SpanishApprox. 40
hours of
course eachto be decided CHF 75'000 BUDGETED (WTO regular budget 2003)
To be decided Video-Conference
Courses – Project run
jointly by the WB/WTOEnglish series of 4-
hour video-
conferencesup to 10-60
on connected
sites (Wash,
Geneva, +rotating
developing
countries
locations)no cost for WTO other
than communication
costs (Gva – Wash.) and
staffing of sessionsNot available separately
Summer – date to
be decided6th Specialized Course on
Dispute SettlementTrilingual 1 week 30 CHF 60'000.-6
(fellowships for 10
participants fromLDCs)IN PRINCIPLE SECURED through Trust
Funds for TA (it is assumed that such funds
will continue to be available for thisactivity)
Autumn – date tobe decidedInduction Day Trilingual 1 day open-ended N.A SECURED through the WTO regular
budget (running costs)
Nov. 4th Introduction Course
(for LDCs)French 3 weeks 25 max. CHF 241'000.-7
(fellowships for 25
participants from
LDCs)BUDGETED (WTO regular budget 2003)
Autumn – date to
be decided7th Specialized Course on
Dispute SettlementTrilingual 1 week 30 CHF 60'000.-8
(fellowships for 10
participants from
LDCs)IN PRINCIPLE SECURED through Trust
Funds for TA (it is assumed that such funds
will continue to be available for this
activity)
Winter – date tobe decidedInduction Day Trilingual 1 day open-ended N.A SECURED through the WTO regular
budget  (running costs)
__________
                                                     
6 Estimate, based on current budgeted costs for "courses on Dispute Settlement".
7 Indicative; based on costs of Short Trade Policy Courses for LDCs organised in the past.
8 Estimate, based on current budgeted costs for "courses on Dispute Settlement".