RESTRICTED  
  
WT/BFA/W/ 584 
 
14 April 2022 
(22-3058) Page: 1/19 
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration  Original: English  
 
SUMMARY REPORT BY CHAIR OF THE WORKING GROUP CONCERNING COHERENCE IN 
THE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS  
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  Starting in mid -2018, the CBFA began to take an active interest in the changing landscape of 
voluntary contributions and the trust funds resulting from those contributions. A general trend for 
more earmarked contributions that were not directed to the Global Trust Fund (GTF) nor included in 
the Biennial Technical Assistance Plans pres ented to the Committee raised questions regarding 
coherence of both the trust fund landscape and the management by the Secretariat of these new 
trust funds. Additionally, Members were concerned that there may not be enough transparency in 
the establishment  of new trust funds.  
1.2.  The Secretariat reported that most voluntary contributions and trust fund expenditures were 
subject to established policies for operations, oversight and reporting such as those for ITTC and the 
STDF. However, it acknowledged many of t he newer trust funds were not formally or uniformly 
covered by these types of policies and guidelines. These exchanges led the Director -General to 
develop Guidelines for the Receipt and Notification of Voluntary Fund Contributions (WT/INF/219)1 
to ensure the WTO Secretariat's commitment to transparency and consistency in the handling of all 
voluntary contributions.  
1.3.  In April 2021, the Chair of the CBFA reported that following consultations with Members on the 
recurring interest in trust funds that she had a sked, Alicia Goujon of Mexico to lead a small group 
process to look at the issues related to trust funds. This working group met for the first time on 
26 April 2021 and agreed at its second meeting on 4 May 2021 terms of reference2 to serve as the 
basis f or guiding its subsequent work.  
1.4.  Since its establishment in April 2021, the Working Group met a total of nine times. The Working 
Group was open to all CBFA Members. Written reports summarizing the work of the Working Group 
were submitted to the CBFA on 25 M ay 2021 (WT/BFA/W/551) and 12 August 2021 
(WT/BFA/W/569).  
1.5.  The objective of the Working Group is to make recommendations to the WTO Secretariat that 
will improve the creation, management/governance, and administration of voluntary contributions. 
These recom mendations seek to ensure the transparency and consistency that will benefit WTO 
Secretariat and increase confidence among the Members. Ultimately, the Working Group wants to 
encourage voluntary contributions to meet the technical assistance and capacity b uilding needs of 
developing and, in particular, least -developed Members. Ensuring that the Secretariat has the 
capacity and tools to effectively manage the additional resources will be essential to successfully 
meeting these demands.  
1.6.  This current report co ntains recommendations from the Working Group to the CBFA for its 
endorsement. These recommendations focus on principles that CBFA Members would convey to the 
WTO Secretariat for further development into policies and guidelines to ensure coherence in the 
management and administration of all trust funds.  
 
1 Annex 1 at the end of this document.  
2 Annex 2 at the end of this document.  WT/BFA/W/584  
 
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  2  CONTEXTUAL ELEMENTS  
2.1.  The Working Group notes the following contextual elements related to its recommendations:  
a. Technical Assistance in the WTO is crucial to assist in the full integration of beneficiaries 
into the multilateral trading system and contribute to the expansion of their trade; and to 
strengthen and enhance institutional and human capacities in the public sector for an 
appropriate participation in the multilateral trading system.  
b. There are active di scussions going on among the Members regarding potential revisions 
to Financial Regulation 19. This is the regulation that addresses voluntary contributions 
and the conditions for those contributions to be accepted. The recommendations of this 
Working Grou p are complementary to that process, currently underway at the CBFA.  
c. Where appropriate the Secretariat should consider and build upon existing policies and 
guidelines. For example, The Guidelines for WTO Technical Cooperation, adopted by the 
Committee on Trade and Development, on 15 October 1996 (WT/COMTD/8); A New 
Strategy  for WTO Technical Cooperation: Technical Cooperation for Capacity Building, 
Growth and Integration (WT/COMTD/W/90, 21 September 2001) and Annex B of 
WT/BFA/56 (18 December 2001) Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF) 
Proposed Operation of the Fund.  
3  KEY DELIBERATIONS  
3.1.  With the above context in mind, the Working Group delved into extensive discussions on the 
key issues such as:  
a. The need for voluntary contributions to be demand driven and reflect beneficiaries' needs 
and interests.  
b. The importance o f voluntary contributions avoiding duplication of programs and activities 
covered by other organizations (but acknowledging that they can promote coordination 
and synergies with other initiatives).  
c. The call by some Members for the WTO Secretariat to conduc t an internal strategic 
planning exercise, linked to the budget cycle, including the prioritisation of TA/CB projects 
and their sources of funding . 
d. The preference to focus on principles rather than proscriptive policies when developing 
guidance for the Sec retariat and consider the full lifecycle of voluntary contributions in the 
review and any subsequent recommendations.  
e. The general satisfaction with ITTC processes and the utility of building on existing policies 
that are working.  
f. The importance of the Secr etariat being (and being perceived as) impartial and neutral in 
its implementation of projects and activities and of developing an overarching approach 
that is coordinated across divisions.  
g. The desire to ensure transparency and consistency in the managemen t of trust funds while 
avoiding additional administrative burden.  
4  POINTS OF PRINCIPLE REGARDING THE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF 
VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS  
4.1  Mobilization of Voluntary Contributions  
4.1.  The mobilization of voluntary contributions should be based  on an established Secretariat 
process for identifying strategic objectives and priorities related to technical assistance and capacity 
building (TA/CB). This process should be linked to the more general work of the WTO Secretariat on 
developing a strategi c approach to resource management that has been discussed in other contexts. WT/BFA/W/584  
 
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  The strategic approach to TA/CB will help determine where voluntary contributions can be used 
effectively and assessing the capacity of the Secretariat to implement the proposed a ctivities. For 
example, the assessment of capacity might include a consideration of administrative and technical 
staffing from a purely administrative point of view. Or it might include comparative advantage of the 
WTO from a strategic point of view. If we  assume that capacity of the WTO Secretariat to administer 
and implement activities derived from voluntary contributions is not unlimited, then not all ideas for, 
or offers of, voluntary contributions will necessarily align with the current priorities and capacity of 
the Organization. Horizontal coordination across WTO divisions should be part of the prioritization 
process. For example, a multidisciplinary coordinating committee within the WTO Secretariat could 
be given the responsibility to review ideas, c onsider alignment with current priorities, propose 
organizational arrangements, and estimate financial impacts and legal obligations to ensure a 
consistent and a comprehensive approach before making a recommendation to the DG. Building on 
the Matrix3, the Secretariat could do a gap analysis of existing TF to learn what works best for the 
organization and Members.  
4.2.  The policies and guidelines developed by the Secretariat should include clear pathways and 
some guidance  on identifying the value -added propositi on of the WTO to manage a new trust fund.  
4.3.   The policies and guidelines developed by the Secretariat should  provide predictability and 
transparency for all Members. Staff -initiated Trust Funds must be addressed by the policies and 
guidelines, and a predicta ble opportunity needs to be provided to Members to engage and comment.  
4.2  Placement of Voluntary Contributions  
4.4.  Where possible, voluntary contributions will be directed to existing trust funds with established 
objectives and practices that have been clearly co mmunicated to Members. Members are encouraged 
to prioritize unearmarked contributions to the Global Trust Fund (GTF). Of course, earmarked 
contributions are an understood aspect of the current landscape of voluntary contributions so 
flexibility that encour ages support for the needs of beneficiaries of WTO TA/CB is important. 
Appropriate administrative procedures to work with earmarked contributions, both in the context of 
existing trust fund structures and when new funds are deemed desirable, will be import ant for 
transparency and efficiency.  
4.5.  The policies and guidelines developed by the Secretariat should  establish that voluntary funds 
should be given with minimal conditions attached, and that clear justifications for any stipulations 
for their use need to b e provided up front by donors as part of their proposal. This will ensure political 
support from Members for the Secretariat to require such information and, thereby, ensure 
transparency for all Members.  
4.3  Acceptance of Voluntary Contributions not Designated  for an Existing Trust Fund  
4.6.  Voluntary contributions that will not flow to an established trust fund can be accepted 
consistent with Financial Regulation 19 and the Guidelines for the Receipt and Notification of 
Voluntary Fund Contributions. Contribution ag reements will be reviewed by the WTO legal services 
for administrative consistency and the protection of all parties involved. In all cases, the objective 
of the voluntary contribution should be stated by the contributing Member.  
4.4  Programme Plans to Allocat e Trust Fund Resources  
4.7.  Expenditures from trust funds will be subject to periodically updated programme plans 
developed by the relevant Secretariat divisions (commensurate with the size, complexity, and 
duration of the activities). In most cases, these plans can encompass multiple trust funds under the 
umbrella of a unifying principle. For example, the existing TA Plan developed by ITTC encompasses 
several separate trust funds allocated across key result areas. Trust funds are largely an accounting 
mecha nism to keep track of voluntary contributions. From a programmatic point of view, trust funds 
are sources of funding that can be combined to meet demands from Members for TA/CB and achieve 
broader WTO consistent objectives.  
 
3 Annex 3 at the end of this document.  WT/BFA/W/584  
 
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  4.8.  As part of the policies and guid elines it develops, the Secretariat shall establish a consistent 
approach to information -sharing and associated procedural requirements that ensure compliance 
throughout the Organization.  
4.5  Implementation  
4.9.  The Secretariat should identify workflows with clear allocations of responsibilities to ensure 
efficient management of voluntary contributions and implementation of the activities resulting from 
the corresponding plans. Where possible, functions should be centralized to ensure coherence and 
specialized exper tise. Are there technological solutions to help aid with ensuring smooth processes?  
4.6  Costs of Implementation  
4.10.  Costs of implementation of activities funded by voluntary contributions should in principle be 
borne by the trust fund4. Recognizing that TA/CB are  core functions of the WTO, support from 
existing regular budget funded staff or resources such as use of computers and IT infrastructure are 
generally not treated as direct costs. However, these types of potential direct or indirect costs should 
be assess ed by the WTO Secretariat and disclosed to the extent possible prior to the Director -
General's acceptance of new voluntary contributions.  
4.11.  Guidelines should elaborate upon and clarify the costs and benefits of separate 
implementation and additional conditio ns associated with earmarked contributions. The aim of this 
information is to help mitigate the risk of over -concentration of contributions for specific beneficiaries 
or purposes that could result in underutilization due to capacity constraints or insuffic ient funding 
for other categories of beneficiaries.  
4.12.  Policies and requirements on cost should be clear and transparen t and available to all 
Members . If a trust fund requires significant staffing or other resources, it is the trust fund that hires 
staff and secures such resources by own means.  
4.7  Monitoring and Evaluation  
4.13.  Appropriate monitoring and evaluation strategies are incorporated into trust fund plans. The 
monitoring and evaluation should be commensurate with the size, complexity, and duration of the 
fund and activities. Independent evaluation exercises may not be necessary for smaller time -limited 
trust funds. Less extensive in -house reviews might be sufficient.  
4.14.  Trust funds should consider having target sunset dates , or periods for proactive review (e .g. 
each five years) to ensure the trust funds are still appropriate to the needs of the Organization and 
its Members.  
4.8  Reporting and notification  
4.15.  The Secretariat should provide financial and narrative reports at least annually. Consolidated 
summary reporti ng on trust fund revenue and expenditures should be provided periodically to the 
CBFA. Material changes in a trust fund's objectives or material amendments to a trust fund's plan 
will be notified to Members. For example, a trust fund established for one pu rpose should not, 
without notification, undertake completely different activities. This notification could be done through 
the quarterly trust fund reports to the CBFA or through the normal process of updated plans 
 
4 Direct Costs  are incurred for, and can be traced in full to, the trust fund 's activities, projects  and 
programmes. Included in this category are costs of dedicated project personnel, specific project equipment, 
dedicated project facilities, travel and other inputs necessary to achieve the results and objectives set out in 
programmes and projects. Fixed  Indirect Costs  are incurred by the organization regardless of the scope and 
level of its activities, and which cannot be traced unequivocally to specific activities, projects or programmes. 
These costs typically include the senior management of the organi zation, its corporate costs and statutory 
bodies (e.g. the CBFA) not related to service provision.  Variable Indirect Costs , usually referred to as 
Programme Support Costs, are incurred by the organization as a function and in support of its activities, 
projects, and programmes, and cannot be traced unequivocally to specific activities, project or programmes. 
These costs typically include service and administrative units, as well as their related systems and operating 
costs. Currently the WTO applies a stand ard overhead fee of up to 13% charged to trust fund expenditures to 
help offset variable indirect costs.  WT/BFA/W/584  
 
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  submitted to the designated committee dep ending upon the timing of the changes to be 
implemented.  
4.16.  Once implemented, the policies and guidelines developed by the Secretariat should be 
periodically discussed with the designated committee or management bodies of the various trust 
funds and with cont ributors and beneficiaries.  
5  RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CBFA  
5.1.  The Working Group therefore makes the following recommendations to the CBFA:  
5.2.  The CBFA endorses the principles identified by the Working Group and directs the 
WTO Secretariat to immediately commence t he process to develop the necessary policies 
and guidelines to ensure that the governance and management of WTO Trust Funds and 
Voluntary Contributions are brought in consistency with the principles recommended by 
the Working Group in a time bound manner.  
5.3.  In this regard, the Secretariat may also consider upholding, expanding and/or consolidating 
the existing policies, guidelines and practices, as deemed necessary in undertaking the above 
exercise.  
5.4.  The Secretariat should submit a proposal containing the nece ssary policies and 
guidelines to the CBFA within six months and complete the process as per the guidance 
of the CBFA, including regular reports on the progress of work to the CBFA at its formal 
meetings, till this process is completed.  
5.5.  Until new policies a nd guidelines are adopted, existing rules and regulations will continue to 
apply.  
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  ANNEX I  
 
GUIDELINES FOR THE RECEIPT AND NOTIFICATION OF VOLUNTARY FUND 
CONTRIBUTIONS  
1. In keeping with a commitment to streamline the procedures for the notification, approval, 
implementation and reporting on voluntary fund contributions, the Director General has authorised 
the following guidelines which are aimed at improving transparency and consistency in the handling 
of all voluntary funds. These procedures shall be applied in strict conformity with Financial Regulation 
19.1 
 
2. In the case of formal pledges made for the future establishment of a fund or funds, these 
pledges w ill be notified to members for transparency purposes. Once an actual Fund is proposed in 
furtherance of the pledge, it will be notified as such, in accordance with the guidelines below.  
 
3. All voluntary funds will be submitted to the Director General for hi s consideration and may be 
accepted where she/he determines that "...the purposes for which the contributions are made are 
consistent with the policies, aims and activities of the WTO".  
 
4. In considering the proffered voluntary contribution, the Director Gen eral will receive the 
Administration and General Services Division 's (AGSD) determination whether the contribution 
would involve direct or indirect financial liability for the WTO.  
 
5. When the Director General assesses the proffered funding positively, and u pon receipt of the 
AGSD 's assessment, a notification will be transmitted promptly to the Committee on Budget Finance 
and Administration (CBFA) for consideration.  
 
• Where the voluntary fund involves no additional financial liability the CBFA will be notified  
within 14 days of the Director General 's receipt of the assessment  and any Member so 
inclined can express its views.  
 
• Where the voluntary fund contribution involves direct or indirect financial liability, the 
notification will be submitted for considerati on and consent by the CBFA within 14 days of 
the Director General 's receipt of the assessment . 
 
6. The Secretariat will give detailed notification of all trust funds arising under voluntary fund 
arrangements and will make available supporting documentation to members where required.  
7. The trust fund notification will outline – 
• The objectives of the trust fund  
• The expected beneficiaries (if specified)  
• The implementation strategy  
• The expected deliverables  
• The amount of the funding dedicated to the trust fund  
• The expected duration  
• The implementation partners identified  
• The secretariat focal points for the trust fund.    
 
1 Regulation 19: "Voluntary contributions, gifts or donations from WTO Members and Observers may be 
accepted by the Director -General provided that the purposes for which the contributions are made are 
consistent with the policies, aims and activities of the WTO, and provided that the acceptance of such 
contributions which directly or indirectly involve additional financial liability for the WTO shall req uire the 
consent of the Committee. Voluntary contributions, gifts or donations from Non -Governmental Donors are 
subject to the additional guidelines laid out in Annex C…."  WT/BFA/W/584  
 
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  ANNEX II  
 
WORKING GROUP CONCERNING COHERENCE IN THE MANAGEMENT AND 
ADMINISTRATION OF VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS  
TERMS O F REFERENCE AGREED BY WORKING GROUP  
1. The Working Group is open to all Members.  
2. Members have engaged over many months in deliberations and exchanges regarding the role of 
voluntary contributions and the trust funds that result from those contributions at the  WTO. In 
order to constructively advance those discussions, it has been decided to establish a working 
group that can serve as an informal format for Members to freely exchange ideas and develop 
convergence around how the WTO Secretariat manages and admini sters trust funds on behalf 
of Members (both contributors and beneficiaries). Additionally, the most recent external auditor 
report recommended that the WTO review its trust fund landscape to consolidate small and 
similar funds and harmonize main processes  to ensure consistency and transparency.  
3. The aim of the Working Group is to examine financial and administrative aspects of the changing 
landscape for voluntary contributions, bearing in mind objectives and impact of those 
contributions on beneficiaries an d the WTO. The Working Group will consider whether to make 
recommendations intended to improved management/governance and administration both 
within the WTO Secretariat and among the Members.  
4. Questions the Working Group may wish to consider include (but ar e not limited to):  
a. What role should written plans (like the Biennial Technical Assistance Plan) play in 
voluntary contributions and trust fund activities?  
b. Under what circumstances should there be committee oversight of trust fund plans and 
activities?  
c. What factors have led to the increasing number of dedicated funds and earmarking?  
d. When are earmarks or dedicated trust funds appropriate and effective?  
e. Under what circumstances would it be appropriate to encourage more consolidation of 
activities under the Glo bal Trust Fund or similar vehicles?  
f. What kinds of administrative harmonization would increase consistency and transparency?  
g. Are there ways to improve how overhead and cost recovery are implemented to better 
mitigate potential direct or indirect impacts on the Secretariat staff and other resources?  
h. What are the roles and responsibilities of Members, contributors, beneficiaries, and the 
Secretariat?  
5. The WTO Secretariat will be available to support the Working Group.  
6. The Working Group will keep the CBFA and other stakeholders informed on the status of its 
work.  
7. The target date for the Working Group to submit a report to the CBFA will be 30 June 2021.  
   
  WT/BFA/W/584  
 
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TRUST FUND MATRIX  
 
Table 1 Matrix for the GTF, the FIMIP, the NTP, the China LDCs & Accessions Programme, STDF and TFAF  
  
Global Trust Fund  French -Irish 
Mission Internship 
Programme  Netherlands Trainee 
Programme  China LDCs & 
Accessions 
Programme  Standards and 
Trade Develo pment 
Facility - STDF - Trade Facilitation 
Agreement Facility  
1. Objective/  
mandate  The GTF is an 
unearmarked, 
multidonor fund. It 
finances the 
implementation of TA 
Plan, whose main 
purpose is to enhance 
the human and 
institutional capacities 
of beneficiaries to 
take full advantage of 
the rules -based 
Multilateral Trading 
System (MTS), meet 
their obligations and 
enforce their rights as 
Members, and deal 
with emerging trade -
related challenges.  
The TA Plan is 
principally a policy 
framework that 
identifies priorities, 
anticipates results, 
mechanisms for 
implementation and 
sources of funding for 
the activities.  Earmarked to finance 
the Mission internship 
programme whose 
objective is to create 
internships for 
missions in Geneva 
aimed (a) to enhance 
their knowledge and 
understanding of the 
multilateral trading 
system and of trade 
policy in general; (b) 
to strengthen the 
understanding of the 
negotiation process at 
the WTO; (c) and to 
support the missions 
in participating more 
actively  in the daily 
activitie s at the WTO.  Earmarked to finance 
an internship 
programme in the 
Secretariat to build 
sustainable capacity in 
beneficiary countries, 
assist in the economic 
and social 
development of LDCs, 
low-income countries 
and comparable poor 
small and vulnerable 
econo mies in areas 
related to trade 
policy.  Earmarked to finance 
5 pillars of fund: 
Accessions 
Internships, 
Accessions Round 
Table Meeting, LDC 
participation in WTO 
meetings, South -
South Dialogue on 
LDCs and 
Development, LDC 
Trade Policy Review 
Follow up Worksh ops.  Programme goal: 
increased and 
sustainable SPS 
capacity in developing 
countries to facilitate 
safe trade (in support 
of SDGs). Reference is 
made to STDF's 
Strategy (2020 -2024) 
and the Theory of 
Change therein.  The goal of the 
Facility is to 
contribut e to the 
implementation of the 
Trade Facilitation 
Agreement in 
developing and least 
developed country 
members. The 
purpose of the Facility 
is to complement 
existing support 
efforts and enhance 
their effectiveness, 
and to make support 
available in instances  
where potential 
recipients have earlier 
failed to secure 
assistance from other 
donors.  
2. When was 
fund first 
created?  2001 2001 1998 2011 The STDF partnership 
was officially 
established in 2004.  The Facility was 
created in 2014. The 
TFAF trust fund was 
created in 2015.    
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Global Trust Fund  French -Irish 
Mission Internship 
Programme  Netherlands Trainee 
Programme  China LDCs & 
Accessions 
Programme  Standards and 
Trade Develo pment 
Facility - STDF - Trade Facilitation 
Agreement Facility  
3. Contributors  In recent years, 
Australia, Austria, 
Canada, Estonia, 
European 
Commission, Finland, 
France, Germany, 
Japan, Korea, 
Liechtenstein, 
Lithuania, Norway, 
Sweden, United 
States . France and Ireland . Netherlands  China  Australia, Canada, 
Denmark, European 
Commission, Finland, 
France (both 
ministries of 
economy/finance and 
agriculture), 
Germany, Ireland, 
Netherlands, Norway, 
Sweden, United 
Kingdom, United 
States (both U S FDA 
+ USDA).  Australia, Austria, 
China, Czech 
Republic, EU, France, 
NZ, Norway, UK, US, 
Chinese Taipei and 
Ireland . (Current and 
recent)  
4. Intended 
Beneficiaries  All Developing 
Members and 
Observers while giving 
priority to LDCs.  Most TA beneficiaries  
with priority given to 
LDCs. Most TA beneficiaries  
with priority given to 
LDCS and vulnerable 
poor countries . Priority to Observers 
and LDCs . All developing 
countries  (The STDF 
has a specific target 
to allocate at least 
40% of its project 
resources to LDCs).  Developing and LDC 
Members . 
5. Main 
delivery 
methods 
(analysis, 
seminars, 
individual 
TACB, travel 
assistance….)  Wide variety --see TA 
Plans. National 
activities, r egional and 
subregional focused 
and global activities 
as F2F activities and 
online activities 
including what is now 
commonly referred  to 
as virtual  activities 
since the COVID 
pandemic.  Long-term internship  Long-term internship  Long-term internship, 
seminar s/workshops, 
travel assistance . Project and project 
preparation grants 
(PPGs), 
publications/studies, 
briefing notes, film 
products, newsletters, 
events/webinars.  The TFAF provides 
support and 
assistance by 
conducting needs 
assessments, national 
and regiona l 
workshops; as well as 
providing information 
and answering 
questions on a one -
on-one basis. For 
example, sessions on 
donor assistance, 
information on 
development partner 
programs, organizing 
events in cooperation 
with partners to draw 
on their expertise i n 
meeting Members TF 
implementation 
needs, enhancing 
cooperation, and   
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Global Trust Fund  French -Irish 
Mission Internship 
Programme  Netherlands Trainee 
Programme  China LDCs & 
Accessions 
Programme  Standards and 
Trade Develo pment 
Facility - STDF - Trade Facilitation 
Agreement Facility  
reducing duplication 
and disruption. The 
TFAF also provides 
funding through its 
grant program.  
6. Size of fund  The target amount for 
the GTF is defined by 
the CBFA as part of its 
review of the TA Plan 
funding. For the last 
two biennia (2018 -19 
and 2020 -21), the 
target amount 
approved by the GC 
was CHF 12.5 
million/year.  
The GTF had an 
opening balance of 
CHF 12.6 million on 
1 January 2018.  
New contributions 
received were 
CHF 6.4 million/year 
on average in 2018 -
20. 
Expenses in the GTF 
were 
CHF 8.8 million/year 
in 2018 -19 (pre -
Covid) and only 
CHF 3.5 million in 
2020.  CHF 1.1 million/year  CHF 0.9 million/year  CHF 0.5 million/year  CHF 7 million/year (as 
per the STDF Strategy 
2020-2024)  CHF 0.8 million/year 
(pre-Covid)  
7. Expected 
duration of 
fund (i.e. on -
going or time -
limited)  on-going  on-going  on-going  on-going  On-going --Since its 
inception, the STDF 
has received over 
US$75 million in 
contributions from 
donors.  On-going  
8. Secretariat 
division 
responsible  ITTC ITTC ITTC ITTC / 
Accessions/TPRD/  
Development Division  Agriculture and 
Commodities Division 
(AGCD)  Market Access 
Division    
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Global Trust Fund  French -Irish 
Mission Internship 
Programme  Netherlands Trainee 
Programme  China LDCs & 
Accessions 
Programme  Standards and 
Trade Develo pment 
Facility - STDF - Trade Facilitation 
Agreement Facility  
9. WTO 
Committee(s)  CTD/CBFA  CTD/CBFA  CTD/CBFA  CTD/CBFA  The STDF Secretariat 
reports to the SPS 
Committee. It also 
provides information 
to other Committees, 
where appropriate and 
requested (e.g. CTD 
on Aid for Trade, LDC 
Sub-committee, Trade 
Facilitation, etc.).  Trade Facilitation 
Committee  
10. 
Management 
structure 
(How are 
decisions 
taken?)  This is a relatively 
complex process that 
has evolved over 
many years 
experience. Please see 
the attached slide that 
summarizes the main 
elements. (TA 
Workflow 2021) . This is a relatively 
complex process that 
has evolved over 
many years 
experience. Please se e 
the attached slide that 
summarizes the main 
elements. (TA 
Workflow 2021) . This is a relatively 
complex process that 
has evolved over 
many years 
experience. Please see 
the attached slide that 
summarizes the main 
elements. (TA 
Workflow 2021) . This is a relatively 
complex process that 
has evolved over 
many years 
experience. Please see 
the attached slide that 
summarizes the main 
elements. (TA 
Workflow 2021) . STDF's highest body is 
the STDF Policy 
Committee , which 
decides on strategy. It 
consists of high -level 
representatives of 
STDF's five founding 
partners, three donor 
representatives and 
three SPS experts 
from developing 
countries. The STDF 
Working Group  
approves STDF's 
annual Work Plan and 
budget, and ap proves 
project and PPG 
applications for 
funding. It consists of 
technical level 
representatives of 
STDF's founding 
partners, donors and 
six developing country 
SPS experts, and 
includes participation 
of the Codex/IPPC 
Secretariats. All 
decisions in the STDF  
are taken by 
consensus. The STDF 
Secretariat , housed in The TFAF Operational 
Guidelines, that were 
developed in 2015 
with input and 
approval of all 
Members, set out the 
type of activities and 
functions, the 
structure and 
reporting 
requirements. The 
Facility is operated, 
managed, and 
monitored by the W TO 
Secretariat within the 
requirements of the 
TFAF Operational 
Guidelines that were 
created in cooperation 
with, and approved 
by, the membership. 
All expenditures are 
approved by the 
division director, 
finance division, and 
any other relevant 
division. WTO  rules 
apply for finance, 
travel, hiring of 
consultants, staff, etc. 
Under the grant 
program, project   
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- 12 -   
Global Trust Fund  French -Irish 
Mission Internship 
Programme  Netherlands Trainee 
Programme  China LDCs & 
Accessions 
Programme  Standards and 
Trade Develo pment 
Facility - STDF - Trade Facilitation 
Agreement Facility  
AgCD, is tasked to 
implement the STDF 
Work Plan, reviews 
project/PPG 
applications, convenes 
meetings and 
webinars, is 
responsible for 
outreach and 
monitoring/evaluation
/learning, prepares 
annual repo rts, etc.  implementation grants 
are reviewed and 
approved by a 
selection committee 
made up of Members 
and partner 
organizations.  
11. Workplan 
process or 
documents  Yes--Biennial TA Plan  
See  
WT/COMTD/W/248/Rev.1 for 
2020-21 Yes--Biennial TA Plan  
See 
WT/COMTD/W/248/Rev.1 
for 2020 -21 Yes--Biennial TA Plan  
See 
WT/COMTD/W/248/Rev.1 
for 2020 -21 Yes--Biennial TA Plan  
See 
WT/COMTD/W/248/Rev.1 
for 2020 -21 The following 
documents are 
relevant: (i) STDF 
Strategy 2020 -2024, 
outlining goal and 
outcomes and Theory 
of Change; (ii) STDF 
Work Plan, outlining 
outputs and activities; 
(iii) STDF Operational 
Rules, outlining 
STDF's gover nance 
structure, project 
application /review/im
plementation/evaluati
on process, as well as 
fiduciary 
responsibilities; (iv) 
STDF Monitoring, 
Evaluation and 
Learning (MEL) 
Framework; and (v) 
STDF Communications 
Plan. All documents 
can be viewed and 
downloaded on STDF's 
website.  The TFAF develo ps an 
annual workplan that 
sets out the types of 
activities that the 
TFAF will conduct the 
following year.  
 
The Rules also require 
an annual report that 
provides textual and 
financial details on the 
TFAF activities that 
have been conducted 
in the reported  period.  
The textual report 
must include the 
outcomes achieved 
based on a results 
framework, an 
estimation of impact, 
information on risks, 
and a statement on 
how activities 
conformed to the 
principles mentioned 
above.  
 
All TFAF documents 
are available on the   
  WT/BFA/W/584  
 
- 13 -   
Global Trust Fund  French -Irish 
Mission Internship 
Programme  Netherlands Trainee 
Programme  China LDCs & 
Accessions 
Programme  Standards and 
Trade Develo pment 
Facility - STDF - Trade Facilitation 
Agreement Facility  
TFAFacility.org 
website.  
12. 
Evaluations 
done  Yes 
See TA Monitoring & 
Evaluation plan in 
WT/COMTD/W/255  Yes 
See TA Monitoring & 
Evaluation plan in 
WT/COMTD/W/255  Yes 
See TA Monitoring & 
Evaluation plan in 
WT/COMTD/W/255  Yes 
See TA Monitoring & 
Evalua tion plan in 
WT/COMTD/W/255  The STDF is reviewed 
every five years by an 
independent evaluator 
(see Operational 
Rules). Independent 
evaluations have been 
conducted in 2005, 
2008, 2014 and 2019. 
All reports are 
available on the STDF 
website.  An independent 
review must be 
commissioned to 
evaluate the Facility 's 
operation by February 
22, 2022 (five years 
from entry into force 
of the TFA). 
(Operational 
Guidelines para 26.)  
13. Use of 
secretariat 
services              
a. Use of 
experts/staff 
with no 
remuneration 
from the fund  
(Estimate of 
regular budget 
staff 
dedicated to 
the activities 
of the fund or 
other 
indicators of 
resource 
intensity.)  ITTC has 28 regular 
budget staff and 13 L 
posts who work on TA 
planning, 
coordination, design, 
organisation, lo gistics, 
delivery, M&E and 
reporting. In terms of 
substance, ITTC is 
more specifically 
responsible for TA for 
generalists and for e -
Learning.  
 
Thematic divisions are 
involved in the 
preparation and 
delivery of thematic 
TA activities, 
especially for those 
designed for 
specialists.  This programme also 
benefits from the 
work of many RB 
colleagues, whether in 
ITTC and HRD to 
organise and run the 
internship, or in 
thematic divisions 
when the interns 
interact with them.  This programme also 
benefits from the 
work of many RB 
colleagues, whether in 
ITTC and HRD to 
organise and run the 
internship, or in 
thematic divisions 
when the interns 
interact with them.  This programme also 
benefits from the 
work of many RB 
colleagues, whether in 
ITTC and HRD to 
organise and run t he 
internship, or in 
thematic divisions 
when the interns 
interact with them.  One regular budget 
position (The WTO 
provides the 
Secretary/Head of the 
STDF (as agreed and 
stipulated in the 
Operational Rules). 
Other WTO staff 
attend STDF Working 
Group and Pol icy 
Committee meetings.  3.5 staff funded 
through the regular 
WTO budget .   
  WT/BFA/W/584  
 
- 14 -   
Global Trust Fund  French -Irish 
Mission Internship 
Programme  Netherlands Trainee 
Programme  China LDCs & 
Accessions 
Programme  Standards and 
Trade Develo pment 
Facility - STDF - Trade Facilitation 
Agreement Facility  
b. Use of 
general 
services with 
no 
remuneration 
from the fund 
(e.g. Facilities, 
IT, Legal, 
Procurement, 
etc.)  Yes--standard support 
services used such as 
facilities, travel, 
procure ment, legal, 
IT, language and 
document productio n. Yes--standard support 
services used such as 
facilities, travel, 
procurement, legal, 
IT, language and 
document productio n. Yes--standard support 
services used such as 
facilities, travel, 
procurement, legal,  
IT, language and 
document production . Yes--standard support 
services used such as 
facilities, travel, 
procurement, legal, 
IT, language and 
document productio n. The STDF makes 
limited use of general 
services like legal, 
procurement, 
conference services, 
IT etc. The STDF Trust 
Fund pays for its own 
IT licenses, website 
development/  
maintenance, etc.  Travel unit, finance, 
HR, media, 
procurement 
(website), ITSD, 
conference office, 
interpreters . 
c. Use of 
experts/staff 
with 
remuneration 
from the f und 
(Estimate of 
L-post staff or 
consultants 
dedicated to 
the activities 
of the fund.)  The GTF and PSF fund 
13 L-post positions in 
ITTC.  
The GTF/PSF sharing 
of L Posts funding 
changes every year. 
In 2020, 12 L post 
were financed by GTF 
and 1 by PSF. In 
2019, it was 6 -6; in 
2018, 8 -4... 
One of the 13 L posts 
in ITTC is vacant for 
4 years  
 
In total, there are 
27 L posts in the 
Secretariat (one of 
which is vacant). The 
other 14 L posts are 
in MAD (2), IPD (2), 
Ag (2), ERSD (2), 
KMD (1), ITSD (1) 
and AGSD (4) . 
 
The funding of these 
L posts is shared 
between the GTF, PSF 
and TFAF as follows:  
2020: 12 / 13 / 1  
2019: 11 / 14 / 1  
2018: 12 / 12 / 1  Regularly benefits 
from the work of 
some of the L posts 
financed by the GTF 
or PSF . Regularly benefits 
from the work of 
some of the L posts 
financed by the GTF 
or PSF . Regularly benefits 
from the work of 
some of the L posts 
financed by the GTF 
or PSF . In addition to the 
Secretary/Head, the 
STDF Secretariat 
consists of five 
professional and one 
support staff, all on L -
contra cts and paid by 
the STDF Trust Fund. 
Recruitment of two 
vacancies (both L -
contracts) is 
underway. The STDF 
also uses consultants 
(for temporary 
assignments  when 
needed) and interns, 
also paid for by the 
STDF Trust Fund.  1 Grade 7 L post. Up 
to 2 student in terns a 
year. Consultants to 
implement grants.    
  WT/BFA/W/584  
 
- 15 - Table 26 Matrix for LDC in the 12th WTO MC, LDC Graduation Fund, WTO Fisheries LDC Participation, Transferring technologies for the 
development of Cotton and CDCRI  
  LDC in the 12th 
WTO Ministerial 
Conf, Geneva  LDC Graduation 
Fund  WTO Fisheries LDCs 
Participation  Transferring 
technologies f or the 
dev. of Cotton  CDCRI: Investment 
Facilitation for 
Development  CDCRI: ASYCUDA 
TIVA Databases  
1. Objective/  
mandate  To facilitate the 
participation of Least -
Developed Countries 
(LDCs) in the 
Ministerial 
Conferences. Costs 
related to air travel, 
accommodation and 
per diem allowances 
of LDC delegations, 
comprised of one 
Minister and two high 
level officials, are 
covered.  The project on LDC 
Graduation, which 
was undertaken at the 
specific request of the 
WTO LDC group, aims 
at enhancing the 
capacity of LDCs to 
address the trade -
related challenges 
that Graduating LDCs 
face. It also aims to 
assess the 
implications of 
graduation vis -à-vis 
their participation in 
WTO participation, as 
well as at improving 
evidence -based 
strategies that will 
support  the 
sustainability of LDC 
graduation.  The establishment of 
the WTO LDC fisheries 
trust fund originated 
in response to a 
request in 2019 from 
a group of least 
developed country 
(LDC) WTO Members 
and Observers with 
interest in the 
fisheries subsidies' 
negotiations.  Coordinate and 
ensure production of 
feasibility assessment 
studies in five African 
LDCs on the 
unexploited 
production, 
processing and trade 
potential of cotton by -
products. Mobilize 
resources, produce 
knowledge and 
communication 
products, partici pate 
in events and raise 
international partners' 
awareness on the 
value addition 
potential of cotton by -
products in partner 
LDCs. Support 
UNCTAD and ITC in 
the preparation of a 
comprehensive 
project proposal 
containing 
implementation 
activities and theory 
of change in the 
target countries and 
markets, to be 
submitted to donors 
and other 
implementation 
partners.  Advancing Developing 
and Least -Developed 
Countries 
Understanding of 
Multilateral 
Approaches to 
Facilitating 
Investment for 
Development . Facilitatin g automatic 
data notification to 
the WTO through 
ASYCUDA;  
Incorporating more 
African economies in 
Trade in Value Added 
(TiVA) databases to 
improve their capacity 
on Global Value 
Chains analysis . 
 
6 The LDC Graduation Fund and the Transferring Technologies for the Development of C otton Fund are closed.    
  WT/BFA/W/584  
 
- 16 -   LDC in the 12th 
WTO Ministerial 
Conf, Geneva  LDC Graduation 
Fund  WTO Fisheries LDCs 
Participation  Transferring 
technologies f or the 
dev. of Cotton  CDCRI: Investment 
Facilitation for 
Development  CDCRI: ASYCUDA 
TIVA Databases  
2.When was 
fund first 
created?  1996 2019 2019 2019 2017 2019 
3. Contributors  Many overtime. 
Currently Australia, 
Chinese Taipei, the 
EU, Ireland, and 
Norway.  EIF Donors (24 WTO 
Members), duly 
approved by the EIF 
Board . Australia, Norway, 
New Zealand and 
Germany . EIF Donors (24 WTO 
Members), duly 
approved by the EIF 
Board . China (via the South -
South Cooperation 
Assistance Fund 
(SSCAF)) . China (via the South -
South Cooperation 
Assistance Fund 
(SSCAF)) . 
4. Intended 
Beneficiaries  LDC Members  The WTO LDC group, 
particularly the LDCs 
in the process of 
Graduation  LDC Members and 
Observers  Benin, Burkina Faso, 
Chad, Mali, 
Mozambique  Developing and least -
developed countries  African developing 
economies and least -
developed countries  
5. Main 
delivery 
methods 
(analysis, 
seminars, 
individual 
TACB, travel 
assistance….)  Support for travel and 
lodging expenses 
related to 
participation at 
Ministerials.  Research and 
analytical work on 
LDC graduation 
(comprehensive 
assessment of the 
implications of LD C 
graduation vis -à-vis 
relevant WTO 
Agreements and rules 
as well as impact on 
market access, 
development 
cooperation; country 
analysis); national 
and regional capacity -
building workshops & 
events; and 
dissemination of 
research findings and 
analytical work,  
including publications.  To assist selected LDC 
Members to bring 9 to 
11 capital -based 
experts to Geneva to 
participate in the 
fisheries subsidies 
negotiations meeting 
clusters – Starting 
from September 2019 
until February 2020 
when the pandemic 
halted glo bal travel.  Feasibility studies 
were conducted in 
each country by local 
consultants and 
coordinate by the 
WTO and other 
international experts. 
Studies include 
surveys of different 
key actors involved in 
the cotton value 
chains so as to 
provide a taxonomy 
of by-products with a 
potential for 
development and the 
technologies, support 
policies and know how 
needed to exploit 
such potential. 
Studies were 
discussed at various 
events and validated 
at national validation 
workshops in each 
individual partner 
country.   Organise a series of 
regionally -focused 
“high-Level trade and 
investment facilitation 
for development 
forums" to exchange 
information on 
evolving trade and 
investment policy 
approaches, to share 
relevant research and 
to encourage on -
going policy dialogue ; 
* Launch a database 
of investment 
facilitation measures; 
* Assist in the 
establishment of a 
research network.  Develop a software 
module to be 
integrated in the 
customs software; * 
Capacity building for 
five African economies 
to develop and 
maintain stati stics for 
Trade in Value Added 
(TiVA) databases.    
  WT/BFA/W/584  
 
- 17 -   LDC in the 12th 
WTO Ministerial 
Conf, Geneva  LDC Graduation 
Fund  WTO Fisheries LDCs 
Participation  Transferring 
technologies f or the 
dev. of Cotton  CDCRI: Investment 
Facilitation for 
Development  CDCRI: ASYCUDA 
TIVA Databases  
6. Size of fund  CHF 0.5 -0.8 million  
/MC Grant of USD 350,000  CHF 0.15 million/year 
(pre-Covid)  Grant of USD 200,000 
(Closed now)  Grant of CHF 550,000  Grant of CHF 1,100,000  
7. Expected 
duration of 
fund (i.e. on -
going or time -
limited)  Renewed with each 
MC Time-limited: March 
2019 - December 
2021 Time limited, subject 
to availability of 
funds. Assuming the 
negotiations conclude 
in 2021 (on the basis 
of mainly virtual 
meetings) little or no 
further act ivity is 
expected.  Time limited (closed) 
- 08 July 2019 to 31 
December 2020  Project specific limited 
to available funds --
not replenishable   Project specific limited 
to available funds --
not replenishable  
8. Secretariat 
division 
responsible  Administration and 
General Services 
Division (AGSD)  Development Division  Rules Division  Agriculture and 
Commodities Division 
(AGCD)  Economic Research 
and Statistics Division  Economic Research 
and Statistics Division  
9. WTO 
Committee(s)  CBFA  Sub-Committee for 
LDCs (for 
transparency 
purposes); EIF Board 
& TFM (monitoring 
and due diligence).  Negotiating Group on 
Rules  Reports on activities 
were regularly 
submitted to: Sub -
Committee on Cotton; 
DG Consultative 
Mechanism on Cotton . No specific committee 
reporting  The ASYCUDA 
notification obligations 
arise through various 
Committees, including 
the CMA, CTD, CRTA --
No specific committee 
reporting  
10. 
Management 
structure 
(How are 
decisions 
taken?)  Administratively 
Managed within AGSD 
according to narrowly 
defined scope . The WTO as the main 
implementing entity 
follows WTO 
administrative rules 
and procedures. The 
project manager in 
Development Division 
oversees the project 
implementation.  Decisions are taken 
by the LDC Group on 
how many and which 
experts are to travel 
to Geneva for each 
cluster, subject to 
agreed criteria. They 
relay the information 
to the Secretariat 
which verifies the 
information and 
provides the tickets 
and accommodation.  Decision were taken 
by AGCD in 
consultation with 
UNCTAD, ITC, the 
partner LDCs and the 
EIF Secretariat .  Decisions are taken 
by WTO Secretariat 
staff in consultation 
with research 
partners (GTAP and 
GDI). * The ASYCUDA 
Project is led by the 
WTO in close 
cooperation with the 
UNCTAD ASYCUDA 
team and national 
customs offices.  
* The TiVA Project is 
led by WTO/ERSD in 
collaboration with 
national teams of 
statisticians, UNECA, 
OECD and external 
consultant .   
  WT/BFA/W/584  
 
- 18 -   LDC in the 12th 
WTO Ministerial 
Conf, Geneva  LDC Graduation 
Fund  WTO Fisheries LDCs 
Participation  Transferring 
technologies f or the 
dev. of Cotton  CDCRI: Investment 
Facilitation for 
Development  CDCRI: ASYCUDA 
TIVA Databases  
11. Workplan 
process or 
documents  Estimates of costs for 
each MC  The project activities, 
follows a workplan, 
approved by the EIF 
Board, as part of the 
project proposal. 
Later, in view of the 
COVID -19 pandemic, 
the work plan was 
updated with the 
time-period for 
activities envisaged 
until December 2021.  Estima tes of costs for 
each cluster  A project proposal 
and a workplan 
outlining activities 
and outputs were 
prepared and 
annexed to the MoU 
between the WTO and 
UNOPS (who acts as 
the EIF's Trust Fund 
Manager)  Budgets and 
workplans (research 
proposals) are 
prepar ed and revised 
by the project team  Project documents 
(charter, plan, work 
documents, training 
materials...) are 
prepared and revised 
by the project team  
12. 
Evaluations 
done  No  The project 
implementation  is 
subject to regular 
reporting and 
evaluation 
requirements of the 
EIF Trust Fund 
Manager (UNOPS).  The reactions from 
beneficiaries and 
other Members to the 
LDC participation 
through the trust fund 
have been very 
positive as it allowed 
more complete 
engag ement of LDCs 
in the highly technical 
fisheries subsidies 
negotiations.  A Project Evaluation 
Report was prepared 
and submitted to the 
EIF ES and TFM. The 
report is available for 
consultation upon 
request to the EIF ES.  Done by project team 
and monitored at 
Divisional level --No 
external evaluation 
planned . Done by project team 
and monitored at 
Divisional level --No 
external evaluation 
planned . 
13. Use of 
secretariat 
services                
  WT/BFA/W/584  
 
- 19 -   LDC in the 12th 
WTO Ministerial 
Conf, Geneva  LDC Graduation 
Fund  WTO Fisheries LDCs 
Participation  Transferring 
technologies f or the 
dev. of Cotton  CDCRI: Investment 
Facilitation for 
Development  CDCRI: ASYCUDA 
TIVA Databases  
a. Use of 
experts/staff 
with no 
remuneration 
from the fund  
(Estimate of 
regular budget 
staff 
dedicated to 
the activities 
of the fund or 
other 
indicators of 
resource 
intensity.)  Travel Unit in months 
leading up to MC  One project manager 
and one staff member 
in Development 
Division dedicate on 
average 2 days per 
month to oversee 
project activities.  One staff member 
less than 1 day per 
month (pre -Covid) to 
verify the documents 
for experts traveling 
to attend the 
meetings . For part of the 
duration of the fund 
(from February 2020 
to December 2020), 
the WTO has provided  
80% of time of a P6 
professional staff.  20 % of the working 
time of one senior 
and one junior staff 
member over the 
course of one year.  * The TiVA project 
involves one senior 
staff member (project 
leader, around 5% of 
working time).  
* The ASYCUDA 
projec t involves one 
non-senior staff 
member (project 
leader, around 10% 
of working time) . 
b. Use of 
general 
services with 
no 
remuneration 
from the fund 
(e.g. Facilities, 
IT, Legal, 
Procurement, 
etc.)  Travel Unit and 
Procurement  Office space for 
intern, and occasional 
interpretation -related 
services.  AGSD Travel Unit in 
cooperation with ITTC 
Logistics Team, and 
the Financial 
Management Service 
for ticketing and 
logistics.  Secretariat services 
were used to translate 
the 5 feasibil ity 
studies and 
conference and 
facilities services in 
connection with the 
organizations of 
meetings.  Legal services for 
MoUs; logistics 
services to help with 
the organization of 
the forums; regular IT 
services for data work  * ASYCUDA:  legal 
service to ass ist with 
MoUs; IT services for 
data reception  
* TiVA: legal service 
to setup and review 
MoU with OECD 
(beginning of project)  
c. Use of 
experts/staff 
with 
remuneration 
from the fund 
(Estimate of 
L-post staff or 
consultants 
dedicated to 
the activities 
of the fund.)  No One intern (May - 
August 2019); One 
short term staff 
(November 2019 – 
March 2020); 
otherwise most of the 
work has been done 
by Consultants  None Two national 
consultants were 
hired with the task of 
acting as coordinator -
consultan ts for the 
preparation of the 
feasibility studies.  External consultants 
and research 
assistants hired with 
remuneration from 
the fund. Note that 
the funds allowed us 
to hire outside 
resources and 
therefore reduce WTO 
regular staff time 
needed to complete 
the project.  * ASYCUDA: use of 
ASYCUDA experts 
through a budgetary 
contribution 
agreement with 
UNCTAD  
* TiVA: one external 
consultant, expert in 
TiVA-related statistics 
and specialized in 
statistical technical 
assistance  
 
__________