EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation 
World Trade Organization
Centre William Rappard,
Rue de Lausanne 154
CH-1211 Geneva 2 
Switzerland
Tel. +41 (0)22 739 51 11
Email: TAMS@wto.org
Website: https://www.wto.org
Find out more Enhancing Understanding and Knowledge of the Multilateral 
Trading System
This report was prepared on behalf of the WTO Secretariat 
by the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC), 
the division managing, coordinating, and evaluating the 
organization and delivery of WTO technical assistance (TA) 
activities. It benefitted from the input provided by all divisions 
involved in the implementation of the TA programme. As a 
tool to assess WTO TA performance and communicate on 
its achievements, the report identifies a variety of concrete 
results produced, and which could be measured during the 
year. It highlights how the WTO responds to the evolving needs 
of its developing and least developed Members and Observers 
through a constant adaptation of its offer for a an ever-greater 
relevance and quality. Throughout the report are testimonials 
recounting the perspectives and experiences of those by and 
for whom WTO TA makes a difference.TRANCHE POUR 104PAGES Anglais 3.75mm
Optimizing digital delivery to 
navigate the pandemic 
Committee on Trade and Development  
WT/COMTD/W/265WTO Technical Assistance
Annual Report2021Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation 
Committee on Trade and Development  
WT/COMTD/W/265  
22-34722021WTO  
Technical Assistance
Annual Report
Optimizing digital delivery to  
navigate the pandemic
Contents
Chapter 3  
An evolving curriculum and 
participation 65
Participation levels 66
Responding to demand 68
Progressive learning in action 70
Fit-for-purpose content 72
Virtual and interactive – the new normal 73
WTO partnerships in action 80
Chapter 4  
Evolution of management  
and resources  81
A framework for results 82
Result-based management 83
TA expenditure 84
Acknowledging donors  19Chapter 1  
Unpacking results,  
tracking impact 23
Results for impact 24
Learning success 26
Bolstering transparency 28
Enhanced participation 32
On-the job-training 36
Supporting accessions 40
Broadening engagement 44
Expanding audiences 50
Chapter 2  
Prioritizing inclusion  53
Including LDCs 56
Promoting women’s participation 58
Reaching every region 62
Inclusion through language diversity 64Annexes  88
Annex 1. Main results measured in 2021 88
Executive summary 11
Sweden
China
Korea
Netherlands
Norway
Australia
Japan
European Union
Ireland
France
Germany
Austria
Finland
Estonia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
United States
Canada
Annex 2. Activity matrix 100List of figures  6
List of infographics  7
List of tables  7
Foreword  8
Acronyms 10
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List of figures List of figures
List of tables 
Annex  1. Annex 1. Main Results Measured in 2021 88
Impact 88
Key Result 1 90
Key Result 2 96
Key Result 3 96
Key Result 4 98
Annex 2. Activity Matrix 100
Key Result 1 – Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully realising 
Members' rights and obligations (thousands CHF) 100
Key Result 2 – Acceding governments are participating in accession negotiations  
(thousands CHF) 102
Key Result 3 – Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing WTO issues  
and reaching out to policy makers (thousands CHF) 102
Key Result 4 – Non-governmental stakeholders are aware of and knowledgeable about WTO  
work and issues (thousands CHF) 102
Other costs – Programme staff and Monitoring & Evaluation (thousands CHF) 104List of infographics   List of infographics
List of tables
Figure 1. Donor overview (2017-2021) 22
Figure 2. Success rate (2017-2021) 25
Figure 3. Achievement of TA Objectives 25
Figure 4.  Objectives of TA activities in 2021 25
Figure 5.  RTPC results (2017-2021) 26
Figure 6. e-Learning Results (2017-2021) 27
Figure 7. TA Beneficiaries' pending 
notifications (2017-2021) 28
Figure 8. Submission of new TBT 
notifications by development 
status (2012-2021) 29
Figure 9. Share of new notification 
submissions by Region (2017-2021) 29
Figure 10. Reduction in agricultural 
notifications backlog (2017-2021) 30
Figure 11. TBT notifications by mode of 
submission (2017-2021)31
Figure 12. Number of 'substantive' documents 
submitted by beneficiaries by 
development status (2017-2021) 32
Figure 13. New STCs raised in the TBT 
Committee by development status 
(1995-2021) 33
Figure 14. New issues according to the 
development status of the 
Member raising the STC in the SPS 
Committee (1995-2021)34
Figure 15. Number of key accession 
documents submitted (2018-2021)41
Figure 16. Accession meetings by type  
(2018-2021)41
Figure 17. Observers' participation in TA by 
accession progress status in 202141
Figure 18. Total WCP research output  
(2017-2021)44
Figure 19. WCP Phase II Chairs outreach 
activities (2017-2021)  45
Figure 20. WCP Phase II Chairs research 
output (2020-2021)45Figure 21. WTO TA outreach  activities  
(2017-2021)50
Figure 22. LDCs share of  participants  
(2017-2021)56
Figure 23. e-RTPC trainers in 2021 57
Figure 24. Gender mix in TA participation 
(2017-2021)59
Figure 25. Female participation in TA  
trainings by region in 202159
Figure 26. Participants by region and type  
of training (2020-2021)63
Figure 27. Number of TA trainings by type  
and language in 202164
Figure 28. Participation by type of training  
in 202166
Figure 29. Participants by year and type of 
training (2017-2021)67
Figure 30. Requests for national activities 
(2012-2021)68
Figure 31. Evolution of participants mix by  
PLS level (2017-2021)70
Figure 32. Pathway choice (2019-2021) 71
Figure 33. Number of participants in 
Advanced activities (2012-2021)71
Figure 34. e-Learning courses compliance 
with SCORM (2017-2021)72
Figure 35. Number of trainings by mode of 
delivery in 202173
Figure 36. Participants' rating of lobby 
sessions in 202177
Figure 37. Number of partners and number  
of joint activities (2017-2021)80
Figure 38. Partners' contribution to courses  
by type of contribution in 202180
Figure 39. WTO TA expenses (2012-2021) 84
Figure 40. Unearmarked funds (2012-2021) 84
Figure 41. TA expenditure by Key Result  
in 202185
Figure 42. Activity expenses by region in 2021 86Infographic 1. 2021 results at a glance 14
Infographic 2. Visual map of TA Activities 18
Infographic 3.  Key results 24
Infographic 4. World map with Observers by WTO accession status 42
Infographic 5.  World map with WCP Chairs and a selection of 2021 highlights 48
Infographic 6. Training Material Requests 51
Infographic 7. Most-Viewed pages in the WTO Website 52
Infographic 8. WTO TA work on trade and gender 58
Infographic 9. National and regional training activities by 'host' country 62
Infographic 10. Participation highlights 67
Infographic 11. Beneficiaries' Top TA Priorities for 2022-2023 69
Infographic 12. WTO TA Progressive Learning Strategy 70
Infographic 13. Types of activities by mode of delivery 75
Infographic 14. WTO TA Framework for impact 82
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FORWARD
Helping level the playing field in a time of 
mounting global challengesForeword  Foreword
The past two years have been difficult for all of us. The 
restrictions implemented by governments to fend off the 
COVID-19 pandemic have had a significant impact on our 
lives, on the ways we work, travel, or communicate with 
each other and, in particular, on international trade and 
the global economy. Just as our bruised economies were 
starting to bounce back, the conflict in Europe is now 
paving the way for a food security crisis.
When looking back at the WTO achievements in that 
domain during 2021 – which are presented in this report 
– I am extremely proud of the results. Like most of us, the 
WTO was caught off-guard by the pandemic in 2020, but 
this report shows the swift reaction of the Secretariat: in 
2021, technical assistance operations were transformed 
and adapted to the new environment, while its staff 
acquired new skills and competences. All in all, we were 
able to continue providing support to Members and 
Observers despite the new circumstances.
Consequently, year 2021 was a period of consolidation: 
innovations and experiences tested in a rush in 2020 
became the norm. As featured in this report, the 
Secretariat has shown remarkable agility during these 
turbulent and intense months. The WTO has proved its 
flexibility to adapt and remain relevant in a fast-changing 
world.
As part of the numerous improvements registered 
during the year, I am particularly pleased to see that the 
participation of Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) and 
women in WTO TA activities bounced back in 2021, as 
these two groups were amongst those most impacted by 
the pandemic.On the downside, we saw the so-called 'digital fatigue' 
creeping in during the year, as many TA participants had 
difficulties to combine the demands of their regular work 
with the intellectual availability that learning requires 
to produce results. This suggests that a return to  
face-to-face TA activities should be encouraged as soon 
as the sanitary conditions make it possible.
As the 12th Ministerial Conference approaches, the 
availability of quality assistance constitutes a critical 
factor to help Members feel confident enough to reach a 
consensus on the many challenging issues that currently 
fill the WTO agenda.
Xiangchen Zhang  
Deputy Director-General, World Trade OrganizationTechnical assistance to less 
endowed Members is more 
relevant than ever in a rapidly 
changing economic context.
Reducing poverty and 
raising living standards 
remains the very raison 
d'être  of the WTO.
All these challenges have disproportionally affected 
the most vulnerable countries in the world. Millions of 
individuals who were slowly emerging out of poverty 
are abruptly being plunged back into it – and reducing 
poverty and raising living standards remains the very 
raison d'être of the WTO. In this context of mounting 
world challenges, the technical assistance provided by 
the organization to its less endowed Members to level 
the playing field in the trade arena and help them defend 
their trade interests is more relevant than ever.
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  9
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Acronyms  Acronyms
AIP Accession Internship Programme
CEECAC Central and Eastern European, Central Asian and Caucasus
CHF Swiss francs
FIMIP French & Irish Missions Internship Programme
GPA Government Procurement Agreement
GTF Global Trust Fund
ITTC Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation
LDC Least-developed country
MCHF Million Swiss francs
MSME Micro-small and medium-sized enterprises
NGO Non-governmental organization
NTP Netherlands Trainee Programme
PLS Progressive Learning Strategy
RBM Result-Based Management
RCI Regional Coordinator Internship Programme
RTPC Regional Trade Policy Course
SCORM Sharable Content Object Reference Model
SJR SCImago Journal Rank
SME Small and Medium-sized Enterprise
SNIP Source Normalised Impact per Paper
SPS Sanitary and Phytosanitary
STC Specific Trade Concerns
TA Technical Assistance
TAMS Technical Assistance Management System
TBT Technical Barriers to Trade
TPR Trade Policy Review
TRIPS Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNECA United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
UNSD United Nations Statistics Division
USD United States Dollar
WCP WTO Chairs Programme
WHO World Health Organization
WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization
WTO World Trade Organization
YPP Young Professionals Programme
Executive summary   Executive summary
 §In 2021, WTO TA was able to keep overall results stable by 
adapting to the pandemic-related restrictions that hindered 
participation
 §After two years of dealing with limitations, innovative efforts 
have made TA more flexible 
 §Although virtual TA delivery has brought considerable 
advantages, in-person delivery is still valuable and necessary
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  11
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYContinued support for 
Members and Observers
TA mainly targets developing and LDC Members' and 
Observers' government officials, and its effectiveness 
and impact go beyond active participation in trainings. 
Results are also measured by the evolution of 
beneficiaries’ activity within the WTO.
In this respect, beneficiary Members reduced their 
number of outstanding notifications in 2021, while the 
use of online platforms to complete these procedures 
increased. The number of 'substantive' documents 
issued by these Members – a proxy indicator of their 
involvement in the work of the WTO bodies – also 
increased by 20% when compared to the previous year.  
Another proxy is the ability of these Members to raise 
new Specific Trade Concerns (STCs). This has steadily 
increased in recent years. They raised the majority of the 
new STCs on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) over the 
last decade (80% of them in 2021). Similarly, developing 
Members have also raised the majority of new SPS STCs 
in the last 14 years, submitting 85% of them in 2021.  Accompanying new accessions
Supporting the accession of new Members to the WTO is 
another TA objective. Several LDC Observers witnessed 
progress in their accession processes in 2021: the 
Comoros and Timor-Leste held formal Working Party 
meetings, while Sudan held an informal meeting which 
led to a formal one later in the year. Six accession 
documents were prepared or revised (50% more than in 
2020). 
Regarding plurilateral agreements, the circulation 
of Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)  
accession-related documents more than doubled in 
comparison to 2020. Nevertheless, it still showed a 
significant fall from the 2016-18 average. Executive summary
In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to be the 
main constraint for the WTO Technical Assistance (TA). 
Despite efforts to resume travelling and face-to-face 
activities, no window of opportunity could be opened. 
Even the 12th  WTO Ministerial Conference had to be 
postponed at the last minute. 
In 2020, the Secretariat could only react to the restrictions 
resulting from the pandemic. As restrictions persisted in 
2021, the WTO had to strengthen its adaptation efforts. 
These were aimed at optimising the virtual delivery of 
TA and developing new content to continue providing 
valuable support to TA beneficiaries.
Stable results, lower 
participation
Overall, the TA success rate (66%), as measured under 
the Result-Based Management (RBM) approach 
approved by Members, was stable when compared to 
2020. More than half of the targets were met, while 14% 
were partially met, and a quarter were not met. 
However, this stability of results was overshadowed by 
the almost total absence of face-to-face activities and a 
drop in participation. The total number of learners fell by 
23% compared to the previous year. Moreover, requests 
for national activities – which are the best tool to tailor 
training to the needs of a beneficiary at a given moment 
– dropped to a historic low. 
A few face-to-face exceptions aside, TA participation 
was split almost equally between virtual activities 
and e-Learning courses (those that learners follow at 
their own pace via Internet since before the pandemic). 
Virtual delivery of courses (launched the previous year) 
continued to be the norm through renewed efforts to replicate the in-person training experience in a digital 
space. Learning results of, for example, the Regional 
Trade Policy Courses, improved when  compared to 2020, 
suggesting a somewhat successful adaptation of content 
to the new mode of delivery. Participation in Advanced 
activities rebounded in 2021 following the resumption of 
such activities through virtual means. However, the total 
participation in virtual activities declined considerably 
during the year, although some reporting adjustments 
may have exaggerated this drop.
In any case, the so-called 'digital fatigue', the increased 
global competition for e-learners' time, and the added 
difficulties of remote working are possible contributors  
to this drop in participants. The virtual mode has 
undeniable advantages, such as greater flexibility, 
reduced costs, and the possibility of reaching more 
users at once. But it also has downsides, including 
less interaction between participants and between 
participants and trainers,  despite efforts to foster it.
All the above factors may also have affected the 
number of participants in online or e-Learning courses, 
which registered a higher dropout rate in 2021 (+40%). 
Nevertheless, the number of participants in e-Learning 
courses remained stable. This way of learning was also 
adapted to the new situation, for example by producing 
micro-courses tailored for mobile devices, offering 
live sessions to help resolve e-learners’ doubts, or by 
ensuring a higher compliance of the e-Learning portfolio 
of online courses with the SCORM standard (80%).
The learning-by-doing offer (comprising internships 
and the young professionals programme) did take 
place despite travel restrictions, and 56 participants 
joined the Secretariat or the Permanent Missions in 
Geneva to enhance their knowledge while working on 
trade-related matters. Ninety-four percent of them met 
the performance expectations, with one third of them 
exceeding those targets. 
Acceding governments 
are participating in 
accession negotiations
Academic institutions and 
other stakeholders are 
analysing WTO issues and 
reaching out to policy makers0%20%40%60%80%100%
2018 2019 2020 2021 2018 2019 2020 2021
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met0%20%40%60%80%100%0%20%40%60%80%100%
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2018 2019 2020 2021 2018 2019 2020 2021 20172017 2017
2017Implementation 
of WTO Agreements
KEY 
RESULT
3  KEY 
RESULT
4
KEY 
RESULT
1  KEY 
RESULT
2  
Non-governmental 
stakeholders and legislators 
are aware of and knowledgeable 
about WTO work and issues
Acceding governments 
are participating in 
accession negotiations
Academic institutions and 
other stakeholders are 
analysing WTO issues and 
reaching out to policy makers0%20%40%60%80%100%
2018 2019 2020 2021 2018 2019 2020 2021
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met0%20%40%60%80%100%0%20%40%60%80%100%
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2018 2019 2020 2021 2018 2019 2020 2021 20172017 2017
2017Implementation 
of WTO Agreements
KEY 
RESULT
3  KEY 
RESULT
4
KEY 
RESULT
1  KEY 
RESULT
2  
Non-governmental 
stakeholders and legislators 
are aware of and knowledgeable 
about WTO work and issues
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  13
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYEXECUTIVE SUMMARY    Infographic 1.  2021 Results at a glance
Infographic 1.  2021 results at a glance
RESULTS INCLUSION
In a challenging year, 
TA overall success rate 
was stable compared 
to 2020
On-the-job trainings 
were almost the only 
programmes delivered 
face-to-face; they were 
practically unaffected 
by the pandemic 
and results 
remained positive
Digital fatigue was 
registered amongst 
TA publicsMore than three years 
after the end of the WTO 
Chairs Programme’s 
grants: the Chairs’ 
research production 
remained high, 
its quality increased, 
and results in terms of 
curriculum development 
and outreach also proved 
sustainable over time
Uneven engagement of 
Observers in their WTO 
accession process 
led to mixed results 
for TA in this domainTA was delivered 
essentially 
half virtually, 
half through online  
self-paced coursesLDCs participation 
bounced back slowly 
after the pandemic; 
LDC beneﬁciaries 
are overcoming 
connection issues and 
the digital gap
Language diversity 
in WTO TA delivery 
was more balanced 
than in the pastThe gender mix 
amongst participants 
was more balanced 
in 2021; women's 
participation also began 
recovering from 
the pandemic shock, 
which affected them 
disproportionately
The geographical 
spread of the WTO TA 
remained at its 2020 
level : lower than prior 
to the pandemic, 
although still fair
The beneﬁciaries' TA 
needs remained almost 
unchanged compared 
to the previous TA Plan 
(pre-pandemic) Requests for national 
activities received from 
beneﬁciaries almost 
vanished in 2021TA expenses were 
further reduced, 
as the variable costs 
associated with virtual 
activities and 
e-Learning are very low.Several donors 
held back their 
voluntary contributions  
since TA spending 
did not resume in 2021; 
voluntary contributions 
reached their 
lowest level in 20 years
Pedagogical 
innovations were 
developed to improve 
participants' virtual 
experience through 
a higher level 
of interactivityParticipation 
in advanced activities 
bounced back 
in 2021 following 
the resumption of such 
activities through 
virtual meansThe number of 
e-Learning courses on 
offer increased by 23% , 
stimulated by 
the release of short and 
micro courses, 
which are easier to 
complete and digest2021 saw greater 
inclination of donors 
to earmark their 
voluntary contributions, 
making TA increasingly 
donor driven; 
20% of the donors 
redirected their 
voluntary contributions 
towards the WCP
Overall participation 
in TA activities 
fell by 23%
Legend:
Stability
SetbackTA contributed to 
increased transparency 
in the WTO and 
to increasing the 
participation 
of Members in 
the WTO bodiesOutreach activities 
(which had disappeared 
due to the pandemic)
were progressively 
organised again 
in 2021
CURRICULUMMANAGEMENT
Improvement
EngFra
Esp
+23%
WCP
! ?WCP
SPS
Trade 
facilitation
Market access for 
goods
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  15
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARYA new cycle of the Chairs 
programme
Partnering with local universities and researchers is 
an effective way of expanding knowledge about trade 
and WTO-related issues in developing Members and 
Observers. The WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) has been 
supporting influential academics and their teams since 
2010 to foster research, adaptation of university curricula 
and dissemination of results among policy makers.
While the WCP completed its second cycle (Phase II) in 
early 2019, its established network of 19 Chairs continued 
to produce results and benefit from its direct access to 
the Secretariat. Overall research output hit its second 
highest level in 2021, while outreach activities from 
Phase II Chairs marked an all-time record. Furthermore, 
17 new Chairs were selected to take part in Phase III of 
the programme. Resuming outreach to  
non-traditional actors  
WTO TA also aims at targeting other stakeholders (such 
as legislators, the media or civil society) through outreach 
activities and courses. Activities for journalists were 
resumed in 2021, contributing to lifting the number of 
outreach activities to a 5-year record. However, demand 
for materials by the academia or private actors was 23% 
lower than in 2020. 
The WTO went on to strengthen its use of social media 
and other platforms to spread information on trade 
issues across diverse audiences. Its number of social 
media followers increased by 19% when compared to the 
previous year, while the number of views of TA webpages 
and news items was somehow lower than in 2020.Fostering inclusion
Efforts to make TA accessible to LDCs and inclusive in 
terms of gender, geography, and language continued in 
2021. 
Participants coming from LDCs accounted for over a 
quarter of all learners, coming from 42 different WTO 
Members and Observers, mainly from Africa. Specifically, 
the number of interns coming from LDCs reached a 
6-year record. WTO TA also continued to involve regional 
or local experts as facilitators to increase participants’ 
ownership and make trainings more context-specific. 
The pandemic-induced turn into virtual learning posed 
several logistical challenges with varying impacts on 
participants, sometimes related to their geographical 
location. Access to reliable Internet connection was 
one of the outstanding issues, hindering effective 
participation from certain beneficiaries. Therefore, in 
2021 the Secretariat launched a pilot initiative to assist 
participants with connectivity problems. 
In terms of gender equality, new modules and trainings 
focusing on the links between trade and gender were 
developed, while WCP Chairs expanded their research and 
activities on gender issues. Overall female participation 
increased compared to 2020, representing 46% of all 
participants. Women accounted for the majority of 
participants in activities with a global reach (53%).
In 2021, almost half of all TA activities – both e-Learning 
and virtual – were conducted in English (49%). This 
represents a change when compared to previous years, 
when English was the language of use in some 60% to 
70% of TA activities. While the use of French and Spanish 
was limited to regional or national trainings, it accounted 
for 23% and 25% of the activities, respectively (an 
increase of almost 10 percentage points for each 
language).An expected decrease in TA 
expenses
As in the previous year, COVID-19 restrictions inhibited 
the implementation of face-to-face TA activities in 
2021 and consequently minimised expenditure for 
the year. Unlike their face-to-face equivalents, virtual 
TA activities do not require anyone to travel, which 
significantly reduces direct variable costs. TA expenses 
have plummeted since the beginning of the pandemic. 
Comparing 2021 with 2019, the last non-pandemic 
year, TA expenses have decreased by 62%. 2021 saw a 
further 20% drop relative to 2020, as some face-to-face 
activities had been implemented prior to the March 2020 
travel restrictions.
A direct consequence of the drop in TA expenses was 
that the unearmarked year-end balance of the Global 
Trust Fund resurged above the target amount for the 
following year. This guarantees full implementation of 
the TA Plan in 2022. Another unintended consequence 
of low TA expenditure was the temporary suspension 
of voluntary contributions by certain donors: 2021 
recorded the lowest level of voluntary contributions 
in over 20  years. However, these donors stand ready to 
resume their voluntary contributions as soon as the 
liquidity of the trust funds justifies it. The year saw a 
greater inclination of the remaining donors to earmark 
their voluntary contributions, as 20% of them redirected 
their contributions towards the WCP .
The WTO TA Management System, or TAMS, is the online 
tool that allows effective monitoring and evaluation 
of TA activities, and therefore adherence to the  
Results-Based Management approach. Thanks to TAMS, 
online availability of TA data has increased transparency 
and accountability, while making TA management 
more efficient. TAMS is still evolving to include new 
functionalities and enhance its accessibility and user 
experience. In 2021, the initial workplan experienced 
some modifications and delays as new consultants had 
to be hired to continue with the planned evolution.
Acceding governments 
are participating in 
accession negotiations
Academic institutions and 
other stakeholders are 
analysing WTO issues and 
reaching out to policy makers0%20%40%60%80%100%
2018 2019 2020 2021 2018 2019 2020 2021
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met0%20%40%60%80%100%0%20%40%60%80%100%
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2018 2019 2020 2021 2018 2019 2020 2021 20172017 2017
2017Implementation 
of WTO Agreements
KEY 
RESULT
3  KEY 
RESULT
4
KEY 
RESULT
1  KEY 
RESULT
2  
Non-governmental 
stakeholders and legislators 
are aware of and knowledgeable 
about WTO work and issues
Acceding governments 
are participating in 
accession negotiations
Academic institutions and 
other stakeholders are 
analysing WTO issues and 
reaching out to policy makers0%20%40%60%80%100%
2018 2019 2020 2021 2018 2019 2020 2021
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met0%20%40%60%80%100%0%20%40%60%80%100%
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2018 2019 2020 2021 2018 2019 2020 2021 20172017 2017
2017Implementation 
of WTO Agreements
KEY 
RESULT
3  KEY 
RESULT
4
KEY 
RESULT
1  KEY 
RESULT
2  
Non-governmental 
stakeholders and legislators 
are aware of and knowledgeable 
about WTO work and issues
ITTC
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYEXECUTIVE SUMMARY     Infographic 2.  Visual map of TA Activities
Virtual Executive 
Trade Policy Course
e-Regional Trade 
Policy CourseRegional Trade 
Policy Course
Subregional Trade 
Policy CourseAdvanced Trade 
Policy Course Internships
Young Professionals 
ProgrammeThematic courses
Global workshopsVirtual workshops
Virtual workshops
Virtual workshopsRegional thematic 
workshops
National thematic 
workshopsNational general
workshopsGLOBAL
REGIONAL
NATIONALTechnical 
assistance 
by others
Infographic 2.  Visual map of TA Activities 
ONLINE COURSES /parenleft.caseE/hyphen.caseLEARNING/parenright.case: 
available through the internet on a 24/7 and self-service basis; they involve essentially self-study at one's 
own pace and limited interaction between participants and with trainers; they are by and large a pre-deﬁned 
one-size-ﬁts-all product.
FACE/hyphen.caseTO/hyphen.caseFACE ACTIVITIES: 
one-off learning experiences (with ﬁxed-dates, invitations, etc.). They are generally tailor-designed for a 
closed group of participants, and comprise a mixture of self-study, live sessions, group work, etc. 
Participants and trainers are physically gathered in the same place, making live interaction easier and more 
frequent. All participants move roughly at the same pace through the same content. 
VIRTUAL ACTIVITIES: 
Replication of face-to-face activities through the internet due to pandemic-related travel restrictions. 
Regular interaction between the participants and with trainers is essential to tailor the activity to the needs 
of participants. Live webinars and other virtual sessions have replaced in-person gatherings. 
ON/hyphen.caseTHE/hyphen.caseJOB TRAINING: 
Internship programmes and the Young Professionals Programme allow mid-level government ofﬁcials and 
young professionals to 'learn-by-doing' as they work either at the Secretariat or with their countries' 
representations to the WTO. Internships are a very particular type of technical assistance, lasting ten 
months on average.
e-Learning
Acknowledging donors   Acknowledging donors
Sweden
China
Korea
Netherlands
Norway
Australia
Japan
European Union
Ireland
France
Germany
Austria
Finland
Estonia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
United States
Canada
Almost 62% of WTO TA resources in 2021 were voluntary contributions from donor Members, while the remaining 
38% came from the WTO regular budget. Donor funding is therefore essential to continue delivering top quality 
technical assistance to developing and LDC Members and Observers, so that they can fully benefit from their 
participation in WTO and the multilateral trading system. 
The voluntary contributions received in 2021 shrank to a historic low, amounting to 7.5 million CHF francs – the 
lowest figure in this century . Finland returned as a donor with non-earmarked contributions, while Canada, China, 
Germany, and Norway refrained from making new contributions. However, as TA expenses also reached a new low 
in 2021 due to the lack of in-person trainings, the decline in voluntary contributions did not affect TA operations.Financing of Trade-Related 
Technical Assistance (TRTA)
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  19
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ACKNOWLEDGING DONORS ACKNOWLEDGING DONORS
Mikael Anzén has been representing 
Swedish interests in the multilateral 
trade system since September 
2018, when he was appointed 
Ambassador of Sweden to the WTO. 
With his country being the biggest 
contributor to WTO Technical 
Assistance through non-earmarked 
contributions, Mr Anzén reflects 
on the importance of continuing 
to support developing Members to 
strengthen their participation in 
global trade. Non-earmarking of development funds 
gives organizations flexibility and makes 
technical assistance more efficient 
Interview with  Mikael Anzén, Ambassador of Sweden to the WTO   
Sweden does not earmark its 
voluntary contributions for 
specific technical assistance 
programmes, which is much 
appreciated. Could you explain the 
rationale behind this approach?
Non-earmarking of development 
aid or technical assistance is a 
core principle of Sweden’s financial 
contributions to international 
organizations, which also applies 
to bilateral aid. Once a recipient 
passes the test of being eligible for 
funding, it is in the best position to 
decide where those funds are most 
needed. This way the organization 
gets flexibility to redirect or 
prioritize funds whenever needed, 
and therefore makes assistance 
more efficient. Sweden firmly 
believes that through 
technical assistance, 
developing countries 
will participate more 
effectively in global 
trade.
What are Sweden’s expectations 
when funding WTO TA?
That beneficiary countries and 
their delegates get a deeper 
understanding of the international 
eco-system of trade, and of how 
these common rules can help enter 
the global trading system and lift 
themselves out of poverty.
What is the perception in Sweden 
regarding the partnership with 
the WTO in the field of technical 
assistance and cooperation?
I believe that most Swedes expect 
their country to be at the forefront of 
technical assistance and to continue 
to build solidarity. However, public 
awareness of how the WTO works and what the impact of technical 
assistance is could be further 
increased. Personally, quite often 
delegates come to me and tell me 
that it is partly thanks to a course or 
a programme on trade, financed by 
Sweden, that they are working with 
the WTO. That is gratifying to hear.
What are the main challenges in 
the field of trade-related training 
and cooperation, both for Sweden 
and for the WTO?
The number of donors involved in 
TA seems to be decreasing, as are 
the financial resources, willingness, 
or interest from countries in 
contributing to technical assistance 
in the WTO.Press release:  
Sweden’s 
donation 
We also tend to see a greater 
interest from contributing countries 
in setting up their own programmes, 
instead of contributing to non-
earmarked contributions. This bears 
the risk of increased management 
and administration needs, which 
could affect the efficiency of the TA.Sweden has been the biggest 
sponsor of the WTO’s technical 
assistance for many years.  
What inspires this financial 
commitment?
Through innovation, entrepreneur-
ship and trade, Sweden has been 
able to reap the benefits of global 
trading rules within the WTO. The 
Swedish government therefore 
remains committed to an open, fair, 
and sustainable multilateral trading 
system, with the WTO at its core, as 
trade remains the most important 
driver of global growth, employment, 
and development. It is also a vital 
instrument for poverty reduction, 
and Sweden firmly believes that 
through the TA, developing countries 
will increase their understanding of 
WTO and build their trade capacity. 
This will allow them to participate 
more effectively in global trade 
and thus contribute to poverty 
reduction.
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  21
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0 0.5 1 1.5 2.0 2.5
0.21
0.13
0.21
0.6Figure 1.  Donor overview (2017-2021)
2.1
0.7
0.5
0.5
0.2
0.1
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.870 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 (MCHF)
0.98Australia
AustriaEstoniaEuropean
Union
Finland
France
GermanyJapanKorea
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
NorwaySweden
United States
France
Ireland
Netherlands
China
2020
20212019201820175.78 MCHF 7.32 MCHF 6.19 MCHF 5.31 MCHFTotal Contributions 
Received
No of donors20204.49 MCHF2021 2019 2018 2017(MCHF)
Austria
Australia
Canada
France
12 12 11 11 9
Netherlands
French-Irish Missions Internship ProgrammeNon-earmarked contributions
Netherlands Trainee Programme (NTP)
China LDCs & Accessions Programme
WTO Chairs ProgrammeACKNOWLEDGING DONORS   Figure 1.  Donor overview (2017-2021)
WT/COMTD/W/265
22  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021
Chapter 1  
Unpacking results,  
tracking impactChapter 1   
Unpacking results, tracking 
impact
 §In 2021, the impact of pandemic-related restrictions on 
training delivery was even harder than in the previous year
 §Two out of every three targets were met in 2021 (53% fully, 
14% partially) marginally improving 2020 results
 §Learners’ results improved in regional trade policy courses, 
but decreased in e-Learning activities 
 §2021 registered a record number of interns and witnessed the 
launch of Phase III of the WTO Chairs Programme
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  23
WT/COMTD/W/265
What are the goals of WTO Technical Assistance?       Results for impact   Infographic 3.   Key results
Technical Assistance (TA) is a core function of the WTO aiming to enhance human and institutional 
trade capacities in beneficiary countries. All TA activities, courses and trainings are designed and 
delivered with the aim of producing specific and measurable results. These results must reflect 
the enhanced capacity of WTO Members and Observers to enforce their rights and obligations, to 
take full advantage of the rules-based multilateral trading system, and to deal with the challenges 
and opportunities emerging from it.
In 2021, TA pursued four Key Results:
1.  Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully realizing Members’ rights 
and obligations.
2.  Acceding governments are participating in accession negotiations.
3.  Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing WTO issues and reaching out to 
policy makers.
4.  Non-governmental stakeholders and legislators are aware of and knowledgeable about WTO 
work and issues.
Each of these key results comprise several outputs, with indicators that allow to track progress 
and assess whether the established targets have been met. The log frame with all results, outputs 
and indicators is annexed to this report in page 88 .  Maintaining success rates in a challenging year         Figure 2.  Success rate (2017-2021)
Figure 3.  Achievement of TA Objectives
Figure 4.   Objectives of TA activities in 2021
However, this experience also demonstrated that  
face-to-face training contains elements of interaction, 
motivation and enriching connections that cannot be 
entirely replicated in a virtual environment.
Figure 3.  Achievement of TA Objectives
80%
Fully1%
Average1%
To a limited extent
18%
To a large
extent
Figure 2.  Success rate (2017-2021)
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2018 2019 2020 2021
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met2017
Figure 4.  Objectives of TA activities in 2021
Implementation of WTO AgreementsExplanation of WTO Agreements
Accessing WTO information
Identify TA needs
Improve general understanding of WTOMiscellaneousDevelopment of analytical skills6%
8%6%12%11%
46%
11%
WTO TA and training 
If 2020 was a challenging year for WTO TA, with the 
COVID-19 pandemic halting international travel and thus 
hindering training delivery, 2021 was even more so. 
Year 2021 was expected to see the return to  
business-as-usual in travelling and organising  
activities. However, the emergence of new COVID-19 
variants led to a continuous deferral of in-person 
gatherings. Overall, pandemic-related restrictions and 
the subsequent well-documented digital-fatigue (due 
to excessive exposure to online devices) most probably 
impacted the energy and capacity of learners to engage 
in virtual and online activities. 
All these challenges negatively affected the number 
of participants in 2021, as well as the performance in 
several courses. Consequently, there was a negative 
impact on several of the outputs and targets by which 
WTO TA success is measured. In general, the success 
rate in meeting the established objectives was identical 
to that of the previous year, with 31 targets met and 15 
not met, while eight were partially met.
An exhaustive list of targets and indicators can be found 
in Annex 1 .  
The endeavour to continue offering high quality technical 
support through virtual platforms had begun the 
previous year and was intensified in 2021. Such efforts 
have equipped the Secretariat with greater flexibility 
and adaptability, allowing WTO TA to fully tap into the 
advantages of remote learning. 
KEY RESULT
1
Implementation of WTO 
Agreements
KEY RESULT
2
Acceding governments 
participate in negotiations
Academic institutions and 
other stakeholders analyse 
WTO issuesKEY RESULT
3
KEY RESULT
4
Non-governmental audiences 
are aware of WTO issuesInfographic 3.  Key results
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  25
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CHAPTER 1 – RESUL TS FOR IMPACTCHAPTER 1 
RESUL TS FOR IMPACT    
Figure 6.  e-Learning Results (2017-2021)
20% 40%60%80%100%
 0%Correct AnswersSuccess Rate
Distinction Rate
Dropout Rate
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Participation in e-Learning (those self-learning courses 
that were already conducted online before the pandemic) 
remained stable. However, the drop-out rate increased, 
and the success rate decreased, as shown in Figure 6. 
Digital fatigue caused by working remotely and time 
constraints are possible explanations of this negative 
trend. However, the number of successful e-learners who 
obtained a distinction stayed at similar levels.     Figure 6.  e-Learning Results (2017-2021)
Implementation of WTO 
AgreementsKEY RESULT
1
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met69%
83%
68%
47%
53%11%
8%
16%
14%
14%17%
13%
31%
25%3%
3%6%
8%
8%3%2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Figure 5.  RTPC results (2017-2021)
Correct AnswersSuccess Rate
Distinction Rate
Participation
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Note: In 2020 and 2021, all RTPCs except for one were conducted virtually. 
As a result of the pandemic, participation could not be measured in 2020. 
Navigating through the effects of the pandemic           Learning success Figure 5.   RTPC results (2017-2021)
largely smaller than the 2016/18 average (which was the 
reference retained in the TA Plan to measure progress). 
On a positive note, however, the number of learners who 
completed Advanced trainings increased. An explanation 
of the differences between Introductory, Intermediate 
and Advance activities can be found in  page 70 . 
Result targets were generally met for virtual courses: 
In regional trade policy courses, there was an increase 
in success rates, distinction rates and the share of 
participants getting a top mark – while no Advanced 
trade policy courses took place in 2021.  In 2021, almost all traditionally face-to-face activities 
were conducted virtually. Although this objectively 
makes participation less costly and more flexible, it 
had a negative impact on the number of participants 
who were able to complete their trainings. The fact that 
courses can now be followed remotely, together with a 
shift in government priorities, may have led to learners 
adding training time to their regular workload, and thus 
affecting their performance.
For example, the number of participants who completed 
Introductory and Intermediate activities in 2021 was LEARNING SUCCESS
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  27
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KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1CHAPTER 1 – LEARNING SUCCESS CHAPTER 1 
TA beneficiaries have substantially increased their 
notification submissions in recent years. TBT notifications 
are a good example: LDC Members submitted 63% more 
of these in 2021 than they did in 2020, a significant jump 
compared to the 5% growth between 2019 and 2020. 
Overall, developing and LDC WTO Members submitted 
85% of the new TBT notifications in 2021. As shown in 
Figure 8, the performance by TA beneficiaries in the 
submission of new TBT notifications has been fairly 
consistent since 2012. Furthermore, African Members were particularly active 
in the submission of TBT notifications in 2021, with 
Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda making 
it to the top ten overall TBT notifying Members. As shown 
in Figure 9, Africa has seen an upward trend in new TBT 
notification performance, which indeed traces back to 
2016.            Figure 8.  Submission of new TBT notifications by 
development status (2012-2021) Figure 9.  Share of new notification submissions 
by Region (2017-2021) 
Complying with notifications to trading partners         Bolstering transparencyFigure 7.  TA Beneficiaries' pending notifications 
(2017-2021) 
Overview on SPS 
Transparency 
Provisions and 
STCs
Review of the 
implementation
and of the TBT 
Agreement
Report on TRIPS 
notifications
280028502900295030003050310031503200325033003350
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 22% 23% 24% 25% 26% 27% 28%Figure 7.  TA Beneﬁciaries' pending notiﬁcations (2017-2021) 
Average per Member Outstanding Notiﬁcations
Figure 8.  Submission of new TBT notiﬁcations by development status (2012-2021) 
Developing Members Developed Members
 LDCs
309 325 258 317 404 289 358 323 337 3681137 1137 1214 979 1086 1116 1195 1309 1241 1459757
105 13555128158387532 442 465
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Figure 9.  Share of new notiﬁcation submissions by Region (2017-2021) 
Asia
 Africa Commonwealth of Independent States Europe
Middle East North America
 South and Central America and the Caribbean0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Transparency is crucial for open and fair trade. When 
Members duly communicate policies and regulations 
affecting foreign trade to trading partners, their trade 
prospects improve. WTO TA remains committed to 
enhancing beneficiaries’ capacities to meet their WTO 
transparency obligations, including the notification of 
new trade measures.
TA support on transparency aims at reducing 
beneficiaries' 'outstanding' or 'pending' notifications. 
In 2021, TA beneficiaries averaged 23.6 outstanding 
notifications, well below the 2016/18 average of 28 used 
as a baseline in the logframe. The sustained improvement 
shown in Figure 7 can be credited to the proactiveness of 
Members and their increased submissions of SPS, TBT, 
Agricultural and TRIPS notifications. The WTO organized 15 transparency-related activities 
in 2021, benefiting 583 participants across 83 Members 
and Observers. Nine national activities were carried out 
in Afghanistan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Saint 
Lucia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Viet Nam. They 
covered the various notification requirements and TBT 
Agreement transparency provisions and tools. Regional 
activities were held in Latin America and the Middle 
East, covering online submission systems and Subsidies 
notifications. Global activities covered SPS, import 
licensing and agricultural notifications. BOLSTERING TRANSPARENCY
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KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1CHAPTER 1 – BOLSTERING TRANSPARENCY CHAPTER 1 
Agricultural notifications represented about 60% of 
total outstanding notifications over the last five years. 
Given that new agricultural notification obligations are 
added annually, tracking the effect of TA on agricultural 
notifications presents a statistical challenge. A work 
around has been to report the reductions in the backlog 
of outstanding notifications at the end of the preceding 
year, as presented in Figure 10. However, TA beneficiaries 
have consistently been reducing their agricultural 
notifications backlog whilst servicing new notification 
requirements.       Figure 10.  Reduction in agricultural notifications 
backlog (2017-2021) 
In-Focus: World Trade Organisation 
Transparency Network      2017 2018 2019 2020 202150100150200250300350
0Figure 10.  Reduction in agricultural
notiﬁcations backlog (2017-2021) 
Optimising Online Platforms        
Members are increasingly utilising online platforms to 
submit notifications. In this regard, specialised platforms 
ensure that notifications reach all Members in a timely 
fashion, while allowing for reactions and clarifications. 
These platforms take three broad forms: submission 
platforms, notification repositories, and subscriber 
alerts and discussion fora.  
In recent years, TA training has progressively included 
modules on the use of these online platforms with 
evidently positive results. For example, the share of 
TBT notifications through the dedicated notification 
submission system has steadily grown in the last five 
years, peaking at 93.1% in 2020 and staying at 88.2% in 
2021, as shown in Figure 11.
Similarly, the share of eTRIPS reports submitted through 
the eTRIPS Submission System increased from 58% in 
2019 to 89% in 2021, while eTRIPS notifications rose 
from 73% to 90% in the same period. Figure 11.  TBT notifications by 
mode of submission (2017-2021)
Figure 11.  TBT notiﬁcations by mode
of submission (2017-2021)
Other Online platform62. 1%70.4%87.7%93.1%88.2%37.9%29.6%12.3%6.9%11.8%
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
I recommend that the Secretariat 
continues supporting the Transparency 
Network. Its high levels of engagement, 
evidence of impact and positive 
reputation among staff members 
suggest that it is a significant asset.The Secretariat accommodates other informal  
transparency-enhancing initiatives, such as the WTO 
Transparency Network. Launched in 2020, the Network 
strives to improve the coherence and effectiveness of 
WTO’s transparency framework. Exploiting synergies 
in information management, sharing best practices on 
Member engagement, and promoting effective TA and 
outreach to delegates and Members are the Network’s 
overarching themes.
Nicholas Davis,  
Global Foresight Group,  
Switzerland
List of WTO 
online systems
Key WTO Online Transparency Systems in Brief:   
ePing SPS & TBT Platform:  
facilitates the tracking of 
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) 
and Technical Barriers to Trade 
(TBT) measures. It allows users 
to browse notifications, trade 
concerns and enquiry points, and 
consult on notifications and sign 
up to receive 
alerts related 
to products 
and/or markets 
of interest. 
e-TRIPS Submission System  
allows WTO members to submit 
notifications as well as review 
materials and reports related to 
the TRIPS Agreement. e-TRIPS Gateway  
provides a single 
point of access 
to information 
related to the 
TRIPS Agreement.  
AGIMS Notification Submission 
System allows members to submit 
agricultural notifications.Agricultural 
Information 
Management 
System  
provides access 
to agricultural 
notifications and Committee on 
Agriculture related records.
Central 
Registry of 
Notifications  
an internal 
WTO database 
that houses all 
trade related 
notifications.
e-GPA provides a 
single point of  
access to the 
coverage  
commitments of  
the GPA Parties.Other non-information sharing benefits from the 
Network include new opportunities for coordination on 
transparency across the Secretariat, and the generation 
of new ideas and solutions. 
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  31
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KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1CHAPTER 1 – BOLSTERING TRANSPARENCY CHAPTER 1 – BOLSTERING TRANSPARENCY
Figure 12.  Number of 'substantive' documents submitted
by beneﬁciaries by development status (2017-2021) 
55499
53391
747122
534113
642131
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Developing Countries
 LDCs
1995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020211
1
122Figure 13.  New STCs raised in the TBT Committee by development status (1995-2021) 
468971317
910812201626
1625
719
121491491324
1311312
324751212
610
814
23
9
129
8912
323
3311
325248
78
20712
14
104
51321
48
Developing Members Developed Members Both developed and developing members LDCs
2
Besides the submission of substantive documents, TA 
beneficiaries' involvement in the work of WTO bodies 
relies on the capacity of their delegates to effectively 
participate in the proceedings. Their capacity to use 
mechanisms such as Specific Trade Concerns (STCs) 
in the Committees which employ them is thus a good 
illustration of effective participation. STCs allow 
Members to address trade tensions through dialogue 
and cooperation. As shown in Figure 13, developing 
Members' capacity to raise new STCs in the TBT 
Committee has steadily increased in recent years. On 
their own or in coordination with Developed Members, they have raised the majority of the new TBT STCs over 
the last decade (80% in 2021). A similar case can be made 
for new STCs in the SPS Committee. developing Members 
have also raised the majority of new SPS STCs in the last 
14 years, peaking their share of new SPS STCs at 85% in 
2021 (see Figure 14). TA activities on standards (TBT and 
SPS), such as the In-Depth SPS Course illustrated below, 
have focused on the STC mechanism for many years. 
They contributed to building the capacity of developing 
countries to use this mechanism.        Figure 13.  New STCs raised in the TBT Committee by development 
status (1995-2021) 
Developing and LDC Members-submitted documents increased                         Enhanced participation Figure 12.  Number of 'substantive' documents submitted by 
beneficiaries by development status (2017-2021) 
With the closure of the Secretariat for two months, 
reduced capacity in meetings, and the move into virtual 
interactions, the pandemic affected the progress of many 
WTO bodies in 2020. The fact that 2021 was supposed 
to host the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (which was 
postponed at the last minute) may explain the increase 
in the volume of activity in most Bodies and, hence, in the 
number of documents submitted by the Members. By expanding and strengthening Members' knowledge 
of WTO Agreements, TA activities aim at boosting 
beneficiaries' effective participation in the multilateral 
trading system. As the work of WTO bodies is based on the 
documents submitted by Members, developing and LDC 
Members' capacity to submit 'substantive' documents 
(proposals, statements, questions and replies, reports…) 
is a proxy indicator of their ability to actively contribute 
to deliberations.
In 2021, the number of 'substantive' documents 
submitted by developing and LDC Members grew almost 
20% with respect to the previous year, but still stayed 
below the 2019 record number of documents. Such an 
increase shows a clear improvement when compared to 
the 2016/18 average used as a baseline in the TA Plan 
(773 substantive documents vs 619). The distribution 
of submissions stayed the same as in 2020: 83% came 
from developing and 17% from LDC Members.Technical Cooperation 
Handbook on Notifications 
Requirement
ENHANCED PARTICIPATION
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KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1CHAPTER 1 – ENHANCED PARTICIPATION CHAPTER 1
Figure 14.  New issues according to the development status of the Member 
raising the STC in the SPS Committee (1995-2021)
1995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020211821
952529
22
1517
710655788411
4411
420
421114
5
52120
13
1118
56111418121116
1815
111517
1935
233
111
4
Developing Members Developed Members
 LDCs11
4
National management of WTO 
SPS notifications requires 
regular capacity building for 
managerial staff, and technical 
assistance has helped us, SPS 
‘enquiry points’ in countries, 
to become acquainted so we 
can better cooperate and 
communicate with each other.Enhancing effective participation 
in the SPS Committee     
Many WTO courses had to turn virtual in the last two 
years. In 2021, the first edition of the SPS In-depth Virtual 
Course – adapted from the previously organized face-
to-face Advanced SPS Course – was held to continue 
equipping capital-based officials who attend the SPS 
Committee meetings with knowledge to enhance their 
participation. 
Twenty-three officials with responsibilities on SPS 
regulations from various regions deepened their 
understanding of the SPS Agreement and explored its 
linkages with other WTO Agreements. They also studied 
the role and functioning of the SPS Committee, national 
coordination mechanisms, and the relevant work of 
the Standards and Trade Development Facility (see 
page 34). Other course topics included transparency 
obligations, and the work of the Codex Alimentarius, 
the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the 
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).Participants also undertook a rigorous case study, in 
which they prepared and presented interventions on 
a STC through a simulated SPS Committee meeting. 
This exercise, and the subsequent debriefing, provided 
them with insights on how to make the most out of their 
adherence to the Agreement. “Lots of helpful materials 
have been provided for us to enhance the coordination 
of the National SPS Committee and to improve Nigeria's 
transparency obligations within the SPS Agreement, ” 
says Mr Shola Fagile, Commercial Officer II at the Trade 
Department, in the Federal Ministry of Industry of 
Nigeria.
Several trainees indicated that they would immediately 
apply the acquired knowledge in their daily activities. It is 
therefore expected that they will meaningfully contribute 
to fulfilling the Committee's role as the international 
forum to discuss SPS measures and resolve STCs.
Ihssane Beqqali,  
Chief,  Standardization 
and SPS Matters Division, 
National Office for Food 
Safety, MoroccoFacilitating safe trade through improved SPS capacities     
The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) 
is a global knowledge partnership that helps developing 
countries improve their sanitary and phytosanitary 
capacities and facilitate safe trade. It acts as a knowledge 
platform, identifying and disseminating good practices 
in the SPS area, and as a funding mechanism for the 
preparation and delivery of collaborative SPS projects.
In 2021, the STDF continued to be a key partner in 
delivering WTO TA activities. Presentations were made on 
STDF's pioneering work on reducing standards-related 
trade costs, using evidence-based approaches to inform 
decision-making on the standards, supporting national 
sanitary and phytosanitary standards coordination 
mechanisms, and producing a new STDF Guide on 
developing good regulatory practices.The African Continental Free Trade 
Area has stimulated a trade potential 
that could boost Africans' economic 
welfare. The session on the 
Standards and Trade Development 
Facility was of great importance, 
as improving and building food 
safety and animal and plant health 
capacities is key to assess the 
potential effects of the Free Trade 
Area on this sector.
 Doaa Galal, Egypt.
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KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1CHAPTER 1 – ENHANCED PARTICIPATION CHAPTER 1 – ENHANCED PARTICIPATION       Figure 14.  New issues according to the development status of the 
Member raising the STC in the SPS Committee (1995-2021)
A record number of interns building trade capacities at WTO        On-the-job training Infographic 4.  Internships - CT
As it happened in 2020, internship programmes were 
spared from the impact of the pandemic in 2021. 
Participants overcame travel restrictions and could 
effectively engage in the different on-the-job trainings, 
which require travelling to Geneva.
WTO TA's internship and young professionals' 
programmes allow mid-level public officials and young 
professionals dealing with trade issues to ‘learn-by-
doing’ as they work either at the Secretariat or with their 
countries’ representations before WTO.
Internships are a very particular type of technical 
assistance, as they are lengthier (ten months on average, 
while some workshops last only a few days) and cost 
much more than the average activity. The resources 
available for the Regional Coordinator Internships (RCI) 
and the Young Professionals Programme (YPP) are more 
predictable, as they are funded entirely from WTO TA 
Global Trust Fund. In the rest of internship programmes, 
the funds depend on the contributions from their specific 
funders (China for the Accession Internship Programme, 
France and Ireland for the FIMIP and the Netherlands for 
the NTP) and can therefore vary from year to yearIn 2021, WTO received a record number of 56 interns. 
In the spirit of inclusion and of building capacities for 
Members who need it most, almost half of participants 
came from LDCs. Total participation figures have been 
stable since the YPP started hiring over a dozen of interns 
per year in 2018. 
Interns and young professionals get assessed through 
evaluation forms and close feedback mechanisms 
between them and their supervisors. Out of 56 
participants in these programmes in 2021, almost a 
third of them (30%) significantly exceeded performance 
requirements. Most of the remaining two thirds (64%) 
fully met the performance standards, while just three 
interns received partly satisfactory reviews. 
Research
60%
Other
2%
Division-
speciﬁc work
23%
WTO
Meetings
7%
Training 
Sessions
8%
WHO: young graduates
WHERE FROM: LDC and 
developing countries
WHAT: work in the WTO 
Secretariat's Accessions Division
HOW LONG: 10 months on 
averageInterns' time allocation
Trainee programmes 
and internships
Accessions Internship Programme (AIP)
I am humbled to have been 
a part of broader efforts to 
support developing  
countries in their  
journey to WTO  
membership.
Angela Min Yi Hou,  
AIP Intern from ChinaA total of four young professionals from China, India, 
Kenya, and Venezuela completed the AIP in 2021, the 
same amount as in the previous year. 
Interns were posted in the Secretariat and supported the 
accession of countries like Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, 
Belarus, Equatorial Guinea, Timor-Leste, or Uzbekistan, 
among others. They also worked on the recently launched 
Trade for Peace Programme, that aims at supporting 
fragile and conflict-affected states in achieving stability 
and prosperity through WTO accession.I am now aware of the robust 
technical assistance available to 
LDCs. I have also learnt practical 
ways of using the flexibility 
provided by WTO Agreements to 
allow our countries to meet their 
commitments and enhance their 
participation in the multilateral 
trading system.
Brenda Bvalani,  
NTP intern from MalawiNetherlands Trainee Programme (NTP)
Fifteen junior government officials from developing 
countries and LDCs got the opportunity to learn about 
trade matters under the direction of staff members 
of the WTO in 2021. Interns worked in different WTO 
divisions and divided their time between work in the 
divisions, research, and attending training sessions and 
WTO group meetings. 
Work in 
divisions
40%
Training 
Sessions
22%
WTO 
Meetings
15%
Regional 
Group 
Meetings
2%
Interns' time allocation WHO: government ofﬁcials
WHERE FROM: developing and 
LDC Members and small and 
vulnerable economies
WHAT: learn by working in the 
WTO Secretariat
HOW LONG: 9.5 months on 
averageResearch, 
brieﬁng notes, 
notiﬁcations
16%Other
5%
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KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1CHAPTER 1 – ON-THE-JOB TRAINING CHAPTER 1 
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
Regional Coordinator Internship (RCI)My initial expectations of 
deepening my knowledge of the 
SPS Agreement whilst getting 
further acquainted with other 
work areas of the WTO have 
been widely surpassed.
Carmina Baéz,  
YPP intern from the  
Dominican RepublicYoung Professionals Programme (YPP)
their missions in participating in the daily activities at 
the WTO and assisted them in coping with the additional 
workload linked to their responsibilities as group 
coordinators. I had ample opportunities 
to observe, discuss and get 
ideas of strategies and tactics 
in multilateral negotiations, 
strengthening my own 
negotiation skills. The fisheries 
subsidies negotiations, and 
discussions on the waiver on the 
TRIPS Agreement were among 
the richest processes.
Gobinda Bahadur,  
FIMIP intern from NepalFrench-Irish Mission Internship Programme (FIMIP)
In 2021, 20 capital-based mid-level officials dealing 
with trade issues were accepted in the FIMIP to join their 
countries of origin’s delegations to WTO. This was one of 
the highest numbers since the start of the programme, 
with 75% of participants coming from LDCs. Interns got 
to deepen their knowledge of WTO Agreements and could 
stay informed of WTO current negotiation processes 
affecting their countries, subject matters and working 
procedures of different WTO bodies. In fact, more than 
half of their time is spent in attending different WTO 
Committees and groups meetings.
Interns' time allocation WHO: capital based mid-level public 
ofﬁcials
WHERE FROM: Members coordinating a 
regional group or a group of countries at 
WTO
WHAT: work in the permanent mission of 
the group coordinator
HOW LONG: duration of the coordinator's 
mandate, 1 year maximum
WTO 
Meetings
36%
Other
21%
Research
10%
Training
5%Regional 
Group Meetings
28%
WTO 
Meetings
33%
Others
19%
Training
15%
Research
12%
WHO: capital-based mid-level 
public ofﬁcials
WHERE FROM:  developing and 
LDC Members
WHAT: work in the permanent 
missions of their countries to WTO
HOW LONG:  9.5 months on averageInterns' time allocation
Regional 
Group 
Meetings
14%
WHO: qualiﬁed young professionals
WHERE FROM: priority to LDCs and developing countries with no or low professional representation in WTO Secretariat
WHAT: work in a Secretariat division
HOW LONG: 1 year maximum
Agriculture
 Economic
Research
Development
Trade
Facilitation
Services
 Trade Policy
Analysis
Trade
Remedies
TBT
TRIPS
 SPS
Market
Access
Media
 EnvironmentYoung Professionals’ areas of work in 2021
Trade-Related
TAThis Programme, subject to demand from WTO Members 
coordinating a WTO regional group or a group of countries, 
accepted four capital-based trade officials in 2021. On 
top of enhancing their own capacities, participants from 
Burkina Faso, Jamaica, Mauritius, and Samoa supported Fourteen young professionals from diverse origins (from 
Eswatini to Georgia and from Guatemala to Thailand) 
were chosen among more than 2,400 candidates 
to take part in the 2021 programme. They spent 
11  months embedded in different divisions within the 
WTO Secretariat (Agriculture and Commodities, Market 
Access, Development or Rules, among others) and gained 
insight on a wide array of trade-related topics.
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KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1CHAPTER 1 – ON-THE-JOB TRAINING CHAPTER 1 – ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
Figure 15.  Number of key accession 
documents submitted (2018-2021) 
2018 2020 20196
20214 4 6
Figure 16.  Accession meetings
by type (2018-2021)
2018 2019 2020 20211
4 41
3
Plurilateral 
meetingsInformal 
meetingsFormal
meetings41
Advancing towards WTO membership    Supporting accessions
Acceding governments 
are participating in 
accession negotiationsKEY RESULT
2
75%
50%
25%
60%
40%50%
75%
40%
60%25%
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met2017
2018
2019
2020
2021Global events are a good opportunity to bring together 
officials from different acceding governments and allow 
them to discuss their common needs. For example, in 
2021, participants from 15 Observers took part in a 
global virtual training for acceding governments jointly 
organized with the International Trade Center and 
focused on trade in services.
Meanwhile, national workshops were delivered for 
Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Comoros and Uzbekistan, 
addressing specific subjects such as accession-related 
procedural issues, the ePing alert system (see page 31), 
and Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMs).Several LDC Observers witnessed progress in their 
accession processes: Comoros and Timor-Leste held 
formal Working Party meetings, while Sudan held an 
informal meeting which led to a formal one later in the 
year. Six key accession documents were prepared or 
revised in 2021: a Memorandum on the Foreign Trade 
Regime (MFTR) of Curaçao, Factual Summaries of Points 
Raised for the Working Parties of Sudan, Timor-Leste 
and Uzbekistan, and revised draft reports for those of 
Azerbaijan and Comoros. Furthermore, six accession 
roadmaps were revised.    Figure 15.  Number of key accession documents submitted (2018-2021)
Figure 16.  Accession meetings by type (2018-2021)
Figure 17.  Observers' participation in TA by accession progress status in 2021
As I take part in Timor-Leste's 
working group for WTO 
accession, I will benefit from this 
course, which has deepened my 
understanding on the aspects a 
country should consider when 
preparing an initial market 
access offer in services trade.
Dávida Mesquita,  
Participant in the  
Virtual Training Course 
on Trade in Services for 
Acceding Governments, 
Timor-LesteIn general, the engagement level in TA activities of 
governments seeking to accede to the WTO was similar 
to previous years. Over 800 representatives from WTO 
Observers took part in TA courses, coming mainly from 
Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus 
and Africa.
TA supports acceding governments in navigating the 
technical challenges in the accession process, but this 
assistance is no substitute for political impetus. WTO Accessions
Over 2021, more than half of the acceding governments 
continued their work to join the WTO as Members. Most 
participants from Observers were attracted by courses 
with a general scope, followed by those who opted for 
standards and purely accession-focused activities. In 
terms of mode of delivery, their choices were consistent 
with those of the rest of participants, as 56% of them 
took part in e-Learning courses. Figure 17.  Observers' participation
in TA by accession progress
status in 2021 
Work in progress Strategic focus
Inactive Activation and reactivation55%
7%23%15%
SUPPORTING ACCESSIONS
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KEY RESUL T  2
KEY RESUL T  2CHAPTER 1 – SUPPORTING ACCESSIONS CHAPTER 1 
Uneven engagement from Observers           Infographic 4.  World map with Observers by WTO accession 
status
Most Observer participants in TA activities came from 
countries whose accession status is “work in progress” , 
meaning that there are some technical advancements 
and a regular exchange of information with the WTO. 
About 7% of participants came from two governments – 
Bosnia & Herzegovina and the Comoros – which belong 
to the “strategic focus” category. This category groups 
Observers that may become WTO Members in the near 
future, given the technical advancement in their dossiers.Action has been taken to reactivate the accessions of Iraq, 
Lebanon, and Serbia, and to activate those of Curaçao 
and Somalia. Turkmenistan became an Observer in 2020 
and applied for accession at the end of 2021.
Equatorial Guinea had no activity at the Working Party in 
the last three years, and has now joined Algeria, Andorra, 
Bhutan, Iran, Libya, Sao Tomé & Principe, and Syria in the 
category of “inactive” Observers. 
Infographic 4.  World map with Observers by WTO accession status
Observers with 
a strategic focusObservers with 
work in progressObservers whose accession 
process is being activated 
or reactivatedInactive observers
Bosnia & Herzegovina
ComorosAzerbaijan
Bahamas
Belarus
Ethiopia
South Sudan
Sudan
Timor-Leste
Turkmenistan
UzbekistanIraq
Lebanon 
Serbia
Curaçao
SomaliaAlgeria
Andorra
Bhutan
Equatorial Guinea
Iran
Libya
Sao Tomé & Principe
Syria
Agreement on Government 
Procurement
Facilitating accession to plurilateral agreements   
What is the GPA?   
The fundamental aim of the GPA is to mutually open 
government procurement markets among its Parties. 
As a result of several rounds of negotiations, the GPA 
Parties have opened procurement activities estimated 
to be worth more than USD 1.7 trillion annually to 
international competition (i.e., to suppliers from the GPA 
Parties offering goods and services).
At present, the Agreement has 21 Parties covering 48 
WTO Members. Thirty-five WTO Members/Observers and 
four international organizations participate in the WTO 
Committee on Government Procurement as observers. 
Out of these, 11 Members are in the process of acceding 
to the Agreement.Various activities in 2021 (e.g., a regional workshop 
for Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the 
Caucasus and an Advanced global course) contained 
modules on the benefits and procedural requirements for 
accession to the GPA. Brazil's participation in TA activities 
over several years, including in the 2021 Advanced global 
workshop, resulted in active negotiations to join the GPA 
2012 and most recently in its submission of a revised 
market access offer.
In 2021, the circulation of GPA accession-related 
documents more than doubled in comparison to 2020, 
reaching an average of 2.7 documents per active GPA 
accession. However, it still showed a significant gap 
when compared to the 2016-18 average of 6.8. Plurilateral agreements within the framework of the 
WTO are those to which not all WTO Members are 
parties. In 2021, Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz 
Republic, North Macedonia, the Russian Federation, and 
Tajikistan actively pursued their accession to one of such 
agreements: the Government Procurement Agreement 
(GPA). 
In these cases, TA targeted those Members and Observers 
seeking to accede to the GPA, both by selecting qualified 
representatives as participants in TA Activities in general, 
and by designing specific sessions on related issues.
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KEY RESUL T  2
KEY RESUL T  2CHAPTER 1 – SUPPORTING ACCESSIONS CHAPTER 1 – SUPPORTING ACCESSIONS
Fostering research on trade through the academia       Broadening engagement Figure 18.  WCP Phase II Chairs research output (2017-2021)
map on pages 48 and 49). These institutions received 
an annual grant from the WTO during the first four years 
of their involvement in the programme, after which they 
remained part of the network, thus benefiting from 
the advice from the Secretariat and the Programme's 
advisory board, as well as from the WCP brand.
In 2021, 17 institutions from a total of 126 applications 
from 56 Members were selected to participate in the next 
four-year cycle of the programme (Phase III - see list on 
page 49). This will increase the number of universities in 
the WCP to 36. In addition, limited funding was provided 
for specific research projects of Chairs that no longer 
receive annual grants. Thirteen Chairs collaborated in 
the delivery of 10 different research projects working 
closely with government officials and other policymakers 
(see box on page 47).
Total research
outputFigure 18.  Total WCP research output (2017-2021)
7 78 622126
2671 70
45
3154
20115676111
97
37234
185
1117
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021Published articles Thesis Working papers Books
Figure 19.  WCP Phase II Chairs outreach activities (2017-2021)  
Benin Brazil Oman South Africa Tunisia Turkey Total outreach
activities30
13474 67 71331
1676
62
155977
7619
na24
332423
2417
8
32186
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Academia plays a central role in generating knowledge 
and evidence on trade, in training future trade experts 
and public servants and in proving advice to government 
officials and other policymakers through applied 
research. Therefore, partnering with local universities and 
researchers is an effective way of expanding knowledge 
about trade and WTO-related issues in developing and 
LDC Members and Observers.
The WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) has been supporting 
influential academics and their teams since 2010 to 
foster research, adaptation of university curricula and 
dissemination of research results among policy makers. 
Such activities spark policy dialogue around trade and 
help governments shape their plans and policies. 
Over two cycles of four years each (Phases I and II), the 
WCP has established a network of 19 universities (see Figure 20.   WCP Phase II Chairs research output (2020-2021)
2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021
Brazil2020 2021
Benin2020
Oman South Africa Tunisia Turkey85
4
4 51111
941999
35
4
31
610 141716 28
7
16
48113
Published articles Thesis Working papers Books3 1 11
2
12
1 1 132
23 3
3
Academic institutions 
and other stakeholders 
analyse WTO issuesKEY RESULT
3
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met2017
2018
2019
2020
202125%
50%
38%
56%
67%38%
25%
22%50%
13%
13%25%
25%
22%
11% 11% 11%BROADENING ENGAGEMENT
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KEY RESUL T  3KEY RESUL T  3   CHAPTER 1 – BROADENING ENGAGEMENTFigure 19.  WCP Phase II Chairs outreach activities (2017-2021)  
Figure 20.  WCP Phase II Chairs research output (2020-2021)
CHAPTER 1 
Overall research output of the six Phase II Chairs hit 
its second highest level in 2021, as shown in Figure 18. 
These Chairs continued to produce outputs beyond the 
end of the WTO grants in 2019, although in 2021 there 
was a decrease when compared to 2020. The significant 
number of theses published during 2020 is the main 
reason for the difference (see Figure 20). 
On the other hand, outreach activities (conferences, 
seminars, etc.) organised by Phase II Chairs increased 
in 2021, overpassing record levels of 2017 and attesting 
to the agility of Chairs to adapt to the rapidly changing 
environment during the pandemic.  WTO Chairs Programme
The WTO Chairs Programme offers 
the opportunity to raise awareness 
of international trade policies 
in our universities and research 
institutes, as well as in our 
societies, and to build bridges with 
officials in charge of trade policy 
formulation and implementation.
Ahmad Makaila, 
Ambassador, Chad. 
Chair of the LDC Group
Enhancing the trade-related 
expertise of academic institutions 
is of utmost importance for 
strengthening the understanding 
of trade issues in developing 
countries and LDCs. 
Margarete Schramböck, 
Austria’s Federal 
Minister for Digital and 
Economic AffairsFemale micro enterprises for a blue recovery in Mauritius    
Micro- small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) 
play a pivotal role in the economy and development of 
Mauritius, accounting for 99% of all companies and 
around 12% of exports. Given their socioeconomic 
relevance and how hard the pandemic struck them, the 
WTO's Chair in Mauritius launched a project to assess 
those effects, specifically on women-headed MSMEs 
and on sustainable fisheries and marine businesses (the 
so-called 'blue entrepreneurs'). 
The survey covered 380 firms across the country and 
found that, 65.3% were forced to shut down operations 
when a second lockdown was enforced in March 2021. 
According to Soomilduth Bholah, Minister of Industrial 
Development, SMEs and Cooperatives of Mauritius: “The 
report identifies several challenges that MSMEs have 
faced during the second confinement: lack of operational 
cash-flow, drops in aggregate demand and reduced 
opportunities to venture the market, or increased 
freight cost, among others. ” Minister Bholah stressed 
that policymakers need to “ensure that the appropriate 
policies are formulated and implemented” , and therefore 
welcomed the insights contained in the report.Virtual focus group discussions were also organized with 
the Female Entrepreneurs Association and the National 
Women Entrepreneurs Council of Mauritius . As a result, 
a second document comparing the consequences of the 
pandemic for both male- and female-headed enterprises 
probed into the factors that prevent Mauritian women 
micro entrepreneurs from shifting to digital operations.
Both publications suggest that, given their share of 
exports, MSMEs can serve as an important economic 
recovery mechanism for Mauritius. They also recommend 
a series of strategies to leverage their potential: from 
encouraging larger Mauritian firms engaged in exports 
to source more products and services from local MSMEs, 
to targeting the latter with sector-specific support to 
strengthen their trade capacities.  
Several virtual conferences were organized throughout 
the year to give visibility to research results and reach out 
to policy makers and other relevant actors. One of these 
virtual events, organized by the WTO Chair in December, 
aimed at discussing how MSMEs are coping with the 
consequences of the global health crisis. 
 
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KEY RESUL T  3KEY RESUL T  3CHAPTER 1 – BROADENING ENGAGEMENT CHAPTER 1 – BROADENING ENGAGEMENT
1  2  
3  
4  
1  ARGENTINA/BRAZIL. Focus on mega-agreements 
and MERCOSUR
The WCP Chair in Brazil, jointly with her colleague in Argentina, 
developed a research project on the macroeconomic and trade 
impacts of the policies followed by five developing countries from 
recent mega-agreements, such as the Regional Comprehensive 
Economic Partnership and the Comprehensive and Progressive 
Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. It was funded by the 
Netherlands and included outreach events with government 
participation.
Other outreach activities focused on the MERCOSUR agreement, 
given its importance to Brazil. The Chair was able to secure funding 
and establish partnerships with multiple actors, from both the 
public and private sector. Two courses were organized: an online 
course and a new one on international trade policy and regulation, 
which focused on the WTO and preferential trade agreements, 
specifically designed for women. 2  TURKEY . Changes in competition law, migration, 
and work with exporters
The Chair in Turkey focused on several topics: labour provisions in free 
trade agreements, public health regulations and their justification 
under the WTO Agreements, the European Union Green Deal and its 
impact on agriculture, and Turkey's free trade agreements with the 
United Kingdom and the European Union, among others. 
The Chair and her team edited several books and book chapters in 
2021. In particular, the Chair built on previous work on the changes 
in competition law and policy. 
The Chair partnered with the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TEA), 
representing some 96,000 exporters, to measure decent working 
conditions in Turkish trade-oriented companies. She also acted as a 
senior legal adviser to the Turkish Minister of Trade.
On curriculum development, a new certificate program on New 
Approaches in International Trade was launched. Five doctoral 
students are currently working on their theses at the university.Infographic 5.  World map with WCP Chairs and a selection of 2021 highlights    Infographic 5.   World map with WCP Chairs and a selection of 2021 highlights
3  BENIN/SENEGAL. Obstacles for integrating  
regional value chains in West Africa
All courses delivered by the Benin Chair in 2021 were newly 
developed. The Chair also collaborated with the Université Senghor of 
Alexandria for the funding and launch of two master's programmes. 
The research team has established strong ties with the government.
In 2021, a joint project with the WCP Chair in Senegal funded by 
France assessed the obstacles that African countries face when 
trying to integrate into regional value chains. It aims at identifying 
which specific products bring a comparative advantage to countries 
in the subregion and develop diversification strategies that allow 
creating and strengthening regional value chains. The Chair of Benin 
has also been able to generate a database assessing the impact of 
the pandemic on SMES and private actors. 4  SOUTH AFRICA/TUNISIA. Analysing trade  
opportunities and AfCFTA
The Chair in South Africa co-authored a book with the Chair in Tunisia 
on the trade opportunities between South African and Tunisian 
SMEs, using a Decision Support Model approach. The results of the 
project have been presented to South Africa's Department of Trade, 
Industry and Competition, the South African Capital Equipment 
Export Council and the Steel Tube Export Association of South 
Africa. In addition to this, the South African Chair also published a 
book assessing Africa's digital future.
Another research project, in collaboration with UNECA, assessed 
the export opportunities of Cameroon using the same approach. Two 
other activities in progress are a book on bilateral trade through the 
AfCFTA and another on big data analytics and international market 
selection. 
The Chair continues to maintain and create extensive ties with 
the national and provincial governments through several of their 
branches.
All established courses were updated in 2021, including the 
pandemic's impact on international trade and logistics. The 
university continues to offer an undergraduate degree in Economics 
and International Trade, as well as a postgraduate degree in 
International Trade.Phase I Chairs (2010-2014)
Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (ARGENTINA), University of the West Indies 
(BARBADOS), Shanghai University of International Business and Economics (CHINA), 
University of Chile (CHILE), Universitas Gadjah Mada/UGM (INDONESIA), University of Jordan 
(JORDAN), University of Nairobi (KENYA), University of Mauritius (MAURITIUS), Instituto 
Tecnológico Autónomo de Mexico (MÉXICO), Mohammed V University- Souissi (MOROCCO), St 
Petersburg State University (RUSSIAN FEDERATION), Cheikh Anta Diop University (SENEGAL), 
National University of Singapore (SINGAPORE)
Phase III Chairs
Université de Yaoundé II (CAMEROON), University of International Business and Economics 
(CHINA), Universidad de los Andes (COLOMBIA), Universidad Nacional (COSTA RICA), 
Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar (ECUADOR), Cairo University (EGYPT), Addis Ababa 
University (ETHIOPIA), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (INDIA), National University of 
Lesotho (LESOTHO), Kathmandu University School of Management (NEPAL), Lahore School of 
Economics (PAKISTAN), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PERU), University of Rwanda 
(RWANDA), National Taiwan University (CHINESE TAIPEI), Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa 
(TANZANIA), The University of World Economy and Diplomacy of Uzbekistan (UZBEKISTAN), 
Foreign Trade University (VIET NAM)Phase II Chairs (2010-2014)
University Abomey-Calavi (BENIN), Getulio Vargas Foundation, Sao Paulo School of Economics 
(BRAZIL), Sultan Qaboos University (OMAN), North-West University (SOUTH AFRICA), 
University of Tunis, Tunis Business School (TUNISIA), Istanbul Bilgi University (TURKEY)
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KEY RESUL T  3KEY RESUL T  3CHAPTER 1 – BROADENING ENGAGEMENT    CHAPTER 1 – BROADENING ENGAGEMENT
Reaching out to non-traditional WTO actors           Expanding audiences
Figure 21.  WTO TA outreach  activities (2017-2021)
2017 2018 2019 2020Figure 21.  WTO TA outreach 
activities (2017-2021)
Global National Regional111
2021424
71
52
2
4
Non-governmental 
audiences 
are aware of WTO issuesKEY RESULT
4
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met2017
2018
2019
2020
202156%
80%
20%
43%
29%6%
20% 20%
29% 29%
29% 29%22% 17%
20%
40%
14%
WTO TA seeks to go beyond its main target audience 
(government officials) and reach out to a wider public to 
expand the understanding of trade-related issues and 
ongoing discussions. To this end, outreach activities foster 
dialogue with legislators, civil society representatives, 
journalists, and private sector operators. 
If 2020 saw very few of these activities, in 2021 the 
number of WTO outreach events for 'outsiders' grew to 
become the highest in the last five years, as shown in 
Figure 21. The results were however uneven. On the one 
hand, the established targets on e-Learning training 
material requests from these constituencies and views 
of TA webpages were met. On the other hand, WTO 
TA did not provide the expected volume of training to  
non-governmental stakeholders (neither the number 
of activities nor the number of participants were met).  
As no data was available on the diversity of WTO-related 
topics covered by statements, reports, and papers 
produced by these same stakeholders, the meeting of 
such objective could not be measured.
Interest on global trade issues from these audiences 
was high during the year, probably due to the upcoming 
12th WTO Ministerial Conference, which was initially 
scheduled for the end of 2021. Unfortunately, the 
conference was postponed due to the deteriorating 
sanitary situation. 
After a year without activities for business and economic 
journalists, two were held in 2021 in partnership TA training materials requests 
Reaching out to non-traditional WTO audiences 
(including participants from developed countries) is one 
of the goals of WTO TA e-Learning platforms and its broad 
range of online courses and materials for self-study.  
In 2021, the total demand for these training materials 
was 23% lower than in 2020. The biggest number of 
requests came from the academia, followed by private 
sector representatives, governmental organization 
workers and NGO members. The regions with more  
self-learners were Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin 
America. As it was the case for the overall WTO TA 
learning portfolio, English was the language with highest 
material requests (77% of the total demand).
Infographic 6.  Training Material Requests
Overall volume Regions
Languages Audience type
Other
13%
Public sector
5%
Private sector
25%Academia
57%20184915
19964619
3573
2019 2020 2021Developed 
countries
19%
Latin America
22%Caribbean
1%
Africa
23%Middle East
1%CEECAC
8%
Asia-Paciﬁc
26%
French
7%
English
77%Spanish
16%
The rich diversity of information 
provided in this course allows us to 
explain the impact that large-scale 
decisions have on our country's 
daily life.
Anabella Aparicio, 
Journalist at Sudestada, 
Informativos de Canal 
10 and Radio Sarandí, 
Uruguaywith the Friedrich-Ebert foundation (FES): one for  
English-speaking journalists from Africa and  
Asia-Pacific, and another one for Latin American 
reporters and analysts. Participants had the chance to 
engage in dialogues with WTO Officials and Ambassadors.
A workshop for legislators from Asia and the Pacific 
was also organised in collaboration with the Temasek 
Foundation and the S. Rajaratnam School of International 
Studies from Singapore. Members of Parliament engaged 
in discussions on regional and global trade perspectives 
for the post-pandemic recovery with a diverse panel that 
included WTO representatives. 
Private operators showed an interest for more specialized 
courses, and national webinars on the usage of the ePing 
tool were specifically delivered for them. A further joint 
webinar with the International Telecommunications 
Union (ITU) explored the challenges and opportunities 
for SMEs when accessing government procurement 
markets abroad. EXPANDING AUDIENCES
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  51
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KEY RESUL T  4KEY RESUL T  4     CHAPTER 1 – EXPANDING AUDIENCESInfographic 6.  Training Material Requests 
CHAPTER 1
Infographic 7.  Most-Viewed pages 
in the WTO Website
9.7MHome Page WTO News 
and Events
Search Page
1M
Fact File
967kIndex
516kMembers and
Observers 635k
Members
Gateway
About WTO
2.1M 
1.3MThe WTO
634kWhat is 
the WTO?
634kDS: USA - 
Measures on steel 
and aluminium 
products
608k
11.6M 
Publications 
Page
799k
Click here to follow WTO TA Social MediaDiversifying promotion 
channels
Social media have become the main gateway to reach 
the general public and other non-governmental 
stakeholders, allowing the spread of information 
on trade issues and WTO TA activities. For instance, 
Twitter campaigns have been increasingly used to raise 
awareness on the SPS Agreement and its implications 
for food trade and for consumers, as well as on the 
relevant TA activities. The Twitter hashtag #WTOsps pays 
testimony to those efforts.
Over 2021, WTO TA social media accounts used more 
infographics, videos, and animations, trying to present 
information in a more user-friendly and attractive way. 
These platforms were intensively used to promote 
e-Learning activities – from new courses to live sessions 
or guidance for e-learners. By the end of the year, the 
number of WTO TA followers in all social media platforms 
had increased by 19% compared to 2020.
The ‘success’ of TA webpages and news items – measured 
in terms of views – was again well above the 2016-18 
average used as a baseline in the TA Plan (six times 
higher), but somehow lower than in 2020.  
WT/COMTD/W/265
52  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021
KEY RESUL T  4CHAPTER 1 – EXPANDING AUDIENCES     Infographic 7.  Most-Viewed pages in the WTO Website
Chapter 2   
Prioritizing inclusionChapter 2  
Prioritizing inclusion
 §In 2021, WTO TA had registered more participants from 
LDCs than in the previous year
 §Women’s participation also increased, while new 
trainings on trade & gender were delivered
 §Unreliable Internet connection posed a challenge for 
virtual learners from several regions
 §The share and number of courses in languages 
other than English grew, as did sessions with live 
interpretation
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  53
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Integrating and supporting 
developing economies, helping 
women and small businesses 
benefit from the global marketplace, 
bringing in as diverse a membership 
as possible... Inclusion is 
hardwired into the DNA of the 
WTO and, consequently, into the 
DNA of the Technical Assistance 
the Organization provides to 
beneficiaries.  
Indeed, the objective of assisting 
everyone – existing and new 
Members from all regions of the 
world, academics, civil society, 
private actors – lies at the core 
of the Key Results that measure 
the success of such assistance. 
Development cannot be sustainable 
if its benefits do not reach all groups 
and communities. 
Just as a WTO Member should not 
discriminate between its trading 
partners, or between its products 
and services and those of other 
Members, there is no room for other 
types of discrimination when it 
comes to pushing for more open and 
efficient trade.That is why the WTO TA strives to 
include more and more women in 
its courses for government officials, 
its internships, and its training 
programmes. Bridging the gender 
gap is a matter of justice, but also 
a crucial element in achieving 
the development goals the global 
community has set. In this regard, 
in 2021 we have continued to hold 
trainings focused on the relationship 
between gender equality and trade. 
And the WTO Chairs programme 
has conducted research to support 
women entrepreneurs in getting on 
board the trade boat in different 
countries.
In that sense, our expansion into the 
world of virtual learning - spurred 
by the pandemic - has opened new 
paths. We can now reach people 
who might not otherwise have 
found the time, or the opportunity, 
to participate in face-to-face 
courses. But that shift into the 
virtual sphere lays a snare: that of 
pushing participants to follow their 
training at the expense of their 
personal and family time. And when 
that happens, as in all aspects of  Only by empowering 
people from all walks of 
life will they be able to 
get a voice in negotiation 
and decision-making 
processes.
work-life balance, women often lose 
out. Connectivity issues also tend 
to be a bigger issue for participants 
from developing and LDCs.
We also aim to be geographically 
diverse. We are reaching more and 
more places, and the beneficiaries 
of our assistance are coming from 
increasingly diverse backgrounds. 
Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-
Iweala recently praised the diverse 
nature of the group of 12 young 
professionals from developing 
countries and LDCs who will 
spend a year at the organization’s 
headquarters improving their 
knowledge of trade and contributing 
to our activities. In addition to backgrounds 
and cultures, TA must also be 
generationally inclusive. From our 
internship programmes to our 
Advanced courses, we support 
individuals, staff, and professionals 
of all ages. The same goes for 
our training partners and, of 
course, our own staff. We should 
take advantage of the wisdom of 
seasoned professionals, while at 
the same time opening the door for 
the younger generations to start 
contributing to a better tomorrow. 
Ending all forms of discrimination 
is an essential step but will not be 
enough. Only by empowering people 
from all walks of life will they be 
There is no room for discrimination  
when it comes to open and efficient trade
By Bridget Chilala, ITTC Director 
able to get a voice in negotiation 
and decision-making processes. 
And that is the only path to a 
prosperous, fair, and inclusive trade 
environment.
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  55
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CHAPTER 2 – INCLUSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCECHAPTER 2 
INCLUSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
CHAPTER 2 – INCLUDING LDC s
Participation in e-Learning (those self-learning courses 
that were already conducted online before the pandemic) 
remained stable. However, the drop-out rate increased, 
and the success rate decreased, as shown in Figure 4. 
Digital fatigue caused by working remotely and time 
constraints are possible explanations of this negative 
trend. However, the number of successful e-learners who 
obtained a distinction stayed at similar levels.Internships e-Learning0%10%20%30%40%50%60%Figure 22.  LDCs share of 
participants (2017-2021)
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Driving change in least-developed countries        Including LDCs   Figure 22.  LDCs share of  participants (2017-2021)
Least-developed countries (LDCs) are low-income 
countries confronting severe structural impediments to 
sustainable development. There are currently 46  LDCs 
in the world, of which 35 are WTO Members and eight 
are WTO Observers. Together, they represent 30% of 
TA beneficiaries. Fostering their participation in the 
multilateral trading system is a WTO TA priority.  
In this regard, LDC exports shrunk from the onset of the 
pandemic, although their share of global trade in 2020 
(last year for which full data was available) was still at 
1.13%. This is a slight decrease when compared to the 
previous year (1.15%), but still above the 1.07% average 
used as a baseline in the TA Plan.
The number of documents LDCs submitted to WTO 
Committees – another useful indicator of their 
participation in the system – increased in 2021 (see 
page 32).
In 2021, participants from LDCs accounted for over a 
quarter (27%) of the overall participation, coming from 
42 different WTO Members and Observers, and mainly 
from Africa. That share increased when it came to interns 
and young professionals, as more than half of them (57%) 
were LDC nationals, reaching a 6-year record. The share 
of LDC nationals among e-learners remained stable in 
2021, at 30% (or almost one out of every three). Trade and Development
These workshops are fundamental 
for those of us who come from 
LDCs. They help government 
officials like me to better 
understand the multilateral 
trading system. For example, 
the learnings on how to benefit 
from technology transfer from 
developed countries will be 
extremely useful.
Diana Zafiarivelo, 
Responsible of the TRIPS 
dossier, Ministry of 
Commerce, MadagascarInvolving local and regional experts in TA delivery       Figure 23.  e-RTPC trainers in 2021
Meeting experts from the field as 
well as people from our region 
who work in trade allows us to 
generate an important network 
of contacts for the future.
The experience with the 
regional expert was very 
beneficial in giving us an 
overview of the trade issues 
in the region.Bringing local and regional experts onboard as facilitators 
is of strategic importance in WTO's TA Plan. Enlisting local 
and regional trainers enhances participants' ownership 
of the programmes and enlarges their networks. The 
strategy also provides context-specific perspectives that 
can only be exposed by those who work in the country or 
region. Local facilitators further enhance the grasp of 
TA content, as participants draw additional motivation 
from trainers with whom they share socio-cultural 
backgrounds. Taking the 2021 eRTPCs as examples, 
Figure 23 shows that regional trade experts amounted to 
a fair proportion of trainers in those courses.
Mouna Bahri,   
Assistant Director,  
Foreign Trade Department, 
Ministry of Trade and Export 
Department, TunisiaWTO Trainers Regional expertsMiddle
EastEnglish-Speaking
AfricaLatin
AmericaFigure 23.  e-RTPC trainers in 2021
12%88%
19%81%
22%78%
Sofia Vargas,   
Advisor, Ministry of 
Foreign Trade, Costa Rica
INCLUDING LDC s    
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  57
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In 2021, a training session on Trade and Gender triggered 
major interest among interns, who shared thoughts and 
experiences drawn from their national contexts. This 
helped fine-tuning the WTO training package on the 
topic.  
The WTO Chairs Programme (see pages 44, 45) also 
launched several projects on Trade and Gender. For 
example, the WTO Chairs in Barbados, Chile, and Mexico 
conducted a joint academic project to improve Members’ 
understanding of the link between their trade policy 
instruments and gender equality and to help them 
address gender concerns in their trade policies.Although female participants were still less than men 
(46.4%), the gender gap was slightly reduced in 2021. This 
is a positive development in the context of the pandemic, 
which increased the burden of care and domestic work 
that women tend to bear most. Women accounted for the 
majority of participants in activities with a global reach 
(53%).
The Caribbean (with 75% of female learners) and 
Latin America remained the regions with higher 
female participation. Meanwhile, gender imbalance in 
participation increased in African and Middle Eastern 
beneficiaries, where women represented just 31% of 
activities’ attendees. Out of all 2021 participants coming 
from an LDC, only 35.5% were women.Advancing gender equality 
through trade       Promoting women’s participation   Infographic 8.  WTO TA work on trade and gender
Increasing womens’ role and participation in global trade 
is part of WTO TA’s mission. Building on the declaration 
adopted in WTO’s 11th Ministerial Conference, in 
September 2021 the Members involved in the informal 
group on Trade and Gender approved a specific TA 
strategy for the subject-matter.
As a consequence, the WTO training programme on 
Trade and Gender was revamped in 2021 to enhance 
Members’ understanding of how trade and trade rules 
are shaped by and have an impact on gender issues. The 
updated programme aims at supporting government 
officials working in this field. It contains a set of policy 
tools to support them in policy making, such as concrete 
indicators for implementing trade rules with gender 
lens or a map of all types of trade measures taken by 
Members for women’s economic empowerment.
Interest and demand for training on gender issues is 
growing. Saint Kitts and Nevis, for example, requested 
a dedicated course on these topics that took place in 
August 2021 (see page 60). This first-ever activity (as 
exclusively focused on gender issues) took place in the 
Caribbean, the region with the traditionally highest rate 
of female participation in WTO TA activites.Infographic 8.  
WTO TA work on trade and gender
Deliver solutions on how to 
integrate gender into trade policies, 
based on Members’practices
Assist government ofﬁcials in their 
work on trade and gender
Help explain why trade rules 
are not gender neutral
Collect data on gender-related trade 
policies, initiatives, programmes and 
statistics from Members
Help drive research by collecting 
information on Members’priorities
Focus on the needs of governments 
prior to providing relevant trainingGive a new persepective on how trade 
can impact women’s 
economic empowerment
Figure 24.  Gender mix in TA
participation (2017-2021)
45.6% 47.1% 48.1%45.1%46.4%54.4 % 52.9% 51.9%54.9% 53.6%
2018 2017 2019 2020 2021
Women Men
Figure 25.  Female participation in TA trainings by region in 2021
75%
Caribbean
50%
Latin America46%
CEECAC
Africa31%
Middle East42%
Asia-Paciﬁc
31%
53% 46% Global activities e-Learning
TA on trade and gender 
PROMOTING WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION    
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  59
WT/COMTD/W/265 WT/COMTD/W/265 58  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021   CHAPTER 2 – PROMOTING WOMEN’S PARTICIPATIONFigure 24.  Gender mix in TA participation (2017-2021)
Figure 25.  Female participation in TA trainings by region in 2021
CHAPTER 2 
Fostering the involvement of women 
entrepreneurs in trade programmes    
A workshop in St. Kitts & Nevis explored the obstacles preventing 
women from reaping the benefits of international trade
The impact of trade 
is shaped by the 
structure of markets 
and institutions… and 
the gender inequalities 
that are embedded 
within them.“The impact of trade is shaped 
by the structure of markets and 
institutions… and the gender 
inequalities that are embedded 
within them, ” says Latoya Davis, 
a trade policy officer at the 
Ministry of International Trade, 
St. Kitts and Nevis. “Trade policies 
and agreements influence the 
opportunities of women – and men 
– to access and secure employment, 
as well as to reap the benefits of 
international trade of good and 
services, ” she adds.
Ms Latoya is one of over 60 
government officials from this 
Caribbean Member of the WTO who 
attended a training on Trade and 
Gender in August 2021. The course 
gave participants a new perspective 
on how trade can impact women’s 
economic empowerment. Using 
concrete examples, it helped 
officials understand why trade 
rules are not gender-neutral and 
how the WTO Agreements can be 
implemented with gender lens for a 
positive impact on women. As a Permanent Secretary at the 
Ministry, Jasemin Weekes works 
closely with micro, small and 
medium enterprises. “In this sector, 
our women play an important role 
in the economy and international 
trade and were seriously impacted 
by the pandemic, ” she explains.  
Ms Weekes feels the workshop 
allowed her to do some 
introspection and consider whether 
the appropriate policy prescriptions 
were designed to meet the needs 
of the people. “It allowed me to 
consider how we can foster a 
bigger involvement of women 
entrepreneurs in trade promotion 
programs, ” she recalls.
Indeed, a key takeaway for many 
participants was the need for 
policies that prioritize support 
for women’s entrepreneurship. 
In the words of Natalya Paul, 
an administrative officer at the 
Ministry, “ultimately, the issue 
is whether women are in fact 
empowered enough and if not, how 
it could be achieved. ” The workshop, Ms Paul said, strengthened her 
conviction that the removal of 
obstacles related to shifts in both 
global value chains and the policy 
environment – including access to 
funds, training, and other resources 
– can remedy the existing gender gap.Jasemin Weekes,  
Permanent Secretary.  
Ministry of International Trade, 
Industry, Commerce,  
Consumer Affairs & Labour,  
St. Kitts and Nevis
Natalya Paul,  
Administrative Officer.  
Ministry of International Trade, 
Industry, Commerce,  
Consumer Affairs & Labour,  
St. Kitts and Nevis
Latoya Davis,  
Trade Policy Officer.  
Ministry of International Trade, 
Industry, Commerce,  
Consumer Affairs & Labour,  
St. Kitts and Nevis
The training responded to a demand 
from the Government and provided 
officials with new policy tools to 
help them integrate gender into 
their trade policies. According to  
Ms Latoya, the “extensive information 
and perspectives provided through these workshops” enable countries 
to gain knowledge, enhance and 
sustain a culture of inclusion and 
equality. 
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Allowing smooth participation from around the globe      Reaching every regionInfographic 9.  National and regional training activities by 'host' country
Infographic 9.  National and regional training activities by 'host' country
Countries 'hosting' regional activities Countries 'hosting' national activities
Figure 26.  Participants by region and type of training (2020-2021)
National e-Learning Regional2021 202046
106340269206
145Middle East
780
109183
117 754
333
2021 2020Latin America2021 202027 523467
212 88CEECAC
2021 202048
89637
264270Caribbean
2021 202092 1282021 2020280
217Asia-Paciﬁc
2021 20201875508362398
2437
7081664
6471697
349Africa
Inter-Governmental 
Organizations
On top of the specific objective of supporting LDCs, 
reaching a geographically diverse number of beneficiaries 
is also a goal in WTO TA’s endeavour for greater inclusion. 
In 2021, national and regional workshops or activities 
were organized for over 100 different Members and 
Observers from all regions. These activities covered 
a wide range of aspects (from e-commerce to import 
licensing, and from trade remedies to gender issues in 
trade), but always adapting its contents to the regional or 
national context, thus providing valuable support to host 
audiences.The pandemic-induced turn into virtual learning posed 
several logistic challenges with varying impacts on 
participants, sometimes related to their geographical 
location. Access to reliable Internet connection was 
one of the outstanding issues, hindering effective 
participation form certain beneficiaries. 
Therefore, in 2021 the Secretariat launched an initiative to 
assist participants with connectivity problems. Learners 
in Regional Trade Policy Course for English-speaking 
Africa received a lump-sum to cover the purchase of 
additional mobile data bundles or the upgrade of their 
Internet plans. Likewise, the Young Professionals Programme and 
internships candidates (see pages 36-39) came from 
44 different beneficiaries from across the world, thus 
geographically spreading these training opportunities 
and bringing greater diversity to the programmes.   
As Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala put it in her 
farewell words to the 2021 young professionals:  “Your 
perspectives and experiences have helped to enrich the 
Secretariat’s work, where inclusivity is at the core of our 
activities. ”  In terms of geographical diversity, Africa remained the 
region with the largest number of participants in TA 
activities in 2021, followed by Asia-Pacific and Latin 
America. The overall drop in participation affected all 
regions, with the Caribbean being the most hardly hit. 
However, the number of e-learners grew in all regions 
except in the Caribbean and Central and Eastern Europe 
and the Caucasus. REACHING EVERY REGION
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  63
WT/COMTD/W/265 WT/COMTD/W/265 62  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021    CHAPTER 2 – REACHING EVERY REGIONFigure 26.  Participants by region and type of training (2020-2021)
CHAPTER 2
Sustaining multilingualism for a greater outreach         Inclusion through language diversity Figure 27.  Number of TA trainings by type and language in 2021
WTO remains committed to promoting a multilingual offer 
of its TA. For example, the six e-learning micro courses 
released in 2020 (only in English) were translated into 
French and Spanish in 2021 to make them accessible 
to non-English speaking audiences. The short online 
courses on anti-dumping and services trade were also 
made available in the three WTO official languages.
In 2021, almost half of all TA Activities – both e-Learning 
and virtual – were conducted in English (48.8%). This 
represents a change when compared to previous years, 
when English used to be the language of use in some 
60% to 70% of TA activities. Overall, there was a rise in 
both the share and the number of activities conducted 
in languages other than English when compared to 2020 
numbers.
As usual, all global activities took place in English or with 
multilingual interpretation. While the use of French and 
Spanish was limited to regional or national trainings, 
it accounted for 23.2% and 24.6% of the activities, 
respectively (an increase of almost 10 percentage points 
for each language). 
Enhancing interpretation in the three WTO official 
languages whenever possible was a key recommendation 
arising from several courses, such as the Advanced 
Global Workshop on the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement. Participants in these and other courses 
suggested that subtitling videos was not as useful as 
dubbing, as the latter would allow them to listen to 
the course content while going through other relevant 
materials. However, the number and share of multilingual 
activities dropped by more than half when compared to 
2020 although providing simultaneous interpretation is 
easier in virtual settings.
When it comes to e-Learning – monolingual by essence 
– the number of supporting activities (live questions 
& answers sessions, etc) in French and Spanish grew 
by more than a third in 2021. Over 80 percent of the 
revamped Live Sessions (video encounters aimed at 
resolving e-learners’ doubts that are not considered 
training activities as such) were multilingual. 
Members and Observers must choose one WTO official 
language for work-related affairs, and the Secretariat 
tries to accommodate their preferences in TA delivery, 
so as to promote language diversity. English remains the 
language of choice of most participants (almost six out 
of every 10), either in virtual or online courses. Over 16% 
of learners used French, 11% followed the activities in 
Spanish, and 14% engaged in multilingual training with 
simultaneous interpretation. 
Figure 27.  Number of TA trainings by type and language in 2021
5122
512 17
4150
MultilanguageSpanishFrenchEnglish
GlobalNational
e-LearningRegional
76 41
INCLUSION THROUGH LANGUAGE DIVERSITY
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64  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021CHAPTER 2 – INCLUSION THROUGH LANGUAGE DIVERSITY
Chapter 3    
An evolving curriculum and 
participationChapter 3  
An evolving curriculum and participation  
 §The Secretariat continued to train its staff and develop 
new training materials and pedagogic skills to engineer 
the pandemic-induced transition to virtual TA
 §Overall participation fell by 23%, dragged by the lack of 
face-to-face courses
 §Requests for national activities dropped to a historic low
 §The number of officials gaining Advanced level 
knowledge recovered after a two-year decline
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  65
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Pandemic-related restrictions limited the number of participants    Participation levels Figure 28.  Participation by type of training in 2021
However, this fall should be approached with caution. With 
the start of virtual activities in 2020, the limits between 
conferences, symposia and proper training sessions 
were blurred. This may have led to an overreporting of 
activities and participation in 2020. A more rigorous 
approach was taken in 2021 and, under equal conditions 
of reporting, there was a 17% increase in participation 
when compared with the previous year.
Once again, courses with a general scope attracted 
the biggest share of participants (33%), followed by 
standards and market access for goods. This distribution 
somehow mirrors the TA topic priorities of Members and 
Observers (see page 69). Achieving satisfactory levels of participation in 
TA activities was a major challenge in 2021. The 
volatility of the global health situation and the  
pandemic-related restrictions kept on postponing the 
return to face-to-face training. Ultimately, such a return 
did not take place. Except for internships, the Young 
Professionals Programme and three specific activities, 
all other trainings took place either online (e-Learning 
at the students’ pace) or virtually. Overall, the number of 
participants fell by 23% from the previous year, down to 
11,425 learners.
The number of learners attending e-Learning courses 
designed for participants to complete them online 
at their own pace remained practically identical to 
2020. Therefore, the explanation for such a drop in 
total participation lies in the rest of the TA activities 
portfolio. It is the drop in participants in virtual courses –  
face-to-face courses adapted to be delivered  
virtually – that explains the decrease in participation 
in 2021. Digital fatigue (see page 76), challenges for 
work-life balance and lack of time may be some of the 
underlying causes.Global National e-Learning Regional2017 2018 2019 2020 20211279
14531115
11521508
1453171718195
11491
397211769
28595846
464123636363
4407
25726430
272822826
14358 14795
11425
6481Figure 29.  Participants by year and type of training (2017-2021)
Infographic 10.  Participation highlights
Over
participants in TA activities
of overall participation
Topics with highest 
participationGeneral capacity building
Standards (SPS and TBT)
MA for GoodsFemale participation 
increased to
of learners were from
LDCs11 000
-23%
46%
33%
19%
13%27%
TA dashboards on  
participation
Figure 28.  Participation by type
of training in 2021
24%56%10%10%
GlobalNational
e-LearningRegional
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  67
WT/COMTD/W/265 WT/COMTD/W/265 66  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021CHAPTER 3   CHAPTER 3 – PARTICIPATION LEVELSFigure 29.  Participants by year and type of training (2017-2021)
Infographic 10.  Participation highlights
PARTICIPATION LEVELS
Following beneficiaries needs and priorities              Responding to demand Figure 30.  Requests for national activities (2012-2021)
In the same vein, no TPR follow-up was organised in 
2021 despite the full resumption of the Trade Policy 
Review process after its 2020 partial suspension. These  
follow-ups can be very effective for Members to 
implement the reforms they may need after the review.
The Secretariat conducted a topic-specific survey 
in preparation of two Advanced level activities for 
specialists, on intellectual property and transfer of 
technology for LDCs and on SPS. The responses helped 
assess beneficiaries’ understanding of these issues and 
adapt the programme to address the perceived gaps and 
better respond to the objectives of these activities.An accurate assessment of beneficiaries’ needs and 
priorities is critical to ensure that WTO TA remains relevant 
and effective. Regular exchanges with beneficiaries, 
national activity requests, questionnaires, Trade Policy 
reviews and diagnostic studies by other organisations 
help the Secretariat to identify the institutional gaps as 
precisely as possible.
In 2021, 73 beneficiaries responded to the WTO’s 
questionnaire on priorities for the biennial TA Plan  
2022-23. The level of demand by beneficiaries allows to 
group the priorities in three categories. Standards (both 
TBT and SPS), trade in services and trade facilitation 
were by far topping the list for a majority of respondents. 
Agriculture, e-Commerce and market access issues for 
goods formed a second group, as more than a third of 
responses identified them as a priority. The third group, 
getting more than a quarter of responses, included: 
subsidies, antidumping and safeguards; intellectual 
property; notifications; and trade negotiating skills.
This priority list shows only minor variations when 
compared to previous surveys and has apparently not 
been affected by the pandemic. On the other hand, 
national activity requests – the best tool to tailor training 
to the needs of a beneficiary at a given moment – almost 
disappeared in 2021 (see Figure  30). The Secretariat 
received approximately a quarter of the requests for 
national activities it used to register, on average, in 
the five years preceding the pandemic. Since 2020, 
beneficiaries have either had other priorities than 
institutional capacity building in the field of trade or 
waited for a resumption of face-to-face activities to 
reinitiate their requests.Figure 30.  Requests for
national activities (2012-2021)
050100150200250300
2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Infographic 11.  Beneficiaries' Top TA Priorities for 2022-2023      Infographic 11.  Beneficiaries' Top TA Priorities for 2022-2023 
10   
Notifications9  
TRIPS and Transfer  
of Technology8 
Subsidies/
Trade Remedies
5  
Agriculture6  
e-Commerce7 
Market Access
1  
Technical Barriers to Trade
3  
Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary2  
Trade in Services
4  
Trade Facilitation
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  69
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RESPONDING TO DEMAND
One step at a time          Progressive learning in actionInfographic 12.  WTO TA Progressive Learning Strategy
Figure 31.  Evolution of participants mix by PLS level (2017-2021)
Infographic 12.  WTO TA Progressive Learning Strategy
Geneva-based 
(for LDCs)
e-LearningINTRODUCTION 
COURSES
e-LearningThematic
coursese-LearningRegional
trade policy 
courses
Advanced 
thematic 
coursesAdvanced 
trade policy 
coursesGENERALISTS
SPECIALISTSINTRODUCTORY INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED
Since 2013, WTO TA is structured around three levels 
which progressively take the participants to a higher 
understanding of trade issues. With this approach, 
participants engaging in courses at the higher levels 
already master the necessary elements to follow the 
lectures and training. 
The Introductory level  offers all participants an initiation 
to the role, structure and functioning of the WTO, as well 
as to its economic and legal underpinnings. The online 
course “Introduction to the WTO” and other e-Learning 
programmes are the mainstay at this initial level. 
The share of beginners being introduced to WTO Technical 
Assistance through this introductory level almost halved 
in 2018 and has remained somewhat stable since then.
The face to-face “Introductory Trade Policy Course for 
LDCs” , traditionally offered in Geneva in view of the 
particular needs of least developed countries, has 
not taken place since 2020 due to pandemic related 
restrictions. A virtual five-week programme was 
organized for the first time in 2021, replicating a large 
portion of the in-person introductory course. 
The number of learners engaging in Intermediate level  
activities suffered a sharp drop in 2021, most probably 
due to the expectations that face-to-face trainings 
would resume and to digital fatigue. Participation in  Advanced level  courses, which had been the most 
affected by the pandemic in 2020, increased by 30% 
as these activities resumed in 2021 in virtual mode. 
Subsequently, the share of participants in intermediate 
activities fell from almost 70% to 56%. However, this 
level still accommodates most learners. 
Given the complexity of tracking participants’ progression 
through the learning ladder, a complete integration of 
this strategy is not always possible. 
Figure 31.  Evolution of participants
mix by PLS level (2017-2021)
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2017 2018 2019 2020 20219.8%57.4%18.4%14.4%
Introductory IntermediateN/A Advanced
Different contents for different needs            Figure 32.  Pathway choice (2019-2021)
Figure 33.  Number of participants in Advanced activities (2012-2021)
Figure 33.  Number of participants
in Advanced activities (2012-2021)
848224823802246
1689
11042700
170116232095
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Besides tailoring courses to participants’ knowledge 
levels, WTO offers two differentiated learning paths. The 
‘generalists’ path targets government officials who will 
need a broad knowledge of the WTO to conduct their work 
(e.g., delegates posted to Geneva missions). ‘Specialists’ 
courses are for officials who will require in-depth 
knowledge in a specific area, such as technical barriers 
to trade, or sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
The number of activities for specialists increased in 2021, 
without recovering its pre-pandemic level. Participants 
choosing to follow the specialization path continue to 
be an increasing majority in Intermediate and Advanced 
levels (71%), as shown in Figure 32.
After registering record figures in 2018, participation 
in Advanced activities experienced a two-year decline, 
which started before the pandemic. In 2021, the 
number of participants in WTO’s highest level of training 
recovered, outpacing the average of the last 10 years. The 
flexibility of virtual programmes in accommodating more 
participants is one of the main reasons for this growth.
Large participation numbers in Advanced courses are 
a positive indicator of WTO TA success: they mean that 
a growing amount of government officials is gaining 
Advanced level trade knowledge and expertise. This 
capacity-building will allow them to contribute to 
the implementation of WTO Agreements and the full 
realisation of Member’s rights and obligations. However, 
virtual learning still poses some limitations for learners 
when compared to in-person training.Figure 32.  Pathway choice (2019-2021)
2019 2020 202128.7%71.3%
33.7%66.3%
34.7%65.3%
Generalists SpecialistsPercentage of overal participants
Filling the gap in Advanced courses for generalists     
The impossibility to organize Advanced trade policy 
courses (traditionally delivered in Geneva over two 
months) created a gap in the offer of Advanced training 
for generalists in 2020. 
The size of the unmet demand was revealed when the 
WTO presented a new learning product in 2021: the 
Virtual Executive Trade Policy Course.  The number of 
applications more than doubled the number of places 
available, which had to be expanded up to 62. Most 
participants were senior officials (mainly capital-based) 
with significant professional experience in WTO issues.According to both organizers and learners, the results 
were positive despite the challenges presented by the 
mode of delivery. “Participants followed the course from 
their workplace or private home and were not necessarily 
granted any free time by their employer to follow the 
activity, ” explains Daniel Morales, Course Design and 
Training Head of Unit at WTO. 
“This led to conflicting situations where priority is often 
given to the professional obligation, ” Mr Morales adds. 
Most of those who take part seemingly agree with 
Morales, as 96% of them confirmed that they would 
rather take these courses either on a face-to-face or a 
blended format.WTO e-Learning
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PROGRESSIVE LEARNING IN ACTION
A continuous effort to offer relevant content         Fit-for-purpose contentFigure 34.  e-Learning courses 
compliance with SCORM (2017-2021)
Expanding e-Learning and virtual TA           Figure 35.  Number of trainings by 
mode of delivery in 2021Virtual and interactive – the new normal
Middle East), Trade Remedies (English-speaking Africa) 
and Dispute Settlement (Latin America) were granted an 
award as ‘best modules’ . 
On the side of e-Learning, the emphasis on increasing 
the interactivity of the content was sustained and all 
new courses released during the year were interactive. 
This raised the proportion of online courses adhering to 
SCORM standards to 80% at the end of 2021. SCORM 
is a collection of standards and specifications for  
web-based electronic educational technology that aims 
at easing the reusage and sharing of contents.halved. In 2021, they represented 56% of the total 
participation in WTO TA in 2021 (+13%), due to lower 
participation in other activities. The number of courses 
offered increased from 107 to 132 (+22%). 
All new e-Learning products were either micro courses 
suited for mobile devices or courses focusing on a limited 
number of issues, which are therefore easier to complete 
in the time allocated and to digest. Short or micro 
courses, which hardly existed two years ago, now attract 
a quarter of the online participants.
As over 39% of all online participants were unable to 
meet the two-month deadline, the dropout rate increased 
by 40% compared to 2020. Meanwhile, the share of 
successful participants obtaining a distinction remained 
in line with the average of the past five years (54%). The 
improved standards of the online courses obviously 
facilitate the transmission of the required knowledge.As mentioned in other chapters, in 2021 WTO TA had to 
continue adapting its training offer to pandemic-related 
constraints. These adjustments in the mode of delivery 
were combined with efforts to improve the content of 
the activities and make it more relevant, useful, and 
accessible to participants 
As every year, specific activities were developed on the 
most pressing trade-related issues. Certain training 
courses focused on the link between trade and health 
crisis in general and the significance of trade rules to 
effectively address the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 
Virtual Course on Trade and Public Health, for example, 
explored the diverse range of policy areas that impact on 
innovation and access to COVID-19 health technologies 
in developing countries. Several regional seminars on 
the state of play of negotiations in preparation of the 
12th WTO Ministerial Conference were initially scheduled 
in December, but both the conference and the seminars 
were postponed.  
The Secretariat also established a series of special 
awards to encourage pedagogical improvements and 
good practices in the regional trade policy courses. 
The awards recognize innovative practice, participants’ 
preferred sessions, the best learning module and 
people or teams providing valuable support. In 2021, 
the modules on SPS/TBT/Trade & Environment (Arab & As travel restrictions remained in place throughout 
2021, the WTO was not able to organize face-to-face 
TA activities. Long-term internship programmes in  
Geneva and three activities (one in Geneva and one in 
Uzbekistan) were the sole exception to this rule.
Under these circumstances, the WTO relied on a 
combination of virtual activities and online courses 
to provide TA to beneficiaries. The e-Learning online 
courses remained available on a 24/7 basis throughout 
the year, covering an increasingly wide range of  
trade-related subjects. Interested officials from 
beneficiaries could register at any time during the 
year and progress at their own pace, granted that they 
complete them within two months.  
In 2021, 6,430 participants followed online e-Learning 
courses, marginally more than in 2020. However, 
engagement levels in these activities have not recovered 
since the revamping of the platform at the beginning 
of 2019, when the number of e-L -earners was literally Figure 34.  e-Learning courses 
compliance with SCORM (2017-2021)
80.2%
69.2%
61.4%
55.6%
36.5%
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
e-Learning Face-to-face Virtual
Global National e-Learning Regional13223
27
2462Figure 35.  Number of trainings by mode of delivery in 2021
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  73
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FIT-FOR-PURPOSE CONTENT VIRTUAL AND INTERACTIVE – THE NEW NORMAL
The Secretariat quickly realised that the pandemic would 
not be a mere blip in time and continued to train its 
staff to deliver TA through the new virtual means and to 
develop new training materials and new pedagogic skills. 
Regional Trade Policy courses turned virtual in 2020;  
in 2021 it was time for another set of activities to be held 
virtually for the first time: the Advanced Executive Trade 
course, the Introduction to WTO for LDCs course, and the 
Advanced Workshop on Agriculture Notifications are a 
few examples. 
These activities relied on short synchronous sessions 
with the participants, who had to prepare for them 
through personal work on repackaged materials. All 
agree that although these activities cannot cover as 
much ground as face-to-face courses nor achieve the 
same objectives, they constitute a much-appreciated 
stop-gap measure.The virtual delivery mode itself limits the ability of 
participants to interact with each other and with 
teachers, without the number of participants having 
a decisive impact on this interactivity. Therefore, 
the average participation (30 people in face-to-face 
activities) was increased up to 80 learners in virtual 
activities, thus reaching a wider public through a limited 
number of activities. 
The national workshop on Rules of 
Origin for Cambodia showed some 
of the benefits of virtual training.
Delivered on two different dates,  
after the first session participants  
could digest their learning, exchange 
emails and materials and send  
follow-up questions that were 
addressed a few weeks later in a  
tailor-made session. Logistics would 
have made this scheme much more 
complicated in a face-to-face setting.  
Moving from in-person to virtual 
activities showed us how critical our 
interactive tools were to maintaining 
participants’ engagement. Using 
polling questions, hands-on training, 
and break-out group exercises, we 
were able to keep participants active 
and connected with each other, 
especially thanks to the availability of 
interpretation!
Darlan Marti,  
Market Access Division, 
WTO
Rolando Alcalá,  
Agriculture and  
Commodities Division, 
WTOReal-time support for e-learners goes live    
The interactive written chat sessions hosted by the 
e-Learning team were migrated to video conferencing in 
2021 to boost interactivity and participation. Organized 
through Zoom, these sessions are now called “Live 
Sessions” and their format has been revamped and 
upgraded to suit the video conferencing environment. 
These video encounters are not considered training 
activities as such - they help e-learners resolve their 
doubts on the online courses they are following or on specific WTO issues. A total of 1,355 participants 
attended the 71 Live Sessions organized in 2021, which 
were held at different times to ease participation from 
all time zones. Most participants deeply appreciated the 
possibility to follow Live Sessions through their mobile 
devices, which was not possible before.
Infographic 13.  Types of activities by mode of delivery
ON/hyphen.caseTHE/hyphen.caseJOB 
TRAININGONLINE 
COURSES
/parenleft.caseE/hyphen.caseLEARNING/parenright.case
VIRTUAL 
ACTIVITIESFACE/hyphen.caseTO/hyphen.caseFACE 
ACTIVITIES
Available through the internet on a 24/7 and self-service basis; they 
involve essentially self-study at one's own pace and limited interaction 
between participants and with trainers; they are by and large a 
pre-deﬁned one-size-ﬁts-all product.
One-off learning experiences (with ﬁxed-dates, invitations, etc.). They 
are generally tailor-designed for a closed group of participants, and 
comprise a mixture of self-study, live sessions, group work, etc. 
Participants and trainers are physically gathered in the same place, 
making live interaction easier and more frequent. All participants move 
roughly at the same pace through the same content. 
Replication of face-to-face activities through the internet due to 
pandemic-related travel restrictions. Regular interaction between the 
participants and with trainers is essential to tailor the activity to the 
needs of participants. Live webinars and other virtual sessions have 
replaced in-person gatherings. 
Internship programmes and the Young Professionals Programme allow 
mid-level government ofﬁcials and young professionals to 
'learn-by-doing' as they work either at the Secretariat or with their 
countries' representations to the WTO. Internships are a very particular 
type of technical assistance, lasting ten months on average.
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  75
WT/COMTD/W/265 WT/COMTD/W/265 74  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021   CHAPTER 3 – VIRTUAL AND INTERACTIVE – THE NEW NORMALInfographic 13.  Types of activities 
by mode of delivery
CHAPTER 3 – VIRTUAL AND INTERACTIVE – THE NEW NORMAL
Coping with digital fatigue    
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, video 
conferencing, online meetings and virtual learning went 
from an alternative to a necessity. Although there is 
still scarce research on the effects of expanded digital 
conferencing and professional life turning almost 
completely virtual, terms like ‘digital fatigue’ and ‘screen 
exhaustion’ have gained visibility, especially in 2021. 
As not only WTO TA, but the whole workplace turned 
virtual for many beneficiaries, participants in different 
virtual activities have also mentioned fatigue due to 
spending so many hours a week in video conferences. 
Following virtual training on top of their work added 
more hours of watching videos, reading materials, and 
connecting to mandatory online sessions. On top of 
this fatigue, working and studying from home rather 
than following courses in-person presents additional 
challenges, like competition for time between work 
priorities and learning, or the lack of an adequate 
learning environment at home.
The lower number of participants in virtual activities 
compared to 2020 may be a consequence of this 
increased competition for the learners’ time, once the 
physical barrier between working and learning – which 
used to result from having to travel to a different location 
to follow TA – has disappeared. Members and Observers 
insisted on every occasion about the persistence, or 
even increase, of their TA needs, but the availability of 
their staff seems to be lower since the beginning of the 
pandemic.The pandemic-induced boom of digital trainings of all 
kinds and the subsequent increased competition for 
learners’ ‘screen hours’ also had an impact in e-Learning 
results. Traditional online courses, which participants 
could follow at their own pace, registered higher 
dropout rates, as an increasing number of e-learners 
were not able to complete their course in the allocated 
two months in 2021 (see page 27). Overall performance 
among successful e-learners was however better than 
in 2020, which suggests that digital fatigue is behind the 
increased dropout, rather than content issues.
Taking this phenomenon into account, the e-Learning 
team created lighter micro courses that could be 
followed from mobile devices, and organised dedicated 
Live Sessions (see page 75), study tips and motivational 
e-mails to encourage participants to complete their 
courses.Incentivising interaction through lobby sessions and other 
innovations           Figure 36.  Participants' rating of lobby sessions 
in 2021
Keeping learners engaged in a virtual environment is a 
mammoth task. With virtual and e-Learning modes of 
delivery seemingly here to stay, innovations that enhance 
participants’ engagement have been deployed with a 
view to boost performance. 
Examples of such efforts within WTO TA courses include 
lobby sessions, the use of real-time feedback tools, 
speed networking, round table discussions and virtual 
cocktails. Lobby sessions are virtual meetings in which 
participants interact with experts from other multilateral 
and regional trade-related organizations, focusing 
on how such institutions impact their domestic trade 
activities. Real time feedback tools such as Mentimeter 
allow participants to express an opinion or respond to 
a question on the spot and instantaneously display the 
responses.
Interactive innovations are embedded in course 
curricular. Increased interactivity and human connection 
enhance course content uptake and subsequently 
performance rates. Bonding and networking create 
a relaxed and conducive environment for effective 
bidirectional communication and grasp of course 
content.The 2021 pilot lobby sessions generated remarkably 
positive reviews among participants. Performance 
evaluation results from two e-Regional Trade Policy 
courses (eRTPCs) show that 93% of attendees rated lobby 
sessions as either 4 out of 5 or 5 out of 5 (see Figure 36).
Feedback from eRTPC participants confirmed this. 
Kwather Guda from Sudan, noted that polls, quizzes, 
informal environments, and prompt responses to chat 
box questions made the experience feel “real” . Another 
participant agreed: “The mixed bag of interactive learning 
tools and aides, including the polls and Mentimeter, made 
it a lot less monotonous” . Varsha Mooneeram-Chadee, 
the eRTPC facilitator from Mauritius, felt that online 
social events like virtual cocktails fostered networking 
between participants and facilitators, enhancing 
course content uptake: “interactions with international 
institutions relevant to the context and region are very 
pertinent” , she added.
1/5 2/5 3/5 4/5 5/50%1%5%24%69%Figure 36.  Participants' rating of lobby sessions in 2021
Varsha Mooneeram-Chadee, 
Member of the academic 
coordination team,  
University of Mauritius
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The future of learning partnerships in the age of online training    
Two regional course coordinators reflect on the transition to the virtual spaceA comprehensive (virtual) look into common trade policies  
and challenges for Middle Eastern parties   
Participants in an RTPC share their experience with remote learning on regional issues 
“It was adapt or perish!” says Varsha Mooneeram-
Chadee, when asked why she engaged in delivering the 
Regional Trade Policy Course virtually. After working 
with WTO in organising face to face trainings in the past, 
Mrs Mooneeram-Chadee, a lecturer from the University 
of Mauritius, embarked herself in the virtual course 
for English-speaking government officials from Africa 
that took place over 14 weeks from May to August. The 
motivation of Álvaro Baillet, from the College of México 
with the same experience as his colleague for Latin 
America, was to contribute to the “normalization” of this 
sort of activities in the wake of the pandemic.
“We were curious to find out to what extent the lack of 
physical contact between professors and students 
would have an impact on the courses’ uptake and 
results, ” Mr Baillet recalls. He observes that networking 
among participants is obviously limited and therefore 
suggests looking for new ways of interaction to build 
those relationships. “Otherwise, it may end up being a 
one-direction process in which trainers speak while the 
others are just an electronic image that disappears at 
the end of the session, ” he argues. 
In the course for English-speaking African WTO Members 
and Observers, for example, organizers tried to provide 
for that networking space through WhatsApp groups, 
a “meet and greet” session and a “virtual cocktail” , 
fostering an informal environment outside of the virtual 
classrooms. “The learnings of this course will help me in my work 
at the Committee preparing my country’s accession 
process to WTO, ” says Kawther Guda, Director Assistant 
at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Sudan. “It will 
also strengthen my contributions to the formulation of 
our national trade policy in the context of multilateral 
trade. ” Ms Guda is one of the 16 government officials 
from WTO Middle Eastern Members and Observers who 
took part in what was the first Regional Trade Policy 
Course conducted virtually for this region.
“We all know that change is hard, especially when you 
need to adjust to a new system of learning, ” Ms  Guda 
continues, “but I have improved my virtual communication 
and collaboration skills and enjoyed the opportunity 
to set my own learning-pace. ” As it has been the norm 
since the start of the pandemic, this regional course had 
to turn virtual to ensure that beneficiaries could take 
part despite health measures preventing travelling and  
in-person gatherings. 
The online methodology struck a good balance between 
self-study and live webinars, allowing participants to 
take their time to digest contents. “This course has 
shown us that there are always alternatives to continue 
operating, ” says Zainab Al-Zadjali, director of Marketing 
in the Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries and 
Water Resources of Oman. 
Practical exercises and live discussions also 
strengthened participants’ negotiation skills on a wide 
range of trade topics, according to most of them. Many 
praised the opportunity to connect with colleagues from 
other countries, despite the occasional issues caused by 
unstable Internet connection.
These programmes are conceived as Intermediate 
courses for generalists with a specific regional focus 
for government officials who have already completed 
introductory training. The regional trade policy context 
was largely covered with the participation of trade Both course coordinators agree that the virtual 
format does not leave space for improvisation. 
“Planning and rehearsing are key to the success, ” says  
Mrs Mooneeram-Chadee, “and you need to continuously 
keep participants engaged. ” Mr Baillet insists on the need 
to carefully design every detail, down to the smallest 
technical detail.
Hybrid courses seem like a right mix for the way forward, 
according to both coordinators. “It would enrich the 
face-to-face learning with elements like the Virtual 
Round Table, which has a higher value for the region, 
and the online lobby sessions that allow interaction with 
international institutions relevant to the context, ” says 
the expert from Mauritius. 
Mr Baillet also sees advantages in opening up the digital 
space – cutting costs and allowing for participation of 
those who might not be able to travel – but calls for not 
ending in-person trainings. “As they say in the United 
States, ‘If ain’t broke, don’t fix it, ” he says.Regional Trade Policy Courses stay virtual     
Keeping with WTO’s demand driven TA approach, three 
Regional Trade Policy courses were conducted virtually in 
2021, with participants from 35 Members and Observers. 
Regions covered included the Middle East, English-
Speaking Africa, and Latin America, carrying 68% of 
female participants. 
As per tradition, these e-RTPCs exploited partnerships 
with regional institutions and experts to further 
customise content to participants’ needs. In this regard, 
Colegio de Mexico and University of Mauritius played 
central roles in course delivery with over eleven other 
institutions such as the International Trade Centre, the 
Interamerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, the Arab Monetary Fund or UNECA’s Africa Trade Policy 
Centre actively participating in round table discussions 
and interactive sessions. 
Efforts to optimise virtual RTPCs were well-received: 
numerous innovations (speed networking, lobby 
sessions, etc.) were positively reviewed by both 
participants and facilitators, noting increased bonding 
and networking during the course. Further, the reference 
period registered positive participant performance 
with a 97 percent completion rate, 41 percent of whom 
graduated with distinctions. practitioners and academics from the region and a 
round-table discussion involving key trade negotiators, 
decision makers and private sector representatives. 
“This has supported our ability to formulate trade 
policies that serve the common commercial goals 
of Arab countries” , explains Antisar Al-Rubai, a legal 
counsellor at the Ministry of Trade of Iraq. “We got to 
analyse the trade policies of different WTO Members and 
consider their various repercussions. ” Ms Al-Rubai and 
her female colleagues accounted for three-quarters of 
the participants. 
“Before joining the course, understanding the 
Agreements on the Application of Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade 
was a challenge in my work in the Ministry of Commerce 
and Industry” recalls Salma Binmutlaq, from Kuwait, 
thankful for the knowledge she acquired. Ms Binmutlaq is 
committed to pass on her learnings to other colleagues – 
especially to newcomers – to enhance her government’s 
capacities when it comes to trade agreements.
Álvaro Baillet,  
Member of the academic 
coordination team,  
College of Mexico
Zainab Al-Zadjali,  
Director of Marketing, 
Ministry of Agricultural 
Wealth, Fisheries and Water 
Resources, OmanThis course has shown 
us that there are always 
alternatives to continue 
operating.
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A partnership for reliable statistics     
WTO TA partnerships can take many forms. Some are 
bilateral and transient while others involve multiple 
parties and long tenures. For example, the joint training 
programme of the United Nations Conference on 
Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations  
Statistics Division (UNSD) and the WTO builds the Figure 37.  Number of partners and
number of joint activities (2017-2021)
Number of partners Number of TA activities133 132
92
4151148169
135
39 44
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Figure 38.  Partners' contribution to 
courses by type of contribution in 2021
Substance Logistics Cost1722
1216
97
41527
313
0% 1%-25% 26%-50% 51%-75% 76%-100%17
Working together with others to optimize training efforts            Wto partnerships in action Figure 37.  Number of partners and 
number of joint activities (2017-2021)Figure 38.  Partners' contribution to 
courses by type of contribution in 2021
Partnerships are a powerful tool to optimize efforts 
amongst “like-minded” institutions in the execution 
of capacity-building programmes. In the year 2021, 
WTO partnered with 51 institutions (from multilateral 
organizations such as the World Bank and the World 
Health Organization, to independent foundations such 
as Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung). WTO TA activities linked to 
partnerships reached over 2,300 beneficiaries.
Depending on each activity, the role played by WTO 
and its partners varies. With the general shift from  
face-to-face activities to virtual delivery, some partners 
that had previously focused on operational aspects of 
programme delivery have relinquished this function to 
WTO, refocusing their efforts on programme content 
development. Partner contributions to WTO-led efforts are classified 
into four categories: substance (the content being 
delivered); costs (budget sharing); logistics (operational 
arrangements); and outreach with non-traditional 
WTO audiences. Figure 38 highlights partners’ share of 
contributions to WTO TA efforts by category. 
In addition, the WTO also contributes to TA activities led by 
other institutions. For instance, by organizing a webinar 
on the Agreement on Government Procurement in the 
context the International Telecommunication Union's 
SME Masterclass series. Other such partnerships 
in 2021 included collaboration with the Asia-Pacific 
Economic Cooperation, the IDEAS Centre, the World 
Intellectual Property Organization and the Organization 
of the Islamic Conference.
capacities of producers and users of international 
trade statistics through a blended learning approach. 
This partnership emerged from the need for accurate 
and consistent trade statistics that preserve detail and 
comparability while maintaining broad country coverage. WTO PARTNERSHIPS IN ACTION
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80  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021CHAPTER 3  
Chapter 4    
Evolution of management and 
resourcesChapter 4  
Evolution of management and resources
 §2021 recorded the lowest level of voluntary contributions 
in over 20 years as several donors held back, pending the 
resumption of normal TA expenditure
 §The key drivers of TA expenses in 2021 were internships, 
staff costs and the WTO Chairs programme
 §The TA management online tool (TAMS) continued its 
evolution despite some delays
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  81
WT/COMTD/W/265
Research on trade 
policy and WTO matters 
is generated
Academic institutions 
and others are analysing 
WTO issues and reaching 
out to policy makersCourses with 
WTO content are 
developed by the WCP
Students trained 
on WTO work 
and issuesAccession 
internship 
programme 
participants’ 
knowledge 
enhancedAcceding 
governments 
participants’ 
knowledge on WTO 
matters enhancedInfographic 14.  WTO TA Framework for impact
KEY RESULT
1  
Implementation of 
WTO Agreements
KEY RESULT
2
Acceding 
governments 
participate in 
negociations
KEY RESULT
3  
Academic institutions and 
other stakeholders analyse 
WTO issues
KEY RESULT
4
Non-governmental 
audiences are aware 
of WTO issues
Observer GovernmentsMember GovernmentsCivil Society - Parliamentarians - Journalists
Academia Government ofﬁcials 
are implementing 
WTO Agreements
WTO data is 
accessed and 
used by MembersEffective partnerships 
are established
Members needs and 
priorities 
are identiﬁedGovernment ofﬁcials have 
enhanced knowledge
Young 
Professionals 
are exposed to 
WTO issues 
and work
Improved access 
to WTO issues 
through online 
training
 Information on 
WTO TA providedUnderstanding of WTO 
work and issues by 
non-governmental 
stakeholders is 
improved
Interested Members’ 
expertise on GPA 
enhanced
      
WTO TA is designed following a Result-Based 
Management (RBM) approach, approved by the 
Members in 2013. It focuses on achieving measurable 
results through improved planning, decision-making, 
transparency and accountability.
The TA Plan focuses on defining and measuring the 
Secretariat’s contribution towards agreed Outputs A framework for results Infographic 14.  WTO TA Framework for impact
Since the adoption of the RBM, TA plans outline the 
three result levels and their causal relationships through 
a Logical Framework Matrix, or logframe. This matrix 
provides the detailed performance indicators, baseline 
values, targets, evidence, and assumptions that guide 
the design and implementation of the TA Plan and help 
to measure achievements. (See Annex 1)
The logframe serves as the foundation to monitor and 
evaluate progress towards the expected results. It forms 
the backbone of TA annual reporting to Members around 
which performance is analysed and achievements are Biennial Technical Assistance 
and Training plan 2020 – 2021
TAMS
and the achievement of four Key Results (see page 24).  
To do so, it identifies sound performance indicators and 
targets for measuring progress towards achieving them. 
The Secretariat strives to ensure that all TA activities 
contribute to achieving the expected outputs that feed 
into the established Key Results.identified. Monitoring is carried out by the programme 
managers, organizers, and trainers who focus on 
activities’ immediate outputs, and ultimately by the 
Monitoring & Evaluation section of the Secretariat.
The new management system: work still in progress    
delivery. A report on participation in TA activities was 
specifically developed for beneficiaries, providing them 
with access to all activities in which they participated 
and to the lists of their participants in these activities, as 
well as to their own national requests for TA. 
TAMS reports were also streamlined, and some internal 
developments included the addition of new experts’ 
remuneration levels (to facilitate the preparation of 
budget estimates) and the inclusion of a distinction 
between active and inactive Members and Observers.The WTO TA Management System, or TAMS, is the online 
tool that allows effective monitoring and evaluation 
of TA activities, and therefore adherence to the RBM 
approach. Thanks to TAMS, online availability of TA data 
has increased transparency and accountability, while 
making TA management more efficient.
For instance, Back-to-Office Reports from trainers, 
a cornerstone of TA evaluation, can be fully managed 
through TAMS. This has streamlined the uptake of 
recommendations for improving trainings. 
TAMS is however still evolving to include new 
functionalities and enhance its accessibility and user 
experience. In 2021, the initial workplan experienced 
some modifications and delays as new consultants had 
to be hired to continue with the planned evolution.
Nevertheless, the dashboards available in TAMS were 
enriched in 2021 with four additional infographics that 
show activities, days of training by mode of delivery, 
women participation, and participation by mode of A FRAMEWORK FOR RESUL TS RESUL T-BASED MANAGEMENT      Result-based management
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  83
WT/COMTD/W/265 WT/COMTD/W/265 82  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 4 
Lower spending due to the pandemic         TA expenditureFigure 39.  WTO TA expenses (2012-2021)
Figure 40.  Unearmarked funds (2012-2021)
been implemented. The absence of any presential TA 
activity in 2021, beyond the five long-term internship 
programmes and three accession related activities, 
explains the further reduction of TA expenses registered 
during the year.
A direct consequence of the 62% drop in TA expenses 
was that the unearmarked year end balance resurged 
above the target amount for the following year (see 
Figure 40). This guarantees full implementation of the TA 
Plan in 2022. Another unintended consequence of low TA 
expenditure was the temporary suspension of voluntary 
contributions by donors as the liquidity of the trust 
funds did not justify boosting the TA cash reserves of 
the WTO. This led to 2021 recording the lowest voluntary 
contributions in over 20 years. Donors however stand 
ready to resume their voluntary contributions as soon as 
the liquidity of the trust funds justifies it.Key Result 2 carried 3% of the TA expenses, of which 
88% went towards China’s LDCs and Accessions 
Programmes, namely, Accession Round Table Meetings 
and Accessions Internship Programme. The Regular and 
GTF budgets in this Key Result were both not expensed, 
with the Other Trust Funds budget expensed to the tune 
of 36%. Key Result 3 carried 4% of the TA expenses, of 
which 87% went towards the WTO Chairs Programme. 
The Regular budget was not expended in this Result 
Area while the Other Trust Funds did not carry any 
allocation. Lastly, Key Result 4 carried 13% of the TA 
expenses, of which 88% went towards the WTO Young 
Professionals Programme. In this regard, the Global 
Trust Fund budget, financier of the programme, was 
expensed at 46%. Other Expenses, specifically, staffing  
(L-Posts), implementation of the Results-Based 
Management and development of e-Learning courses 
carried 33% of the TA budget, with staffing carrying 
79% of the expenditure. The Regular budget under this 
category was overspent by 173% while the Global Trust 
Fund budget underspent by 29%. As in the previous year, 2021 COVID-19 restrictions 
inhibited the implementation of face-to-face TA activities 
and consequently minimised expenditure for the year. 
Unlike their face-to-face equivalents, virtual TA activities 
do not require anyone to travel, which significantly 
reduces their direct variable costs. The transition to 
virtual TA led to a change in the nature of the expenses, 
as travel costs were replaced by higher staff costs to 
invest in the development of new training materials and 
pedagogical tools better suited for virtual learning.  
As shown in Figure 39, TA expenses have plummeted 
since the beginning of the pandemic. Comparing 2021 
with 2019, the last non-pandemic year, TA expenses have 
decreased by 62%. 2021 saw a further 20% drop relative 
to 2020, with Trust Funds and the Regular Budget 
expenses dropping 14% and 70%, respectively. When the 
confinement was enforced in mid-March 2020 to combat 
the pandemic, 26 face-to-face TA activities had already Analysed by TA Key Results, Figure 41 shows that 
Key Result 1 carried the largest share of expenses 
with 48%, three-quarters of which were towards two 
internships: the Netherlands Trainee Programme and  
the French-Irish Missions Internship Programme.  
The resources in the Regular Budget and unearmarked 
contributions were the most underspent under this 
Key Result, each carrying 2% expenditure relative to 
their respective budgets, a logical consequence of 
the disappearance of most face-to-face TA activities. 
On the contrary, the Other Trust Funds budget was 
overspent by 4%, owing to over expenditure in the 
Netherlands Trainee and French Irish Missions 
Internship Programmes. Long-term internships in 
2021, as in 2020, were not affected by the pandemic as 
their long durations justified subjecting participants 
to the pandemic travel requirements. Staff costs were 
not affected either, as engineering the transition from  
face-to-face to virtual TA required a lot of staff time.
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 202105101520Millions CHFFigure 39.  WTO TA expenses (2012-2021)
Trust
Funds
Regular
Budget
20
GTF TargetContributions
Expenses
Year-end balance
051015
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021Millions CHFFigure 40.  Unearmarked funds (2012-2021)
48%
Key Result 1
4%
Key Result 313%
Key Result 4
3%
Key Result 233%
Others costsFigure 41.  TA expenditure by Key Result in 2021
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WT/COMTD/W/265 WT/COMTD/W/265 84  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021   CHAPTER 4 – TA EXPENDITUREFigure 41.  TA expenditure by Key Result in 2021
CHAPTER 4 
TA EXPENDITURE
In summary, the 2021 TA budget was underspent by 
74%, with the Other Trust Funds budget having been 
the most expensed at 93% while the Global Trust Fund 
and Regular Budget were expensed at only 20% and 
6%, respectively. Figure 42 shows the distribution of TA 
expenses by region.
0.09
0.780.74
0.340.720.35
1.713960
1760
GlobalMiddle East
Latin America0.250.44
CEECAC
0.13
CaribbeanAsia-Paciﬁc
Africa e-Learning
National Regional0.26Figure 42.  Activity expenses by region in 2021
(thousands of CHF)
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  87
WT/COMTD/W/265 WT/COMTD/W/265 86  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021CHAPTER 4 – TA EXPENDITURE CHAPTER 4 – TA EXPENDITURE    Figure 42.  Activity expenses by region in 2021
The information contained in the Measure and 
Assessment columns in this annex summarises the 
analysis of the results of TA performed by the Secretariat, 
based on the Logical Framework adopted by Members as 
part of the TA Plan for 2020-21. The statements included 
in the table do not present any background or explanation 
of the circumstances or reasons leading to the measured 
result. Therefore, they should be read in conjunction with 
the more comprehensive analysis provided in the rest 
of the report. The following codes have been used in the 
table:
• Target met: the target identified in the TA Plan 
logframe has been fully met or has been exceeded;
• Target partially met: the target identified in the TA 
Plan logframe has been missed by a small margin, 
as significant progress has been made towards its 
achievement;• Target not met: the target identified in the TA Plan 
logframe has been largely missed and progress 
towards its achievement has been limited;
• Data not available: the data available to the 
Secretariat is incomplete, if not missing completely, 
or is not reliable or strong enough to support a 
conclusion one way or the other;
• Not applicable (N/A): The TA activities which should 
have been used to measure results did not take place, 
depriving the Secretariat of an assessment basis.
Expected Results Indicators Baseline Targets 2020 Measure 2020 Assessment 2021 Measure 2021 Assessment
Impact
Developing and LDC Members are 
benefiting from their active participation in 
the WTOShare of developing Members' total trade 
(imports and exports)2015-17 average: 40.4% > 40% 2019: 41.10% Target met 2020: 41.7% Target met
Developing and LDC Members are 
benefiting from their active participation in 
the WTOShare of LDC Members' total trade (import 
and exports)2015-17 average: 1.07% > 1.00% 2019: 1.15% Target met 2020: 1.13% Target metAnnexes     Annexes
Annex 1. Main results measured in 2021
ANNEX 1. MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2021
ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2021
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Expected Results Indicators Baseline Targets 2020 Measure 2020 Assessment 2021 Measure 2021 Assessment
 Key Result 1 – Outcome
1: Government officials are implementing 
WTO Agreements and fully realising 
Members' rights and obligationsNumber of documents submitted by 
beneficiary developing Members to WTO 
BodiesAnnual average 2016-18: 537 Increase 534 documents Target partially met 642 documents Target met
1: Government officials are implementing 
WTO Agreements and fully realising 
Members' rights and obligationsNumber of documents submitted by 
beneficiary LDC Members to WTO BodiesAnnual average 2016-18: 81 Increase 113 documents Target met 131 documents Target met
1: Government officials are implementing 
WTO Agreements and fully realising 
Members' rights and obligationsNumber of outstanding notifications by TA 
beneficiary Members28 per beneficiary Member on 
average in 2016-18Decrease 26.36 outstanding 
notificationsTarget met 21.82 outstanding 
notificationsTarget met
Key Result 1 – Output
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsNumber of participants completing PLS 
level 1Annual average 2016-18: 4,271 Stability 1,661 participants Target not met 1,118 participants Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsNumber of participants completing PLS 
level 2Annual average 2016-18: 12,408 Stability 10,283 participants Target not met 6,533 participants Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsNumber of participants completing PLS 
level 3Annual average 2016-18: 1,802 Increase 1,623 participants Target not met 2,135 participants Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsNumber of national activities requested 2016-18 average: 147 Increase 67 national requests Target not met 40 national requests Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsNumber of beneficiary Members and 
Observers participating in TA courses2016-18 average: 174 Stability 149 beneficiaries Target not met 145 beneficiaries Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsNumber of beneficiary LDCs participating 
in TA courses2016-18 average: 46 Stability 40 LDCs Target not met 41 LDCs Target partially met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsInteractive training methods' share of 
time in each activity (exercises, case 
studies, simulations, Q&A, participation in 
Committee meetings, etc.)2016-18 average: 57% interactive 
methodsIncrease to an average of 
60%Interactive methods: 
64%Target met Cannot be measured in 
virtual activitiesN/A
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsSuccess rate in 8-week RTPCs and ATPCs 2016-18 average: 95% Stability ATPCs: N/A  
RTPCs: 90%; 82%Target not met ATPCs: N/A  
eRTPCs: 96%Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsDistinction rate in 8-week RTPCs and 
ATPCs2016-18 average: 32% Stability ATPCs: N/A  
RTPCs: 33%; 13%Target partially met ATPCs: N/A  
eRTPCs: 41%Target met
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Expected Results Indicators Baseline Targets 2020 Measure 2020 Assessment 2021 Measure 2021 Assessment
Key Result 1 – Output
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsPercentage of participants giving a top 
mark to the overall content and results in 
RTPCs2016-18 average: 61% Increase to 80% RTPCs: 97% Target met eRTPCs: 82% Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsPercentage of participants giving a top 
mark to the overall content and results in 
ATPCs2016-18 average: 83% Stability ATPC20-1: 100% Target met No ATPC held in 2021 N/A
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsPercentage of participants giving a top 
mark to the overall content and results in 
Advanced thematic courses2016-18 average: 87% Stability No Advanced thematic 
course held in 2020N/A 92% Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsNumber of participants trained in 
Advanced trade negotiating skills courses2016-18 average: 290 Stability No Advanced trade 
negotiating skills course 
held in 2020N/A No Advanced trade 
negotiating skills course 
held in 2021N/A
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsNumber of Advanced thematic courses 
using pre-diagnostics, coaching, 
leadership, action plans or follow-ups2018: 4 Stability No Advanced thematic 
course held in 2020N/A 2 activities Target partially met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsNumber of interns in NTP 2016-18 average: 16 NTP per year: 16 16 interns Target met 15 interns Target partially met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsNumber of interns in FIMIP 2016-18 average: 16 FIMIP per year: 16 19 interns Target met 20 interns Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsNumber of interns in RCI 2016-18 average: 7 RCI per year: 7 6 interns Target partially met 3 interns Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsFinal evaluation rate of each FIMIP intern 100% at least fully satisfactory in 
2016-18100% at least fully 
satisfactory8 exceeding 
expectations  
11 fully satisfactoryTarget met 8 exceeding 
expectations  
12 fully satisfactoryTarget met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsFinal evaluation rate of each NTP intern 100% at least fully satisfactory in 
2016-19100% at least fully 
satisfactory15 fully satisfactory  
1 exceeding 
expectationsTarget met 4 exceeding 
expectations  
9 fully satisfactory  
1 partially satisfactoryTarget partially met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsFinal evaluation rate of each RCI intern 100% at least fully satisfactory in 
2016-20100% at least fully 
satisfactory2 exceeding 
expectations  
2 fully satisfactory  
2 unavailableTarget partially met 1 exceeding 
expectations  
2 fully satisfactoryTarget met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsNew, revised or translated online courses 
released during the year2016-18 average: 10 Stability 15 new  
3 revised  
5 translatedTarget met 4 new  
3 revised  
13 translatedTarget met
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Expected Results Indicators Baseline Targets 2020 Measure 2020 Assessment 2021 Measure 2021 Assessment
Key Result 1 – Output
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsPercentage of online courses in SCORM 
format56% in 2018 Increase 69% Target met 80% Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsPercentage of participants rating the 
quality of the online courses content with 
the two top marks2016-18 average: 85% Stability 98% Target met 97% Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationsPercentage of participants rating the 
effectiveness of the e-Learning website 
with the two top marks2016-18 average: 93% Stability 97% Target met 97% Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationse-Learning success rate 2016-18 average: 67% Stability 64% Target not met 55% Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationse-Learning drop-out rate 2016-18 average: 28% Stability 28% Target met 39% Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct of 
trade negotiationse-Learning distinction rate 2016-18 average: 51% Stability 55% Target met 54% Target met
1.2: Effective partnerships established 
resulting in substantive contributions 
of human and financial resources for TA 
activitiesProportion of activities with the 
involvement of a partner2016-18 average: 54% Stability 39 out of 69  
57%Target met 44 out of 81  
54%Target met
1.2: Effective partnerships established 
resulting in substantive contributions 
of human and financial resources for TA 
activitiesProportion of partners' contribution to the 
TA activities2016-18 average: 46% low 
contributionsDecrease proportion of 
low contributions57% of low 
contributionsTarget not met 43% of low 
contributionsTarget met
1.3: Members' needs and priorities 
identifiedNumber of responses to TA questionnaires 2017-19 average: 76 Stability 71 responses Target partially met 73 responses Target partially met
1.3: Members' needs and priorities 
identifiedNumber of TPR Follow-ups 2017-18 average: 8 Stability 0 Target not met 0 Target not met
1.4: WTO data accessed and used by 
Members to analyse trade-related mattersVisits by Members' logging in to the WTO 
website49,927 in 2018 Increase 67,409 Target met 62,589 visits Target met
1.4: WTO data accessed and used by 
Members to analyse trade-related mattersNumber of TA activities including training 
on WTO databases as one of their 
objectives2016-18 average: 63 Increase 44 activities Target not met 44 activities Target not met
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Expected Results Indicators Baseline Targets 2020 Measure 2020 Assessment 2021 Measure 2021 Assessment
Key Result 2 – Outcome
2: Acceding governments are participating 
in accession negotiationsNumber of formal or informal Working 
Party meetings held for acceding 
beneficiary governments2016-18 average: 6 Increase 4 WP meetings Target not met 3 formal WP meetings  
1 informal WP meetingTarget not met
Key Result 2 – Output
2.1: Acceding governments participants' 
knowledge on WTO substantive and 
procedural matters enhancedNumber of participants from acceding 
governments attending TA activities 
focused on accessionsTo be collected in 2019:  
Face-to-face: 197  
e-Learning: 152Stability TAMS: 403
e-Learning: 28Target met TAMS: 90  
e-Learning: 12Target not met
2.1: Acceding governments participants' 
knowledge on WTO substantive and 
procedural matters enhancedNumber of roadmaps and endgame plans 
designed2016-18 average: 5 Stability 1 new roadmap  
5 revised roadmapsTarget met 6 revised roadmaps Target met
2.2: Accession Internship programme 
participants' knowledge enhancedFinal evaluation rate of each AIP intern 100% at least fully satisfactory Stability 4 fully satisfactory Target met 4 exceeding 
expectations  
0 fully satisfactoryTarget met
2.3: Interested Members' expertise on GPA 
rules, accession negotiations enhancedNo. of GPA accession-related documents 
circulated for all currently active GPA 
accessions involving TA-eligible Members2016-18 average: 6.8 Stability 1.1 Doc/Acceding 
MemberTarget not met 19 documents for 7 
active GPA accessions  
2.7 Doc/acceding 
MemberTarget not met
Key Result 3 – Outcome
3: Academic institutions and other 
stakeholders are analysing WTO issues and 
reaching out to policy makersNumber of consultative processes 
between WTO Chairs and Policy makersConsultative processes in 2016: 13 Stability 19 consultative 
processesTarget met 21 consultative 
processesTarget met
3: Academic institutions and other 
stakeholders are analysing WTO issues and 
reaching out to policy makersNumber of National TA Requests for 
Academic institutions To be collected in 2019: 11 Stability Programme suspended N/A 1 request Target not met
Key Result 3 – Output
3.1: Research on trade policy and WTO-
related matters generatedNumber of publications in internationally 
peer-reviewed journals13 in 2016 Increase 56 publications Target met 38 publications Target met
3.1: Research on trade policy and WTO-
related matters generatedQuality of research papers as measured 
by SJR and SNIP ratings of the journals in 
which the Chairs' research is publishedAverage SNIP rating in 2016: 0.69  
Average SJP rating in 2016: 0.38Increase SNIP: 0.93  
SJR: 0.30Target partially met SNIP: 1.16  
SJR: 0.74Target met
3.2: Courses with WTO content developed 
by the WCP Number of students in WTO-related 
courses or getting a degree per year2,091 students trained by the Chairs 
in 2016Stability 2,168 Target met 3,226 students Target met
3.3 Students trained on WTO work and 
issuesNumber of teams participating in the 
regional rounds2018-19 average: 53.5 teams from 
developing countries and LDCsStability 58 teams Target met 58 teams Target met
3.3 Students trained on WTO work and 
issuesNumber of PhD students supervised 5 Students graduate with a PhD Stability 3 students graduated 
with a PhDTarget partially met 4 students graduated 
with a PhDTarget partially met
3.4: WTO Chairs research papers 
disseminated to other stakeholders and 
policy makersNumber of outreach events per year 54 in 2016 Increase 59 events Target met 77 events Target met
3.4: WTO Chairs research papers 
disseminated to other stakeholders and 
policy makersInvolvement of key policy makers 383 in 2016 Increase Data not available Data not available Data not available Data not available
ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2021 ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2021
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Expected Results Indicators Baseline Targets 2020 Measure 2020 Assessment 2021 Measure 2021 Assessment
Key Result 4 – Outcome
4: Non-governmental stakeholders and 
legislators are aware of and knowledgeable 
about WTO work and issuesDiversity of WTO related topics covered by 
statements, reports, and papers produced 
by this group of stakeholders26 reports in 2017 Stability 1 report Target not met Data not available Data not available
4.1: Understanding of WTO work and 
issues by non-governmental stakeholders 
improved Number of seminars, workshops 
conducted2016-18 average: 26 Stability 1 seminar Target not met 5 seminars Target not met
Key Result 4 – Output
4.1: Understanding of WTO work and 
issues by non-governmental stakeholders 
improved Number of key non-governmental 
stakeholders reached during the year2016-18 average:  
437 legislators  
66 journalists  
32 civil societyStability 160 legislators  
77 private sector  
52 civil societyTarget partially met 33 legislators  
31 journalists  
151 private sectorTarget not met
4.2: Improved access to WTO issues through 
online training material for self-studyNumber of training material consulted 2016-18 average: 3,157 Stability 4,619 Target met 3,573 Target met
4.3 Information on WTO trade-related TA 
accessedNumber of views of the web pages on 
technical assistance including news items 
on this subject2016-18 average: 59,105 Stability 415,552 views Target met 357,253 views Target met
4.4: Young professionals are exposed to 
WTO work and issues Number of Young Professionals engaged 
annually by the WTO15 in 2018 Stability 12 Young Professionals Target partially met 14 Young Professionals Target partially met
4.4: Young professionals are exposed to 
WTO work and issues Final evaluation rate of each intern's 
performance by their supervisor100% at least fully satisfactory in 
2017-18Stability 12 fully satisfactory Target met 13 fully satisfactory  
1 partially satisfactoryTarget partially met
ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2021 ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2021
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Key Result 1 – Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements  
and fully realising Members' rights and obligations (thousands CHF)
Level Path Language(s) Title Target RegionRegular Budget GTF1 Other TFs2 Total 
Budget  
2021Expenses 
2021Budget 
2021 Expenses 
2021Budget  
2021Expenses 
2021 Budget 
2021 Expenses 
2021 
Level 1 Generalist E/F/SGeneva-based Courses for LDCs - Introduction and Focus 
Activities - Geneva weeksGlobal  462  -    462  -   
Level 3 Generalist E/F/S Applied Advanced Trade Policy Courses Global  1,367 -   1,367 -
Level 2 Generalist E/F/SIntermediate level activities for: Africa; Middle East; Asia and 
Pacific Economies; Caribbean; Central and Eastern Europe, 
Central Asia and Caucasus; Latin AmericaAll regions    2,972  35    2,972 35
Level 2/3 Specialist E/F/SGeneva-based Advanced Thematic Courses and topic specific 
symposia for Capital-based officialsGlobal  1,814  38  950   2,764 38
Level 3 Specialist E/F/S Advisory Role on Legal Issues (Art. 27.2 of DSU)  60  55    60  55
Level 2 Generalist E/F/SRegional and/or sub-regional general capacity-building 
activitiesAll regions   370   370  -  
Level 2/3Generalist / 
Specialist E/F/SNational seminars and workshops, including assistance for 
needs assessment and monitoring and evaluationAll regions  695  3  40    735  3
Level 2 Specialist E/F/S Regional and sub-regional topic-specific seminars All regions   3,000   3,000  -  
E/F/SChina's LDCs and Accessions Programme: Participation 
of LDCs in selected WTO meetings; LDCs TPR follow-up 
workshops; and, South-South DialogueAll regions    95  95  95  95
Level 3 Generalist E/F/SInternships in the framework of the Netherlands Trainee 
Programme (NTP)Global    774  800  774  800
Level 3 Generalist E/F/S Regional Coordinator Internships programme (RCI) Global    210 135  210 135
Level 3 Generalist E/F/S French-Irish Missions Internship programme (FIMIP) Global    970  1,011  970  1,011
Level 1 Generalist E/F/S Online courses: Introduction level
Capital-based officialsx -
Level 2Generalist /
Specialist E/F/SOnline courses: intermediate Level (Generalists and 
Specialists)x -
Generalist /
Specialist EnglishOnline course: Tailored Course - Create your own e-Learning 
Coursesx -
Sub-total  4,398  97  7,542  170  1,839  1,907  13,779  2,173 
Overheads @13%  -   981  22  239  248  1,220 270
Total  4,398  97  8,523  192  2,078  2,155  14,999  2,443 ANNEX 2. ACTIVITY MATRIX       Annex 2. Activity matrix
ANNEX 2 – ACTIVITY MATRIX
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  101
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ANNEX 2 Key Result 2 – Acceding governments are participating in accession negotiations (thousands CHF)
Level Path Language(s) Title Target RegionRegular Budget GTF1 Other TFs2 Total 
Budget  
2021Expenses  
2021Budget 
2021 Expenses 
2021Budget  
2021Expenses 
2021 Budget 
2021 Expenses 
2021 
 Level 2/3Generalist /
Specialist E/F/S Seminars, courses and workshops on Accessions All regions  80  -    313  393  -   
EChina's LDCs and Accessions Programme: WTO Accession 
Round Table meetingsGlobal  230  63  230  63 
Level 1 Generalist E/F/SChina's LDCs and Accessions Programme: WTO Accessions 
Internship Programme (AIP)Global  100  56  100  56 
Level 2 Generalist E/F/S Online course: Accession to the WTO Global  x                    -   
Sub-total 80 - 313 - 330 119 723 119
Overheads @13% - 41 - 43 15 84 15
Total 80 - 354 - 373 135 807 135
Key Result 3 – Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing WTO issues  
and reaching out to policy makers (thousands CHF)
Level Path Language(s) Title Target RegionRegular Budget GTF1 Other TFs2 Total 
Budget  
2021Expenses  
2021Budget 
2021 Expenses 
2021Budget  
2021Expenses 
2021 Budget 
2021 Expenses 
2021 
Generalist E/F/S WTO Chairs programme All regions  50 182  50 182
E/F/S WTO Support programme for doctoral students  65 2  65 2
E/F/SDonation of WTO publications to Academic Institutions and 
other academic activities 5 - -  5  - 
Sub-total  5  -    115  184  -    -    120  184 
Overheads @13%  -    15  24  -    -    15  24 
Total  5  -    130  208  -    -    135  208 
Key Result 4 – Non-governmental stakeholders are aware of and knowledgeable about WTO  
work and issues (thousands CHF)
Level Path Language(s) Title Target RegionRegular Budget GTF1 Other TFs2 Total 
Budget  
2021Expenses  
2021Budget 
2021 Expenses 
2021Budget  
2021Expenses 
2021 Budget 
2021 Expenses 
2021 
E/F/SOutreach for legislators, journalists, civil society and 
businessesAll regions  605  605  -   
Specialist E/F/S WTO Young Professionals' programme (YPP)  657  585  657  585 
E/F/S Online training material for self-study All regions  -    -    -   
Sub-total  -    -    1,262  585  -    -    1,262  585 
Overheads @13%  -    164  76  -    -    164  76 
Total  -    -    1,426  661  -    -    1,426  661 
ANNEX 2 – ACTIVITY MATRIX ANNEX 2 – ACTIVITY MATRIXWTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  103
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Other costs – Programme staff and Monitoring & Evaluation (thousands CHF)
Other Costs Title Target RegionRegular Budget GTF1 Other TFs2 Total 
Budget  
2021Expenses  
2021Budget 
2021 Expenses 
2021Budget  
2021Expenses 
2021 Budget 
2021 Expenses 
2021 
L-Posts (Commitments till 31 December 2021 included)  1,900  1,343  1,900  1,343 
Implementation of RBM and development of e-Learning 
courses 65  178  65  178 
Sub-total  65  178  1,900  1,343  -    -    1,965  1,521 
Overheads @13%  -    247  175  -    -    247  175 
Total  65  178  2,147  1,517  -    -    2,212  1,695 
Summary Grand Total (thousands CHF)
Summary Grand Total Title Target RegionRegular Budget GTF1 Other TFs2 Total 
Budget  
2021Expenses  
2021Budget 
2021 Expenses 
2021Budget  
2021Expenses 
2021 Budget 
2021 Expenses 
2021 
Sub-total  4,548  274  11,132  2,281  2,169  2,026  17,849  4,581 
Overheads @13%  -    1,447  297  282  263  1,729  560 
Total  4,548  274  12,580  2,578  2,451  2,289  19,579  5,141 
2  Other trust funds include those financing the French-Irish Mission Internship Programme 
(FIMIP), Netherlands Trainee Programme (NTP) and China LDC & Accession Programme, 
which are under the sole authority of the WTO and which it can use to finance its TA activities. 
The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), the Enhanced Integrated Framework 
(EIF) and Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (TFAF) trust funds are consequently excluded. 
These trust funds have their own governance and reporting mechanisms1  the Global Trust Fund (GTF) includes unearmarked funds and funds earmarked to finance 
the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP)
ANNEX 2 – ACTIVITY MATRIX ANNEX 2 – ACTIVITY MATRIX
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2021  105
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Acknowledging donors
Sweden
China
Korea
Netherlands
Norway
Australia
Japan
European Union
Ireland
France
Germany
Austria
Finland
Estonia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
United States
Canada
Almost 62% of WTO TA resources in 2021 were voluntary contributions from donor Members, while the remaining 
38% came from the WTO regular budget. Donor funding is therefore essential to continue delivering top quality 
technical assistance to developing and LDC Members and Observers, so that they can fully benefit from their 
participation in WTO and the multilateral trading system. 
The voluntary contributions received in 2021 shrank to a historic low, amounting to 7.5 million CHF francs – the 
lowest figure in this century . Finland returned as a donor with non-earmarked contributions, while Canada, China, 
Germany, and Norway refrained from making new contributions. However, as TA expenses also reached a new low 
in 2021 due to the lack of in-person trainings, the decline in voluntary contributions did not affect TA operations.Report designed by Graphic and Event Design, 
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This report was prepared on behalf of the WTO Secretariat 
by the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC), 
the division managing, coordinating, and evaluating the 
organization and delivery of WTO technical assistance (TA) 
activities. It benefitted from the input provided by all divisions 
involved in the implementation of the TA programme. As a 
tool to assess WTO TA performance and communicate on 
its achievements, the report identifies a variety of concrete 
results produced, and which could be measured during the 
year. It highlights how the WTO responds to the evolving needs 
of its developing and least developed Members and Observers 
through a constant adaptation of its offer for a an ever-greater 
relevance and quality. Throughout the report are testimonials 
recounting the perspectives and experiences of those by and 
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