IP/C/R/TC/UNCTAD/2  
 
5 October 2021  
(21-7457)  Page: 1/10 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects  of 
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English   
 
 
TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES: INFORMATION FROM  
OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS  
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT (UNCTAD)  
At its meeting of 9 June 2021 , the Council for TRIPS agreed to invite intergovernmental organization 
observers to the Council to update the information on their technical and financial cooperation 
programmes relating to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.  
 
The present document reproduces the information which has been  received from the United Nations 
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)  by means of a communication dated 
2 October  2021. 
 
 
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1  INTRODUCTION  
1.  The UNCTAD Secretariat, through its Intellectual Property (IP) Unit, located within the Division 
on Investment and Enterprise, implements a work programme on the development dimensions of 
IP rights. The work programme is designed to respond to the mandate received from Members at 
the Ministerial Conference in Nairobi (July 2016), as well as t o intergovernmental requests under 
the WIPO Development Agenda and the World Health Assembly's Resolution 61.21 on a Global 
Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. It is partially 
funded by donor governments and institutions. Currently, the work programme targets technical 
assistance and capacity building in areas related to (1) local pharmaceutical and vaccines production, 
including in the context of COVID -19 and anti -microbial resistance (AMR); (2) regional and national 
policies on intellectual property; (3) the role of IP in technology and R&D partnerships, and (4) the 
role of IP in the digital economy.  
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  IP/C/R/TC/UNCTAD/2  
 
- 2 - ANNEX1 
Name of programme or project  UNCTAD -INTA webinar: A policy dialogue on the Potential of Distinctive Signs to Promote Inclusive 
and Sustainable Economic Development  
Date and end date  3 July 2020 - 3 July 2020  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Albania; Algeria; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahamas; Kingdom of Bahrain; 
Barbados; Belarus; Belize; Plurinational State of Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei 
Darussalam; Cabo Verde; Cameroon; Ch ile; China; Colombia; Congo; Costa Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Cuba; Curaçao; 
Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; Equatorial Guinea; Eswatini; Fiji; Gabon; Georgia; 
Ghana; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; India; Indon esia; Iran; Iraq; Israel; 
Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Republic of Korea; the State of Kuwait; Kyrgyz Republic; Lebanese 
Republic; Libya; Macao, China; Malaysia; Maldives; Mauritius; Mexico; Republic of Moldova; Mongolia; 
Montenegro; Morocco; Namibi a; Nicaragua; Nigeria; North Macedonia; Oman; Pakistan; Panama; Papua New 
Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Qatar; Russian Federation; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent 
and the Grenadines; Samoa; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Serbia; Seychell es; Singapore; South Africa; Sri Lanka; 
Suriname; Syrian Arab Republic; The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; 
Tajikistan; Thailand; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; United Arab 
Emirates; Urug uay; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Viet Nam; Zimbabwe  
Brief description  UNCTAD and the International Trademark Association (INTA) organized the policy dialogue to discuss the 
opportunities and challenges that may arise for produce rs in developing countries when using distinctive signs for 
products. The dialogue brought together panelists from ASEAN region and Zimbabwe.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Developing country policymakers and entrepreneurs.  
Technical cooperation p rovider(s)  UNCTAD and INTA  
Outputs or impact  Increased understanding of the interface between trademarks, geographical indications and enterprise 
development  
Website for further information  https://unctad.org/meeting/unctad -inta-webinar -policy -dialogue -potential -distinctive -signs-promote -inclusive -
and 
Contact point for further information  Ermias Biadgleng, Officer -in-Charge, Intellectual Property Unit, UNCTAD  
 
 
1 In English only .  
  IP/C/R/TC/UNCTAD/2  
 
- 3 - Name of programme or project  Intellectual property and public health: Case law database  
Date and end date  1 June 2020 - 31 December 2020  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Afghanistan; Albania; Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Australia; Austria; Kingdom of Bahrain; 
Bangladesh; Barbados; Belgium; Belize; Benin; Plurinational State of Bolivia; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei 
Darussalam; Bulgaria; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada; Central African 
Republic; Chad; Chile; China; Colombia; Con go; Costa Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Croatia; Cuba; Cyprus; Czech 
Republic; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Denmark; Djibouti; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; 
El Salvador; Estonia; Eswatini; European Union; Fiji; Finland; France; Gabon; The Gambi a; Georgia; Germany; 
Ghana; Greece; Grenada; Guatemala; Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; 
Hungary; Iceland; India; Indonesia; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Republic 
of Korea; the State of  Kuwait; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Latvia; Lesotho; Liberia; 
Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macao, China; Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia; Maldives; Mali; Malta; 
Mauritania; Mauritius; Mexico; Republic of Moldova; Mongolia; Mon tenegro; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; 
Namibia; Nepal; Netherlands; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria; North Macedonia; Norway; Oman; 
Pakistan; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Russian 
Federation ; Rwanda; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Solomon Islands; South 
Africa; Spain; Sri Lanka; Suriname; Sweden; Swit zerland; The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, 
Kinmen and Matsu; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Uganda; 
Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; Vanuat u; Bolivarian 
Republic of Venezuela; Viet Nam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe  
Brief description  This case law database consists of a systematic collection of the summaries of notable judgments adopted by 
national or regional judicial organs of the members of the  World Trade Organization (WTO). The summaries have 
been developed with a view to support a better understanding of key intellectual property issues that relate to 
access to medicines. The selection of the cases is based on the importance of judicial pract ices for a better 
understanding of the interface between intellectual property rights and access to medicines. The case law 
database is the product of UNCTAD's Intellectual Property Unit's work for over a decade on public health.  
Beneficiary institution o r audience  Judicial organs and policy makers  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  UNCTAD  
Outputs or impact  Increased understanding of key intellectual property issues that relate to access to medicines.  
Website for further information  https://unctad.org/ippcaselaw/  
Contact point for further information  Ermias Biadgleng, Officer -in-Charge, Intellectual Property Unit, UNCTAD  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/UNCTAD/2  
 
- 4 - Name of programme or project  Expert Group Meeting to Review the Study “Towards a Common Investment Area in the African 
Continental Free Trade Area: Policy Options Towards Levelling the Playing Field for Intra -African 
Investment”  
Date and end date  17 September 2020 - 18 September 2020  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Algeria; Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cameroon; Central African Republic; 
Chad; Comoros; Congo; Côte d'Ivoire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Djibouti; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; 
Eswatin i; Ethiopia; Gabon; The Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; Kenya; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; 
Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Morocco; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Rwanda; Sao 
Tomé and Principe; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; S omalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sudan; Tanzania; 
Togo; Tunisia; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe  
Brief description  UNCTAD contributed its expertise on investment and intellectual property to the expert group meeting organized 
by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).  The contribution focused on the role of regional cooperation 
on intellectual property and investment.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  African policymakers and government officials  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  UNECA, UNCTAD  
Outputs or impact  Better understanding of intellectual property and investment under regional trade agreements  
Website for further information  N/A 
Contact point for further information  Ermias Biadgleng, Officer -in-Charge, Intellectual Property Unit, UNCTAD  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/UNCTAD/2  
 
- 5 - Name of programme or project  UNCTAD/WHO joint webinar on Pandemic preparedness beyond COVID -19: Investing in vaccines 
production and supply for LMICs  
Date and end date  3 March 2021 - 3 March 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Andorra; Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Australia; Austria; 
Azerbaijan; Bahamas; Kingdom of Bahrain; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belarus; Belgium; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; 
Plurinational State of Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Bulgaria; Burkina 
Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada; Central African Republic; Chad; Chile; China; 
Colombia; Comoros; Congo; Costa Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Croatia; Cuba; Curaçao; Cyprus; Eq uatorial Guinea; 
Ethiopia; Holy See; Iran; Iraq; Lebanese Republic; Libya; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macao, China; 
Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia; Maldives; Mali; Malta; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mexico; Republic of Moldova; 
Mongolia; Montenegro; Mo rocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nepal; Netherlands; New Zealand; 
Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria; North Macedonia; Norway; Oman; Pakistan; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; 
Peru; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Russian Federation; Rwanda; S aint Kitts and Nevis; Saint 
Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tomé and Principe; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Senegal; 
Serbia; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Africa; 
South Sudan ; Spain; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Sweden; Switzerland; Syrian Arab Republic; The Separate 
Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Timor -Leste; Togo; 
Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan ; Uganda; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United 
Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Viet Nam; 
Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe  
Brief description  The webinar brought together key global strategic player s to discuss the means of achieving vaccine production 
capability in LMICs. Panelists and facilitators underscored the technological, financial and market complexities of 
vaccine production. Yet, to a large extent, they pointed out the potential to overcom e the challenges by 
coordinating efforts, developing and strategic partnerships among manufacturers, investors, technology 
developers and by prioritizing regional approaches.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Development partners, private sector, regional organizations and governments.  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  UNCTAD in partnership with WHO  
Outputs or impact  Building consensus and strategic coordination among global players, regional entities and decision makers of both 
beneficiary count ries and development assistance providers  
Website for further information  https://worldinvestmentforum.unctad.org/wif -satellite -events/#/ms -20/3 
Conta ct point for further information  Ermias Biadgleng, Officer -in-Charge, Intellectual Property Unit, UNCTAD  
  
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- 6 - Name of programme or project  International expert meeting on investment incentives for local production of antibiotics.  
Date and end date  17 May 2021 - 17 May 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Burundi; Ethiopia; Kenya; Rwanda; South Sudan; Tanzania; Uganda  
Brief description  UNCTAD is implementing a project on “Investment incentives for local production of essential antibiotics in East 
Africa” to respond to the technical assistance request received from Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda at national level 
and the East African Community (EAC) at a regional level. The international expert meeting was organized to 
review the draft advisory reports prepared for each country and the EAC. The draft advisory reports will be 
submitted for national and regional review from July – November 2021.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Policy makers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and development partners  
Tech nical cooperation provider(s)  UNCTAD  
Outputs or impact  Strengthening incentives for production of essential antibiotics in support of measures to mitigate antimicrobial 
resistance  
Website for further information   
Contact point for further information  Ermias Biadgleng, Officer -in-Charge, Intellectual Property Unit, UNCTAD  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/UNCTAD/2  
 
- 7 - Name of programme or project  World Investment Report 2021  
Date and end date  21 June 2021 - 21 June 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Andorra; Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Australia; Austria; 
Azerbaijan; Bahamas; Kingdom of Bahrain; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belarus; Belgium; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; 
Plurinational State of Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Bulgaria; Burkina 
Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada; Central African Republic; Chad; Chile; China; 
Colombia; Comoros; Congo; Costa Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Croatia; Cuba; Curaçao; Cyprus; Czech Republic;  
Democratic Republic of the Congo; Denmark; Djibouti; Dominica; Equatorial Guinea; Ethiopia; The Gambia; 
Georgia; Germany; Ghana; Greece; Grenada; Guatemala; Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Holy See; 
Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Hungary; Iceland; Indi a; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; 
Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Republic of Korea; the State of Kuwait; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao People's 
Democratic Republic; Latvia; Lebanese Republic; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Liechtenstein; Lithu ania; Luxembourg; 
Macao, China; Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia; Maldives; Mali; Malta; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mexico; Republic of 
Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nepal; Netherlands; New Zealand; 
Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria ; North Macedonia; Norway; Oman; Pakistan; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; 
Peru; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Russian Federation; Rwanda; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint 
Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tomé and Princi pe; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Senegal; 
Serbia; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Africa; 
South Sudan; Spain; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Sweden; Switzerland; Syrian Arab Republic; The Separate 
Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Timor -Leste; Togo; 
Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United 
Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; Uzb ekistan; Vanuatu; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Viet Nam; 
Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe  
Brief description  The World Investment Report 2021 of UNCTAD dedicated a section assessing investment policy trends on health 
care and pharmaceutical sector at national and international level. It identified the key challenges for building 
capacity in the health sectors of LMICs and the 10 action areas that can assist countries to overcome the 
challenges.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Agencies and policy makers in industry, health and investment fields.  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  UNCTAD  
Outputs or impact  Improving understanding on the investment and policy needs of health sector development in LMICs.  
Website for further information  https://unctad.org/webflyer/world -investment -report -2021 
Contact point for further information  Ermias Biadgleng, Officer -in-Charge, Intellectual Prope rty Unit, UNCTAD  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/UNCTAD/2  
 
- 8 - Name of programme or project  Expanding access to affordable capital: World Local Production Forum (21 -25 June 2021)  
Date and end date  23 June 2021 - 23 June 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Andorra; Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Australia; Austria; 
Azerbaijan; Bahamas; Kingdom of Bahrain; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belarus; Belgium; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; 
Plurinational State of Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Botswana;  Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Bulgaria; Burkina 
Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada; Central African Republic; Chad; Chile; China; 
Colombia; Comoros; Congo; Costa Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Croatia; Cuba; Curaçao; Cyprus; Czech Republic; 
Democrat ic Republic of the Congo; Denmark; Djibouti; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El 
Salvador; Equatorial Guinea; Estonia; Eswatini; Ethiopia; European Union; Fiji; Finland; France; Gabon; The 
Gambia; Georgia; Germany; Ghana; Greece; Grenada; Guat emala; Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Holy 
See; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Hungary; Iceland; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; 
Jamaica; Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Republic of Korea; the State of Kuwait; Kyrgyz Republic; L ao 
People's Democratic Republic; Latvia; Lebanese Republic; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; 
Luxembourg; Macao, China; Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia; Maldives; Mali; Malta; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mexico; 
Republic of Moldova; Mongolia; Mont enegro; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nepal; Netherlands; 
New Zealand; Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria; North Macedonia; Norway; Oman; Pakistan; Panama; Papua New 
Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Russian Federation;  Rwanda; Saint Kitts 
and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tomé and Principe; Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia; Senegal; Serbia; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Solomon Islands; 
Somalia; South Africa; S outh Sudan; Spain; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Sweden; Switzerland; Syrian Arab 
Republic; The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; 
Timor -Leste; Togo; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Tu rkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; United Arab 
Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Bolivarian Republic of 
Venezuela; Viet Nam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe  
Brief description  UNCTAD contributed to the session on expanding  access for affordable capital for investment in local production 
of pharmaceuticals during the World Local Production forum of the World Health Organization (21 -25 June 2021).  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Agencies and policy makers in industry, he alth and investment fields.  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  UNCTAD in partnership with WHO  
Outputs or impact  Improving understanding on the investment and finance for pharmaceutical sector development in LMICs  
Website for further information   
Contact point for further information  Ermias Biadgleng, Officer -in-Charge, Intellectual Property Unit, UNCTAD  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/UNCTAD/2  
 
- 9 - Name of programme or project  Intellectual Property transfer and TRIPS agreements to accelerate vaccine manufacturing in Africa: 
African Vaccines Manufacturing Summit  
Date and end date  12 April 2021 - 12 April 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Algeria; Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cameroon; Central African Republic; 
Chad; Comoros; Congo; Côte d'Ivoire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Djibouti; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; 
Eswatini; Ethiopia; Gabon; The Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; Kenya; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; 
Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Moroc co; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Rwanda; Sao 
Tomé and Principe; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sudan; Tanzania; 
Togo; Tunisia; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe  
Brief description  UNCTAD contributed to the discussion on intellectual property, technology and R&D partnerships to promote 
vaccines manufacturing capability in African during the African Vaccines Manufacturing Summit organized by the 
African Union Commission and the Africa Centres for Disease Control, that to ok place from 12 -13 April 2021.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Development partners, national agencies and policy makers in industry, health and investment fields.  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  UNCTAD  
Outputs or impact  Improving understanding on intellectual property and technological partnerships  
Website for further information   
Contact point for further information  Ermias Biadgleng, Officer -in-Charge, Intellectual Property Unit, UNCTAD  
 
Name of programme or project  African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Intellectual property rights  
Date and end date 1 July 2020 - 30 June 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Algeria; Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cameroon; Central African Republic; 
Chad; Comoros; Congo; Côte d'Ivoire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Djibouti; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; 
Eswatini; Ethiopia; Gabon; The Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; Kenya; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; 
Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Morocco; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Rwanda; Sao 
Tomé and Pri ncipe; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sudan; Tanzania; 
Togo; Tunisia; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe  
Brief description  Throughout the reporting period, UNCTAD’s IP unit provided technical input upon request to assist at t he 
beginning the African Union Commission and now the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat 
on the negotiation process and elaboration of approaches to IP rights protocol.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  IP rights negotiators of Af rican countries  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  UNCTAD  
Outputs or impact  Strengthening regional cooperation for IP rights protection.  
Website for further information   
Contact point for further information  Ermias Biadgleng, Officer -in-Charge, Intellectual Property Unit, UNCTAD  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/UNCTAD/2  
 
- 10 - Name of programme or project  An integrated approach to the protection of IPR for digital content trade  
Date and end date  20 April 2021 - 21 April 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; 
Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; Russian Federation; Singapore; The 
Separate Customs Territory of Taiw an, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; United States of America; Viet Nam  
Brief description  UNCTAD contributed to the discussion during the APEC virtual workshop on the “Protection of Intellectual Property 
Rights in Digital Content Trade” that was held on 20 and 21 April 2021. UNCTAD advanced an integrated approach 
that recognizes new business mo dels as one option to maximize trade in digital content considering the limitations 
of relying on IP rights enforcement, the need to safeguard the bigger role of the internet for investment, social 
development and education; and the challenges arising from  the power of large technology companies.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  IP policy makers and right holders  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  UNCTAD  
Outputs or impact  Improved understanding of the need to combine technological, business and legal tools for a better outcome on 
digital content trade.  
Website for further information   
Contact point for further information  Ermias Biadgleng, Officer -in-Charge, Intellectual  Property Unit, UNCTAD  
 
 
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