WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
15 May 2020  
(20-3625) Page: 1/78 
Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation    
 
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAIN ING 
 
2019 
TABLE OF CONTENTS  
ACRONYMS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  3 
1   EXECUTIVE SUMMAR Y ................................ ................................ ................................  5 
1.1   Main evolutions in 2019 compared to 2018  ................................ ................................ .... 5 
1.2   Implementation of TA Plan - main features of the WTO Technical Assistance in 2019  ..........  5 
1.3   Evaluation of Performance in 2019 ................................ ................................ ................  6 
2   INTRODUCTION  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  7 
3   MAIN EVOLUTIONS IN 2019 COMPARED TO 2018  ................................ ......................  7 
3.1   Management of TA resources  ................................ ................................ .......................  8 
3.1.1   Resources availability for TA  ................................ ................................ .............  8 
3.1.2   Volume of TA activities  ................................ ................................ ....................  9 
3.2   External Evaluation Follow -up ................................ ................................ ....................  11 
3.3   Implementation and enhancement of Results -Based Management  ................................ .. 13 
3.4   Improving the WTO TA offer  ................................ ................................ ......................  14 
3.4.1   Improvements in the e -Learning offer  ................................ .............................  14 
3.4.2   Improvements in the face -to-face offer  ................................ ............................  16 
4   IMPLEMENTATION O F TA PLAN AND MAIN FEATURES OF THE  TA PROVIDED IN 
2019  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  18 
4.1   Participation of least developed countries (LDCs)  ................................ ..........................  19 
4.2   Geographical distribution  ................................ ................................ ...........................  21 
4.3   Product mix  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  22 
4.4   Distribution by subject  ................................ ................................ ..............................  26 
4.5   Language mix  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  27 
4.6   Progress ivity of training  ................................ ................................ .............................  29 
4.7   Gender mix  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  30 
4.8   Key Result mix  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  31 
5   EVALUATION OF PE RFORMANCE IN 2019  ................................ ................................ . 32 
5.1   Impact: Developing and LDC Members are benefiting from their active participation  
in the WTO  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  34 
5.2   Key Result 1: Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully  
realising Members' rights and obligations  ................................ ................................ ............  35 
5.2.1   Output 1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about the WTO 
Agreements, formulation of trade policies and conduct of trade negotiations ...................  37 WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
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  5.2.2   Output 1.2: Effective partnerships established resulting in substantive  
contributions of human and financial resources for TA  activities  ................................ .... 51 
5.2.3   Output 1.3: Members' needs and priorities are identified ................................ .... 54 
5.2.4   Output 1.4: WTO data accessed and used by Members to analyse  
trade -related matters  ................................ ................................ ..............................  55 
5.3   Key Result 2: Acceding governments are participating in accession negotiations  ...............  58 
5.3.1   Output 2.1: Acceding governments are familiar with WTO substantive and  
procedural matters  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 59 
5.3.2   Output 2.2: Interested Members have expertise on GPA rules, accession 
negotiations, best practices and core access obligations  ................................ ...............  60 
5.4   Key Result 3: Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing WTO issues  
and reaching out to policy makers  ................................ ................................ ......................  61 
5.4.1   Output 3.1: Research on trade policy and WTO -related matters generated  
by WTO Chairs and other academics through provision of grants  ................................ ... 62 
5.4.2   Output 3.2: Courses developed by the relevant academic institutions have  
WTO content and students are being trained on WTO -related subjects by the WTO  
and its Chairs  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  64 
5.4.3   Output 3.3: The WTO Chairs are reaching out to other stakeholders and key 
decision -makers  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 65 
5.4.4   Output 3.4: Young professionals under the Young Professional Programme are 
exposed to WTO issues and work  ................................ ................................ ..............  65 
5.5   Key Result 4: Non -governmental stakeholders and legislators are aware of and 
knowledgeable about WTO work and issues  ................................ ................................ .........  66 
5.5.1   Output 4.1: Specific outreach activities organised for legislators, journalists, 
business and NGOs on WTO issues and trade policies  ................................ ..................  67 
5.5.2   Output 4.2: Improved understanding by journalists, civil society and business of 
WTO issues and trade policies  ................................ ................................ ...................  67 
5.5.3   Output 4.3: Improved access to WTO issues through online training material  
for self -study  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  68 
5.5.4   Output 4.4: Information on trade -related TA provided, including through the  
ITTC Newsletter  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 69 
ANNEX I FOLLOW -UP ON  THE REC OMMENDATIONS OF THE TA EXTERNAL  
EVALUATION  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  71 
ANNEX II MAIN RESULT S MEASURED IN 2019  ................................ ..............................  76 WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
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  ACRONYMS  
ACP  African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States  
ACWL   Advisory Centre on WTO Law  
Ag-IMS Agriculture Information Management System  
AIP  Accession  Internship Programme  
ALADI   Latin American Integration Association/Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración  
ATPC  Advanced Trade Policy Course  
BTOR   Back-to-Office Report  
C4  Cotton four  
CARICOM  Caribbean Community and Common Market  
CBFA   Committee on B udget, Finance and Administration  
CEECAC  Central and Eastern European, Central Asian and Caucasus  
CEF  Centre for Economics and Finance  
CHF  Swiss franc  
CITES   Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora  
CRN  Central Reg istry of Notifications  
CTD  Committee on Trade and Development  
CTE  Committee on Trade and Environment  
DG  Director General  
DSB  Dispute Settlement Body  
DSU  Dispute Settlement Understanding  
EIF  Enhanced Integrated Framework  
EU  European Union  
FES  Friedrich -Ebert Stiftung  
FIMIP   French & Irish Missions Internship Programme  
GATS   General Agreement on Trade in Services  
GATT   General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade  
GPA  Government Procurement Agreement  
GRULAC  Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countri es 
GTF  Global Trust Fund  
HK RX  Hong Kong re -exports  
IGO  Intergovernmental Organizations  
IMF  International Monetary Fund  
IMS  Information Management System  
IPE  International Political Economy  
ITC  International Trade Centre  
ITPC  Intermediate -level Tra de Policy Course  
ITTC  Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation  
LDC  Least -developed country  
M&E  Monitoring & Evaluation  
MC12  12th WTO Ministerial Conference  
MCHF   Million Swiss franc  
MP  Member of parliament  
MTS  Multilateral Trading System  
NAMA   Non-Agricultural Market Access  
NGO  Non-governmental organization  
NTP  Netherlands Trainee Programme  
PCWTO  Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organisation  
PIFS  Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat  
PLS  Progressive Learning Strategy  
Q&A  Questions & Answers  
QR  Quantitative Restriction  
RBM  Results -Based Management  
RCI  Regional Coordinator Internship Programme  
RTA  Regional Trade Agreement  
SCORM  Sharable Content Object Reference Model  
SDG  Sustainable Development Goal  
SJR  SCImago Journal Rank  
SNIP  Source Normalised Impact per Paper  
SPS  Sanitary and Phytosanitary  
STDF   Standards and Trade Development Facility  WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
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  TACTF  Technical Assistance Coordination Task Force  
TAMS   Technical Assistance Management System  
TBT  Technical Barriers to Trade  
TF  Trade Facilitation  
TFA  Trade Facilitation Agreement  
TFAF  Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility  
TMR  Training Material Request  
TPR  Trade Policy Review  
TRIPS   Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights  
TRTA  Trade -Related Technical Assistance  
UDD  University of Development (Chile)  
UNCTAD  United Nations Conference on Trade and Development  
WCP  WTO Chairs Programme  
WHO  World Health Organization  
WIPO   World Intellectual Property Organization  
WTO  World Trade Organization  
YP  Young Professionals  
YPP  Young Professionals Programme  WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
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  1  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  
1.1.  This report on the World Trade Organization Technical Assistance ( WTO TA) provided by the 
Secretariat in 201 9 follows the same logic as in previous years  by focussing on three types of 
analysis: the main evolutions of TA in 201 9 compared to 2018; an analysis of implemented TA 
activities by region, type, subject, language, level of training, gender of the participants , Key Results  
and for LDCs ; and an evalu ation of the delivery and results of these TA activities.  
1.1  Main evolutions in 201 9 compared to 201 8 
1.2.  The implementation of the 28  recommendations formulated in the external evaluation  of the 
WTO TA conducted in 2016 was completed during the year.  The recomm endations still open a year 
ago have now all been closed .  Three years were necessary for the Secretariat to fully digest the 
results of the external evaluation accepted by Management .  A detailed table on the actions 
undertaken in 2019 to implement each o f the recommendations is included in Annex  I. 
1.3.  In line with the implementation of Result -based management (RBM) for TA,  in 201 9: (i)  the 
development of a new TA management system progressed well and new functionalities were 
progressively added throughout th e year, in consultation with users; (ii) a streamlined module for 
the evaluation of TA activities' immediate results in a BTOR was released in March; the new system 
was used to assess the results of all 2019 TA activities; (iii) ten TA internal evaluations  were 
conducted during the year  to assess the results of three  regional and two national activities,  the 
various long -term internship programmes and  of the TA provided to four beneficiary countries since 
2014; and (iv) t he reporting rate on TA activities w as almost 100% as in previous years . 
1.4.  The Secretariat continued to enrich the substantive content of its TA offer  and to promote good 
training practices in 2019 : the new e -Learning cloud -based platform was open for registration 
mid-January; one new online c ourse was released in English, five courses originally launched in 
English in 2018 were released in French and Spanish and four existing on es revised to increase their 
interactive multimedia content and upgrade  them to Sharable Content Object Reference Mod el 
(SCORM) standards; numerous activities included a special focus on the implementation and use of 
the transparency provisions of the WTO Agreements, when they were not entirely dedicated to them 
(MA for Goods, Agriculture, Standards, TRIPS, etc.); a new module on Trade & Gender was 
implemented in TA activities; at Members' request, a comprehensive programme of seven regional 
workshops on fisheries subsidies negotiations gathered fisheries and trade experts from all regions 
during the first part of the yea r to support the work of the negotiating group on Rules in this domain . 
1.5.  The resources available to the Secretariat ( from the regular budget and extra -budgetary funds ) 
to finance TA to developing Members and Observers have stabilised since 2016, despite annual 
fluctuations.  However, for the fifth year since 2014 the overall TA resources available remained 
lower than actual expenses, obliging the Secretariat to tap once more into its fast-shrinking financial 
reserves.  The volume of TA activities and their related expenses were in line with the average since 
2013.  The tight management policy implemented by the Secretariat  offset the progressive increase 
of travel costs during the year . 
1.2  Implementation of TA Plan - main f eatures of the WTO Technical Assistance in 201 9 
1.6.  The Secretariat undertook 278 TA activities  (above the average since 2011) , both in Geneva 
and in other locations , and participated in 33 other TA -related activities (e.g. conferences or activities 
of partner  institutions).  National demands for TA from individual beneficiaries was lower in 2019 
than in 2018 ( -22%).  Approximately half  of the activities were organized in partnership with other 
international, regional or sub -regional institutions.  Overall, 14,500 participants were trained during 
the year, a  37% drop  compared to 201 8, as participation in online courses halved after the 
introduction of the new cloud -based platform.  The Secretariat is now looking into the reasons behind 
this evolution.  Participa tion in face -to-face activities was the second highest in a decade, even if 
23% lower than in  2018, which was a rather exceptional year .  Despite this dramatic drop, total TA 
expenses were 10% higher than in 2018 , due to the resumption of one internship pr ogramme which 
had been  suspended in 2018 ( +4.5%) and higher travel costs ( +5.5%) . 
1.7.  During the year the proportion of face -to-face activities held outside Geneva was stable  
compared to 201 8 (51%).  The share of national activities declined by 7 percentage po ints to 3 4% WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
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  of the activities;  online courses represented 32%, in progression of 6 percentage points.  The relative 
weight  of TA activities with a general scope (i.e.  multi-topic coverage) was also stable .  In 201 9, 
37% of the 278 activities had a general scope.  As in the previous two years, the other activities 
were spread across specific Agreements or subjects.  Leaving online courses aside, 
Standards -related activities (SPS, TBT) were in high demand, followed by Agriculture, Se rvices, 
Rules and M arket Access for Goods (including TF).  
1.8.  Subject -specific regional seminars were conducted in all regions.  Africa and LDCs remained a 
priority in 201 9, in line with the TA Plan .  The participation of LDCs continued to decline and was 
proportionately lower in 2019 than in 2018, as the introduction of the new e -Learning platform had 
a greater impact on them.  Africa stayed in the first place for the number of TA activities hosted , 
followed by Asia -Pacific .  Overall, more than half of face -to-face activities were held at the national 
level and the rest at regional/global level.  National activities continued to gather larger audiences - 
50 persons for 3 .1 days on average – when regional or global activities tended to gather smaller 
audiences – around 3 1 persons over 3. 3 days on average, which facilitated the use of more 
interactive training methods.  
1.9.  Overall, 58% of the WTO TA was provided in English, 1 8% in French and 1 9% in Spanish, and 
the balance in more than one language.  A small decrease in the number of global activities with 
interpretation was noted during the year.  T his continued to mirror approximately the language 
preferences of Members and Observers in the WTO.  These proportions were similar in face -to-face 
activities and online co urses.  
1.10.   The balance between the three PLS levels of training - introduction, intermediate and 
advanced - changed compared to the previous year: the share of introductory activities (8%) halved 
compared to 2018; the proportion of advanced ones was stable (17 %); the relative importance of 
the intermediate level increased  to 63% and the volume of a ctivities without a defined leve l to 12%.  
This is due to a number of  reasons , including the fact that it is not feasible to allocate a level to 
outreach or academic -related activities  for example,  since they do not purport to train their 
participants over several years to progressively take them to higher levels of knowledge on WTO 
issues.  The TA offer was almost equally shared between generalists and specialists.  
1.11.   The overall proportion of women amongst WTO TA participants continued its growth  to reach 
48%.  There was no difference between face -to-face activities and online courses in this regard.  
1.12.   An overwhelming majority of the TA activities (8 5%) contributed to Key Result 1 "Government 
officials are implementing WTO Agreements and full y realising Members' rights  and obligations ", a 
proportion which was even closer to 100% for e -Learning courses.  Key Result 2 on accessions was 
next ( 7%), followed by Key Result 3 on benefiting academic institutions  (6%) and Key Result 4 on 
outreach to other non-traditional audiences (MP s, journalists, civil society) ( 2%). 
1.3  Evaluation of Performance in 201 9 
1.13.   WTO TA produced contrasted results in 2019.  The overall proportion of targets met reached 
58% (against 65% on average in 2016 -18), erasing all the growth registered since 201 6.  At the 
same time, the proportion of targets not met was below  the 2016 -18 average (1 2% against 1 4% on 
average ), and 21% of the targets were missed only by a small margin, twice the 2016 -18 average.  
Poor reporting in some areas also reduced data availability back to its 2016 -18 average level, erasing 
last year's progress.  The proportion of indicators for which no data was available was 9%. 
1.14.   Key Result  1, which regroups the bulk of WTO TA activities (85%), participants (89%) and 
related indicators (65%), registered the highest level of performance with targets met in 66% of the 
cases.  Th e 16 percentage -point reduction in the success rate compared to 20 18 was  entirely the 
consequence of the much lower level of participation in various TA programmes during the year (e.g. 
e-Learning, internships, some face -to-face activities, etc.).  This means that the TA performance 
was lower in terms of volume in 2019, but not in terms of quality, as illustrated by some spectacular 
success stories presented in the report on notifications or the negotiations on fisheries subsidies.  
1.15.   Performance under the other three Key Results was less positive: Key Result 2 "Acceding 
governments are participating in accession negotiations" met 25% and partially met 75% of its 
targets, as the anticipated level of engagement of the Observers did not materialise during the year; WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
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  2019 was a year of transition for Key Result 3 "Academic instit utions and other stakeholders are 
analysing WTO issues and reaching out to policy makers"  (met 38% of its targets), as the WTO 
Chairs Programme (WCP) reached the end of its Phase  II and attention focused on the independent 
evaluation conducted during the f irst semester; and Key Result 4 "Non -governmental stakeholders 
and legislators are aware of and knowledgeable about WTO work and issues" met 20% of its targets, 
as a consequence of a lower level of activity and participation.  
1.16.   The assessment of TA performan ce presented in this report is based on a combination of desk 
analysis and onsite evaluations conducted by the Secretariat during the year.  A summary of results 
measured in 2019 against the targets assigned to each of the indicators included in the 2018 -19 TA 
Plan logframe can be found in Annex II.  
2  INTRODUCTION  
2.1.  This report follows  the same approach as in previous years .  It goes  beyond a quantitative 
account of the volume of WTO TA provided during the year by presenting the activities in a n 
analytical way,  and avoid s repeating the description of the various programmes and activities 
implemented during the year, since they  have already been presented to Members as part of the TA 
Plan.1  The report  seeks to  give Members a far-reaching  understanding of the achievements of the 
year and of the rationale guiding the action s in this field.   Significant efforts have been made to 
present the results of WTO TA activities according to the structure of the TA Plan adopted by 
Members for 201 8-19. 
2.2.  Further to the  comprehensive 2016 external evaluation of the TA provided by the WTO in 
2010-15, the continuation of the work performed during the year to implement and follow -up on its 
recommendations has also been presented in this report  to give Members as comprehensive a picture 
as possible.  
2.3.  The Secretariat keeps  develop ing and implement ing the tools to collect data to better measure 
the results produced by its TA activities in the beneficiar ies.  As in previous years, the report links 
TA activities to their associated costs, to allow Members to assess the value for money produced  in 
2019.  However,  and as noted by the 2016 external evaluation, one of the main limitations in this 
domain comes from t he lack of capacity of many beneficiar ies of WTO TA to gather sufficiently 
representative data to assess the results of the TA they have received.2 
2.4.  The report focuses on three main aspects .  The first  is a present ation of  the main evolutions 
seen in the  WTO TA provided in 201 9 compared to the previous year, and their rationale.  This 
required a selection amongst the many activities and programmes implemented during the year to 
focus on the most significant changes implemented .  The second analyses  the TA pr ovided during 
the year by region and to LDCs , by subject covered, language used , level of training offered , 
participants' gender  and Key Results.  The last part of the report analyses in detail the  immediate 
and long -term results of the  WTO TA provided by the Secretariat during the year - and before . 
3  MAIN EVOLUTIONS IN 2 019 COMPARED TO 201 8 
3.1.  This section describes the main changes observed in 201 9 in the management and 
implementation of TA activities c ompared to 201 8, including in terms of: (i) resources allocated to 
TA and the overall volume of activities implemented; (ii) progress made in the implementation of 
the recommendations of the 2016 external evaluation; (iii) monitoring and evaluation of TA 
(including implementation of the Result -based management system); and (iv) changes to the design 
and delivery of TA activities.  
 
1 See document WT/COMTD/W/227/Rev.1, viewed at: 
https://docs.wto.org/dol2festaff/Pages/FE_Search/DDFDocuments/239616/q/WT/COMTD/W227R1.pdf . 
2 See paragraph 4.12 in WT/COMTD/89 for an illustration.  WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
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  3.1  Management of TA resources3 
3.2.  Delivery of TA in 201 9 occurred in a context of shrinking  donors' contributions.  In order to 
maintai n the same level of ambition as predicated in the TA Plan 2018 -19 and achieve the set  
objectives for WTO TA, a tight management of resources continued to be essential.  
3.1.1   Resources availability for TA  
3.3.  In 201 9, the TA resources 
remained at their average level since 
2016.  However, the increase in 
contributions to the Global Trust Fund 
(GTF) registered in 2018 was 
short-lived and GTF contributions were 
down to their low 2017 level, as the 
pool of GTF donors shrank to its 
smaller s ize ever (11 donors against 
an average of close to 13 over the 
previous 5 years).  The GTF and other 
non-earmarked resources  represented 
only 51% of the TA resources in 2019, 
its second lowest share ever.  
Meanwhile, the share coming  from the 
regular budge t increased to 32%, as it 
was constant in nominal terms (since 
2012) , and the balance ( 17%) came 
from contributions earmarked for 
specific programmes , whose level was 
also stable in nominal terms .  
Non-earmarked resources have 
progressively decreased from a peak 
of 20 MCHF in 2009 to 7.5 MCHF on 
average since 201 6.  Annual 
fluctuations, both in the pool of donors 
and the total size of their 
contributions , make it difficult to tell 
whether the WTO reached yet the 
bottom of this cycle .  The overall trend 
remains down for the moment.  In 
2019, the return as donor s of Japan 
and Norway (with a reduced amount 
compared to earlier years) were offset 
by the absence of contribution from  Australia, Finland and Korea and a further 20% reduction in the 
US contribution .  The current level of contribution s is significantly lower than the annual target 
amounts approved by Members  for the GTF  and lower than the average expenses  they finance  
(8.7 MCHF on average since 2012) .  In five out of six years s ince 2014 , the WTO has had to tap into 
its cash reserves to bridge the gap.  Since the balance available in the GTF at the end of 201 9 was 
3 MCHF lower than  the target amount for 20 20, the WTO will soon reach a point where, in the 
absence of an increase in non-earmarked contributions, th e ambition of its TA programme  will have 
to be reduced . 
3.4.  Since 201 4, the evolution of the voluntary contributions of the various donors has been as 
follows:4 
 
3 For a detailed analysis of the resources and expenses of the WTO in 2019 (including TA resources), 
please see the WTO 2019 Financial Performance Report . 
4 The trust funds taken into account here are those under the sole authority of the WTO which it can us e 
to finance its TA activities (GTF and earmarked trust funds financing the Mission Internships, etc.).  Trust funds 
managed by other entities or which finance other programmes than those of WTO (Standards and Trade 
Development Facility (STDF), Enhanced In tegrated Framework (EIF) Secretariat and Trade Facilitation 
Agreement Facility (TFAF)) have always been excluded, since these trust funds have their own governance and 
reporting mechanisms.   - 5 10 15 20 25Millions  CHFGlobal Trust Fund
Contributions
Expenses
GTF Target
Year-end
balance - 5 10 15 20 25Millions CHFTechnical Assistance Resources
Earmarked
Trust Funds
Non-
earmarked
Trust Funds
Regular
BudgetWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
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  Global Tr ust Fund      
 2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019 
Australia  61,370  2,162,382   52,756  17,927   
Austria  241,400  104,900  109,000  215,200  233,200  226,600  
Denmark  482,422  400,028      
Estonia  24,640  24,120  21,800  21,520  23,320  22,800  
European Union  317,592  1,658,552  1,294,800   1,164,800  1,128,400  
Finland      1,159,000   
France  608,500  434,400  433,200  455,600  519,300  488,250  
Germany  1,203,000  1,060,000  1,083,000  1,139,000  1,133,000  1,099,000  
Japan  312,019  267,413  218,634  233,669   231,601  
Korea  336,350  346,500  347,200  331,100  298,800   
Liechtenstein  40,000  40,000  40,000  40,000  40,000  40,000  
Lithuania     20,273  30,316  22,800  
Netherlands  875,000  495,000  490,000  190,598    
Norway  2,163,722  1,161,373  1,059,571  777,180   541,213  
Sweden    1,253,700  1,929,722  2,154,955  1,869,756 
United States  1,127,392  950,400  529,036  571,172  600,547  485,122  
Total GTF  7,793,406  9,105,068  6,879,941  5,977,790  7,375,165  6,155,542 
 
Earmarked Trust Funds      
 2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019 
Australia   112,640     
China   485,000  485,000  473,000  494,000  499,500  
European Union  144,360   21,520  -55,161    
Finland   102,366      
France  608,500  651,600  649,800  683,400  923,200  868,000 
Ireland  180,900  156,600 164,250  163,650 227,800  222,000  
Netherlands  1,750,000  875,000   875,000  875,000  875,000  
New Zealand  78,130       
Norway  1,300,954       
Sweden    102,291  -47,919   
Total Earmarked  4,062,844  2,383,206 1,422,861  2,091,970 2,520,000  2,464,500 
3.1.2   Volume of TA activities  
3.5.  Building on the positive trend 
established since 2012 and noted by 
the 2016 external evaluation, the 
management of TA has continued to 
seek effectiveness in 201 9 through a 
rigorous approval process of WTO TA 
activity requests that places significant 
attent ion on the relevance of the 
activities and their potential to produce 
results, favouring quality over volume.   
The overall increase in the volume of 
WTO TA or TA -related activities seen in 
2018 was also short -lived and the 
number of activities went back in  2019 
to its average level since 2013.  In 
total, 311 activities were registered 
(359 in 201 8, 315 in 2017 ) during the year .  Within that total, the volume of WTO TA activities 
stricto sensu  remained above the average since 2011 and reached 278 activities (307 in 2018, 261 
in 2017) , whilst the number of Other Activities  was 37% lower (33 other activities in 2019, against 
52 in 2018 and 54 in 2017 ). 
3.6.  The number of national activities during the year decreased by 2 7% compared to  2018 to reach 
its lowest level ever  (93 activities).   National activities represented only 30% of the TA or TA -related 
activities  in 201 9 (-5 percentage points  compared to 2018) .  As explained in the previous annual 
report s on TA , fluctuations  in the volume of national activities in absolute and relative terms are 0100200300400Number of TA Activities
Other
Regional/
Global
NationalWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
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  directly correlated to the evolution of 
the demand from beneficiaries  and, to 
a lesser extent, to the limited 
Secretariat's capacity to satisfy 
Members' requests for activities.5  The 
number of national activity requests  
received by the Secretariat decrease d 
in 201 9 compared to t he previous year  
and reached 1 37 requests against 175 
in 2018 .  At the time of reporting , only 
65% of the activities requested during 
the year were already implemented , 
12% were under preparation  and 18% 
had been postponed to 2020 .  This left just 5%  of the requests still pending.  
3.7.  The total number of countries presenting at least one request was also down  in 201 9 
(-8 countries)  and reached 7 0, below the average since 2013 (72.4 countrie s).  The turnover among 
countries presenting a request remain ed significant  (34%) but well within the average of previous 
years : 29% of the countries that requested an activity in 201 9 had not done so in 201 8 and 40% of 
the 2018 requesting countries did no t submit a request in 201 9.  The average number of requests 
per country was down  from 2.2 to 2 in 2019 , with a higher  proportion of beneficiaries  submitt ing 
only one or two requests (67% instead of 64%).  Most of the others submitted 3 or 4 requests .  The 
regional spread of the requests followed closely the distribution  of implemented activities,  described 
in section 4.2 below.  
3.8.  The number of regional and global activitie s increased marginally in 201 9 (185 activities against 
180 in 201 8).  The y represented  59% of the activities of the year , well above the average since 
2011 ( 48%) . 
3.9.  The volume of  Other Activities  was much lower  in 201 9 at 33 (-19 compared to 201 8) and 
represented only 11% of the total WTO TA and TA -related activities , its lowest proportion for many 
years .  The Secretariat participation in the delivery of TA activities organized by other institutions 
represented over half of the Other Activities  (55%) .  These activities constitute TA but are not 
counted as part of the WTO TA since the contribution of the Secretariat is insufficient to take full 
responsibility for the results produced.  The other half  included various meetings and conferences in 
which the Secretariat participated and which generally did not constitute WTO TA per se, but 
frequently led to partnerships that facilitated the subsequent organization and delivery of WTO TA 
activities, such as missions to identify partners for future Intermediate -level Trade Policy Courses 
(ITPCs ), board meetings of existing partner institutions (Middle -East Centre for Economics and 
Finance, Joint Vienna Institute) and onsite evaluation missions.  In 201 9, expenditure on Other 
Activities was CHF 0. 6 million, i.e. 33% less than in 201 8.  In total, this expenditure represented 
approxima tely 3.5% of the total TA expenses compared to 6% in 201 8.  This confirms the sustained 
focus on spending TA resources on those activities for which the WTO can claim results.  
3.10.  TA expenditure in 201 9 
increased by 10% compared to the 
previous year.  A 5% decrease in the 
expenses financed by the regular 
budget was offset  by a 16% increase  
of those financed by trust funds.  The 
expenses financed by non-earmarked 
trust funds grew by 10%  compared to 
2018, wh ile those financed by 
earmarked trust funds were 73% 
higher as a result of the resumption of  
the Netherlands Trainee Programme 
(NTP) , which had been suspended in 
2018 due to the late payment of the 
 
5 As expressed in previous annual performance reports, the Secreta riat's finite capacity to satisfy TA 
demand is more acute  in certain areas (e.g. trade remedies, TBT) due to the heavy workload servicing other 
WTO functions combined wit h the current resource freeze.   - 5 10 15 20 25Million CHFTechnical Assistance Expenses
Trust
Funds
Regular
Budget050100150200250300
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019National activity requestsWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 11 - 
 
  corresponding Dutch contribution .  The NTP effect aside, as the overall number of activities was 
lower than in 2018, the main reason behind these higher expenses were more expensive travel costs 
and a higher proportion of costly regional and global activities .  However, despite these unavoidable 
annual variations, the TA expenses have been rather stable since 2012 , when internal measures 
were introduced to improve the management of TA resources.6 
3.11.  The proportion of the resources 
allocated to TA from the regular budget 
that was actually spent on TA activities 
in 201 9 was 92%, down 5 percentage 
points compared to the previous year , 
which remains well above the average 
since 2010 (82%) .  The Secretariat 
undert ook to maximize the use of the 
part of WTO's regular budget that was 
approved by Members for TA purposes.  
Despite  Members' decision in 2015 to 
manage this part of  the budget around 
four main envelopes instead of activity 
by activity , which boosted t he capacity 
of the Secretariat to fully use the se 
funds , the rigidities associated with the 
management of open commitments makes it difficult to use this part of the bud get in full .  Some 
activities were diverted to the GTF in the last quarter of the year, as the TA regular budget looked 
fully spent by that time.  The CHF 350,000 unspent balance only appeared once open commitments 
and the 2019 accounts were closed.  The S ecretariat is consequently unlikely t o repeat the  2018 
performance soon , as overspending risks must be minimised in the current context of zero budget 
nominal growth.  
3.2  External Evaluation Follow -up 
3.12.   This section provides an update on the status, as of 31 December 201 9, of the 
28 recommendations made by the 2016 external evaluation of the TA provided by the WTO in 
2010-15.7  Annex I summarises the implementation status of each of the recommendations.8  The 
same codes as in previous years  have been used:  
a. Implemented/ongoing : recommendations calling for a specific action limited in time 
and fully implemented by end of the year ; and open -ended r ecommendations of an 
ongoing  nature implemented by end of  the year  and which  will be subject to continuation  
and monit oring in the future.  This category also includes recommendations closed with 
no further action, for reasons explained in Annex  I. 
b. In progress:  recommendations calling for a specific action limited in time and for which 
implementation had begun by end of the year  and will continue in the f uture  until 
completion.  
c. Pending:  recommendations  of all types  for which implementation had not begun yet by 
end of the year . 
  
 
6 For the purpose of this report, WTO TA expenses include all the expenses under the chapter of the 
regular budget dedicated to TA activities (Geneva -based training course, TA missions, Academic programme, 
Geneva Weeks, etc.) and all the expenses financed b y the trust funds under the sole authority of the WTO, 
which it can use to finance its TA activities (including the staff costs registered in these funds).  The EIF, STDF 
and TFAF trust funds are consequently excluded.  
7 WT/COMTD/89 , viewed at 
https://docs.wto.org/dol2festaff/Pages/FE_Search/DDFDocuments/233110/q/WT/COMTD/89.pdf . 
8 See also the report of the Office of Internal Oversight to the CBFA on this  subject in WT/BFA/W/472 
viewed at https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/FE_Search/MultiDDFDocuments/252128/q:/WT/BFA/W472 -
01.pdf; q:/WT/BFA/W472 -02.pdf/ . 0%20%40%60%80%100%
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019TA Regular Budget SpendingWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 12 - 
 
    Implementation Status  
 
3.13.   As of 31 December 201 9, all the recommendations made by the 2016 external evaluation 
were implemented .  This means that the implementation of the outstanding recommendations (29% 
of the total) which was in progress a year ago was completed in 2019 .  This takes  into account that 
some of the recommendations have an ongoing nature and will require continu ous monitor ing.  
Examples o f actions carried -out in this regard are included in the relevant sections of this report.  
3.14.   Four of th e recommendations made by the 2016 external evaluation aimed to enhance the 
Result -Based Management (RBM) system (5, 26, 27 and 28).  Efforts continued in 2019 to upgrade 
RBM tools and procedures as described below ( section 3.3).   Four TA Coordination Task  Force 
(TACTF) meetings took place in 2019 and discussed targeted adjustments to TA workflows  to 
streamline  them,  promote shared responsibility for TA results across the Secretariat  and select the 
most suitable way to integrate them in the TA Management Sy stem (TAMS) .  Sub-groups were 
designated, as necessary, to conduct pilot testing of the new workflows or provide guidance on 
specific items for future work (e.g. online registration of participants, evaluation of external experts, 
etc.).  The TACTF will co ntinue to play this role in the future on a routine basis.  
3.15.   In accordance with recommendation 18 , an independent external evaluation of the WTO 
Chairs Programme (WCP) since its inception (2010 -18) was carried -out and its final report released 
in August .  It concluded that the WCP was an appropriate way for the WTO to engage academia  and 
proposed t hree options for the future , depending on the funding availab le or mobilised .  The results 
of the exter nal evaluation were considered in the design of the Biennial TA Plan for 2020 -21.9 
3.16.   Further to  the 2018 consultations on how  to integrate gender -related issues in the TA 
curriculum (recommendation 19), a training module on Trade & Gender was launched as par t of the 
events organized by the WTO to celebrate the international women's day  on 8 March .  The module 
was then incorporated into the WTO TA offer  in 2019, and the WTO also participated in TA activities  
organised by partners  and trained participants on Tr ade & Gender issues confirming its role in this 
area.  The feedback from participants was positive confirming the growing interest of Members for 
TA activities including a gender focus.  A session was delivered in the following activities:  
• 3 Advanced Trade  Policy Courses (ATPC s) (March, July and November);  
• 2 Geneva Week s for non -residents  (May and October) ; 
• 3 Intermediate  Trade Policy Courses ( ITPCs) (Caribbean, Latin America and CEECAC) ; 
• 1 Introduct ion Course for L DCs (May and October) ; 
• 2 e-Learning chats (August and November) ; 
• 1 APEC workshop on Women & Trade (March).  
3.17.   The Secretariat built on the progress made in 2018 in the implementation of recommendation  
22 and analysed the information gathered on the practices adopted across the TA off er to assess 
participants' post -course knowledge.  The analysis showed that except for 8-week long courses such 
as trade  policy courses, where the practice of end -of-course examination can be standardized, other 
courses require d flexibility when testing pa rticipants' acquired knowledge, even for successive  
 
9 WT/COMTD/W/248/Rev.1 . 50%
29%21%December 2017
71%29%December 2018
Implemented/ ongoing     In progress     Pending  100%December 2019WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 13 - 
 
  editions of the same course.  Consequently, performance measurement and dissemination of good 
practices inside the Secretariat will continue to be done through  Back-to-Office Reports ( BTORs ), 
the TA annua l report and onsite evaluations of TA activities .  The evaluation s carried out in 2019 
(e.g. country -based assessments and ex -post evaluations) gathered useful information about former 
participants' use of the skills acquired through WTO TA.   The secretari at will continue to use its 
evaluation work in the future to monitor the transfer of knowledge and TA results.  
3.3  Implementation and enhancement of Results -Based Management  
3.18.   The development of the new TAMS launch ed at the end of 2018 continued in 2019 to expan d 
its functionalities to other  TA workflows.  I ts user -friendliness and enhanced features (one -stop shop 
from request initiation to evaluation in BTORs) contributed to streamlining TA workflows and 
enhancing internal buy-in for RBM.   The following enhancements were released during the year : 
• The streamlined BTOR segment of the TA workflow was implemented in March .  It is based 
on a user -friendly webform that enables co -drafting by multiple authors .  Its reader -friendly 
view aims to reduce errors and facilitates the task of the reviewer/approver.  
• New functionalities were added to the  Activity Request module launched in 2018, to facilitate 
the work of internal users,  enhance transparency  and promote shared responsibility among 
the relevan t divisions for defining the scope of TA activities  and identifying relevant 
objectives and indicators, in compliance with RBM requirements . 
• A dedicated service -desk interface now enables users to submit their process - and 
system -related queries . 
• An interface to create password -protected user accounts  was developed.  By end of 2019, 
the system was  accessible to external experts .  Work continued to  gradually roll -out this 
functionality  for other external stakeholders ( Members,  participants , etc.). 
• A secure, dynamic public access to the schedule of future TA activities is available  on the 
WTO website  (https://tamis.wto.org/public/activities -catalogue ). 
• A simplified evaluation process for e xternal experts was introduced along with a functionality 
that enables the relevant trainers to easily integrate their evaluation in to TAMS . 
3.19.   The development of TAMS functionalities  is continuing to improve the users' experience and 
integrate other TA-related processes in its workflows .  At the end  of 2019, the following modules 
were still under development: staff requisition s, reports and infographics , BTOR recommendations  
management, participants'  online application s and participants' selection . 
3.20.   In line with the TA M&E plan of the Secretariat for 2019, a  total of 1 0 evaluations of TA 
activities were carried out in 201 9: onsite evaluation s of three  regional activities (1 in Africa,  1 in 
CEECAC and 1 in Latin America ) and two national activities ( Côte d'Ivoire  and Vanuatu ); four country 
assessments of the effects and impacts of the TA provided to C ôte d'Ivoire , Peru, South Africa and 
Vanuatu over the  previous five years ; and one ex-post evaluation of the four long -term internships 
programmes (AIP, FIMI P, NTP and RCI ) for the period 201 0-18, which will be  complete d in 2020 .  
These evaluations identified several good practices (e.g. building soft -skills along with technical 
capacity, recap and revision sessions in course curriculum, pre -course work and po st-course 
follow -up, use of  national or regional experience, etc.) and recommendations for improvement (e.g. 
prior consultation with national stakeholders on TA needs to implement reforms arising from the TPR 
exercise, ensure that participants have all tra ining materials in their working language for multi -
lingual activities, better  formulation of the activities' objectives , etc. ), which  were disseminated 
inside the Secretariat .  Feedback collected from country assessments also confirmed the relevance 
of the  TA provided .  Ensuing results included, for example, the  reduction of the notification backlog, 
adoption of trade policy reform and  elaboration of WTO -related curricula by acad emic institutions .  
Some specific TA needs were also identified  during these country assessments . 
3.21.   The Secretariat continued to monitor the reporting on TA activities and to implement 
measures to encourage systematic reporting.  As in previous years, nearly  all TA and TA -related 
activities in 2019 were followed by a BTOR  (only 4 BTORs  were missing out of 311 activities).  WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 14 - 
 
  3.4  Improving the WTO TA offer  
3.4.1   Improvements in the e -Learning offer  
3.22.   The new e -Learning cloud -based platform was open for registration mid -Janua ry.  The year 
was a transitional period for online  courses, as participants had to get used to the new platform and 
registration process.   Registrations stalled until 29 trilingual tutorials  (screen captures)  and briefing 
information to guide the participa nts through the new learning environment  were released, which 
may explain why 72% of the applications were re ceived  between June and December .  Chat sessions, 
infographics, face -to-face demos and e -mails were also used to guide users .  Aspects covered 
included  registration, pre -and post -tests, nomination form s, WTO e-Learning Community and 
certificate s.  These user support aids  were posted  on the "Welcome page" of the e-Learning  platform, 
and disseminated  through other means such as social media, promotional e -mails, etc.   The ignition 
delay of the new platform may be  the main reason why e -Learning participation halved in 2019 
compared to the previous year (see Chapter 4 below).  
3.23.   The e -Learning course offer  was enriched during the year with new courses , new and updated 
training material and upgraded and revised courses.  A  total of 88 e-Learning courses were available 
for registration in 201 9.  A second independent volume "Mainstreaming Trade in Action" was added 
in English to the "Mainstreaming Trade" series launched in 2018.  Five courses originally launched 
in English in 2018, were made available in French and Spanish: "CITES and WTO – Enhancing 
Cooperation for Sustainable Development"; "Agriculture Inform ation Management System"; 
"Documents Online e-Subscriptions"; "WTO Accession"; and "Trade & Environment".  The English 
version of the  course  "Regional Trade Agreements" w as updated.   Information on the "Technical 
Cooperation Handbook on Notification Requir ements" was updated in the course "Transparency and 
the WTO - Notification Obligations" in English, French and Spanish.  The PDF version of th e Handbook 
was also added to this course and the course on "Multilateral Trade Agreements", allowing 
participants to refer to it to complement their study . 
3.24.  Several links  and interactive elements were 
updated in various  courses including  "Trade & 
Environment" (English); "Mainstreaming Trade – 
The Fundamentals" (English); "CITES and WTO – 
Enhancing Cooperation for Sustainable 
Development" (English); "WTO Accession" (English); 
"Patents in the WTO" (English, French and Spanish); 
"Made in…: Understand ing Rules of Origin" (English, 
French and Spanish); "WTO Legal Underpinnings" 
(English, French and Spanish); "Trade & 
development" (English, French and Spanish); and "A 
short trip through TRIPS" (English, French and 
Spanish).  
3.25.  Progress continued to be made  in 2019 in the 
upgrade of courses to  SCORM standards .  By the end 
of 2019, the share of the e -Learning portfolio 
respecting the SCORM standard had increased by 
11% compared to 2018, as 6 1% of the courses 
complied with this standard against 5 6% at the end 
of the previous year.  
3.26.  The e -Learning offer by level and subject is 
presented in the table below and can be consulted 
under  https://wtolearning.csod.com : 
  5434e-Learning portfolio in 2019 by 
course type
Interactive courses
(SCORM format)
Courses with
reading material
0%20%40%60%80%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019SCORM ComplianceWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 15 - 
 
  Level  Generalists  Specialists  
Outreach and 
Other  Agriculture Information Management System  (E, F, S)10 
Agriculture Xpress  (E, F, S)  
Documents Online e-Subscriptions  (E, F, S)11 
Tailored Course Updated version  (E)12 
WTO in 10'  (E, F, S)  
Introduction  Introduction to WTO (E, F, S)  
Intermediate  Accession to WTO ( E, F, S)13 
Legal Underpinnings (E, F, S)  
Mainstreaming Trade – Fundamentals (E)  
Mainstreaming Trade in Action (E)14 
Multilateral Trade Agreements  (E, F, S)  
Regional Trade Agreements (E, F, S)  
Trade & Development (E, F, S)  
Trade Finance in the WTO (E, F, S)  
Trade Economics - Theory & Policy (E, F, S)  Agriculture & WTO (E, F, S)  
CITES & WTO (E , F, S )15 
Copyright in the WTO (E, F, S)  
Dispute Settlement System (E, F, S)  
Made in… : Rules of Origin (E, F, S)  
Market Access for Goods and NAMA 
negotiations (E, F, S)  
Market Access Intelligence (E, F, S)  
Patents (E, F, S)  
 Transparency Notifications (E, F, S)  SPS Measures (E, F, S)  
  TBT (E, F, S)  
  Trade & Environment (E, F, S)16 
Trade Facilitation (E)  
Trade in Services (E, F, S)  
Trade Remedies (E, F, S)  
TRIPS (E, F, S)  
  TRIPS – Short Trip (E, F, S)  
3.27.   Interactivity in online courses supports the effective transfer of knowledge and keeps 
participants engaged, which are two of the main challenges in this form of training.  It enhances 
course attractiveness and provides the trainees with up -to-date informa tion on current 
developments and hence reduces the digital gap.  Emphasis continued to be placed on interactivity 
in 2019, including through the development or upgrade of courses (by including multimedia 
elements), organization of Chat sessions and an active presence on social media.  
3.28.   The number of multimedia elements deployed 
across the e -Learning offer continued to grow with 
291 elements developed or updated in the three 
languages.  They included 13 animations, 68 audio, 
173 Interactive exercises, 1 trail er, 2 screen -capture 
videos, 10 videos and 24 videoclips.  
3.29.   A total of 93 chat sessions took place in 2019 : 
48 chat sessions focused on the functionalities of t he 
new platform, registration, certificates and the 
promotion of new courses; and 45 chat session s 
update d participants on the latest WTO 
developments .  Over half of the chat sessions were 
conducted in English, French and Spanish 
simultaneously.  The others took place in one of the 
three languages depending on the expert and the 
timing of the session,  since attendance from the 
various  regions and hence the language of most 
participants depended on the time zone.   The 
decrease in the number of chat sessions recorded in 
2019 (~10%) was due to the priority given to the 
transition to the new platform , the onboarding of 
participants  and the development  and upgrade of 
training material s. 
 
10 Released in French  on 17 July 2019 and in Spanish on 19 July 2019 . 
11 Released in French and Spanish on 29 August 2019 . 
12 This course was only available on the e-Campus website  and not on the new cloud -based platform . 
13 New interactive versions of the course in French and Spanish released on 5 July 2019.  
14 Released in English on 2 September 2019 . 
15 Released  in French and Spanish  on 19 November 2019 . 
16 New interactive versions of the course in French and Spanish released on 18 October 2019 . 0100200300Multimedia Components
0306090120Chat SessionsWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 16 - 
 
  3.30.   A new interactive activity available 24/7, was launched in October in the three languages, the 
WTO e -Learning Community.  It aims to inform participants on the e -Learning pro gramme and on 
WTO matters.  It also provides participants with a platform to share their views and expand their 
professional network.  Within this environment, participants can consult or participate in the 
discussions launched .  They can also "like" the d iscussion topics.  The Community is divided in two 
categories: 1) Join our discussions on trade -related issues; and 2) Join our discussions on the WTO 
e-Learning course programme.   Nine discussions topics were launched in 2019  on Trade Facilitation, 
Trade Policy Review and Trade in Services for the first category, and  on study tips, new courses 
launched and suggestions for the improvement of the e -Learning platform  for the second category . 
3.31.   The e -Learning programme remained active on Twitter, Facebook, Linke dIn, Instagram and 
YouTube to update followers/participants on the WTO and trade -related issues and promote the WTO 
e-Learning courses.  The number of followers continued to increase through the year for the five 
accounts: 811 new followers on LinkedIn, 38 2 on Twitter, 878 on Facebook, 404 on YouTube and 
170 on Instagram.   A special focus was placed on improving the quality of the posts and tailoring 
them to the followers' needs.  Together with the resource -intensive deployment of the new 
e-Learning platfor m, this led to a lower  number of posts during the year on the various accounts : 
354 posts on Facebook; 385 tweets on Twitter; 200 posts on LinkedIn; and 11 stories on Instagram.  
A total of 48 videos were shared during the year (two-thirds more than in 201 8), 60% of the m to 
explain the functionalities of the new platform.  Other posts  on social media included: information 
on the e -Learning programme (new courses, chat sessions, statistics); promotion of chat sessions; 
study tips to guide participants in the ir online studies; statistics; news, information on WTO and 
trade -related issues; events organized by the WTO; and information on TA activities including 
feedback and interviews of participants in face -to-face activities.  This information was delivered in  
diverse forms such as videos, Prezi presentations ,17 infographics ,18 etc. 
3.4.2   Improvements in the face -to-face offer  
3.32.   The Secretariat regularly adjusts  its curricula, the content of its trainings, it s pedagogical 
approach , its learning aids and materials based on the feedback received from participants, the 
priorities identified by Members (including those highlighted in WTO regular committees and 
negotiating groups) and the results of internal evaluations.  The purpose of these adjustments i s to 
continuously enhance the service and response to Members' needs.  This section highlights major  
improvements introduced  in 2019  into the TA face -to-face offer.   Following the practice in previous 
TA annual reports , this section does not aim to provide  an exhaustive list of adjustments but rather  
seeks to highlight  the variety of the evolutions through illustrative examples.  
3.4.2.1   Supporting the implementation of Members' commitments  
3.33.   Transparency has remained an area of strong interest for TA beneficiaries in 201 9 across all 
WTO topics.  The Secretariat's TA offer was strengthened accordingly in this area at the global, 
regional and national levels with activities comprising enhanced o r novel features, such as : 
a. The Secretariat updated, revised and modernized the Handbook on Notifications during 
the year.  The new Handbook is now regularly used as training material in face-to-face 
activities on notifications , in online courses  and as reference material in the WTO 
website for consultation by Members . 
b. For the first time, a regional workshop on Prohibitions, Licensing and Other Quantitative 
Restrictions (QRs) was organized for CEECAC countries in July, in Vienna.   It allowed 
gover nment officials involved in QR notifications to better understand the type of 
measures that constitute a QR in the sense of Article XI of the GATT and when they are 
allowed in the WTO.   This enhanced their knowledge of notification requirements and 
formats  according to  the Decision for the notification of Q Rs (G/L/59/Rev.1).  
c. In the standards area, t raining on ePing, the  SPS/TBT  notification alert system launched 
in 2016 , and on  the SPS and TBT Notification Submission Systems continued to be 
regularly reques ted for national activities.   Activities with a strong focus on notifications 
 
17 Three  interactive  Prezi presentations were developed to provide a  step-by-step explanation of the 
registration process in the new e-Learning platform . 
18 A total of  202 infographics were developed in 2019, 55% more than in 2018.  WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 17 - 
 
  included national SPS/TBT activities in China, Jamaica and Turkey, and national SPS 
activities in Guatemala, Jamaica, Peru and Turkey.  The SPS seminar in Peru also 
focussed on g ood regulatory practices and a possible national strategy to implement 
SPS transparency obligations and better respond to other Members' notification s.  A 
worksh op on TBT transparency was held in June in Geneva  and the regional TBT 
workshop held in Abidjan  in October for French -speaking Africa also addressed 
transparency obligations.  In the  SPS thematic workshop on transparency held in 
Geneva in July , Members share d experiences on the  transparency -related coordination 
mechanisms.  Two thematic sessions on the implementation of equivalence measures 
and approval procedures were held back -to-back with the SPS committee in the context 
of the fifth review of the implementation of the SPS Ag reement.  
d. Training on transparency was also strengthened in the curriculum of the ITPCs by the 
introduction in 2019 of a 1,5 -day module dedicated to this topic and based on the 
updated Notification Handbook.  Participants reviewed their country's records  to identify 
areas where notifications were outstanding . 
e. In the area of subsidies notifications, two regional workshops were held in Africa, one 
in Dakar for French -speaking countries in June and one in Kigali for English -speaking 
countries  in September . 
f. The launch of the e -TRIPS Gateway in 2019 was the catalyst for trainings on TRIPS 
transparency obligations, the use of the e-TRIPS Gateway and e -TRIPS Submission 
System as tools to facilitate the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement and 
development of Intelle ctual Property (IP) law and policy frameworks.  The Secretariat 
delivered tailored trainings on these tools to  individual Members , at their request,  and 
3 group training s. 
g. Training was provided to Members on the use of the agriculture online notification 
systems ahead of its launch in October  2019, and materials adjusted according to the 
feedback received from users.  
3.34.   The Workshop on the Implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement held in Geneva 
in February was the first to involve  capital -based de legates from LDCs.   Partici pation also included 
officials from Science and Technology, Commerce/Trade/Economic Affairs and Education  ministries , 
in addition to IP offices , leading to a dialogue on  transfer s of technology  between LDCs and 
developed Members .  This fed back into the TRIPS Council work on implementation of Article 66.2 . 
3.35.   A GATS workshop held in Geneva in October review ed the operation of the preferences notified 
under the LDC Services Waiver.  The LDC Group saw this as a milestone in WTO's effort to enhance 
LDC's participation in world services trade.  
3.36.   In October, t raining sessions familiarize d delegates with the new Dispute Settlement e -filing 
system  (Disputes Online Registry Application - DORA) introduced to replace the DDSR and offer 
enhanced features to Members.  
3.37.   As explained in Section 3.2 above, a Trade & Gender module was  implemented in a number 
of training activities in 2019 to raise Members' awareness and capacity  to incorporate gender 
considerations in their analysis , trade policy or negotiations.  The module gives a new perspective 
on the impact of trade on women economic empowerment that goes beyond the concept of gender 
neutrality of trade rules .  It provides c oncrete tools to translate policy objectives into effective trade 
policies more likely to produce positive results on the ground.  Research continues in this domain, 
considering participants' feedback on the module and Members' input.  The objective is to expand 
and refine the training materials and approaches ; to create an e-Learning platform on Trade & 
Gender ; and to  develop a training strategy and a two -day course for Geneva -based delegates.  
3.4.2.2   Supporting ongoing negotiations  
3.38.   Seven regional workshops on fis heries subsidies were organized in 2019 in all TA regions 
(Middle East in Oman in March, Caribbean in Jamaica and Latin America in El Salvador in April, 
French -speaking Africa in Senegal and  Asia in Thailand in June, English -speaking Africa in South WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 18 - 
 
  Africa  and Pacific in Fiji in July).  In these three -day workshop s, officials from trade and fisheries' 
authorities  considered  in detail the different components of the fisheries subsidies negotiations  and 
exchange d experiences and  views on the specific concerns  of their countries  in the light of their 
current policies .  The dialogue between fisheries management experts, capital -based trade officials 
and Geneva -based delegates was particularly productive and improved significantly their mutual 
understandi ng of the issues.  It should facilitate their future cooperation, which is so critical in these 
negotiations.  
3.39.   The capacity of the Secretariat to respond in a few months to the request of Members in this 
domain to support the work of the negotiating group o n Rules ahead of the end -of-year deadline 
was probably one of the most spectacular TA accomplishments of the year.  An internal evaluation 
of the programme confirmed the relevance of the programme, its high quality and the efficient 
achievement of its obje ctives.  
3.4.2.3   Promoting g ood training practice s 
3.40.   Efforts continued in 2019 to improve the design of course programmes and training materials 
(presentations, exercises, case studies, etc.), the choice of training approaches and the 
implementation of the PLS.  The use of g ood practices illustrated in previous annual reports expanded 
further.  For example, several TA activities promoted the development of  participants' soft skills , 
such as communication and stakeholder engagement (e.g. advanced workshop on Agricultur e 
notifications, Regional workshop on QR s for CEECAC, etc.); and relied on  gamification and instant 
polling systems for exercises and quizzes.  
3.41.   New curricula and  training materials  were developed during the year  to cover the new 
activities described above  and: (i) to reflect recent developments and the growing interest of 
Members in Trade & Investment, domestic regulation and e -Tourism ; (ii) to take into account the  
effects of  artificial intelligence  on trade policy , of gene-editing technologies on IP and public health 
policies ; and (iii) to support the module on Trade & Gender deployed in ATPCs and ITPCs.  
3.42.   Experts from regional institutions and former TA participants continued to be involved in the 
delivery of TA activities to illustrate local and regional contexts and share their experience.  For 
example, on average one third of the training days were taught by regional experts in ITPCs; former 
participants contributed to various TA activities such as the global TBT transparency workshop, 
national SPS semin ars in Jamaica and Peru, regional TRIPS workshop in Senegal,  the introduct ion 
course for LDCs in Geneva, etc. 
3.43.   Trainers continued to facilitate the delivery of specialized knowledge to non -specialists, 
especially when activities cut across multiple discipli nes.  For instance, the workshop on Trade & 
Public Health  held in Geneva in November proposed  two parallel  breakout refresher  sessions on 
"Health" (delivered by WHO ) and "IP & Trade" (delivered by WTO ) to bridge any knowledge deficit 
in either  area, as participants from health, trade or commerce ministries and IP offices  have very 
different backgrounds .  The programme of the national workshop on dispute settlement for Turkish 
officials specialized in agriculture held in November in Geneva was tailored to th eir limited initial 
knowledge of the subject .  Details o n panel and Appellate Body reports on agriculture -related cases  
helped them understand  their impact on agriculture policy and on their daily tasks.  
3.44.   TA activities remained valuable  networking opportunities for participants with international 
and regional organizations who deliver ed part of the programme  when  TA activities were held 
back-to-back with committee meetings and other larger events.  For example , the WIPO -WTO 
Colloquium fo r IP Teachers  held in June in Geneva integrated for the second year the IP Researchers 
Europe Conference (I PRE) into the programme.   In 2019, the participants and approximately fifteen 
world -renowned IP RE scholars attended a networking event hosted by the WTO and exchange d 
views on emerging IP policy and research.  
4  IMPLEMENTATION OF TA  PLAN AND MAIN FEATU RES OF THE TA PROVID ED IN 201 9 
4.1.  In 201 9, excluding Other Activities which did not constitute WTO TA per se, or which 
contributed to the TA provided by other institutions, the WTO undertook a total of 278 TA activities, 
both in Geneva and in other locations .  Following a now well-established  practice, t his chapter 
analyses this portfolio of activities according to the following criteria: participation of LDCs, WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 19 - 
 
  geographical distribution, product mix, subjects covered, language mix, progressivity of training, 
gender mix amongst participants and Key Results pursued.  For each of these elements,  the chapter 
considers  the distribution of the various types of activities (global, national, regional and e -Learning) 
measured in terms of number of activities, participants, days of training and expenditure.  
4.2.  No data on the duration (in days or hours) of the online courses is presented.  This is due to 
the self -paced nature of e -Learning.  Online courses are available throughout the year and 
participants can register any time.  Online training courses must in principle  be completed within 
two months of the date at which they ar e started, but the actual number of hours or days that 
participants dedicate to a given course is not known to the Secretariat.  
4.3.  In view of the specificities of the long -term internships hosted in Geneva in terms of duration 
(10 months on average  when the d uration of most other TA activities is counted in days ), cost 
(CHF 2 million per year on average over 2012 -19 when the average cost of other TA activities is 
CHF 40,000 ) and number of participants (4 5±3 a year on average out of an average of 16,200 
participants per year during that period ), they have been excluded from the analysis presented in 
section 4.4 (distribution by subject) onwards.  This will avoid distorting the analysis of other 
face-to-face activities and repeating the same explanation  to justify the discrepancies that may 
arise.  
4.4.  Analysing the cost of the various activities implemented in 201 9 aims to provide Members with 
a cost -efficiency and effectiveness perspective.  Whilst confirming the very high cost -efficiency of 
e-Learning, thi s information also gives a better understanding of the relative costs of the various 
programmes run by the Secretariat and of the financial equilibrium between them.   It is hoped that 
this will help Members make more informed decisions related to the TA of fered by the WTO.  
4.1  Participation of least developed countries (LDCs )19 
4.5.  LDCs continue to be a priority for the WTO TA.  They were invited to 6 7% of all WTO TA 
activities organised in 201 9 (62% in 2018, 68% in 2017, 72% in 2016, 61% in 2015) and 
approximately one quarter of the face -to-face activities were specifically d esigned for  them.  The 
fact that Africa and Asia -Pacific received the highest number of TA field activities in 201 9 (see 
section  4.2) reinforced this priority, as all the  LDCs except one are in these two regions.  In Africa, 
LDCs accounted for 3 8% of the participants in regional activities and 52% in national ones.  31% of 
the requests for national activities came from LDCs, marginally above previous years' level ( 28% in 
2018 and 31% in 2017).20 
4.6.  Participants from LDCs represented 27% 
of the total e -learning audience in 2019, less 
than the 2012 -19 average (31% ±3).  This 
means that the participation of LDCs shrank  in 
absolute terms at a faster  pace than the overall 
audience of online course.  However, as 
explained in section 3.4.1, 2019 was a 
particular year for e -Learning, with the launch 
of a new platform and the streamlining of the 
registration process.  The full effects of these 
improvement s will not be felt before  2020, 
when it is hoped that  the participation of  LDCs 
will return to its average level.21  Statistics for 
face-to-face activities are less precise, as 
participants are not systematically registered in 
the database when they are not  financed by the WTO (e.g. in national activities).  Overall, a fifth of 
the participants in face -to-face activities were from LDCs in 201 9, against a quarter in 2018 . 
 
19 Out of 47 LDCs in 2019, 36 were Members and 8 were Observers.  Together, they represent less than 
a third of all potential WTO TA beneficiaries.  
20 See also the comments on the impact of adm inistrative measures on African LDCs in section 4.2.  
21 The 2018 figures showed that, on average, the online learning capacities of these countries are no 
longer significantly lower than  in their non -LDC counterparts , as their participation in online course s can grow 
at the same pace under normal circumstances.  0%10%20%30%40%Participants from LDCs in 
e-Learning coursesWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 20 - 
 
  4.7.  Several TA programmes are designed to respond more specifically to the needs of LDCs.  In 
2019 LDC nationals represented 52% of the total participants in other long-term internship 
programmes in Geneva ( 2 percentage point s more than in 201 8).  This proportion has been 
fluctuating between 50 and 60% since 2010.   The 201 9 improvement  benefited from the resumption  
of the Netherlands Trainee Programme ( NTP), which has traditionally recruited two thirds of its 
interns from LDCs.  In 2019, t he LDC representation in each of the internship programmes was as 
follow s: 25% in the Accession Internship Pro gramme (AIP), 55% in the French -Irish Mission 
Internship Programme (FIMIP), 70% in the NTP and 20% in the Regional Coordinator Internship 
Programme (RCI).  
4.8.  LDCs accounted for 3 2% of the 
participants in Geneva -based courses in 201 9.  
4 of the 39 global activities  and 4 of the 
47 regional activities were specifically designed 
for LDCs , and several others included elements 
of special interest to them .  The three -week 
introduction course for LDCs , the course on 
facilitating the participation of LDCs  in Trade in 
Services and the World Cotton Day were held in  
the three WTO official languages .  With the 
thematic course on priority issues for LDCs in 
the Multilateral Trading System (MTS) , they  
gathered many LDC delegates .  Two rounds of 
consultations on cotton development aid targeted mainly the African LDCs of the C4 and two 
workshops on LDC graduation were held in Asia and the Pacific.   The dedicated session to review 
the operation of the preferences notified under the LDC Services Waiver was considered  by the LDC 
group as a milestone in the WTO efforts to promote the participation of LDCs in world services  trade.  
4.9.  The TA Plan also considered LDCs as a priority target for TPR follow -up activities.   However, 
these activities depend on the prior review of t he trade policy of LDCs and are based on national 
requests , few of which  came  from LDCs in 201 9.  Six LDCs had their  TPR in 2019 , above  the average 
since 2009 .22  Two of the six TPR follow -ups in 201 9 were held in an LDC,23 a higher  proportion than 
in 201 8.  These follow -ups focused on the dissemination of the findings of the TPR and the reforms 
required to re spond to  the concerns and inconsistencies raised in the TPR . 
4.10.   Whilst the Secretariat continued to prioritise LDCs in the provis ion of TA  in 2019 , factors such 
low demand from LDC governments and a much higher tendency to  postpone  TA activities (44% of 
their national requests were postponed to 2020, against only 6% on average for other beneficiaries)  
led to a decrease in the propor tion of  participa nts from  LDC representatives in face -to-face activities 
during the year compared to 201 8. 
 
22 Bangladesh, Burundi, Laos, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.  
23 In Cambodia and Vanuatu.  0%15%30%45%60%75%LDCs in Long -term InternshipsWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 21 - 
 
  4.2  Geographical distribution  
4.11.   Global activities, whether online or face -to-face, represented 4 8% of the TA activities 
organized in 201 9, five percentage points more  than in 201 8.  The 9% growth of the number of 
online courses, which are global activities by design, compensated the decrease of global 
face-to-face activities held in Geneva ( -7% compared to 2018).  The volume of national activities 
decreased and amounted to 34% of the total  (-7 percentage points ), followed by 18% of regional 
ones (+2  percentage points) , whilst the share of online courses went up from 26% in 2018 to 31%, 
confirming the global shift towards distance and/or blended education.  Meanwhile, the spread of 
the face -to-face activities across regions continued to evolve in 201 9.  The share of activities held 
in Africa reversed its past decline and reached 22% of the face -to-face activities (19% in 2018 and 
20% in 2017).  The share of Asia -Pacific (18%) increased by one  percentage point and remained in 
line with its average since 2012.  The share of CEECAC (13%) and the Caribbean (5%) was also 
stable, whilst Latin America (11%, -4 percentage points) and the Middle East (6%, -2 percentage 
points) declined.   In Latin Ameri ca, this resulted from increased political instability in some countries 
or decisions to postpone some activities to 2020.  
4.12.   As in previous years, Africa remained disproportionately affected in 201 9 by the 
administrative measures taken regarding Members and Observers in arrears on their contribution to 
the WTO: out of the 11 Members and 2 Observer s in category III at the beginning of the year , 
11 were African countries (of which 8 were LDC Member s) and lost access to WTO TA.24  This meant 
that 2 0% of the Afric an Members ( 31% of African LDCs) and 22% of the African Observers were not 
eligible to TA during at least part of the year.   Only half of the Members concerned were able to 
regularise their situation during the year, sometimes at the very end.  This also meant that the 
eleven  African countries concerned could not benefit from WTO TA during 77% of the year on 
average.  Except for Guinea, which joined category III in 2019, the other African LDCs affected by 
the administrative measures have lost access to  TA almost without interruption since the reform of 
 
24 Members: Antigua & Barbuda, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea -Bissau, 
Niger, Sierra L eone and Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.  Observers: Libya and Sao Tomé & Principe.  
  National  
   Regional  
   Global  
   e-Learning  
  -  50  100GlobalMiddle EastLatin AmericaCEECACCaribbeanAsia-PacificAfricaNumber of Activities by Region
 - 1,000  2,000  3,000  4,000  5,000GlobalMiddle EastLatin AmericaCEECACCaribbeanAsia-PacificAfricaParticipants by Region
 -  500  1,000  1,500GlobalMiddle EastLatin AmericaCEECACCaribbeanAsia-PacificAfricaDays of Training by Region
 -  2  4  6  8GlobalMiddle EastLatin AmericaCEECACCaribbeanAsia-PacificAfricaActivities Expenses by Region 
(MCHF)WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 22 - 
 
  these measures implemented on 1 January 2013.  These figures show the actual impact of the 
administrative measures on some of the African LDCs.  
4.13.   The number of global face -to-face activities held in 201 9 decreas ed by 7% compared to 201 8 
to 48 activities, above the average since 2012 (43±5).   The number of such activities  was negatively 
influenced  by current physical limitations imposed on the availability of proper training rooms  on the 
WTO campus, which obliged several activities to take place in meeting rooms instead.  Whilst 
activities with a global geographical reach held in Geneva represented 2 3% of face -to-face activities, 
they accounted for 2 7% of the participants, 68% of the training days delivered by the Secretariat 
and 5 2% of the TA costs.  As in previous years, these activities tended to benefit individuals who 
stayed for extended periods o f time in Geneva, as is the case for long -term internship programmes 
(see above).  
4.14.   Participation in activities held in Africa  (1,471 participants) was back below  its average since 
2012 (1, 854 participants), as it declined  by 26% in 201 9.  The decrease  in the other regions was 
equally s ignificant : -44% in CEECAC (857 participants), -36% in Latin America (1,045 participants) 
and -48% in the Middle East (280 participants).  The only two regions which remained stable with 
minimum variation s were the Caribbean (2 94 participants) and Asia -Pacific (2,202 participants).  
Even if o verall, participation in face -to-face activities diminished by 23% compared to 2018 to reach 
8,512 participants in 2019 , this was th e second highest level since 2012, well above the past eig ht 
years average (8,142 pa rticipants) .25 
4.15.   A total of 5,846  participants from all regions (153 countries) completed  e-Learning courses in 
2019.26  Participation in Africa was again the highest  and accounted for 35% of the total number of 
participants ( 6 percentage points less than in 201 8).  Asia-Pacific was the only region in which 
participation grew (+11%)  and became the second biggest region for online education (33% of total 
participants).   The relative importance of the Caribbean, Middle East, and C EECAC was stable ( 4%, 
1% and 7% respectively).  Finally, Latin America  registered a 4% decrease in participat ion.  It 
accounted for 2 0% of total participation in e -Learning in 201 9, close to its 2016 level.  
4.16.   As far as days of training are concerned, global face-to-face activities represented 7 0% of the 
total in 201 9, as in 2018.  This is due to the long duration of some Geneva -based activities, such as 
long-term internships that exceed the average duration of training courses (they last between six 
and twelv e months, i.e. approximately 208 working days each on average).  The share of each 
region in the remaining 30% of training days was closely correlated with the share of each region in 
the total number of activities.  
4.17.   The total expenditure of 1 5.6 MCHF was distributed following the same pattern as in 201 8.  
Activities held in Geneva, categorized as "Global" in the graph, accounted for 5 6% of the total TA 
costs ( 49% excluding e -Learning).  This is mainly attributable to the high cost of the various 
long-term internship programmes, owing to their extended duration (on average 10 months in 
2019).  The distribution of expenses by region in 201 9 was proportional to the number of activities 
and participants per region.  
4.3  Product mix  
4.18.   This section considers t he share of the various categories of activities in the total volume of 
TA activities delivered in 201 9, and the evolution of this breakdown since 2012.   It also considers 
the evolution of the main features across categories (such as participation and dura tion).  The 
categorization of the product mix is based on the reach of the activities (global, regional or national), 
except for e -Learning and videoconferences which are standalone categor ies owing to their distinct 
delivery mode.  
 
25 With 11,057 participants, year 2018 appears to have been exceptional.  
26 Another 3,051 participants joined e -Learning courses in the last part of the year and may complete 
them in 2020.  WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 23 - 
 
  4.19.  The evolution  of the TA portfolio mix 
is a slow process taking years to produce 
significant changes.  Two categories grew in 
2019: regional and e -Learning activities.  
Regional activities  represented 18% of the 
total TA activities (15% in 2018) , while 
e-Learning reache d its highest level ever  
(32% vs. 26% in 2018).  The relative 
importance of online courses increased  
significantly  in 201 9 as a result of the  drop 
in the number of face -to-face activities 
(-15%).  The share of n ational activities 
continue d to be the larges t, with one third 
of total activities  (seven percentage points 
less than in 2018 ) but was lower than the 
2012-19 average  (40%) .  The share of  global face -to-face activities remained stable (17%) and in 
line with the past average.  All the regions displayed  the same preference for national activities in 
2019.  The "simplicity" of their organization (the process is less resource -intensive for the 
Secretariat) and the flexibility of their programme (can be tailored to the very specific needs of the 
requesting authority and to the desired level) and audience (the requesting authority has total 
discretion in selecting the participants) are factors which explain their high popularity.   Online 
courses  are also widely appreciat ed.  If this trend continues, the Secretariat should consider 
increasing its blended learning offer  combining  e-Learning  and face -to-face training .27 
4.20.   National activities gathered 7 6% of the participants in activities held outside Geneva, broadly 
in line with the proportion in previous years.  Since they were shorter than regional/global activities 
on average, they represented only 45% of the training days.  
4.21.  The duration of the variou s TA 
activities is highly variable across 
groups of products and in some cases 
within the same group.  As explained 
above, the self -paced nature of 
online courses makes it difficult to 
measure their duration.   Regional 
and global activities tend to include  a 
wide array of products (workshops of 
1 or 2 days, long -term internships 
and advanced courses lasting 
between one and eight weeks).  
Therefore, annual variations in the 
average duration of regional and 
global activities depend on the type 
of activities o n offer each year.  
Within regional and global activities at intermediate or advanced level, the average duration of 
training is significantly longer for generalists ( 17.6 days) than for specialists ( 3.9 days).   Overall, 
excluding the longer trade policy c ourses (3 weeks or more), the average duration of regional and 
global activities was shorter  in 201 9 than in 201 8 (3.3 days instead of 3.8 ). 
4.22.   The average duration of national activities remained unchanged in 2019  (3.1 days), 
marginally above the average since 2014.  Increasing the duration of national activities, as often 
 
27 The so -called "blended learning" combines online courses  with traditional face-to-face training  
methods.  Examples include completion of a  preliminary distance learning before joining the residential phase ; 
continuous online  coachi ng of the  participants ; or online reporting on the follow -up to a residential  workshop.   
Studies and meta -analysis conclu ded that participants' achievement was higher in blended learning 
experiences when compared to either fully online or fully face -to-face ones.  Proportion of National/Regional Activities  
 Africa  Asia-Pacific  Caribbean  CEECAC  Latin America  Middle East  
National  59% 77% 56% 76% 67% 36% 
Regional  41% 23% 44% 24% 33% 64% 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Evolution of TA Mix
e-Learning
Global
Regional
National
 - 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0DaysAverage Duration of Activities
National RegionalWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 24 - 
 
  requested by the participants themselves and repeatedly reported in the past, remains a persistent 
difficulty.  
4.23.   The balance between national an d regional activities has an incidence on the distribution of 
TA expenditure across regions.   Regional activities cost on average close to 5 times more than 
national ones, since the WTO finances the travel and subsistence for both trainers and participants .  
This is also influenced by the cost -sharing arrangements in place with partner institutions that can 
be more favourable in certain regions than in others.  In national activities, the WTO covers only the 
trainers' expenses.  
 
4.24.   As written above, last year' s overall participation suffered a sharp fall, returning to the 
pre-2016 levels.  The WTO trained 37% less participants in 2019 than in 2018 (14,358 persons in 
total).  Even if it decreased  by 23% compared to the exceptional number registered in 2018 , 
participation in face -to-face activities reached its  second  highest level in a decade 
(8,512  participants ).  The 15% reduction  in the number of face-to-face activities coincided with  a 
smaller reduction  (6%) of the average number of participants per activity.  On the other hand, t he 
e-Learning audience halved (5,846  participants ).  As a result, i n 201 9 only 41% of the participants 
were trained online, well below the 2015 -19 average of 52%.  Whether this drop was a consequence 
of the new registration procedure o r new cloud -based e -Learning platform (see section 3.4.1 above) 
introduced in 2019 is unclear, since e -Learning volumes are entirely demand -driven.  The secretariat 
is investigating the matter to get a better understanding of the causes behind this evoluti on.  The 
cost-effectiveness of e -Learning remained very high in 201 9, as it trained 41% of the participants 
for 7% of the total WTO TA expenditure.  
4.25.  Analysing the correlation between 
the number of activities and of individuals 
trained under each TA product 
demonstrates that e -Learning has the 
highest participation per activity ratio of 
the TA mix.  Therefore, an increase in the 
number of e -Learning cou rses has a 
disproportionate impact on the overall 
volume of beneficiaries of WTO TA.  With 
their recommended maximum number of 
participants of 30 to facilitate interactivity 
and hands -on work, face -to-face activities 
do not have a similar multiplier effect .  The 
average number of participants in 
regional/global activities had been stable 
since 2009 (30.5 persons).  In 201 9, it 
reached 3 1 participants, three participants 
less than in 2018 when it reached its  
maximum since such statistics are kept.  32%
11%
16%41%Participation TA Mix 2019
National
Regional
Global
e-Learning
 - 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000Participation in WTO TA activities
e-Learning
Face-to-face
01020304050Average Number of Participants in 
Regional/Global Activities
  Standard deviationWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 25 - 
 
  4.26.  Long-term internship and 
traineeship programmes are part of 
the global face -to-face activities 
held in Geneva and cover five 
different programmes: the 
Accession Internship Programme 
(AIP), French & Irish Missions 
Internship Programme (FIMIP), 
Netherlands T rainee Programme 
(NTP), Regional Coordinator 
Internship (RCI) and Young 
Professional Programme (YPP).   
Each of them benefit s a small 
number of participants hosted in the 
Secretariat or a mission for 
extended periods of time during 
which they learn by doing .  
Long-term interns /trainees  represented 0. 6% of the total participants in face -to-face activities and 
2.3% of those in global ones in 201 9.  They spent almost 10 months in Geneva on average 
(6.7 months for RCI,  9.5 for FIMIP, 10 for NTP and AIP and  11.2 months for YPP).   In 2019, the 
overall number of recruited long -term interns /trainees  reached its maximum ever, with 
55 individuals.  The N TP resumed and recruited 13 interns, after the 2018 interruption caused by  
the delay in the receipt of the earmarked contribution financing the programme .  The FIMIP recruited 
20 inter ns, 4 more than in 2018, and the  YPP 2 less (13 participants in 2019).   The number of AIP 
and RCI interns was stable . 
4.27.   Except for the RCI and YPP funded entirely through the GTF, t he number of long -term interns 
in any given year depends on the level of voluntary contribution s received from donors for these 
specific programmes (China for AIP, France and Ireland for FIMIP, Netherlands for NTP) and on the 
timing of these contributions in the year.  These factors also influence the duration of the internships.  
4.28.   Long-term internships /traineeships  represented a significant share (1 6%) of the total TA 
expenditure in 201 9, four percentage points more than in 2018 and in line with  the average level in 
previous years.  However, they have a more efficient cost/day ratio than other face -to-face activities.  
The analysis of costs per programme shows that the individual cost of each programme mirrored 
the evolution of the number of participants, as the average cost per intern per month has been 
stable since 2012.  
   Videoconferences  
4.29.   Videoconference is one of the media used from time to time by the Secretariat to deliver some 
of its TA activities or part of them, in Geneva and in the field.  Record s on videoconferences are not 
always systematic and are mainly available for Latin America.  These sessions provided a timely and 
very efficient response to specific requests received from Members  and helped limit the WTO carbon 
footprint.  In 201 9, 5 videoconferences ( -7 compared to 201 8) were held with two different partners : 
Latin American Integration Association (ALADI)  and University for Development (UDD)  in Chile .  0510152025303540455055Long -term Interns
YPP
AIP
RCI
MIP
NTP
Months in
Geneva
12%
22%
22%22%22%Sessions
19%
21%
21%18%21%Duration
DS
RTAs
T&E
TF
T Report50%
12%12%13%13%ParticipantsWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 26 - 
 
  They gathered at least 250 participants in tota l,28 and had a cumulated duration of over 7 hours.   As 
in previous years, several videoconferences were held during the short trade policy course held for 
ALADI members in Uruguay in November to avoid flying a WTO official for half -day sessions . 
4.4  Distribution by subject  
 
 
4.30.   The share of activities with a general scope covering, if not all WTO subjects, at least several 
of them , was stable  in 2019.   Excluding the long -term internship programmes, 37% of the TA 
activities (+1 p ercentage point  compared to 201 8) fell in this category.  They included all the 
activities for generalists (3 ATPCs, 5 ITPCs, 1 introduction course for LDCs, 1 Introduction Day, etc.) 
and other activities addressing more than one WTO subject or focusing on  skills (7 activities, one 
less than in 2018) or themes cutting across several (if not all) WTO subjects such as TPR follow -ups 
(5 activities); outreach activities for MPs, journalists and civil society (7 activities); etc.  
4.31.   Activities  with a general scope gathered 35 % of the total participants that benefitted from TA 
in 201 9 (-7 percentage points ).  National and global activities tended to b e more subject -specific 
(only 32 % and 17% of participants in activities  with a general scope ), and online courses an d 
regional activities less so (41 % and 5 1% of participants in activities  with a general scope ).  This is 
again a c ontinuation of the situation in 2018.  A single activity on Standards ( International Forum 
on Food Safety and Trade ) gathered approx imately a third of the participants in global activities .  
 
28 For the session organised with UDD, it has been assumed that on average thirty students from four 
different Law Degrees attended the session, without counting the Professors and academics.  Most of these 
have not been counted in the figures on pa rticipation mentioned above in this section.  
  National     Regional     Global     e-Learning  
  - 1,000  2,000  3,000  4,000  5,000TRIPSStandardsServicesRulesOtherMA for GoodsGov. ProcurementGeneralDispute SettlementAgricultureAccessionParticipants by Subject
 -  2  4  6TRIPSStandardsServicesRulesOtherMA for GoodsGov. ProcurementGeneralDispute SettlementAgricultureAccessionExpenses by Subject (MCHF)
 -  200  400  600TRIPSStandardsServicesRulesOtherMA for GoodsGov. ProcurementGeneralDispute SettlementAgricultureAccessionDays by Subject -  20  40  60  80  100TRIPSStandardsServicesRulesOtherMA for GoodsGov. ProcurementGeneralDispute SettlementAgricultureAccessionNumber of Activities by SubjectWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 27 - 
 
  Activities with a general scope accounted for 65% of the total training days and 5 1% of the total 
expenditure (as in 2018).  The expenditure on general -scope activities was sp lit between  regional 
(44%) , global (40%), national (11%) and e -Learning (5 %) activities.  
4.32.   In 2019, due to the growth of the  number of online courses available , Agriculture was the 
most popular subject, followed by Standards (includes SPS and TBT; due to the number of national 
activities), Market Access (MA) for Goods ,29 TRIPS ( due to a relatively high number of different 
online courses) , Services and Rules .  In terms of participants, Standards is the most popular  subject , 
due to the high attendance in global activities, followed b y MA for Goods, which is the most 
demanded subject in online courses.  
4.33.   The highest number of training days was dedicated  to Standards  (5% of the total for 10 % of 
the total  share of activities), due to the length of global activities , followed by MA for Good s, Services, 
Rules, Agriculture, TRIPS and Dispute Settlement, which was first in 2018.  This change  is the  result 
of a reclassification as an activity with a general scope of the services of two consultants throughout 
the year (58 days in 2019)  under Article 27.2 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU), since 
they potential ly address all the WTO Agreements and not only Dispute Settlement.  
4.34.   Participation in online courses by subject in 2019 went through  some changes to the pattern 
observed i n previous years.   The WTO introduction course continued to be the most popular among 
e-Learning users (2 2% of the total e -Learning audience in 201 9, 2 percentage points less than  in 
2018).  TFA was the second most attended online course with 476 participa nts (+136 % compared 
to 2018),30 followed by SPS ( -33%), TBT ( -40%), Agriculture ( -46%), Services ( -52%), RTA s  
(-57%) etc.  Together, the various MA for Goods  courses attracted 884 participants ( -22%), making 
it the area with the highest number of participa nts.  These evolutions must be assessed against a 
general  decrease of 50 % in the participation in online courses in 201 9. 
4.5  Language mix  
 
29 What is meant by Market Access for Goods includes: general GATT obligations, Schedules of 
concessions, tariffs and non -tariff measures, the modification of tariff concessions, the Information Technology 
Agreem ent, customs valuation, pre -shipment inspection, rules of origin, import licensing procedures and TF. 
30 The online course on the TFA was available for six months only in 2018.  
  National     Regional     Global     e-Learning  
  -  50  100  150MultilanguageSpanishFrenchEnglishNumber of Activities by 
Language
 -  2,000  4,000  6,000  8,000  10,000MultilanguageSpanishFrenchEnglishParticipants by Language
 -  200  400  600MultilanguageSpanishFrenchEnglishDays of Training by Language
 -  2  4  6  8MultilanguageSpanishFrenchEnglishExpenses by Language (MCHF)WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 28 - 
 
  4.35.   The only marked change  in 2019 was a decrease of the  proportion of training days  held in at 
least two of the three WTO languages , and in most cases in all three languages , for face -to-face 
activities ( -19 percentage point compared to 2018); and an increase of the proportion of training 
days in English (+13 percentage points compared to 2018) , particularly for global activities  
(+22 percentage points ).  Otherwise, the distribution of activities by languag e observed in previous 
years persisted in 201 9.  Face-to-face activities in English represented 68% of the total , excluding 
long-term internships, consistent with the 2013 -18 average of 64%.  The share  of the audiences 
trained face -to-face in Engli sh only (55%), of the days of training (59%) and of face -to-face 
expenditure (65%) was similar.  
4.36.   The share  of face-to-face activities delivered only in French and Spanish (13% for 23 activities 
and 12% for 22 activities respectively ) was stable  compared to 2018, but below previous years 
averages, as a  consequence of the reduction of the share of face -to-face activities held in Africa and 
Latin America already discussed in section 4.2 above.  
4.37.  As a result, the distribution of the TA offer by langu age 
in 201 9 was not entirely consistent with the distribution of 
working languages amongst WTO Members  and Observers , 
even if it continued to match by and large beneficiar ies' 
preferences.  
4.38.  The size of the audience , number of training days and 
expenses in face-to-face activities held in French and Spanish 
was roughly proportional to their relative share of activities 
in 201 9.  Participation in multilingual activities was 
proportionately much higher  and represented 14% of the 
total for face -to-face activities .  Multilingual activities  were 
also longer (representing 18% of the total training days).   Their cost was 10% of the total for 
face-to-face activities, even if  interpretation services – the highest extra cost item of these activities 
compared to monolingu al activities – are not systematically charged to  the TA budget but are 
frequently absorbed by the interpretation budget of the WTO.  
4.39.   Analysing the breakdown of e -Learning participants by language provides an accurate 
snapshot of beneficiary's actual langua ge preferences.   Except for the TFA course and the new 
courses released during the year , online courses were equally available in each of the three 
languages throughout the year.  Participant s could choose their training language on a case by case 
basis.  In 201 9, the breakdown was similar to w hat was observed for face -to-face activities: 64% of 
participants followed courses in English, 20% in French and 16 % in Spanish.  The average share of 
the three languages s ince 2011 has been remarkably stable (English: 60%±1%, French: 21%±1%, 
and Spanish: 19%±2%).  70%18%12%Members' and Observers' 
language preference
English
French
SpanishWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 29 - 
 
  4.6  Progressivity of training  
4.40.   Following the adoption of the Progressive Learning Strategy (PLS ) in 2010, a set of guidelines 
on the substantive content of each of the three training levels (introduction, intermediate and 
advanced) was developed at the end of 2013.  These guidelines define the core substantive elements 
that should be mastered by the participants.   Efforts to introduce progressivity in the training courses 
concentrated so far on regional, global and online courses, especially for generalists.   Identifying  an 
emerging pattern in the implementation of PLS proved difficult  in previous reports, as its full 
integration across different TA programmes  is not always possible.   Several  activities are conceived 
more as isolated training events than as a component in a longer programme , even when such 
activities are ascribed a spec ific level.  The analysis excludes the long -term internships considered 
as advanced activities for generalists.  
4.41.   The share of activities without a defined level was 12%  in 201 9 (9% in 2018) , as the 
Secretariat refrained from systematically allocating a leve l to activities which did not fit easily into 
the PLS , like the new outreach e -Learning courses .  Such activities gathered 8% of the participants 
(10% in 2018, 2% in 2017 ) for 18% of the training days (6% in 2018, 11% in 2017) and 7% of the 
expenditure ( 6% in 2018 , 5% in 2017) . 
4.42.   Activities at introductory level continued to represent a small proportion of the total TA 
activities, as their relative share in 2019 was halved compared to 2018 (8% instead of 17%) and 
was well below  the range observed since 2012 ( on average 14%±3%).  The share of participants 
trained at introductory level decreased (14%; -7 percentage points), for a total number of 
1,190  persons.  The fin ancial resources allocated remained stable in 2019 (9 %; -2 percentage 
points ), even if the  share of days dedicated to this level  decreased to 8% ( -8 percentage points) . 
4.43.   The share of activities provided at intermediate level (63%) was higher  in 201 9 
(+6 percentage points).  They also accounted for 66% of participants ( 4,198 persons ), 45% of 
training days ( as in 2018) and 50 % of expenditure ( +9 percentage points compared to 201 8). 
4.44.   There was a slight decrease in the TA activities at advanced level in 2019, for almost all the 
indicators considered.  Their relative share decreased  compared to 201 8: 17 % of activities  
  National  
   Regional  
   Global  
   e-Learning  
  - 20 40 60 80 100 120Not SpecifiedSpecialists - AdvancedSpecialists - intermediateGeneralists - AdvancedGeneralists - IntermediateIntroductionNumber of Activities by Level
 -  2,000  4,000  6,000Not SpecifiedSpecialists - AdvancedSpecialists - intermediateGeneralists - AdvancedGeneralists -…IntroductionParticipants by Level
 -  100  200  300Not SpecifiedSpecialists - AdvancedSpecialists - intermediateGeneralists - AdvancedGeneralists - IntermediateIntroductionDays of Training by Level
 -  1  2  3  4Not SpecifiedSpecialists - AdvancedSpecialists -…Generalists - AdvancedGeneralists -…IntroductionExpenses by Level (MCHF)WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 30 - 
 
  (-1 percentage point ), 12% of participants ( as in 2018 ; 1,701 persons ), 29% of training days  
(-4 percentage points) and 35% of expenses ( -7 percentage points).  As in previous years, most 
advanced level activities  (77% as in 201 8) were delivered through global or regional activities for 
both generalists and specialists in 201 9. 
4.45.   Most e-Learning courses continued to be offered at intermediate level ( 82% of the total) as 
in previous years , even if the emergence of new onl ine course s outside of the PLS structure reduced 
this proportion compared to 2018 ( -3 percentage points) .  The remainder were at introductory level  
(6%) or with no specified PLS level (9%) , since no advanced training is offered online.  Participants 
in e-Learning courses were split between intermediate ( 70%, +1 percentage point ), introductory 
(22%, -2 percentage points) and unspecified (8%, +1 percentage point) levels.  
4.46.   In 201 9, 39% of the activities targeted generalists  (2 percentage points less than in 201 8): 
8% at introductory level, 23% at intermediate level and 8% at advanced level; and 49 % targeted 
specialists ( -5 percentage points ): 40% at intermediate level (+2 percentage points) and 9 % at 
advanced level  (-7 percentage points) .  For participants, the split between generalists and specialists 
was 4 1%-47%, as the original imbalance in favour of specialists is progressively erased over the 
years.  Training days were shared 5 5%-27% between generalists and specialists, since the activities 
for generalists tended to be significantly longer than for specialists on average.  Expenses were 
shared 53%-41% between generalists and specialists . 
4.7  Gender mix  
4.47.   In 201 9, female participation in WT O TA (4 8% of the total TA audience) continued to rise  
(+1 percentage point compared to 2018).  It was higher than the 2010-19 average ( 44%±1% ). 
4.48.  Variations across 
regions of the share of 
women amongst TA 
participants in 201 9 
present a slight ly 
different p attern 
compared to previous 
years  in some regions : 
gender parity, if not 
female predominance  was 
still observed in the 
Caribbean (62% of 
participants; 
+7 percentage points ) 
and Latin America (53%, 
as in 2018), but 
decreased in the CEECAC 
(46%; -4 percentag e 
points ).  The participants 
in activities held in Asia Pacific were predominately women (53%; +7  percentage points ) for the 
first time in ten years (44% on average in 2010 -19).  The participation rate of women in Africa and 
the Middle East is still the lo west: it slightly increased in Africa (40%; +1  percentage point ) and 
decreased further in the Middle East (34%, -4 percentage points ).  The proportion of women in 
global activities is still at 48% (3 percentage points above the 2010 -19 average) . 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%Rate of Women among Participants
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 31 - 
 
  4.49.   Informati on on 
gender distribution among 
e-Learning audience s does 
not give a materially 
different picture compared 
to face -to-face activities.  
Indeed, the proportion of 
women amongst WTO TA 
participants is similar 
regardless of the training 
medium (face -to-face o r 
e-Learning).  In 201 9, 
women represented 4 8% of 
total beneficiaries of 
e-Learning courses, in line 
with the 2013 -19 average 
(46%±1%).  Despite minor 
fluctuations, female participation  in e-Learning has been relatively stable since 2010.  The 
breakdown of gender data per training language points to a quasi -equality between female and male 
participation in e -Learning courses in English (51% of women, as in 2018) and Spanish ( 57% of 
women, +3 p ercentage points ).  The share of women in French -speaking online courses went down 
by 3 percentage points in 201 9, as had happened in 2018, and is now below the 2010 -18 average .  
These language specificities mirror the gender preferences of the regions whe re French and Spanish 
are the main spoken  language . 
4.8  Key Result mix  
4.50.   To facilitate performance analysis in chapter 5, this section describes the main features of 
WTO TA (number of activities, participation, duration and expenses) by Key Result.   Key Results are 
the outcomes around which the TA Plan is structured.  Four Key Results, each comprising several 
outputs, have been identified in the TA Plan for 2018 -19: 
a.  Key Result 1:  Government officials are implementing WTO  Agreements and fully realising 
Members ' rights and obligations ; 
a. Key Result 2 : Acceding governments are participating in accession negotiations ; 
b. Key Result 3:  Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing WTO issues and 
reaching out to policy makers ; 
c. Key Result 4:  Non-governmental stakeholders and legislators are aware of and 
knowledgeable about WTO work and issues . 
4.51.   The TA Plan 2018 -19 introduced s ome changes in Key Results 3 and 4 compared to the 
previous two TA Plans.   As recommended by the 2016 external evaluation, the former Key Result 
3 on the access and use of WTO -related information, which had met with a low rate of success (25% 
on average), was discontinued.  What had been covered under Key Result 4 was then divided in two, 
to segregate the programmes targeting the academic world under a new Key Result 3 from those 
targeting other non -governmental publics under a new Key Result 4.  0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%
English French Spanish TotalWomen in e -Learning Courses
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 32 - 
 
  4.52.   In 201 9 as in previous years, the overwhelming majority of activities (8 5%, -1 percentage 
point) contributed to Key Result  1.  That proportion was higher in e -Learning courses (9 7%, 
+1 perce ntage point ), as most of them focus on the text of the Agreements and their provisions,  
and in regional activities (88%, +9 percentage points).  It was lower for national activities 
(75%, -6 percentage points), in which beneficiaries have a greater freedom  to enlarge the agenda .  
Key Result 1 also gathered 89 % of the participants ( +1 percentage point ), represented 80% of the 
training days (+17  percentage points) and 8 8% of the total TA expenses  (as in 2018 ).  The general 
pre-eminence of Key Result 1 is enti rely consistent with Members' needs and priorities identified in 
the TA Plan and the comparative advantage of the WTO.  
4.53.   Key Result  2 remained  the second most important one in 201 9, whether measured in terms 
of number of activities ( 7%, as in 2018 ) or expens es (5%, +1 percentage point).  Its share of  
participants (5%, -1 percentage point ) and training days  (5%, as in 2018 ) was marginally smaller 
than for Key Result 3 .  Most of Key Result 2  activities ( 65%) were impleme nted nationally, since the 
needs of acceding countries are very specific and depend entirely from the particularities of their 
negotiating situation.  National activities gathered 61 % of those who were trained under this Key 
Result, a nd 23% of them followe d the online course on accessions.  
4.54.   Key Result s 3 and 4 represented 6% (+1 percentage point)  and 2% (as in 2018) of the 
activities implemented in 201 9 respectively, 5% and 1% of the participants (as in 2018), 13% 
(+8 percentage point s) and 2% (as in 2018) o f the training days, and 4% ( -1 percentage point) and 
3% (as in 2018) of the total expenses .  A majority of the activities under Key Result 3 were national 
(59%), which gathered 77% of the participants, whe reas regional activities were preferred under 
Key Result 4 (67%), gathering 84% of the participants.  
5  EVALUATION OF PERFOR MANCE IN 201 9 
5.1.  This section focuses on the elements that could be measured during the year and which 
constitute evidence of the immediate, medium -term or progress towards long -term resul ts produced 
by the TA provided by the WTO to its Members and Observers, based on the indicators identified in 
the TA Plan 2018 -19.  As in previous years, this section is presented according to the structure of 
the TA Plan to make it easier for Members to a ssess the results produced against the Plan they 
  National  
   Regional  
   Global  
   e-Learning  
  -  2  4  6  8  10  12Key Result 4Key Result 3Key Result 2Key Result 1Expenses by Key Result (MCHF) -  50  100  150  200  250Key Result 4Key Result 3Key Result 2Key Result 1Number of Activities by Key 
Result
 -  3,000  6,000  9,000  12,000Key Result 4Key Result 3Key Result 2Key Result 1Participants by Key Result
 -  200  400  600  800  1,000Key Result 4Key Result 3Key Result 2Key Result 1Days of Training by Key ResultWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 33 - 
 
  initially approved.  To that effect, each section starts with a short table summarising the situation 
at the end of 201 9 for each of the indicators and targets retained in the logframe annexed to the TA 
Plan 2018-19. 
5.2.  The following codes have been used in this section:  
• 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 smal l 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 t o the Secretariat is incomplete, if not missing 
completely, or is not reliable or strong enough to support any conclusion one way or 
the other . 
5.3.  Indicators used to measure the results of the TA provided by the Secretariat in 201 9 were 
identical to  those use d in 201 8, since the TA Plan covered two years . 
5.4.  Year 201 9 was less successful than 
2018 for the WTO TA.  The overall 
success rate reached 58% (as in 201 6), 
erasing three successive years of 
improvement , whilst the percentage of 
targets not met was 12%, below  the 
2016-18 average.  The significant 
improvement in data availability 
recorded in 2018  was also reversed , as 
the proportion of indicators for which no 
data was available was back to 9% from 
5% in 20 18, also below  the 201 6-18 
average .  Twelves  targets were partially 
met (i.e. missed by a small margin) 
which represented 21% of the indicators 
(double the 2016 -18 average ). 
5.5.  The a nalysis of Key Results individually confirmed this  deterioration  both in terms of ability to 
meet the objectives and in the availability of data.  Key Results 2 and 4 involved few indicators 
  Target met     Target 
partially met     Target not 
met    Data not 
available  
 0%20%40%60%80%100%Key Result 1
0%20%40%60%80%100%Key Result 3
0%20%40%60%80%100%Key Result 40%20%40%60%80%
Target met Target
partially
metTarget not
metData not
availableSuccess rate
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
0%20%40%60%80%100%Key Result 2WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 34 - 
 
  (respectively 4 and 5), which means that any change registered during the year on any of the 
indicators has a disproportionate effect on the overall performance  under these Key Results . 
5.6.  Key Result s 1 was the only one to meet most of its targets in 2019 (66%) .  Since  Key Resul t 1 
encompasses 65% of the indicators  and covered 85% of the activities and 89% of the participants , 
its positive performance still means that,  overall , the WTO  TA produced valuable results for 
beneficiaries  in 2019 , although at a lower level than in previ ous years.  Under Key Result  1, the 
decrease in targets met was essentially the consequence of the much lower level of participation in 
various TA programmes (e.g. e -Learning, internships, other face -to-face activities), which accounted 
for a 16 percentage -point cut in the success rate.  Had the participation stayed above the baseline 
approved in the TA Plan, the success rate under Key Result 1 would have been stable compared to 
the outstanding performance of 2018.  This shows that the WTO TA success was lo wer in 2019 in 
terms of volume, but not in terms of quality, which remained at the same high level as in the past, 
as confirmed by the various qualitive measures presented in this report .  Indeed, these figures 
should not hide the spectacular results reach ed in 2019 in certain areas, like notifications or the 
support to the fisheries subsidies negotiations , which are not always fully captured by the indicators 
identified in the TA Plan.  
5.7.  Under Key Result 2, the success rate depends to a very large extent from the acceding 
governments' engagement, which is the main assumption identified in the logframe.  This 
assumption did not materialise  in 2019, and the TA performance of the year was the logical 
consequence  of Members ' and Observers ' behaviour .  Only one target was  met. 
5.8.  Year 2019 was a period of transition for Key Result 3,31 which met 38% of its targets.  Phase  II 
of the WCP reached its end and most of the attention focused on the independent evaluation of the 
programme.  Poor reporting by the WTO Chairs explains the unavailability of data.  
5.9.  Reporting under Key Result 4 was also poor,32 as 40% of the indicators could not be assessed 
for lack of data.  It met 20% of its targets.  T he much lower success rate  was also the conseque nce 
of a lower level of activity and participants, as under Key Result 1.  
5.1  Impact: Developing and LDC Members are benefiting from their active participation 
in the WTO  
Indicators  Target  2019 
Share of developing Members' total trade (imports and exports) in world trade  > 40%  Target met  
Share of LDC Members' total trade (imports and exports) in world trade  > 1.00%  Target met  
5.10.   Any success at that level is first and foremost the result of the work of Members themselves.  
However, the 2016 external evaluation illustrated through a multiplicity of anecdotal evidence that 
the WTO TA had a real and tangible widespread impact on the h uman and institutional capacities of 
beneficiary countries in terms of trade policy -making, legislative compliance, multilateral/regional 
trade negotiations and implementation of international trade agreements.  Over time, this certainly 
supports the growt h of the share of beneficiary Members in world trade.  
Share in world trade (excl. HK RX)  2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 
Developing economies WTO Members, excl. HK RX  
Exports  41.6%  41.8%  42.2%  41.4%  41.6%  41.7%  
Imports  39.4%  39.4%  39.4%  38.4%  39.2%  39.7%  
Turnover (Exports + Imports)  40.5%  40.6%  40.8%  39.9%  40.4%  40.6%  
LDC WTO Members  
Exports  1.00%  0.97%  0.87%  0.89%  0.94%  0.97%  
Imports  1.14%  1.21%  1.25%  1.22%  1.23%  1.25%  
Turnover (Exports + Imports)  1.07%  1.09%  1.06%  1.06%  1.09%  1.11%  
 
31 The scope of Key Result 3 changed in 2018 (see WT/COMTD/W/227/Rev.1).  
32 The sc ope of Key Result 4 also changed in 2018 (see WT/COMTD/W/227/Rev.1).  WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 35 - 
 
  5.11.   The latest year for which comprehensive trade data is available is 201 8.  Excluding re -exports 
of Hong Kong, China, the share of developing -economy Members of the WTO in world trade was 
40.6%, marginally above the minimum threshold targeted by the TA Plan.  Target met  
5.12.   The share of LDC WTO Members in world trade in 201 8 was 1. 11%, also above the minimum 
threshold targeted by the TA Plan.  Target met  
5.2  Key Result 1: Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully 
realising Members' rights and obligat ions 
Indicators  Target  2019 
Number of documents submitted by developing 
and LDC Members in WTO Bodies  Increase in participation / 
submissions of documents  Target met  
Number of outstanding notifications of TA 
beneficiary Members  5% decrease of outstanding 
notifications  Target met  
5.13.   As seen under section 4.8 above, this Key Result represents the bulk of the TA provided by 
the WTO to its Members and Observers.  
5.14.  To extract statistics from 
DocsOnline, the Secretariat focused on 
substantive documents (i.e. excluding 
the contributions from the Secretariat 
and documents of a procedural nature 
such as agendas, minutes, reports, 
etc.) to the preparation of which at 
least one developing or LDC Member 
had been associated.  In the case of 
documents submitted by more than 
one Member, this frequently meant 
that developed Members or Observers 
had also been associated with their 
preparation.  Notifications and 
documents submitt ed to the DSB were excluded, since these are discussed separately below.  The 
statistics show that, the number of substantive documents submitted by developing and LDC 
Members in WTO bodies tended to grow ahead of Ministerial Conferences  (2015 , 2017 and se cond 
part of 2019 ) and to recede afterwards .  The overall trend pointed towards growth, as the total was 
higher in 201 9 than in 2017 (+33%) and  in 2015 (+4%), and higher again in 2018 than in 2016 
(+9%).  However, the evolution of the number of substantive  documents submitted by LDC Members 
was more erratic: it was lower in 2017 than in 2015 ( -12%)  but higher again in 2019 (+23% ).  The 
TA Plan 2018 -19 did not provide for a clear baseline and targeted an increase in the submission of 
documents.  Target met  
5.15.   As far as beneficiary Members' outstanding notifications are concerned, according to the 
Central Registry of Notifications (CRN) the figure stood at 3, 156 at the end of 201 9, which is 
126 notifications less than at the end of 201 8 (-4%).33  The actual  decrea se in un -complied 
notification obligations by beneficiary Members  was even more significant , as the annual agricultural 
notifications mechanically increase annually the volume of notifications due during the year.  Once 
this is neutralised and focusing on those notifications which were already outstanding at the end of 
the previous year, there was a 10.6% reduction in 201 9.  The target was an overall reduction of 
5%.  Target met  
5.16.   Whilst m any externalities may also have played a role in these results , the evi dence available 
to the Secretariat confirms that the TA provided by the WTO was critical in helping many beneficiary 
Members to comply with their notification obligations.  For example, in the meeting of the TBT 
committee held on 26 February 2020, the dele gation of Côte d'Ivoire officially linked their recent 
 
33 Further to a decision of the Market Access C ommittee in May 2019 (G/MA/367) , IDB information is no 
longer included in the process of notification calls and reminders sent by the CRN and is no longer counted in 
the outstanding notifications .  As a result of this decision, the rebased total of outstanding notifications at the 
end of 2018 was 3,282.  0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%18%20%
0100200300400500600700800900
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Substantive Documents
LDCs
Developing
Countries
LDC Share
(right scale)WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 36 - 
 
  notification under Art 15.2 to the assistance received from the Secretariat in the regional TBT 
workshop held in Abidjan in October 2019 , adding: "The Secretariat, which assisted us in this 
process, mu st be commended for its invaluable support ."34 
5.17.   Outstanding agriculture notifications represented 61.2% of the total outstanding notifications 
at the end of 201 9 (3 percentage points more than a year ago) .  Focusing exclusively on those 
notifications already outstanding at the end of 201 8 to neutralise the mechanical increase due to the 
annual notification obligations, 201 9 saw a 15% reduction of outstanding agriculture notifications, 
which confirms the progress noted  in previous years .  For the second year in a raw, 2019 registered 
the highest number of submitted agricultural notifications since the creation of the WTO, with a total 
of 443, compared to 280 in 2018 and an average well below 200 in the previous decade.  
5.18.   As agriculture has al ways represented the lion's share of outstanding notifications and given 
the complexity of notifications requirements on domestic support, an advanced workshop on 
agriculture notifications is offered annually in Geneva since 2009.  The workshop forms part of a 
broader work programme aimed at improving the timeliness and completeness of notifications under 
the Committee on Agriculture.  Its fourth day is systematically devoted to individual sessions with 
staff ("notification clinic") to allow participants to  discuss country -specific notification issues.  
5.19.   Members with many outstanding agriculture notifications, LDCs and recently acceded 
Members are given priority in the selection for the workshop.  However, the workshop can only 
address the knowledge gap which might impact their notification compliance.  For many Members 
the main challenge when preparing domestic support notification s is proper data collection, as many 
agencies and ministries are responsible for actions in the notifiable domain.  It is only once  annual 
data and information on the entire domestic support system for agricultural producers is available 
that the Secretariat may help in presenting and analysing that information for the finalisation of a 
notification.  For these reasons, the correlatio n between improved compliance and usefulness of the 
workshop may not be direct and simple.35 
5.20.   In 201 9, nine national activities focused on notifications and transparency provisions of the 
WTO Agreements  or of some of them .36  These activities associate numero us stakeholders who have 
a role to play in gathering the data or information needed by the authorities to fulfil their notification 
obligations, or who may be interested in analysing  other Members' notifications.  Two regional 
seminars and one advanced cou rse on Import Licensing addressed how to prepare and submit 
notifications under different provisions of the Agreement .  In addition, all the 8 national and 
12 regional/global activities organised on SPS or TBT included a session on transparency and the 
ePing platform to take advantage of notifications in these domains.  As ePing becomes increasingly 
popular amongst Members, training demand grows to help users reap its full benefits.  And the more 
users  know  it, the more they use ePing and value transparency .37  In 201 9 alone the number of 
registered users in ePing increased by another 58% and reached 8,821 in 17 9 countries , half of 
them from non-government al circles . 
5.21.   Participants in these activities are also familiarised with the various online notification systems 
introduced by the WTO over the past few years (e.g. Ag-IMS for agricultur e notifications, TBT NSS, 
SPS NSS,38 e-TRIPS, etc.) to facilitate Members' compliance with their notification obligat ions.  In 
 
34 See the notification in G/TBT/2/Add.127  and the statement of Côte d'Ivoire in its Suppl.1 , viewed at 
https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/di rectdoc.aspx?filename=q:/G/TBT/2A127S1.pdf  and the minutes of the 
meeting in G/TBT/M/80 . 
35 See the report on compliance with agriculture notification requirements in G/AG/GEN/86/Rev.36, 
viewed at https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/G/AG/GEN86R36.pdf .  This report 
is updated several times per year.  
36 They took place in Bangladesh, Cuba, Guatemala (SPS), Kyrgyz Republic (Agriculture subsidies), 
Macao (Import Licences), Myanmar (Import Licences), Chinese Taipei (Import Licences), Tonga (Agriculture 
and SPS) and Zimbabwe.  In Latin America,  a regional ac tivity supposed to replace  several national ones on 
subsidies notifications was later postponed to 2020 due to political instability  in Chile.  
37  See section 3.1.8.2 in document G/TBT/44 (viewed at 
https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/G/TBT/44.pdf ) for more details on ePing, 
and in particular footnote 43.  
38 See the overview regarding the level of implementation of the transparency provisions of the SPS 
Agreement in G/SPS/GEN/804/Rev.12, viewed at 
https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/dire ctdoc.aspx?filename=q:/G/SPS/GEN804R12.pdf .  This report is 
updated annually.  WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 37 - 
 
  2019, the number of notifications reached unprecedented levels,39 from an ever-increasing  number 
of different Members,40 and most of  them were submitted through these online tools ( e.g. 88% for 
TBT, 60% for TRIPS ).  Since the launch of the e -TRIPS Submission System in March 2019 ,41 
67 Members have registered as users and 73 of the 122 notifications in 2019 were submitted via 
the system.  The Secretariat held five one -to-one training sessions on the e -TRIPS -SS with individual 
Members and one global on e in the margin of the June TRIPS Council.  
5.22.  The TFA foresees a staggered entry 
into force of its notification obligations for 
those Members who ratified th e Agreement , 
with different calendars for developed, 
developing and LDC Members .  This is the 
reason  why the number of notification 
obligations under the TFA progressively 
increases over the years and why it varies 
by category of Members.   Some notification 
obligations also depend on the options 
chosen by Members (e.g. which measures 
they included in cat egories A, B or C), and 
may therefore not be equally applicable to 
them all.  By the end of 201 9, 84 developing 
Members and 27 LDCs had ratified the TFA.  
Approximately two thirds of the  developing 
and LDC Members had fully complied with 
their notification obligations.  The graph 
shows that the compliance  of developing 
Members with their TFA notification  
obligation s remains very high and is even 
increasing compared to the previous two 
years .  Even if LDCs we re a bit slower to 
comply with the new notification obligations 
which entered into force in 2019, overall 
their level of compliance increased 
compared to the previous year, as  they had 
not yet complied with 29% of their 
notification obligations  by the year  end 
against 87% in 2018 .  In 201 9, only one 
national  activit y was organised on the TFA 
and addressed, inter alia , notifications 
requirements.   Several other activities were financed by the TFAF and are not covered by this 
report.42  Together, these activit ies contributed to helping beneficiary Members comply with their 
TFA notification obligations, irrespective of the origin of the funding for the activities . 
5.2.1   Output 1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about the WTO 
Agreements, formulation of t rade policies and conduct of trade negotiations  
Indicators  Targets  2019 
Number of participants completing each PLS level  Annual stability  Target not met  
Number of participants in WTO TRTA activities  Annual stability  Target not met  
Interactive training methods' share of time in each 
activity  Annual decrease in share of 
lectures  Target met  
5.23.   Section 4.3 above explained that the overall participation in TA activities decreased  by 37% 
in 201 9 compared to the previous year, as face -to-face activities registered a 23% decrease 
 
39 443 agriculture notifications against an average of less than 200 since 1995; 3,337 TBT notifications 
against an average of 2,000 since 2006; 1,762 SPS notifications against an  average of less than 1,400 since 
2006; etc.  
40 93 Members submitted at least one TBT notification in 2019.  
41 https://nss.wto.org/tripsmembers . 
42  See footnote 4 above.  04080120160200Developing MembersTFA Outstanding Notifications
2017
2018
2019
010203040LDCsTFA Outstanding Notifications
2017
2018
2019WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 38 - 
 
  (although staying within the 2016 -18 average) and e -Learning courses a 50% shrink  (reaching only 
half of the 2016 -18 average) .  The TA plan targeted annual stability.  Target not met  
5.24.   Section 4.6 then analysed the number of participants trained at each of the three levels 
(introduction, intermediate, advanced) in 201 9.  Since 2012, the graphs below show that the 
proportion of participants in each of the three levels fluct uated and that the progressive decline in 
the proportion of participants in advanced activities was reversed in 2018.  That proportion was 
stable in 2019.  However, in absolute terms,  participation in advanced  activities declined by 37% 
to 1,701 (marginall y below the 2016 -18 average of 1,831 , but above the 2016 baseline of 1,674 ). 
5.25.   The relative importance of the participation at introduction level (14%) was much lower in 
2019 than in 2018 or than the 2016 -18 average (21.6%), meaning that the number of partic ipants 
at this level shrank faster than the overall participation in TA (from 4,874 to 1,990; i.e. -60%)  and 
reached only half of the 2016 baseline of 3,988 .  Another 8 % (2 percentage points less than in 2018  
but still above the 2016 -18 average) of the participants attended activities with no specific level 
(e.g. activities for academia, symposia requested by WTO bodies, some accession activities, 
outreach online courses, etc.), since they did not fit into the PLS logic.  Therefore , intermediate 
activities attracted a growing share of the participants in 2019 (66%; + 10 percentage points, 
marginally above the 2016 -18 average) .  In absolute terms, this represented 9,488 participants, 
well below the 2016 baseline of 11,457 .  In a context in which the overall p articipation in TA activities 
decreased  significantly in 201 9, these variations were insufficient to maintain the stability of the 
participation in absolute terms which had been targeted by the TA Plan.   The number of participants 
in the advanced level was the only one above the 2016 baseline .  Target not met 
5.26.   While acknowledging that people learn in different ways and use different means of receiving 
information, the use of interactive training methods remains a recommended best practice when 
delivering TA activities at all three PLS levels to stimulate learnin g and increase the rate of knowledge 
retention by the participants (i.e. how much they remember after a while).  Data on the various 
training methods used in the WTO TA face -to-face activities are collected by the trainers themselves 
and constitute an esti mate.  It may indeed be difficult to always identify with precision the share of 
the time dedicated to each training method.   For example, different trainers may measure differently 
inside a lecture the time dedicated to the questions of the participants, which clearly increase the 
interactivity of the session.  0%20%40%60%80%100%Evolution of the PLS Participants Mix
N/A
Advanced
Intermediate
Introduction
 - 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000Participants in Advanced 
ActivitiesWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 39 - 
 
  5.27.  There was no significant change in 
the relative importance of the various 
training methods used by the Secretariat 
in the face -to-face activities in 201 9.  
Lectures remained the predominant 
medium u sed by trainers to deliver TA 
activities .  Since 2014, the share of the 
lectures provided by the participants 
themselves (as opposed to by the 
Secretariat staff) is measured separately.  
Lectures provided by the Secretariat 
represented approximately 4 0% of  the 
time on average , and those provided by 
the participants 9% (as in 201 8).  These 
averages hide significant differences 
between certain types of activities, but the general trend in 201 9 points towards stabilization .  Total 
lecture time (Secretariat + p articipants) was below 50% for the fourth  time in a decade.  The number 
of activities almost entirely based on lectures was also stable.43 
5.28.   The use of other training methods showed a moderate reshuffle  amongst the more interactive 
training methods .  Exercise s or case studies represented 19% of the time on average ( -2 percentage 
points compared to 2018 ), Question & Answer 18% (-2 percentage point s) and other methods 1 4% 
(+4 percentage points).  The share of the activities for which statistics were available an d which did 
not use any exercise or case study was higher ( 42%, i.e. +4 percentage points).  A majority of the 
time was dedicated to exercises or case studies in 1 0% of the activities only (e.g. on Trade 
Negotiating Skills and in several national activitie s).  Other miscellaneous training methods used in 
TA activities included group work or group discussions and panels among others.  Target met  
5.2.1.1   e-Learning  
Indicators  Targets  2019 
Number of participants in WTO TRTA activities  Annual Stability  Target not met 
Spread of level of development of Members' participation in 
e-Learning courses  Annual stability in the 
participation of LDCs  Target not met  
Spread of geographical coverage of Members' participation in 
e-Learning courses  Maintain spread annually  Target met  
New and revised online courses released each year  3 new or revised 
courses/year  Target met  
% of participants rating the balance between theory and 
practice as good or excellent in online courses  70% during the 
biennium  Target met  
% of participants rating the quality of the user -friendliness of 
the e -Campus and the rate of availability of the website 
throughout the year in the online courses as good or excellent  70% during the 
biennium  Target met  
e-Learning success rate  Annual increase  Target met  
e-Learning drop -out rate  Annual stability  Target met  
e-Learning rate of correct answers in the exam  Annual stability  Target met  
e-Learning distinction rate  Annual stability  Target met  
5.29.   The various country assessments conducted in 201 9 confirmed that the e -Learning courses 
are very effective as a low -cost entry portal to equip large numbers of learners with the necessary 
basic information on WTO, its legal texts and other key trade -related issues.   Their permanent 
availability throughout the year is seen as a big advantage by Members and Observers, as it 
minimises work disruptions.  At the same time, the consensus amongst beneficiaries is that there is 
a limit to what can be learnt online.  Physical interaction with the trainers in a face -to-face activity 
is indispensable to go beyond that limit.  This confirms the validity of the approach adopted for many 
years to focus online courses on the first two PLS levels (introduction and intermediate) and to offer 
advanced train ing exclusively through face -to-face activities.  
 
43 In 2019, lectures (Secretariat + part icipants) represented more than 80% of the time in 20 activities 
for which statistics were available, in line with the average over the last few years.  0%20%40%60%80%100%Share of training methods in TA face -
to-face activities
Misc
Quiz
Q&A
Exercises
Participants'
Lectures
LecturesWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 40 - 
 
  5.30.   Year 2019 was a transitional period for the WTO distance learning offer since a new e -Learning 
platform was launched mid -January, and the registration process was streamlined.  Several of the 
above indicator s have already been examined in different parts of this report:  
a. Sections 4.1 and 4.2 explained that participation in e -Learning courses  halved  in 2019 
compared to 2018 and reached a total of 5,846  participants.  This sharp reduction may be 
the consequence of  the introduction of the new platform, as during the transition period 
participants had to get used to a new interface and registration process.   Therefore, most 
of the participation was registered  during the second part of the year, after th e release of 
tutorials and briefing information on the new environment .44  The TA Plan targeted annual 
stability using 2016 as a baseline (10,279 participants).   Target not met  
b. Participants from LDCs represented 27% of the total e -Learning audience in 2019.   This is 
lower than the 2016-18 average (31% ±1%).  This means that  last year the reduction of 
LDCs participation was higher than the reduction of the overall audience of WTO online 
courses and hence annual stability was not achieved.   The TA Plan targeted  annual stability 
using 2016 as a baseline (32% of LDC participants).  Target not met  
c. The decline of the overall e -Learning participation did not influence negatively the 
geographical  spread of participants, which remained comprehensive as analysed in section 
4.2.  Target met  
d. As indicated in section 3.4.1 above,  several online courses were translated, released and 
updated in 2019.   Five courses, "CITES and the WTO", "Agriculture Inform ation 
Management System", "Documents Online", "WTO Accession s" and "Trade & Environment 
and the WTO" were made available in French and Spanish.  The course "Mainstreaming 
Trade in Action" was released  in English in 2019.  This course is the second part of the 
series on Trade mainstreaming .  All these  courses were in the  SCORM standard  and were  
compatible with multiple  devices (laptop, mobile phone, tablet).  The TA Plan targeted the 
release of 3 new or revised courses per year.  Target met  
5.31.   Feedback from e -Learning participants revealed that 8 7% of them rated the balance between 
theory and practice in online courses as good or excellent, and 9 5% rated the quality of the online 
courses content as good or excellent.  These figures are in line with averages from  previous years.  
The TA Plan targeted a rate of satisfaction of 70% or above for each indicator.  Targets met  
5.32.   Concerning the remaining indicators, measuring the immediate results of e -Learning courses 
is much easier than for most other activities, since t he results of each participant can be monitored 
individually, and completion of an online training always requires taking an exam at the end.   The 
following statistics focus on the 5,846 participants whose registration for an online  course  was closed 
in 2019  and for wh om data is available.  As in previous years and as foreseen in the TA Plan 2018 -
19, the performance indicators below were used to measure the immediate results of a course:  
• Success rate (proportion of those who passed the exam s amongst those who attended 
the course) - the passing rate was 60% on average of correct answers in the final exam.  
• Distinction rate (proportion of participants who passed the exams with more than 
90% of correct answers on average amongst successful parti cipants).  
• Rate of correct answers in the exams of successful participants, knowing that the 
passing rate is 60% on average in the courses.  
• Dropout rate (share of those who did not complete the course within two months).  
  
 
44 The new cloud -based e -Learning website - designed and configurated  in 2018 - was open for 
registration  mid-January 2019, while the former e -Campus  was decommissioned at the end of March 2019.  WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 41 - 
 
  Immediate results of online course s 
Course  Attended  Successful  Success 
Rate Dropout  Dropout 
Rate Correct 
Answers  Distinction  Distinction 
Rate 
Accessions  152 102 67% 23 15% 87% 54 53% 
Agriculture  260 85 33% 105 40% 80% 14 16% 
Agriculture IMS  75 62 83% 10 13% 100%  62 100%  
Agriculture Xpress  111 88 79% 16 14% 94% 64 73% 
CITES & WTO  40 34 85% 0 0% 94% 26 76% 
Copyright  62 31 50% 15 24% 87% 14 45% 
Development  110 92 84% 0 0% 83% 29 32% 
Dispute Settlement  179 89 50% 51 28% 83% 15 17% 
Doc Online  60 53 88% 4 7% 93% 48 91% 
Environment  73 42 58% 8 11% 88% 10 24% 
Introduction to WTO  1,304 1,063 82% 90 7% 94% 845 79% 
Legal Underpinnings  62 47 76% 1 2% 87% 23 49% 
Mainstreaming Trade  53 51 96% 0 0% 94% 36 71% 
MA Intelligence  64 34 53% 15 23% 80% 7 21% 
Market Access Goods  176 95 54% 37 21% 87% 15 16% 
Multilateral Trade Ag  184 134 73% 0 0% 80% 27 20% 
Notifications  70 62 89% 0 0% 82% 16 26% 
Patents  35 26 74% 0 0% 79% 4 15% 
RTAs 239 197 82% 4 2% 84% 79 40% 
Rules  184 96 52% 59 32% 80% 25 26% 
Rules of Origin  168 125 74% 0 0% 80% 38 30% 
Services  260 111 43% 88 34% 80% 24 22% 
SPS 425 233 55% 116 27% 87% 53 23% 
Tailored Course  3 0 -- 3 100%   0 -- 
TBT 289 209 72% 22 8% 84% 56 27% 
Trade Economics  178 138 78% 27 15% 88% 87 63% 
Trade Facilitation  476 288 61% 169 36% 88% 146 51% 
Trade Finance  93 74 80% 8 9% 93% 43 58% 
Short Trip to TRIPS  119 78 66% 2 2% 83% 29 37% 
TRIPS  117 54 46% 32 27% 84% 16 30% 
WTO in 10'  225 195 87% 21 9% 100%  172 88% 
Total  5,846 3,988 68%  926 16%  87%  2,077  52%  
5.33.  The average success rate  
reached 68% last year, in line with 
the average of the past four years.  
The TA Plan had targeted an 
annual increase on the 2016 
baseline of 67%.   The current rate 
of success is highly satisfactory 
compared to the results measured 
in the rest o f the online training 
industry.45  Target met  
 
45 This rate is high compared to what can be observed elsewhere in the e -Learning industry.  Although 
the average completion (successful or not) rate remains highly co nfidential for most e -Learning providers, in 
most Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs – i.e. courses which charge no fees, provide no tutoring and are 
open to large amounts of students for long periods of time) it does not exceed 10%.  W ith a completion rat e of 
84% (68% successful + 16 % unsuccessful), WTO e -Learning courses are as successful as the best short online 
courses with fixed -dates, close tutoring, a limited number of students and charging high fees, which are the 
most successful of all online cours es. 0%20%40%60%80%100%e-Learning Results
Success Rate
Dropout Rate
Correct Answers
Distinction RateWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 42 - 
 
  5.34.  The rapid growth of the 
distinction rate observed since 
2011 stopped in 2019, returning 
to the level registered in 2017 
(52%) .  This rate was 
3 percentage points lower than in 
2018 but still higher than the 
2016-18 average ( 51%).  As 
demonstrated in previous annual 
reports, t his high rate could be the 
result of the Secretariat's efforts 
to increase e -learners' success 
rates by promoting interactivity 
and improved pedagogy in on line 
courses.  The new courses of the 
year were indeed amongst the most successful ones in terms of distinction rates in 201 9: Agriculture 
IMS (100%), DocOnline (91%), CITES & WTO (76%) and Mainstreaming Trade (71%).   Target met  
5.35.   At 87%, the average rate of  correct answers was one percentage point higher  than in 201 8 
and in line with the 201 6-18 average.  The TA Plan had targeted stability on the 2016 baseline of 
85%.  Target met  
5.36.   As explained in the report for 2017, the dropout rate had to be rebased two yea rs ago, 
following the identification of a methodological error in the analysis of statistics on unsuccessful 
candidates.46  This means that the 2016 baseline dropout rate identified in the TA Plan was incorrect 
and should have been 28%.  Annual stability ha d been targeted in this domain.   The average dropout 
rate across online courses was 16% in 2019, far below the level registered in 2018 (27%)  and in 
previous years .  This is the lowest dropout rate since 2015 and shows the success of the Secretariat 
in kee ping e -learners engaged until the end of their course.   This suggests that the insertion of 
interactive and multimedia elements, such as videos, animations, audios and interactive exercises, 
may have a positive impact on participants' interest in an online  course until the end .  The TA Plan 
targeted annual stability using 2016 as a baseline (28% dropout rate).  Target met  
5.37.   The same set of  courses keep turning out consistently lower than average results over the 
years under each of the four indicators: Agriculture, Dispute Settlement, MA Intelligence, Services 
and TRIPS.  These are old generation courses in several respects.  Their pedagogy involves a limited 
level of interactivity and hardly relies on any multimedia component, and they cover a vast field of 
knowledge in one single course which makes them long and bulky.  At the other end of the spectrum 
and as in previous years, Agriculture IMS, Agriculture Xpress, CITES & WTO, DocOnline, 
Mainstreaming Trade, Trade Finance and WTO in 10' consistently exceeded the average results for 
the four indicators.  These are much shorter, better focused new generation courses with a highly 
interactive pedagogy relying on many m ultimedia components.  The course on Introduction to the 
WTO also had a very high distinction rate and rate of correct answers, as in 201 8.  These consistent 
results over the years confirm the validity of the analysis presented in last year's report and 
vindicates the approach pursued for several years to upgrade existing courses to SCORM standards, 
make them more interactive and slice them into shorter more focused pieces which the participants 
find easier to absorb, complete and digest.  
5.38.   The same performan ce indicators can also be used to analyse the results of the courses by 
linguistic version, since they reach different audiences/participants.  
Language  Attended  Successful  Success 
Rate Dropout  Dropout 
Rate Correct 
Answers  Distinction  Distinction 
Rate 
English  3,765 2,601 69% 612 16% 88% 1,408 54% 
French  1,153 742 64% 166 14% 85% 320 43% 
Spanish  928 645 70% 148 16% 88% 349 54% 
Total  5,846 3,988 68%  926 16%  87% 2,077 52%  
 
46 See §§ 5.32 and 5.33 in WT/COMTD/W/235, viewed at 
https://docs.wto.org/dol2festaff/Pages/FE_Search/DDFDocuments/246143/q/WT/COMTD/W235.pdf .  - 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000e-Learning Successful Participants
Distinction
CertificateWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 43 - 
 
  5.39.   The pattern during  2019 was similar as in previous years, with a relatively high homogeneity 
of results across language versions of the same course.  The exception was the lower rate of correct 
answers and of distinction for courses in French, as in the past, even if the gap with th e English and 
Spanish versions narrowed during the year.  This improvement is even more remarkable since they 
were the language group who had the lowest reduction of participants in 2019, compared to the 
English and Spanish versions.  
5.40.   An analysis of these r esults by gender showed that since 2010 women's average success rate 
has always been a few percentage points higher than men's one.  The average difference fluctuated 
between 2 percentage points in 2010, 2013 or 2015 and 3.6 percentage points in 2012 or 4. 5 in 
2011.  After almost disappearing in 2016, this gap was again very low in 2019 (1  percentage point ) 
compared to 2018 (3  percentage points ).  The gap is larger for the distinction rate (3 percentage 
points: 54% for women against 51% for men), meaning th at the proportion of women was higher 
amongst high performers.  However, these averages hide significant variations between the courses.  
5.41.   In conclusion, 2019 was a year of high contrasts for e -Learning, with significant improvements 
for most indicators  (especially the qualitative ones) and a dramatic loss of public .  Most of  the targets 
assigned for 201 9 have been reached.   Year 2020 will tell whether the participation gap seen in 2019 
was provoked by the  change in online platform, and whether this new tool has the potential to boost 
participation back to its former levels and beyond, as expected.  
5.2.1.2   Internship programmes  
Indicators  Targets  2019 
Number of interns in FIMIP, NTP and RCI  Per year: FIMIP: 15; NTP: 
15; RCI: 8  FIMIP: target met  
NTP: target partially met  
RCI: target partiall y met  
Final evaluation rate of each intern  100% fully satisfactory  AIP: target met  
FIMIP: target met  
NTP: Target met  
RCI: target  met 
5.42.   "Learning -by-doing" is the essence of an internship.  Since measuring how much was actually 
learnt by the interns is a real challenge, a proxy indicator is to measure how much the interns did 
during their stay in Geneva.  To that effect, the interns were re quested in 2019 to report monthly 
on the allocation of  their time between five broad categories of outputs: i) WTO meetings; 
ii) meetings of regional groups; iii) training sessions; iv) research, briefing notes, needs' 
assessments; and v) other activities.   The compilation of the monthly reports gives a snapshot of 
the interns' work in Geneva.  These data form the basis of this analysis.  
5.2.1.2.1   Accession Internship Programme (AIP)  
5.43.  Since its inception in 2012, 
32 interns have participated in this 
programme, of whi ch 14 (44%) were 
from LDC Members or Observers.  
34% of them were from acceding 
governments and 6 9% were women.  
Most interns came from Africa or 
CEECAC, the two regions with the 
highest concentration of acceding 
governments . 
5.44.  Internships under the AIP 
generally last 10 months and may 
spread over two calendar years.  In 
2019, four new interns were recruited 
under this programme,47 as in the 
four previous years, and four interns recruited in 201 8 completed their internships.  Participants in 
the AIP are either  nationals of acceding governments  or developing, LDC and Article XII Members.  
 
47 From Belarus , Ethiopia , Nigeria  and Uzbekistan . 31%
41%19%3%
6%AIP interns by region
CEECAC
Africa
Asia
Middle East
Latin AmericaWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 44 - 
 
  They were hosted in the Secretariat during their stay in Geneva .  Participation in the AIP has 
remained steady since 2013 with an average of four new recruitments per year.  No  numerical target 
was assigned to the AIP in the TA Plan.  However, its smooth implementation over the years is a 
clear sign of success.  
5.45.   Each intern was supervised by a professional staff member who provided day -to-day 
guidance, coaching and training.  At the beginning of their internship, objectives were set with each 
intern, in consultation with the supervisor and the Director of the division.  Accession interns reported 
weekly to the Director on their activities and the achievement of their objectives.   A final evaluation 
of the four interns who completed their internships in 2019 was eventually completed 12 months 
after they had left the WTO on average .  Retrospectively, they were evaluated as fully satisfactory.   
Target met  
5.2.1.2.2   French -Irish Mission Internship Programme (FIMIP)  
5.46.   In 2019, 20 interns , including 11 from LDCs,  were selected out of the 136 applications 
received  from 56 Members and Observers  for this programme.  During the period 2012 -19, an 
average of 1 7 interns per year were recruited by t he Secretariat.  The target in the TA Plan was to 
recruit at least 15 interns per year.  Target met  
5.47.  The interns' stay in Geneva 
lasted 9.5 months.  The availability of 
their monthly reports continued to 
improve and reached 100% except for 
the month of Aug ust (holiday period) 
and December (end of internship), as 
did the reliability and coherence of 
such reports.  All final reports were 
submitted.  On average, the interns 
spent 63% of their time on meeting -
related work (WTO bodies and 
regional groupings), in cluding 
attendance and performing the 
underlying preparatory and follow -up 
work.  This task is particularly 
important for small understaffed 
missions, as it supports their ability to 
attend such meetings.  The interns spent 10% of their time attending trai ning sessions, including 
monthly meetings with the Secretariat  and presentations by divisions, following e-Learning courses , 
etc.; and another 5% of their time preparing research, briefing notes and notifications.  A substantive 
share of the interns' time was devoted to other activities (22% on average), such as administrative 
tasks, attending bilateral meetings with other delegations or meetings of other Geneva -based 
organisations, networking, etc.  
5.48.   Several interns were also involved in the coordination bet ween the Secretariat and relevant 
government agencies in capital regarding WTO obligations in different areas such as notifications 
and trade policy review follow up s.  Like in previous years, the interns had the opportunity to visit 
the permanent mission of France in order to get a better understanding of the formulation of trade 
policy in the European Union, and to meet with Ireland's representatives to discuss various  trade 
issues and concerns.  For the second time, a two -day visit to Paris was organised for the interns to 
meet with different senior French government officials and discuss various trade negotiating topics, 
including development and capacity building iss ues. 
5.49.   At the end of their stay in Geneva, the interns were evaluated by their supervisor at the 
mission.  All evaluation reports were transmitted to the Secretariat.  They systematically praised the 
interns for their hard work and considered that their perf ormance had either fully met expectations 
or even exceeded them in some cases.   Twelve interns were evaluated as "fully satisfactory", while 
eight "significantly exceeded performance requirements".  Target met  48%
15%10%5%22%FIMIP Time Allocation
WTO Meetings
Regional Group Meetings
Training Sessions
Research, briefing notes
needs assessment,
notifications
OtherWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 45 - 
 
  5.2.1.2.3   Netherlands Trainee Programme (NTP)  
5.50.   After its suspension in 2018 due to the late receipt of the earmarked contribution financing 
this programme, 13  interns, 9 from LDCs, were selected early 2019 to work in the Secretariat under 
the NTP, from May 2019 to the end of February 2020.  This number was margi nally lower than the 
target of 15.  Target partially met  
5.51.  Nearly  all the interns' monthly 
reports were available  (99%) , an 
improvement over  the already high 
level recorded in previous years (96% 
in 2016 and 2017).   On average, the 
interns spent 3 5% (+6 per centage 
points compared to 2017) of their time 
attending meetings on various aspects 
of the WTO work programme  and 
performing the related preparatory 
and follow -up work  and 25%  working 
in the assigned divisions, as in 2017 .  
The interns worked in the follo wing 
divisions: ITTC, Trade Policies Review, 
Trade & Environment (TBT), Trade in 
Services, Market Access (including 
Trade Facilitation), Agriculture 
(including STDF) and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Secretariat, which is housed in the 
WTO.  Interns dedicated 19% of their time (as in 2017) to training activities specifically organized 
for them by the Secretariat , to follow online courses, to visit other Geneva -based organizations (ITC, 
ACWL, WIPO, etc .) and to perform a study tour in the Netherlands .  The remaining 21% of their 
time was almost equally split between  the preparation of their country's TA needs assessment and 
updated list of outstanding notifications (11%), and other MTS -related research (10%).  
5.52.   The internships ended in F ebruary 2020.  At the time of reporting,  3 interns were evaluated 
as "fully satisfactory" and 10 "significantly exceeded performance requirements".  Target met  
5.2.1.2.4   Regional Coordinator Internship programme (RCI)  
5.53.   In 2019, five interns , including one from an LDC , were selected to work for a regional 
secretariat (PIFS) or for the mission of Members acting as regional coordinators for the GRULAC , 
CARICOM, ACP and  the LDC Group.  Their stay in Geneva depended on the duration of the 
coordinator's mandate.  The PIFS intern stayed for 6 months and the GRULAC intern for 3 months.  
The other three interns recruited in the course of the year will complete their internship in 2020.  
The allocation of an intern to a regional coordinator is entirely demand -driven and thus dep ends on 
the requests received from those Members who act as coordinator for a region or group of Members.  
The extent to which the Secretariat can respond to the demand also depends on whether the 
Members presented candidates who met the benchmark requirem ents for such applications.  
5.54.   This was the lowest RCI intake since numerical targets were introduced in 2014 and  below 
the annual 2014-18 average of 6.4 interns.   The TA Plan retained the 2016 level as a baseline 
(7 interns) for this indicator and identified  a target to recruit 8 interns per year provided sufficient 
requests were received from those Members or regional secretariats act ing as coordinators for a 
region or group of Members; and that suitable candidates were presented.  In 2019, the number of 
interns was below the target and the baseline as only five requests were received .  All of them were 
granted.  Target partially met  32%
3%
19% 11%25%10%NTP Time Allocation
WTO Meetings
Regional Group Meetings
Training Sessions
Research, briefing notes,
notifications
Work in divisions
OtherWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 46 - 
 
  5.55.  All monthly reports of the 
interns were received in a timely 
manner  (100%) .  On average 76% of 
the interns' time was dedicated to 
regional group and WTO meetings and 
the related work .  The interns spent  
8% of their time in activities linked 
with research and preparation of 
briefing notes; and 3% attending 
training sessions.  The remaining  13% 
of their time was devoted to  other 
tasks and requests made by regional 
coordinators.   These figures confirm 
that the RCI reinforces the capacity of 
the missions acting as  regional 
coordinator to participate in the 
meetings of WTO bodies and regional 
groupings, and to perform the related 
work.  
5.56.   The assessment of the programme in 201 9 considered the internships  completed during the 
year, regardless o f the date of recruitment.   Three  interns completed their internship in 201 9 (one 
recruited in 2018 and two in 2019).48  Two of the  interns were evaluated as "fully satisfactory " and 
one " significantly exceeded performance requirement ".  Target met  
5.2.1.3   Intermediate Trade Policy Courses (ITPCs)  
Indicators  Targets  2019 
Success rate in 8 -week ITPC final exam  At least 90% annually  Target met  
% of participants giving an excellent rating to ITPCs' 
overall content and results  Annual increase  Target met  
5.57.  In 2019, the Secretariat 
implemented five Intermediate Trade 
Policy Courses (ITPCs),49 one more 
than the previous year and slightly less 
than the 2012 -19 average of 
5.5 courses per year.   The courses 
were held in Côte d'Ivoire, Kazakhstan, 
Mauritius, Mexico and Trinidad  & 
Tobago, for a total of 124 participants.   
For the first time since 2012, no course 
was held in Asia-Pacific, whilst a new 
partner was being selected.  A  course 
has now been missed in every region at 
the end of each four -year partnership.   
Since 2012, IT PCs have been offered in 
all seven regions only twice (i.e. 2 5% 
of the time) and the average 
availability of ITPCs has been 79%. 
5.58.   Since 2013, a final exam is used to evaluate the participants in all ITPCs.  Participants take 
the exam at the end of a three -day revision workshop in which they revisit the entire content of the 
ITPC in a horizontal manner.   Participants' final grades were comprised of an assessment of their 
participation during the course (30%) and their final exam results (70%).  A final  grade of 90% or 
above merited a certificate with distinction, whilst a grade below 60% received a certificate of 
attendance.  Since 2016, the criteria and procedure to evaluate the participation was reviewed to 
move to a weekly system and also take the op inion of the trainers into account.  The final 
 
48 The remaini ng 3 interns recruited in 2019 will complete their internship in 2020.  Their evaluation will 
be considered in the 2020 report.  
49 Also known as Regional Trade policy Courses (RTPCs) since they are organised on a regional basis.  56%
20%3%8%13%RCI Time Allocation
WTO Meetings
Regional Group
Meetings
Training Sessions
Research, briefing notes
needs assessment,
notifications
Other
01234567
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019ITPCs Availability
Africa Asia Pacific Caribbean
CEECAC Latin America Middle EastWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 47 - 
 
  participation grade of each participant is the average of the weekly grades.  The results measured 
in 2019 were the following:  
 Africa 
(French)  Africa 
(English)  Caribbean  Latin 
America  CEECAC  Average  
Attendance  29 30 22 25 18 25 
Passed  29 29 22 25 17 24 
Distinction  7 7 5 5 8 6 
Success  22 22 17 17 9 17 
Success Rate  100%  97% 100%  100%  94% 98% 
Distinction Rate  24% 23% 23% 32% 44% 29% 
Correct Answers  72% 80% 79% 83% 81% 79% 
Participation  87% 76% 84% 85% 91% 85% 
Excellent Opinion  52% 80% 55% 80% 56% 65% 
Good Opinion  48% 20% 36% 20% 39% 33% 
5.59.  All five ITPCs were 
successful, three  of them very 
successful, in transferring an 
appropriate level of knowledge and 
skills on WTO matters  to their 
participants , especially on the WTO 
Agreements and the way to use the 
WTO legal texts.  The average 
success rate of the participants  has 
been the  highest since 2013  (98% 
in 2019) , improving on last year's 
success rate (96%).  Participation in 
class has also been very high (85%) 
due to the variety of interactive 
methods that assist effective 
learning.  
5.60.   The percentage of correct answers to the final exam was 79% on average and the distinction 
rate (i.e. final mark above 90%) 29%  on average , six points higher than last year.   These results 
demonstrate  a continuous improvement in the course delivery a nd a positive engagement of  
participants.  This means that the ITPC objectives (i. deepened understanding of WTO Agreements 
and functioning; ii. better understanding of relevant trade policy issues in the regional context; 
iii. increased autonomy in using WTO information and documentation; iv.  strength ened network of 
contacts) were satisfactorily achieved in 201 9.  These results are above  the 94% success rate 
achieved in 2016 (TA Plan baseline) and the 90% targeted by the TA Plan.  Target met  
5.61.   During 2019, a new module on Transparency (1.5 days) and a session on Trade & Gender 
(½ day) were incorporated into the ITPC curriculum at the request of Members.  Tailored t raining 
materials were  also developed in these two areas.   The module on trade negotiations was removed 
and now forms part of  the Advanced Trad e Policy Course (ATPC).  At the  request  of participants, two 
½-day module s on Government Procurement and TRIMS are now  part of the curriculum  since 2018.  
5.62.   In 2019, regional experts taught 31% of the course time on average (i.e. 12.5 days out of 
40).  Effort s continued to  also involve regional institutions.  
5.63.   The use of interactive training methods during the year  was characterized by a return to 2017 
levels after the decline noted in 2018.  The percentage of pure lecture s decreased on average from 
61% in 2018 to 56% in 2019 (while it was 60% in 2016 and 55% in 2017).   Accordingly, t he use of 
case studies and exercises increased to 23% and Q&A sessions to 16%.  The remainder of the time 
involved quizzes, professional visits  and other discussions.  These pedagogical improvements aimed 
to enhance participants' capacity to consolidate their knowledge.  
5.64.   The course content of the ITPCs was highly appreciated by the participants.   On average, 58% 
of the m considered that the courses were generally excellent, and the remaining 42% that they 
were generally good.  Hence in total, ITPCs gathered 100% of top two marks from the participants.  
The TA Plan had targeted an increase on the 2016 baseline of 93%.  Target met  0%20%40%60%80%100%ITPC Results
Success Rate
Distinction Rate
Correct Answers
ParticipationWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 48 - 
 
  5.2.1.4   Other face -to-face activities  
Indicators  Targets  2019 
Spread of geographical coverage of Members' participating 
in face -to-face TA courses  Maintain spread 
annually  Target met  
Spread of level of development of Members' participating 
in face-to-face TA courses  Annual stability in the 
participation of LDCs  Target partially met  
% of participants giving an excellent rating to ATPCs' and 
advanced thematic courses' overall content and results   Annual increase  Target met  
Number of revised modules or case studies in ATPCs  Two per year  Target met  
Number of participants trained on trade negotiating skills  Annual stability  Target partially met  
Advanced thematic courses focused on implementation  Three in 2017 and four 
in 2018  Target met  
Implementation of Action Plans within 12 months  Annual stability  SPS: Target met  
TBT: Target not met  
5.65.   The geographical spread of participation in face -to-face TA activities was analysed in section 
4.2 above.   It showed  a moderate reshuffling of participation levels across TA beneficiary regions.  
Despite this variation, and except for Africa  and Latin America , the share of each region in the total 
participation in face -to-face activities remained above its corresponding  level for 2016 , identified as 
the baseline for this indicator in the TA Plan.  The TA Plan targeted annual  stability of the 
geographical spread of participation in face -to-face activities.   Target met  
5.66.   Participation of LDCs in WTO TA was analysed in sectio n 4.1.   Whilst the Secretariat continued 
to prioritise LDCs in the provision of its TA, their decreasing demand for national activities , their 
propensity to postpone or cancel activities once requested  negatively affected the ir overall  
participation in WTO  TA.  One quarter of face -to-face activities were directed at them in 2019 , as in 
the previous year.  The proportion of  LDC participants  went down in 2019 (21 % of total participants , 
-4 percentage points ), as LDC participation in absolute terms declined fa ster than the overall TA 
participation .  LDCs' participation in face -to-face activities in 201 9 remained below  the baseline 
identified in the TA Plan for this indicator (22% of total participants in 2016).  Target partially met  
5.67.   The TA Plan identified several proxy indicators related to training methodology described in 
the above table to assess the extent to which face -to-face activities other than those covered in 
previous sections have achieved their objectives and enhanced Members' kn owledge in the areas 
identified under Output 1.1.   No final exam is administered to measure participants' learning  in most 
face-to-face activities .50  The overall success of each activity and the extent to which it has met its 
stated objectives is evaluated  by the trainers themselves in the BTOR.   BTORs constitute  the core 
evaluation tool for these activities .  As their availability is critical, the Secretariat  invested significant 
time and energy to make reporting on face -to-face activities systematic, comp rehensive and 
structured.  These efforts have brought the reporting rate up to nearly 100% since 2016.  
5.68.   There was some 
rebalancing in 2019 in the 
relative importance of the 
different categories of 
objectives assigned to TA 
activities .  Enhancing the  
unders tanding of beneficiaries 
on one or several WTO 
Agreements represented 31% 
of the objectives (4 0% in 201 8 
and 4 3% in 201 7).  The 
improvement of  analytical, 
communication or negotiating 
skills and of the capability to 
assess the implications of, and 
deal wit h, a given WTO subject 
 
50 To date, only the ITPCs an d since 2017, the Introduction Course for LDCs include a final exam to assess 
knowledge acquisition by participants.  31%
21% 14%9%9%7%9%Objectives of TA Activities
Explanation of WTO Agreements
Development of analytical skills
Implementation of WTO Agreements
Accessing WTO  information
Identify TA needs
Improve general understanding of
the WTO
MiscellaneousWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 49 - 
 
  came next (2 1% in 201 9 vs. 15% in 201 7 and 21% in 201 8), followed by  enhanc ing the capacity of 
government officials to operationalize and correctly implement provisions of WTO Agreements  (14% ; 
+3 percentage points ).  The remaining 34% (against 28% in 2018) of the objectives were related 
to strengthening a diversity of skills such as the capacity to access WTO data, ability to work in 
teams and  development of  a network of contacts.   The proportion of objectives targetin g the 
enhancement of  participants'  soft skills and analytical capabilities remained stable  in 201 9 compared 
to the previous two years  (32% against 35% in 2018 and  26% in 2017 ), reflecting the Secretariat's 
efforts to enhanc e TA's relevance and usefulness f or participants.   Most TA activit ies had several 
objectives, with an average of approximately 3 objectives per activity in 2019 , as in previous years . 
5.69.  When evaluating the achievement of 
the immediate objectives of the activities, 
trainers gave an average  mark of 4.7 out of 
a maximum of 5, in line with the figures from 
the previous years.  Amongst the 458 
immediate objectives of TA activities for 
which data were available in 201 9, only three  
objectives were given a mark of 3, three  a 
mark of 2, and none a mark of 1.  Therefore, 
the achievement of 98% of the objectives 
was rated as satisfactory or outstanding  in 
2019.  These figures show a continuation of 
the high performance observed since 2016.51  
Nevertheless, they are to be interpreted with 
caution as the y are based on the trainers' 
subjective self-evaluations.   The assessment by an independent evaluator, whenever available, 
generally gives more nuanced results .  In 2019, five  TA activities were subject to an onsite evaluation 
by the Secretariat internal TA Monitoring & Evaluation team (TAME) , which did not come to a 
materially different conclusions concerning 
the achievement of the various objectives .  If 
anything, the optimism of  the trainers about 
the actual results of their activities was more 
limited than in those activities assessed by 
TAME in 201 8.  This confirms that the WTO 
system based on BTORs to monitor TA 
activities' results is robust and credible.  
Relying on self -evaluations is both effective 
and efficient.  
5.70.  Another element of performance of 
face-to-face activities that can be extracted 
from the BTORs is the  quality of participation.  
The data for 2019 showed that the 
Secretariat kept up the pace of high 
performance achieved on this front since 
2016.   In 96% of the BTORs, the quality of 
participation was considered generally 
satisfactory ( 70% fully and 2 6% to a large 
extent , against 66% and 25% respectively in 
2018).  As in previous years, t his assessment 
was even better for the advanced activities 
for which data are available , as 98% of them 
had a satisfactory level of participation.  
5.71.  Trainers were mostly positive when 
assessing the overall content and results of 
the activities , as 74% of the activities wer e 
deemed fully satisfactory and the remaining 
satisfactory to a large extent.  Advanced 
 
51 The achievement of 9 8% of the objectives was rated as "Satisfactory " or "Outstanding " in 2018 and 
2017.  In 2016, this rate was 92% . 0%20%40%60%80%100%
1 2 3 4 5
Success RateAchievement of objectives
0%20%40%60%80%100%
Not at all To a
limited
extentAverage To a large
extentFullyParticipation quality
All activities Advanced activities
0%20%40%60%80%
Not at all To a
limited
extentAverage To a large
extentFullyTrainers' assessment
All activities Advanced activitiesWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 50 - 
 
  activities received almost identical  rating s from the trainers,  with 76% considered as fully 
satisfactory and 24% to a large extent.  
5.72.  Participants were generally more 
enthusiastic than the trainers in their 
assessment of activities' overall content and 
results.  As in previous years, only the top 
two ratings were used in 2018.52  The content 
and results of the activities, regardless of 
their level, were considered fully s atisfactory 
in 76% of the cases and to a large extent the 
rest of the time.   Participants' assessments of 
advanced activities followed the same trend 
with a higher level of satisfaction in the 
ATPCs compared to other advanced 
activities.   ATPC participant s found  the 
overall content and results fully satisfactory 
in all the three courses  (100%).  Results in 
the advanced thematic activities were slightly 
lower  with 8 2% fully satisfactory and 1 8% to a large extent.  For both categories of activities, 
participants gave an excellent rating in 100% of cases.  The baseline identified in th e TA Plan was 
100% of excellent rating by participants for the ATPCs and 91% for the advanced thematic courses.  
Target met  
5.73.   Revision of modules and case studies in the ATPCs was identified as another proxy indicator 
for face -to-face activities' performance .  A session on Trade & Gender was introduced in ATPCs  in 
2019,  initially as a sandwich lunch and subsequently as a regular session during the development 
module .  A pre-test was administered at the beginning of the course to identify participants' 
knowled ge gaps and adjust  the course accordingly.   Its results were shared for the first time with 
all the trainers in the last ATPC of the year, in order to identify gaps and improve knowledge transfer.   
The module on trade negotiations skills was reviewed, as it is no longer split between the ITPCs and 
ATPCs .  The TA Plan targeted the revision of two  modules or case  studies per year.  Target met  
5.74.  After a significant rise in the 
number of participants trained on  
trade negotiation skills in 201 8, year 
2019 saw a  decline of 23%, reaching a 
total of 228 participants.  The 
Secretariat delivered seven activities 
(1 regional and 6 nationals) .53  The 
total number of activities remain ed 
below the historical record reached  in 
2016 (9 activities)  and above the 
minimum of  2017 (5 activities).   
Overall participation level in 2019 was 
below the 2016 record, retained as the 
baseline in the TA Plan.  Target 
partially met  
5.75.   Whilst the vast majority of the TA provided by the WTO focu ses on the implementation of the 
WTO Agreements in a general sense, few activities have explored innovative methodologies 
combining  problem identification, development of an action plan, promotion of leadership, individual 
coaching of participants, simulat ions, independent study and follow -up over a long period .  As 
acknowledged in the TA Plan 2018 -19 and in the 2016 external evaluation,  these latter approaches 
allow participants to learn by doing  and stimulate  their implementation capacity.   Section 3.4.2 
provided various illustrations of the Secretariat's efforts to further expand the focus on 
implementation in its advanced thematic activities.  In 201 9, five activities embodied several of the 
above -mentioned approaches: the advanced course on SPS (which a lso held a follow -up session to 
 
52 "Fully satisfactory" and "Satisfactory to a large extent", which are considered as excellent ratings.  
53 On average, a national activity on TNS gathers around 24 participants and a regional 42.  0100200300400
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Trade Negotiating Skills Participation0%20%40%60%80%100%
Not at all To a
limited
extentAverage To a large
extentFullyParticipants' assessment
All activities Advanced activitiesWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 51 - 
 
  the 201 8 course), the advanced workshop on agriculture notifications, the advanced course on TBT , 
the advanced course on Import Licensing and notifications and the thematic course on trade in 
services statistics .  The latter consisted of a mix of case studies, lectures and numerical exercises.  
Participants  were invited to submit concrete examples of difficulties faced in data collection , discuss 
possible solutions with experts and prepare a checklist of good practi ces.  Prior to the face -to-face 
component, participants attended a preliminary UNCTAD -WTO online  course on trade in services 
statistics, which  included some  coaching and follow -up.  The TA Plan identified the organization of 
four advanced thematic activiti es focused on implementation in 201 8 with no numerical target for 
2019.  However, the higher number of activities with the above -mentioned characteristics in 2019 
confirmed  the spread of such pedagogic al methods inside .  Target met  
5.76.   Among the activities foc using on implementation, the SPS advanced course was the only one 
to comprise  the preparation of an action plan by participants, the provision of continuous distant 
coaching and the organization of a follow -up training session.  The follow -up session to the 201 8 
advanced SPS course took place in July 201 9.  Among the 2 5 participants who attended the main 
session in October -November 201 8, only those who had submitted  two progress reports on the 
implementation of their action plan were invited to the follow -up activity.  Six of the  25 participants 
who met the requirement could not attend for reasons beyond their control.  The remaining n ineteen 
participants attended the follow -up activity.  They shared a wealth of information on the lessons 
learnt and experiences in the implementation of their action plans.  Returning participants 
demonstrated their self-confidence, leadership and communication skills in the presentation of their 
action plans .  These are part of the soft skills that the advanced SPS course aims to develop .  All 
participants made efforts to implement their action plan and , as expected, experienced varying levels 
of success, often influenced by the level of support received from  their supervisor.  
5.77.   Assessing the actual implementation rate of action plans after one year  is difficult because 
these plans may require a longer period for proper implementation and may not be finalized at the 
time of reporting during the Follow -up Session .  This also depends on the level of ambition of the 
action plan and the extent to which it is within the sole control of the participant.   Participants are 
encouraged to choose  ambitious action plans and to adapt the m to the circumstances .  For instance, 
some participants target the development of guidelines or training materials, while others target the 
strengthening of specific SPS -related processes or systems.  The latter may require  two years or 
more to be implemented .  These factors lead to significan t variation s in the level of implementation 
of the action plans among participants during the reporting period.   In 2019, o nly one participant 
achieved limited progress in the action plan implementation.   This was due to a lack of support 
following institu tional changes, including a change in supervisor.   The overwhelming majority had 
either completed (28%) or made significant progress (68%) in the implementation of their action 
plans.   With an overall rate of 96%  (+26 percentage points compared to 2018) , 2019 has been the 
most successful years for implementation of action plans, far exceeding the 2016 implementation 
rate (slightly more than 60%), which was identified as the baseline for this indicator in the TA Plan.  
The TA Plan had targeted an annual stab ility of the implementation rate.  Target met  
5.78.   The advanced course on TBT adopted a similar approach in 2015  but was then discontinued 
in 2016 and 2017 .  In 2019, as in the previous year, it did not include a fully -fledged follow -up 
component nor any coach ing to support participants in the development and implementation of their 
action plans.   Some examples of concrete results could still be found .  The TBT Committee had 
identified tracking  and reacting to the high number of TBT notifications circulated as a challenge  and 
asked the Secretariat to develop an alert system for notifications to assist in this process and address 
a very concrete need.  Now that th e system is in place (ePing), req uests for capacity building and 
follow -up on ePing  are growing .  Target not met  
5.2.2   Output 1.2: Effective partnerships established resulting in substantive 
contributions of human and financial resources for TA activities  
Indicators  Targets  2019 
Proportion of activities with the involvement of a partner  Annual stability  Target partially met 
Proportion of partners' contribution to the TA activities  Annual increase of 
substantive contributions  Target partially met  
5.79.   As foreseen in the TA Plan, in 2019 the Secretariat continued to leverage strategic 
partnerships to deliver better -tailored TA activities in a cost -efficient manner.  The cooperation with WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 52 - 
 
  an extensive network of partners was essential for the achievement of the TA outcomes.  The EIF, 
TFAF and STDF , which also  contribute substantively and financially to the implementation of TA  and 
the achievement of its objectives , were not considered as separate partnerships for  this indicator  
even if, f or instance, the STDF  was involved  in the delivery  of most SPS TA activities in 201 9 and 
the TFAF in many TA activities on MA for goods.  
5.80.   In 201 9, the Secretariat cooperated with 1 05 different partners to organize and deliver 1 35 TA 
activities.  In addition, the Secretariat participated as a partner in 18 TA activities organized by other 
institutions.  Together, these 153 activities represent 52% of the TA activities which the WTO 
organized or in which it participated in 201 9.  The proportion was 59% in 201 8, 60% in 201 7 and 
54% in 2016  (baseline ).  The T A Plan targeted stability since 2016.  Target partially met 
5.81.   In 201 9, 64% of WTO TA partners were involved in one single WTO TA activity, and 20% in 
two.  81% of the TA activities which involved a partnership were organised with one single partner 
and 12% with two partners.  This means that in the vast majority of cases and as already noted in 
previous years, a specific partnership was developed in order to or ganize one single activity with 
this partner and with this partner only.  The turnover of partners was significant i n 201 9, as no TA 
activity was organised with 53 of the 2018 partners and 40 new partners were enlisted during the 
year.  Overall, the number  of partners was down by 11% compared to 2018.  
5.82.  The TA Plan identified four domains in 
which partners could usefully add value to 
the TA provided by the WTO: substance, 
cost-sharing, logistics and outreach.  For an 
activity to qualify as WTO TA, it was ass umed 
that the Secretariat would need to provide a 
majority of its substance.  This means that 
the contribution of partners to substance w as 
considered as low between 0% and 19%, as 
average between 20% and 39% and as high 
above 40%.  No comparable limit exi sts for 
partners' contribution to costs and logistics, 
which may reach up to 100% without 
compromising the WTO nature of a TA 
activity.  Partners' contribution to costs and 
logistics w as consequently considered as low between 0% and 34%, as average between  35% and 
69% and as high above 70%.  
5.83.   In 62% of cases, the partners were the governmental authorities hosting national activities 
who bear the domestic costs and take care of invitations and the local logistics.  Contribution of the 
host government to the su bstance of national activities was highly encouraged.  It exceeded 20% 
of the total substance in 1 9% of the cases.  
5.84.   The partnerships allowed the WTO to reach out to a wider public than its traditional audience 
in 7% of cases.  This is four percentage points less than in 201 8 and well below the 2016 -19 average 
of 10% .  This proportion was considerably higher for the acti vities under Key Results 3 and 4 ( 21%, 
but 12  percentage points less than in 201 8, also well below previous years' average ). 04080120160
1 2 3+Partners per TA Activity
2016 2017 2018 2019020406080100
1 2 3 4+TA Activities per Partner
2016 2017 2018 2019
020406080
0% 1%-25% 26%-50% 51%-75% +76%Number of ActivitiesPartners' contributions
Substance Costs LogisticsWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 53 - 
 
    Partners' contribution to:  
5.85.   In terms of substance, the average contribution from partners continued to decrease in 201 9.  
The share of partners who did not contribute at all to the substance of TA activities increased  from 
31% to 43% compared to 201 8, while the share of partners who made a low contribution halved  
from 43% to 18%.  Aver age and high contributions increased  from 18% to 26% and from 8% to 
13% respectively.  This evolution illustrates how challenging and variable the involvement of 
partners in the substance of TA activities can often be.  
5.86.   The evolution on the TA costs and log istics side was more stable  in 2019 compared to previous 
years, even if  the share of partners making no cost or logistical contribution grew from 14% to 20% 
and from 7% to 16% respectively and stood above the 201 6-18 averages (1 4% and 7% 
respectively) .  The share of more significant contributions (average and high) shrank from 22% to 
19% for costs and from 78% to 71% for logistics  and were also below the 201 6-18 averages .  Beyond 
unavoidable annual fluctuations, the  general trend points towards a lower involvement of partners 
overall.  
5.87.  Indeed, a nalysing these three 
dimensions together shows that approximately 
60% of the partners made a very modest 
contribution to the 201 9 TA activities in any 
area (+50% compared to 2018, 1 3 percentage 
points above the 2016 -18 average) .  In 3 1% of 
cases, the partner made an average 
contribution to WTO's activities (43% in 201 8, 
38% on average in 201 6-18) participating 
mainly in logistics and substance .  Like in 
previous years, logistics is the area where the 
Secretariat received the highest contribution 
from its partners.  Partners took care of most of 
the logistical arrangements to implement its TA 
activities in 24% of the cases.  20%
61%11%8%Costs
16%
13%
47%24%Logistics
None    Low    Average     High 43%
18%26%13%Substance
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Partners' Substance
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Partners' Costs
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Partners' Logistics
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2016 2017 2018 2019Partners' Overall Contribution
High
Average
PoorWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 54 - 
 
  5.88.   Partners' overall contribution in the three areas was high in 1 0% of cases (1 7% in 201 8), 
below the 2016 -18 average (1 6%).  This was particularly the case for outreach activities, and 
activities with WIPO on Intellectual Property Rights  and the IMF -CEF in the Middle East .  The TA Plan 
had targeted an annual increase of the contribution from partners compared to the 2016 level.  
Target partially met 
5.2.3   Output 1.3: Members' needs and priorities are identified  
Indicator  Target  2019 
Number of needs assessments conducted annually, 
either independently or as part of a TPR  Increase during the biennium  Target met  
5.89.   The successive TA Plans emphasized the importance of assessing Members' TA needs on a 
regular basis to ensure that the WTO TA offer meets their priorities .54  Consultations were held in 
2017 in preparation of the TA Plan 2018 -19 through the circulation of questionnaires to Members.  
In total, the Secretariat received responses from 85 beneficiaries, representing approximately 60% 
of total potential beneficia ries.  The information gathered was representative of beneficiaries’ views 
concerning their TA priorities and desired outputs for the 2018 -19 biennium.  It showed that 
beneficiaries' priority needs were, in order of decreasing importance, on the following subjects: 
Trade Facilitation, Services, SPS, TBT, negotiation skills, Trade Remedies, Agriculture, MA for Goods, 
TRIPS, e -Commerce, RTAs, development, Notifications, TPR follow -up and Dispute Settlement.55  
Informal consultations between the Secretariat and  Members held early 2019 confirmed these 
priorities, which have been stable for several years.  The analysis presented in chapter  4 above 
showed that the TA provided by the WTO in 2019  responded to a very large extent to these needs 
and priorities.  
5.90.   Except when preparing a new TA Plan, m ost of the consultations held with Members and 
Observers about their TA needs and priorities are informal and not systematically documented.  This 
was the case when analysing and responding to the requests for national activi ties.  These requests 
always trigger multiple bilateral exchanges between the Secretariat and the authorities of the 
requesting country, to specify more precisely their actual needs in order to design the most suited 
TA activity.  As reported in previous y ears, this process continued to be a challenge for many  
beneficiaries who found it difficult to define precisely the shortcomings they sought to address or 
the objectives they wanted to reach at the end of an activity.  Another difficulty came from request s 
seeking the Secretariat's advice on negotiating strategies, for example for regional trade 
agreements.  As such requests fall clearly outside of the Secretariat's mandate, they had to be 
denied and the requests had to be re -focused.  The result of these consultations is embodied in the 
national activity request eventually submitted.  As indicated in the section 3.1.2 of this report, the 
number of national activity requests declined by 22% compared to the previous year, leading to  a 
commensurate decrease i n the number of needs assessments carried -out. 
5.91.   The focus of nat ional requests submitted in 2019  showed that the need for general capacity 
building remained high ( 13% of the requests).  This confirms the importance of the challenges 
identified by Members du ring the 2018 -19 TA Plan consultations (overall weak institutional capacity 
with a high staff turnover leading to loss of institutional memory).56  Out of the 14 most fre quently 
requested topics in 2019 , 12 had been identified as top priorities in the TA Plan, although not in the 
same order: Notifications, Standards,57 Trade Remedies, MA for Goods, Services, Trade Facilitation, 
Trade Negotiations, TRIPS, Agriculture and e -Commerce.  Topics such as Statist ics and Dispute 
Settlement received a lower priority in national activity requests in 2019, in favo ur of topics such as 
Accession and GPA.  
5.92.   As noted in previous annual reports , needs assessment prior to the delivery of advanced 
activities continued to frequently rely on pre -course questionnaires in one form or another.  The 
responses received were used to tailor the content of the activities to the specificities of the 
 
54 See section 6.1.3 in documents WT/COMTD/W/211 and WT/COMTD/W/27 7/Rev.1, viewed at 
https://docs.wto.org/dol2festaff/Pages/FE_Search/DDFDocuments/239616/q/WT/COMTD/W227R1.pdf . 
55  See section 4 in document WT/COMTD/ W/227/Rev.1.  
56 See section 4 in document WT/COMTD/W/227/Rev.1, viewed at 
https://docs.wto.org/dol2festaff/Pages/FE_Search/DDFDocuments/239616/q/WT/CO MTD/W227R1.pdf . 
57 SPS and TBT were grouped under a single category named Standards to account for activities 
addressing both topics together.  WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 55 - 
 
  particip ating countries.  In 201 9, pre -course questionnaires were used in preparation of the 
advanced thematic courses on  GPA, M A, TRIPS,  Services, SPS,  Rules,  etc.  For the workshop on Q Rs 
for the CEECAC region , as part of the selection process participants had to identify  the challenges 
faced during the preparation of QR notifications in their countries, and to  identif y real notifications 
they would finalise during the workshop.   Applica nts to  the WIPO -WTO Colloquium for Teachers  had 
to identify topical legal and  policy IP issues under debate or review in their country or region.   These 
issues were discussed during the colloquium .  The regional workshop on Antidumping for Latin 
American and Caribbean investigating authorities  discuss ed the coherence between nation al 
approaches and the specificities of the regulatory or judicial environment in the countries concerned, 
based on participants'  response s to the pre -course questionnaire circulated by the Secretariat.  
5.93.   The four country assessments performed  in 2019  (see section 3.3 above) discussed their  TA 
needs with national stakeholders .  These were documented in reports shared widely with Secretariat 
staff involved in TA delivery, mainly through the TA Coordination Task Force.  
5.94.   The 2018 -19 TA Plan saw the TPR (in cluding both the TPR process and TPR follow -up 
activities) as a crucial opportunity to identify TA needs, and referred to TPR s in the indicator for 
Output 1.3.58  In 2019, 16  TPRs were completed, among which 15 concerned TA beneficiary 
Members: Bangladesh, Burundi, Costa Rica, Kenya, Lao s, North Macedonia, Papua New Guinea, 
Peru, Rwanda, Samoa, Suriname, Tanzania, Trinidad  & Tobago and Uganda.   None of these reviews 
analysed the TA  needs of Members.59  The Secretariat carried out 6 national  TPR follow -up acti vities 
in Côte d’Ivoire, Cambodia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Vanuatu.  In all these activities, participants 
discussed TA needs required for the implementation of trade policy reforms recommended by the 
TPR, either as part of a dedicated session or across various sessions of the programme.  
5.95.   The TA Plan had targeted an increase in the number of TA needs assessments conducted 
during the biennium by the Secretariat.  The number of responses to the questionnaire used for 
Members' consultations during the elabora tion of the TA Plan 2016 -17 was used as a baseline 
(71 responses received in 2015) against which the evolution in the needs' assessments for the 
2018-19 biennium would be appraised.  In 2017, 85 responses were received for the identification 
of priority ne eds for the 2018 -19 TA Plan.  Although it predates the reporting year, this figure is 
applicable for the entire biennium and shows a 20% increase compared to the baseline.  This 
improvement is also accomp anied by a consolidation in 2019  of the Secretariat' s efforts (documented 
in previous annual reports) to carry -out needs' assessments as part of the preparation of TA 
activities, as illustrated by the anecdotal evidence mentioned above.  Target met  
5.2.4   Output 1.4: WTO data accessed and used by Members to analys e trade -related 
matter s 
Indicators  Targets  2019 
Visits by Members' logging into the WTO website  Annual stability  Target met  
Number of officials trained annually on what is available 
and how to retrieve the information from WTO databases  Annual increase  Target met  
Number of requests for training on WTO databases  Annual increase  Data not available  
5.96.   Access to relevant and timely data on trade -related matters is key to allow Members and 
Observers to improve their analysis of trade developments and trade negotiating positions.  
According to the responses to the TA questionnaire  used to prepare the TA Plan , the WTO website 
is the main source of information for most TA beneficiaries.   The WTO website is constantly updated, 
and its main features are regularly improved , for example to periodically review its content and to  
include more interactive elements such as videos and links to WTO social media accounts.  The 
public and Members' website were merged  in 2017 to facilitate access .  Journalists have 
subsequently been granted the possibility to create a personal account and since 2019, registration 
is open to any other interested individual.  The features and functionalities of the website vary 
according to the category of users.   For instance, delegates and government officials have access to 
some restricted web pages and to documents through DocsOnline.  
 
58 See Annex 1 in document WT/COMTD/W/227/Rev.1, viewed at 
https://docs.wto.org/dol2festaff/Pages/FE_Search/DDFDocuments/239616/q/WT/COMTD/W227R1.pdf . 
59 This is more frequently done during TPR follow -up activities . WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 56 - 
 
  5.97.  Over the last four years, as 
users became more and more aware of 
the benefits of accessing the website 
by logging  in into the system, the 
number of vi sits has increased 
significantly .  Visits of delegates and 
government officials from Member s 
increased by 21% between 201 8 
(49,927  visits) and 201 9 (60,427 ) and 
more than  doubled between 2016 
(25,218 visits) and 201 9.  Visits from 
Observer s grew from 415 in 201 8 to 
455 in 201 9 (+10%), as growth 
became slower after the initial years.  
The TA Plan target ed stability, which 
was largely exceeded.  Target met  
5.98.   Most users ( 80%) accessed the website in the English language version.  Access to the 
Spanish and French versions of the website represented respectively 14% and 6% of the visits.   
Almost one third of the top users of the WTO website were from developed countries.  Visi ts from 
the US and Russia  each represented around 1 6% of the total, followed by China  (9%), India  (4%) 
and Mexico ( 3%).  Other key users in the top -ten included the UK and Netherlands (approximately 
4% each), France, Canada and Germany (approximately 3% ea ch). 
5.99.  In 2019, the number of visits to the 
WTO web site increased  overall by 67% 
compared to  2018.  Visitors were interested 
in information of a specific nature which 
they filtered through the search tool (23% 
of total views) , followed by WTO news 
(17%) and  Country -related news (14%) .60  
The topics of most interest in 2019 were 
dispute settlement (the archives on dispute 
settlement accounted for 20% of the 
views), in particular for disputes on steel 
and aluminium products and those related 
to the EU energy pa ckage; and trade in 
services (10% of the views).  Other highly 
visited  pages were the Member's gateway, 
through which delegates and government 
officials can consult restricted documents 
(9% of views), the WTO facts page (5%) 
and the DG page (3%).  
 
60 Excluding the homepage which captured 9,371,374  views, as it opens automatically when connecting 
onto the website.  0100200300400500600
010,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,000
2016 2017 2018 2019Visits on WTO Website
Members (left scale) Observers (right scale)
 -  1.0  2.0  3.0  4.0Search pageDS archivesNews gatewayCountry news archiveGATS Q&AMembers gatewayWTO facts pageDG page
Millions of visitsMost viewed pages80%6%14%Visits by Languages
English
French
Spanish16%
16%
9%
4%3%52%Visits by regions
USA
Russia
China
India
Mexico
OtherWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 57 - 
 
  5.100.   The Secretariat provides a wide array of online and face -to-face activities t o enhanc e 
participants' ability to access WTO data and related information.   In 201 9, the Secretariat organised 
64 such activities at the global, regional and national levels, less than in 2018 but slightly more than 
in 2017  (69 in 201 8 and 62 in 201 7).  Training on information sources and databases was either 
part of activities for generalists (e.g. Introduction Course for LDCs, I TPCs, ATPCs , long-term 
internships , etc. ) or of thematic  activities for specialists (e.g. on Notification s, Agriculture, NAMA, 
Services, Standards, Trade in Services Statistics, etc. ). 
5.101.   In generalist activities (Introduction Course, ITPCs, Intermediate Course on Priority Issues 
for LDCs and ATPCs) for which building participants' ability to find autonomously WTO -related 
information is one of the main objectives, several sessions were dedicated to presenting WTO 
information tools and resources.  In 201 9, 355 participants , long-term interns and YPs were taught 
how to access WTO tariff information and trade data, where to find informati on on the WTO website, 
library and DocsOnline, and how to use other tools such as the Integrated Trade Intelligence Portal, 
databases on non -tariff measures (e.g. ePing, IMS, etc.) and tools for trade analysis.  
5.102.   In 201 9, at least 50 subject -specific face-to-face activities covered training on information 
resources.61  For instance, three  national activities on services statistics and two on notification 
obligations brought together 124 and 67 participants respectively.  Another three TBT activities 
trained 980 participants on the ePing alert system .62 
5.103.   Four online courses incorporating specific modules on accessing WTO data and information 
are available : the course s on WTO Market Intelligence and on Transparency and Notific ation 
Obligations which have long been  part of the  e-Learning portfolio and are available in the three WTO 
languages ; and two courses  updated and  made available in the three WTO languages  in 201 9 on 
"Doc Online  e-Subscription " and "Agriculture IMS" (see se ction 3.4.1).   In 2019, 269 participants 
were trained through these four courses . 
5.104.   In total , these activities benefited 2,5 82 participants (1 9.86% of the total participation in all 
WTO TA in 201 9).  This figure has improved progressively over the last three  years (2,374 in 2017  
and 2 ,542 in 2018 ).  The TA Plan target ed an annual increase in the number of officials trained.  
Target met  
5.105.   The TA Plan had also identified the number of requests for training on WTO databases as an 
indicator for this output.  Such i nformation is not available as most of the requests for activities 
received by the Secretariat are not sufficiently detailed  and focus first on the subject rather than the 
means to address it (e.g. through accessing WTO information).  Data not available  
 
61 Counting only those activities including a specific objective on access to WTO information.  
62 The national workshop on SPS a nd TBT held in  China, brought together 925 government officials, 125 
on-site and 880 by videoconference.  0 500 1000 1500 2000NationalRegionalGlobale-LearningParticipation in activities on 
access to WTO information
2019 2018 2017 20160 5000 10000 15000NationalRegionalGlobale-LearningParticipation in all WTO activities
2019 2018 2017 2016WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 58 - 
 
  5.3  Key Result 2: Acceding governments are participating in accession negotiations  
Indicator  Target  2019  
Number of Acceding governments, including LDCs, with a 
formal or informal Working Party meeting held  Annual increase  Target partially met  
5.106.   The Annual Report on WTO Accessions for 
2019 presented the main developments of the 
year on the accession front, reporting  mixed 
progress in the 22 ongoing accessions .63  The 
focus was on the accessions of Belarus, Bosnia & 
Herzegovina and Comoros, which we re identified 
as strategic priorities, since their accessions 
could be concluded in 2020, based on the level of 
technical advancement of the dossiers.  Efforts 
were made to reactivate the accessions of 
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Leban on, 
Serbia and  Uzbekistan, while work was still in 
activation process with Somalia and Timor -Leste 
after the establishment of their Working Parties.  
5.107.   In 2019, four formal Working Party meetings , one plurilateral meeting and n o informal 
Working Party meeting were held:  
a. four formal Working Party meetings were held (4 in 2018 for 4 countries, 7 in 2017 for 
5 countries):  Bahamas (one meeting), Belarus (two meetings) and South Sudan (one 
meeting);  
b. one meeting addressing specific technical issues in the area of agriculture was  held for 
Belarus, as in 2018;  
c. no informal meeting and no technical verification meeting (as in 2018).  
5.108.   The TA Plan targeted an annual increase , which did not materialise in 2019, even if  the 
number remains above the 2016 baseline (three meetings).  Target partially met  
5.109.   Six documents were prepared or revised 
during the year as opposed to 4 in 2018: the 
Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime 
(MFTR) of South Sudan was circulated; the MFTR 
of Uzbekistan was updated; A Factual Summary 
of Points Raised was revised for the Working Party 
on the accession of the Bahamas; a Factual 
Summary of Points Raised was revised for the 
Working Party on the accession of Sudan; a 
Factual Summary of Points Rais ed was revised for 
the Working Party on the accession of Ethiopia; 
and a draft Report of the Working Party was 
revised twice for the accession of Belarus.  The statistics show that the production of documents in 
the field of accession follow the same patte rn already noted at the beginning of section 5.2 above 
for the submission to WTO bodies of substantive documents by developing and LDC Members.  
Beyond unavoidable annual fluctuations, the trend seems stable overall  as the total number of 
accession documents produced in 2019 was in line with the 2015 -19 average  (5.8 documents/ year) . 
  
 
63 WT/ACC/36, viewed at 
https://docs.wto.org/dol2festaff/Pages/SS/d irectdoc.aspx?filename=q:/WT/ACC/36.pdf . 051015
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Accession documents 0510
2016 2017 2018 2019Accession meetings
Plurilateral
meetings
Informal
meetings
Formal
meetingsWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 59 - 
 
  5.3.1   Output 2.1: Acceding governments are familiar with WTO substantive and 
procedural matters  
Indicators  Targets  2019  
Number of participants from acceding governments attending 
Outcome 1 TA activities  Annual stability  Target partially met  
Number of roadmaps and endgame plans designed  Annual stability  Target met  
5.110.   In 2019, as in the previous year, 15 out of the 22 Observers had an a ctive accession process.  
The accessions of Algeria, Andorra, Bhutan, Iran, Libya, Sao Tomé & Principe and Syria were 
inactive.  Acceding governments were invited to 81 face -to-face activities (i.e. 42% of the 
face-to-face activities, against 46% in 2018) and to all 88 online activities, i.e. to 169 TA activities 
in total (185 in 2018: 104 face -to-face activities and 81 online courses).  Libya and Sao Tomé & 
Principe were under administrative measures in category III and their participation to TA activities  
could not be funded .  Three Libyan officials  participated in two regional activities on a self-funded 
basis.  On average, 21 other acceding governments were invited to 46 face -to-face activities each 
(60 in 2018).  
5.111.   In total, 976 acceding countries represen tatives participated in TA activities in 2019, whether 
online or face -to-face ( -34% compared to 2018 , -3% compared to 2016 ).  The share of participants 
from acceding countries in TA activities was at 7%, as it was in 2018.  The TA Plan had targeted 
annual stability compared to 2016 .  Target partially met  
 Observers' participation in TA Activities  
5.112.   Observers' participation continued to evolve towards greater reliance on face -to-face 
activities.  The proportion was almost the opposite of what it was two years ago.  The prevalence of 
national activities  was confirmed (+3 percentage points) .  Regional (+1 percentage point)  and global 
activities (+9 percentage points)  had approximately the same importance , when online courses 
gathered only 30% of the Observe rs' participants (-13 percentage points) , most probably because 
of the change of e -Learning platform (see section 3.4.1 above) .  In absolute terms, Observers' 
participation decreased in online courses (54%) and  in national ( -31%) and regional ( -27%) 
activi ties and increased in global activities (+108%).  13 national activities were held in acceding 
countries (14 in 2018, 7 in 2017).  Uzbekistan hosted four national activities; Belarus three; Serbia 
two; and Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Iraq and South Sudan one each.  In total, national activities 
attracted 411 individuals in 2019 (592 in 2017 and 250 in 2017).  Countries who hosted national 
activities represented 64% of the total Observers' participa nts.  Belarus was the Observer with the 
highest number of p articipants, followed by Uzbekistan, Serbia, Sudan, Ethiopia and South Sudan.  40%
13%
4%43%2018
18%
12%
7%63%2017
National
Regional
Global
E-learning43%
14%13%30%2019WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 60 - 
 
  5.113.   Accession (mainly in national 
activities) and activities with a general 
scope were the most popular subjects in 
2019 (232 participants each) , followed by 
Services (essentially t hrough national 
activities), Agriculture (in an almost 
balanced number between national and 
online activities) and Dispute Settlement 
(principally though national activities).  
5.114.   As in previous years, 
accessions -related TA focused on the 
regions with the largest number of 
ongoing accessions (Africa, CEECAC and 
the Middle East).  The number of 
participants decreased in Africa ( -53%), 
particularly in national activities ( -72%); 
and in the Middle East ( -47%).  It 
increased in CEECAC (+6%), mainly 
through the national activities (+38%).  
In 2019, the Secretariat organized a  new 
2-week training seminar on WTO 
Accession Rules.  This was the first 
specialised training on accession rules, to 
complement the two trainings fo cusing 
on bilateral market access negotiations 
for goods and for services.  
5.115.   In 2019, apparently 8 roadmap s 
were prepared (five in 2018).64  No accession process was mature enough to warrant the 
development of an endgame plan either.  The baseline in the TA P lan was 4 roadmaps in 2016 and 
the target annual stability.  Target met  
5.3.2   Output 2.2: Interested Members have expertise on GPA rules, accession 
negotiations, best practices and core access obligations  
Indicator  Target  2019  
Number of GPA accession -related documents circulated for all 
currently active GPA accessions involving TA -eligible Members  Annual stability  Target partially met  
5.116.   Accession to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) remained active in 2019 : 
Australia acceded in May.65  Five active GPA accession negotiations involv ed TA-eligible Members: 
China, Kyrgyz Republic, North Macedonia, Russia and Tajikistan, and  Kazakhstan initiated its GPA 
accession in December 2019.  
5.117.   The TA provided by the Secretariat to support GPA accession s aims to strengthen 
beneficiaries' negotiating capacity  and build their implementation readiness; and to enhance the 
expertise of non-GPA observers  to help decide on a  possible GPA accession.   Eight T A activities on  
GPA were held in 2019 , against 12 in 2018 and 7 in 2017 : three regional activities (in Mexico for 
Latin America, Kuwait for the Middle  East and Austria for CEECAC), one advanced global course and 
four national activities  (in Côte d'Ivoire, Indonesia, Morocco and a joint activity for Afghanistan and 
Uzbekistan) . 
 
 
 
64 For Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Somalia, South Sudan and 
Sudan, even if section II.4.i of the annual report on Accessions (WT/ACC/36) does not mention Belarus, Bosnia 
& Herzeg ovina, Somalia and Sudan as TA recipients in 2019.  
65 https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/gproc_e/memobs_e.htm . 0 50 100 150 200 250TRIPSStandardsServicesRulesMA for GoodsGPAGeneralEnvironmentDSAgricultureAccessionObservers' participation by Subject
National
Regional
Global
E-learning
0 100 200 300 400 500Middle EastCEECACCaribbeanAsia PacificAfricaObservers' participation by Region
National Regional Global E-learningWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 61 - 
 
  GPA Documents circulated  2016  2017  2018  2019  
Documents related to GPA accessions (GPA/ACC/* Series)  53 25 28 24 
All other GPA Documents66 4 1 - - 
Total 57 26 28 24 
Average Number of documents circulated per GPA acceding Member  9.5 5.2 5.6 4.8 
5.118.   The TA Plan identified the volume of documentation related to GPA accession circulated by 
TA-eligible GPA acceding countries as a proxy to measure the extent to which TA provided by the 
Secretariat enhanced the capacity of Members to effectively complete t heir accession negotiations.  
The total number of documents circulated in 2019 was marginally lower than in 2018 and 2017.  The 
average number of documents per GPA acceding Member stood at 4.8, well below the 2016 level.  
The GPA renegotiation and subsequent accession to the revised version created some inflation in the  
number of GPA accession documents  circulated  in 2016 .  This has been corrected in the TA Plan for 
2020-21, which set a three -year average as a baseline.  A slight decrease in the number of 
documents circulated compared to 2018 can be explained by the fact that several accession countries 
are now in the final phas e of negotiations and are addressing any final issues to be clarified directly 
in bilateral negotiations with interested parties.  The TA Plan targeted stability of this indicator and 
identified the 2016 level as baseline.  Target partially met  
5.4  Key Result 3: Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing WTO issues 
and reaching out to policy makers  
Indicator  Target  2019 
Number of consultative processes in which WTO Chairs or 
young professionals have been involved  Annual stability  Target partially met  
5.119.   The second Phase  of the WTO  Chairs Programme (WCP) was extended by a few months and 
concluded early in 2019.  Phase  II Chairs closed their WCP accounts  at the end of  2018 and presented 
their final report s to the WTO during the first half of 2019.  An independent evaluation of the WCP 
since its inception in 2010 was completed in 2019.  Its report was released in August.  As a result,  
a good part of 2019 was used to windup and close phase II of the WCP , and to develop an approach 
for the continuation of the programme afterwards, based on the recommendations made by the 
independent evaluation.  
5.120.   None of the Chairs received any further financial support from the WTO in 2019, which 
means that any outcome or output reported under this Key Result  was the result of the support 
provided in previous years.  In the absence of a reporting requirement beyond the end of the WCP, 
only five of the six Phase II Chairs  (Benin, Brazil, Oman, South Africa and Tunisia)  provided 
information on their 2019 WCP -related activities , most of which was incomplete.67  Therefore, the 
extent to which the targets for each of the indicators was met was more difficult to assess  and a 
rigorous comparison with previous years  more challenging . 
5.121.   As explained in the 2018 annual repo rt, the number of consultative processes involving WTO 
Chairs was identified  in the 2018 -19 TA Plan as a proxy indicator to assess the Chairs' contribution 
to their country's trade policy formulation.68  The independent evaluation  confirmed that the "Chairs  
have achieved impact at the policy level, although this sometimes happens ‘behind the scenes’, 
informally and not openly.   Chair-holding professors and key academic staff of many Chairs are 
usually influential individuals with good access to policy makers  at national government level and in 
regional and international organisations" .  Since the evaluation  did not distin guish  between the 
results of Phases I and II, it should be assumed that this conclusion is valid for both phases.  
5.122.   According to the informati on received  in 2019 , the Chairs continued to be involved in 
consultative processes  on a variety of trade -related matters .  They reported 13 such processes : 
 
66 This includes documents such as: responses to comments and questions  raised, responses to 
questionnaires on specific topics, compilation of submissions, various statistics, etc.  
67 Turkey did not provide information.  
68 Consultative processes involving the Chairs include consultations with one or more Chair staff 
members, an d any study or policy paper commissioned by the government.  WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 62 - 
 
  a. The deputy Chairholder in Brazil  was appointed  as the Secretary of Foreign Trade of the 
government, which is likely to strengthen the trade policy impact of the Chair.  
b. In Oman, the Chair developed a strong collaboration with the Innovation and Technology 
Transfer Centr e and with other stakeholders from various institutions involved in 
innovati on.  The Chairholder was appoint ed to contribute to  the strategy 2040 on food 
security.  He collaborated with the Chamber of Commerce for economic analysis and was 
involved as a co -investigator on the effect of Oman -FTAs on firm productivity . 
c. In Tunisia, t he Chairholder was appointed as member of the Central Bank Board  to provide 
economic and trade -related advice.  
d. In South Africa, the Chair expanded  its advisory role  with the Western Cape provincial 
government’s trade and investment promotion agency; the Ea stern Cape provincial 
government’s economic development agency,  the Eastern Cape Development Corporation; 
the KwaZulu -Natal provincial government’s trade and investment promotion agency, 
Trade and Investment KwaZulu -Natal; the Free State provincial governm ent’s Department 
of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs; the 
Limpopo provincial government’s Department of Economic Development, Environment and 
Tourism; the North -West provincial government’s North -West Development Corp oration; 
the North -West provincial government’s Department of Economic Development, and 
Environment, Conservation and Touris m. 
5.123.   The 2018 -19 TA Plan targeted  an annual stability in the number of consultative process in 
which the Chairs were involved  with a baseline of 13 processes in 2016.  In 2018, 17 processes were 
recorded.  With the Chair of Turkey representing nearly 30% of the consultations considered in this 
indicator in 2018, the drop to only  13 processes observed in 2019 could be attributed t o 
under -reporting.  Target  partially m et 
5.124.   The WCP independent  evaluation highlighted that "financial support of WTO to the Chairs, in 
most cases,  was complemented by significant efforts by the Chair  [holder] s and their host 
institutions to ensure that planned activities and outputs were achieved.  This own contribution of  
host academic institutions to the Chair  [holder] s generally provides good prospects for continuing 
activities of the Chairs".   This section  attempt s to confirm  the robustness of this finding after the 
termination of the WCP financial support to the Chairs,  although underreporting in 2019 makes it 
difficult to draw definite conclusions in this regard.  
5.125.   Data available on WCP teams  showed an aver age decrease of 53% in the size of the team 
in Brazil, South  Africa and Tunisia, while it remained stable in Benin and Oman.  The WCP teams are 
comprised of faculty members and PhD students.  The yearly variation in the size of WCP teams can 
be explained b y the natural turnover in PhD students  and the  absence  of the WTO grant in 2019.  
 Benin  Brazil  Oman  South Africa  Tunisia  Turkey  
WCP Team in 2016  18 13 4 24 8 10 
WCP Team in 2017  18 10 10 25 9 8 
WCP Team in 2018  18 13 7 40 16 8 
WCP Team in 2019  18 7 6 25 7 N/A 
 
5.4.1   Output 3.1: Research on trade policy and WTO -related matters generated by WTO 
Chairs and other academics through provision of grants  
Indicators  Targets  2019 
Number of publications in internationally peer -reviewed journals  Annual increase  Target met  
Quality of research papers as measured by SJR and SNIP 
ratings of the journals in which the Chairs' research is published  Annual increase  Target met  
5.126.   The research conducted by the  Chairs is usually published through a variety of channe ls and 
has been regrouped in previous TA annual reports into:69 Theses (for Masters' or PhD research), 
 
69 For the second consecutive year, no data was available regarding possible Newsletters published by 
the Chairs.  This category was not considered in the analysis of the evolution of publications over time.  WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 63 - 
 
  Working  Papers (presented in public fora such as seminars or conferences), Books (including book 
chapters) and Journal Articles (published in peer -reviewe d journals).  In 2019, Phase II Chairs did 
not report on thes es or books produced , which means that  Publications  covers only  research outputs 
publicly accessible in the form of Working Papers and Journal Articles.  
5.127.   The number of research outputs for 
2019 is the lowest recorded since 2015  
(-62% compared to  2018).  However, in the 
absence of data from the Chair in Turkey 
and in view of the partial information 
provided by the f ive other  Chairs, no 
conclusion can be drawn on the actual 
volume of research published  in 2019.  In 
2015-18, the Chair of Turkey contribut ed 
approximately 4% of the total research 
attributed to the WCP .  The same trend is 
likely to have continued in 2019 and 
Turke y's absence of reporting only explains 
a very marginal part of the overall decrease  
observed as a result . 
5.128.   A total of 37 publicly accessible 
journal articles and working papers  were 
produced by the Chairs in 2019, against 65 in 
2018 ( -43%).70  The reporting  Chairs 
produced more journal articles  than in 2018 
(17 against 11).  This can safe ly be attributed 
to the support provided by WCP , as in 2018 
the Chairs had reported a pipeline of 24 
research articles  at different stages of 
submission to peer -reviewed journals 
(pending review, peer -reviewed, being 
amended, resubmitted after amendment, 
pending publication).  The TA Plan targeted an 
annual increase in the number of 
peer-reviewed publications .  The baseli ne was 
13 articles published in 2016 .  Target  met 
5.129.   The ranking of the  peer-reviewed journals in which the Chairs publish their articles has been 
used since 2016 as a proxy to measure the quality of their research.  Two systems of journal ranking 
have been  used: SCImago Journal Rank (SJR), which measures the “scientific influence” of scholarly 
journals by accounting for both the number of citations received by a journal and the importance or 
prestige of the journals where citations come from; and Source Nor malised Impact per Paper (SNIP) 
rating, which measures how often a  journal is cited taking into account the citation potential in its 
 
70 This excludes 6 books and 26 theses published or released in 2018, to make a homogeneous 
comparison in the absence of data on books and theses for 2019.  The Turkish Chair published 2 working 
papers and no journal article in 2018.  020406080100
Journal
ArticlesWorking
papersBooks Thesis TotalWTO Chair's Research
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
03691215
Benin Brazil Oman South
AfricaTunisia TurkeyWTO Chairs' Research
Thesis
Books
Working
papers
Journal
Articles
00.20.40.6
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019SJR Average Ratings 
Brazil
Oman
South
Africa
Tunisia
00.20.40.60.81
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019SNIP Average Ratings WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 64 - 
 
  subject.  The SNIP and SJR scores of the Journal of International Economics, which is the primary 
outlet for theoretical a nd empirical research in international economics, are provided as benchmark s. 
Journal  SJR SNIP  
World Customs Journal  (South Africa)  0.139  N/A 
Social Indicators Research  (South Africa)  0.881  1.36 
Journal of Indian Ocean Region  (South Africa)  0.297  N/A 
Sustainability  (South Africa)  0.171  0.300  
Int. Journal of Economics and Management  (South Africa)  0.179  0.520  
Acta oeconomica  (South Africa)  0.311  0.780  
Int. Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change  (South Africa)  0.187  0.310  
International Economic Journal  (South Africa)  0.194  0.550  
Energy Economics  (Tunisia)  2.003  1.830  
Journal of International Trade and Economic Dev.  (Tunisia)  0.420  0.930  
Journal of Economic Integration  (Tunisia)  0.21 0.55 
Review of Development Economics  (Tunisia)  0.396  0.720  
Economics Bulletin  (Tunisia)  0.193  0.310  
Int. Journal of Energy Economics and Policy (Oman)  0.465  1.27 
SAGE Open (Oman)  0.241  0.57 
Review of Middle East Economics and Finance (Oman)  N/A N/A 
Asian Journal of Empirical Research (Oman)  N/A N/A 
Average  0.42 0.77 
Journal of International Economics  2.67 3.72 
5.130.   Fifteen  and 13 out of the 17 articles published by the Chairs in 2019 were published in 
journals for which SJR or SNIP ratings were respectively available.  For these journals, the average 
SJR was 0. 42 and the average SNIP 0.7 7, above  the average s achieved in 2016 (baseline) and 2018  
for both ratings (0.38 and 0.34 for SJR; and 0.69 and 0.61 for SNIP respectively ).  The evolution of 
the average SJR and SNIP scores of the publications of the Chairs during Phase II tends to indicate 
a slow improvement of the quality of the published articles.  Chairs of South Africa, Tunisia and 
Oman are publishing in journals with SJR/SNIP rankings on a regular basis.  The TA Plan targeted 
an annual increase in both ratings.  Target met  
5.4.2   Output 3.2: Courses developed by the relevant academic institutions have WTO 
content and students are being trained on WTO -related subjects by the WTO and its Chairs  
Indicator  Target  2019 
Number of students in WTO -related courses or getting a degree per year  Annual 
increase  Data not 
available  
5.131.   The TA Plan  targeted an annual increase in the number of students in WTO -related courses.  
No data was provided by Phase II Chairs on the number of undergraduate and graduate students 
who benefitted from training on WTO -related topics in 2019.  Data not available  
5.132.   The total number of newly 
designed or updated courses 
introduced by the Chairs dropped to 
its lowest level since 2015 with only 8 
courses developed against 40 courses 
in 2018.   In 2015 -18, the Chair of 
Turkey contributed approximately 9% 
of the total new or u pdated courses 
attributed to the WCP.  If the same 
trend continued in 2019, Turkey's 
absence of reporting only explains a 
marginal part of the overall decrease 
observed.   The decrease was most 
probably the result of  the absence of 
WCP grants.  South Africa  remained 
the best performing Chair in this  area for the third consecutive year.  This Chair dedicated less than 
10% of the WCP budget to curriculum development during the 2015 -18 period, which may have 
made this activity less vulnerable to the end of the WCP funding.  01020304050
Benin Brazil Oman South
AfricaTunisia Turkey TotalNew or Updated Courses
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 65 - 
 
  5.133.   New courses  and programmes developed during the year sought to address the latest 
developments and challenges in international trade.  The Chair in Oman developed a training course 
on Trade in Ideas, in collaboration with the Innovation & Technology Transfer Centre at SQU, on the 
theory and functions of the patent market.  The co urse targeted PhD and MSc students, university 
professionals, ministr y officials , the Research Council (TRC) and innovation stakeholders from 
various institutions  in Oman.   The Chair in South Africa updated its course on Advanced Research 
Methodology with a focus  on Trade Analysis, also using updated sources and material s and initiated 
work on  a new module on International Cargo Movement and Transportation Management.  
5.134.   As in previous  years, several partnerships  supported curriculum development and 
diversific ation by the Chairs.  For example, the WCP team in Brazil and in Argentina joined forces to 
carry out a research project on digital trade under  current legislation in both countries  that was used 
to update the curriculum in Brazil.  The Chair in South Africa signed an MoU with UNECA (IDEP) and 
another  with the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh to develop its post -doctoral programme . 
5.4.3   Output 3.3: The WTO Chairs are reaching out to other stake holders and key 
decision -makers  
Indicators  Targets  2019 
Number of outreach events per year  Annual increase  Target not met  
Involvement of key decision -makers  Annual increase  Data not available  
5.135.   The third pillar of the  WCP requires the Chairs to increase the visibility of WTO -related 
academic research and its influence on trade policy formulation by reaching out to decision makers 
and other stakeholders.  
5.136.   The number of outreach events 
organized by the Chairs in 2019 dropped 
to its lowest level since 2015, with only 
15 events organized by the five reporting 
Phase II Chairs  (-76% compared to 2018) .  
In 2015 -18, the Chair of Turkey 
contributed approximately 10% of  the 
total outreach events attributed to the 
WCP on average .  If the same trend 
continued in 2019, Turkey's absence of 
reporting only explains a marginal part of 
the overall decrease observed.  In 2019, 
each of the five reporting Chairs organized 
2.5 event s on average, against 11 in 
2018.  Brazil recorded the highest number 
of events, while Benin the lowest.  The TA plan targeted an annual increase in the total number of 
events.  Target not met  
5.137.   The size of the audience  attending the events organized by the Chairs in 2019 was not 
reported .  However, based on the information on the outreach events posted on the WCP e -platform, 
it would seem that these events continued to attract a significant number of participants, including 
high level policy  makers.   The WCP  independent evaluation concluded that " the Chairs ….in many 
occasions have been able to reach out to policymakers and other relevant external stakeholders ".  
The participation of key decision makers in these events is used as a proxy to assess the impact  of 
the Chairs' outreach efforts.  Key trade policy makers include trade officials and civil servants from 
the various ministries, regulatory bodies and other public agencies involved in the formulation of the 
national trade policy.  The TA Plan had target ed an increase in the involvement of key 
decision -makers during the year, which cannot be verified for 2019.  Data not available  
5.4.4   Output 3.4: Young professionals under the Young Professional Programme are 
exposed to WTO issues and work  
Indicators  Targets  2019 
Number of YPs hosted annually by the WTO  Per year: 15  Target partially met  
Final evaluation rate of each YP by their supervisor  100% fully satisfactory  Target met  0102030Outreach Events
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 66 - 
 
  5.138.   Out of the 1,105 applications initially received, only 111 from 33 different Members 
(229 from 47 Members out of 1,502 applications in 2018, i.e. -52%) met the requirements and 
priorities of the Young Professionals  Programme (YPP) .  Based on merit, 15 candidates were selected, 
but two of them declined the WTO offer due to  other engagements and could not be replaced.  
Priority was again given to candidates from Members with no professional representation in the 
Secretariat.  In its third year of existence, the YPP welcomed 13 Young Professionals (YPs) from 
developing and LD C Members  in 2019,71 who were hosted in 12 different Secretariat divisions for a 
period of 12 months (January to December 2019).72  Nationals from 45 non-represented Members 
have benefited from th e YPP since its inception in 2017 .  Target partially met 
5.139.   The specific objectives of each YP were defined jointly with their respective supervisors at 
the beginning of the programme  and progress towards their achievement was regularly monitored 
thereafter.  All 13 YPs indicated that they fully achieved their spec ific objectives; benefited 
tremendously from the Programme; and enhanced their knowledge of the WTO.  They expanded 
their professional network in the WTO community . 
5.140.   The YPs made valuable contributions to the work of their respective divisions , under the 
supervision of a senior staff member .  Some of their key achievements include: contributing to 
papers and reports issued by the Secretariat relating to Accessions, Dispute Settlement, trade 
statistics and TPRs; updating of the DS Analytical Index, TA Handb ook on Notifications; publications 
concerning the SDGs, A4T and LDCs; assisting in servicing WTO bodies, attending meetings and 
preparing minutes; and, preparing and co -delivering presentations in TA events held in Geneva.  The 
YPs' supervisors were very p leased with the quality of their work .  In the ir final evaluations , 5 YPs 
were rated as having significantly exceed ed performance re quirements and the 8 others as fully 
satisfactory.   This exceeds the target in the TA Plan of 100% fully satisfactory rating s.  Target met  
5.5  Key Result 4: Non -governmental stakeholders and legislators are aware of and 
knowledgeable about WTO work and issues  
Indicator  Target  2019  
Richness of debates and reports on trade issues, diversity of WTO -related 
topics covered by papers pr oduced by this group of stakeholders  Annual stability  Data not 
available  
5.141.   In 2019, the outreach activities focused on the preparation for MC12, the impact of current 
trade tensions on the MTS and WTO reform.  Six activities were organised at the global and regional 
levels to raise the awareness on trade -related matters of non -traditional audiences, such as 
legislators, journalists and repre sentatives of civil society.  The WTO is also usin g social media to 
reach out to a larger public of non -specialists.  For example, the communication on the WTO official 
Twitter account about regional activities for Africa, Asia -Pacific, CEECA C and Latin America registered 
a total of 174,484 views.  
  Public Forum Participation73 
 
71 The YPs we re from: Afghanistan; Cambodia; Haiti; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Liberia; Macao, 
China; Maldives; Namibia; Oman; Papua New Guinea; Sri Lanka; and Tajikistan.  
72 One YP left Geneva mid -September, one early October and a third at the end of November.  
73 In the absence of media reports and statements made by this category of stakeholders, the diversity 
of participation in the Public Forum was taken as a proxy although the Public Forum is not a TA activity per se.  16%
15%
15%
12%12%13%5%3%1%
8%2017
18%
14%
17%13%13%10%5%1%1%
8%2018
24%
12%
15% 13%12%11%4%2%1%
6%2019Business
NGO
Student
Academia
IGO
Government
Lawyer
MP
Journalist
OtherWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 67 - 
 
  5.142.   The WTO Public Forum is the WTO largest annual outreach event.  It gathers for four days 
in Geneva hundreds of people from diverse backgrounds.  In 2019, 1,598 individ uals participated 
on the theme "Trading Forward: Adapting to a Changing World” (1,268 in 2018 and 1,221 in 2017), 
including MPs, leading global businesspeople, students, academics and non -governmental 
organisations.  Academics and students represented almo st 30% of the participants, representatives 
from NGOs and IGOs 24%, representatives from the private sector 24%, etc.  Since 2016, the 
proportion of private sector participants grew by 50%, whereas it decreased by 20% for NGOs.  With 
minor annual fluctuati ons, the proportions for other categories have been stable.  
5.143.   The TA Plan had identified the richness of debates and reports on trade issues and the 
diversity of WTO -related topics covered by papers produced by non -governmental stakeholders and 
legislators a s the indicator to measure the achievement of the Key Result.  It referred to the diversity 
of participants in the Public Forum, media reports and statements by stakeholders as a source of 
evidence of this richness and diversity.   Unfortunately, data on me dia reports and the statements 
made by legislators, business associations and NGOs following these activities were not available in 
2019.  The diversity of participants in the Public Forum is consequently the only source of evidence 
available.  The TA Plan  targeted annual stability.  Data not available  
5.5.1   Output 4.1: Specific outreach activities organised for legislators, journalists, 
business and NGOs on WTO issues and trade policies  
Indicator  Target  2019  
Number of seminars, workshops conducted  Annual stability  Target partially met  
5.144.   The Secretariat held six outreach 
activities in 2019, at regional (4) and global 
levels (2).  This was one activity less than in 
2018 and slightly below the average of the last 
four years.  Regional activities were held in 
South Africa and Morocco for English and 
French -speaking participants in the African 
region, in Austria for CEECAC and in Singa pore 
for Asia -Pacific.  The activities scheduled in the 
Middle East and Latin America were cancelled 
because of local political situations.  Two global 
seminars for participants from developing 
countries took place in Geneva: in May for 
English -speaking jo urnalists and in June for 
Spanish -speaking journalists.   The TA Plan targeted stability compared to the 2016 level.  Target 
partially met  
5.5.2   Output 4.2: Improved understanding by journalists, civil society and business of 
WTO issues and trade policies  
Indicat or Target  2019  
Number of key stakeholders reached during the year  Annual stability  Target not met  
5.145.   The regional activity for English -speaking Africa in South Africa gathered 33 representatives 
from civil society and 21 journalists from various countries in the region.   They discussed the roles 
and missions of the WTO, the current status of negotiations and the challenges and opportunities 
for the Southern Africa region in the MTS.  The CEECAC regional workshop for members of parliament  
(MPs - 18 participants) , now on its third year in partnership with the Joint Vienna Institute, engage d 
legislators on the importance of the WTO and the MTS in preparation for  MC12 to be held in 
Kazakhstan.  The 10th regional workshop for Asia-Pacific gathered 60 MP s in Singapore to discuss  
the post-MC11 agenda and raising trade tensions.  Multi-stakeholder consultation s on MC12 w ere 
held in Marrakech in December , in partnership with the OIF, and gathered  33 participants from 
diverse constituencies in Africa, including senior government officials, representatives from African 
Regional Economic Communities, Geneva -based delegates, private sector, and academics.  02468
2016 2017 2018 2019Outreach activities
Global
Regional
NationalWT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 68 - 
 
  5.146.   Two global seminars on international trade pol icy for English and Spanish -speaking 
journalists were organised in Geneva in partnership with FES, gathering 14 and 17 journalists 
respectively.   Enhancing the volume and quality of the media coverage of the WTO and trade issues 
in developing countries, an d in Africa in particular, is one of the priorities of the Secretariat in terms 
of outreach.  These activities built the capacity of journalists on trade -related matters and taught 
them how to retrieve autonomously WTO -related data and information through various sources.  
5.147.   Other  opportunities for contacts and outreach with MPs  generally include  the Parliamentary 
Conference on WTO (PCWTO), a joint undertaking of the Inter -Parliamentary Union and the 
European Parliament, that brings legislators' perspectives o n international trade and the WTO to the 
attention of negotiators and other stakeholders.  No PCWTO was held in 2019, as organizers decided 
to have it coincide with  MC12.   Since t he conference brings together an average of over 300 
legislators specialized on trade issues in their respective parliaments, its absence had a big impact 
on the total MPs reached in 2019  compared to 2018.   The WTO reached out to the Mediterranean 
MPs through the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean in meetings held in Serbi a and Italy.  
5.148.   Overall, the six outreach activities and the international meetings of MPs reached 
246 legislators, 56 journalists and 37 representatives of the civil society (NGOs and private sector).  
The cancellation or postponement of some activities cont ributed to lower numbers compared to 
previous years.  The baseline in the TA Plan was 492 legislators, 37 journalists and 50 civil society 
reached in 2016.  The target was annual stability.  Target not met  
5.5.3   Output 4.3: Improved access to WTO issues through online training material for 
self-study  
Indicator  Target  2019  
Number of downloaded training materials  Annual stability  Target met  
5.149.   This Output was introduced by the TA Plan 2018 -19.  It seeks to capture information related 
to the access of WTO online training materials for self -study by individuals not eligible to register for 
WTO online courses.  Access to WTO online courses is restr icted to government officials from 
developing countries.  Other stakeholders such as academics, the private sector, legislators, etc. or 
government officials from developed countries cannot register for these courses.   Since 2015, the 
Secretariat monitors the use of the Training Material Request (TMR) facility.   The data collected show 
a continued interest from non -traditional TA audiences.  
5.150.   The WTO received 1,996  TMRs  in 
2019, the lowest level since 2016, 59% less 
than in 2018, 63% less than in 2017 and 56% 
less than in 2016.  As explained in section 
3.4.1 above , the launch of  a new distance 
learning platform in 2019 had a significant 
impact on online participation.  The TMRs rely 
on the same platform and their volume w as 
affected in similar proportions.   46 TMRs were 
submitted through the old platform prior to its 
decommissioning and 1 ,950 through the new 
one (1,416 in English; 386 in Spanish; and 
148 in French ).  All regions were affected , to 
different extent .  Asia-Pacific (28%), Latin 
America (27%) and developed countries (19%) re presented  a higher share of requests compared to 
previous years.  TMRs from Africa (17%) and the Caribbean (2%) dropped significantly while CEECAC 
(6%) and Middle East (1%) remained stable.  The new platform allows participants, once registered, 
to select the training material s of their choice.  The difference with the past is that the new system 
gives them an automatic access to the materials for self -study without any need  for further approv al.  
Therefore, all the new TMRs were satisfied.  Regarding those submitted under the previous platform, 
85% (39 out of 46) TMRs were satisfied by the Secretariat.  This is a marked improvement compared 
to the two previous years: 81% in 201 8 and 76 % in 201 7.  The TA Plan had targeted annual stability 
at the 2016 level.  Target met   -  500  1,000  1,500AfricaAsia PacificCaribbeanCEECACLatin AmericaMiddle EastDevelopedTMR by Region
2019
2018
2017
2016WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 69 - 
 
  5.151.   More than half of the TMRs (6 5%) 
were presented by academics, showing a 
continuous growth of interest by this kind of 
audience, followed by the private (17%) and 
public sector s (14% , a very significant 
reduction ).  The remaining 4% was shared 
between NGOs, journalists and other civil 
society representative s.  The origin of TMRs 
by profiles was different across regions.  In 
Latin America, Asia -Pacific and the 
Caribbean, academics accounted for over 
70% of the TMRs and the private sector for 
less than a fifth, whereas in the other regions, the proportion of T MRs submitted by academics and 
the private sector was sligthly more balanced (67% and 23% in CEECAC, 57% and 24% in the 
Middle -East, 52% and 25% in Africa).  Since government officials from developed countries are not 
entitled to benefit from TA, requests for self -study materials from this audience is bigger than in 
other regions with 38% of requests coming from the public sector, 40% from academia and 19% 
from the private sector.  
5.152.   In terms of subject, General training on the WTO Agreements (3 4%), TRIPS (1 8%), Market 
Access for Goods (1 2%), Standards (11%) and Agriculture ( 9%) attracted together 80% of the TMRs  
as in 2018.   The most frequently accessed self -study courses were: "Introduction to the WTO" 
(12%); "Trade Facilitation Agreement" (6%); "Dispute Sett lement System" (5%); "Trade Economics 
– Theory and Policy" (4%); and "Technical Barriers to Trade" (4%).  
5.5.4   Output 4.4: Information on trade -related TA provided, including through the ITTC 
Newsletter  
Indicator  Target  2019  
Number of views  Annual stability  Data not available  
5.153.   The Secretariat uses several channels to disseminate 
information on its TA activities.  These channels include the 
WTO website, social media and a Newsletter on TRTA.  Access 
to information through the WTO website was discussed in 
section 5.2.4 above.  Social media channels are increasingly 
used by the Secretariat to give visibility to its TA activities.  
For instance, promotion materials such as short videos and 
media stories were used to promote the YPP in 2019.  This was 
very effective in disseminating i nformation on this relatively 
new programme, helping to triple the applications received 
between the first three years.  The Secretariat disseminates 
information on its TA activities through the TRTA Newsletters 
since 2009.   This electronic publication is issued once or twice 
a year in the three WTO languages.74  In 2019, the Secretariat 
published a Newsletter in April.  It included a summary of the 
negotiations on fisheries subsidies, presented the objectives 
of WTO TA and recalled the importance of volunta ry 
contributions for TA.  TA on notification s in Africa,  the 
importance of trade and women empowerment  and progress 
in the implementation of t he YPP since its launch in 2016  were 
addressed in special focus articles.   A list of TA activities 
planned in the second part of the year was also included.  
5.154.   The European rules for mass distribution through e -mails changed in 2018, making the 2016 
baseline included in the TA Plan obsolete.  Addressees are now required to explicitly authorise the 
communication from the sender, which reduced considerably the number of Newsletter recipients.  
Whilst circulation figures now look much less impressive, they may be more realistic.  The newsletter 
was sent by email to 3 ,664 recipients, who had accepted to receive informative em ails from the 
 
74 Two editions were issued in 2015 and 201 7, and one in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019.  
 -  1,000  2,000  3,000  4,000Public sectorPrivate sectorOtherAcademiaTraining Material Sent by Profile
2019
2018
2017
2016WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 70 - 
 
  Secretariat .  This represented a 22% outreach increase compared to 2018.   However, the 
penetration rate, proportion of actual readers among the recipients, decreased from 52% in 2018 to 
41% in 2019.  This could signal a need to better adapt t he newsletter format and approach to users' 
expectations in order to strengthen outreach results.  In terms of language preferences, most 
readers downloaded the Newsletter in English (59%).  French (22%) and Spanish (19%) readers 
shared the rest.   The News letter generated a total of 1 ,488 clicks on the WTO website in 2019.   The 
stability targeted by the TA Plan cannot be assessed, due to the change of the regulatory 
environment.  Data not available  
_______________  
  
  WT/COMTD/W/256  
 
- 71 - ANNEX I  
FOLLOW -UP ON THE REC OMMENDATIONS OF THE TA EX TERNAL EVALUATION  
The details of the WTO Management Response to the various recommendations of the 2016 external evaluation can be found in document 
WT/COMTD/90.  They have not been reproduced here to make the table easier to read.  The true meaning of Agreed  or Partially agreed  in the table 
below refers to the comments contained in the Management Response.  
 
# Recommendation  WTO Response  Action until 2019 Status  
1 Use the review and response to this Evaluation as the 
first opportunity in a decade to consider and 
communicate the Organization's agreed commitment, 
vision and basic approach to technical assistance, taking 
account of the strong base established and remaining 
challenges identified.  Agreed  • Progress of implementation of the 
recommendations of the 2016 external 
evaluation presented to the CTD on 5 July 
2018 as part of the agenda item dedicated  
to 2017 TA Annual Performance Report 
(WTO/AIR/COMTD/14/R ev.1, item C.) . Implemented/ 
ongoing  
2 If justified by the results of this deliberation, re ‑affirm the 
crucial role and need for sufficiently substantial and 
reliable Regular Budget allocations as the contribution by 
all Members to maintaining the foundations of the TA 
programme and recognise voluntary support to a Global 
TA Trust Fund as the most essential supplementary 
funding for TA activities.  This is more 
appropriate for 
Members  • Decrease in GTF carry -over balance since 
2014 highlighted in the 2017 TA Annual 
Report (WT/COMTD/W/235 - section 3.1.1.) . 
• Members strongly supported the need for 
continuous replenishment of the GTF during 
the CTD held on 5 July 2018 . 
• ITTC enhanced the visibility of GTF donors 
on the WTO TA webpage to encourage 
contributions . Implemented/ 
ongoing  
3 Include a commitment to use WTO's TA activities wherever 
possible to strengthen sustainable training capacities 
within beneficiary countrie s and regions, e.g., by engaging 
more local trainers, academic centres, and past 
participants in WTO training. In consultation with delivery 
partners, the Secretariat should identify and share existing 
good practices and promising candidates for these role s. Partially agreed – 
This will also  
need to involve 
Members  • Members validated the continuation of past 
approach.  
• Good practice to strengthen sustainable 
training capacity is highlighted in TA Annual 
Performance Reports as appropriate.  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
4 Use the reviews of Annual TA Reports and biennial Plans 
as more important strategic openings than in the past to 
take stock of progress and key issues in WTO's TA.  This is more 
appropriate for 
Members  • The 2016 Annual Performance Report on TA 
and Training (WT/COMTD/W/235) was 
discussed in the CTD meeting of 5 July 2018 
(WTO/AIR/COMTD/14/R ev.1, item C.) . Implemented/ 
ongoing   
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- 72 - # Recommendation  WTO Response  Action until 2019 Status  
5 Strengthen mechanisms at Senior Management level for 
strategic monitoring, direction and problem ‑solving in this 
area of shared responsibility across the Organization. It 
should be supported by a clearly ‑mandated 
inter‑divisional task force chaired by ITTC and charged 
with identifying cross ‑cutting problems and opportunities 
and proposing appr opriate actions.  Partially agreed  • TACTF continued to provide input and 
guidance to streamline TA workflows and to 
select the most suitable way to integrate 
them in TAMS.  
• TAMS promotes the shared responsibility for 
TA results across the Secretariat ( chapter 3 
of the report).  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
6 Ensure that adequate administrative resources (financial 
and human) are made available to maintain and extend 
the investment to date in WTO's improving TA capacity. 
As the key organising and co ordinating centre for TA, the 
longstanding structures and staffing of ITTC should be 
reviewed and if necessary revised to ensure that they can 
meet the needs of a transformed Programme.  Agreed  • Further reorganisation took place in ITTC in 
2019 as a result of natural staff movements 
(i.e. internal mobility, retirement, etc.). 
Resources will continue to be re -allocated 
within ITTC according to evolving TA 
priorities.  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
7 Seek agreement and suggestions from beneficiary 
Members for direct focal point contacts in capitals to 
expedite and follow up essential and timely 
communications with all relevant stakeholders in country 
(e.g., on needs assessments, course nominations) while 
keeping Geneva missions fully informed.  Partially agreed – 
This will also  
need to involve 
Members  • In view of Members' decision in 2017 not to 
pursue this recommendation, it is considered 
closed with no further action required.  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
8 Re‑double efforts to produce the most user ‑friendly 
information materials possible on course offerings and 
take all available steps to ensure that they reach all the 
appropriate target users in good time (i.e. not just core 
or focal point ministries).  Agreed – This 
will also need to 
involve Members  • An onlin e calendar of events was established 
and is broadly accessible on WTO public 
website.  
• This webpage was presented to Members 
during the CTD meeting on 05 July 2018 and 
disseminated widely through existing 
channels (e.g. through existing Committee's 
distribu tion lists, ITTC newsletter, e-Learning 
social media accounts, etc.).  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
9 Consider and propose options for opening up at least 
some WTO training courses or topics (e.g., in e ‑learning) 
to wider audiences in all countries, perhaps on a 
fee‑paying basis.  Agreed – This 
will also need to 
involve Members  • In view of Members' rejection of options 
presented in WT/COMTD/W/226, this 
recommendation is considered closed with 
no further action required.  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
10 In collaboration with Members, improve the selection 
process for intermediate and advanced courses to ensure 
the level of participants is more uniform.  Partially agreed – 
This will also  
need to involve 
Members  • Selection process reviewed by the TACTF at 
its meeting of 8 February 2018 considering 
trainers' experience , participants' feedback  
and input from beneficiary Members.  
• Current selection system is efficient and 
does not require revision.  Implemented/ 
ongoing   
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- 73 - # Recommendation  WTO Response  Action until 2019 Status  
11 Continue to monitor and report on participation of women 
and men with a view to addressing remaining gender 
imbalances of participation in WTO TA.  Agreed – This 
will also need to 
involve Members  • Same approach since 2012.  
• Data for 2017 in WT/COMTD/W/235 Section 
4.7. Implemented/ 
ongoing  
12 Study and propose ways to share good practices and 
otherwise help Members grapple with informing and 
engaging private sector actors in WTO ‑related issues 
affecting them. One suggestion was made for a 
specifically designed course for the private sector w hich 
the government could request as a national level activity.  Agreed – This 
will also need to 
involve Members  • No action suggested by Members in the TA 
Plan 2018 -2019 (WT/COMTD/W/227/Rev.1, 
Section 3,3,5 par. 56).  Therefore, this 
recommendation is closed with no further 
action required.  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
13 Reinforce the staff capacity to service the interacti ve 
requirements of the vital e ‑learning courses, including 
accessible service across time ‑zones.  Partially agreed – 
Already partially 
implemented  • No change in staff allocation to e -Learning in 
the context of zero nominal budget growth.  
• This recommendation is considered closed.  
However, it could be revisited , should the TA 
regular budget increase . Implemented/ 
ongoing  
14 Examine and report on the pros and cons of discontinuing 
the "Advanced Trade Policy Course" (ATPC) in favour of 
expanded advanced offerings at the regional level, 
allowing for wider participation and deeper 
contextualisation. Also consider the possibility of short 
executive courses suitable for the ministerial or 
permanent secretary levels.  Partially agreed – 
This w ill also  
need to involve 
Members  • Ad hoc informal exchanges with Geneva -
based delegates from TA beneficiaries and 
feedback collected through TA evaluation 
activities (in -country assessments and ex -
post evaluations) carried in 2019 confirm ed 
the ATPC relevan ce and its unique features.  
• Adjustments continued to the ATPC 
curriculum and a "framework" for 
consultation and feedback loop among 
trainers and course coordinators was 
introduced to identify areas in need of 
update or upgrade.  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
15 Investigate and report on the possibilities for developing 
new training options to follow ‑up on recommendations 
from Trade Policy Reviews (TPR).  Agreed – Already 
partially 
implemented –  
This will also  
need to involve 
Members  • Investigation s and  Members ' consultation in 
2017 did not lead to any other training 
option ( see WT/COMTD/W/227/Rev.1 
Section 3.3.5 and §§ 59 and 133) .  The 
recommendation was closed with no further 
action required.  
• The Secretariat will continue to report on 
approaches used in TPR follow -up activities, 
as appropriate ( chapter 3 in 
WT/COMTD/W/245 ). Implemented/ 
ongoing   
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- 74 - # Recommendation  WTO Response  Action until 2019 Status  
16 Safeguard the credibility and usefulness of national and 
regional courses by ensuring sufficient advance 
consultation in countries so that "off ‑the‑shelf" 
presentations are tailored to specific contexts, and by 
soliciting specific questions or pertinent issues of 
stakeholders prior to the training.  Agreed – This 
will also need to 
involve Members  • Improvements of course materials and 
curricula are reported in chapter  3 of this 
report.  
• Efforts will continue to expand this positive 
trend through dissemination of good 
practice.  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
17 In collaboration with the External Relations Divis ion, 
examine and propose alternative approaches to reference 
centres to help Members provide information and 
outreach on WTO issues to key opinion ‑leaders in tune 
with current technologies.  Agreed – This 
will also need to 
involve Members  • After Members' consultation in 2017 (see  
WT/COMTD/W/227/Rev.1 Section 3.3.5 and 
§ 57), the recommendation was closed with 
no further action required.  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
18 In light of the planned final evaluation of the WTO Chairs 
Programme, which should be an independent external 
evaluation, be prepared to explore and propose 
alternative approaches to building working and 
policy‑oriented links with a wider range of academic 
centres, e.g., through involving them more systematically 
in helping delive r WTO courses wherever practicable.  Partially agreed – 
This will also  
need to involve 
Members  • External evaluation finalized in August 2018.  
• Recommendations taken into account in the 
TA Plan for 2020 -2021 
(WT/COMTD/W/248/Rev.1 section 6.3) . Implemented/ 
ongoing 
19 Take every opportunity to integrate issues of gender 
equality and the empowerment of women into TA 
programmes and training material in the context of 
emerging initiatives on social and poverty implications of 
trade, including the Sustainable Development Goals.  Agreed – This 
will also need to 
involve Members  • Training module on Trade & Gender 
launched in March.  
• Trade & Gender module introduced in 
ATPCs, ITPCs and several other TA activities 
(chapter 3 of this report).  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
20 Consider including workshops to explore issues of 
multilateral nature for which Agreements are yet to be 
concluded, for example the Singapore issues.  Agreed – This 
will also need to 
involve Members  • Several activities implemented in 2018 in 
response to Members' requests ( chapter  3 in 
WT/COMTD/W/245 ). Implemented/ 
ongoing  
21 In consultation with Human Resources and delivering 
Divisions, ensure that a coherent system of training for 
trainers and trainer ‑evaluation is put in place and applied 
as needed.  Agreed  • ToT remained on offer on a voluntary basis.  
• Means to further integrate staff performance 
as trainers in TA activities into the overall 
job performance evaluation were 
considered.  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
22 Continue work to apply the PLS and consider introducing 
pre‑tests and examinations in all training courses, in 
addition to following up with a sample of trainees in 
appropriate courses after 6 ‑12 months to establish how 
they are using the skills gained.  Agreed  • Onsite and ex -post evaluations of TA 
activities in 2019 gathered useful 
information on PLS application. Findings of 
onsite evaluations will continue to be 
disseminated through the TACTF.  
• Performance measurement tests were and 
will continue to be monitored through 
BTORs, this report and onsite evaluations of 
TA activities.  Implemented/ 
ongoing   
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- 75 - # Recommendation  WTO Response  Action until 2019 Status  
23 Regularly review and report on the availability of 
course‑offerings in French, Spanish and other languages 
relative to the size of the pools of potential trainees.  Agreed – Already 
implemented  • Language diversification continued to be 
monitored as documented in chapter 4 of 
this report.  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
24 Share good TA practices (e.g. on Advanced Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary (SPS) and new Technical Barriers to Trade 
(TBT) courses and thematic approaches) for possible 
inspiration and adaptation by others and ensure that 
innovation is promoted within the TA procedures and 
systems.  Agreed – Already 
implemented –  
This will also  
need to involv e 
Members  • The meetings of the TACTF provide d an 
opportunity to share good TA practices . 
• Onsite and ex -post evaluation of activities 
and country assessments identif ied good 
practice  disseminated through internal 
reports .  Thirteen  such evaluations 
performed  in 2018 ( chapter  3 in 
WT/COMTD/W/245 ). Implemented/ 
ongoing  
25 Benchmark WTO courses (including e ‑learning) against 
offerings by other institutions with a view to improving 
the learning experience and increasing interaction and  
interest for course participants, e.g., possibly pilot 
courses blending e ‑learning and in situ participation. 
Ensure that relevant training materials are available to 
participants in advance.  Partially agreed – 
Already partially 
implemented  • Examples of blended -learning approaches 
are described  in TA Annual Reports.  
• Chapter  3 in WT/COMTD/W/245  highlights 
some developments in this regard.  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
26 Strengthen practical and clearly understandable measures 
to track and improve results, calling on facilitation and 
training attuned to WTO's business model, work to get 
"buy‑in" across the Organization for a clear and sensible 
logical framework and meaningful indicators to guide the 
Programme; spell out a practicable M&E pla n, including 
manageable and useful monitoring and frequency and 
levels of evaluation coverage.  Agreed – Already 
partially 
implemented  • Further improvements introduced into TAMS 
to simplify TA workflows and facilitate 
tracking of TA results.  
• M&E workplan for 2019 implemented 
(chapter 3 of this report).  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
27 Further strengthen financial reporting on actual 
expenditure against budget by instrument and result 
areas and at portfolio level across all funding sources.  Agreed  • Quarterly CBFA reports linking expenditure 
to Key Results of the TA Plans were 
introduced for the CBFA meeting of 13 
November 2018.  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
28 Monitor and follow ‑up on issues raised in the participant 
evaluation forms and back ‑to‑office reports. Consider 
introducing a requirement for internal briefing/training of 
colleagues by training participants and interns, with 
country authorities taking responsibility to ensure that 
such sharing takes place.  Partially agreed – 
This will also  
need to  involve 
Members  • Follow -ups on BTOR recommendations w ere 
carried -out in 2017 and 2018.  
• TAMS module on BTOR recommendation 
management under development.  Implemented/ 
ongoing  
 
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- 76 - ANNEX I I 
MAIN RESULTS MEASURE D IN 201 9 
The information contained in the Remarks column  in this annex summarises  the analysis presented in section 5 of the report.  Their true meaning can 
only be understood in the light of the comments included in this section.  One should be careful not to read too much in the dry statements included in 
this table.  The assessment  is mainly  based on a desk analysis and was complement ed in 201 9 with only a limited number of  field visit s.  When relevant 
and useful, some of the finding s of the 2016 external evaluation have also been taken into account.  
 
 Results  Indicators  Targets  Remarks  
Impact  Developing and LDC Members are 
benefiting from their active participation 
in the WTO  Share of developing Members' total trade (imports 
and exports) in world trade  > 40%  Target met  
Share of LDC Members' total trade in the world 
trade > 1.00%  Target met  
Outcome  1: Government officials are implementing 
WTO Agreements and fully realising 
Members' rights and obligations  Number of documents submitted by developing 
and LDC Members in WTO Bodies  Increase in participation/ 
submissions of  documents  Target met  
Number of outstanding notifications by TA 
beneficiaries Members  5% decrease of  
outstanding notifications  Target met  
Output  1.1: Government officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade policies and conduct 
of trade negotiations  Number of participants completing each PLS level  Annual stability  Target not met  
Number of participants in WTO face -to-face TRTA 
activities  Annual stability  Target not met  
Interactive training methods' share of time in each 
activity (e.g. exercises, case studies, simulations, 
Q&A, presentation by participants, participation in 
Committee meetings, etc.)  Annual decrease in share 
of lectures  Target met  
Spread of level of development of Members' 
participation in TA face-to-face courses  Annual stability  Target partially met  
Spread of geographical coverage of Members' 
participation in TA face -to-face courses  Maintain spread annually 
as indicated in the TA Plan  Target met  
Success rate in 8 -week ITPC final exam  At least 90% annually  Target met  
% of participants giving an excellent rating to 
ITCPs’ overall content and results  Annual increase  Target met  
% of participants giving an excellent rating to 
ATPCs' and advanced thematic courses' overall 
content and results  Annual increase  
Target met  
Number of revised modules or case studies in 
ATPCs  Two per year  Target met  
Number of participants trained on trade 
negotiating skills  Annual stability  Target partially met  
Advanced thematic courses focused on 
implementation  Three in 2017 and four in 
2018 Target met  
Implementation of Action Plans within 12 months 
(Advanced SPS course)  Annual stability  Target met  
Implementation of Action Plans within 12 months 
(Advanced TBT course)  Annual stability  Target not met   
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- 77 -  Results  Indicators  Targets  Remarks  
Number of interns in FIMIP  Per year: FIMIP: 15  Target partially met  
Number of interns in NTP Per year: NTP: 15  Target met  
Number of interns in RCI  Per year: RCI: 8  Target partially met  
Final evaluation rate of each intern by their 
supervisor (AIP)  100% fully satisfactory  Target met  
Final evaluation rate of each intern by their 
supervisor (FIMIP)  100% fully satisfactory  Target met  
Final evaluation rate of each intern by their 
supervisor ( NTP) 100% fully satisfactory  Target met  
Final evaluation rate of each intern by their 
supervisor (RCI)  100% fully satisfactory  Target met  
Number of participants in WTO e -Learning TRTA 
activities  Annual stability  Target not met  
Spread of level of development of Members' 
participation in TA online courses  Annual stability  Target not met  
Spread of geographical coverage of Members' 
participation in TA online courses  Maintain spread annually 
as indicated in the TA Plan  Target met  
New and revised online courses released each year  3 new or revised 
courses/year  Target met  
% of participants rating the balance between 
theory and practice as good or excellent in online 
courses  70% during the biennium  
Target met  
% of participants rating the quality of the user -
friendliness of the e -Campus and the rate of 
availability of the website throughout the year in 
the online courses as good or excellent  70% during the biennium  
Target met  
e-Learning success rate  Annual increase  Target met  
e-Learning drop -out rate  Annual stability  Target met  
e-Learning rate of correct answers in the exam  Annual stability  Target met  
e-Learning distinction rate  Annual stability  Target met  
Output  1.2: Effective partnerships established 
resulting in substantive contributions of 
human and financial resources for TA 
activities  Proportion of activities with the involvement of a 
partner  Annual stability  Target partially met  
Proportion of partners' contribution to the TA 
activities  Annual increase of 
substantive contributions  Target partially met  
Output  1.3: Members' needs and priorities 
identified  Number of needs assessments conducted 
annually, either independently or as part of a TPR  Increase during the 
biennium  Target met  
Output  1.4: WTO data accessed and used by 
Members to analyse trade -related matters  Visits by Members' logging in to the WTO website  Annual stability  Target met  
Number of officials trained annually on what is 
available and how to retrieve the information from 
WTO databases  Annual increase  Target met  
Number of requests for training on WTO 
Databases  Annual increase  Data not available   
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- 78 -  Results  Indicators  Targets  Remarks  
Outcome  2: Acceding governments are participating 
in accession negotiations  Number of acceding governments, including LDCs, 
with a formal or informal Working Party meeting 
held Annual increase  
Target partially met  
Output  2.1: Acceding governments are familiar 
with WTO substantive and procedural 
matters  Number of participants from acceding 
governments attending Outcome 1 TA activities  Annual stability  Target partially met  
Number of roadmaps and endgame plans designed  Annual stability  Target met  
Output  2.2: Interested Members have expertise 
on GPA rules, accession negotiations, best 
practices and core access obligations  No. of GPA accession -related documents circulated 
for all currently active GPA accessions involving 
TA-eligible Members  Annual stability  
Target partially met  
Outcome  3: Academic institutions and other 
stakeholders are analysing WTO issues 
and reaching out to policy makers  Number of consultative processes in which WTO 
Chairs or young professionals have been involved  Annual stability  
Target partially met  
Output  3.1: Research on trade policy and WTO -
related matters generated by WTO Chairs 
and other academics through provision of 
grants  Number of publications in internationally peer -
reviewed journals  Annual increase  Target met  
Quality of research papers as measured by SJR 
and SNIP ratings of the journals in which the 
Chairs' research is published  Annual increase  
Target met  
Output  3.2: Courses developed by the relevant 
academic institutions have WTO content 
and students are being trained on WTO-
related subjects by the WTO and its Chairs  Number of students in WTO -related courses or 
getting a degree per year  Annual increase  
Data not available  
Output  3.3: The WTO Chairs are reaching out to 
other stakeholders and key decision  Number of outreach events per year  Annual increase  Target not met  
Involvement of key decision -makers  Annual increase  Data not available  
Output  3.4: YPPs are exposed to WTO issues and 
work Number of YPs hosted annually by the WTO  Per year: 15  Target partially met  
Final evaluation rate of each intern by their 
supervisor  100% fully satisfactory  Target met  
Outcome  4: Non -governmental stakeholders and 
legislators are aware of and 
knowledgeable about WTO work and 
issues  Richness of debates and reports on trade issues, 
diversity of WTO related topics covered by papers 
produced by this group of stakeholders  Annual stability  
Data not available  
Output  4.1: Specific outreach activities organized 
for legislators, journalists, business and 
NGOs on WTO issues and trade policies  Number of seminars, workshops conducted  Annual stability  
Target partially met  
Output  4.2: Improved understanding by 
journalists, civil society and businesses of 
WTO issues and trade policies  Number of key stakeholders reached during the 
year Annual stability  
Target not met  
Output  4.3: Improved access to WTO issues 
through online training material for self -
study  Number of downloaded training materials  Annual stability  
Target met  
Output  4.4: Information on trade -related TA 
provided including through the ITTC 
Newsletter  Number of views  Annual stability  
Data not available  
 
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