INF/TGE/W/1/Rev.1  
 
3 February 2021  
(21-0907) Page: 1/3 
Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender   riginal: English  
 
 
DRAFT WORK PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTING ACTIVITIES UNDER  
THE INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON TRADE AND GENDER  
WHITE PAPER PROPOSAL BY CANADA  
Revision  
The proposed work plan outlines four activities aligned with the four pillars (Aid for Trade, Gender 
lens, Research and data, best practice workshops/webinars) identified in the " INTERIM REPORT 
FOLLOWING THE BUENOS AIRES JOINT DECLARATION ON TR ADE AND WOMEN 'S ECONOMIC 
EMPOWERMENT ". These activities could be implemented beginning at the first meeting of the 
Informal Working Group (IWG) on 26 February 2021 and are aimed at helping identify potential 
content for an MC12 deliverable.  
 
In Canada 's view, the deliverable could take the form of a Ministerial Statement (MS) that recognizes 
the importance of the WTO role in removing barriers to women 's participation in trade.  Modelled on 
the MSME Declaration, the MS could include a series of recommendatio ns on key actions that will be 
implemented by the WTO to strengthen its work, build knowledge and understanding of the trade 
and gender nexus among members. These recommendations  would be drawn from the work of the 
IWG in 2021, including through experience  sharing and lessons learned. The MS and the 
Recommendations together would serve as a Road Map to deliver on the Buenos Aires Declaration.  
 
We agree with the Co-Chairs ' suggestion that the agenda for each substantive meeting of the IWG 
include the four p illars.  This said, and with the objective of trying to help focus discussions, we would 
propose that each meeting has a central theme (i.e. one of the pillars) and that high -level questions 
be drafted before the meeting to help guide each thematic discussion. We would also suggest that , 
with a view to helping the IWG deliver an outcome at MC12, the four thematic substantive meetings 
take place ideally in the first three quarters of 2021 so as to allow for work in the fourth quarter to 
focus on MC12 deliverables. In this context, we believe it would be important to remain flexible and 
pragmatic in terms of scheduling and keep open the possibility of holding additional substantive 
meetings in late 2021 to focus on MC12 deliverables.  
 
Guiding Principles : 
 
- Each activity will be jointly sponsored by a developed and developing/less developed 
country.  However, in the spirit of flexibility and inclusivity, two or more developing/less 
developed countries could also sponsor an activity.  The goal is to ensure th at different voices 
are heard and recognize that all members have perspectives to provide and experiences to 
share ; 
 
- Each activity will start with a recap of what was discussed at the previous meeting in order 
to give delegations the opportunity to provide new/updated information;  
 
- Recognition of the important and continuing role of the International Trade Centre (ITC) in 
helping deliver on this work, as well as other organizations and experts such as  The United 
Nations Conference on Trade and Develo pment  (UNCTAD ); 
 
- Recognizing the different levels of ambition of member states . 
 INF/TGE/W/1/Rev.1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Pillar  Activity  Lead for 
implementation  Timeline  
RESEARCH AND DATA :  
 
Review and discuss gender -related 
analytical work produced by the 
WTO Secretariat and other actors 
active on women 's economic 
empowerment (e.g. Organisation 
for Economic Co -operation and 
Development  (OECD ), 
International Labour Organization  
(ILO), World Bank etc.).  
 Potential 
presentations by the 
WTO Trade and 
Gender Focal Point on 
the recent analytical 
work on Trade and 
Gender  
 
This could be followed by 
other presenters on what 
they are doing in this 
space.  
 
Potential to include a 
presentation on the 
WTO/World Bank  joint 
report on trade and 
gender of July 2020.  
 
Key data/indicators to 
measure results and do 
gender impact 
assessments of trade 
agreements? What is the 
key data that needs to be 
collected to tell a trade 
and gender story in 
developed and 
developing mark ets? Can 
we establish a minimum 
standard of key gender 
disaggregated data that 
needs to be collected?   
 Developed country : 
TBC 
 
Developing/less 
developed country : 
TBC 26 February 
2021  
BEST PRACTICE 
WORKSHOPS/WEBINAR :  
 
Share best practices, information 
and exchange views on removing 
trade -related barriers and 
increasing the participation of 
women in trade. As a first step, 
members that have adopted 
ambitious or innovative initiatives 
would be invited to showcase their 
national and/or regional 
approaches and experiences as 
potential inspiration and guidance 
to others.  
 
 Potential 
presentations:   
 
Global Trade and Gender 
Arrangement by 
members of the Inclusive 
Trade Action Group 
(Canada, Chile and New 
Zealand)  
 
The experi ence of the 
Economic Community of 
West African States 
following the interesting 
information contained in 
the ITC report.  Developed country : 
TBC 
 
Developing/less 
developed country : 
TBC 28 April 2021  
(TBC)  INF/TGE/W/1/Rev.1  
 
- 3 - 
 
  Pillar  Activity  Lead for 
implementation  Timeline  
GENDER LENS :  
 
Consider and clarify what a 'gender 
lens' is and how it could be applied 
to trade, and consider how a 
gender lens could usefully be 
applied to the work of the WTO, 
with a view to presenting a concept 
and work plan to members at 
MC12 . Potential 
presentations:  
 
Potential presenters 
could include: ITC, WTO, 
UNCTAD (e.g., tool box), 
European Union, 
Australia and Canada.   
 
Presentations by Canada 
and the E uropean Union 
to share their 
experiences on 
conducting impact 
assessments of trade 
agreements on both an 
ex-ante and ex -post 
basis.  
 
Objective would be to 
demonstrate what 
applying a gender lens 
means in practical terms, 
make it accessible to 
WTO MS, and 
demonstrate its potential 
value added.  
 
Consideration could be 
given to bringing a 
gender lens to WTO 
agreements (e.g. 
services, IP, TBT, GP) 
and function s (e.g., 
committees, 
negotiations, accessions) 
and propose options to 
advance a gender 
responsive approach.   
 Developed country : 
TBC 
 
Developing/less 
developed country : 
TBC 23 June 2021  
(TBC)  
AID FOR TRADE :  
 
Explore how best to suppo rt the 
delivery of the WTO Aid -for-Trade 
Work Programme . Potential activity could 
consider the impact of 
COVID -19 on women 's 
participation in trade and 
the importance of digital 
trade/e -commerce to 
address issues and 
capture opportunities. 
Potential leads could be 
ITC, UNCTAD and others.  Developed country : 
TBC 
 
Developing/less 
developed country : 
TBC 16 July 2021  
(TBC)  
 
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