IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1  
 
29 October 2015  
(15-5750)  Page: 1/26  
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
 REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 66.2 
 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT  
UNITED  STATES  OF AMERICA   
Revision 
The following communication, dated 28 September 2015, from the delegation of the United States, 
is being circulated pursuant to paragraph 1 of th e Decision on Implementation of Article 66.2 of 
the TRIPS Agreement (IP/C/28).  
_______________ 
  
1   INTROD UCTION  .......................................................................................................... 1
 
2   GENERAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFE R PROGRAMMES, INCENTIVES, AND 
PARTNERSHIPS ........................................................................................................... 2  
3   EDUCATIONAL AND UNIV ERSITY-LED PROGRAMMES .................................................. 4  
4   COMMERCIAL AND LEGAL PROGRA MMES TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITY ......................... 5  
5   INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION AND ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY 
BUILDING ................................................................................................................... 6  
6   TRADE AND INVESTMENT POLICY, CA PACITY BUILDING, AND INCENTIVES ............... 9  
7   DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING AN D INCENTIVES THROUGH PRIVATE 
SECTOR MO DELS ....................................................................................................... 11  
8   PROGRAMMES AND INCENTIVES RELATED TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT 
AND FOOD SAFETY AND SECURI TY ........................................................................... 12  
9   PROGRAMING AND INCENTIVES RE LATED TO ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ..................... 16  
10  PROGRAMING AND INCENTIVES RELATE D TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ........ 19  
11  PROGRAMMING AND INCENTIV ES RELATED TO  HEALTH .......................................... 22  
12  PROGRAMMING AND INCENTIVES RELATED TO BUILDING LABOUR  
CAPACITY  ................................................................................................................. 25  
13  PROGRAMMES AND INCENTIVES RE LATED TO TRANSP ORTATION ........................... 25  
 
1  INTRODUCTION 
1.  The United States is committed to continually enhancing its activities pursuant to Article 66.2 of 
the TRIPS Agreement, and reporting those activities, in keeping with the guidelines established in the TRIPS Council's Decision of 20 February 2003 (IP/C/28). Consistent with this decision, 
developed country members shall provide yearly reports to least developed country (LDC) 
Members on actions taken or planned in pursuance of the commitments of developed countries under Article 66.2 to provide incentives to enterpri ses and institutions in their territories for the IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  purpose of promoting and encouraging technology tr ansfer to least developed country Members, in 
order to enable them to create a sound and viable technological base. 
2.  The intellectual property (IP), trade capacity, training, development assistance, educational, 
financing, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure-related programmes described in this report are 
integral elements of the efforts of the United St ates to support LDCs in fostering the necessary 
environment to encourage the effective, voluntary transfer of technology to LDC Members. No report can represent every activity that directly or indirectly incentivizes enterprises and 
institutions for the purpose of promoting and encouraging technology transfer, but this report 
attempts to describe the most significant activities and programmes and to convey the breadth and depth of US efforts. 
3.  Much of the United States Government resear ch conducted by federally operated laboratories 
and federally funded research and development (R&D) centres results in inventions or findings that 
contribute to the development of new technologies and processes. Commercialization of these outputs can yield economic and social benefits that increase returns on the investment in federal 
R&D. 
4.  The United States continues to believe that the effective functioning of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS 
Agreement's requires a robust dialogue between developed country and LDC Members, in order to 
target incentives in a way that is most responsive to the self-identified technology transfer 
interests and needs of LDC Members. The United States encourages the efforts of the TRIPS Council Secretariat and Member states to organize discussions among the Member states regarding Article 66.2 implementation. Specifically, th e United States in this year's report, to the 
extent possible, addressed questions posed by LDCs at the 2014 WTO Workshop on the 
Implementation of Article 66.2. 
2  GENERAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAMMES, INCENTIVES, AND PARTNERSHIPS  
5.  In 2011, President Obama issued a memorandum to all US federal agencies that conducted 
research and development, directing them to take  measures to improve their technology transfer 
programmes leading to commercialization. In response to this directive, each agency developed 
specific plans and goals to be implemented and tracked from 2013–2017. 
 
2.1  Federally Sponsored Research and Development 
6.  Federal initiatives on technology transfer are being implemented through the White House 
Lab-to-Market Cross-Agency Priority Goal (see http://www.performance.gov/node/3395/ ). New 
programmes will streamline technology transfer an d accelerate the pace of commercialization of 
federal research. Further, new agency metrics we re developed to better describe and demonstrate 
performance and are being tracked (see http://www.nist.gov/tpo/publications/agency-responses-
presidential-memo.cfm/ ). 
2.1.1  Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer 
7.  Technology transfer is most effective when th e technology is requested by the entity that will 
use the technology. The Federal Laboratory Consor tium for Technology Transfer (FLC) plays a key 
role in providing information about technologies that are available for licensing. The FLC is a national network of approximately 300 federal labora tories and centres that provides the forum to 
develop strategies and opportunities for linking la boratory mission technologies and expertise with 
the marketplace (see http://www.federallabs .org/flc/available-technologies/ ). The FLC promotes 
technical cooperation among the federal laboratories and large and small businesses, academia, 
and federal, state, and local government agencies. FLC collaborates with organizations that 
promote technical cooperation, and works to impr ove the effectiveness of technology transfer 
through training, recognition, awards, and evaluation. Moreover, the FLC encourages technology 
transfer and, through its member laboratories, seeks partners around the world 
(see https://flcbusiness.federallabs.org/FLCBiz/ ). IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  2.1.2  Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research  
8.  The Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) programme is a collaborative 
initiative supported by the Department of the Interior US Geological Survey (USGS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), 
National Science Foundation (NSF), the US Depa rtment of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural 
Research Service (ARS), USDA Forest Service (USFS), the Smithsonian Institution, and the US Agency for International Development (USAI D). The programme assists developing-country 
scientists by providing opportunities to conduct research with NSF-and-NIH-funded scientists on 
topics related to social and economic development issues such as agriculture, biodiversity conservation, climate change, disaster mitigation, health, and water. PEER awards are given to developing country institutions and aim to build capacity and engage developing country 
researchers to address key global development ch allenges. The programme leverages US scientific 
expertise and helps build long-term scientific relationships between countries (see http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/dsc/peerhealth/ ). 
2.1.3  Research and Innovation Fellowship Programme  
9.  The Research and Innovation Fellowships Programme connects early-career US researchers and 
scientists to hosting organizations in the developing world. Projects span up to a year, and are 
funded by USAID and its partners at no cost to the hosting organization.  Research and Innovation 
Fellows fill technical gaps with capacity that may not be available in-country. Ideally, each fellowship serves as a catalyst for continued engagement between stakeholders. Host organizations include government ministries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private 
sector companies, and universities in seven partner countries, including Senegal. The Research 
and Innovation Fellowships programme funded 160 Fellows in its first two years and catalogued over 400 research opportunities across 159 organizations.  
2.2  Science and Technology Agreements 
10.  The United States utilizes science and technology (S&T) agreements to provide a framework 
for increased international collaboration by facilitating cooperation between US technical agencies 
and foreign counterparts on topics including pub lic health, watershed management, agriculture, 
environment and biodiversity protection, biot echnology, earth sciences, marine science, and 
alternative energy. These agreements support relationships that strengthen our partners' science education systems, build institutional and human resource capacity, and promote a deeper 
appreciation of the innovation ecosystem and its role in technology transfer and commercialization. 
The United States supports programmes that strengthen institutional capacity to translate research into commercial activity, while improving individual capacity to enter labour markets. 
(see http://www.state.gov/e/oes/stc/ ). Through these efforts, US scientific and technical agencies 
and their counterparts promote economic growth and jobs creation. 
2.3  Programming to Advance Entrepreneurship 
11.  Through President Obama's Spark Initiative, the United States aims to advance 
entrepreneurship around the world. Many of the 14 separate programming streams that make up the Spark Initiative are focused on enhancing entrepreneurial ecosystems in LDCs. Linkages between entrepreneurs in LDCs and innovative lead ers from both the public and private sectors, 
including those in WTO Developed Country Members, encourage effective, voluntary technology 
transfers. The annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) brings together a selection of entrepreneurs from across the 14 Spark Initiative programming streams, as well as those from the 
host country and its wider region to showcase the latest trends, training, and technologies. The 
2015 GES was held in Nairobi, Kenya, and more than 200 investors and 1,000 entrepreneurs from 142 countries attended. 27 WTO LDCs were represented, including Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, 
Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Congo, The Gambia, Haiti, Lao PDR, Lesotho, 
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia see http://www.state.gov/e/eb/c ba/entrepreneurship/-
spark/239681.htm ).  
 IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  2.4  Special Self Help Programme 
12.  A popular and successful tool for many US embassies in sub-Saharan Africa for almost 
50 years, the Special Self Help (SSH) programme provides targeted, visible, small-scale grant assistance to community-based activities in response to community-identified needs. SSH 
activities focus on improvements in local infrastructure through small-scale construction projects, 
and its work includes boreholes, water taps, water tanks, pump houses, wells, cisterns, latrines and showers, classrooms, libraries, shelters, ho stels, orphan dormitories, food sheds and 
warehouses, and health centres and clinics. Thes e projects have improved the lives of over 
20 million people, with funding levels reaching up  to US$3 million, with Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 funds 
allocated across 45 African countries. SSH funds we re granted to projects in LDC Members, which 
increased in FY 2014 to US$2.5 million, up from th e previous year's allocation of US$1.68 million. 
SSH programmes have been located in LDCs, including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, 
Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, 
Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, and Zambia (see http://www.state.gov/p/af/pdpa/ssh/ ). 
3  EDUCATIONAL AND UNIVERSITY-LED PROGRAMMES  
13.  US agencies such as the Department of State and USAID work closely with universities to 
encourage student exchanges and other progra mmes that promote technology transfer and 
knowledge through harnessing the intellectual power of students to address challenges in areas like chronic conflict, climate variability, food security, and global health. 
3.1  Educational Enrolment in the US University System  
14.  A major avenue for technology transfer from the United States is the US university system, 
where foreign students are educated and then take advantage of their training through private and public employment in their home countries. Since many US universities are established as not-for-
profit (tax-exempt) entities, education is subsidized by the US taxpayer through tax revenues. In 
addition, the private endowments that assist many foreign students to attend US universities on financial aid were built with tax exempt donations. 
3.1.1  University Enrolment by Foreign Students 
15.  In 2014, there were 29,291 students from LDCs enrolled in US institutions of higher 
education, representing an increase of 3% over  2013, and 3.3% of the total US higher education 
enrolment. US institutions of higher education hosted many students from LDCs, including large 
numbers from Nepal (8,155 students) and Bangladesh (4,802 students). The top five most popular 
fields of study for international students in  the United States in 2014 were Business and 
Management (21.2 %); Engineering (19.2%); Liberal Arts (10.7%), Mathematics and Computer 
Science (10.3%); and Social Sciences (8.2%).  
3.2  Exchange Programming from the Bure au of Education and Cultural Affairs 
16.  The Department of State's Bureau of Educ ational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) designs and 
implements educational, professional, and cultural exchange programmes that increase the mutual 
understanding between people of the United States and the people of other countries (see http://eca.state.gov/ ).  
3.2.1  Programming from the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs 
17.  Through nine programmes, ECA enables students, exchange alumni, and young adults to 
pursue higher education, leadership, and profes sional development opportunities globally. In 
FY 2015, nine educational and cultural programme s funded 4,972 LDC participants. The Fulbright 
Programme sponsors 8,000 participants, many of  w h o m  d o  i n - c o u n t r y  w o r k  i n  L D C s .  T h e s e  
programmes included participants from Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Haiti, Lao PDR, 
Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and 
Zambia. The students enter the United States as non-immigrant exchange visitors ("J-1"), which 
make them ineligible to remain in the United States after their studies. Thus, students IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  participating in these education programmes generally return to their home countries, thereby 
bringing back knowledge and training. For exam ple, the American Cultural Centre in Benin 
welcomed a group of young people at the finals of a business plan competition launched by the "Youth Entrepreneurs Partners – YEP", a group initiated by a Fulbright alumnus who won the 
Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2013. Six yo ung entrepreneurs presented their pitches in 
front a panel of judges at the American Cultural Centre, and to American judges at the University of Michigan. The winner received US$1,000 to launch a small business. 
3.3  Higher Education Solutions Network 
18.  USAID's Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) is a constellation of eight development 
laboratories that promote the creation and applic ation of new science, technology, and engineering 
approaches to solve the world's most challenging development problems. With US$137 million 
over five years from USAID and leveraging nearly equal investments from the institutions, the 
universities established the laboratories by collaborating with a network that extends beyond 200 partner institutions in academia, civil society, and government across more than 40 countries, 
including LDCs (see http://www.usaid.gov/hesn/ ). 
3.4  Common Practices for Univer sity-Led Technology Transfer 
19.  Common practices that encourage technology transfer from US universities include: 
 publication of research results in open academic literature that is accessible globally 
through the Internet or other public systems, enabling the free-flow of research to be utilized by scientists, engineers, and researchers in all sectors;  
 interaction between creators and users of new knowledge (e.g. through professional 
meetings, conferences, seminars, industrial liaison programmes and other venues); 
 collaborative research projects; 
 entrepreneurial activity of faculty and students outside the university without involving 
university-owned IP; and 
 licensing of IP to established firms and new start-up companies. 
4  COMMERCIAL AND LEGAL PROGRAMMES TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITY  
20.  US agencies such as the Commercial Law Development Programme (CLDP), National Institute 
of Standards and Technologies (NIST), and others provide commercial law technical assistance to the governments and private sectors of developing and transitional countries in support of their 
economic development goals. The programmes are demand-driven and customized to address 
priority issues in countries' business climates. The programmes help improve the commercial, 
legal, and regulatory environments that are needed to attract foreign investment and promote private sector-led growth and technology transfer.  
4.1  Programming from the Commercial Law Development Programme  
21.  CLDP programmes that focus on strong intell ectual property rights (IPR) protection systems 
can help assure foreign companies that they can tr ansfer technology without fear that it will be 
stolen and provide incentives for domestic innovation and foreign direct investment (FDI). In 
recent years, CLDP has conducted a number of  programmes benefitting LDC members of the WTO 
(see http://cldp.doc.gov/ ). For example, a CLDP energy assessment in Myanmar in 2013 led to the 
creation of a competitive bidding/production shar ing contracts workshop that resulted in the 
Ministry of Energy announcing liberalization of its contracts' fiscal terms one month after the 
workshop. Successful projects are often scaled up in follow-on work (see http://cldp.doc.gov/countries-regions ) IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  4.2  Programming from the National Institute of Standard and Technology  
22.  NIST is the host agency for the FLC, and also provides a coordination role for interagency 
efforts through Lab-to-Market and various other working groups. NIST's Technology Partnerships Office is responsible for preparing reports on te chnology transfer for the Department of Commerce 
and for summarizing the technology transfer acti vities reported by federal agencies and their 
federally-funded R&D centres (see http://www.nist.gov/tpo/publications/federal-laboratory-
techtransfer-reports.cfm/ ). NIST has research laboratories, user facilities, and other programmes 
focused on advancing measurement science, standards, and technology. In particular, NIST's 
Guest Researcher Programme and NIST's Cooper ative Research and Development Agreements 
(CRADAs) enable work with technical experts on projects that use NIST laboratories and equipment, staff, and research tools. NIST gues t researchers (or their employing institutions) may 
retain rights to inventions conceived by the researcher while working with researchers at NIST.  
Each year, NIST hosts hundreds of foreign guest researchers at its facilities.  Since 2014, the following LDCs have sent researchers to this programme: Bangladesh (8); Burkina Faso (4); Benin 
(2); Myanmar (1); Democratic Republic of the Congo (1); Madagascar (2); Nepal (11); Niger (2); 
Senegal (2); and Uganda (2) (see http://www.nist.gov/tpo/collaborations/guestresearchers.cfm/ ). 
4.3  Programming from the Department of Commerce focused on Small Business 
Development 
23.  As part of its strategy to empower businesses – particularly small businesses – to obtain and 
enforce IPR, the Department of Commerce uses multiple tools and assistance programmes. Small businesses in the United States that are often on the cutting edge of new technologies can also be 
hesitant to export products, make investments, or form partnerships overseas that involve their 
latest technology because of fears that their IP could be violated. The Department of Commerce, by teaching small businesses how to protect and defend their rights overseas, increases the 
likelihood that these businesses will be willing to operate overseas, including in LDCs, thereby 
enhancing access to new technologies abroad.  
5  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION AND ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY BUILDING 
24.  US agencies, including the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration 
(ITA) (see http://www.trade.gov/ ), CLDP, the Department of State, the Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS), US Patent an d Trademark Office (USPTO) (see http://www.uspto.gov/ ) and others 
deliver IPR technical assistance programmes to LDCs as a means of incentivizing technology 
transfer from private sector stakeholders. US agencies also facilitate programmes that help diffuse 
technology from patent holders to LDCs and work closely with counterparts on enforcement efforts as well.  
5.1  IPR Technical Capacity Building 
25.  A strong system of IPR protection is crucial to foreign investment and voluntary, private 
sector-led technology transfer in developing countries and for developing country innovators to 
capitalize on their creativity. Therefore, it is important for US IPR experts to collaborate closely 
with counterparts on technical capacity for IPR administration and protection.   
5.1.1  USPTO Collaboration with International Organizations 26.  USPTO offers training and technical assistance on IPR protection and enforcement to many 
countries, including LDCs. USPTO supports the LDC a ssistance efforts of international organizations 
such as with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). For example, USPT O works with WIPO on its Re:Search and WIPO 
Green programmes, to promote access to IPR and technical know-how for relevant policy 
concerns, including neglected tropical diseases and environmentally-friendly technologies (see http://www.wipo.int/research/en/ ; and https://webaccess.wipo.int/green/ ). USPTO also 
collaborates with ASEAN on the Intellectual Property Office Administration Programme at which 
LDCs participate.  IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  5.1.2  USPTO Collaboration with SEED 
27.  The Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies (SEED) is a Stanford Graduate 
School of Business-led initiative working to en d the cycle of poverty in developing economies 
through the development of business leadership in  the region. SEED collaborates with prominent 
industry leaders to help scale companies in the region—establish a transformation plan for growth, 
and help develop and implement strategies that w ill transform them from small- or medium-sized 
businesses to industry leaders and job creators. The USPTO addressed questions concerning the 
role IP plays in business strategies and entreprene urship at intensive learning sessions at SEED's 
West Africa centre, located in Accra, Ghana in March 2015, attended by industries from Ghana, 
Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire. (see https://seed.stanford.edu/ ). 
5.1.3  USPTO Regional Coordination  and Capacity Building Efforts  
28.  In May 2014 USPTO organized a regional enforcement programme in Thailand on anti-
counterfeiting and anti-piracy for IPR border en forcement officials from East Asian partner 
countries including LDC Members Cambodia and Lao PDR. The programme focused on border 
protection and interdiction of pirated and counterfeit products, as well as issues in investigating 
and combating the import and export of counterfeit and piratical goods. In June 2014, USPTO conducted a programme on combating substandard, spurious, counterfeit, falsified, and 
falsely-labelled (SSFFC) medicines for sub-Saharan African partner countries. Programme 
participants included LDC drug regulators and law enforcement officials, including from LDCs Angola, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Participants exchanged information on recent enforcement efforts and challenges.  USPTO collaborated on the programme with other 
agencies, including the US Customs and Border Pr otection (CBP), USAID, and the US Food and 
D r u g  A d m i n i s t r a t i o n  ( F D A ) ,  a s  w e l l  a s  t h e  U n i t e d  N a t i o n s  ( U N )  O f f i c e  o f  D r u g s  a n d  C r i m e  (UNODC). The programme included multiple demonstrations on counterfeit medicines detection 
technology, including technology invented by the FDA Forensic Chemistry Centre.  
5.1.4  USPTO Global Intellectual Property Academy  29.  USPTO offers assistance through the Global Intellectual Property Academy (GIPA) at its state-
of-the-art training facility in Alexandria, Virginia and throughout the world. Through these 
programmes, USPTO delivers targeted training to foreign IP officials. The training is targeted 
towards IP office administrators, examiners, ju dges, prosecutors, customs officers, and other 
government and law enforcement officials. In FY 2014, GIPA conducted more than 110 training, 
technical assistance, and capacity building programmes for over 4,900 participants from 
99 different countries, including LDCs. In FY 2014, LDC representatives attended GIPA programmes in the United States from Angola, Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Lesotho, Malawi, 
Mozambique, Solomon Islands, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, and Zambia 
(see http://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resourc es/global-intellectual-property-academy ). 
5.1.5  Intellectual Property Attaché Programme 
30.  USPTO posts IPR attachés at US embassies an d consulates that work with host governments 
and other stakeholders including academia, advoca cy groups, international organizations, NGOs, 
and the private sector to provide IPR technical assistance and capacity building programmes of 
interest to countries in their region. Programmes have focused on IPR enforcement, as well as 
patent, trademark, and copyright policy engagement and best practices. Participants in in-country 
or regional programmes offered in FY 2014 incl uded government officials from LDC Members 
including Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Malawi (see http://www.uspto.gov-
/ip/global/attache/ ).  
5.1.6  IPR e-Learning  Modules 
31.  USPTO hosts seven IPR e-Learning modules in five languages: Arabic, English, French, 
Russian, and Spanish. By the end of FY 2014, th e e-learning modules had received over 46,000 
hits (see http://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/global-intellectual-property-academy-
gipa/uspto-webinars-and-ip-e-learning ).  IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  5.2  Patents for Humanity 
32.  The USPTO Patents for Humanity programme encourages assistance to LDCs by providing 
business incentives for patent owners and licensees to apply their technology towards humanitarian purposes. Participants submit descriptions of how they are improving lives in five 
broad categories of global challenges: household energy, living standards, medicine, nutrition, and 
sanitation. Independent experts review the submissions and recommend winners who receive accelerated processing of a select patent at the USPTO 
(see http://www.uspto.gov/patentsforhumanity/ ). In April 2015, seven new recipients of the 
Patents for Humanity Award were announced: American Standard (US), Global Research 
Innovation and Technology (US), Golden Rice (Germany, Switzerland), Novartis (Switzerland), Nutriset (France), Sanofi (France), and SunPower (US). (see http://www.uspto.gov/patent-
/initiatives/patents-humanity/2015-award-recipients ).  
 
5.3  IPR Enforcement Coordination  
33.  The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) leads 
the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Centre (IPR Centre), which works to respond to global IP theft and enforcement of international trade laws. The mission of the IPR Centre is to 
protect the public's health and safety and the US  economy, and to stop predatory and unfair trade 
practices that threaten the global economy. To accomplish this goal, the IPR Centre brings together 23 partner agencies, consisting of 19 federal agencies, INTERPOL, EUROPOL, and the 
governments of Canada and Mexico in a task-force setting. The task force structure enables the 
IPR Centre to effectively leverage the resources, skills, and authorities of each partner and provide 
a comprehensive response to IP theft (see https://www.iprcenter.gov/ ). IPR Centre partners 
conduct Operation Joint Venture (OJV), which provides training for domestic and international law 
enforcement to build strong enforcement capabi lities worldwide. The IPR Centre, through the 
financial support of Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), provides IPR enforcement capacity building training to many countries, including 
LDCs.  
5.3.1  National IPR Centre 34.  IPR Centre training programme participants in FY 2015 included 25 international training 
programmes, reaching over 1,400 participants. In June 2015, the IPR Centre and HSI Attaché for 
Hong Kong conducted the Southeast Asia Regional  Intellectual Property Enforcement Workshop for 
customs and law enforcement agents from 11 countries, including LDCs Bangladesh and Cambodia. The programme provided training in areas including targeting and interdiction, and IP 
investigative techniques. The IPR Centre and HSI officials also provide instruction on topics, 
including food chain supply integrity and supply chain security, law enforcement operations against food related crimes, and best practices for building international law enforcement partnerships, 
intelligence/information gathering, and raising awareness and strategic communications. Finally, 
the IPR Centre and HSI collaborate with INTERPOL on capacity building for third country investigation of transnational organized IP crime.  In this work, the IPR Centre delivers lectures on investigative techniques and best practices being utilized in the United States, as related to IP 
theft and counterfeit goods trafficking.     
5.3.2  StopFakes.gov 35.  The Department of Commerce has developed a website that hosts online resources, including 
information about key US agencies and programmes (see http://www.stopfakes.gov/ ) aimed at 
helping businesses protect their IPR. The IPR Training Module, hosted on STOPfakes, is available in 
English, French, and Spanish. The United States encourages LDCs to use the module for their 
small businesses. The module familiarizes smal l businesses with IP equities, explaining the 
importance of IPR to businesses, and how to pr otect and enforce IPR in the United States and 
abroad. WTO LDCs and other countries are able to use this resource free of charge. Inventors, 
investors, and businesspersons from the United States and around the world use the "Contact Us" 
function on the website to ask questions about IPR enforcement. Additionally, STOPfakes enables 
businesses to report IPR trade barriers and enforcement issues to the Department of Commerce. IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  6  TRADE AND INVESTMENT POLICY, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND INCENTIVES  
36.  Technology transfers are often private sector decisions that should not be required as a pre-
condition for investment. US agreements on trade and investment, as well as capacity building programmes and incentives aimed at helping create a positive ecosystem that supports trade 
relations between the United States and partner countries enable voluntary, private sector-led 
technology transfer.  
6.1  Investment and Trade Policy Negotiations   
37.  The Office of the US Trade Representative  (USTR) and the Department of State jointly 
negotiate agreements which improve the investment climate in the economies of partner countries by encouraging the adoption of policies that facilitate and support foreign investment.  
6.1.1  Bilateral Investment Treaties 
38.  US bilateral investment treaties (BITs) establish a framework of reciprocal protections that 
include the free transfer of investment-related f unds, investor-state dispute arbitration rights, 
limitations on specified performance requiremen ts, non-discriminatory treatment, protection 
against expropriation, and transparency in govern ance. These treaties improve the climate for FDI 
in joint ventures and in other forms of investment in partner countries that can lead to the transfer of technology and know-how. As of 2014, the United States had signed four BITs with sub-Saharan 
Africa WTO Member LDCs: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Senegal.  
Further, the United States and the East African Community (EAC) Partner States agreed to explore 
a regional investment treaty (see http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agree ments/bilatera l-investment-
treaties/ ).  
6.1.2  Trade and Investment Framework Agreements 
39.  USTR-negotiated Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs) enhance trade 
relations between the United States and other countries. Over the last several years, the United 
States has launched 13 trade and investment agre ements in sub-Saharan Africa, including three 
bilateral TIFAs with LDCs: Angola, Mozambique, and Rwanda. Additionally, the United States has launched regional TIFAs with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), EAC, 
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and West African Economic and 
Monetary Union (UEMOA); and a Trade, Invest ment, and Development Cooperative Agreement 
with the five countries of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The United States also has 
bilateral agreements with several LDCs outside of Sub-Saharan Africa, including Bangladesh, 
Myanmar, Cambodia, Nepal, and Yemen, as we ll as with ASEAN and the Caribbean Community 
(CARICOM). Together, these agreements cover 29 WTO LDC Members: Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, The 
Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Lao PDR, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, 
Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone,  Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Yemen, and Zambia 
(see https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/trade-investment-framework-agreements/ ). 
6.2  Trade Preference Programmes 
40.  An underlying principle of US trade preferen ce programming is that the creation of trade 
opportunities for developing countries is an effective way of encouraging broad-based economic development, and an important means of sustaining momentum for economic reform and 
liberalization in these countries. Effective trade allows the ability for companies – large and small – 
to bring their technologies to markets that would otherwise be difficult to reach.   
6.2.1  US Generalized System of Preferences Programme 
41.  The US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme, established in 1976, promotes 
economic development by providing duty-free ac cess to the US market for a wide range of 
products from developing countries, giving companies and workers in producer countries a vital 
opportunity to integrate into the global trading system. On June 29, 2015, President Obama signed 
the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, which renewed the GSP programme through 31 December 2017 and authorized refunds of duties paid on GSP imports during the lapse in GSP IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  authorization from August 2013 to July 2015. GSP benefits 122 developing countries and 
territories from every region of the world, and pr ovides special, additional benefits for products 
from 31 least-developed WTO Member beneficiary countries. As of August 2015, WTO LDC beneficiaries of GSP included Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African 
Republic (CAR), Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, The Gambia, Guinea, 
Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, the Solomon Is lands, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, 
and Zambia. Nearly 5,000 types of products ar e eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP, 
including most manufactured products (except ap parel and footwear), agricultural and fishery 
products, consumer products, chemicals, minerals, and building materials (see https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/trade-development/preference-programs/generalized-system-
preference-gsp ). 
6.2.2  African Growth and Opportunity Act 
42.  The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) promotes open markets, expands US-Africa 
trade and investment, stimulates economic growth, and facilitates sub-Saharan Africa's integration 
into the global economy. Since the enactment of  AGOA in 2000, the United States has worked 
closely with African governments, the private sector, and civil society stakeholders to improve 
AGOA utilization and to help them make the most of AGOA's trade benefits. The United States 
crafted and put into place the regulatory framew ork for AGOA, actively promoted the programme 
throughout Africa, and developed trade capacity-building programmes to help African governments and firms identify and develop the market opportunities available under AGOA 
(see https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/trade-developmen t/preference-programs/african-growth-and-
opportunity-act-agoa/ ). As of 1 January 2015, the following 22 LDCs are eligible: Angola, Benin, 
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Djibouti, The Gamb ia, Guinea, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, 
Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and 
Zambia.  
6.3  Trade Capacity Building 
43.  US assistance agencies, including USAID and the US Trade and Development Agency 
(USTDA), are dedicated to promoting models such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) and grant 
funding programmes to support the development of infrastructure projects that advance economic growth and effective transfer of technology to LDCs.  
6.3.1  Programming from the US Trade and Development Agency  
44.  USTDA advances US economic development initiatives in low-and-middle-income countries by 
funding technical assistance (e.g. early investment  analysis, training, reverse trade missions, and 
business workshops) that supports the development of modern infrastructure and fair and open 
trading in LDCs. Recognizing the importance of trade to LDC growth, USTDA works closely with 
other agencies and regional economic communities to develop trade capacity and apply private 
sector solutions to development challenges. In  FY 2015, USTDA provided over US$2.9 million 
towards activities designed to create an enabling environment for increased trade and investment in LDCs (see http://www.ustda.gov/ ).  
6.3.2  Aid for Trade Programme 
45.  "Aid for Trade" or Trade Capacity Building  (TCB) assistance is a cornerstone of the US 
strategy to promote economic growth through trade and to enable developing countries to 
negotiate and implement market-opening and reform-oriented trade agreements. TCB helps to 
improve the linkage between trade and developmen t by providing developing countries with the 
tools to maximize trade opportunities, including through fostering environments favourable to technology transfer. The United States considers its TCB activities to be an integral element in its 
efforts to provide incentives for technology transfer (see http://www.usaid.gov/what-we-
do/economic-growth-and-trade/trade-and-regulatory-reform/trade-capacity-buildingaid-trade  and 
https://eads.usaid.gov/tcb/ ). Cumulative US TCB funding reported to date for LDCs, beginning 
from FY 2001, totalled over US$4.4 billion. IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  6.4  Incentives to Enhance Sustainable Corp orate Practices, Tec hnology Transfer, and 
Trade  
46.  US agencies seek to open up and expand new markets for American businesses and new 
opportunities for the people of developing nations through awards and incentives for investment.  
Working with the private sector, these agencies help US enterprises gain footholds in emerging 
markets by generating revenues, jobs, and growth opportunities in the United States and abroad. Programmes actively partner with both private and public institutions. 
6.4.1  Award for Corporate Excellence  
47.  The Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) recognizes the important role 
US businesses play abroad as good corporate citizens, including promoting technology transfer and sustainable development. ACE encourages US companies to enhance their efforts to engage in 
responsible business conduct through democratic values, due diligence and supply chain 
management, environmental stewardship, innovation, and support for human and labour rights worldwide. ACE winners for 2014 include: 
 Coca-Cola Company (Philippines): a bottling an d distribution company, which received 
its award for providing disaster relief services  to areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan;  
 EcoPlanet Bamboo Group (Nicaragua): a bamboo plantation and processing company, 
which was recognized for its work in fostering sustainable development by regenerating 
degraded pasturelands; 
 Wagner Asia Equipment, LLC (Mongolia): a heavy equipment dealership, which was 
honoured for its commitment to public-private partnerships with Mongolia's local and 
national governments to protect the environment, which included workshops for 
students on environment and ecology, a project to build a community garden, and rehabilitation of a toxic waste site.  
See ( http://www.state.gov/e/eb/ace/ ) 
 
6.4.2  Investment Incentives through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation  
48.  The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is a US development finance institution, 
mobilizing private investment in more than 100 developing economies and emerging markets.  
OPIC has supported more than US$225 billion of in vestment in over 4,000 development projects in 
key sectors such as agribusiness, renewable and clean technologies, and small-and-medium-sized 
enterprises (SME) and micro-finance. Another key priority is Impact Investing, which aims to 
produce positive social impacts, while generating financial returns sufficient to make projects sustainable, especially in instances of political instability. OPIC has strengthened its focus on 
Southeast Asia, in addition to its longstanding emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa. In FY 2014, OPIC 
committed US$1.2 billion to the renewable energy sector. OPIC continues to make significant efforts to expand its work in Africa, resulting in US$768 million in new commitments last year. 
OPIC's commitment to sub-Saharan Africa has grown from a 4% share of its global portfolio of 
loans in 2001 to more than 25% by the end of FY 2014. OPIC programmes partner in LDCs 
Members, including in Angola, where, OPIC facilitated the investment of approximately US$9.8 million to assist in the expansion of the Luanda Medical and Diagnostic Clinic within the 
larger Luanda Medical Centre. In Tanzania, OPIC facilitated the investment of US$53.5 million into 
farming operations (see https://www.opic.gov/opic-acti on/all-project-descriptions ).  
7  DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING AND INCENT IVES THROUGH PRIVAT E SECTOR MODELS 
49.  Through the use of the PPP model, US develo pment agencies have gained additional financial 
resources for development activities, as well as new technologies, intellectual capital, and technical and managerial expertise that addres s emerging development challenges. IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  7.1  Development Assistance Programming fr om the Millennium Challenge Corporation  
50.  The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)  is a US Government corporation that forms 
partnerships with some of the world's poorest countries, but only those committed to good governance, economic freedom, and investments in  their citizens. MCC provides countries with 
large-scale grants to fund country-led solutions for achieving goals such as reducing poverty 
through sustainable economic growth. MCC has approved over US$10 billion in compact and threshold programmes worldwide that support projects  in agriculture and irrigation, anticorruption, 
business environment improvements, education, health, enterprise development, finance, land 
rights, trade and transport, and water supply and sanitation initiatives. MCC is currently implementing compact agreements or threshold programmes with four WTO LDC Members: Benin, Malawi, Senegal, and Zambia. In the past, MCC has also completed programmes with Benin, 
Burkina Faso, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and 
Vanuatu.  New programmes are being developed with Lesotho, Liberia, Nepal, Niger (in which MCC 
is specifically considering investments to reduce trade barriers), Sierra Leone, and Tanzania 
(see http://www.mcc.gov/ ). 
7.2  Global Development Alliance Model 
51.  The USAID Global Development Alliance (GDA) model mobilizes the ideas, efforts, and 
resources of businesses, governments, and civil society by forging PPPs to address health and 
environmental issues, develop businesses and workforces, expand access to education and technology, and ultimately stimulate economic growth. The GDA model stresses private sector engagement and links US foreign assistance with th e resources, expertise, and creativity of global 
and local businesses, private philanthropy, and ci vil society. Since FY 2001, USAID has worked 
with the private sector to form more than 1,500 PPPs with over 3,500 partner organizations, with an estimated value of more than US$20 billion in public and private funds 
(see http://www.usaid.gov/gda/ ). 
7.3  USAID-Cisco Systems Partnership 
52.  One prominent and successful example of the use of a PPP in advancing US development 
goals aimed at building capacity in partner countries is the USAID partnership with Cisco Systems, 
which has worked in dozens of countries over the last decade. A number of USAID-Cisco collaborations have focused on supporting econom ic growth and workforce development through 
Cisco's Networking Academy programme. The programme helps build foundational skills in 
information and communication technologies (ICT) while also developing career skills in problem-
solving, collaboration, and critical thinking within a country's growing technology sector. USAID and Cisco are also collaborating in Myanmar, where two Cisco Networking Academies have been 
established. Through the end of June 2014, nearly  300 Burmese students (a majority of women) 
had received training (see https://blog.usaid.gov/2013/03/usaid-and-cisco-to-establish-
networking-academies-in-burma ).  
8  PROGRAMMES AND INCENTIVES RELATED TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND 
FOOD SAFETY AND SECURITY 
53.  US agriculture, food safety, and food secu rity agencies such as USDA and USAID pursue 
technology transfer programming by promoting re search outcomes that are adopted for public 
benefit. The science-based innovations from these agencies include intramural research 
programmes that create new technologies, proc esses, products, and services that enhance 
productivity, efficiency, and global competitiveness. 
8.1  Agricultural Technology Tran sfer Programming from the USDA 
54.  To facilitate technology transfer, USDA uses contractual instruments such as CRADAs, 
invention licences and material transfer agreements, and the public dissemination of research 
results.  Because USDA's research mission is to transfer technologies for broad public use, USDA 
pursues patent protection and licensing only when a private sector partner is needed for effective technology transfer. Generally, this occurs when the complementary assets needed to manufacture, market, and distribute a new technology are provided by a commercial partner that 
must protect its investment. The USDA annual report on technology transfer provides details about IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  the mechanisms used for technology transf er and types of technologies transferred 
(see https://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/ Place/01090000/FY14_%20A nn_TT_%20Rpt.pdf ). 
8.1.1  Agricultural Technology Tr ansfer Programming from the ARS 
55.  By sharing knowledge and technology through close collaboration with national and 
international research institutions to increase research capacity and speed technology 
development, ARS transfers technology and enhances international trade and diplomacy 
(see http://www.ars.usda.gov/R esearch/docs.htm?docid=1428 ).  
8.1.2  National Plant Germplasm System  
56.  The ARS National Plant Germplasm System (N PGS) has the primary federal responsibility for 
the preservation of germplasm collections of crop  plants and their wild relatives. NPGS supports 
capacity building for genetic resource conservation. Through global contributions and individual 
support to specific countries, the NPGS has purs ued partnerships with international groups like 
Biodiversity International and the Global Crop Diversity Trust. For example, Diversity Seek 
("DivSeek") unlocks the potential of crop diversity stored in genebanks to enhance the 
productivity, sustainability, and resilience of crop s and agricultural systems, especially in the 
developing world. NPGS's partnership programmes have developed a new germplasm information management system, called the Germplasm Research Information Network (GRIN)-Global, for 
safeguarding, managing, and publishing this invaluable information (see http://www.ars-
grin.gov/npgs/gringlobal/webpages/publicwebsite.html ). NPGS conducts training and workshops 
and produces reference materials on GRIN-Global.   
8.1.3  NPGS Germplasm Uses in LDCs 
57.  There is great demand for germplasm from the NPGS. Although germplasm is used 
extensively for cultivar improvement, it is also used for a wide variety of other scientific studies, which improve crop production. The NPGS distribu ted an average of more than 210,000 accessions 
annually from 2004-2014, 30% of which were distributed to foreign scientists. Scientists in 140 
countries received germplasm, including the following LDCs: Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Haiti, Lesotho, Ma dagascar, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra 
Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. In one major success story in 2013, 80 accessions of 
Amaranthus were distributed to a university researcher in Benin to support a breeding programme for adaptable crops. 
8.1.4  Other NPGS Collaborations 
58.  In recent years, the United States has provided funds for many additional projects on 
germplasm conservation and utilization. NPGS scientists have collaborated with USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and th e ARS Office of International Research Programme. Scientists at 
the Bangladesh Agricultural University, with the technical cooperation of NPGS scientists, collected, 
evaluated, preserved and distributed germplasm of la ndraces and wild relatives of traditional fruits 
and vegetables. NPGS personnel promote technology transfer by providing training to scientists in 
all aspects of germplasm maintenance, evaluation, documentation, and enhancement. 
8.2  Programming Supporting Food Security  59.  President Obama has committed to advance agricultural development and food availability 
over three years to leverage and to align more than US$18.5 billion from other donors in support 
of a common approach to food security. USAID seeks to advance global food security by 
comprehensively addressing the underlying causes of hunger and under-nutrition; investing in country-led plans; strengthening strategic coordination; leveraging the expertise of multilateral 
institutions; and making sustained and accountable commitments. USAID is working in 
collaboration with its partners to launch co-investment models, establish private sector partnerships, reduce risk, improve the enabling en vironment, commercialize new technologies, and 
engage in capacity-building programmes. IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  8.2.1  Feed the Future Programme 
60.  Feed the Future (FTF) is the primary US global hunger and food security initiative. It supports 
country-driven approaches to address the root causes of hunger and poverty. Through this initiative, the United States helps countries transform their agricultural sectors to grow enough 
food sustainably to feed their people. As a result, food aid can be used for unforeseen catastrophes 
rather than for chronic food insecurity or predic table cycles of drought or flooding. Technical, 
experts in nutrition have been brought together from agencies including ARS and USAID, and from 
the private sector, to guide and coordinate efforts around food security 
(see http://www.feedthefuture.gov/ ). FTF catalyses technology transfer through agricultural-led 
economic growth and development by bridging  the gap between innovative agricultural 
productivity solutions and sustainable market demand; improving the enabling environment for 
market led growth; and linking large commercial institutions with smallholder partners. In 
providing technical assistance, USAID also seeks to expand markets and trade in LDC countries and FTF focus countries by expanding market information; post-harvest market infrastructure; and 
access to business development and financial services. ARS is engaged in research specifically 
targeting developing countries through FTF (see http://www.ars.usda.gov/-
Research/docs.htm?docid=22832) ). FTF's technical assistance will enhance animal, plant, and food 
safety by improving standards and creating strong  regulatory frameworks; reducing the time and 
cost of border movement of goods; and creating  an enabling environment for agribusiness growth. 
LDC FTF partners include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Haiti, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.  
8.2.2  FTF Programming in Bangladesh 
61.  In Bangladesh, USAID FTF programming focusses on S&T innovations in agricultural 
production. USAID supports biotechnological research with the Bangladesh Agricultural Research 
Institute by improving local research capacity an d creating a policy environment conducive to the 
development, management, and use of agricultural biotechnology. USAID created a partnership with the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute to increase rice yields. Through FTF, USAID supports 
adaptive research trials to test, validate, and re fine newly developed agronomic practices and seed 
varieties for cereals and fish. 
8.2.3  FTF Research Commitments  62.  A central feature of FTF is a commitment to harness science and technology to advance 
agricultural productivity and sustainability goals through increased collaboration between US 
scientists and partner countries. FTF research investments address five major programme areas of the Food Security Innovation Centre: (1) Climate Resilient Cereals; (2) Legume Productivity; 
(3) Advanced Approaches to Pest and Disease; (4) Nutritious and Safe Foods; and (5) Sustainable 
Intensification. USAID funds 24 research programmes based at US universities across the five programme areas of the FTF Food Security Innovati on Centre to develop relevant technologies and 
approaches to improving the sustainability, producti vity and profitability of smallholder farms. The 
programmes pursue research in aquaculture, livest ock, cereals, legumes, food safety, nutrition, 
and natural resources management (see http://feedthefuture.gov/article/feed-future-food-
security-innovation-center/ ).  
8.3  Programming in Support of Inte rnational Agricultural Research  
63.  USAID's Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is a global 
research-for-development partnership consisting of an international agricultural and natural 
resources research centre. CGIAR aims to redu ce poverty and hunger, improve human health and 
nutrition, and enhance ecosystem resilience through high-quality international agricultural research, partnership, and leadership (see http://www.cgiar.org/ ). 
8.4  Programming Supporting Agricult ural Biotechnology and Innovation 
64.  Agricultural biotechnology offers an important tool to enhance crops and manage resources. It 
can increase the incomes of small-scale agricultural producers in an environmentally sustainable way by: reducing pesticide use and excess fertilizer use that pose threats to biodiversity and 
human health; battling damaging plant diseases and pests by developing new resistant crop IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  varieties; making widely grown food crops more resilient and stress tolerant, thereby helping 
farmers adapt to a changing climate; enhancing the nutritional quality of key staple crops to counter malnutrition and improve the health of farmers and consumers; and enabling better 
livestock disease diagnosis and the development of more effective livestock vaccines. To promote 
effective agricultural biotechnology, US agenci es, including FAS, the Department of State's 
Economic and Business Affairs Bureau, and USAID, work with other countries and international bodies, such as the WTO and Organization for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). This work 
is meant to strengthen legislative frameworks an d regulatory systems to support the development 
of biotechnology, ensuring that the transfer of  technology is science-based, transparent, and 
creates the necessary environment for LDCs and the private sector to make effective use of the technology.   
8.4.1  USAID Biotechnology Programming 
65.  USAID has taken an innovative approach to biotechnology, integrating technological 
development with policy reforms in developing co untries. This integrated approach ensures that 
countries safely access biotechnology, and that a broader range of technologies are available for 
small-scale farmers.  This is accomplished by en gaging US and developing country experts from 
universities, the private sector, NGOs, and international institutions such as the CGIAR, to form an 
integrated strategy for developing and managing biotechnologies and securing biosafety. USAID 
Biotechnology strategic goals are:  
 developing new crops for smallholder farmers to improve the availability of food and 
strengthen livelihoods; 
 developing and strengthening biosafety systems; 
 increasing developing countries' capacity for local technology development; 
 increasing public understanding of biotechnology and biosafety; 
 helping public research systems address regulatory and IPR issues; and 
 supporting research to inform biotechnology risk assessment and management. 
8.4.2  Programme for Biosafety Systems 
66.  USAID's Programme for Biosafety Systems (PBS) supports the development and 
implementation of national biosafety systems.  PBS addresses biosafety through an integrated 
programme of research, capacity developmen t, and outreach (see http://www.usaid.gov/ 
kenya/fact-sheets/program-biosafety-systems/). 
8.4.3  South Asia Biosafety Programme 
67.  The South Asia Biosafety Programme is dedicated to assisting US partner countries in South 
Asia, including Bangladesh, in institutional governance of biotechnology. The programme builds on 
existing efforts to advise governments on enhancing and streamlining systems to realize the 
benefits of agricultural biotechnology within a tr ansparent, efficient, and responsive regulatory 
framework that ensures the safety of new foods and animal feeds and protects the environment 
(see http://www.cera-gmc.org/SABP ). 
8.4.4  Agricultural Biotechnology Support Programme II 
68.  The Agricultural Biotechnology Support Programme II (ABSPII) is a USAID-funded consortium 
of public-and-private sector institutions managed by Cornell University that focusses on the safe 
and effective development and commercialization of bioengineered crops as a complement to 
traditional and organic agricultural approaches. There are five developing countries that are ABSPII partners, including Bangladesh and Uganda (see http://www.absp2.cornell.edu/ ). Other 
LDC-based consortium partners include institutions from Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Togo, 
and others.  IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  8.4.5  African Agricultural Technology Foundation 
69.  The African Agricultural Technology Foundat ion (AATF), funded by USAID and other donors, 
facilitates PPPs to enable access to innovative technologies and ensure the delivery of biotechnology through local private and public sectors. Through USAID support, AATF's 
management of these linkages upstream and downstream of public sector research has to 
facilitate access to innovative technologies and to ensure the delivery of biotechnology through the local private and public sectors. These partnerships have been used to develop insect-resistant 
cowpea, nitrogen-use efficient rice varieties, and drought tolerant maize using modern 
biotechnology. AATF works in LDCs, including Burkina Faso, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, and Tanzania (see http://www.aatf-africa.org/ ).  
8.4.6  Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa  
70.  The Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa (VIR CA) project aims to develop improved cassava 
varieties that contribute more food and income to farm families in East Africa. The project is focused on developing cassava varieties that are preferred by farmers and resistant to two 
common and prevalent viruses: cassava brown streak disease and cassava mosaic disease. 
Current VIRCA partner countries include Kenya and Uganda (see http://pdf.usaid.gov/-pdf_docs/pdacp868.pdf). 
8.5  Basic Research to Enab le Agricultural Development 
71.  NSF supports basic research to build a foundation for generating sustainable, science based 
solutions to agricultural problems in developing countries. In its first three competitions, the programme awarded 24 grants through the Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development 
(BREAD) programme. The programme, in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 
awards grants to promote novel, creative approaches and technologies to address common constraints faced by small-holder farmers. Grants have been made to US-led international teams 
to support the development of innovative strategies to combat wheat rust and low soil fertility, as 
well as the use of cutting edge synthetic biology technologies to enable the development of vaccine candidates for Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, a devastating disease in cattle (see 
http://www.nsf.gov/bio/pu bs/awards/bread10.htm/ ). The BREAD Programme has taken a novel 
approach to fulfilling its goals by using a two-stage process involving small cash prizes for 
articulating novel or under-studied scientific challenges facing smallholder farmers in the developing world. Thirteen individuals were selected to receive prizes, including researchers from 
LDCs Tanzania and Uganda (see http://www.nsf.gov/bio/bread/ ). In the FY 2015 competition, 
BREAD solicited innovative basic research proposals in two key focus areas: (1) development of 
high throughput, low cost tools and devices for capturing phenotypic data; and (2) advancing basic 
research in crop plants relevant to smallholde r agriculture in developing countries to develop 
sequence and functional genomics resources to enable basic and applied research in crop plants for smallholder agriculture. FY 2015 awards will be funded in FY 2016. 
9  PROGRAMING AND INCENTIVES RELATED TO ENERGY DEVELOPMENT 
72.  US energy development assistance progra mmes bridge the gap between power shortages and 
countries' economic potential by working with partners to take the steps to:  
 help countries develop newly discovered, clean energy resources responsibly;  
 build out power generation and transmission;  
 support power sector reforms; and  
 expand the reach of mini-grid and off-grid solutions.  
9.1  Providing Energy Resources th rough the Clean Technology Fund  
73.  The Clean Technology Fund (CTF) is a multilateral, multi-billion dollar effort to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries by helping to finance the additional costs of 
cleaner technologies over conventional alternatives. CTF provides financing to clean energy and IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  energy efficiency projects combined with multil ateral development bank financing. CTF aims to 
help countries attract investor capital into low-carbon sectors. To receive funding, countries must develop national investment plans that stimulate low-carbon growth and the scalable uptake of clean technologies. The United States is a contri butor to the Strategic Climate Fund and its three 
sub-funds, the Forest Investment Programme (FIP), the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience 
(PPCR), and the Programme for Scaling-Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries (SREP).  
9.1.1  Forest Investment Programme  
74.  The FIP supports efforts to reduce deforestation and forest degradation and to promote 
sustainable forest management that leads to emissions reductions and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. Current FIP countries includ e LDCs Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, 
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lao PDR, Mozambique, Nepal, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia 
(see http://www.climateinvestm entfunds.org/cif/node/5 ).  
9.1.2  Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience 
75.  PPCR is assisting countries vulnerable to changing climatic conditions. LDC pilot countries 
include Bangladesh, Cambodia, The Gambia, Haiti, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, 
Niger, Rwanda, Uganda, Yemen, and Zambia (see http://www.climate-
investmentfunds.org/cif/node/4 ).   
9.1.3  Programme for Scaling-Up Renewa ble Energy for Low Income Countries 
76.  SREP focusses on deploying renewable energy to increase energy access in several developing 
countries, including LDC pilot countries Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, Haiti, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Nepal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, the Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Uganda, Vanuatu, 
Yemen, and Zambia (see http://www.climateinvestmen tfunds.org/cif/node/67 ).  
9.2  Private Financing Advisory Network  
77.  Initiated by the Climate Technology Initia tive (CTI) and supported by USAID, the Private 
Financing Advisory Network (CTI-PFAN) is a multilateral PPP that nurtures promising, innovative 
clean and renewable energy projects by bridgi ng the gaps between investors, clean energy 
entrepreneurs, and project developers. CTI-PFAN brings together private sector companies with 
experience in financing climate-friendly projects and technologies to screen business plans and 
select the most economically viable and en vironmentally beneficial projects. For those 
entrepreneurs and businesses selected, CTI-PFAN provides guidance on feasibility, project structure, investment and financing, business plan  preparation, and introductions to investors. 
CTI-PFAN works through regional networks in Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa and 
dedicated in-country networks (see http://www.cti-pfan.net ). 
9.3  Readiness for Investment in Sustainable Energy Index 
78.  USAID partners with the World Bank to develop an investment index for sustainable energy 
technologies, the Readiness for Investment in Sustainable Energy (RISE) index. RISE's goal is to provide information to the public and private sectors on national-level barriers to, and 
opportunities for, low carbon technology deployment and investment. RISE also provides 
information on country performance in terms of the market conditions, policies, institutions, laws, and regulations that contribute to an enabling environment for private investment. RISE builds on existing measures, such as the World Bank's "Doing Business Index", while identifying sector-
specific barriers and incentives. RISE also guides donors and developing country governments 
towards concrete measures for improving the enabling environment for private sector investments in clean technologies. RISE has been initially piloted in 17 countries and will be extended to include 
global coverage in future years, including LDCs Mali, Nepal, the Solomon Islands, Tanzania 
Vanuatu, and Yemen (see http://rise.worldbank.org/ ). IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  9.4  Regional Energy Initiatives  
79.  US regional energy development programming focusses on sub-Saharan Africa and South 
Asia. US agencies, including OPIC and USAID, work closely with multilateral development banks and other organizations on regional energy collaboration programmes.   
9.4.1  Power Africa 
80.  Power Africa was launched in 2013 to double access to power in sub-Saharan Africa through 
advancing the transfer of assets from the pub lic to the private sector. President Obama has 
committed to providing US$7 billion over five years to support power sector transactions and 
reforms in sub-Saharan Africa. Private sector commitments have totalled more than US$20 billion.  The United States is working closely with the African Development Bank, multilateral organizations, and other donors and investors to enhance the energy sector resources available to 
people in sub-Saharan Africa (see http://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica/ ). 
9.4.2  US-Africa Clean Energy De velopment and Finance Centre  
81.  At its US-Africa Clean Energy Development and Finance Centre, OPIC provides technical and 
financial support for clean energy project deve lopment by providing investors and sub-Saharan 
African developers a centralized means to identify and access US Government support for their clean energy export and investment needs. OPIC also supports the African Clean Energy Financing 
(ACEF) programme, which is focused on catalysing private sector investment in clean energy 
projects in Africa by providing support for early stage project development costs (see http://www.opic.gov/sites/d efault/files/files/ACEF% -20One-Pager%2005%2021%-
202013%20final.pdf ).  
9.4.3  South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Integration  
82.  USAID's South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Integration (SARI/EI) focusses on creating 
an enabling environment to advance cross-border electricity trade (CBET) in South Asia through 
the advancement of interconnections among transmission systems; the development of the 
regional energy market through the three task forces with representation from different South Asian countries; and the harmonization of policy and legal and regulatory mechanisms among 
governments. The programme promotes the sharing of best practices between private-and-public 
sector system and transmission operators, as well as electricity traders in South Asia and the US.   
The objectives are to:  
 
 draw upon international experiences in ener gy market development to educate regional 
South Asian stakeholders;  
 foster partnerships among system operators, electricity traders, and regional 
transmission operators in the region; and  
 enhance institutional capacity of South Asian private and public sector system operators.  
83.  Through the programme, South Asian energy sector representatives gain an understanding of 
the positive impacts that transparent energy mark ets and CBET can have on attracting additional 
investments and meeting energy needs. The programme facilitates exchanges among the South Asian countries to learn from the successful CBET in the region and provide a platform to discuss potential energy trade agreements. Exchanges explore the harmonization of economic and 
regulatory aspects for electricity at national and regional levels (see http://www.sari-energy.org ).  
9.5  Other US Bilateral Energy Programmes  
84.  US bilateral energy development programmes focus on engagement with partner LDCs, 
including Burundi and Haiti, and in third-country partnerships involving Bangladesh, Nepal, and 
India. US agencies, including USAID and USTDA, wo rk closely with multilateral development banks 
and other organizations.   IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  9.5.1  Energy Infrastructure in Burundi 
85.  In Burundi, USTDA supports increased trade and investment by providing US$597,000 to a 
Burundian energy company to fund a feasibility study that will support the development of a 7.5 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic power plant. The contractor will evaluate the technical and 
commercial viability of the project, conduct environmental and social impact assessments, and 
provide the necessary analysis for the project to se ek financing. Implementation of the project will 
increase Burundi's national power supply by 15% and help to power an estimated 
60,000 households and businesses, thereby increa sing access to energy and promoting an 
enabling environment to support growth of the country's private sector. 
9.5.2  Energy Generation in Haiti 86.  In Haiti, USTDA supports activities to increase the reliability of electricity generation. 
Economic growth and further development in Haiti, including the capacity and output of SMEs, is 
severely restricted by the lack of access to reliable electricity. In order to increase the provision of 
electricity in Haitian towns where there is little or no grid electricity supplied, USTDA is providing a 
grant of US$484,999 towards a feasibility study to assess and rank the viability of pre-paid 
microgrid development in about 100 Haitian towns.  The pre-payment system allows customers to 
purchase electricity in small quantities as they need it, and has been central to the success of the 
grantee's microgrid model. The study is identifying the most promising towns for microgrid 
replication, covering aspects related to economic fundamentals, physical infrastructure, municipal government receptivity, and potential partners.  
9.5.3  Bilateral and Third-Country Energy In itiatives in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal  
87.  Beyond its broader regional focus, SARI/EI w ill focus on supporting key bilateral initiatives 
that would lead to CBET through India-Nepal and India-Bangladesh power trade. This will be done through:  
 targeted advisory services and technical assistance to support key regional investments 
and create an enabling environment;  
 focused analyses and studies to unlock investments in cross-border investment projects;  
 skill development to build the technical and professional capacity; and  
 fostering partnerships among electricity traders, financial institutions, and regional 
transmission operators with counterpart agencies and organizations in South Asia.  
88.  SARI/EI has developed a holistic programme to advance India-Nepal power trade that 
includes the institutional strengthening of key Nepali power sector institutions (e.g. the Investment 
Board of Nepal and Nepal Electricity Authority) by twinning them with relevant Indian organizations such as the Power Finance Corporat ion of India and the Power Trading Corporation 
of India. The partnership includes a customiz ed skill development programme on the various 
aspects related to power trading, such as trading system transactions and operations, preparation of power-purchase agreements, short-term market s, review of power purchase agreements, and 
techno-economic and financial assessment of large plants.  
10  PROGRAMING AND INCENTIVES RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 89.  Since 2009, the United States has engaged in a wide range of activities with developing 
countries, with the goal of promoting the deve lopment and deployment of climate-friendly 
technologies and practices, and responsible ma nagement of the environment and environmental 
resources. The United States promotes its te chnology development and transfer activities 
bilaterally, plurilaterally, and multilaterally. IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  10.1  International Water Management Programming  
90.  The US partnership approach on water has created momentum that helps ensure self-
sustainability in water governance and manage ment. After receiving programme funds from US 
agencies, stakeholders have used enhanced capacity to yield positive results in their daily lives.  
10.1.1  US Water Partnership 
91.  The US Water Partnership (USWP) is a Department of State-led initiative to mobilize US 
expertise knowledge and resources to address global water security challenges. USWP's 107 
members from the private sector, civil society, government, and academia provide benefits to 
developing world stakeholders through both long-term initiatives and shorter programmes. For 2014 World Water Day, USWP held "US Tech H2.0," which highlighted innovative water technologies. Further, the USWP's H2infO portal empowers those working on water in developing 
countries to access over 4,000 resources, including connections with experts and stakeholders and 
guidance in thematic areas (see http://h2info.us ). To date, H2infO has reached over 4,800 users 
in 145 countries. USWP's Water Consultants covers the costs of bringing experts on a particular 
topic in a developing country to help locals solve problems.   
10.2  International Forestry Management Programming 92.  USFS promotes capacity building in support of sustainable forest management and 
biodiversity conservation internationally by linking the skills of the field-based staff with partners 
overseas. These activities cover a wide range of topics, many of which are co-funded with USAID (http://www.fs.fed.us/about-agency/int ernational-program s/program-topics/ ). This work involves 
a variety of partners, including intergovernmental organizations, international research and 
conservation organizations, and other environmental NGOs. USFS scientists and other agency 
technical experts contribute specialized technical a ssistance to existing projects, conduct training, 
facilitate research, and publish technical guides to promote sustainable forest management and 
biodiversity conservation. These activities encompass many of the most pressing forestry issues, 
including fire management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, forest monitoring and remote sensing, forest health and invasive species, migratory species and habitat management, 
watershed management, protected areas and ecotourism, and sustainable forestry practices. 
10.2.1  USFS-International Union of Fore st Research Organizations Partnership 
93.  USFS and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) signed a 
partnership agreement in 2014 to enhance the contribution of forest science to international 
forest-related policy processes and implementation of sustainable forest resource management, 
particularly in economically disadvantaged countri es. The agreement achieves technology transfer 
through strengthening national forest research systems in Africa, Asia and Latin America, 
particularly through capacity development, assistance to scientists, and institution-building. 
Further, the initiative supports IUFRO's global initiatives on mobilizing and disseminating forest-related information through Internet and ICT-based channels 
(see http://www.fs.fed.us/re search/partnerships/ ). IUFRO has a long history of providing support 
to the forest science community in Africa, Asia and Latin America. IUFRO implements capacity-
building activities through its Special Programme for Development of Capacities (IUFRO-SPDC). These activities strengthen research programmes and enhance the development and 
implementation of sound forest management policies and practices through the generation and 
dissemination of quality-research results on forests and trees. IUFRO-SPDC's capacity-building activities concentrate on assisting forest research institutions in partner developing countries to 
effectively contribute to shaping national and local forest policies and sustainable forest 
management systems. The activities financed by the USFS allocation in 2015 focus primarily on Africa and Latin America (see http://www.iufro.org/science/special/spdc/ ). 
10.2.2  Supporting Information Serv ices and Knowledge Dissemination 
94.  The United States supports the provision of information services to scientists and 
policymakers in developing countries through the Global Forest Information Service (GFIS). GFIS provides a framework for sharing forest-related data and information through a single gateway 
and promotes the dissemination and sharing of fo rest information and knowledge by developing a IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  common information exchange platform, building  capacity, and enhancing partnerships among 
forestry information providers and users (see http://www.gfis.net/ ).  
10.2.3  Improving Forestry Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities 
95.  The USFS Disaster Assistance Support Pr ogramme (DASP) was created to provide USAID's 
Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) with technical support in disaster response 
management, planning, operations, preparedness, and prevention. OFDA coordinates responses to 
dozens of foreign disasters each year, along with the Bureau of Land Management, with their 
extensive emergency response capability and expe rience in wildland firefighting. These unique 
capabilities and resources are applicable in a multitude of disaster situations. Over the past two decades, the role of DASP has expanded to incl ude emergency support functions such as training, 
developing and improving OFDA's methodologies for disaster response, and coordinating USAID 
and foreign disaster preparedness. In addition, the programme provides technical and training 
expertise to US domestic and overseas partners in emergency preparedness, response, and disaster mitigation. 
10.3  International Climate-Related Programming 
96.  At all levels of activity, the principal US focus is to help support the development of the 
policies and regulations and overall institutional scaffolding required to facilitate technology 
transfer actions. For example, the United States wo rks bilaterally on capacity-building activities on 
appliance efficiency standards, renewable energy  policies, and smart-grid regulatory schemes.  
Plurilaterally, the United States works with othe r countries on regional initiatives to transform 
market structures to expedite technology flows. On the multilateral level, the United States 
contributes to such global technology transfer institutions as the UN Framework Convention on 
Climate Change (UNFCCC). The US Climate Action Re port 2014 provides an ex haustive analysis US 
support for climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. 
(see http://www.state.gov/e/oes/rls/rpts/car6/ ). 
10.3.1  US Programme on SilvaCarbon 
97.  SilvaCarbon is a technical cooperation programme under President Obama's Global Climate 
Change Initiative, and a US contribution to the Global Forest Observation Initiative of the 
intergovernmental Group on Earth Observatio ns. SilvaCarbon draws on the strengths of 
cooperating US partners, NGOs, academia, and indu stry. Partner agencies include the Department 
of State, the US Environmental Protection Ag ency (EPA), NASA, the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USAID, US FS, USGS, and the Smithsonian Institution. 
SilvaCarbon and its partners work with developing countries to build capacity for monitoring and managing forest and terrestrial carbon. SilvaCarbon helps to identify, test, and disseminate good 
practices and cost-effective, accurate technologies.  
10.3.2  Programming Supporting Gree nhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation  
98.  US agencies, including the EPA and USAID, build capacity for compiling national greenhouse 
gas (GHG) inventories to developing countries, including in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin 
America. US programmes focus on the conti nued development of national GHG inventory 
information management tools. This work seeks to develop long-term national inventory management systems, improving the methods and data  used in the agriculture, forestry and other 
land use sectors (see http://www.epa.gov/climatec hange/EPAactivit ies/internationalpartnerships-
/capacity-building.html ). Specifically, USAID's collaboration with EPA enhances GHG emissions 
mitigation and economic modelling capacity in Latin America. EPA partnered with the US 
Department of Energy's (DOE) Pacific Northwest Na tional Laboratory to lead a multi-year Latin 
America Modelling Project that works to improve re gional and national models and build capacity. 
Modellers from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, teams in the United States and the 
European Union, and other developing countries are brought together to explore analytical 
questions critical to improving national-level models and review results from a set of climate policy scenarios.  The results were released as a series of academic papers and presented at the UNFCCC 
conference in Lima, Peru.  IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  10.4  Cross-Cutting Environmental Programming 
99.  The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a PPP led by the UN Foundation, to saves lives, 
improves livelihoods, empowers women, and combat s climate change by creating a thriving global 
market for clean and efficient household cooking so lutions. The Alliance's 100-by-20 goal calls for 
100 million homes to adopt clean and efficient st oves and fuels by 2020. Today the Alliance has 
over 1,000 partners. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over four million annual deaths are associated with exposure to cookstove smoke each year, ranking as the world's fourth 
worst health risk (see http://www.state.gov/s/partne rships/cleancookstoves/ ). To address this 
issue, the United States announced its contribution of up to US$325 million through 2020. This 
anticipated commitment includes leading diplomatic activities to advance the Alliance and the cookstoves sector; investing US$125 million in new research to build the evidence base for clean 
cooking interventions; attracting up to US$175 million in financing to cookstove businesses; and 
contributing US$25 million towards field implemen tation activities. Participating US agencies 
include the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS), the Department of State, DOE, EPA, NIH, NOAA, NSF, OPIC, Peace Corps, USAID, 
and USDA.  
10.5  Programming Supporting Oc eans and Maritime Ecosystems 
100.  The United States continues to promote and support the adoption of best practices in 
regional ocean governance and the management of coastal and marine ecosystems to ensure the long-term provision of essential services to affected communities. Such best practices include strengthening institutions to sustain climate-related impact; harmonizing and implementing 
ecosystem approaches to fisheries management; establishing a six-country system of marine 
protected areas; and a region-wide early action plan for climate change adaptation.     
10.5.1  Coral Triangle Initiative 
101.  The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security is an international 
partnership to sustain Southeast Asian marine and coastal biological resources. The Coral region includes the waters of six countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, 
Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands. Among these countries, one in three people (of a total 
population of 363 million) of the region rely upon  coastal fisheries for their primary food security 
each day. The United States has delivered over US$41 million to support the efforts of the Coral 
Triangle countries to combat risks resulting from over-fishing and climate change. The programme 
provided technical assistance and helps build capa city to address food security, climate change, 
and the conservation of marine biological diversity, upon which production fisheries and tourism depend. Altogether, US support to the initiative totals more than US$60 million 
(see http://www.coraltrian gleinitiative.org/ ).   
11  PROGRAMMING AND INCENT IVES RELATED TO HEALTH 
102.  Health research through biomedical and behavioural funding activities of US agencies, 
including the FDA and NIH, have contributed to  technology transfer and research capacity-
strengthening in many LDCs. For new technologies developed by US scientists, NIH licences biological materials and associated patent rights, when applicable, to institutions that can bring products to the market in or for LDCs.  
11.1  Biomedical and Behavioural Research  
103.  Scientists often provide know-how to those receiving biological materials such as vaccine 
seed strains with specialized growth requirements. Most of these technologies are associated with 
diagnostic tests, treatment, vaccination, and pr evention for pathogens such as dengue, Ebola, 
Haemophilus Influenzae type b, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), human papillomavirus, meningococcus, rotavirus, typhoid bacteria, and varicella-zoster. This technology transfer builds 
manufacturing capacity and associated skill sets by providing access to vaccines that meet public 
health needs (see http://www.ott.nih.gov/licensing/ ). IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  11.2  Technology Licences 
104.  NIH executed three licence agreements related to an Ebola vaccine and therapeutic 
development, as part of a response to the larges t outbreak of the virus in recorded history.  
GlaxoSmithKline licensed patent rights and biological materials for a candidate Ebola vaccine it is 
advancing in partnership with the NIH. Phase I and II studies of this candidate vaccine have been 
completed, making phase III studies possible.  ExCell BIO licensed technology for the development of a live-attenuated or inactivated rabies-Ebola virus vaccine. SAB Biotherapeutics licensed for 
internal use the same technology licensed to ExCell BIO to evaluate potential use in the 
development of Ebola antibodies. The NIH continue d to increase partnerships for the development 
of live-attenuated, tetravalent dengue vaccines. In 2014, NIH executed licence agreements to provide access to patented technology and biological materials to Merck & Co., Inc. and to Serum 
Institute of India, along with an amendment to the existing licence with Panacea Biotech. These 
licences, like many others highlighted here, abid e by the previously established NIH licensing 
practices that are aimed to help populations in LDCs. 
11.3  International Research Initiatives 
105.  NIH collaborations with partner countries and international organizations seek to develop 
solutions aimed at specific, high-priority diseases that affect LDC populations.  
11.3.1  HIV/Acquired Immunodeficiency Sy ndrome Clinical Tr ials Networks and 
Research Sites 
106.  NIH-funded HIV/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Clinical Trials Networks and 
their Clinical Trial Units/Clinical Research Sites (CTU/CRS) pursue clinical trials to address the 
highest priorities in HIV/AIDS research, including:  (a) vaccine R&D; (b) translational research/drug 
development; (c) optimization of clinical ma nagement, including co-morbidities such as 
tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis and cancer; (d) microbicides; (e) prevention of mother-to-child 
transmission of HIV; and (f) prevention of HIV infection. The networks' leadership groups and 
CTU/CRS will broaden in scope with a new focus on research toward a cure for AIDS, hepatitis, and 
TB. Under these programmes, collaborative basic and clinical research is carried out between 
researchers worldwide, including with those in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. These 
research and training programmes support the expansion of basic and clinical research skill sets in LDCs, the strengthening of infrastructures to support the development of new drugs and vaccines, and the exchange of scientific knowledge worldwide. 
11.3.2  Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative 
107.  NIH licensed a technology from FDA researchers for cutaneous and post kala-azar dermal 
leishmaniasis to Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi). The FDA submitted a proposal to 
WHO, which selected the proposal for further develo pment with DNDi as the development partner.    
11.3.3  Initiatives Focusing on Giardiasis 108.  Giardiasis, caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia, has a significant public health impact in 
Africa, India and certain other regions.  NIH licensed, under its start-up licence programme, a 
technology to Subrimed for developing novel compounds against this parasite. 
11.3.4  Multilateral Initiative on Malaria  109.  NIH and WHO's Special Programme for Training and Research in Tropical Diseases co-
founded the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) that focusses on LDCs and other malaria-
prevalent countries. MIM's mission is to increase and enhance worldwide malaria research by facilitating multinational research cooperation. NIH has also established malaria research facilities 
in Mali and Uganda and has trained local scientists and physicians to conduct malaria research 
from within endemic countries, including those in several LDCs in Africa. NIH also has established an international network of centres of excellence for research focused on malaria endemic 
countries (see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK3741/ ). IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  11.3.5  Initiatives Focusing on Typhoid Fever 
110.  Typhoid fever is still common in the deve loping world, where it affects about 21.5 million 
persons each year.  NIH executed two licences for finding treatments against the causative agent, Salmonella typhi (S. typhi). Protein Potential execut ed an evaluation licence agreement for S. typhi 
vaccine candidates, while Bharat Biotech International Ltd. amended an existing licence for their 
internal research efforts. 
11.4  Regionally-Focused US Health Programming   
111.  HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB cause millions of deaths each year. These three diseases are a 
major cause of poverty through their debilitating impact on the active workforce, and significantly affect economic development and stability. US agencies, notably NIH, support research activities in many LDCs affected by these diseases. NIH programmes support 37 African countries, including 19 
LDCs, with US$243 million. These research activities  contribute directly to the strengthening of 
research capacity in these countries, enhancing prospects for future transfers of technology. 
11.4.1  NIH Infectious Disease Rese arch Focus in sub-Saharan Africa 
112.  NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) supports HIV/AIDS 
research in many LDCs in sub-Saharan Africa, with most projects conducted in areas with the highest incidence of infection and disease, in cluding Malawi, Rwanda, and Zambia. The recent 
emergence of multidrug-resistant TB and extensively drug-resistant TB, especially in the context of 
HIV/AIDS infection, is being addressed by NIAID-funded projects conducted in several countries including Tanzania and Uganda. Malaria remains a major threat, and NIAID conducts clinical, epidemiological, drug, and vaccine and vector research in countries, including Burkina Faso, The 
Gambia, Malawi, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda (see http://www.niaid.ni h.gov/topics-
/globalresearch/region/africa/pages/default.aspx/Pages/default.aspx ). 
11.4.2  NIH Neglected Diseases Research Focus in sub-Saharan Africa 
113.  NIAID has a long-standing programme of research devoted to better understanding, 
treating, and preventing neglected tropical diseases  (NTDs). Neglected diseases such as filariasis, 
schistosomiasis, sleeping sickness, and others are receiving support from NIAID in countries 
including Malawi, Mali, and Uganda. NIAID conducts  its own basic and clinical studies and supports 
researchers based in the United States and in countries where NTDs are widespread. NIH supported research has helped with training in state-of-the-art research techniques and conducting clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa. 
11.4.3  Human Heredity and Health in Africa  
114.  The aim of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative is to enhance the 
ability of African scientists to apply genomic and epidemiological approaches to shed light on the 
determinants of chronic and infectious diseases in Africa. H3Africa, now funded at US$76 million 
over five years, is focused on capacity building, as  well as specific scientific goals. These research 
grants are awarded directly to African institutions where principal investigators are based, which 
allow African scientists to develop and direct th eir independent research agendas. The programme 
encourages the formation of intracontinental collaborations and development of specific infrastructural elements, i.e., African-based bi orepositories and a pan-African bioinformatics 
network. H3Africa also includes training programmes aimed at retaining African scientists on the 
continent to help build a sustainable, critical mass of researchers.   
11.4.4  Initiative on Child and Maternal Health in Malawi 115.  USAID's Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths Initiative focused on maternal, 
newborn, and child health; family planning/reproductive health; nutrition; and water, sanitation 
and hygiene activities in support of reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality. USAID and the Department of State supported technology transfer by facilitating the introduction of the 
US$33 million Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine which treats newborns with 
respiratory distress. IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  11.4.5  NIH Research Training Programm es for Low-and-Middle-Income-Countries 
116.  NIH's Fogarty International Centre supports several research training programmes that 
include training for low-and-middle–income-country (LMIC) biomedical researchers and research institutions and contribute to technology transf er and capacity building. Programmes include the 
AIDS International Training and Research Prog ramme, the Global Infectious Disease Research 
Training Programme, the Fogarty HIV Research Training Programme and the Medical Education Partnership Initiative. The programmes involve researchers and medical personnel from LMIC 
countries (see http://www.fic.nih.gov/Prog rams/Pages/default.aspx/ ).   
12  PROGRAMMING AND INCENTIVES RELA TED TO BUILDING LABOUR CAPACITY 
117.  US agencies, including the US Department of Labour (USDOL), seek to ensure that workers 
around the world are treated fairly and are able to  share in the benefits of the global economy. 
USDOL has developed international projects and joint efforts that aid other countries and 
international organizations to better understand the problems facing workers throughout the world and to strengthen international labour standards and worker protections. These programmes build 
capacity in global labour markets and help to level the playing field among trading partners.  
12.1  Better Work Programme  118.  USDOL is supporting the International Finance Corporation - International Labour 
Organization's (ILO) Better Work Programme in several developing countries, including in LDCs 
Cambodia, Haiti, and Lesotho. The Better Work Programme improves working conditions in global textile and apparel supply chains by monitoring factories' compliance with national labour laws and international labour standards and providing technical assistance to factories that need to improve 
their compliance. The Better Work Programme us es competition to encourage improvements in 
working conditions by making the findings from their monitoring programme public, so that major brands and buyers can use labour conditions as a factor in considering where to place their orders.  
USDOL has provided over US$20 million in grants to  the programme. With the participation of over 
60 international buyers, the Better Work Programme is now operating in 1,300 factories, impacting 1,454,660 workers. The programme has demonstrated  that compliance with labour standards can 
help enterprises be more competitive by attracting international buyers and expanding their 
orders, as well as contributing to improved productivity and better labour relations, ultimately leading to increased economic development (see http://www.dol.gov/ilab/p rojects/better-work/ ).  
12.2  Improving Working Conditions in Bang ladesh through Building and Fire Safety 
Programming  
119.  In response to the Bangladesh Rana Plaza disaster, USDOL is funding a US$1.5 million Fire 
and General Building Safety project that aims to improve Bangladesh's fire and building safety 
policies and plans; enhance its capacity to efficiently and effectively inspect and ensure timely 
remediation of fire and general building hazards and protection against employer retaliation for reporting hazards; and provide education and ou treach to employers and workers on fire and 
general building safety, with improved social di alogue among tripartite partners (government, 
worker organizations and employer organizati ons). The project, spanning from 2013-2017, 
provides assistance to the Bangladesh Ministry of Labour in the development of a protocol for remediation, and to the Bangladesh University of  Engineering and Technolo gy (BUET) in approving 
factory corrective action plans (CAP). Active partners in the project include the ILO, the 
Government of Bangladesh Ministry of Labour's Directorate of Inspections and Fire Safety and Civil Defence (FSCD) and BUET. This group focusses on vetting structural and fire/electrical consultants, 
tracking the CAPs, and monitoring remediation work. The project has also supported FSCD 
training, which has increased the number of inspectors from 55 to 268 over the term (see http://www.dol.gov/ilab/projects/summaries/ Bangla%20ILO%20%20Pr oject%20Summary.pdf ). 
13  PROGRAMMES AND INCENTIVES  RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION 
120.  US agencies, including the Department of State and Department of Transportation (DOT), 
operate programmes such as Open Skies and Safe Skies. These programmes between the United States and partner countries have vastly expanded opportunities for international passenger and 
cargo flights to and from the United States, pr omoting increased travel, trade, and business IP/C/W/611/Add.5/Rev.1 
 
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  contact; enhancing productivity; and spurring hi gh-quality job opportunities and economic growth. 
The increased travel, trade, and business contacts  promoted by expanded air traffic facilitate 
private sector technology transfer. 
13.1  Open Skies Agreements 
121.  Open Skies Agreements eliminate government al interference in the commercial decisions of 
air carriers concerning routes, capacity, and pricing, freeing carriers to provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air service to consumers. The United States has achieved Open Skies with 
over 110 partners from every region of the world and at every level of economic development.  
Since 1992, the United States has concluded Open Skies agreements with 16 LDCs: Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, The Gambia, Lao PDR, Madagascar, Mali, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Yemen, and Zambia (see http://www.state.gov/e/eb/tra/ata/ ). 
13.2  Safe Skies for Africa Programme 
122.  The Safe Skies for Africa Programme (SSFA) is based on the premise that "Safe Skies" are a 
prerequisite for African economic development through increased trade and investment. SSFA 
works to promote sustainable improvements in avia tion safety in Africa as a means of advancing 
economic development and increased investment  for Africa. The overarching goal of the 
programme is to increase the number of African nations meeting International Civil Aviation 
Organization standards. Through the programme, the DOT has directly trained African experts 
through the US Federal Aviation Administration, both in the United States and in-country. These capacity-building efforts have resulted in thousand s of personnel receiving state-of-the-art training 
to address airworthiness, operations, air navigation, aviation security (in partnership with the 
Transportation Security Administration), as well as accident investigation processes and 
procedures (in partnership with the US National Transportation Safety Board). SSFA participants include several LDCs, including Angola, Cameroon, Mali, and Tanzania. SSFA's efforts have also 
included regional outreach through the EAC and the Banjul Accord Group 
(see http://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Docum ents/Safe%20Skies% 20for%20Africa.pdf ).  
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