IP/C/W/614/Add.1  
7 October  2016 
(16-5369) Page: 1/6 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects of  
Intellectual Property Rights  Original:  English  
 
  TECHNICAL COOPERATIO N ACTIVITIES: INFORM ATION FROM  
OTHER INTERGOVERNMEN TAL ORGANIZATIONS  
UNITED NATIONS CONFE RENCE ON TRADE AND D EVELOPMENT (UNCTAD)  
Addendum  
At its meeting of 7 -8 June 2016, the Council for TRIPS agreed to invite intergovernmental 
organiza tion observers to the Council to update the information on their technical and financial 
cooperation programmes relating to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.  
 
The present document reproduces the information which has been received from the 
United  Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) by means of a communication 
dated 5 October 2016.  
 
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The UNCTAD Secretariat, through its Intellectual Property (IP) Unit implements a work programme 
on the development dimensions of intel lectual property (IP) rights . The work programme is 
designed to respond to the mandate  received from Member States at the Ministerial Conference in 
Nairobi ( July 2016), as well as to intergovernmental requests under the WIPO Development 
Agenda and the Worl d Health Assembly 's Resolution 61.21 on a Global Strategy and Plan of Action 
on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property . The IP Unit, located in the Division on 
Investment  and Enterprise, conducts research and policy analysis on trade and devel opment 
aspects of IP, facilitates consensus -building and  responds to requests for technical assistance and 
advises on policy options for successfully integrating developing countries into the world economy . 
This document provides an overview of UNCTAD 's IP and development -related activities during the 
period of  November  2015 to October  2016. More information on past activities is available at  
http://unctad.org/en/Pages/DIAE/Intellectual%20Property/Development -Dimensions -of-
Intellectual -Property -Rights.aspx ; and http://www.iprsonline.org . 
 
1  TECHNICAL COOPERATION  
1.  On a request basis, UNCTAD 's IP Unit conducts technical cooperation activities with developing 
countries in the integrated areas of investment, trade and intellectual property . The technical 
assistance activities  are partly funded by donor governments and institutions.  
2.  IP rights and local pharmaceutical production and supply capacity of essential 
medicines . UNCTAD was requested by its Commission on Investment, Technology and Related 
Financial Issues (2005) to assess ways in which developing countries can develop their domestic 
produ ctive capability in the supply of essential drugs in cooperation with pharmaceutical 
companies .1 In the pursuit of this mandate, UNCTAD implements a work  programme on local 
pharmaceutical production , with a view to assist ing developing countries  and least  developed 
countries (LDCs) in particular, to utilize IP rights  as tools that facilitate increased  access to 
affordable medicines,  and, where feasible, to promote domestic and foreign investment to create 
                                               
1 See at http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/c2l22_en.pdf  (paragraph 9(c) of the Agreed 
Recommendation s). IP/C/W/614/Add.1  
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  local or regional pharmaceutical production and supp ly capacities . The programme is supported by 
the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).  
3.  Policy coherence for local pharmaceutical production . Funded by German International 
Cooperation (GIZ), UNCTAD 's work programme assists  developing countries' effort s to promote 
coherence of policies in respect of health, trade and industrial development  and ensure that  local 
pharmaceutical production increases access to medicines . UNCTAD and GIZ pursue this activity on 
a regional basis in  South -East Asia and the East African Community (EAC).  
4.  IP Rights and Technology Transfer . In 201 6, UNCTAD launched its technical assistance 
programme on IP, transfer of technology and trade facilitation, with the financial support from the 
Government of Ge rmany (BMZ) . The programme focuses on the use of IP regimes for the 
promotion of technological absorption capacities and discusses the use of IP rights such as 
trademark s for trade facilitation.  
5.  IP rights and biodiversity . In 2011, UNCTAD launched its tech nical assistance programme on 
IP and biodiversity, with financial support from the Government of Germany (BMZ) and in 
cooperation with GIZ . The programme has focused on the building of local capacities, in 
developing countries, to design and enforce domest ic trade, customs and IP laws in line with 
access and benefit sharing rules under  the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), its Nagoya 
Protocol and the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples.  
6.  Development Dimension of Intellectual Proper ty (DDIP) and other advisory r eports . 
UNCTAD provides , upon request by a developing country or least  developed country, advisory 
reports on the development dimensions of intellectual property (DDIP) . The objective of a DDIP 
report is to provide well -resear ched and reasoned advice on developing countries' and LDCs ' 
policy, legal and institutional framework for IPRs, particularly as it relates to important 
development objectives such as innovation, technology, investment, competition, education and 
health . Developing countries specify the key development objectives they wish to examine . A DDIP 
report will take into consideration  the socio -economic situation of the requesting country, the  
bilateral, regional and international commitments the target countries ha ve entered into and the 
flexibilities available to them . Based on th is analysis, the reports incorporate medium to long -term 
recommendations on how governments and other stakeholders could make these frameworks 
more coherent and transparent, with a view to  making IP  rights contribute  to a country 's 
sustainable economic and human development goals, and respond to emerging global 
opportunities.  
7.  Cooperation with other providers of IP -related technical assistance . At the request of 
the Ethiopian Government, UNC TAD works closely with WHO on the implementation of the National 
Strategy and  Plan of Action for  Pharmaceutical  Manufacturing Development (2015 -2025) . Staff of 
UNCTAD 's IP Unit frequently participate in capacity -building workshops on IP and development 
issues organized by other providers of IP -related technical assistance . For instance, U NCTAD was 
invited by WIPO and WTO to contribute to the 201 6 WIPO -WTO Advanced Course on IP for 
Government Officials . In September  2016, UNCTAD invited WHO, WIPO  and WTO to make 
contributions to a multi-stakeholder workshop organiz ed by UNCTAD, UNDP and South Africa's 
Department of Trade and Indu stry ( dti) in Pretoria, South Africa, on a proposed IP consultative 
framework . UNCTAD also participated in a workshop organized by W TO and the dti on the same 
topic.  
2  RESEARCH AND POLICY ANALYSIS  
8.  UNCTAD  undertakes research and analysis on trade and development aspects of IP and 
provide s advisory reports for developing countries . Currently, UNCTAD is  finaliz ing a "Guide  to 
Policy Coheren ce for Access to Medicines and Local Pharmaceutical Production" in collaboration  
with GIZ. The Guide is designed as a quick -reference tool for developing country policy makers on 
the various policies related to health, industrial development, trade, invest ment, innova tion and IP 
and how they may be used to contribute to local production and access to medicines.  IP/C/W/614/Add.1  
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  3  CONSENSUS -BUILDING  
9.  Consensus -building amon g stakeholders on issues of IP is an important element of the 
programme 's work . UNCTAD 's substantive contr ibutions on the analysis of issues related  to 
development and IP have enabled it to become an important forum , through its intergovernmental 
machinery,  where governments, academia, civil society and the private sector can meet to 
exchange ideas . The Office r-in-Charge of the IP Unit participated as member of the Expert 
Advisory Group which was tasked to review and provide inputs into the technical documents 
supporting the work of the United Nations Secretary -General High Level Panel on Access to 
Medicine . The final report of the High Level Panel was released in September  2016. UNCTAD , in 
collaboration with UNAIDS, the African Union and GIZ, organized a roundtable discussion  on 
"Supporting Access to Medicines and Industrial Development in Africa : Investing in Domestic 
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing," on 2 1 July 2016, in Nairobi, on the side of the UNCTAD World 
Investment Forum . Representatives of the private sector, investors, civil society, and governments 
participated in the roundtable . At the end of the event , UNCTAD Secretary General 
Dr Mukhisa  Kituyi, UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé, African Union Commissioner for 
Trade and Industry, Ms Fatima Acyl, Cabinet Secretary of the Health Ministry of Kenya, 
Dr Cleopa  Mailu and South Africa 's Minister of Tr ade and Industry , Dr Rob Davies signed the 
"Nairobi Statement on Investment in Access to Medicines ". The joint statement affirms the 
signatories' commitment to facilitate investment in local pharmaceutical production in Africa, 
particularly for the manufac ture of antiretroviral medicines, in support of SDG 3 (which targets 
providing access to essential medicines for all), SDG 9 (to advance innovation and domestic 
technology development) and SDG 17 (to foster international cooperation and policy coherence).  
10.  The list of activities for the period between 1 November  2015 and 1 5 October  2016 is attached 
as an annex to this report . For more information  on UNCTAD 's activities related to IP , please visit:  
http://unctad.org/en/Pages/DIAE/Intellectual%20Property/Development -Dimensions -of-
Intellectual -Property -Rights.aspx  and http://www.iprsonline.o rg. 
 
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  IP/C/W/614/Add.1  
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ANNEX  
UNCTAD 'S TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE TRI PS AREA FROM 1 NOVEMBER  2015 TO 15 OCTOBER  2016 
Beneficiary 
country(ies)  Title and date of the event/activity  Partner agency  Description  
Francophone West Africa  WTO Atelier  régional sur la propriété 
intellectuelle, la santé publique et les besoins 
prioritaires  
Abidjan, 3 -6 November  2015 WTO UNCTAD was invited to contribute its expertise on (1) IP and 
development and (2) IP and l ocal pharmaceutical production.  
All countries  Meeting of Global Health Policy Think Tanks and 
academic institutions  
12-13 November  2015, Geneva, Switzerland  Graduate Institute of 
Geneva and WTO  Contributed to a panel on trade and health . 
Tanzania  High Level Capacity Building Workshop on 
Policy Cohere nce for Local Pharmaceutical 
Production and Access to Medicines in  Tanzania 
Dar-es-Salaam, 23 – 26 November , 2015  WHO; Tanzania 
Commission on Science 
and Technology, Ministry 
of Trade and Industry  The multi -stakeholder workshop developed recommendations on  how 
to promote coherence among domestic health, trade and industry 
policies for access to med icines and local production. 52  participants  
Latin American Region  Online Course on Biodiversity and the 
International Regime for Access and Benefit 
Sharing and Intellectual Property 
30 November  - 24 February  2016.  Capacity building to improve understanding and strengthening the 
national and indigenous capacities to participate in national and 
intern ational forums. 35 participants  
Ghana  High Level Capacity Build ing Workshop on 
Policy Coherence for Local Pharmaceutical 
Production and Access to Medicines in Ghana,  
Accra, 1 –4 December , 2015  UNIDO, WHO, Ministry of 
Trade and Industry and 
Ghana Health Service  The multi -stakeholder workshop developed recommendations on  how 
to promote coherence among domestic health, trade and industry 
policies for access to medicines and local production. 45 participants  
All countries  Panel discussion on "Intellectual Property and 
other Challenges in Making Local 
Pharmaceutical Product ion work for Access to 
Medicines, 15 -17 December , 2015, New Delhi, 
India GIZ, University of Delhi  Side event during the Global Congress on Intellectual Property and the 
Public Interest . 
All countries  17th European Intellectual Property Institutes 
Congress : conference on "Intellectual property 
and the judiciary", 28 -30 January  2016, 
Strasbourg  European Intellectual 
Property Institutes 
Congress  Contributed to the discussion on IP under investment disputes.  
   
  IP/C/W/614/Add.1  
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Beneficiary 
country(ies)  Title and date of the event/activity  Partner agency  Description  
UN Secretary General High 
Level Panel on Access to  
Medicine -  Expert Advisory Group meeting,  
9 December  2015, New York ; 1 February  2016, 
Geneva, member states briefing ; 
25 February  2016 Geneva, assessment of 
contributions, 9 & 1 0 March  2016, London, 
public hearing and 3 1 March  2016, New York, 
review meet ing UNDP , UNAIDS  UNCTAD contributed its expertise on IP, local pharmaceutical 
production and public health to the High Level Panel.  
Peru and Latin American 
countries  Workshop on the Interface between 
International Access and Benefit Sharing Rules 
under t he Nagoya Protocol and Intellectual 
Property Rights," Lima, Peru, 
8-9 February  2016 Instituto Nacional de 
Defensa de la 
Competencia y de la 
Protección de la Propiedad 
Intelectual (INDECOPI)  The workshop discussed the challenges and recent developments on 
IP-related institutional mechanisms at both the national and 
international levels to raise the capacity of INDECOPI officials and 
national ABS focal points  to deal with the interface between IP and 
biodiversity.  
Peru Workshop on the Interface between 
International Access and Benefit Sharing Rules 
under the Nagoya Protocol and Intellectual 
Property Rights," Cusco, Peru, 
11 February  2016 INDECOPI  The workshop discussed the challenges and recent developments on 
IP-related institutional mechanisms at both the national and 
international levels to raise the capacity of indigenous and local 
communities  to address access and benefit sharing concerns and their 
interface with IP.  
Cambodia  Workshop on the Interface between Intellectual 
Property and Competition Law, 
17-19 February  2016 The Department of 
Intellectual Property, 
Ministry of Commerce of 
Cambodia  The workshop delivered capacity building on the interface between IP 
and comp etition law, how the TRIPS Agreement deal s with the 
interface, and how the UN Set of principles and rules on competition 
can be applied in cases involving IP rights.  
WIPO Member States ; 
WTO Members  WIPO -WTO Advanced Course on IP for 
Government Officials, 8 March , 2016  WIPO ; WTO Presentation on UNCTAD 's activities in the area of IPRs and 
developmen t. 25-30 participants  
All countries  6th edition of LL.M in International Trade Law - 
Contracts and Dispute resolution", ITC/ILO, 
Turin, 2 0 March  2016 International Training 
Centre, International 
Labour Organization 
(ITC/ILO)  Lecture on IP, inves tment and competition policy . 
Ethiopia  Workshop on the use of intellectual property 
rights' flexibilities to promote local 
Pharmaceutical production in Ethiopia, 
3-4 May 2016 WHO and the Ethiopian 
Ministry of Industry  The Workshop concluded with consensus  on the adoption of Objective 8 
of the National Strategy and  Plan of Action 
for Pharmaceutical  Manufacturing Development (2015 -2025) that aim s 
at utilising IP flexibilities for LDCs.  
Ethiopia  Workshop on IP and Technology Transfer Policy 
for Public Agricu ltural Research Centres in 
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa 3 -4 May 2016 Ethiopian Institute of 
Agricultural Research 
(EIAR), the South Centre 
and GIZ  The workshop discussed the objectives of an IP policy for publicly 
funded research organisations and the adaptation and dissemination of 
technologies.  
The Philippines  National Workshop on the Interface of 
Intellectual Property Rights, Biological Diversity 
and Traditional Knowledge, 24-25 May 2016, 
Manila  Intellectual Property Office 
of the Philippines (IPOPHL)  The workshop discussed IP and technology transfer provisions in 
Material Transfer Agreements in the context of the Convention on 
Biological Diversity and the role of geographical indications and 
collective trademarks.    
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Beneficiary 
country(ies)  Title and date of the event/activity  Partner agency  Description  
Benin  La propriété industrielle, le transfer t de 
technologie et l'accès aux médicaments 
génériques au Bénin, Cotonou, Benin, 
24-25 May 2016 Agence Nationale de la 
Propriété Industrielle 
(ANaPI)  This multi -stakeholder workshop reviewed the use of TRIPS Agreement 
flexibilities for the promotion of tec hnology transfer in the 
pharmaceutical indu stry in Benin. 42 participants  
All Member s of the United 
Nations  Supporting Access to Medicines and Industrial 
Development in Africa Investing in Domestic 
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Nairobi, 
21 July 2016 UNAID S, African Union 
Commission.  The Nairobi Statement on Investment in Access to Medicines of 
21 July 2016 emphasizes the signatories' commitment to facilitate 
investment to promote the local production of pharmaceuticals in 
Africa.  
15 countries ( China, 
Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, 
Mongolia, Montenegro, 
Myanmar, Philippines, 
Samoa, Serbia, Tajikistan , 
Timor -Leste and Ukraine ) The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC)/ 
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA):  
22nd training course for developing countries 
on com petition law and policy, Tokyo, 
1-19 August  2016 
 JFTC/ JICA  UNCTAD delivered training on the interface between competition and IP 
policies, on 1 7 August  2016. 
 
Thailand  The International Trade and Health Conference 
2016, 8 ‐10 August , Bangkok  National Com mission on 
International Trade and 
Health Studies (NCITHS).  UNCTAD contributed to the discussion on (1) cross -cutting policy 
coherence issues, inter alia  investor -state dispute settlement and 
(2) IP flexibilities and their use in the public health system.  
Kenya and East African 
Community Partner States  TRIPS Flexibilities and Anti -Counterfeit 
Legislation in Kenya and the East African 
Community : Implicati ons for Generic Producers, 
2016 UNIDO  The publication analyses the existing legislations and identif ies key 
policy recommendations to implement anti -counterfeiting legislations 
taking into account the TRIPS flexibilities and public health policies in 
Kenya and the region.  
WIPO Member States  Master in Intellectual Property organized by the 
University of Turi n, the World Intellectual 
Property Organization (WIPO) and the 
International Labor Office's International 
Training Center.  
Turin, 1 4 September  2016 WIPO ; University of Turin ; 
ILO International Training 
Center  UNCTAD made a presentation on Intellectual Prop erty Rights, Trade 
and the Building of Technological Capacities in Developing Countries. 
35 participants  
South Africa  WTO National Workshop on "Intellectual 
Property to Meet South Africa's Developmental 
Objectives", Pretoria, 26/2 7 September  2016 
 The De partment of Trade 
and Industry ( dti) of the 
Republic of South Africa, 
WTO UNCTAD contributed to a workshop for the South African 
Inter-Ministerial Committee on Intellectual Property.  
South Africa  Consultative Framework for Intellectual 
Property in South Africa, Workshop, 
28-30 September  2016, Pretoria , South Africa  The Department of Trade 
and Industry ( dti) of the 
Republic of South Africa, 
UNDP  The workshop facilitated consultation among government agencies, civil 
society and private sector, on the dti Consultative Framework for 
Intellectual Property. 50 participants  
All countries  Global Academy for Innovation and Access 
(http://www.gafia.info ) 
Ongoing  BMZ, GIZ, UNIDO, 
South  Centre  Platform for UNCTAD e -learning cou rses on IPRs and forum for 
exchange among alumni of German -funded capacity development.  
 
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