WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  IP/C/W/499 
3 October 2007 
 (07-4194) 
Council for Trade Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Original:   English 
 
 
 
PRIORITY NEEDS FOR TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL COOPERATION 
 
Communication from Sierra Leone  
 
 
 According to paragraph 2 of the Decision of 29 November 2005 on the Extension of the 
Transition Period under Article 66.1 for Least-Devel oped Country Members, "all the least-developed 
country Members will provide to the Council for TR IPS, preferably by 1 January 2008, as much 
information as possible on their individual priority needs for technical and financial cooperation in 
order to assist them taking steps necessa ry to implement the TRIPS Agreement". 
  The present document reproduces the inform ation which has been received from the 
Delegation of Sierra Leone by means of  a communication dated 28 September 2007. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. The TRIPS Council Decision of 29 November  2005 extended the transition period for 
least-developed countries (LDCs) to implement the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of 
Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) until 1 July 2013.  At the same time, LDCs are not 
obliged, with respect to pharmaceutical products, to im plement or apply Sections 5 and 7 of Part II of 
the TRIPS Agreement or to enforce rights provide d for under these Sections until 1 January 2016. In 
both cases, LDCs have reserved the right to seek further extensions of these transition periods. 
2. Paragraph 2 of the 29 November Decisi on has mandated LDC Members, including 
Sierra Leone, to provide as much information as possible to the Council, preferably by 1 January 
2008, on their individual priority needs for technical and financial co-operation in order to assist them 
in taking steps necessary for implementing the Agreement. 
3. The implementation of the TRIPS Agreement poses major challenges for Sierra Leone.  A 
very low technological base, institutional weakne ss as well as pressing needs for human, social, and 
economic development make this challenge even harder.  When implementing the TRIPS Agreement 
it is important to recall that inte llectual property rights (IPRs) should be  a tool for development and an 
integral part of sustainable policies on science, te chnology, culture and innovation, in line with the 
emerging conclusions of the WIPO Developm ent Agenda process and the report of the UK 
Commission on Intellectual Property Rights of 2002 for example.
1  Moreover, as an LDC, 
Sierra Leone needs ample time to establish its own national intellectual property (IP) policy, legal and 
administrative framework in line w ith its socio-economic interests. 
                                                      
1 See http://www.iprcommission.org/te xt/documents/final_report.htm  IP/C/W/499 
Page 2  
 
  4. In advancing the TRIPS Agreement implemen tation process, Sierra Leone would like to 
reiterate that as an LDC, it enjoys maximum policy flexibility in building a sound and viable 
technological base and safeguarding public health an d nutrition under the TRIPS Agreement.  In this 
respect it re-emphasises the importance of the commitment made by developed country Members to provide technical and financial assistance on mutu ally agreed terms under Article 67 of the TRIPS 
Agreement, as well as incentives for transfer of technology under Article 66.2. 
5. The Republic of Sierra Leone takes at earnest its international obligations and the need to 
implement the TRIPS Agreement, at an appropriat e time, with due consideration to the minimum 
standards of protection and enforcement and taki ng into account, among others, the objectives and 
principles of the Agreement.  For that purpose the present statement and its annexes seek to reflect 
priority needs and a plan of action for technical and financial assistance seen as a pre-requisite to 
implement the TRIPS Agreement obligations by Sie rra Leone.  Notwithstanding its commitments and 
due to the complexity of the task involved, Sierra Leone retains the right to request further extensions 
of the implementation period in the future if re quired to accommodate socio-economic, administrative 
or financial constraints. 
II. BUILDING A SCIENTIFIC, TECHNOLOGICAL AND CREATIVE BASE 
6. An underlying assumption in Sierra Leone's presentation is, as acknowledged in the TRIPS 
Agreement Preamble, the need for maximum flexibility in th e domestic implementation of laws and 
regulations in order to enable [LDCs] to create a sound and viable technological base . 
7. Like other LDCs, Sierra Leone has a very weak scientific and technological base.  It also has 
limitations in all levels of its education system.  Many of these weaknesses and limitations are due to 
its post conflict situation and low level of development.  The Si erra Leone Science & Technology 
Council has produced a national science and technolog y policy but it is, whilst promising, at an 
embryonic stage.  The most promising sectors ar e in academia and agriculture research.  In the 
creative sector, the music industry has much potential but several steps must be taken by public and 
private actors to realize this.   
8. Addressing the development of a scientific a nd technological base through technical and 
financial assistance and the development of adequa te incentives and targeted public support will be 
key to realizing benefits that could be derived from implementati on of the TRIPS Agreement.  In 
Sierra Leone, there is a need to examine and study  these wider issues in more detail and to design 
appropriate interventions to reinforce existing national policies and programmes, as well as 
encouraging better-targeted incentives for transfer of technology by developed countries.  In this last 
respect, Sierra Leone plans to make a future s ubmission to the TRIPS Council regarding its specific 
needs for technology transfer to guide developed countries in the implementation of Article 66.2 of 
the TRIPS Agreement. 
III. THE PROCESS FOR ASSESSING THE NEEDS 
9. It is important to indicate that an assessment of technical and financial needs for 
implementation of the TRIPS Agreement is not curr ently covered by the Si erra Leone's Diagnostic 
Trade and Integration Study unde r the "Integrated Framework".
2  Thus, a special needs assessment 
process was required, complementing the Diagnostic Trade Integrated Study (DTIS), and closely co-
ordinated with Sierra Leone's overall development strategy as well as its policies and programmes for 
                                                      
2 The integrated framework is a multi agency and multi donor programme aimed at coordinating 
technical assistance for LDCs to assist them in enhancing their trade opportunities and integrate them into the 
regional and global economies.   IP/C/W/499 
 Page 3 
 
 
  private sector development and regulation including the education, agriculture, health, environment, 
culture and science and technology sectors. 
10. In order to assess technical assistance needs, sev eral consultations to determine priority needs 
were held in July 2007 with a wide variety of na tional stakeholders and with the technical support of 
independent international experts  (under the ICTSD-Saana Consulting- joint project), closely co-
ordinated with the ongoing small scale Protecting IP Rs Project that begun in 2005 with support from 
the UK Department for International Development (D FID).  The needs assessment exercise of IPRs 
technical assistance and capacity-building requirements was based on the diagnostic toolkit for Assessing Technical Assistance Needs for Implementing the TRIPS Agreement in LDCs  template that 
may be of use to other LDCs wishing to undertake such an assessment.
3   
IV. SETTING PRIORITIES AND A PLAN OF ACTION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL  
11. This introductory statement is supplemented w ith two annexes. Annex A highlights the most 
pressing financial and technical elements necessary to implement the TRIPS Agreement based on feedback and inputs provided in multi-stakeholder cons ultations and in interviews carried out at the 
national level.  The needs assessment includ es the IP policy and legal framework, IPRs 
administration, enforcement and regulation of IPRs , and promoting innovation, technology transfer 
and using IP for development.  
12. Annex B provides an outline planning matrix fo r a national IPR capacity building programme 
meeting Sierra Leone's needs.  Within the fra mework of this future outlook of necessary 
administrative and legal reform, Si erra Leone requests consultations  with appropriate agencies from 
developed country Members, in co-ordination with  international institutions  and interested NGOs 
working on IPRs and development, for the deta iled design and implementation of a development-
oriented, long-term, comprehensive and sustaina ble programme of technical and financial co-
operation and capacity-building to meet its needs.  Th is should be consistent with the principles of aid 
effectiveness set out in the 2005 Paris Declaration
4 and highlighted by the WTO Task Force on Aid 
for Trade in its 2006 report. Suggested partners for the consultations include, for instance, WIPO, 
UNCTAD, WHO, Cop of the CBD, UNESCO, FAO,  and/or other interested international 
organizations including bilateral donor agencies, IP offices, and civil society organizations such as 
ICTSD.  
13. We take this opportunity to thank the differe nt providers, international institutions and 
bilateral donors for the support they have alrea dy given to Sierra Leone.  We look forward to 
partnering with them in a new phase of building the capacity of the national IPR system, as a key part 
of our wider efforts to promote development by st rengthening the country's creative industries and its 
scientific and technological base. 
                                                      
3 See http://www.iprsonline.org/ic tsd/docs/LDCToolkit-final.pdf. 
4 See http://www1.worldbank.org/harmoniza tion/Paris/FINALPARIS DECLARATION.pdf. IP/C/W/499 
Page 4  
 
  ANNEX A 
 
PRIORITY NEEDS FOR TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL CO-OPERATION FOR TAKING 
STEPS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE TRIPS AGREEMENT 
 
1. IP policy and legal framework 
(a) Strengthening IP policy/legal development and co-ordination capacity in the Ministry of 
Trade & Industry (MTI) 
 A clear priority is to build on recent gains and establish a small IP policy unit within the 
Policy, Planning and Research Division of the MTI.  The unit would be responsible for providing 
advice to Government on all aspects of IP and indus trial policy, including actively facilitating and co-
ordinating policy inputs from other stakeholders with regards to linkages with public health, 
education, agriculture, competition, science a nd technology, environment, communications and 
culture sectors.  Financial assistance is required for an initial five-year period to enable the MTI to 
recruit two full-time IP Policy Analysts in the Un it, as well as logistical support to resource their 
duties, functions and consultative work with other stakeholders from the sect ors identified above (e.g. 
laptop computers, books, travel and communications expenses). 
 
(b) Supporting IP legislative development and policy coherence 
 The development of national IP policy and a le gislative framework on IPRs should be done in 
a coherent manner with other related policies in areas including science and technology, health, 
competition, agriculture, and environment.  This is not  an easy process.  There is a need to understand 
linkages and best options for implementation in light  of different levels of  development and national 
priorities. In the short-term, the need for professiona l legislative drafting support in priority areas of 
updating patent, industrial design, trademark and copyright legislation is being met under current 
bilateral assistance.  The development of nationa l legislation on TRIPS flexibilities, such as those 
needed to address access to medicin es, requires special attention in th e legislative reform process.  
 
 Over the longer-term, specialized technical co- operation will continue to be needed to support 
future legislative and regulatory frameworks in ne w and related areas to IPR protection for Sierra 
Leone, including, potentially, geographical indications , plant variety protection, integrated circuit 
topographies, competition policy, protection of trad itional knowledge, ABS regulation and taking full 
account of the flexibilities in the TRIPS Agreem ent as well as other multilateral agreements.  
 
(c) Enabling Sierra Leone's regular and effective participation in meetings of the WTO Council 
for TRIPS and at WIPO 
 Facilitating Sierra Leone's participation in negotiations for the WTO and WIPO is highly 
recommended.  This is the case not only for IP delib erations but also, among others, for Aid for Trade 
and agriculture.  To facilitate increased engagement  in negotiations, support for the establishment of a 
small permanent mission in Gene va is highly advisable.  Whilst the establishment of a small 
permanent mission for Sierra Leone in Geneva (including a capacity to handle IP issues) would be the 
ideal solution, for the foreseeable fu ture more effective participati on should be supported in the form 
of funds for travel and subsistence expenses for capital-based delegates.  
 
(d) Developing a multi-disciplinary IP policy research and analysis capacity in the University of 
Sierra Leone 
 The topics to be covered would potentially in clude all forms of IPRs (industrial property and 
copyright as well as entirely new areas for Sierra Leone such as geographical indications, plant  IP/C/W/499 
 Page 5 
 
 
  variety protection, integrated circuit topographi es, competition policy, tr aditional knowledge, access 
to genetic resources & benefit sharing under the Co nvention on Biodiversity (C BD), and copyright in 
the digital environment).  The focus would be  on investigating the socio-economic impacts, 
international experiences in other countries, and the optimum legal and regulatory frameworks for 
their use, administration and enforcement in  all areas of the economy in Sierra Leone. 
 
2. IPR administration 
(a) Modernizing the organizational status of  IPR administration in Sierra Leone 
 There is a broad consensus amongst stakeholde rs that the existing legacy organizational 
model of the Office of the Administrator and Regi strar General (OARG) for IPR administration is 
out-dated.  The preferred option, suggested by st akeholders consulted during the needs assessment 
exercise and supported by international best-practice,  is the eventual establishment of a small but 
well-run Sierra Leone Intellectual Property Offi ce, which would operate as a self-financing, 
autonomous government agency accountable to Parlia ment through the MTI.  This service-oriented 
multitask IP office should be established to administ er the policies and legislative framework, i.e. 
raise awareness and provide information on IPR matters , allow registration of tr ademarks and patents.  
In the short-term, there is a need for technical co -operation to investigate the feasibility and identify 
the most appropriate legal, financial and operati onal structure for the establishment of such an 
organization in Sierra Leone.  Potentially, this assistance could be provided within the scope of the 
ongoing DFID-funded Protecting IPRs Project during 2007-2008. 
 
(b) Human resource capacity-building in terms of additional manpower and new types of skills 
 If and when the new Sierra Leone Intellect ual Property Office is established, a modest 
number of additional permanent staff positions will be  required to support the delivery of its services 
through the proposed autonomous and self-financi ng business model.  The total required staff 
complement will be determined by the feasibility study, but for the period 2008 to 2013 this could be 
expected to be in the order of 7 professional sta ff and 6 administrative/clerical staff.  Additional 
formal and on-the-job training w ill be required, on an on-going basis and for the foreseeable future, 
for staff in:  IPR administration; patent info rmation services and IP management; strategy 
development and business planni ng; financial management a nd accounting; human resources 
management;  information technolog y skills; and communications.  Tailo red study visits to other IP 
offices, particularly in developing countries, would also be essential.  
(c) Automation of registries for trademarks, industrial designs and patents 
 Since Sierra Leone is a member of the Pate nt Co-operation Treaty, the Madrid Trademarks 
system and the African Regional Intellectua l Property Organization (ARIPO), where all 
documentation and operations are electronic, there is  an urgent need to computerize all industrial 
property workflows and registries in Sierra Leone.  Without such up to date and accurate electronic 
registries, the efficient establishment, identification and management of IP rights by both owners and 
the public will be undermined.  These automated regi stries should eventually be made available on-
line and linked to the development of a Patent Inform ation Service (PIS).  In the short-term, technical 
and financial support to design and implemen t necessary electronic processes, workflows and 
registries, including the conversion of existing paper re gistries to electronic form and training of staff, 
are required.  
 
(d) Establishment of an Industrial Property Appeals Tribunal 
 In order to ensure the efficiency and effectiv eness of industrial property administration, there 
are plans to establish an independent industrial prop erty tribunal or the creation of a specialized IPR IP/C/W/499 
Page 6  
 
  division of the High Court with a mandate to resolv e disputes relating to the application of patents and 
regulations on patents, industrial d esigns and trademarks.  Technical and financial assistance will be 
required to establish the most appropriate form and structure for the tribunal and to make available 
necessary training in industrial property legisla tion, administration and dispute resolution.  
 3. Enforcement and regulation of IPRs 
(a) Improving business and consumer e ducation and awareness about IPRs 
 There is a major, long-term need for techni cal and financial assistance to design, implement 
and evaluate public education and awareness rais ing campaigns across Sier ra Leone.  Campaigns 
should be professionally designed, use well-define d key positive messages, and target different 
audience segments appropriately (e.g. consumers, businesses and traders, artists and musicians, radio 
and television broadcasters, university students and researchers, and legal and business service 
professionals).  A variety of media should be used  and where possible, programmes should be run as 
public-private partnerships. An initial pilot coul d be run with the national music industry.  
 
(b) Training of enforcement agencies in IPR concepts and national legislation 
 A significant need exists for training and traini ng of trainers on IP concepts and enforcement 
matters for the police, Customs Service, public pr osecutor's office and the commercial division of the 
High Court.  Such training should initially target  a core group of senior officers in the Criminal 
Investigation Department (CID) of the Sierra Le one Police Force and the Customs Service in the 
National Revenue Authority.  The training pr ogrammes should be designed by experienced 
professionals and be carefully sequenced with th e development of new IP legislation and public 
education campaigns on IPRs in Sierra Leone.  (c) Provision of access to networked, computerized national IP registries for the Sierra Leone 
Customs Service 
 Financial assistance and technical co-operation are required over the medium-term to provide 
access to a networked, computerized database on IPRs that are in force in the country for use by the 
Sierra Leone Customs Service in co-operation with the national IP administration agency.  
Additionally, access to World Customs Organisati on (WCO) databases that are used to identify 
counterfeit trademarks should also be provided to the Customs authorities.  Technical co-operation 
from the WCO and INTERPOL would be required to est ablish the latter system and train staff in its 
use.  An initial pilot should be run at the Cu stoms Service HQ at Freetown Port.  This should be 
synchronized with the general training of enforc ement agencies as well as the development of IP 
legislation. 
 
(d) Enhancing co-operation with foreign enforc ement agencies on counterfeiting and piracy 
 Financial and technical assistance is require d to enable the coordination of customs border 
measures between Sierra Leone and its neighbouring countries.  Given the long and porous land 
borders of the country, effective enforcement agai nst the entry of counterfeit goods into the country 
would benefit from greater coordi nation and cooperation between the customs and police authorities 
on both sides of the borders.   IP/C/W/499 
 Page 7 
 
 
  4. Innovation, technology transfer and using IP for development 
(a) Development of domestic innovative and creative base 
 In order for Sierra Leone to establish its ow n innovative and creative ba se, it is crucial to 
increase access to and make use of technologies already available to Sierra Leone.  An assessment is 
necessary to identify the technologies, human r esources and supporting infrastructure necessary to 
support certain sectors, such as mining, agriculture , and music.  For instance, Sierra Leone has 
potential to develop a flourishing music industry but the newly established Music Industry Task Force requires support to implement its na tional action plan.  The country has also some research capacity in 
agriculture and seed production that could be expande d and consolidated jointly with engagement by 
universities and the private sector.  To support the creation of a sound and viable technological base in 
Sierra Leone, a scoping study should be undertak en to examine how domestic creativity, innovation 
and transfer of technology can best be stimul ated through reinforcement of domestic policies, 
incentives, private sector associations, and capacity  building programmes, including the IPR system, 
and through more targeted measures taken by the developed countries in line with their obligations 
under Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement.   
(b) Improving business education and awareness about  IP management for Small and Medium-
sized Enterprises (SMEs) 
 There is a major, long-term need for techni cal and financial assistance to design, implement 
and evaluate education and awareness raising campaigns  in IP management for SMEs and using IP for 
development across Sierra Leone.  Campaigns shoul d be professionally designed, use well-defined 
key positive messages, and target different audi ence segments appropriately (e.g. manufactures, 
business service providers, artists and musicians, radio and television broadcasters, university 
researchers, and legal and business service professionals).  Where possible, campaigns should be run as public-private partnerships, involving participa tion from IP policy, administration and enforcement 
agencies in the public sector, together with private sector organizations and associations. 
 
(c) Development of a Patent Information Service to support innovation and technology transfer 
 Technical co-operation and financial assistan ce are required to design and implement an 
automated and on-line Patent Information Service (PIS ) in Sierra Leone.  The importance of published 
patent documents as a source of technical informati on of potential great value, particularly to SMEs, 
is widely recognised.  The PIS should include the f acility for advanced searching of up-to-date global 
patent databases to identify technologies and t echnological information of importance for innovation 
and technology transfer to support industrial devel opment in key sectors in Sierra Leone (e.g. mining, 
fishing, forestry, agriculture).  The PIS should be operated as a collaborative service provided by the IP administration agency and the University of Sierra Leone.   
(d) Development of a multi-disciplinary IP policy t eaching capacity in the University of Sierra 
Leone 
 The topics to be covered would focus initially on the main forms of IPRs in Sierra Leone 
(patents, trademarks, and copyright) but could over time be expanded to cover entirely new areas for 
Sierra Leone such as plant variety protection,  traditional knowledge, ge ographical indications, 
competition, access to genetic resources & benefit sh aring under the CBD, and copyright in the digital 
environment.  The focus would be on supporting graduate, undergraduate a nd doctoral teaching and 
supervision capacity at the University of Sierra  Leone on legal and economic concepts, protection 
systems, regulatory frameworks, benefits and co sts for IPR protection for business and consumers. 
 IP/C/W/499 
Page 8  
 
  5. Suggested next steps & timetable 
It is proposed that the optimum means for addressing the needs identified herein would be the 
development and implementation of a medium-ter m national IP capacity-building programme for 
Sierra Leone, beginning with an in itial 5-year phase from July 2008 to July 2013. In all probability, 
further phases of the programme would be required. 
 
  
   IP/C/W/499
 Page 9ANNEX B - OUTLINE PROGRAMME PLANNING MATRIX 
 
STRATEGIC GOALS & 
OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED NEEDS FOR 
TECHNICAL & FINANCIAL 
ASSISTANCE PROPOSED MAIN ACTIVITIES TO 
ADDRESS NEEDS LEAD  
NATIONAL 
AGENCIES PROVISIONAL TARGET  
TIMETABLE 
Project 1: Updating IP 
Policy & Legal Framework 
 A. Strengthening IP policy and legal 
development and co-ordination capacity in Ministry of Trade & Industry 
B. Support for IP legislative reform 
and policy coherence 
C. Enabling Sierra Leone's regular 
and effective participation in meetings of the WTO Council for 
TRIPS and at WIPO 
D. Development of a multi-
disciplinary IP policy research and analysis capacity in the University 
of Sierra Leone. • Establishment of a small IP Policy unit 
in the Ministry of Trade & Industry with two full-time Policy Analysts and logistics for the period 2008 to 2013 
• Provision of legislative drafting 
expertise on priority IP areas assistance as required for the period 2008 to 2013 
• Provision of legislative drafting 
expertise on the second level of priority 
from 2013 to 2017  
• Lump sum accountable grant for travel 
and per diem expenses for 2 capital based-delegates from Government of 
Sierra Leone for the period 2008 to 
2013 
• Establishment of at least two Chairs at 
the University as well as multi-year funding for research programmes, policy seminars, participation in 
international networks, publications 
and website • Ministry of Trade & 
Industry 
 
• Office of Administrator 
& Registrar General 
 
• Ministry of Tourism & 
Culture 
 
• Office of the Attorney 
General 
 
• University of Sierra 
Leone • All activities under Project 
1 to commence by June 2008 and to be completed by July 2013 
• Additional phase of 
technical and financial assistance may be required from July 2013 to July 
2017  
  IP/C/W/499 
Page 10  
STRATEGIC GOALS & 
OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED NEEDS FOR 
TECHNICAL & FINANCIAL 
ASSISTANCE PROPOSED MAIN ACTIVITIES TO 
ADDRESS NEEDS LEAD  
NATIONAL 
AGENCIES PROVISIONAL TARGET  
TIMETABLE 
Project 2: Modernising IP 
administration 
infrastructure  
 A. Modernizing the organizational 
structure for IPR administration 
B. Automation of existing paper-
based registries for trademarks, industrial designs and patents  
C. Human resource capacity-building 
in terms of additional manpower 
and skills development 
D. Expand administrative mechanisms 
to take on and resolve disputes 
between national IP office and 
applicants on IPR administration issues (as opposed to infringement 
issues which would be dealt with 
by the courts and enforcement agencies) • Establishment of a semi-autonomous, 
self-financing national IP office 
covering all IP matters 
• Design and implementation of fully 
computerised IPR administration process and registry archives  
• Staff recruitment and design and 
implementation of training programmes 
• Financial and technical assistance for 
establishment of the national IP 
Appeals Tribunal, including training 
and logistics • Ministry of Trade & 
Industry 
 
• Office of Administrator 
& Registrar General 
 
• Ministry of Tourism & 
Culture • Feasibility study for new 
national IP office 
commenced in October 
2007 and completed by Early 2008 
• Establishment of new 
national IP office by April 2009 
• Implementation of 
automation commenced in April 2009 and completed by April 2010 
• Staff recruitment and 
training on priority skills commenced in April 2009 and completed by July 
2013 
• Additional training 
programmes may be  required from July 2013 
onwards.  
   IP/C/W/499
 Page 11 
STRATEGIC GOALS & 
OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED NEEDS FOR 
TECHNICAL & FINANCIAL 
ASSISTANCE PROPOSED MAIN ACTIVITIES TO 
ADDRESS NEEDS LEAD  
NATIONAL 
AGENCIES PROVISIONAL TARGET  
TIMETABLE 
Project 3: Strengthening 
IP enforcement and 
regulation regime 
 A. Improving business and consumer 
education and awareness about 
IPRs 
B. Human resource capacity-building 
of enforcement agencies in IPR concepts and national legislation 
C. Development of networked, 
computerised database on counterfeit products for the Sierra 
Leone Customs Service 
D. Enhancing co-operation with 
foreign enforcement agencies on combating counterfeiting and 
piracy (TRIPS Agreement Art. 69) • Design, implementation and 
monitoring of medium-term public 
education and awareness raising 
campaigns on IPRs targeting different audience segments and using range of 
media 
• Design and implementation of 
medium-term training programmes for 
enforcement agencies, including 
classroom-based, on-the-job, training- for-trainers and study tours 
• Access to networked, computerized 
database on IPRs for use by the Sierra Leone Customs Servi ce in co-operation 
with the national IP administration 
agency and customs services in 
neighbouring countries  
• Access to WCO databases that are used 
to identify counterfeit trademarks for 
the Sierra Leone Customs Service. 
Technical co-opera tion from the WCO 
and INTERPOL would be required to 
establish the system and training staff • Ministry of Trade & 
Industry 
• Office of Administrator 
& Registrar General 
• Criminal Investigation 
Department, Sierra 
Leone Police Force 
• Customs Department, 
National Revenue Authority 
• Ministry of Tourism & 
Culture 
• Commercial Division, 
High Court of Sierra Leone 
• Pharmacy Board, 
Ministry of Health & Sanitation 
• Private sector 
associations (e.g. Music 
Industry Task Force) • All activities under 
Project 3 to commence by 
June 2008 and to be 
completed by July 2013 
• Additional phase of 
technical and financial 
assistance may be 
required after July 2013  
  IP/C/W/499 
Page 12  
STRATEGIC GOALS & 
OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED NEEDS FOR 
TECHNICAL & FINANCIAL 
ASSISTANCE PROPOSED MAIN ACTIVITIES TO 
ADDRESS NEEDS LEAD  
NATIONAL 
AGENCIES PROVISIONAL TARGET  
TIMETABLE 
Project 4: Using IP for 
development, promoting 
innovation, creativity, 
and technology transfer 
 A. Focus on establishing innovative 
and creative base.  Focus on 
comparative advantage 
B. Improving business education and 
awareness about IP management for SMEs 
C. Development of a Patent 
Information Service to support innovation and technology transfer 
D. Development of a multi-
disciplinary IP policy teaching capacity in the University of Sierra Leone • Scoping study to examine domestic 
measures (tax incentives etc) to 
promote innovation and  opportunities 
for technology licen sing and contracts-
based research; develop local 
incentives for FDI; design support 
programmes in priority R&D sectors  
• Training of staff managing the PIS, 
university researchers and legal practitioners (as potential patent agents) in patent database searching 
and reading patent information 
documentation 
• Design and implementation of an 
online, fully searchable PIS at the 
University of Sierra Leone based on 
global patent databases 
• Establishment of at least two Chairs at 
the University as well as multi-year 
funding for teaching and curriculum 
development • Ministry of Trade & 
Industry 
• Office of Administrator 
& Registrar General 
• University of Sierra 
Leone 
• Private sector 
associations • All activities under 
Project 4 to commence by 
June 2008 and to be 
completed by July 2013 
• Additional phase of 
technical and financial 
assistance may be 
required after July 2013 
 
 
__________