WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/W/138 
15 April 2005 
 (05-1573) 
Committee on Trade and Development  
 
   
 
 
 
  
 
  
TECHNICAL COOPERATION AUDIT 
REPORT FOR 2004 
   
Note by the Secretariat
 
 WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 2  
 
 ABBREVIATIONS
 
  
 BTOR  Back to Office Report 
 COMTD  Committee on Trade and Development  DDA  Doha Development Agenda 
 DFID  Department for International Development 
 IDB  Integrated Database  IF  Integrated Framework  ITTC  Institute for Training and Technical Co-operation  JITAP  Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme 
 OD  Operational Divisions 
 TPC  Trade Policy Course  M&E  Monitoring and Evaluation  MTS  Multilateral Trading System 
 PEF  Participant's Evaluation Form 
 RTA  Regional Trade Agreements  RTPC  Regional Trade Policy Course  RB  Regular Budget 
 RC  Reference Centre 
 SPS  Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  STPC  Short Trade Policy Course  TA  Technical Assistance (includes workshop, seminars, conferences, etc) 
 TAMC  Technical Assistance Management Committee 
 TBT  Technical Barriers to Trade 
 TCA  Technical Cooperation Audit  TPR  Trade Policy Review   WT/COMTD/W/138 
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 I BACKGROUND 
1. This is the Technical Cooperation Audit (TCA )'s fourth annual report on the trade-related 
technical assistance (TA) and capacity-building (t raining) activities of WTO.  It includes the 
assessment of the TA provided to the Members during the period between 1 January to 31 December 2004. The report draws on the views of the TA provid ers and the beneficiaries (participants) of TA; 
those of the representatives of the recipient members; and the observations made by TCA during  its on-site evaluations. 
2. WTO, among other agencies, disseminates vita l information on the MTS and helps Members 
to bring about lasting trade-related capacities. This  is evidenced by the important resources allocated 
to finance WTO TA (some CHF 30 million per annum in  the last three years) and the feedback from 
Members (both the individual beneficiaries and reci pient organisations). In 2004 TA continued to 
implement the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and to promote the more effective participation of 
developing country Members in the multilateral tr ading system (MTS). It was channelled to the 
Members through a new planning framework, the Technical Assistance and Training Plan 2004
1. The 
Plan was structured around groups of TA activities (so-called products2) that the Members felt were 
most needed, and the Secretariat considered to be able to deliver best. It was implemented by the 
Secretariat alone or together with other developm ent partners, where appropr iate, in response to WTO 
Members' continued needs for technical assistance, which after the Cancun Ministerial Conference 
were refined and resulted in changing priorities.  More specifically, the Members asked for more 
national seminars than before. In particular, a gr eat number of TAs were requested in the field of 
services, NAMA and agriculture, where the countries ha ve to meet their obligations in a relatively 
short delay. The Secretariat responded to these need s to the overall satisfaction of the beneficiaries 
and the recipient Members, demonstrating that WTO' s TA on a short-term has a built-in flexibility for 
adjustments to changing circumstances and meeting nationally-identified TA needs. In the long run, 
however, continuous and systematic TA is expected  to lead to impact and sustainability, but the 
outcome depends on the priorities of the recipient countries. 
3. During the period under review, meeting the urgent needs of the Members and building 
lasting capacities were parallel priorities.  In 2004 the implementation of the Plan resulted in a record 
number (501) of TA courses, seminars, works hops, conferences and contributions to other 
organisations' MTS- or WTO-related meetings, etc. These results were comparable to previous years' 
achievements, (486 TAs in 2002, and 451 TAs carri ed out in 2003). The TA programme in 2004, 
again, benefited more than four teen thousands participants.  
4. The great number of TAs, coupled with the con tinuously high number of beneficiaries and the 
short duration (somewhat less than three days, on av erage) is not a new observation. It would seem 
that the Secretariat continues to deliver TAs for the benefit of as many people as possible and to 
satisfy the maximum possible number of requests. This  might lead to the conclusion that, overall, the 
quantitative approach still prevails over a mo re qualitative one. However, putting this into 
perspective, the new planning framework by gr ouping the TA activities and training programmes, 
facilitated the Members' getting to grips with the bi g picture of what WTO can offer, and the specific 
objectives for the products helped the Members to ma ke choices. The flexibility built into the Plan 
helped tailor TA to specific Member needs. All th is points to the current planning approach's potential 
to favour and gradually follow a more qualitative appr oach in delivering TA in the future. On the 
other hand, this quantitative approach  seems to be a valid one and worth pursuing only if it is assumed 
                                                      
1 WT/COMTD/W/119/Rev.3 
 
2 Trade Policy Courses; Regi onal Seminars; National TA a nd training activitie s; Trade Policy Clinics; DDA Short 
Trade Policy Courses; Specialized Courses; Introducti on Courses; WTO Introduction Days; Geneva-based Support; 
Partnership for Training and Capacity Bu ilding; Distance Learning and Information Technology; Reference Centres; Trade 
negotiation techniques; Train ee programmes and internships; Technical assistance within the TPRM framework and 
Attendance at international me etings, conferences, works hops, seminars and symposia WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 4  
 
 that the volume of the Members' needs for TAs re mains at the same high level and should be met 
through hundreds of TA seminars, workshop, etc. Indeed, the feedback confirms that the Members are 
satisfied with the results of the current approach. As it is shown later in the report, this visibly static 
big picture, however, conceals the efforts of individual TA providers who are changing their programmes, training materials, delivery methods, etc., all the time, in response to region-, country- or 
target group-specific needs. 
5. Nevertheless, having delivered some fift een hundred workshops, seminars, courses, 
conferences, etc, of small size and short duration,  reaching a respectable  group of more than 40'000 
persons
3 in the last three years, the time may have come to give thoughts of making current WTO TAs 
in different areas part of coherent programmes and linking them to other capacity-building efforts at 
the national level. Focusing TAs to the solution of actual problems at the country level may lead to 
higher efficiency and more sustainable results. Thoug hts should be given as to whether the Secretariat 
could deliver  fewer TAs but of a longer duration on the basis of better preparation; and to reaching 
only a manageable number of participants but maki ng the results more sustainable. This approach, 
coupled with the more consistent assessment of  the Members' needs, and the TA programmes 
emanating from those needs would certainly help thinking along these lines.  
6. The implementation of the Plan was helped by guidance received from WTO Committees 
other than the COMTD, e.g. the Council for TRI PS, the Sub-Committee of LDCs, and committees on 
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures; on Budget Fi nance and Administration; on Customs Valuation; 
on TBT, etc., in which the delegates discussed issues of technical cooperation falling into the 
competence of the particular committee.   
7. The Institute for Training and Technical Co-operation (ITTC), established in 2003, 
consolidated its central role in planning and delivering TAs. The ITTC also operationalised the 
discussion of outstanding issues related to TA thr ough a series of informal consultations with the 
Members. These priority issues concerned needs assessment; how LDCs could benefit more fully 
from TA; monitoring and evaluation; reporting; pa rtnership arrangements; academic partnerships; 
outreach activities, and draft terms-of reference of a planned external strategic review of WTO TRTA. 
The implementation of the Plan would not have been possible without the Operational Divisions 
(OD), which continued to be the main providers of TA. Within the Secretariat, the Technical 
Assistance Management Committee (TAMC) continue d to function as a forum for continued dialogue 
between the ODs and ITTC and helped to di sseminate and discuss pertinent issues of TA. 
8. It is also proper to recognise the valuable colla boration with other agencies in delivering TAs 
to Members. This cooperation has b ecome a standard feature of technical cooperation. From the many 
cooperating partners one may me ntion UNCTAD, ITC, WIPO, IMF, the World Bank, the regional 
banks, the donors' organisations, the JVI and UN IDO in Vienna, IDLO, the host universities of 
regional TPCs in Kenya, Jamaica, Hong Kong, Morocco, etc. 
9. This report focuses on the assessment of TA and training delivered within the framework of 
the TA Plan for 2004.  In accord ance with established procedures, some activities could not be taken 
into consideration because it would have been extrem ely difficult, if at all possible, to identify any 
effects and impacts exclusively attributable to th e WTO contribution to TA events where WTO's only 
role was to deliver a presentation in a workshop, conference or seminar organised by other agencies; 
or to give an input to a regional symposium or conference with hundreds of participants. Following 
this principle, some 400 TA and training activities we re subject to regular evaluations either by the 
TA providers or by TCA in 2004.  
                                                      
3 Although some participants may have benefited from more than one course, seminar, workshop, etc 
  WT/COMTD/W/138 
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 10. This report is based on the review of 224 self-e valuation reports and 35 memoranda copied to 
TCA in 2004, which is a more comprehensive basi s of information than we relied on in 2003 (145 
reports and 44 memos). On the other hand, this im proved reporting represents only 56 per cent of the 
total due. The study of the large number of doc uments has demonstrated that the overwhelming 
majority of the beneficiaries of the TAs conti nued to be satisfied with it. Although the overall 
statistics of the TA delivered in 2004 show an increase over 2003 (501 TAs against 451, respectively), 
the analysis has not resulted in many new conclu sions or recommendations.  Therefore some of the 
findings, observations, conclusions, recommendations and lessons lear ned may sound similar to those 
submitted to the Committee in the TCA Report for 20034.  
11. Monitoring the proper application, upda ting and further developing of WTO's M&E 
procedures and tools, and conducting TCA's on-site  evaluations, disseminating the lessons learned 
need adequate resources. Without DFID's financ ial support during the first six months of 2004, it 
would not have been possible to properly continue with evaluation work.  As it was mentioned in the 
TCA report for 2003, DFID's financial support phased  out at the end of June 2004. Nevertheless, 
monitoring and evaluation should be considered an in tegral part of the management functions related 
to TA – similar to planning, preparation, design and delivery. Therefore, at the proposal of some 
delegations, since September of last year, the DD AGTF has been providing allocations to cover the 
minimum costs of the required professional input (without mission credits) to M & E. This arrangement has helped to maintain evaluation work at the previous level. At the time of the report 
(March 2005), the slow incoming contributions to  the DDAGTF for 2005 jeopardises the continuation 
of monitoring and evaluation services after June 2005,  since in using the partial contributions, the 
Secretariat gives priority to the delivery of TAs. In this regard it is noted that although the main 
sections in the TA Plan for 2004 were covere d by budget allocations, the section dealing with 
monitoring and evaluation work was not. This obser vation also applies to the TA plan for 2005, in 
which there has been no allocation made for M&E work . It would be well worth considering this issue 
during the preparation of the TA Plan for 2006. 
12. The report this year looks into the progress, or l ack of it, made in the implementation of last 
year's TCA recommendations, analyses the main  planning and design aspects as well as 
implementation and evaluation issues of  the TA deli vered in 2004, by looking into the latter from the 
point of view of results-based management. Last year's evaluation work al so witnessed that donors 
and cooperating partner agencies beca me more interested in the identification of the mid-and long-
term results of trade-related capacity-building programmes.  
II. OBSERVATIONS ON THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF TA 
13. This section of the report reviews the follow- up actions to TCA recommendations made in 
last year's report; makes observations on the current  planning process (products in the TA Plan and 
their linkages to TA activities, objectives, perform ance indicators,); and the pros and cons of 
developing large-scale and longer-term capacity-bu ilding programmes. It also looks into some 
programming aspects and needs assessment issu es. Finally it addresses TA design issues. 
14. TA and training activities in 2004 were implem ented within the framework of the TA and 
Training Plan for 2004, which, in relation to prio r years' TA Plans was new both in its approach, 
structure and tools.  TCA has compared its comments on TA planning included in TCA Report for 2003, with the results of the analysis of the TA a nd training programme carried out in 2004.  It is 
welcomed that the Plan was driven by realism, i.e. it provided for a "doable" number of high quality 
activities, with expected durable effects"
5. It was consistent in setting out objectives for each of the 
products in the Plan which in turn were, and indeed  are, in line with the seven long-term strategic 
                                                      
4 WT/COMTD/W/125 
 
5 Paragraph 12, page 4, Document WT/COMTD/W/119/Rev.3 WT/COMTD/W/138 
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 objectives for WTO technical cooperation approved by the Members in 2001. Briefly, the latter are 
aimed at enhanced institutional and human capacities of the recipient Members to address trade policy 
issues and concerns, integrate trade into nati onal development and povert y reduction policies and 
programmes, and facilitate a more effective partic ipation in the multilateral trade negotiations. The 
product objectives in the Plan were to have b een measured by the outcomes, thereby "making 
evaluation more meaningful"
6. 
15. It is noted that the Plan featured quality-; product-; development-, a nd impact and results-
orientation; geographically balanced TA activities,  which cover all the WTO Agreements with the 
appropriate degree of detail; and it is simple, flexib le and designed to build and strengthen strategic 
partnerships and coherence. Inte restingly, objective-orientation was not highlighted among the key 
features, which, inter alia , may explain why TA providers rarely  linked the immediate objective(s) of 
the individual TAs to the product objectives included in the Plan.  
16. The organisation of the TA Plan for 2004 ar ound the products and the related objectives was 
an important step forward over the former fragmen ted approach. The new planning system made the 
delivery of TA more flexible and the analysis s hows that it met the changing needs of the Members, 
which were often influenced by the act ual agenda of the on-going negotiations.  
TA Plan for 2004 and performance measurement  
 17. It has been noted with satisfaction that the Plan , for the first time, made specific reference to 
the recommendations of TCA and highlighted the exte nt to which they were taken on board in the 
process of planning. In this regard it is welcomed  that the Plan reflects efforts that made its 
implementation a better subject of monitoring and ev aluation. Indeed, the TA Plan for 2004 was the 
first one that included objectives which explaine d for most of the products the expected end-
situations, i.e. the capacity gains of the participants . It was a good initiative, in spite of the fact that a 
few products set out Secretariat activities as obj ectives, e.g. "to develop WTO-related training 
material..."
7. By definition all the product objectives shoul d have called the attention to the benefits 
that the participants or recipient organisations  would gain from the TA product(s) rather than 
highlighting what the Secretariat would do. It is therefore recommended  to make the formulation of 
the objectives more consistent for each product in future TA Plans. 
18. TA product objectives in the Plan were not timed.  In other words, neither the Plan nor the 
Members claimed that the objectives should be achieve d by the end of 2004, i.e. within one year. 
Indeed, those objectives should be perceived as higher level objectives (although not as high as the 
strategic objectives) to which the completion of a on e year plan should bring contribution. Therefore, 
evaluations after one year have no chance and no reason to claim that the product objectives ought to 
have been achieved by the end of 2004.  
19. Another observation is that the product obj ectives in the Plan were not supported by 
performance indicators and targets, which could have facilitated the measurement of the progress 
made towards the achievement of the objectives. If the objectives had been put in a time frame, say 
three years, then targets could have helped the assessment of the progress in a more objective manner. 
It is also recognised that most product objectives set out in the Plan expressed expected improvement 
not only in the knowledge and skills of the partic ipants but also developments in their working 
environment. Such changes can only be verified th rough impact evaluations. It is also true that 
intentions to develop performance indicators were mentioned in the M&E section of the TA Plan but 
no progress was made. Inter alia, one of the reasons of this was the general belief that if the individual 
TAs  were successful (and indeed they were!), th en sufficient progress has been made towards the 
                                                      
6 Paragraph 12, page 4 of document WT/COMTD/W/119/Rev.3 
7 paragraph 68, page 16, document WT/COMTD/W/119/Rev.3  WT/COMTD/W/138 
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 product objectives. Although this may hold true, TCA believes that a more specific measurement of  
the progress at the level of the Plan would be desirable, even if it is not easy. 
20. TCA recognises the difficulties of the formulation of such performance indicators. However, 
we think that by adapting the approach, for instance, of the regional trade policy courses, 
achievements at the product level can also be me asured. By way of example, the objective "By the 
end of the course the participants will have incr eased knowledge on WTO topics" was to be measured 
(and indeed was) by i) the degree of active partic ipation in the interactive exercises and ii) the 
preparation and presentation of high quality research papers by the participants at the end of the 
course. 
21. It has been found that although the TA providers identified the product to which the TA 
related, this usually happened after the comple tion of the TA, primarily because the revised BTOR 
format requires it.  However,  there was no evid ence that the individual TA's immediate objectives 
were consciously linked to the related product' s objectives. Interviews with TA providers 
demonstrated that very few of them (if any) read th e TA Plan on a regular basis prior to designing and 
delivering an individual TA activity. On the other hand, it should also be mentioned that the 
objectives for the products were broadly formulated a nd that, therefore, the achievement of most TAs' 
immediate objectives brought some contribution to the product level objectives8.  
22. The products in the Plan, or the categories of products as stated in the TA Plan for 2005,  
should function as cohesive, powerful organising an d planning tools and their objectives should be 
considered as leading lights for the individual TAs. Therefore, to make them effectively functioning, 
the individual TAs within a product, already in the design phase, i.e. when the course, or workshop 
programme is drawn up, should sy stematically be linked to the product level objectives. In other 
words a workshop, for instance, should be designed in  such a manner that it makes a contribution to 
the related higher level product objectives by achie ving its own immediate objectives. Lacking this 
linkage between the individual TAs and the related product runs the danger that in spite of the 
potentials of the new planning framework, the TA s will be implemented in a fragmented manner, 
independently from one another on the basis of "just do it", as within the old TA plans. 
23. Exception to this statement are the three month trade policy courses organised  both in 
Geneva and in the regions, where the systematic  monitoring, evaluation and backstopping activities 
ensured that lessons learned from the individual TPCs were applied in subsequent courses or in 
different regions as appropriate. For instance re gional trade policy courses (RTPC) applied lessons 
learned about co-lecturing in different regions. So me modules, e.g. the international trade policy 
theory, in reaction to feedback from the participan ts, was given more time, relative to when it was 
delivered for the first time; the positive experien ce with the research papers by the participants, 
experimented with in the Nairobi RTPC for the fi rst time in 2002, led to research papers being 
integrated into the programme of other RTPCs and al so more time was allocated for their preparation. 
24. Measurement of performance at the product level would also assume that all the providers of  
TA within a particular product should work together  as a team to ensure that progress is made and 
measured not only at individual TA level but al so at the product level. It is recommended  that ITTC 
establish small task forces for the products in the TA Plan for 2005, which would develop those 
performance indicators and targets. The data collected on those performance indicators would 
facilitate the assessment of the progress made in the recipient Members' trade-related capacities 
during a planning period. TCA is ready to provide assistance to this work.  
Multi-year TA programming  
                                                      
8 In development assistance projects this is a well-known phenomenon, i.e. to set the target so large that   
   we cannot fail to hit. WT/COMTD/W/138 
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 25. It is noted that in response to TCA's observati ons in 2003 regarding the very short duration of 
many TA activities and the often great number of participants, which allowed more for dissemination 
of information and sensitization and/or creating aw areness rather than real skill development and 
capacity-building compared to larger TA programmes,  the Plan indicated the expansion of the three-
month trade policy courses both in Geneva and the re gions and also the expand ed coverage of JITAP. 
These are laudable developments because th ey correspond to the Members' needs. 
26. It is evident that WTO multi-year capacity-building TA programmes that would aim at 
meeting both the regional and national TA needs of  a total of 120 countries (covering both basic and 
advanced needs addressed through regional semina rs, courses, etc), should assume that the Members 
also have their own solid multi-year human reso urces development plans, which enable them to 
decide which staff members should attend the sel ected WTO TA seminars, courses, etc. Such a 
functioning programme of the recipient organisations , of course, would not do any harm – quite the 
opposite. It would be advantageous since staff de velopment would be made more systematic and 
sustainable, and the countries would become real  owners of these capac ity building programmes
9. On 
the other hand, Members did not ask for such WTO TA programmes and some of them may not even 
have such career development plans. Last but not  least, the financial resources for WTO TA are not 
secured for longer than one year, since the TA pr ogramme is focused on the implementation of the 
DDA on a year-by-year basis. Once the DDA has b een implemented, it is the Members who will 
decide on the continuation of TA by WTO. For the sake of impartiality, TCA notes that these are 
arguments that clearly weaken the reasoning behind having multi-year capacity-building programming. 
27. For many Members however, TA has become one of the core functions of the Secretariat. 
TCA, therefore, believes that it would be worth ca rrying out TA within the framework of multi-year 
TA programmes. As a first step, it is recommended
 that consideration should be given to bringing TA 
planning in line with the biennial planning of the regular budget-financed activities and prepare two-
year TA Plans instead of annual plans.  
Needs assessment  
28. WTO's training and capacity-building programme  as a whole, but also the individual TA 
activities, would be placed on a more solid basis if their design drew on the systematic identification 
of the countries' needs and the expectations of the ta rgeted participants. Devel opments in this regard 
are examined in the paragraphs below. 
29. TCA last year suggested that the development of the TA programmes be based on a thorough 
assessment of the Members' needs and problems which in turn, could contribute more effectively to 
national efforts to bring about lasting trade-related national capacities. It is welcomed that within the 
framework of the informal consultations, ITTC wo rked out four needs assessment tests, which had 
been used in developing guidelin es that were submitted to Members for use in analysing their needs 
for TA in general and for WTO TA in particular. A more systematic needs analysis would certainly 
put the TA Plans on a more solid basis and make th e design of the individual courses, workshops, etc 
better tailored to the expectations of the participants . The current work of the Secretariat in promoting 
the use of the guidelines is encouraged. However, there is yet no evidence as to whether any Member 
would have submitted TA needs on the basis of the use of the guidelines – thus any longer-term 
capacity-building programmes has been developed on the basis of the assessment of country needs.  
                                                      
9 Currently it often happens that the staff member whose workload permits him/her to leave the office 
for a couple of days is nominated as participant. Lack ing systematic selection pro cesses for most of the TAs, 
such practices, inter alia , lead to the mixed composition of the participants, which often includes both beginners 
and experts. To meet the needs of such a mixed group in one TA is not only a challenge for the TA providers, 
but also has an impact on the effectiv eness and efficiency of the TA. On the other hand, it may also result in 
training a person whose work does not require the particular training.  WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 9 
 
 
 30. It has been noted that the diagnostic studies (DTIS) of country needs, carried out within the 
framework of the IF programme, appear to be, fo r the time being, the most refined tools for the 
identification of TA needs. For instance, in Ethiopia through the DTIS three broad areas for 
immediate support were identified, namely:  (i) in stitutional support to the Ministry of Trade and 
Industry and the Chamber of Commerce;  (ii) enhancement of trade negotiation capacity and 
activities, including support for the preparation of a "Road Map to WTO negotiations";  (iii) support 
for the establishment of an internationally recogni sed conformity assessment system to enhance trade 
and competitiveness in terms of quality and perfo rmance. The follow up activities included costing 
and preparing project documents for fundi ng under Window II of the IF Trust Fund.  
31. Formal needs assessment exercises, however, unde r the current circumstances, should not be 
the only source of needs for TA. Fo r instance kick-off seminars orga nised on the basis of an MOU 
between WTO and UNIDO helped to identify prior ities for action in eight selected pilot countries 
(Armenia, Cambodia, Cuba, Bolivia, Egypt, Ghana,  Mauritania and Kenya) and resulted in Action 
Plans which were then developed into project doc uments focusing on three priority areas: increased 
competitiveness and overcoming supply-side constraint s; increased conformity with market/technical 
requirements and enhanced integration into the MTS.  
32. TCA also suggested last year a better use of the Trade Policy Reviews  (TPR) as a source of 
country needs for WTO TA. In this regard it was found that both the TPRs and the related preparatory missions were increasingly being recognised as a valuab le source of TA needs. It is welcomed that 
some TPR reports included a specific paragraph devot ed to the identified TA needs in the country 
reviewed, e.g. Rwanda and Sierra Leone. Such results from the TPRs would, however, necessitate 
follow-up either by ITTC and/or by the ODs concerned or by the Government itself. ITTC and the 
ODs could assess the needs thus identified and accord priority to meeting them by the appropriate TA 
within the on-going or forthcoming TA Plans. G overnments may wish to formulate specific requests 
for TAs either in the form of a national course, se minar, etc., for seats in regional- sub-regional or 
global conferences or other TA events concerned w ith the subject matter, and submit them to the 
Secretariat for follow-up.  
33. In the field of needs assessment, collaboration started during the period under review between 
ITTC and the TPR Division. As a result of it a tool (a template) is being deve loped which, within the 
framework of the TPR mechanism, could make a coun try's needs for TA better articulated, structured 
and more precise for appropriate follow-up in th e TA planning or implementation processes. TCA 
encourages the continuation of this cooperation and hopes that the template will soon be available for 
TPR missions and applied in the countries concerned. It is recommended
 that, if on the basis of prior 
knowledge, the targeted country needs specific TA, a staff member of ITTC or an OD should join the 
TPR mission with a view to helping in the identifi cation and formulation of TA needs. ITTC should 
set up a follow-up mechanism to discuss those n eeds and decide upon the modalities of addressing 
them in the most appropriate manner. 
34. Another important source of TA needs ar e WTO committee meetings and consultations 
regularly held between the different divisions of  the Secretariat, donors, and potential beneficiary 
(recipient) countries or groups of countries. Suggestions for needed TAs are noted by the Secretariat, which, after analysing these needs should take follow-up actions and refine the programme of TA 
activities.  In tailoring TA to country needs, Opera tional Divisions have a particular role to play 
because of their in-depth knowledge of each country's  situation with respect to each Agreement. This 
in-depth knowledge, should be shared ou t with other divisions concerned.  
35. Other sources of TA needs are the participants of individual TA courses, seminars, etc, from 
whom feedback is usually obtained as to the need s for follow-up activities. TCA recognises this as an 
ongoing, but largely ad hoc activity which clearly does not have the same value as a systematic country level needs assessment. At best, TA need s identified through the participants should be 
considered indicative and this method should not replace other ways of needs identification.  WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 10  
 
 36. As was mentioned last year – and it still applies as a compromise – even if a detailed analysis 
of TA needs is missing, the planned TA has to be delivered. In such TAs it is recommended
 that the 
participants' expectations should be identified possibly during the design phase of the TA or, as a bare 
minimum, at the beginning of the course, works hop, etc. Then the course programme could be 
tailored to meet the expectations.  
37. In summary, there are serious constraints in the practicality of using one unique method of 
needs assessment. Although the DTIS – a key mean s of action in the Integrated Framework (IF) 
programme for LDCs – is the most comprehensive tool of needs identification, for financial, 
organisational and priority reasons it cannot realistica lly be expected to carry out in all 120 countries 
that receive WTO TA. Needs channelled throug h JITAP activities are also a good source but cover 
only part of Africa. Neither can it be assumed that  the WTO guidelines for needs identification will be 
used by all the recipient Member states within a reasonably short time, thereby providing a practical 
planning tool in the implementation of the DDA. Furt hermore, it is also noted that the Secretariat has 
no resources to carry out in-depth needs analyses in the recipient countries. Hence, while there is no 
structured, well-built and unique mechanism in place to conduct in-depth  needs assessment, the 
various sources of needs for WTO TA mentioned above have to continue to be used for both planning 
and implementation purposes. 
Design of TA activities  
38. TCA has learned that many weaknesses in ach ieving and/or evaluating the success of a 
workshop, seminar, course, etc. are rooted in the low attention paid to vital TA components, such as 
objectives, performance indicators and targets in  the design phase. Therefore, TCA has made 
increased efforts by issuing guidelines, briefing st aff members concerned on the use of the design, 
implementation and evaluation concepts, tools and procedures, or by feeding back comments and 
making suggestions for improvements on selected BTORs and disseminating lessons learned.  
39. On the basis of prior experience, analytical  tools such as the BTOR and PEF formats were 
revised in order to facilitate the success rating the TA activities. A user-friendly computer application 
that explains the proper use of the design, monito ring and evaluation terminology to be applied in 
preparing the TAs and BTORs was developed and made  available as a side-kick (a click away) on the 
computer screen of all TA providers. 
The following table shows a slight but gradual improvement in the design of TA activities 
 
Results 2004 2003 2002 
A Real objective, reflecting benefits gained by participants         55.36% 48.3% 28%
B Activity set out as an objective          38.84% 51% 65%
C Output set out as an Objective             4.46% 0% 0%
D No objective indicated                     0.45% 0.7% 7%
 
The table demonstrates that TA providers increasingly  realise that in preparing a workshop, course 
etc, the focus should not be on what they deliver  (presentations, lectures, structured substantive 
information, etc) but on what the participants will gain from it. And t hose benefits should be 
highlighted in the objective statements and tho se objectives should be formulated prior to the 
particular TA. It appears that TA providers are gr adually becoming more and more effect-oriented. 
 40. TCA recognises that measurement of the success  of a workshop, course, etc. still poses – 
perhaps less than last year – diffi culties as shown in the table below: 
  WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 11 
 
 
  
41. The table above reflects that almost one-third of the TAs formulated performance indicators 
prior to the course, workshop, etc. This is a cons iderable improvement in the understanding that TA 
success should not be measured on the basis of the feedback received on completion of the TA, but by 
comparing this end-of-TA situation with the planne d one. On the other hand, it is also noted that a 
great majority of the TA providers still verify th e success by answers to the PEFs , end-of-TA verbal 
evaluations and other feedback from the participants , without challenging them by the yardsticks they 
(should have) set out prior to the TA. 
42. It is also welcomed that some 28 per cent of the TA activities that set out performance 
indicators, also assigned target values to them, whic h were the planned quantita tive values to measure 
the success of the TA. For example: "At least 70 pe r cent of the participants will mark the course 
successful or very successful in the PEFs", or "The c ourse will be considered successful if at least 80 
per cent of the participants' study papers are consid ered of good or high quality by the resource 
person" . The verification of this va lue through the evaluation process gave, inter alia , a better basis 
for success rating. 
43. In summary, one can observe a gradual improvement in the planning and design of TAs. The 
planning process should perhaps be further refined in the future, baring in mind the achievements of 
the great number of  activities carried out in the last three years. Members should consider whether 
they want to continue to have hundreds of  TAs of  short duration or fewer TAs of longer duration, but 
more specialised problem-solving TAs, benefitin g fewer people but aiming to build sustainable 
capacities. The time, we think, has come for the S ecretariat's TA providers to reflect on what they 
have been doing and achieved and ask the questi on of whether new avenues in TA could be 
developed. The results of this reflection process c ould be taken into account in the TA Plans for 2007 
or 2008.  
44. As mentioned earlier, many weaknesses in the evaluation phase are rooted in problems with 
the planning and design. Therefore, TCA will continue  its efforts to help ITTC and the ODs in the 
planning and design phases of TA development in spite of its main role to join in at the end – when 
the evaluation is needed.  
III. OBSERVATIONS ON THE RESULTS-BASED IMPLEMENTATION AND 
EVALUATION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
45. The implementation of the TA plan for 2004 requir ed the involvement of almost all units of 
the Secretariat who carried out about 1000 field missions to implement 501 TA activities. The TA 
providers, through the regional and national TA workshops, seminars, courses, etc, have continued to 
provide opportunities for raising awareness about wh at is at stake during the current negotiations, Results* 
* Multiple choice was allowed 2004  
(%) 2003 
(%) 
A Preset Performance Indicators                    29.02 1.38 
B Answers to PEFs                          47.32 39.31 
C Active participation                     19.64 44.14 
D End-of-TA verbal evaluation                5.36 2.76 
E Quality of participants' pr esentations     4.46 4.14 
F Formal test of K/S taught                  4.02 2.07 
G Feedback from participants               27.68 46.21 
H Feedback from participant's employer       3.57 8.28 
I Meeting legal obligations                  0.45 0 
J No indicators set out                      2.68 5.52 WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 12  
 
 what the WTO rules stipulate and what the differe nt positions are. Furthermore, WTO TAs continued 
to help developing country officials discuss the rul es and other MTS-related ma tters in light of their 
perceptions of their national priorities and interests. 
46. The feedback received from participants and de legates continues to confirm that WTO staff 
are highly appreciated as experts on the issues involved in the implementation of WTO Agreements.  
They have a comprehensive, world- wide view of the current issues, know best the internal mechanism 
of WTO committees and possess the latest information.  TA providers are well positioned to disseminate lessons learned, which may include best practices or situations that should be avoided.   
47. In practice, the TA programmes', purpose and subs tance are jointly defined with the recipient 
Members, who also oversee how funding is used. We have not found any evidence that a group of 
countries, donors or other Members have attemp ted to influence the message conveyed by any 
particular TA programmes or driven them towa rds their particular positions. Overall the TA 
programme can be characterised as demand-driven , serving the interests defined by the recipient 
countries. In commenting on the success of the TAs, pa rticipants often asked for the integration into 
the course programme of more case studies and national examples, taken, for instance, from small 
island countries, or from countries in a particular region, and they needed more interaction, and 
appreciated explanations of possible alternative actions.  
48. During the period under review, TA continue d to focus on creating and strengthening 
Members' capacities and also continued to benefit an impressive number of people. The table below 
shows that TAs included in TCA database (224) r eached more than 7,500 people. Since the total 
number of TAs delivered was more than double (501)  and the average number of participants per 
course totalled around 32, one can reasonably conclude  that the total number of persons reached by 
one form or the other of WTO TA rose to some 15,000. However, if one deducts from the 501 the number of TA events (100) that WTO was invited to  contribute to (conferences, meetings, etc), some 
400 TAs are left in the basket, resulting in some 12,000 beneficiaries. Almost 60 per cent of the 
participants were men and some 33 per cent were women. We believe that women's participation 
could be further improved. Therefore, it is recommended
 that ITTC and the ODs in inviting people to 
a particular TA event should encourage the Members' recipient organisations that in nominating participants, women should get equa l opportunity and equal treatment. 
 
 
 
 
  
 
49. The relatively high percentage (7.22 per cent) of the BTORs, which did not include a gender 
composition of the participants shows that the TA pr oviders were more interested in registering the 
total number of participants than in the gender br eakdown. The very high number of persons reached 
by WTO TA every year may, of course, include  those who participate in a number of WTO TAs 
every year. If one could deduct the exact number of such cases from the total number of participants, a lower number of beneficiaries would be the result. For the time being, however, there is no 
information about the exact number of those who re peatedly participate in different WTO TAs. On 
the other hand, it may also be justified if one pe rson, based on his/her ministry career development 
plan, participates in a series of both basic and specialised WTO workshops. Choice Gender No of 
Participants % 
A Men 4,503 59.79
B Women 2,484 32.98
C No Reply 544 7.22
D Total 7,531  Question  14
Response ChoicesTot al
Val u e
010002000300040005000
ABCD WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 13 
 
 
 The TAs registered by TCA benefited employees of the following organisations: 
Recipient organisations % 
Ministry of Trade                         43.75
Ministry of Finance                       19.20
Ministry of Foreign Affairs              18.75
Ministry of Agriculture                   23.21
NGOs                                       3.57
Academia                                   8.48
Ministry of Commerce                     19.64
Ministry of Textiles and Clothing      0.45
No indication                             14.73
Customs                                   14.29
 
50. While the "traditional" WTO TA customers are still from ministries of trade and commerce, 
finance, foreign affairs, and customs, ministries of  agriculture show increasing interest in receiving 
TA in 2004. The high percentage of "No indication" reflects the difficulty of registration when more 
than 50, sometimes 80 or even more than a hundred  persons attend a national workshop or seminar, 
and their number constantly changes over the durati on of the TA depending on their interest in the 
subject matter.  
51. With the exception of the three-month trade po licy courses in Geneva and in the regions, the 
composition of the participants is to a large extent  beyond the control of the TA providers. Very often 
among the participants one can find both beginners and experts. Evidently, a course programme can 
never be fully adapted to these wide ranging needs. An apparent beginner participant stated: "I need a 
better preparation for this workshop. It is really hard for me to catch up with my classmates". An 
expert stated on the same seminar: "This TA was very good for beginners but for the person already in 
this business there is a need for some advanced tr aining". Other participants made more ambiguous 
statements: "Because of my knowledge of the subject  matter is not good, what the lecturers/speakers 
said was difficult to understand". 
52. TCA has learned that it happens more and mo re often that Members do not respond to the 
WTO invitation letters to regional seminar, workshop , etc. For instance in one workshop 22 countries 
were invited, fourteen sent representatives but eight did not even explain the reason why they did not 
send delegates. We have looked in to this phenomenon and found that  there are multiple reasons, but 
none of them provide a full answer. It is not excluded that some Members are saturated with WTO TA. Given the great number of TA activities, in particular in small countries with limited staff 
resources, it may be difficult to absorb all the TA s over and above the regular work. Furthermore, 
some Members may not have enough people to atte nd all the workshops WTO organises. In other 
cases, it seems communication problems between the Geneva missions and the capitals may play a 
role. Participants in some TA se minars/workshops indicated that they  had learned about the workshop 
only ten days before it took place. In other cases the recipient ministry learned about the TA so late that it could not nominate people who corresponded to  the selection criteria and therefore just sent 
persons whose workload permitted the participation, or did not send an yone at all. (WTO, as a rule, 
sends out invitation letters between seven to nine weeks before th e TA takes place). An in-depth study 
of this issue could shed more light on the reasons why the right people are not always present in the 
TA, or perhaps why the same person attends a series of WTO TAs. However, a partial solution to the 
problem of "training fatigue" would constitute linking  TA more consistently to actual problems of the 
recipient countries and giving them hands-on support.  WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 14  
 
 53. During the period under review the duration of  the TAs relative to 2002 and 2003 did not 
change. Nineteen per cent of TAs registered with  TCA were of two-days duration, 40.27 % of them 
three days, 9.95% were four days and 14.48% lasted five-days. The rest of the TAs reported to TCA (16.3 per cent) were either shorter than two days or longer than five. We recall that we stated in last 
year's TCA report that these TAs of short duratio n allowed more for dissemination of information 
about the current status of negotiations and sensiti zation and/or awareness-cr eation regarding national 
obligations as WTO Member, rather than real skill development and capacity-building. On the other 
hand, it should also be mentioned that in more and more workshops and seminars, verification of the 
knowledge and skills transferred ha s become a regular practice, including tests, quizzes, group 
exercises and other interactive methods and the TA providers in public make comments and 
suggestions for improvements. Participants  always welcomed these training methods. 
54. The table in ANNEX 3 shows the coverage of the TAs and training courses reported about. 
The percentages are higher than one hundred, si nce many TAs – national trade policy courses for 
example – address substantive issues in several sectors.  
55. During the period under review, demands fo r TA in agriculture; dispute settlement; 
government procurement; market access; rules; services; SPS; trade facilitation; trade negotiations 
skills; NAMA and TRIPS issues have considerably increased. Although in our last report we stated that in 2003 the tendency was to spread the covera ge more evenly, in 2004 the above mentioned areas 
appeared to have received priority by the Members a nd consequently by the Secretariat. It is expected 
that in 2005 some of the so-called Singapore issues will be addressed by a much more limited number 
of TAs than in 2004, while Trade Facilitation will receive more attention. 
56. It should be mentioned that many of the TA activities in 2004 were carried out in close 
cooperation with other agencies a nd organisations. More specifically, of the 175 regional activities, 
WTO alone delivered 44 TAs and 131 TAs were delivered with the involvement of other 
organisations.  
Effectiveness
 
57. Last year TCA initiated changes in assessing and managing performance of TA activities 
along the lines of results-based management. More  specifically, it was recognised that the TA 
providers should be further encouraged to go for r esults, in addition to their drive to deliver high 
quality activities ("just do it"). As it is known, resu lts-based management at the level of TA activities, 
means that the TA performance should not only be measured  (through monitoring activities, e.g. 
timely delivery of the programme, etc.), but should be managed  (taking into account evaluative  
information). The proper performance management, therefore, takes into account both monitoring and evaluation information in deciding about future TA s. In line with these thoughts success ratings were 
introduced in the BTOR format, seeking to analyse the participants' views about the achievement of 
TA objectives stated up-front, as well as that of the extent to which their expectations were met. 
Furthermore, success rating by the TA provider, separ ate from the participants, was also added to the 
BTOR format (see also paragraph 116 below). Accord ingly, not only the BTOR format was revised 
but also the PEF, which now includ es the declared course objectives.  
58. The evaluation reports in the TCA database showed evidence of an overall participant 
satisfaction with the TA attended (as shown in the table below):  WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 15 
 
 
  
Success rating Objective achievement 
 
Results By 
Participants 
(%) By TA 
providers 
(%)  
Results By TA 
providers 
% 
Very successful                46.46  31.25 The objective(s) were fully achieved 77.23
Successful                        50.00  61.06 The objective(s) were partially 
achieved 19.64
Satisfactory                       2.53   6.25 The objective(s) were not achieved 1.34
Non-Satisfactory               1.01   1.44 No reply 0.89
 
59. It is interesting to note that TA providers ra ted the TA less frequently "very successful" than 
the participants. When asked for the reasons, we l earned that their rating of the success at the "very 
successful" level does not only depend on the particip ants' positive feedback but also on their (TA 
providers') own judgment regarding the composition of the group, the complete or partial delivery of 
the planned programme, the lieu of the TA, the qua lity of the performance of other resource persons, 
logistics issues, and the quality of participants' answers to questions, etc. On the other hand, the 
participants place their individual judgment on the a dded value that the TA delivers to them (new 
information, practical knowledge a nd skills, relevance of the subject matters to their work, contacts 
with other persons, etc), which explains why a TA is not automatically considered "very successful", 
even though it has achieved its objectives. 
60. In summary, the 96.46 % of "successful" or "ver y successful" ratings demonstrate the overall 
high level of satisfaction of the participants with  the quality of TA received in 2004. This, taken 
together with the 96.87% of the full and partial ach ievement of the objectives, shows a sustained level 
of high effectiveness of the TAs (last year the per centage of fully and partially achieved objectives 
represented 92.4%). The lower level success rating of  92.31% by the TA providers also shows an 
overall high level of satisfaction but the 6.25% "sa tisfactory" and 1.44% "non-satisfactory" ratings 
demonstrate that there is still room for improvement. It is a peculiar feature of the WTO TA that the 
lessons learned from a TA course, workshop, et c can only be used in improving subsequent 
workshops, with a different group of pa rticipants, geographical location, etc. 
61. To conclude, TCA believes there is still ample room for improvement in  the effectiveness of 
the TA activities. Therefore,  it is recommended  that the TA providers indicate very clearly the 
objectives to be achieved at the beginning of the workshop, seminar or course and how their 
achievement is going to be measured, thereby sensitisi ng the participants to the fact that the TA will 
be result-oriented and that WTO checks on the results . In other words, TA providers have to make the 
evaluation process transparent. It has been noted that many TA providers still need assistance in 
setting out realistic and measurable objectives, pe rformance indicators, targets and in the proper 
application of the evaluation methods (Gap- anal yses, interviews, PEFs, verbal evaluations, writing 
good BTORs). TCA is ready to provide such assistance.  
Examples of Results  
 62. An exhaustive list of evidence of all the resu lts of TAs delivered in 2004 would go beyond the 
framework of TCA's annual report. Here we have selected some areas where feedback information 
was available and provided for evidence of results. 
Geneva-based Courses
 
63. The table below includes summary data on training courses organised by ITTC in Geneva 
during the period under review: WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 16  
 
  
64. In Geneva training (not counting the Geneva Week events) of more than 1,800 hours were 
conducted (approximately 300 days), thousands of pages of training material were developed and 
handed out to more than 400 participants.  The Secr etariat's efforts made in the selection process to 
ensure an improved gender representation appear to reap results, which is evidenced by the 42 per 
cent of participation rate of wome n in Geneva-based TAs, that is c onsiderably higher than the average 
number of female participation in the overall WTO TA activities (33 per cent). 
65. In 2004, a number of changes were made in th e preparation and implementation of courses, in 
particular the Trade Policy Courses (TPC).  With re gard to preparation of the courses, the Training 
Group responsible for the Geneva-based TAs within  ITTC  initiated on a trial basis the practice of 
sending a CD-ROM to participants in advance of the TPC, or distribute it at their arrival in Geneva. 
The CD-ROM contains basic training material, wh ich should help particip ants to better prepare 
themselves for the course and can also be used as a resource reference tool throughout the course. 
66. With regard to implementation, 2004 was a decisive year for the advancement of the 
preparation of training material, which will shortly become available on the Intranet in the form of a 
"WTO Training material and support Library".  Taking into account recommendations and lessons learned from previous years, the programmes of the TPCs were re-organised to provide a more coherent approach and allow for more study tim e to participants. Furthermore, a number of 
participants' presentations on specific trade-related issues, so-called "Tema sessions" were successfully introduced last year and generalised in the 2005 TPC. Finally, the number of practical 
exercises related to different training sessions in creased significantly, and more round tables with 
representatives of Members, IGOs and/or NGOs were organised. 
67. Regular evaluations of the performance and obser vations of the participants of the different 
activities were conducted both during a nd at the end of the courses. These evaluations continued to 
show a high degree of satisfaction with the types of responses given by the WTO to meeting the 
participants' training needs. In terms of improveme nt of knowledge and skills, the participants stated 
that they had improved both their understanding of the WTO rules and functioning and their ability to 
actively participate in WTO work. The trainers who coordinated the training activities also shared this 
assessment. Moreover, knowledge self-evaluations perfo rmed by the participants both prior and after 
various training modules showed evidence that knowl edge and skills were efficiently transmitted by 
the trainers. In summary it may be noted that these tr aining activities, as evidenced by the higher than 
70 per cent rate of satisfaction of the participants  showed that the courses achieved their immediate 
objectives. The evaluation reports, also highlighted areas which should be further improved, e.g. the 
quality of the input of some lecturers and the need  to strengthen the Spanis h language skills, in TPCs 
in Spanish.  TA and training activities in Geneva  Number of 
Projects Number of 
participants 
 Trade Policy Courses (twelve weeks)  
4 (2E*/1F**/1S***) 
*
 English **French 
***Spanish  
104 
Introduction Courses for LDCs (three weeks) 2  (1E/1F) 43 
Spec. Course on Trade Negotiations (two weeks) 1 (F) 24 
Spec. Course on Trade in Services (two weeks) 1 (E) 28 
Spec. Course on Dispute Settlement (one week) 3 (2E/1F) 77 
Introduction days (one day) 3 (E) 109 
"eTraining" Introduction Course to WTO 1 (E) 63  WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 17 
 
 
 Regional trade policy courses (RTPC)  
68. During the period under review, 4 three-month Regional Trade Policy Courses (RTPC) were 
carried out in partnership with selected universities, which have been proposed by WTO Members. The four RTPCs took place in Nairobi, Kenya; Ho ng Kong, China; Kingston, Jamaica; and Rabat, 
Morocco. Overall, a total of 113 government officials from 92 countries (70 men and 43 women) were trained in the RTPCs. Women represented some  38 per cent of the participants, which is higher 
than the average female participati on in WTO TA (about 33 per cent). 
Number of 
Participants  
Location  
Host University  
Course period Men Women  
Total No. of 
Participants 
  
Total No. of 
Countries 
Kingston, 
Jamaica University of the 
West Indies 2 February – 23 
April 
 15 16 31 18
Nairobi, 
Kenya University of 
Nairobi 
 13 April – 2 July 15 9 24 
 22
Hong Kong, 
China University of Hong 
Kong 
 7 June- 27 August 21 11 33 
 29
Rabat, 
Morocco University 
Mohammed V 
(Souissi) 20 September – 10 
December 19 7 26 
 23
TOTAL - - 70 43 113 92
 
69. 2004 marked the first year in which RTPCs we re held in Hong Kong, Kingston and Rabat. 
While a RTPC was held in Morocco in 2002, th e 2004 course was the first partnership with the 
University Mohammed V (Souissi). The RTPC in Nair obi was the third held in partnership with the 
University of Nairobi. 
70. RTPCs set out the following short and longer-term objectives:  
 a) increased number of government officials who have a solid foundation of knowledge 
on the WTO in each RTPC region covered, and capable of doing more effective and efficient WTO-related work while actively pr omoting their national interests within the 
MTS; 
 
 b) institutional partnerships developed at the regional leve l for further capacity-building 
activities; 
  c) academic networks created with, and among,  institutions of higher learning in the 
region; 
 
 d) opportunities identified for joint resear ch projects between the WTO and regional 
institutions. 
 71. The three month course curriculum is built on  the same model as the Geneva-based TPCs, 
with the objective of attaining a comparable level of excellence. In addition to that, the RTPCs took 
advantage of the natural complementarities between th e expertise of the WTO Secretariat and that in 
the region, thus rendering this type of training not only more comprehensive, but also better adapted 
to local needs. Hence the regional courses were co-delivered by resource persons from the WTO Secretariat and some twenty academics and trade policy specialists from each region concerned, who 
added strong emphasis on the regional concerns.  WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 18  
 
 72. A key to the success of the RTPCs was the improved and regular co-operation of WTO 
officials and regional resource people; which was al so furthered by the organisation of pre-RTPC 
Preparatory workshops for regional trainers. Furthe rmore, the co-delivery of training helped to 
implement the strategy behind RTPCs, the focus of which is on trade-related capacity-building in the 
region concerned, built ar ound academic networks.  
73. Internal evaluations of the R TPCs have demonstrated that more than 60 per cent of the 
participants marked a substantial increase in thei r level of WTO knowledge, while all participants 
indicated that they had acquired some degree of new knowledge and new skills. All participants also 
indicated that they intended or hoped to use th e RTPC-generated knowledge and skills at work. These 
developments evidenced the progress made to wards the first objective of the RTPCs. 
74. Regarding other objectives, e.g.  institutional partnerships, networking and joint research 
projects, some initial results have been achieve d but more time would be  required in order to 
consolidate developments. A good example of progress so far in 2004 was the joint research project on regionalism in Southern and Eastern Africa, car ried out by the Economic Research and Statistics 
Division in partnership with TRALAC and five academics from the region. In addition, eight 
academics from the region participated in a global project run jointly by Adelaide University and the 
WTO Secretariat on how economies participate in the MTS. On the other hand, further work would be 
needed to stimulate research that is relevant to the current WTO debates and which would be useful 
for decision-makers, taking into account that while the WTO is seeking to promote an environment 
conducive for research initiatives to be presented to th e Secretariat, it is for academic institutions and 
individuals to take in itiatives in this regard. 
Consolidation of results
 
 
75. In terms of follow-up to RTPCs, it is welcomed that ITTC intends to determine the extent to 
which recipient universities and counterpart orga nisations have benefite d from the WTO RTPC 
programme. More specifically, ITTC has invited information and evidence on any possible intended 
follow-up actions, which are aimed at the consolida tion of the results achieved, e.g. the possible 
integration of WTO-related matters into the curricu lum, research activities etc.; evidence of follow-up 
activities would indicate the impact of RTPCs on pa rtner institutions and on the region as a whole.  
76. While, at the time of the report writing, a r esponse was awaited from the partner universities 
in the regions of French-speaking Africa and the Caribbean, two Universities, the University of 
Nairobi and the University of Hong Kong, indi cated their confidence a nd willingness to become 
owners of the results generated by the RTPC.  
77. The University of Hong Kong has indicated to th e WTO that it has been able to build up its 
own capacity and network with both WTO and other re gional institutions.  In addition, some of the 
regional resource persons involved in the Hong K ong RTPC have particip ated in various WTO 
activities organised by the University. Apart from their training capacity, the University has also 
indicated that it is gradually building up its strength in policy research. 
78. The University of Nairobi, relying on the internal capacities developed over the past three 
years, is preparing follow-up actions with a view to taking further ownership of WTO-related training 
and academic activities. To facilitate this pro cess, the full course documentation of the RTPC, 
including the equipment component, was handed over to the University. The documentation is 
properly stored, organised and available for use. Sign ificantly, the University is expected to launch in 
the second semester of 2005 a Master of Arts pr ogramme on the Multilateral Trading System, which 
has been developed in part as the result of the experience gained through the collaboration with the 
WTO on the organisation and delivery of the RTPCs  WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 19 
 
 
 79. The continued collaboration between WTO and the University of Nairobi is aimed at 
consolidating an increasingly independent set of MTS and WTO-related academic activities. Within 
the framework of this second phase inter-institutional collaboration, which is on a more limited scale 
and expected to last for up to three years, the following activities are planned to be jointly 
implemented in 2005: 
 i) The delivery by WTO staff of two modul es of the new Masters' programme to be 
identified by the University, and the provis ion of WTO and WTO-related publications to 
the University with a view to supporting the MA programme; 
  ii) The launching, in October 2005, of an internet-based training course for 60 government 
officials from English-speaking African countries, in which professors from the 
University will participate as tutors in exchange for a modest fee; 
  iii) The joint delivery of a specialised tw o-week course, covering regionalism, services, 
NAMA, and agriculture, aimed at former participants to the RTPCs and; 
 
 iv) The joint delivery of specialised exte nsion courses organised by the University. 
 
80. It appears that in establishing WTO-related regional capacities a two-phase approach is 
getting into shape. In the first phase the recipient university works closely with the WTO Secretariat 
and the resource persons from the region concerned in the planning, designing and implementation of 
the three-month regional trade policy course. In the second phase the recipient university gradually 
takes over the responsibilities and makes the best of the capacities developed through the RTPC.  
81. To help the smooth transition into the second phase, and as a sign of WTOs continued help, it 
is recommended  that consideration be given to the establishment of a WTO Reference Centre (RC) 
within each partner university, providing access to a ll those interested in its use. The related 
investment should take into account what the establishment of an RC usually requires in terms of 
equipment and documentation compared to those offe red within an RTPC, and whether the university 
already possesses some components of an RC. It may be  that some difference is justified in terms of 
the information available at the university RCs re lative to the "standard ministry-based" RCs, which 
are mainly for official use. 
82. In conclusion, the organisation of trade policy courses in the regions, closer to the Members, 
continues to be a positive experience and the regular  involvement of regional specialists resulted in 
added relevance and context that are generally more  difficult for WTO officials to offer, and which 
are not generated to the same extent in Geneva c ourses that are delivered to participants from across 
different regions. It is now on the employers of th e participants to ensure that the improved WTO-
related knowledge and skills are put into good use. 
The Integrated Framework (IF) for trade-related assistance to LDCs  
 
83. The oversight of the IF programme is take n care of by its Steering Committee (IFSC)10, 
supported by the IF Working Group (the body responsi ble for overall management of the IF process) 
(IFWG). Their work and decisions regarding evaluati ons have always been we lcomed by TCA. Hence 
we followed with attention the work programme 11 on follow-up actions to the recommendations of 
the external evaluation of the IF.  The Work Programme planned a number of actions to be 
implemented by 31 December 2005.  
                                                      
10 See more details of the deliberations of the IFSC  in document WT/IFSC/M/11 
11 WT/IFSC/  7  WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 20  
 
 84. Main achievements were as follows:  a) 29 c ountries were at different stages of the IF 
process, of which 14 LDCs had finalised their DTIS.   Furthermore, the IFWG reviewed additional requests from 7  LDCs to join the IF, which dem onstrates the continuous interest of Members to 
become party to the IF.  It is also noted that f ourteen LDCs were at different stages of the DTIS 
preparation.  Follow-up to DTIS is crucial to derive  the planned benefits of the IF approach. Therefore 
some practical instruments are being developed by the IFWG to improve the country-led follow-up 
process e.g. by: (i) establishing a clear roadmap or "aide memoire" , setting out the commitments to 
the IF by each of the IF  actors at the very beginning of the IF process;  (ii) strengthening country ownership through the IF national implementation project;  (iii) building up awareness and knowledge 
on the IF through workshops such as the one organised  in October 2004 by UNCTAD in Kigali on 
Pre-DTIS support;  (iv) clarifying the steps in the implementation process through a note being 
finalised by the World Bank;  and (v) ensuring earliest possible involvement of donors through, for example, the identification of an IF facilitator in each beneficiary.   
85. It is noted that the IFWG was taking remedial  action on the problem of lack of knowledge on 
project formulation and procedures for accessing Window  II funds that had been identified as one of 
the major constraints in the operationalisation of Window II projects.  
86. TCA encourages a more in-depth cooperation be tween IF and Joint Integrated Technical 
Assistance Programme (JITAP), ensuring that existi ng relevant IF documents such as DTISs, were 
effectively taken into account in drawing up JITAP country project documents and vice-versa.  As it 
was mentioned under the section on needs assessment a bove, we believe that further steps have to be 
taken to explore how the needs expressed in valid ated DTIS Action Matrices could be addressed 
through JITAP country activities. TCA also noted the recent cooperation between the IF  and the 
Standard s and Trade Development Facility (STDF) and encourages it.  
Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme (JITAP II)
 
87. This inter-agency programme12, which is being implemented on the basis of inputs from ITC, 
UNCTAD and WTO, has made progress both in its operations and in the field of collaboration between the participating agencies. Belo w are highlights of some key results:  
 - Project documents for all sixteen participating countries are now finalised. Eleven of 
them were signed by the respective Minist ers in charge of trade and the Executive 
Director of ITC, on behalf of the three executing agencies. The project documents were 
prepared locally by the NSCs with some a ssistance by national consultants paid with 
JITAP resources. This process has contributed  to building capacity to formulate trade-
related technical assistance projects and to increase the ownership of JITAP and TRTA by the countries. 
 - National Steering Committees (NSCs) have  become operational in all participating 
countries. NSCs and the Focal Points in ten countries have discussed implementation 
plans. 
 - Substantial resources were decentralised to  the participating countries to facilitate the 
implementation of national information dissemination and training activities, the 
production of local MTS-related training  material, and for networking of MTS 
capacities and institutions. The procedures for us ing such resources were simplified and 
the management of the decentralised resour ces was entrusted to the Focal Points or 
relevant counterparts, in accordance with local UNDP procedures and requirements of 
the agencies.  
 - To a certain extent, national counterpart  funding has facilitated activities in countries 
such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, 
Mozambique and Uganda. In other countries,  national resources need to be further 
                                                     
 
12 See more details in JITAP Progress Report (1 May 31 October 2004 (JITAP II/SG/05/03)  WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 21 
 
 
 mobilised to support MTS-related informa tion dissemination, training and other 
research activities.  
- Progress in mainstreaming trade in the PSRPs occurred in Uganda, as well as in 
countries where DTIS documents have been or are being adopted, including Benin, 
Malawi, Mauritania and Senegal. The latter activities are particularly welcomed as a 
sign of linkages between the IF and JITAP. 
-  The toolkit for Module 2 (Reference Cent res) was designed by the WTO and launched 
at two sub-regional workshops held in Gabor one, Botswana, and in Dakar, Senegal for 
English and French speaking countries, respectively. Representatives of the seven 
information points (four NEPs and thr ee RCs) in each JITAP partner countries 
participated in the two workshops. Over 100  persons were trained in the use of the 
toolkit for Module 2. Some more remarks re garding other activities related to RCs are 
made in paragraphs 86-89 below. 
 88. JITAP activities often address issues of concern to WTO ODs, e.g. MTS negotiation skills, 
Services, SPS and TBT, etc. Although the organi sation of meetings addressing such issues  is 
assumed by partner agencies, i.e. UNCTAD or ITC, it is recommended
 that JITAP keep more regular 
contacts with WTO officials with a view to avoiding any overlaps between WTO TA and JITAP 
activities either by timing or to make sure that the message is delivered along the same line. One 
should bear in mind that both WTO and JITAP addr esses to a large extent the same target groups.  
89. Finally it is welcomed that JITAP and IF team s in Geneva hold regular meetings to share 
information on a continuous basis on the two programmes. TCA agrees that at the national level a 
stronger coordination between the two programmes are desirable through the merging of IF with JITAP NSCs. 
Reference Centres
 
90. In 2004, activities within this product of the Plan included the strengthening or establishment 
of Reference Centres (RC) in 21 countries. The RCs operate usually within the framework of 
ministries of trade/commerce,  and are equippe d to provide comprehensive information and 
documentation on WTO – primarily to government officials, the media, trading companies, academic 
institutions and civil society. The hardware installa tion goes hand-in-hand with training of people in 
the use of the equipment and information provide d. Last year, 382 persons benefited from such 
training. Eleven of the RCs were connected to SI TA (Société Internationale de Télécommunications 
Aéronautique), whereby a total of 27 of 49 LDCs  improved access to Internet. The strengthening of 
RCs often involves the re-activation of the key functi ons of the WTO RC at a ministry by training its 
staff with the help of new available WTO Info rmation Technologies i.e. computer-based Training 
programmes; access to WTO data-bases; organising hands-on sessions on using CD-ROMS and DVDs, which provide most recent information on notif ications, include OECD tools on trade policy, 
SPS, TRIPs, Dispute Settlement and an electronic version of WTO publications; and training for on-
line access to Internet.  
91. TCA welcomed the overall high satisfaction of th e participants with such TA activities. In 
most cases the free access to the RCs was secured.  In a few cases, however, the Secretariat had to 
intervene to ensure full access to th e RC. An integral part of these TAs was the verification of whether 
the documents sent by WTO were well organised and made ready for use (and indeed they were in 
use). For the latter, however, there is no systema tic information available from most of the 127 RCs. 
In some cases it was found that, for several reasons, TA providers could not have access to verify the 
orderly use of WTO documentation; in other cases WTO documents were found, after months of 
arrival, still piled up on shelves in plastic bags, pointing to the less e fficient use of them. Reasons for 
this were varied, e.g. inadequate staff resources, lacking funds to subscribe to reliable and regular 
Internet-provider services, or the use of the CD Ro ms and the WTO Internet-site instead of the hard WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 22  
 
 prints, etc. In a couple of cases the participants in this training did not show any interest or motivation 
in the proper functioning of the RC.  
92. The following remarks regarding the RCs should be  seen in the light of the overall success of 
these TA activities of which available BTORs pr ovide the evidence and highlight their usual 
effectiveness and efficiency. Going back in hist ory, in 1997 the establishment of RCs and equipping 
them with the most recent computer technology and information base started on an ad hoc  basis and 
no clear WTO strategy supported this technical a ssistance. Since then Members who did not have 
RCs, asked for their establishment, while others , whose equipment became obsolete, asked for 
upgrading. This situation has imposed an expensive,  and continuous, investment obligation on WTO. 
This TA involves not only travel  costs for two staff members of the Secretariat to some twenty 
countries a year, but also the RCs cost of expe nsive equipment and the cost of reproduction and 
dispatching of the documentation (the total costs  might exceed SFR 100,000 a year).  
93. In addition, one has to consider that it is not only WTO that establishes WTO-related RCs but 
also JITAP and maybe other organisations. Evidently, in order to avoid duplication and ensure that the 
messages are not contradictory, in the short-run an  appropriate and effectiv e coordination is a must 
between those who establish or strengthen RCs within  the framework of WTO TA Plan and that of 
JITAP. The RC programme has been going on fo r some seven years. It is recommended  that a 
thematic evaluation be carried out in order to thro w light on how effectively the RCs are used by the 
intended users, and whether the continuous investme nt by WTO in the RCs justifies the results.  
1st  e-training introduction course to the WTO and its basic principles  
 
94. This TA activity is worth mentioning in the re port since it was the first one of the kind and it 
points to the efforts of the Secret ariat to identify new, effective and efficient modalities of TA by 
taking full advantage of information technology and the Internet as a complement and an alternative 
to traditional training programmes. The on-line intera ctive course, built on a pilot exercise carried out 
in 2002, benefited sixty-three Government offici als from developing countries/customs territories.   
95. The course resulted in the participants' improve d understanding of the MTS; enhanced their 
knowledge about the basic principles of the WTO and the legal structure of the Marrakech Agreement. As a basic course it enabled the par ticipants to take part effectively in more 
specialized/advanced TA activities in the future and, in addition to that, it established and/or 
strengthened a network of useful contacts betwee n participants and with WTO tutors from the 
Secretariat. 
96. Participants were very satisfied with the ac tivity overall, while highlighting areas for possible 
improvements. Through the Internet Platform, partic ipants appreciated that they had online access not 
only to the course material but also to dedicated WT O tutors with whom they regularly interacted. 78 
per cent of the participants evaluated the course as  "successful" or "very successful". It is worth 
noting that on average 90 per cent of the respondents reported that the course was relevant to their 
current work and that its content matched their country's needs. The succe ss was also evidenced by 
the 15 per cent drop-out rated only, which is much better th an similar on-line courses held by 
universities or other internati onal organisations (about 35 %). 
97. TCA welcomed ITTC's intention to follow-up the recommendations of the participants, 
which, inter alia , would consider the participants' workload  during the course, which was not reduced 
by their employers, with due account to the fact that  they participated in the e-training (due to this 
reason the course had to be extended in order to avoid more dropouts). Add itional follow-up actions 
are encouraged to be taken with a view to inco rporate more examples and "realistic" case studies in 
the course programme and further enhance the inte raction between particip ants and tutors/course 
administrators to allow participants to discuss a nd share their views and experiences on the course. In 
order to improve the sustainability of the results of  the e-training, access to RCs by the participants  WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 23 
 
 
 who do not have computers with Internet connecti on on a regular basis should also be encouraged. 
Another approach would be to send CD Roms contai ning the course material and the course library to 
such participants in order to minimize the number of Internet connections for them.  
Partnerships for Training and Capacity Building: an integrated approach  
 
98. The activities within this product of the Plan we re carried out with the full support of the 
associated institutions and the individual academ ics who encouraged WTO to further pursue the 
strategy of closer collaboration with the academic  community. The strategy was implemented through  
 a) joint-lecturing and training with regional academics in 4 three-month trade policy 
courses in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. Having got to know each other better, 
Resource persons and WTO staff carried out  the training activities in coordination. 
Regional workshops for the potential resource persons from the regions concerned have 
become a regular feature of the preparator y work of the RTPCs and strengthened this 
process. 
 
 b) four regional workshops (Austria, Ecua dor, Malaysia and Mexi co) and two national 
seminars (Mexico and Namibia), organised in most cases in partnership with associated universities for some 120 academics. The main topics of these TA activities were the exploration of research subjects of regi onal and multilateral interest, discussions 
regarding university curricula on WTO matters, and possibilities for further collaboration in these fields. As evidenced by participants' feedback to the Secretariat, 
these workshops were welcomed; 
  c) joint research activities between the WT O Secretariat and academics, and networking 
among the participants, which received interest and support. Joint research activities began in collaboration with the WTO's Economic Research and Statistics Division. The 
participants of the second RTPC in Nairobi were informed about the results of this 
collaboration. Furthermore, participants  started sharing research papers among 
themselves and even elaborating a university textbook on international trade; 
   d)  a support programme for six doctoral candidates doing research on WTO-related topics, 
which began during the second semester of the year. Four PHD students (from Bolivia, 
Cameroon, China and Pakistan) were selected  and started working on research projects 
related to economic and legal issues; 
  e) the dissemination of WTO publications and training materials to a number of 
universities. An estimated 102 sets of doc uments on WTO matters were donated to 
universities and individual academics participa ting in university-related activities. These 
documents contribute to further developing the recipient universities' libraries on WTO 
matters, which otherwise would have found it difficult to acquire with their own 
resources. This assistance was funded from  both the DDAGTF and the RB. Beneficiary 
universities have acknowledged the highly pr ofessional value of this collaboration. 
 
 With a view to making the implementation of the activities within this product more effective 
and transparent, a database of consultants was fu rther developed which contains the names of 119 
external resource persons from the academic community, private sector, and other international organisations. Ten of them from Africa, South Asia, Europe, North America and South America 
contributed to technical assistance activities throughout the period under review. 
 
 WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 24  
 
 Efficiency
 
99. An important aspect of the TA programme is the relationship between the costs of the TA 
seminars, workshops, etc, and the generated results. In terms of efficiency the TA providers rendered 
account of the following performance in the period under review. 
 
  
 
  
 
100. The efficiency considerations are usually b ased on comparing the actual results of a TA 
workshop, course, etc.,  with the costs that it incurred. As the above table demonstrates, some 75 per 
cent of the TAs reported to TCA rendered account of very or satisfactory efficiency. Main arguments, 
of course, for high efficiency referred to cost items, e.g. travel, facilities, accommodation, etc., 
covered by host organisations. These arrangements reduced WTO's financial obligations. Wherever it 
was feasible, TAs were organised on a cost-sha ring basis with other agencies or back-to-back 
missions were arranged to reduce travel time and costs.  Some of the TAs benefited from 
arrangements whereby resource persons  were paid by a donor or did not ask for compensation.  It was 
also observed that the national TA activities appeared to be very effici ent, in terms of lowest costs per 
capita but also that they were sometimes overpopul ated, clearly diminishing their effectiveness.  
101. TA implementation continues to enjoy a consider able degree of flexibility, and it is the TA 
provider who can freely choose the modality of trai ning and information dissemination that is best 
suited to the actual needs, issues and target groups.  More specifically, s/he decides on the timely use 
of a variety of methods appropriate to the content and objective; the selection and use of audio visual aids, presentations, tests, exercises, case studies; the development or selection of background 
documentation, CD-Roms, DVDs for distribution, etc.  In most divisions the director exercises quality 
control over these preparatory activities.  
102. Also an efficiency issue is how the TA programmes and presentations are prepared and 
disseminated to the participants. There is still ev idence that the final touch to the programme or 
presentations are done during the night or just before  the TA begins, or even during breaks in the TA, 
which require on-the-spot reproduction of the docum ents, thereby increased the documentation costs. 
Explanations of the TA providers differ. Some of them intended to reflect last minute developments 
(e.g. positions or debates in WTO committees, nego tiations, etc), others mentioned that three TA 
workshops had to be prepared at th e same time since they were to be  delivered back to back, therefore 
lack of time explained last minute rush. TCA has noted that the schedule of TA activities was very 
dense in the last quarter of the period under review . Fifty-nine TA workshops, seminars, etc, were 
scheduled in October, 85 in November and 54 in D ecember. Therefore, about 40 per cent of the total 
501 TA activities were carried out in the last thr ee months of the year. Perhaps a better programming 
could have resulted in a more evenly spread sch edule and facilitated the process of preparation, 
making it less daunting by diminishing the need fo r last minute work. Alth ough on scheduling it has 
to be mentioned that the timing of a particular event is often in the hands of the host country. We also 
learned that sometimes the external resource persons prepared their input just before the TA began or 
joined the TA and met other TA providers at th e venue. Therefore there was no other way but to 
reproduce the documentation by renting copy mach ines and computers on the spot. Such views may 
appear picky but TCA believes that more care ful preparation would certainly reduce some 
documentation costs and improve efficiency.  Results % 
Very efficient                    53.13
Satisfactory                      21.88
Less than satisfactory      13.84
Useless                              1.79
No reply                             6.25Question  19
Response Choices0102030405060
ABCDE WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 25 
 
 
 103. It has also been noted that participants often asked for documents to be circulated prior to a 
course, workshop etc. This arrangement would certain ly improve the preparation of the participants. 
However, there is no guarantee that the pa rticipants would read the documents and carry them to the 
lieu of the TA. In some cases where prior circulation took place, some participants asked for copies of 
the documents on the spot, which resulted in the dup lication of documents, and those which, at the 
end of the workshop/ seminar were considered not  to be of immediate use, were left in the 
classrooms.In terms of efficiency it should be noted, as we did in earlier reports, that the time allocated for the TA programmes should be in pro portion to the volume of the information to be 
delivered with due account taken of participants' ex periences and expectations.  It still happens that 
the course programme squeezes complex issues into 2-3 days when they need five, leading to 
comments by the participants that they could not absorb all the information imparted. Repetitions 
between the presentations of resource persons, omit ting references to local/regional issues, or not 
inviting dialogue with the participants, a ll reduce efficiency and detract from quality. 
104. Efficiency, of course, should be looked into not only from the point of view of individual 
TA's results-versus-cost, but also the general leve l of costs incurred when organising TA in specific 
locations such as Geneva. For instance, although th e Geneva-based two/three-day global workshops 
organised last year, on selected issues e.g. E nvironment (15-16 October), Market Access (18-19 
October), Accession (4-5 November), may have been c onsidered useful by the participants, they come 
at a very high cost. One such workshop in Gene va can cost between 500,000 and 1 million SFR. This 
points to a questionable cost/benefit ratio. These globa l TAs in Geneva raise the need to consider 
other viable options, including their organisation in  regions where the costs could be substantially 
reduced. 
105. There are some delivery modalities, which may contribute to a better use of resources, and 
should be considered for future TAs.  For exampl e, a more frequent use of video-conferencing could 
replace some on-site missions, often taking only 24 h ours. From this point of view the first e-training 
appears to be a good example of efforts to make TA more efficient. It is important that efforts to 
improve the efficiency of TA activities be system atic.  The development of standardised training 
packages, and improved logistical and administrative backup services are among the measures that can contribute to this. TCA also welcomes the on- going  work within ITTC, which  seeks to clarify 
how the different workshops, courses, seminars, etc.  can be made part of a coherent approach to 
enhancing knowledge a nd skills needed for effective participation in trade negotiations. 
106. The positive examples of the enhanced coopera tion and coordination between ITTC and the 
operational divisions are encouraged to be continued, since they can help ensure the more efficient 
use of the human resources and avoid possible dupli cations or overlaps. To a certain extent, the 
TAMC can also play a role by continuing to encourage this interaction and provide a forum for a regular exchange of views on possibilities of coope ration. Furthermore, TCA is convinced that 
improved coordination both within the Secretariat,  and with the counterpart agencies, with the 
Missions concerned and with the recipient organisatio ns at the country level, could reduce the chance 
that the same subject matters are addressed at or almo st at the same time by several organisations, e.g. 
WTO, WB, IMF, ITC or UNCTAD, drawing on the same target group.  
107. The Logistics Unit played a crucial role in the effective implementation of the 2004 TA Plan. 
The Unit backstopped 95 TA activities (regional semi nars, workshops) in 2004. If all the activities 
related to logistics (tickets, DSA, dissemination of documents, CDs, reports, arranging for meeting 
rooms, educational technology, dealing with on-the-s pot changes of flight schedules, visa problems of 
the participants, etc)  had been the responsibility of TA providers, the efficiency and the effectiveness 
of the TAs would have considerably reduced. 
  WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 26  
 
 Practical changes
 
108. TCA looked into the main factors that helped to  keep the quality of TAs at a high level during 
the period under review. First of all it was found that  the Members' continuous interest in learning 
about the WTO Agreements and MTS; having a full picture of the implications of being a Member; 
and getting well prepared for the on-going negotiati ons played a most important role on the demand 
side. In addition to that, the relevance of the tr ansferred knowledge and skills to the work of the 
beneficiaries, reported by the participants, was al so important. All these expectations and feedback on 
the results facilitated the work of the TA providers  who dealt most of the time with people who 
wanted to and were capable of learning. On th e supply side, the accumulating experience and the 
variety of delivery modalities applied by the Secretar iat's TA providers appeared to have played a 
major role.  
109. Over the last three years TA providers, who se job originally included mainly work for 
different WTO committees, have become regular and more experienced trainers, lecturers, course 
managers, etc. TCA, therefore, circulated a questionna ire to the TA providers in the Secretariat with a 
view to finding out about the changes the TA prov iders in practical terms made in organising and 
delivering TA workshops, courses, etc. with a view  to improving their effectiveness. Unfortunately, 
TCA's initiative received a very low response rate – only seven TA providers (out of 158) indicated 
areas in which they made changes. The low respon se rate may be explained by the fact that the TCA 
questionnaire was circulated  at the very end of N ovember and the TA providers were very busy with 
the preparation, delivery and reporting of 54 TA activities scheduled for December. In some cases 
they referred to other work priorities, and again in  other cases some of them said that they did not 
make changes since the established practice received the support of the participants. 
110. In addition to changes made in the delivery of the three-month TPCs in Geneva (mentioned in 
Paragraph 65 above), by way of example, here is a short description of practical changes made by TA 
providers: 
• Design phase:  for regional seminars, slide shows were tailored to specifics of the targeted 
countries, showing their involvement in RTAs . Course programmes were more varied and 
provided for more exercises, group work and question and answer sessions, in addition to 
lectures. Resource persons at the Secretar iat shared presentations and background 
documentations more often. ITTC people of ten coordinated with other professionals from 
ODs. For the organisation of national courses, the appointment of a national contact point 
greatly facilitated course implementation. They also helped in the selection of participants 
with the required qualifications. This practi ce was used more and more often. Course 
programmes now allocate more time for question and answer (Q&A) sessions. Evaluation 
received more priority already in the design phase. 
• Implementation phase:  More TA providers stated the objectives to be achieved at the 
beginning of the TA. In course delivery, more examples were used for illustration: in the slides there were more colours, maps and ch arts. More and more sessions were supported by 
exercises that take the form of quizzes, group exercises and case studies. 
More and more TA providers encouraged pa rticipants to ask questions throughout the 
seminar. The participants were also requested to relate their experiences to the subject matter 
under study. In presenting group work results , participants were asked to elect a 
spokesperson. In some areas it was found that inviting persons from the regional integration 
offices' secretariats (e.g. COMESA, SADC) carried an added value since they provided a 
different perspective. 
• Evaluation phase:
  In order to measure the change at the level of the participants' knowledge 
and skills, some TA providers used a test at th e beginning of the TA and reused it at the end  WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 27 
 
 
 of the seminar to identify improvements. Mo re and more TA seminars, workshops, etc. 
applied the so-called gap-analysis, identifying th e extent to which the individual participants 
were knowledgeable of the subject matter addres sed. This was usually done in a graph format. 
The same questions were again asked from the participants at the end of the TA, and a 
graphical illustration of the results were shown to the participants illustrating how they felt 
about their own progress (see an illustration of this method in ANNEX 2). 
111. It has also been found that not all the TA providers renewed their delivery methods, or, as the 
completed questionnaire evidenced,  some of th em even needed basic training in the proper 
understanding and application of the fundamental co urse design concepts. In one case, for instance, to 
the TCA question of whether clear objectives were set out for the TA activities, the answer was: "Not 
undertaken. The delivery of the workshop or seminar tends to be the end in itself".  
112. The practical changes in delivery, presentati on techniques and in the use of interactive 
methods should be further encouraged. Therefor e, TCA has welcomed the initiative to make a 
compendium of the quizzes used in Geneva-based tr aining courses.  There are currently 17 quizzes 
covering different areas of the WTO's work. Th ese "tests" consist of 5 to 10 multiple-choice 
questions. The participants take each quiz both prior and after specific lectures (the second time 
usually during a revision session). During these sessions, the trainers give the correct answers and use the quiz as a basis for revising the subject. The qu izzes are used to help the participants assess 
whether their own level of knowledge  of a particular issue has impr oved, as well as to help the 
trainers appraise whether a certain level of transf er of knowledge took place during the lecture(s). The 
results of the quizzes prior and after the lectures are compiled into a worksheet and shown to the 
participants at the end of the training course.  This method will further strengthen the result-
orientation. Upon completion of this process, the re viewed quizzes will be made available for use by 
any interested divisions. 
113. TCA recalls last year's suggestion that the TA providers need, inter alia,  a proper training in 
the planning, design, implementation, monitoring a nd evaluation of TAs. This need still persists. 
Furthermore, the use of the knowledge and skills  of teaching methods acquired through the TOT 
training courses in 2002 may have become inconsiste nt, partially forgotten and need refreshment. 
Therefore it is recommended
 that TOT refreshment courses be organised, which should also meet the 
need for proper training in the application of WTO's M&E concepts procedures and tools. 
Observations on reporting on TA  
114. Reporting about TA and training activities continues to provide the most important 
documented information of implementation, strengt hs and weaknesses, eventual problems and how 
they were tackled, effects and impact, recommenda tions and suggested follow- up actions. However, if 
reporting, although certainly also contributing to  transparency and accountability, becomes too 
frequent and too heavy, it may become counter-pro ductive by taking precious time away from other 
work. Last year TCA suggested that the rath er frequent quarterly monitoring reports on the 
implementation of the TA plan should be reconsider ed since such a frequency would not fit with the 
new TA Plan for 2004. It is welcomed that the proposal for semi-annual progress (monitoring) 
reporting was accepted.  
115. Reporting discipline on the TAs and quality of the reports is deemed to be gradually 
improving as evidenced by the larger number of BT ORs and PEFs sent to TCA within a week after 
the TA was delivered. However, some BTORs reached TCA months after they were due. It was not clear whether they were prepared because TCA was ask ing for the reports, or that they were prepared 
as scheduled but did not reach TCA, or were not pr epared at all. Room for improvement is evident 
and is characterised by the sad fact that the 224 BT ORs (to date, the largest number received) sent to 
TCA in 2004 represented only 56 per cent of the tota l TAs subject to evaluation. Repeated reminders 
addressed to the TA providers in the TAMC or th rough the responsible DDG's messages have resulted WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 28  
 
 in the recognition that the higher management also  attached importance to regular, timely and quality 
reporting. This has also helped TCA to receive more reports. 
116. The reporting system, as evidenced by some 500 BTORs received in TCA in the last three 
years, has generated a large volume of valuable operational and evaluative in formation that was not 
available before. The quality of the reports is mi xed: some of them are analytical others are 
descriptive. Overall, the BTORs, however, were found to be objective and forward looking, which 
shows that the TA providers do not fear to admit mistakes and indicate suggestions for improvements, 
which is so vital in any well-functioning self-evalu ation system. It should be reiterated here that 
evaluation is not an inspection or investigation but an opportunity to learn and subsequently improve. 
TCA's monitoring of the application of the estab lished M&E procedures, s upplemented by regular 
consultations with the TA provide rs, helped this improvement.  
117. It was also derived from the BTORs that a bette r evaluation quality can be achieved if more 
detailed explanations are attached to the repor ting formats and the evaluation reports become 
consistent, office-wide. Therefore both the BTOR fo rmat and the Participants Evaluation Form (PEF) 
were revised (also mentioned in another context in paras 39 and 57) and made applicable to both 
technical assistance and long trade policy courses.   The revision was done in response to the 
comments made by TA providers concerning both the substance and the layout of the evaluation 
formats. On the substance, it was f ound that staff had, and to a certain  extent still have, difficulties in 
formulating time-bound and achievable objectives suppor ted by performance indicators and targets. 
Another problem was that the objectives to be achie ved were not always clear to the participants, 
partially because they were not communicated to them at the beginning of the TA. In reaction to these 
observations, TCA put the objectives of a TA to be indicated up-front on the PEF, which assumes that 
the objectives are communicated to the participants at the beginning of the workshop, seminar, course, 
etc. It still happens, although in a decreasing proportion, that TA providers use the old reporting formats or forget to indicate the obj ectives in the PEFs. In the latter case participants were left to rely 
on their memories and when it came to the ques tion on the extent to which course objectives 
achieved, most of them recalled about a dozen totally different ones. 
118. The Geneva-based training courses and the three months regional trade policy courses should 
be specifically commended here since they not onl y benefit from well established, regular  and 
continuously evolving evaluations  and reporting, but are now also  using the established BTOR 
format. The course evaluation reports have become mo re analytical and provide a balance of both the 
feedback from the participants, and the TA provide rs' views on the feasibility of making changes in 
the organisation of the subsequent TPC programmes.  
119. However, the above mentioned weaknesses rega rding the inadequate understanding of the 
basic design terms, e.g. objectives and their measur ement through performance indicators and targets, 
and perhaps the inadequate understanding of the im portance of evaluation, which still apply to the 
majority of the TA providers, certainly influenced  the quality of the evaluative information included 
in the reports. Evaluation, as a function that is an integral part of the management of each and every 
TA activity, is not yet generally understood, accepted or  exercised. Some of them still expect that they 
do the delivery and TCA would do the evaluation. Evalua tion culture is yet to be helped to develop in 
most parts of the Secretariat's TA-related work. In  this process the support that the staff in ITTC and 
the ODs should give to the regular and proper app lication of the WTO M&E concepts and procedures 
cannot be overestimated. 
120. It has to be emphasised that by systematic m onitoring of TA implementation one can measure 
the performance of a TA. But, as mentioned earlier,  the performance should not only be measured but 
also managed , which can only be done if information on the results and outcome reach the right 
people at the right time. The latter would re quire quality information, sound recommendations, 
lessons learned and follow-up actions.   WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 29 
 
 
 121. TCA, in helping the application of the concepts and methods of the results-based 
management, has regularly commented on the quality of the self-evaluation reports to their authors 
with compliments when it was due or with suggesti ons for improved future reporting if the quality left 
something to be desired.  The reports provided the opportunity for TCA to encourage the regular use of evaluative information and introduce a kind of briefing service in which design, monitoring and 
evaluation concepts and the use of tools were explai ned.  The positive reaction of the staff concerned 
encourages TCA to continue with this kind of a ser vice in order to further improve the quality of the 
training activities and the reporting of them. In this regard it would be welcomed if the TA providers 
also initiated such contacts, which of course would not mean that TCA should cease to be proactive. 
Technical Assistance Management Committee (TAMC)
 
122. The TAMC continued to be a recognised foru m to discuss management and other issues of 
TA. It has also become a forum where individual di visions continue to share their TA experiences 
with the others. It had 8 meetings in 2004. TA MC members regularly discussed the implementation 
aspects of the 2004 TA and training activities, e.g.  regional and national ac tivities; the financial 
situation; and new developments e.g. an ITTC intranet page on the schedule of TA activities. 
Divisional tasks and implementation aspects were discussed, inter alia , from Market Access, External 
Relations, Textiles, Rules, Trade and Investment, a nd TCA. It is encouraging that higher management 
has continuously given strong support to the consolid ation of the M&E system in the Secretariat's 
work.  
New Developments in M&E  
123. The revised BTOR and PEF formats (m entioned in paragraphs 22 and 40  above) have been 
accepted and used by the overwhelming majority of the TA providers. These formats are available as 
templates on the common drive. Reporting is now more  informative and in line with the concepts of 
results-based management. 
124. TCA has embarked on an ex-post evaluation of six TPCs (covering a full cycle) organised in 
Geneva in 2000 and 2001 with a view to iden tifying how the TPCs had contributed to better 
performance by the participants at work, whether their employing organisations were satisfied with 
their training and whether the TPC has improve d their career path.  The evaluation methodology 
included two questionnaires circulated to 168 particip ants and their supervisors. The review has not 
yet been completed. At this time 29 completed questionnaires only (17%) were received from the 
participants. Through the completed questionnair es we also received names and e-mail addresses of 
only 21 supervisors, whom we intended to ask to ve rify the information included in the participant's 
questionnaire and find out what acti ons were taken in the department where the participants worked to 
sustain the results of the TPC. The latter group was also approached by a questionnaire. For the time 
being TCA is considering how to make the best of the limited information received. One positive 
aspect of the ex-post evaluation is the methodology that appears to be applicable to the ex-post 
evaluation of other training courses. 
125. In addition to continuing briefing staff members on the established M&E methodology, 
priority was given to ensure that new staff member s who are expected to deliver TA be also properly 
briefed. However, this service, we believe, shoul d be formalised and made part of the initial 
familiarisation of the new staff member with the Secretariat's work. Therefore, it is recommended  that 
HRD upon the recruitment of a staff member dealing w ith TA (both on a fix- and short term basis), 
should arrange a briefing/training for him/her with TCA. 
126. TCA has recognised the value of the annual synt hesis of TA-related work carried out during 
2004 by a few TA providers. The initiative came s pontaneously from some of the TA providers and 
was found very useful. The initiative shows that TA  has become a regular part of the work and 
considered to carry a high value. It is, therefore, recommended  that TA providers engage once a year 
in a kind of synthesis of what they have done and achieved in the field of TA and draw lessons WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 30  
 
 learned and make follow-up actions as appropriate.  Individual BTORs certainly are very useful, but 
they show reflections on one TA only. It is also true that TCA receives a great number of BTORs and therefore is in a good position to draw comprehens ive conclusions, as we certainly do in our annual 
report. However, those who are regularly deliveri ng TAs to the Members are in the best position to 
synthesize such work. They know all the details and have a first-hand information after each and 
every workshop, course or seminar. The results of such syntheses should be discussed within the 
originating unit (ITTC or ODs) with the participation of TCA. 
127. During the period under review, TCA provided backstopping services (drafting, organisation 
of meetings, etc) for the preparatory phase of the external Strategic Review of WTO trade-related technical assistance activities. Th e Terms-of-Reference (TOR) of the Review is based on inputs from 
Members and has been discussed th rough several rounds of meetings  both with the donors and within 
the framework of the informal consultations. The Review plans to focus on three aspects of WTO 
TRTA: (a) WTO's comparative advantage in offering TRTA vis-à-vis other agencies; (b) The relevance of WTO TRTA to the Members and Partic ipants; and (c) Efficiency and management of 
WTO TRTA. The TOR is being submitted to the Committee as a separate item on the agenda. 
128. Progress has to be accelerated in the developmen t of an evaluation page on the WTO Intranet 
website, which due to lack of resources, could not be  done last year. Also priority should be given to 
the updating of the M&E procedures, formats and tool s to make them a consistent whole and in line 
with the new TA planning. Since many of the identified weaknesses in getting clear evaluative 
information leads back to weaknesses in the d esign phase, as mentioned above, TCA will develop a 
TA design matrix that can be used in the pla nning/design phase of TAs. ITTC and ODs should make 
every effort to monitor the quality of the TA designs and to develop performance indicators and 
targets at the level of the Plan. TCA will provide the required assistance to this work. 
Summary of recommendations and lessons learned
 
129. The review of 224 self-evaluation reports, including the experiences acquired through TCA's 
on-site evaluations, has resulted in very much the same lessons learned that were highlighted in 
previous TCA reports. It does not mean that during  the time elapsed between the reports the lessons 
learnt were not implemented, or the organisation is  not learning, but rather that the lessons represent 
long-term good advice that should be borne in mind when it comes to the planning, design, 
implementation and evaluation of TA activities. 
130. While it is ultimately for recipient Members to  judge, TCA believes that the Secretariat has 
continued to achieve remarkable results in fulf illing the mandate it was given four years ago to 
provide trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building. Technical assistance and training activities have become a priority, and continuous an d collaborative efforts have been made to ensure 
that they are effective, well-targeted, and coordi nated with other agencies to get the best results. 
131. The overall quality of the assistance delivered, ev idenced by the feedb ack received from the 
participants and recipient Members, remained ve ry high in 2004. The TA providers in general 
demonstrated an impressive command of their subjects, and a thorough professionalism in delivery. It should also be noted that apart from a few occasi onal complaints about too much workload, TCA did 
not identify a teaching/training fatigue. However, it is not excluded that the consistently high level of 
success rates might lead to a kind of complacency. It  is true that the WTO Secretariat has a certain 
comparative advantage over other agencies in de livering TA by being "advocates" of the WTO 
agreements. But one should not forget that t eaching about WTO agreements and building trade-
related capacities is a free market also open to ot her agencies. Hence is the major lesson that one 
should not rest on one's laurels but should make continuous efforts for improvements in the teaching 
methods, presentations and also paying more a ttention to applying participative methods and 
systematic collaboration with fellow-colleagues bot h in the Secretariat and in the field. Other  WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 31 
 
 
 modalities worth exploring, mentioned earlier in the re port, are the delivery of more in-depth training, 
aimed at problem solving, involving fewer people but longer duration.  
132. The monitoring and evaluation  system and procedures introduced three years ago have been 
generating an increasing number of evidence of the e ffects and impact of TA.  Further improvements 
can be achieved if the recommendations included in  the report are discussed and considered for 
implementation by ITTC and the ODs concerned. For ease of reference, below are highlighted the 
main recommendations in the order they were  set out in different sections of the report: 
It is recommended that   
• the formulation of the objectives be made more consistent for each product in future TA Plans 
(para 17) 
 
• ITTC establish small task forces for the produc ts in the TA Plan for 2005, which would 
develop those performance indicators and target s. The data collected on those performance 
indicators would facilitate the assessment of the progress made in the recipient Members' 
trade-related capacities during a planning period. TCA is ready to provide assistance to this 
work. (para 24) 
• consideration should be given to  bringing TA planning in line with the biennial planning of 
the regular budget-financed activities and prepare two-year TA Plans instead of annual plans. 
(para 27)  
• if on the basis of prior knowledge, the targeted country needs specific TA, a staff member of 
ITTC or an OD should join the TPR mission with a view to helping in the identification and 
formulation of TA needs. ITTC should set up a follow-up mechanism to discuss those needs 
and decide upon the modalities of addressing them  in the most appropriate manner (para 33). 
• the participants' expectations should be iden tified possibly during the design phase of the TA 
or, as a bare minimum, at the beginning of the course, workshop, etc. Then the course 
programme could be tailored to meet the expectations (para 36).  
• ITTC and the ODs in inviting people to a partic ular TA event should encourage the Members' 
recipient organisations that in nominating pa rticipants, women should get equal opportunity 
and equal treatment (para 48). 
• the TA providers indicate very clearly the objectives to be achieved at the beginning of the 
workshop, seminar or course and how their achie vement is going to be measured, thereby 
sensitising the participants to the fact that th e TA will be result-oriented and that WTO checks 
on the results. In other words, TA providers ha ve to make the evaluation process transparent. 
It has been noted that many TA providers still need assistance in setting out realistic and 
measurable objectives, performance indicators, ta rgets and in the proper application of the 
evaluation methods (Gap- analyses, intervie ws, PEFs, verbal evaluations, writing good 
BTORs) (para 61) 
• consideration be given to the establishment of a WTO RC within each partner university, 
providing access to all those interested in its u se. The related investment should take into 
account what the establishment of an RC usua lly requires in terms of equipment and 
documentation compared to those offered within  an RTPC, and whether the university already 
possesses some components of an RC. It may be th at some difference is justified in terms of 
the information available at the university RCs  relative to the "standard ministry-based" RCs, 
which are mainly for official use. (para 81) WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 32  
 
 • JITAP keep more regular contacts with WTO offi cials with a view to avoiding any overlaps 
between WTO TA and JITAP activities either by ti ming or to make sure that the message is 
delivered along the same line. One should bear  in mind that both WTO and JITAP addresses 
to a large extent the same target groups (para 88). 
• a thematic evaluation be carried out in order to throw light on how effectively the RCs are 
used by the intended users, and whether the continuous investment by WTO in the RCs 
justifies the results (para 93). 
• TOT refreshment courses be organised, which should also meet the need for proper training in 
the application of WTO's M&E concepts procedures and tools.(para 113) 
• HRD upon the recruitment of a staff member deali ng with TA (both on a fix- and short term 
basis), should arrange a briefing/training for him/her with TCA. (para 125) 
• TA providers engage once a year in a kind of synthesis of what they have done and achieved 
in the field of TA and draw lessons learne d and make follow-up acti ons as appropriate.  
Individual BTORs certainly are very useful, but they show reflections on one TA only. It is 
also true that TCA receives a great number of BTORs and therefore is in a good position to 
draw comprehensive conclusions, as we certainly  do in our annual report. However, those 
who are regularly delivering TAs to the Members are in the best position to synthesize such work. They know all the details and have a first-hand information after each and every 
workshop, course or seminar. The results of such syntheses should be discussed within the 
originating unit (ITTC or ODs) with the participation of TCA (para 126). 
133. In order to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations, TCA will prepare a brief on 
this report, disseminate it to ITTC and the ODs con cerned and have an exchange of views on them in 
the TAMC.  WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 33 
 
 
  
 
ANNEX 1  
 
EVALUATIONS CARRIED OUT BY TCA IN 2004  
 
 
 
1. Jordan Regional Seminar on Trade in Serv ices for Arab & Middle East Countries, 19-
21 January 
 
2. Austria Regional Seminar on Di spute Settlement, 2-6 February 
 3. Jamaica Short Trade Policy Course, 23-26 February  4. Mauritius WTO Course on Trade and Co mpetition Policy, 29 March-3 April  
 
5. Jamaica Regional Trade Policy Course, 20-23 April  
 6. Zambia WTO Regional Seminar on TBT, fo r W. Africa and COMESA Members, 20 
22 April 
 
7. Mongolia WTO Course on Trade Negotiating Skills for Asia and Pacific countries, 26-
30 April  
 8. Lebanon Regional Workshop on SPS Arab  and Middle East Countries, 4-6 May  
 9. Uruguay Seminar for ALADI Members on Textiles and Clothing, 2-4 June  
 
10. France Informal Experts Meeti ng Trade Capacity Building, Results 
Monitoring/Assessment Framework, 16 June  
 11. Switzerland WTO Global Workshop on Environment, 15-16 October 
 
12. Switzerland IT Sympos ium, Geneva, 18-19 October 
 13. Switzerland TBT WTO Global Seminar, 2-4 November  14. Switzerland Accession WTO Global Workshop , 4-5 November 
 
15. United States UNITAR Workshop on Interna tional Trade in cooperation with the WTO, 
22-23 November 2004 
 16. Morocco Regional Trade Policy Course , Rabat, Morocco, 22-25 November 
 
17. Bahrain Arab Regional Seminar on Re gional Trade Agreements and the WTO, 6-8 
December 2004 
 18. UAE Regional Workshop on issues in Intellectual Property for Arab and Middle 
East countries, 6-8 December 2004 WT/COMTD/W/138 
Page 34  
 
 
 
ANNEX 2 
 
  WT/COMTD/W/138 
 Page 35 
 
 
 ANNEX 3 
 
Sectoral coverage of WTO TA activities reported to TCA in 2004 
 
Sector 2004 - % 2003 - % 2002 - %
Accession      7.14 2.07 3.97 
Agriculture                               20.98 13.79 15.87 
Competition Policy                         8.04 7.59 2.38 
Customs Valuation                          8.93 4.83 7.94 
Dispute Settlement                        15.18 12.41 15.87 
Government Procurement                     7.14 2.76 3.17 
Implementation Issues                      9.38 8.28 7.94 
IT/WTO Reference Centres                   8.04 7.59 2.38 
Integrated Framework/LDCs                  3.57 0.69 4.76 
Investment      5.36 12.41 5.56 
Mainstreaming                              1.79 0.69 6.35 
Market Access                             18.30 14.48 11.11 
Rules                                     17.86 13.79 13.49 
Services                                  29.91 26.21 29.37 
SPS                                       15.18 2.76 2.38 
TBT                                       11.16 16.55 17.46 
Textiles & Clothing                        6.25 4.14 2.38 
Tools for TA                               2.23 2.76 6.35 
Trade and Environment                      4.91 7.59 3.97 
Trade Facilitation                         9.38 2.07 5.56 
Trade Negotiations Skills                  8.04 0.69 4.76 
TRIP                                       9.38 2.07 0.79 
DDA Advanced Negotiations Courses        2.23 12.41 18.25 
NAMA (singled out only in 2004)                27.23  
Trade and Development                      3.13  
Other                                      8.48  
 
__________