Enhancing Understanding and Knowledge of the Multilateral 
Trading System
This report was prepared on behalf of the WTO Secretariat 
by the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC), 
the division managing, coordinating, and evaluating the 
organization and delivery of WTO technical assistance (TA) 
activities. It benefitted from the input provided by all divisions 
involved in the implementation of the TA programme. As a 
tool to assess WTO TA performance and communicate on 
its achievements, the report identifies a variety of concrete 
results produced, and which could be measured during the 
year. It highlights how the WTO responds to the evolving needs 
of its developing and least developed Members and Observers 
through a constant adaptation of its offer for a an ever-greater 
relevance and quality. Throughout the report are testimonials 
recounting the perspectives and experiences of those by and 
for whom WTO TA makes a difference.TRANCHE POUR 104PAGES Anglais 3.75mm
Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation 
World Trade Organization
Centre William Rappard,
Rue de Lausanne 154
CH-1211 Geneva 2 
Switzerland
Tel. +41 (0)22 739 51 11
Email: TAMS@wto.org
Website: https://www.wto.org
Find out more The post-pandemic return 
of face-to-face activitiesWTO Technical 
Assistance
Annual Report2022Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation 
Committee on Trade and Development  
WT/COMTD/W/272Committee on Trade and Development  
WT/COMTD/W/272  
23-31022022WTO  
Technical Assistance
Annual Report
The post-pandemic return of 
face-to-face activities
Contents
Sweden
Korea
Netherlands
Norway
Australia
Japan
European Union
Ireland
France
Germany
Austria
Finland
Estonia
Liechtenstein
China
United States
Acknowledging donors  21
Chapter 1  
Unpacking results, tracking impact 25
Results for impact    26
Learning success  28
Bolstering transparency  30
Enhanced participation  36
On-the-job training  39
Supporting accessions  44
Broadening engagement  47
Expanding audiences  54Executive summary  11List of figures  6
List of infographics  7
List of tables  7
Foreword  8
Acronyms  10
Chapter 3  
An evolving curriculum and  
participation  69
Participation levels 70
Responding to demand 72
Progressive learning in action 74
Fit-for-purpose content  78
WTO partnerships in action 84
Chapter 4  
Evolution of management and  
resources  87
A framework for results  88
Measuring results: a new start 89
TA expenditure 91Chapter 2  
Prioritizing inclusion  57
Including LDCs    60
Promoting women’s participation    62
Reaching every region   65
Inclusion through language diversity 67
Annexes  94
Annex 1. Main results measured in 2022 94
Annex 2. Activity matrix 104
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  5
WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272 4 WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
List of figures List of figures
List of tables List of infographics   List of infographics
List of tables
Annex  1. Annex 1. Main Results Measured in 2022 94
Impact 94
Key Result 1 96
Key Result 2 100
Key Result 3 102
Key Result 4 102
Annex 2. Activity Matrix 104
Key Result 1 – Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully realising 
Members' rights and obligations (thousands CHF) 104
Key Result 2 – Acceding governments are participating in accession negotiations  
(thousands CHF) 106
Key Result 3 – Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing WTO issues  
and reaching out to policy makers (thousands CHF) 106
Key Result 4 – Non-governmental stakeholders are aware of and knowledgeable about WTO  
work and issues (thousands CHF) 106
Other costs – Programme staff and Monitoring & Evaluation (thousands CHF) 108Figure 1.   Donor overview (2018-2022) 24
Figure 2.  Success rate (2018-2022) 27
Figure 3.   Achievement of TA objectives  27
Figure 4.   Objectives of TA activities in 2022 27
Figure 5.  RTPC results (2018-2022) 28
Figure 6.   e-Learning Results (2018-2022) 29
Figure 7.  TA Beneficiaries' pending notifications 
(2018-2022)  30
Figure 8.  Reduction in agricultural notifications 
backlog (2018-2022) 31
Figure 9.  Submission of new TBT notifications by 
development status (2013-2022) 31
Figure 10.  Share of new TBT notifications  
submissions by Region (2018-2022) 31
Figure 11.  SPS and TBT notifications by mode of 
submission (2018-2022) 34
Figure 12.  Number of 'substantive' documents 
submitted by beneficiaries by  
development status (2018-2022) 36
Figure 13.  New STCs raised in the TBT Committee  
by developing status (1995-2022) 37
Figure 14.   New STCs raised in the SPS Committee  
by developing status (1995-2022) 37
Figure 15.  Number of key accession documents 
submitted (2019-2022) 45
Figure 16.  Accession meetings by type  
(2019-2022) 45
Figure 17.  Observers' participation in TA by  
accession progress status in 2022 45
Figure 18.   WCP Phase III Chairs research output  
(2021-2022) 48
Figure 19.  WCP Phase III Chairs students  
completing WTO-related courses  
(2020-2022) 49
Figure 20.  WCP Outreach activities (2022) 49Figure 21.  WTO TA outreach activities  
(2018-2022) 54
Figure 22.  LDCs share of participants  
(2018-2022) 60
Figure 23.  Female participation in TA trainings  
by region in 2022  63
Figure 24.  Participant by region and type of  
training (2021-2022) 66
Figure 25.  Number of TA trainings by type and 
language in 2022 67
Figure 26.   Participation by type of training  
in 2022 70
Figure 27.   Participants by mode of delivery  
in 2022 70
Figure 28.   Participants by year and type  
of training (2018-2022) 71
Figure 29.    Requests for national activities  
(2012-2022) 72
Figure 30.  Evolution of participants mix  
by PLS (2018-2022) 74
Figure 31.  Number of participants in advanced 
activities (2012-2022)  75
Figure 32.  Pathway choice (2020-2022) 75
Figure 33.   e-Learning courses compliance  
with SCORM (2018-2022) 79
Figure 34.   Number of partners and number of  
joint activities (2018-2022) 84
Figure 35.   Partners' contribution to courses  
by type of contribution in 2022  84
Figure 36.   WTO TA expenses (2013-2022)  91
Figure 37.  Unearmarked funds (2013-2022) 92
Figure 38.  Technical Assistance Resources  
(2013-2022) 92
Figure 39.  TA expenditure by Key Result (2022) 92
Figure 40.  Activity expenses by Region (2022) 93Infographic 1.  2022 Results at a glance 16
Infographic 2.  Visual map of TA Activities 20
Infographic 3.   Key results 26
Infographic 4.  Transparency champions' approach 33
Infographic 5.  World map with Observers by WTO accession status 46
Infographic 6.   World map with WCP Chairs 50
Infographic 7.  Training Material Requests 55
Infographic 8.   Most-Viewed pages in the WTO Website 56
Infographic 9.  Women's participation in TA 62
Infographic 10.  National and regional training activities by 'host' country  66
Infographic 11.  Participation highlights  71
Infographic 12.  Beneficiaries' Top TA Priorities for 2022-2023  73
Infographic 13.  WTO TA Progressive Learning Strategy 74
Infographic 14.  Training of Trainers 79
Infographic 15.  Types of activities by mode of delivery 82
Infographic 16.  WTO TA Framework for impact 88
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  7
WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272 6 WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
FORWARD
Empowering Members and Observers through 
inclusive technical assistanceForeword  Foreword
After two very challenging years during which the WTO 
and its Members had to adapt to new ways of making and 
providing TA to its beneficiaries, 2022 was another year 
of transition.  As sanitary and travel restrictions were 
progressively lifted worldwide, face-to-face technical 
assistance (TA) activities made their long-expected 
comeback in the second half of the year. However, there 
was no return to the pre-pandemic status quo, as the 
Secretariat tried to keep up with the lessons learnt from 
experiencing virtual means of providing TA for two years. 
As part of the achievements recorded during 2022, I am 
particularly pleased to see the increased participation 
of women in technical assistance — more women than 
men participated in WTO TA activities for the first time. 
More participation of women in TA will result in more 
gender-sensitive training and in-depth knowledge of 
trade and gender issues, which can be used to advance 
policy changes to encourage greater participation of 
women in trade and more inclusive economic growth. 
WTO also launched a new e-Learning platform with 
upgraded features that strengthen user experience, 
facilitate learning, and could therefore broaden the 
worldwide audience of the WTO online courses.
On the downside, we saw a decrease in the overall WTO 
TA results in 2022. I am convinced that the progressive 
mobilisation of the environment in which TA is provided 
to beneficiaries will allow these results to bounce back 
to more satisfactory levels. There was also a decrease 
in Least-Developed Countries' (LDCs) participation in 
TA activities. Nonetheless, WTO will continue to make TA 
accessible to LDCs to ensure they can contribute to their 
economy's participation in the WTO's work and trade 
negotiations.As WTO Members work to deliver results this year, 
including implementing the “Geneva Package” 
(the  results of the 12th Ministerial Conference), I am 
confident that WTO technical assistance will continue 
to help Members and Observers enhance their capacity 
to implement WTO Agreements, monitor trade policy 
developments, and participate in WTO negotiations 
actively.
Xiangchen Zhang  
Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization WTO will continue to make TA 
accessible to beneficiaries to ensure 
they can contribute to their economy’s 
participation in the WTO’s work and 
trade negotiations.
The Secretariat continued to adapt and remain relevant 
in a fast-changing world, moving towards blended TA 
activities, which mix online, face-to-face, and virtual 
components to maximise impact and efficiency. 
The 12th Ministerial Conference, the WTO's top priority 
during the first semester of the year, was held in June 
2022. This reduced the availability of many beneficiaries' 
officials to participate in TA activities, and the Secretariat's 
ability to deliver TA during the first part of 2022.
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  9
WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272 8 WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
Acronyms  Acronyms
Executive summary   Executive summary
 § MC12 was the main WTO priority of the first semester of the year, which reduced the 
availability of many TA beneficiary officials to participate in trade-related TA activities 
and limited the Secretariat’s capacity to provide TA during the first part of 2022
 § WTO TA saw a decline in its overall results in 2022
 § The level of participation in, and the quantity and the diversity of TA activities 
increased in 2022
 § A progressive return of TA face-to-face activities in the spring of 2022 led to the 
introduction of more blended TA activities also involving virtual or online components
AIP Accession Internship Programme
ATPC  Advanced Trade Policy Course
CEECAC Central and Eastern European, Central Asian and Caucasus 3
AfCFTA  African Continental Free Trade Area
CHF  Swiss Francs
FIMIP  French and Irish Missions Internship Programme
GPA  Government Procurement Agreement 
GTF  Global Trust Fund
IMF-CEF  International Monetary Fund's Middle East Center for Economics and Finance
IPU Inter-Parliamentary Union
ITC International Trade Center
LDC  Least Developed Country
LMS  Learning management system
MC12  Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference
NGO  Non-governmental organization
NTP  Netherlands Trainee Programme
PLS  Progressive Learning Strategy
RBM  Result-Based Management
RCI Regional Coordinator Internship Programme
RTPC  Regional Trade Policy Course
SCORM  Sharable Content Object Reference Model
SPS  Sanitary and Phytosanitary
STC  Specific Trade Concern
TA Technical Assistance
TAMS  Technical Assistance Management System
TBT  Technical Barriers to Trade
TPR  Trade Policy Review
TRIPS  Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
WCP  WTO Chairs Programme
WHO  World Health Organization
WIPO  World Intellectual Property Organization
WTO  World Trade Organization
YPP  Young Professional Programme
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  11
WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272 10  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARYExecutive summary
2022 was a year of consolidation and recovery for WTO 
Technical Assistance (TA). As the world prepared to 
overcome the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
in-person TA activities – preferred by beneficiary 
Members and Observers – could resume with energy, 
especially in the second half of the year. At the same 
time, the innovation and experience gained in the 
implementation of virtual trainings were further 
strengthened. This led to an increase in the overall 
number of activities organised to train TA beneficiaries 
compared to the previous biennium. 
In 2021, the Secretariat could only react to the restrictions 
resulting from the pandemic. In 2022, on the other hand, 
WTO TA had more flexibility to identify the best delivery 
format based on efficiency and effectiveness criteria 
to continue providing valuable support to the needs of 
Members.  
Mindful that the efforts and impact of technical 
assistance are best assessed over the long-term and 
with a bird’s eye view, this report highlights the challenges 
and achievements of TA during the year. 
Higher participation, lower 
results
Overall, the TA success rate (65%), as measured under the 
Result-Based Management (RBM) approach approved 
by Members, was stable when compared to 2021 (66%). 
However, at a disaggregated level, achieved targets 
dropped dramatically to a historic low of 37% compared 
to 53% in the previous year, while the proportion of 
targets missed only by a small margin doubled to reach 
27%. Finally, the targets not met (29%) were slightly 
higher than in the previous year. 
This drop in results was somewhat mitigated by an 
overall increase in activities and participation. Although 
the transition from virtual to face-to-face was slow, 
and Members were busy with preparatory work for the 
12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) held mid-June after 
several postponements, the number of participants 
increased by 7% compared to the previous year. Moreover, 
requests for national activities – which are the best tool 
to tailor training to the needs of a beneficiary at a given 
moment – rebounded after hitting its all-time low in 2021.
The majority of TA participants (55%) engaged in 
e-Learning courses (those that learners follow at their own pace via Internet), followed by face-to-face courses 
(24%). The delivery of virtual courses launched in 2020 
to replicate the in-person training experience in a digital 
space has been gradually losing its attractiveness 
(gathering around 21% of participants), probably due to a 
persistent digital fatigue that has dragged on since 2021. 
Regarding the success rate of the participants, the 
situation is more nuanced. Among the courses with a 
final  examination, the Advanced Trade Policy Courses 
(ATPCs) resumed in-person after a two-year break. 
For the first time, an evaluation of participants’ knowledge 
and participation was introduced. The success rate was 
very positive: 98% of the participants passed the course 
and 28% were awarded a certificate of distinction. 
At the intermediate level, only one Regional Trade Policy 
Course (RTPC) was delivered in 2022, in virtual mode. 
While the success rate remained stable compared to 
previous years, the distinction rate decreased. Finally, 
e-learners were negatively affected by the transition 
to the new e-Learning platform in 2022. Many of them 
were unable to complete their courses before the 
transition and, as a result, the completion rate dropped 
by 10 percentage points from the previous year to 51%. 
Nonetheless, the number of successful e-learners who 
obtained a distinction remained steadily high. 
The learning-by-doing offer comprising internships 
and the young professionals programme attracted 
51  participants, who joined the Secretariat or the 
Permanent Missions in Geneva to enhance their 
knowledge while working on trade-related matters. Except 
for one, all of them met the performance expectations, 
with more than one third of them exceeding those targets. 
The resumption of in-person activities contributed to 
a greater variety in the pedagogical methods used, 
especially those that had almost disappeared in virtual 
delivery (e.g., simulations, participation in Committee 
meetings, coaching participants to develop action plans, 
etc.). In this regard, the Secretariat introduced a new 
train-the-trainer programme to develop the pedagogical 
skills of staff members designing and delivering TA, 
whether virtually or in-person.
The WTO’s network of partnerships played an important 
role in 2022 and 62% of the activities were implemented 
with the involvement of a partner. These partnerships 
are a valuable asset for the WTO, as they contribute to 
the relevance and efficiency of the activities provided to 
Members and to ensuring the financial sustainability of 
the WTO TA.
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  13
WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272 12  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARYAccompanying new accessions
Acceding governments 
are participating in 
accession negotiations
Academic institutions and 
other stakeholders are 
analysing WTO issues and 
reaching out to policy makers0%20%40%60%80%100%
2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met0%20%40%60%80%100%0%20%40%60%80%100%
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022 20182018 2018
2018Implementation 
of WTO Agreements
KEY 
RESULT
3  KEY 
RESULT
4
KEY 
RESULT
1  KEY 
RESULT
2  
Non-governmental stakeholders 
and legislators are aware of and 
knowledgeable about WTO work 
and issuesA new cycle of the WTO Chairs 
programme
Partnering with local universities and researchers is 
an effective way of expanding knowledge about trade 
and WTO-related issues in developing Members and 
Observers. The WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) has been 
supporting academics and their teams since 2010 to 
foster research, adaptation of university curricula and 
dissemination of results among policy makers.
Phase III of the WCP started in 2022 and will last 
four years. The established network almost doubled 
from 19 to 35 Chairs, leading to a wider and deeper 
geographical coverage. The first results produced by 
phase III Chairs are encouraging and above expectations. 
Overall research output doubled compared to 2021, 
while outreach activities also increased. Furthermore, 
one former participant in the PhD support programme 
earned the Asian Development Bank best thesis of the 
year award. 
Acceding governments 
are participating in 
accession negotiations
Academic institutions and 
other stakeholders are 
analysing WTO issues and 
reaching out to policy makers0%20%40%60%80%100%
2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met0%20%40%60%80%100%0%20%40%60%80%100%
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022 20182018 2018
2018Implementation 
of WTO Agreements
KEY 
RESULT
3  KEY 
RESULT
4
KEY 
RESULT
1  KEY 
RESULT
2  
Non-governmental stakeholders 
and legislators are aware of and 
knowledgeable about WTO work 
and issues
Another proxy is the ability of these Members to raise 
new Specific Trade Concerns (STCs). Whilst beneficiaries 
Members still raised the majority of the new STCs 
on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) or Sanitary & 
Phytosanitary measures (SPS), their share was also 
marginally lower than in the previous year (77%).
On the bright side, after two years heavily impacted by 
the COVID-19 pandemic, participation in TA activities 
increased to reach more than 12,000 persons. 
The  success rate in face-to-face activities and 
internships remained high, whilst a change of e-Learning 
platform prevented many participants from completing 
their online courses on time.
Acceding governments 
are participating in 
accession negotiations
Academic institutions and 
other stakeholders are 
analysing WTO issues and 
reaching out to policy makers0%20%40%60%80%100%
2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met0%20%40%60%80%100%0%20%40%60%80%100%
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022 20182018 2018
2018Implementation 
of WTO Agreements
KEY 
RESULT
3  KEY 
RESULT
4
KEY 
RESULT
1  KEY 
RESULT
2  
Non-governmental stakeholders 
and legislators are aware of and 
knowledgeable about WTO work 
and issuesContinued support for Members and Observers
TA mainly targets developing and Least Developed 
Country Member and Observer government officials. 
In the TA Plan, WTO Members agreed to measure the 
TA effectiveness and impact through the evolution of 
beneficiaries' activity within the WTO as much as through 
their participation in training activities.
Overall, the level of activity of beneficiary Members in 
the WTO was lower in 2022 compared to the previous 
year.  Their average notification backlog increased by 
9% despite a larger use of online platforms to complete 
these procedures. Also, the number of 'substantial' 
documents issued by these Members – a proxy indicator 
of their involvement in the work of the WTO bodies  – 
decreased by 24% when compared to the previous year.Another TA objective is to support the accession of new 
Members to the WTO. There was a lower engagement of 
several Observers in their accession processes in 2022, 
with an increase of almost 40% in those considered as 
inactive.  Four formal Working Party meetings were held 
for the Comoros, Timor Leste, and Uzbekistan, while 
an informal one was held for Iraq. Seven accession 
documents were prepared or revised (one more than 
in 2021). This was still much lower than the 2017-19 
average initially anticipated in the TA Plan.
Regarding plurilateral agreements, Parties could not 
agree on the designation of the Chair of the Committee 
on Government Procurement since mid-2021, which 
also negatively affected TA results in this domain. 
Nonetheless circulation of accession-related documents 
has increased (+37%) while at a lower level than the 
2018-20 average. 
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  15
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYEXECUTIVE SUMMARY    Infographic 1.  2022 Results at a glance
Infographic 1.  2022 results at a glance
RESULTS INCLUSION
In another year of 
transition, the overall 
WTO TA results 
declined compared to 
the previous year, 
especially at the level 
of KR 1 
Overall participation 
in TA activities 
increased by 7%
On-the-job 
training continued to 
perform well, with a 
lower-than-average 
number of interns 
in the pastReduced 
engagement of 
Observers in their 
WTO Accession 
process led to 
negative results for 
TA in this domain 
A lower level of participation of 
beneﬁciary Members in the WTO 
(their average backlog of 
notiﬁcations increased by 9%; 
their submission of substantive 
documents decreased by 24%) Face-to-face TA 
delivery resumed, 
accounting for about 
one-third of total 
activities
e-learners were 
negatively affected 
by the transition to 
the new e-Learning 
platform: 
completion rate 
dropped by 10%Participation from 
LDCs fell by 5%
Language 
diversity was 
more balanced 
than in the pastFor the ﬁrst time, 
more women than 
men participated 
in WTO TA 
Overall geographical 
spread increased
Requests for national 
activities bounced back New train-the-trainer 
programme to develop 
the pedagogical skills of 
staff members designing 
and delivering TA The trend of donors 
to earmark their 
voluntary 
contributions 
continued in 2022, 
making TA 
increasingly 
donor-driven TA expenses increased 
by 50% thanks to the 
resumption of 
face-to-face activities 
Greater variety of 
pedagogical methods 
used, especially those 
that had almost 
disappeared in 
virtual delivery Participation in 
advanced activities 
decreasedThe WTO revamped 
its e-Learning 
platform to 
enhance the users 
learning experienceVoluntary 
contributions 
reached a new 
all-time low 
Legend:
Stability
SetbackOutreach activities 
(which had disappeared 
due to the pandemic) 
were organised again 
with higher participation
Phase III of the WTO Chairs 
Programme started well: 
The Chairs' network doubled 
and their Research, 
Curricular and Outreach 
outputs increased
CURRICULUMMANAGEMENT
Improvement
Six out of ten TA 
activities were 
implemented 
with a partner
SPS
Trade 
facilitation
Market access for 
goodsEngFra
Esp
WCP
-24%
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  17
WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272 16  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARYTA expenses rise, resources shrink
The WTO TA Management System, or TAMS, is the 
backbone of the Secretariat’s TA activities and 
the online tool that allows for effective monitoring 
and evaluation and, hence, for adherence to the  
Result-Based Management approach. Thanks to 
TAMS, the online availability of TA data has increased 
transparency and accountability, making TA 
management more efficient. Since its introduction in late 
2018, TAMS has been constantly evolving to include new 
features and improve accessibility and user experience. 
The ultimate goal was to offer a single TA portal through 
which beneficiaries could submit their TA requests and 
their representatives could register to participate in any 
TA activities organised by the WTO. However, in 2022, 
the development of TAMS stalled, and the project of the 
single TA portal had to be put on hold.
Growing outreach to 
non‑traditional actors
WTO TA also targets other stakeholders (such as 
legislators, the media or civil society) through outreach 
activities and courses. Activities for legislators were 
resumed in 2022 focusing on the implementation of the 
outcome of MC12. There were also several activities with 
journalists and the private sector. Meanwhile, demand 
for training materials by the academia or private actors 
continued to decline. 
The WTO went on to strengthen its use of social media 
and other platforms to spread information on trade 
issues across diverse audiences. Its number of social 
media followers and of views of TA webpages and news 
items increased in 2022.
Fostering inclusion
Efforts to make TA accessible to LDCs and inclusive in 
terms of gender, geography, and language continued 
in 2022. 
Acceding governments 
are participating in 
accession negotiations
Academic institutions and 
other stakeholders are 
analysing WTO issues and 
reaching out to policy makers0%20%40%60%80%100%
2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met0%20%40%60%80%100%0%20%40%60%80%100%
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022 20182018 2018
2018Implementation 
of WTO Agreements
KEY 
RESULT
3  KEY 
RESULT
4
KEY 
RESULT
1  KEY 
RESULT
2  
Non-governmental stakeholders 
and legislators are aware of and 
knowledgeable about WTO work 
and issues
LDCs remain a priority for the WTO TA. The fact that 
Africa was again the region with the largest number 
of participants in TA activities in 2022, followed by 
Asia-Pacific, reinforced this priority, as all the LDCs 
except one are in these two regions. They were invited 
to 65% of all WTO TA activities organised in 2022, 
including activities focused only on LDCs and their 
priorities. However, while the number of LDCs taking part 
in TA activities remained stable (42 different Members 
and Observers), the share of participants from LDCs 
decreased by five percentage points compared to 2021, 
reaching 22% of all learners. 
At a disaggregated level, WTO TA hopes to boost LDC’s 
participation and demand for national activities, which 
has been slipping. LDCs accounted for only 23% of the 
requests for national activities in 2022. The ratio was 
more encouraging for interns and young professionals, 
as almost half (45%) were nationals of LDCs. The share 
of LDC nationals among e-learners slightly decreased in 
2022 to 26% from 30% in 2021.
The state of women’s participation in WTO TA was brighter 
in 2022. WTO technical assistance on Trade and Gender 
continued supporting the work of WTO Members in this 
area, while raising awareness of how trade can affect 
the economic empowerment of women. For the first 
time, more women (51%) than men participated in WTO 
TA activities in 2022. Female participation increased in 
all activities, regardless of the mode of delivery. Among 
e-learners, women accounted for 54% of all participants, 
an increase of 21% over the previous year.
In terms of geographical diversity, there was an increase 
in participation in all regions, with the exception of 
Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus (CEECAC), 
where geopolitical turmoil and security issues played a 
major role. The proportion of languages used to conduct 
the TA activities has not changed much since 2021 and 
is more balanced than in pre-pandemic years. More 
than half of all TA activities – both e-Learning and 
face-to-face –  were conducted in English (52%), while 
the use of French and Spanish accounted for 24% of 
activities each. 10 activities (9 global and 1 regional) 
were conducted with interpretation in 2022.Spending on technical assistance, which had plummeted 
since the start of the pandemic, increased again in 2022, 
although it only reached 60% of its pre-pandemic average 
level. The year also saw, after a long period of price stability, 
a return of inflation in air fares and hotel prices, which 
are usually the most important items of expenditure in 
the organisation of face-to-face activities. As a result,  
TA-related expenditure increased by 50% over the 
previous year. 
The Secretariat was again able to use the TA part of 
the regular budget for the purposes for which it was 
intended. Meanwhile, voluntary contributions received 
during the year to fund TA reached a new all-time low 
at CHF 6.6 million, the third consecutive reduction 
of this kind. Unearmarked voluntary contributions 
(CHF  3.1  million) decreased by 20% during the year, 
with only 7 donors making unearmarked contributions 
in 2022. These were two new historic lows. Thus, the 
proportion of unearmarked voluntary TA funds reached 
its lowest point in 2022, representing only one third of 
total TA resources for the first time since the beginning 
of the century. Earmarked voluntary contributions 
increased again for the sixth consecutive year, reaching 
CHF 3.5 million and accounting for 44% of the TA funds 
available during the year.
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  19
WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272 18  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY     Infographic 2.  Visual map of TA Activities
Acknowledging donors   Acknowledging donors
Sweden
Korea
Netherlands
Norway
Australia
Japan
European Union
Ireland
France
Germany
Austria
Finland
Estonia
Liechtenstein
China
United States
Donor funding is essential to continue providing technical assistance to TA beneficiaries. The technical assistance 
activities are funded by the WTO regular budget and by WTO members' voluntary contributions to the Global Trust 
Fund or other trust funds. 2022 recorded the lowest level of voluntary contributions in over 20 years, as several 
donors held back pending the resumption of regular TA expenditure.
The voluntary contributions in 2022 shrank to a historic low, amounting to 6.6 million CHF . Meanwhile, even if TA 
expenses bounced back to 50% in 2022 due to the resumption of in-person training, they remained well below the 
total TA resources available.
Financing of Trade-Related 
Technical Assistance  (TRTA)
Virtual Executive 
Trade Policy Course
e-Regional Trade 
Policy CourseRegional Trade 
Policy Course
Subregional Trade 
Policy CourseAdvanced Trade 
Policy Course Internships
Young Professionals 
ProgrammeThematic courses
Global workshopsVirtual workshops
Virtual workshops
Virtual workshopsRegional thematic 
workshops
National thematic 
workshopsNational general
workshopsGLOBAL
REGIONAL
NATIONAL
Technical 
assistance 
by others
Infographic 2.  Visual map of TA Activities 
ONLINE COURSES /parenleft.caseE/hyphen.caseLEARNING/parenright.case 
Available through the internet on a 24/7 and self-service basis; involves essentially self-paced self-study and 
limited interaction between participants and with trainers; it is by and large a pre-deﬁned one-size-ﬁts-all 
product.
FACE/hyphen.caseTO/hyphen.caseFACE ACTIVITIES 
One-off learning experiences (with ﬁxed-dates, invitations, etc.). It is generally tailor-designed for a closed 
group of participants, and comprises a mixture of self-study, live sessions, group work, etc. Participants and 
trainers are physically gathered in the same place, making live interaction easier and more frequent. All the 
participants move roughly at the same pace through the same content. 
VIRTUAL ACTIVITIES 
Replication of face-to-face activities through the Internet due to pandemic-related travel restrictions. 
Regular interaction between the participants and with the trainers constitutes an essential part to tailor the 
activity to the needs of participants, and live webinars and other online sessions have replaced in-person 
gatherings.
BLENDED ACTIVITIES
A mixture of elements taken from either of the previous three categories, in variable proportions.
e-Learning
ON/hyphen.caseTHE/hyphen.caseJOB TRAINING 
Internship programmes and the Young Professionals Programme allow mid-level government ofﬁcials and 
young professionals to 'lean-by-doing' as they work either at the Secretariat or with their countries' 
representations to the WTO. Internships are a very particular type of technical assistance, lasting ten months 
on average.
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  21
WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272 20  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
ACKNOWLEDGING DONORS ACKNOWLEDGING DONORS
The United States has contributed 
annually to the GTF since its 
creation in 2002. Could you please 
explain the main reasons why the 
U.S. decided to finance the WTO TA?
The United States is committed 
to supporting strong policy 
frameworks that promote 
equitable economic growth and 
private sector development, and 
we look to leverage our resources 
wherever we can. The GTF is just 
one example. We have worked 
hard across all U.S. agencies that 
engage in development assistance 
partnerships and with multilateral 
development organizations to 
continually innovate and implement 
demand-driven technical assistance 
programmes tailored to support the 
implementation of and adherence 
to WTO obligations by all Members. 
We know that implementing WTO 
Agreements enhances economic 
competitiveness and open markets.  We seek to promote a culture at the WTO where 
Members are motivated to share success stories 
and challenges and where our partnerships and 
dialogues here help open the door to more effective 
development assistance cooperation at the national 
level. 
Interview with María Pagán, US Ambassador to the 
WTO
agencies that conduct technical 
assistance work. Earmarking 
contributions for specific projects is 
inefficient, mainly when programme 
budgets are modest. Unrestricted 
contributions from the United 
States allow the Secretariat 
to respond nimbly to evolving 
needs and priorities identified by 
recipients.
What are the United States’ 
expectations when funding 
WTO TA?
As the world deals with the lingering 
impacts of COVID-19 on the global 
economy, understanding and 
implementing WTO disciplines are 
essential to enhancing resiliency 
while better preparing ourselves 
for future crises. One important 
and foundational area of focus 
for the United States is technical 
assistance to support transparency 
and the good regulatory practices 
that undergird Members’ 
commitments to one another. We 
believe that the domestic processes 
needed to ensure timely submission 
of notifications to WTO Committees both reflect and reinforce good 
governance. This is important in 
establishing sound institutional 
and regulatory environments that 
enable and deliver broad-based 
economic growth.
What is the perception in 
the United States about the 
partnership with the WTO in the 
field of TA?
The United States is the 
largest single-country provider 
of trade capacity building 
assistance worldwide. For us, 
donor coordination and direct 
country-level engagement with 
our development partners is 
a considerable undertaking. 
We greatly appreciate how the 
Secretariat has clear mechanisms 
and processes for transparency 
and engaging with Members so that 
our efforts can complement each 
other, not duplicate. Coordination 
is challenging when technical 
assistance activities are spread 
across various divisions. We believe 
it would be broadly beneficial to 
all Members to exchange insights 
on successes and challenges in 
delivering trade capacity building 
and national development priorities 
in Committee meetings, to illustrate 
best practices and learn from 
the experiences of donors and 
recipients around the same table.
What are the main challenges in 
the field of trade-related TA for the 
WTO and for the US?
The WTO Secretariat was not 
designed to be a front-line 
development assistance provider, 
and it must remain true to its 
purpose as a neutral Secretariat, 
so it must clarify and respect 
the boundaries of  the kinds of technical assistance it can 
engage in. The  WTO  Secretariat 
should strengthen institutional 
relationships with multilateral 
development banks and other 
international organizations to 
provide technical assistance, 
recognizing comparative strengths. 
This arms-length approach provides 
a necessary buffer when national 
authorities deliberate difficult 
policy choices.
Improving these relationships 
will allow the WTO to utilize its 
resources better. Nevertheless, 
donor coordination is a continuing 
challenge that requires constant 
effort. We see a need to modify our 
way of working at the WTO to bring 
in the perspectives and views of 
recipients of technical assistance 
and capacity building to ground 
our discussions in real-world 
experiences. Similarly, we advocate 
for strengthening domestic 
mechanisms and institutional 
networks that foster and support 
interagency coordination and 
engagement with external 
stakeholders.
Do you have any anecdotes to 
share with us concerning the 
partnership of the US with the 
WTO?
The United States has invested 
in working with the Secretariat 
and Members to revitalize 
the Committee on Trade and 
Development as a venue for trade 
and development practitioners to 
share experiences and insights 
from successful projects that 
have helped developing country 
Members realize the benefits of 
WTO Agreements. Our joint work 
to support the implementation of 
the Trade Facilitation Agreement 
continues to have a huge impact 
in developing Members and 
Observers, particularly in the wake 
of the pandemic. In recent meetings 
of the Committee on Trade and 
Development, we shared lessons 
our partners have learned from 
adopting electronic certifications 
and documentation during the 
pandemic and the resulting benefits 
for traders, border agencies, and 
citizens that can be useful beyond 
the current health crisis. We look 
forward to continuing and expanding 
these types of engagements 
in the Committee on Trade and 
Development and other committees, 
as relevant to their work.
The United States is pleased to 
have donated over USD 21 million 
(approximately CHF 20.5 million) 
to the Global Trust Fund over 
nearly 20 years since the Fund was 
created.  
The United States does 
not earmark its voluntary 
contributions for any specific 
TA programme, which is much 
appreciated. Could you explain the 
rationale behind your approach?
The kinds of technical assistance 
activities carried out by the 
Secretariat are unique, and 
programmes are structured to 
provide valuable knowledge and 
improve Members’ understanding 
of complex issues while at the same 
time respecting and preserving 
the neutrality of the Secretariat. 
Maintaining this necessary balance 
is complicated when donors who 
may not appreciate the Secretariat’s 
responsibility to remain neutral 
impose additional requirements 
on using donated funds. The 
Secretariat should not be confused 
with the universe of implementing 
Press Release:  
US's donation
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  23
WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272 22  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
0 0.5 1 1.5 2.0 2.5
0.20
0.47
0.21
0.55
0.04Figure 1.  Donor overview (2018-2022)
1.72
0.38
0.58
0.21
0.16
0.04
0.02
0.870 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 (MCHF)
0.90Australia
AustriaEstoniaEuropean
Union
Finland
France
GermanyJapanKorea
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
NorwaySweden
United States
France
Ireland
Netherlands
China
2022Total Contributions 
Received
Number of donors3.12 MCHF2022(MCHF)
Austria
Australia
Canada
France
7Non-earmarked contributions
7.32 MCHF 6.19 MCHF 5.31 MCHF20204.49 MCHF2021 2019 2018
12 11 11 9
2020
202120192018
KoreaChina LDCs & Accessions Programme
WTO Chairs Programme (WCP)French-Irish Missions Internship Programme (FIMIP)
Netherlands Trainee Programme (NTP)ACKNOWLEDGING DONORS   Figure 1.  Donor overview (2018-2022)
WT/COMTD/W/272
24  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
Chapter 1  
Unpacking results,  
tracking impactChapter 1   
Unpacking results, tracking 
impact
 § As the world progressively emerged from the sanitary and travel restrictions imposed by 
governments to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face TA activities returned in the 
second half of 2022
 § In 2022, the full impact of digital fatigue and pandemic-related restrictions on TA results 
became visible, as the stop-gap measures adopted in 2020-21 showed their limits
 § A brand-new e-Learning platform was launched in December 2022. Unfortunately, many 
e-learners could not complete their courses before the transition to the new platform, 
leading to a significant increase in the dropout rate
 § Phase III of the WTO Chairs Programme took off to a very good start in 2022
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  25
WT/COMTD/W/272
What are the goals of WTO Technical Assistance?       Results for impact   Infographic 3.   Key results
Technical Assistance (TA) is a core function of the WTO aiming to enhance human and institutional 
trade capacities in WTO Members and Observers. All TA activities, courses and trainings are 
designed and delivered with the aim of producing specific and measurable results. These results 
must reflect the enhanced capacity of beneficiaries to enforce their rights and obligations, to take 
full advantage of the rules-based multilateral trading system, and to deal with the challenges and 
opportunities emerging from it.
In 2021, TA pursued four Key Results:
1.  Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully realizing Members’ rights 
and obligations.
2.  Acceding governments are participating in accession negotiations.
3. Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing WTO issues and reaching out to 
policy makers.
4. Non-governmental stakeholders and legislators are aware of and knowledgeable about WTO 
work and issues.
Each of these key results comprises several outputs, with indicators that allow to track progress 
and assess whether the established targets have been met. The logframe with all results, outputs 
and indicators is annexed to this report in page 94 .   Lower success rates in a challenging year          Figure 2.  Success rate (2018-2022)
Figure 3.  Achievement of TA objectives 
Figure 4.  Objectives of TA activities in 2022
several outputs and targets by which WTO TA success 
is measured. Generally, the success rate in meeting the 
established objectives was lower than in the previous 
year, with 23 targets met and 18 not met, while 17 were 
partially met.
Figure 3.  Achievement of TA Objectives
78%
Fully4%
Average 18%
To a large
extent
Figure 2.  Success rate (2018-2022)
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2019 2020 2021 2022
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met2018
After two challenging years in which the WTO TA struggled 
to adapt to the new COVID-19 pandemic context, the 
fragile new equilibrium painstakingly achieved was 
again shaken in 2022 by the progressive removal of the 
sanitary and travel restrictions which had hindered 
training delivery.
Similar to 2020, when WTO moved from face-to-face 
to virtual TA activities, moving back from virtual to 
face-to-face TA activities was not instantaneous. 
Several beneficiaries and the Secretariat needed time 
to readapt to new circumstances.  Whilst purely virtual 
activities immediately lost some of their interest as 
soon as face-to-face activities became available again, 
repriming the organization of face-to-face TA activities 
took several months.  The Secretariat tried to keep the 
best from its virtual training experience over the past 
two years by moving towards blended activities in which 
the face-to-face segments would focus on what they can 
best achieve (e.g., elements of interaction, motivation, 
and enriching connections) and be complemented with 
virtual segments for the rest. A contractual change in 
the e-Learning platform also reduced the results in that 
domain.
The 12th Ministerial Conference was held in June 2022 
and was the main priority of Members during the first 
half of the year. This reduced their availability to request 
and participate in TA activities, whilst the Secretariat’s 
capacity to deliver them was also lower.
These challenges negatively affected the diversity of 
participants in 2022 and their performance in several 
courses. Consequently, there was a negative impact on 
KEY 
RESULT
1
Implementation of WTO 
Agreements
KEY 
RESULT
2
Acceding governments 
participate in negotiations
Academic institutions and 
other stakeholders analyse 
WTO issuesKEY 
RESULT
3
KEY 
RESULT
4
Non-governmental audiences 
are aware of WTO issuesInfographic 3.  Key results
WTO TA and training 
CHAPTER 1 
RESUL TS FOR IMPACT    CHAPTER 1 – RESUL TS FOR IMPACT
Figure 4.  Objectives of TA activities in 2022
Implementation of WTO AgreementsExplanation of WTO Agreements
Accessing WTO information
Identify TA needs
MiscellaneousDevelopment of analytical skills37%
11%9%6%16%6%15%
Improve general understanding of WTO
An exhaustive list of targets and indicators can be found in Annex 1.
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  27 26  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272
Figure 6.  e-Learning Results (2018-2022)
20% 40%60%80%100%
 0%Correct AnswersSuccess Rate
Distinction Rate
Dropout Rate
2022 2018 2019 2020 2021
In 2022, learners' total participation in e-Learning 
courses slightly increased. However, the results 
decreased. The Secretariat launched a new e-Learning 
platform that offers a more user-friendly open-source 
solution to enhance the users learning experience 
(see  chapter 3). Many e-learners were unable to finish 
their courses before the transition to the new platform, 
which significantly increased the dropout rate. The 
course completion rate in 2022 dropped to 51% from 
Implementation 
of WTO AgreementsKEY RESULT
1
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met6%
8%3%2018 83%
68%
47%
53%
29%8%
16% 13%
14%
14%
29%31%
25%
34%8%
8%3%
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Figure 5.  RTPC results (2018-2022)
Correct AnswersSuccess Rate
Distinction Rate
Participation
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2018 2019 2020 2022 2021
Note: In 2020 and 2021, all RTPCs except for one were conducted virtually. 
As a result of the pandemic, participation could not be measured in 2020. 
Training for results          Learning successFigure 5.  RTPC results (2018-2022)
One Regional Trade Policy Course (RTPC) was delivered 
in 2022, in virtual mode. The online nature of this 
course presented participants with some challenges 
such as fatigue and balancing course attendance and 
assignments with work responsibilities. While the 
success rate remained stable compared to previous 
years, the distinction rate and participants' interaction 
decreased as illustrated in figure 5. Attempts to resume 
face-to-face RTPCs in the Middle East and CEECAC were 
aborted for lack of participants.  Some recurrent activities resumed face-to-face in 2022, 
while others were still conducted virtually.
As for in-person training, the Advanced Trade Policy 
Courses (ATPCs) resumed after two years, with two 
editions, one in English and one in Spanish. An evaluation 
of participants' knowledge and participation was 
introduced for the first time. The success rate was very 
positive, as 98% of the participants succeeded in the 
course, and 28% received a distinction certificate (90% 
success rate and above score).LEARNING SUCCESS
What are micro courses in the e-Learning catalogue?
The micro courses are small learning bites focusing on 
a very specific topic within a broad subject. They rely on 
multimedia and include for example an animation, video, 
interactive exercises and/or infographics. Their format is 
designed to foster engagement and knowledge retention.
The WTO’s e-Learning catalogue now contains 32 micro 
courses that gathered 15% of all course enrolments 
in 2022.
Micro-courses launched in 2022
• Customs Valuation – What is it all about?
• Quick view on Circular Economy
• Preparing and managing project evaluations
61% in  2021. Nonetheless, the number of successful 
e-learners who obtained a distinction remained steady, 
and the correct answers rate improved slightly.
Micro courses (see box), an e-Learning course format 
launched in 2020, had a higher completion rate. 
Participants completed 61% of the micro courses they 
registered for in 2022 with a slightly better correct 
answers rate than the overall average.  Figure 6.  e-Learning Results (2018-2022)
CHAPTER 1 – LEARNING SUCCESS CHAPTER 1 
Quick view on Circular Economy - Micro course  
series
Course level:  1 (Basic)
Learning Path: Generalists
Language: English
Pre-r...
Access
i
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  29 28  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272
Complying with notifications to trading partners         Bolstering transparency Figure 7.  TA Beneficiaries' pending notifications (2018-2022) 
Figure 7.  TA Beneﬁciaries' pending notiﬁcations (2018-2022) 
Total Average per Member Trend2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
300030503100315032003250330033503400345035003550
Figure 8.  Reduction in agricultural 
notiﬁcations backlog (2018-2022)
342
301
142124144
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Figure 9.  Submission of new TBT notiﬁcations by development status (2013-2022) 
Developing Members Developed Members
 LDCs2022
351 271 322 434 298 361 327 353 387 3831111 1201 974 1056 1107 1192 1306 1225 1436 1200135 55128158387532 441 465753
715
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Figure 10.  Share of new TBT notiﬁcation submissions by Region (2018-2022) 
Asia
 Africa Commonwealth of Independent States Europe
Middle East North America
 South and Central America and the Caribbean0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Transparency is crucial for open and fair trade. When 
Members duly communicate policies and regulations 
affecting foreign trade to trading partners, the business 
environment becomes more stable and predictable, and 
trade prospects improve. WTO TA remains committed to 
enhancing beneficiaries' capacities to meet their WTO 
transparency obligations, including the notification of 
new trade measures. 
TA support on transparency aims at reducing 
beneficiaries' 'outstanding' or 'pending' notifications. 
There was a total of 3,318 outstanding notifications by 
the end of 2022 under the different WTO Agreements. 
This significant figure represents an increase of 264 
notifications compared to the end of the previous year. 
TA beneficiaries averaged 26.3 outstanding notifications 
in 2022, slightly above the 2017-19 average of 26 used as 
a baseline in the logframe. 
Several WTO Agreements require that notifications be 
submitted annually by Members (Agriculture, GATT, 
Subsidies, etc). This means that the overall volume of 
notification obligations is mechanically increasing every year. Despite this mechanical increase in obligations, 
the volume of outstanding notifications over time is 
relatively stable, with an average of 3,245 recorded in the 
last eight years as illustrated in figure 7 . Whilst external 
factors may have played a role in these results, WTO TA is 
critical in helping many beneficiary Members to comply 
with their notification obligations. 
Agricultural notifications represented about 60% of 
total outstanding notifications over the last five years 
(66% in 2022). Since new agricultural notification 
obligations are added annually, tracking the effect of 
TA on agricultural notifications presents a statistical 
challenge. One approach is to report on the reductions in 
the backlog of outstanding notifications at the end of the 
preceding year. Efforts of TA beneficiaries in addressing 
the backlog of agricultural notifications is reflected 
in Figure 8 below. The backlog reduction pace in 2022 
increased compared to 2021. 
This means that TA beneficiaries continued to address 
the backlog of agricultural notification, but at a slower 
pace than in the recent past.  BOLSTERING TRANSPARENCY
Annual Overview on 
SPS Transparency 
Provisions and STCs
Review of the 
implementation 
and operation of 
the TBT Agreement
Annual Report on 
TRIPS notifications 
The remaining outstanding notifications were mainly 
for market access for goods (21%) and services 
(11%). TA beneficiaries have maintained a rather high 
number of notification submissions in recent years. 
TBT notifications are a good example. Despite a decrease 
compared to the previous year, 2022 registered almost 
3,000 notifications from Members, representing the 
second highest number of notifications ever.
Overall, developing and LDC WTO Members submitted 
83% of the new TBT notifications in 2022. As shown in 
figure 9, the performance by TA beneficiaries in the 
submission of new TBT notifications has been fairly 
consistent since 2013.    
Furthermore, African Members were particularly active 
in the submission of TBT notifications in 2022, with 
Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda making it to the top ten overall TBT notifying Members for the 
second consecutive year. Tanzania and Uganda were also 
among the top ten SPS notifiers. As shown in figure 10, 
Africa has seen an upward trend in new TBT notification 
performance since 2016.   Figure 8.  Reduction in agricultural notifications backlog (2018-2022)
Figure 9.  Submission of new TBT notifications by development status (2013-2022)
Figure 10.  Share of new TBT notifications  
submissions by Region (2018-2022)
CHAPTER 1 – BOLSTERING TRANSPARENCY CHAPTER 1 
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  31 30  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272
Technical Assistance on notifications   
Transparency remained a top priority in TA activities. 
The WTO organized 23 transparency-related activities 
in 2022, the highest number in the last five years. 
A  total of 996 participants (almost twice as many as 
in the previous year) from 85 Members and Observers 
benefited from these activities. 17 national activities 
focused on notifications and the transparency provisions 
of WTO Agreements. Depending on the Members, they 
addressed Agriculture, SPS and TBT, and the electronic 
tools available for submission and analysis. Two regional 
activities on TBT took place in the only regions where 
no national activities on transparency were held in 
2022 (Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus 
and Middle East-North Africa). These regional courses 
gathered officials responsible for the implementation 
of the TBT Agreement, who learned, among other things, Technical Cooperation 
Handbook on Notifications 
Requirement 
Building a network of Champions for Transparency in Africa 
offering officials from National Notification Authorities 
and National Enquiry Points an opportunity to gain 
knowledge and practical skills to implement and benefit 
from the WTO transparency framework. This programme 
aims to bring about concrete and sustainable results in 
operationalizing the transparency framework of the WTO.
The two courses involved several innovations: 
participants prepared action plans designed to increase 
compliance with notification obligations. Trainers 
provided continuous distance coaching, leading up to a 
follow-up training session 7-8 months later.how to use relevant online tools to enhance domestic and 
regional transparency. Global activities covered import 
licensing procedures and agricultural notifications.  
The training offer on transparency and notifications 
was complemented by two e-Learning courses available 
throughout the year in English, French and Spanish.
The Technical Cooperation Handbook on Notifications 
Requirement prepared by the Secretariat is regularly 
updated and the latest version was revised in June 2022.
The Secretariat decided in 2022 to adopt an innovative 
approach based on participants personal commitment 
to try to reduce more significantly the current stock of 
unfulfilled notifications and improve implementation of 
transparency provisions, including notifications.
In 2022, the Secretariat launched two pilot thematic 
courses to assist Members in fulfilling their transparency 
obligations in the domain of health and safety standards 
and technical regulations: the SPS and TBT Transparency 
Champions Courses. This is a comprehensive 
capacity-building programme piloted by the Secretariat, 
 The most exciting moment 
was the opportunity to exchange 
experiences with international, 
regional and local experts on SPS 
transparency and to establish a 
network of contacts and partners.
Phyllis Githaiga,  
Chief Inspector, Trade and 
Standards, Kenya Plant Health 
Inspectorate ServicesCHAPTER 1 – BOLSTERING TRANSPARENCY CHAPTER 1 – BOLSTERING TRANSPARENCY     Infographic 4.  Transparency champions' approach
The courses started with a one-week workshop held 
in Geneva aimed at helping officials understand what 
should be notified, with which level of detail, and offering 
an opportunity for the participants to better implement 
and benefit from the WTO transparency framework. 
The workshop facilitated discussions on key challenges 
and ideas to improve the transparency framework in the 
participants' countries. With the support of experienced 
experts and mentors, participants developed action 
plans for implementation in their countries. Only those 
who submitted progress reports would be invited to the 
follow-up activity which will take place in the African 
region for TBT and in Geneva for SPS. In the follow-up 
activity, participants will report back on concrete actions implemented thanks to the course and discuss the way 
forward. The last stage will be for participants to become 
transparency champions in their countries and be 
considered mentors for future courses of this kind. 
There have already been positive results, such as 
increased notifications and subscribers in ePing from 
participating Members and dissemination workshops 
organised by participants to raise awareness among 
key stakeholders. More sustainable results will likely be 
seen later in 2023 as participants implement their action 
plans.Infographic 4.  Transparency champions' approach
Survey ResultsBaseline 
SurveyAction Plan 
PresentationReport back 
and Next steps
Virtual 
Follow up on 
implementation
Group discussions 
with mentorsSetting up 
effective 
objectives 
& Comms45
6
3
27
1
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  33 32  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272
Optimising Online Platforms        
Members are increasingly utilising online platforms to 
submit notifications. Specialised platforms ensure that 
notifications reach all Members on time while allowing 
for reactions, clarifications, and further circulation of the 
information amongst stakeholders. These platforms take 
three broad forms: submission platforms, notification 
repositories, and subscriber alerts and discussion fora. 
Most recent platforms like the ePing SPS&TBT Platform 
incorporate all three elements together (see  the 
box below).
In recent years, TA training has progressively included 
modules on using these online platforms with positive 
results. For example, the share of SPS and TBT 
notifications filed through the dedicated notification 
submission system has steadily grown in the last five 
years, peaking at 98% and 99% respectively, in 2022.
Similarly, the share of Members who submitted 
notifications, responses to checklists of questions, 
and reports through the e-TRIPS Submission System, 
rose from 74% in 2021 to 86% in 2022, while e-TRIPS 
notifications rose from an already high 88% in 2021 to Figure 11.  SPS and TBT notifications by mode of submission (2018-2022)
Figure 11.  SPS and TBT notiﬁcations 
by mode of submission (2018-2022)
Other Online platform70%
72%88%
81%93%
85%88%
91%99% 30% 28%12%19%7%15% 12% 9%
98%2% 1%
2018TBT SPS TBT SPS TBT SPS TBT SPS TBT SPS
2019 2020 2021 2022
New transparency tools: ePing SPS&TBT Platform
A new and more comprehensive online transparency tool, 
integrating the content and functions of five separate 
SPS and TBT pre-existing tools, was officially launched in 
July 2022. The Platform was designed as a single-entry 
point for users to submit and track information on 
product requirements while enhancing coordination 
among government agencies and the private sector. 
It offers an improved version of previous SPS and TBT 
transparency tools, allowing Members to efficiently 
notify changes in SPS and TBT regulations, exchange 
comments, or coordinate on SPS and TBT matters of 
interest.
At the end of 2022, around 19,500 ePing users 
covering 189 Members and Observers were registered. 
This represents 3,890 new registrations, a 20% increase 
from December 2021. Some users registered after a TA 
activity had been delivered in their country or region, 
confirming the efficiency of TA activities in spreading 
the word about the ePing SPS&TBT Platform and 
getting users started with the registration process and 
the subscription to receive email alerts. 76% of users 
receive daily or weekly email alerts on SPS and/or TBT 
notifications. Some additional functionalities, such as 
the national and international discussion fora and the 
chat for users with admin rights, are also of interest to 
many Members. 
 The training of the ePing remains of 
paramount importance to the work we 
do on a daily basis. The portal allows 
for timely access to notifications and 
submissions of comments. It has eased 
the burden of communication between 
the National Enquiry Points and its 
stakeholders as well as National Enquiry 
Points to National Enquiry Points 
communication.
Dineo Hexana,  
Economist, South 
African Bureau of 
Standards 
WTO DDG Paugam, Dorothy Tembo,  
(Deputy Executive Director, ITC), and the Chairs of the 
SPS and TBT Committees at the launch of ePing,  
13 July 2022.95% in 2022. In 2022, the e-TRIPS Gateway generated 
over 2,000 page views daily, more than double the 2021 
rate. At the TRIPS council of 6 July 2022, Moldova formally 
thanked the Secretariat for its assistance in preparing 
and submitting its notifications.
Key WTO Online Transparency Systems in Brief:      
List of WTO online systems:  
includes all the WTO online systems 
(databases/websites) which are 
currently in production. 
Agriculture Information 
Management System (Ag-IMS): 
provides access to documents 
and records relevant under the 
WTO Agreement on Agriculture, 
and allows Members to submit 
agricultural notifications.ePing SPS & TBT Platform:  
facilitates the tracking of Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical 
Barriers to Trade (TBT) measures. It 
allows users to browse notifications, 
trade concerns and notification 
authorities / enquiry points, and 
consult on notifications and sign up to 
receive alerts related to products and/
or markets of interest. 
Notifications module:  
The Notifications module on 
Documents Online allows for the 
searching of notification documents 
by notifying members and WTO legal 
requirements, using the Central 
Registry of Notifications (CRN) 
database.  e-TRIPS Gateway: provides an 
integrated point of access to 
the market access information 
opportunities in GPA Parties under the 
GPA 2012 and related information.
CHAPTER 1 – BOLSTERING TRANSPARENCY CHAPTER 1 – BOLSTERING TRANSPARENCY
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  35 34  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272
Figure 12.  Number of 'substantive' documents submitted
by beneﬁciaries by development status (2018-2022) 
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Developing Countries
 LDCs
53391
747122
534113
642131
51078
19951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120221
122Figure 13.  New STCs raised in the TBT Committee by development status (1995-2022) 
4691071317
910813201626
1524
720
1318
917
111427
1412
222
32445
2
412
710
88
12 6
125
3911
4
1
24111
327128
78
191220
13
105
81219
46
12338
Developing Members Developed Members Both developed and developing members LDCs
3
TA Beneficiaries remain active in Committees                         Enhanced participationFigure 12.  Number of 'substantive' documents submitted by 
beneficiaries by  
development status (2018-2022)
Besides the submission of substantive documents, TA 
beneficiaries' involvement in the work of WTO bodies 
relies on the capacity of their delegates to participate 
effectively in the proceedings. Their capacity to use 
mechanisms such as Specific Trade Concerns (STCs) 
in the Committees which employ them is thus a good 
illustration of effective participation. STCs allow 
Members to address trade tensions through dialogue and 
cooperation. As shown in figure 13, developing Members' 
capacity to raise new STCs in the TBT Committee has 
been quite constant in recent years.
On their own or in coordination with Developed Members, 
they have raised the majority of the new TBT STCs over 
the last decade (77% in 2022). A similar case can be 
made for new STCs in the SPS Committee (see figure 14). 
Developing Members have also raised the majority 
of new SPS STCs in the last 15 years. TA activities 
on standards (TBT and SPS), such as the Course on 
Essentials for SPS Committee Participation illustrated 
in the separate box below, focus on building the capacity 
of developing countries to effectively participate in the 
relevant Committees.By expanding and strengthening Members' knowledge 
of WTO Agreements, TA activities aim at boosting 
beneficiaries' effective participation in the multilateral 
trading system. As the work of WTO bodies is based 
on the documents submitted by Members, developing 
and LDC Members' capacity to submit documents 
(proposals, statements, questions and replies, reports…) 
is a proxy indicator of their ability to actively contribute 
to deliberations. Notifications were excluded since these 
are discussed separately in the report. 
In 2022, the number of 'substantive' documents 
submitted by developing and LDC Members fell by a 
quarter from the previous year, recording the lowest 
number in the last six years. The total submission of such 
documents was lower than the 2017-19 average used as 
a baseline in the TA Plan (588 substantive documents 
vs 611). Regarding the distribution of submissions, 87% 
came from developing and 13% from LDC Members. ENHANCED PARTICIPATION    Figure 13.  New STCs raised in the TBT Committee  
by developing status (1995-2022)
Figure 14.  New STCs raised in the SPS Committee  
by developing status (1995-2022)
Figure 14.  New STCs raised in the SPS Committee by developing status (1995-2022)
19951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120221414
9594231
111
151
710
42
2157511
8
3183
3483
22104
48
2161
5
51518
29
19915
36
91
1017
9916
109
11127
1322
22
16119 11
92
2
Developing Members Developed Members Both developed and developing members LDCs
 The course was very useful and 
informative. I learnt about the SPS 
Committee process, the role of the 
different actors in this Committee and 
clarification on how to find relevant 
documents (documents for meetings and 
information available on ePing).
Moujanni Abdelkarim,  
Head of Division, SPS 
and Market Access, 
National Office for Food 
Safety, MoroccoCHAPTER 1 – ENHANCED PARTICIPATION CHAPTER 1
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  37 36  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272
Enhancing effective participation in the SPS Committee    
Perspective of the SPS Committee ChairThe first edition of the Course on Essentials for SPS 
Committee Participation happened in French from 15 to 
24 November 2022. The course was delivered via Zoom. 
The course was designed as a hands-on activity to foster 
participation in the SPS Committee. It aimed to enhance 
the participant's understanding of the SPS Agreement to 
improve Members' participation in the SPS Committee, 
and to build a strong network of SPS experts.
Participants were government officials from 11 Central, 
North, and West African countries responsible for 
food safety, animal health and plant health. Through 
interview-style discussions, participant-led break -out 
groups, participants' presentations, case studies, 
and informal one-to-one conversations with trainers, 
Without the participation of developing Members, 
the SPS Committee cannot have a role in the WTO and 
contribute to global trade.
All the Members' agreed on an SPS Declaration in 
June  2022. The main purposes of this Declaration 
include enhancing the implementation of the SPS 
Agreement and increasing participation of and support 
for the unique needs of the developing and least 
developed country Members in the development and 
application of SPS measures. These aspects need every 
Members' contribution and particularly the motivation of 
all participants in this training course to enhance their 
countries' participation in the upcoming discussions.
Due to their relatively restricted resources, developing 
Members participate less in the SPS Committee than 
developed Members. The SPS Committee needs more 
participation from developing Members in its meetings. 
By increasing the understanding of the SPS Agreement 
through the activity, participants can take what they 
have learned back to their countries and enhance their 
involvement in future meetings of the SPS Committee.
I participated in an interview session and participants 
actively asked me many questions, for example, 
regarding the role of a chairperson, the selection process 
of chairpersons of WTO committees, and how to deal 
Tang-Kai Wang ,  
Chinese Taipei,  
Chair of the SPS 
Committeeformer SPS Committee Chairs and current delegates, 
participants learned about the functioning of the SPS 
Committee and the benefits it can provide to developing 
countries. They were also reminded of the provisions of 
the SPS Agreement and practical implementation issues 
through a review of current SPS Committee discussions, 
and of the SPS Committee thematic groups that were set 
up following the SPS Ministerial Declaration and of their 
relevance for developing countries.
Participants followed virtually the November SPS 
Committee meeting, reflected upon key questions, and 
filled in a pre-course questionnaire. These formed the 
departure point of this course.
with outstanding specific trade concerns. I believe 
participants understood the work of the SPS Committee 
more from my sharing of my experience. Not only did 
I give them a better understanding of the chairperson's 
role, but I also learned about their expectations from the 
Committee, which was helpful for me in chairing future 
meetings.
I sincerely hope all participants can take this opportunity 
to increase their understanding of the SPS Agreement 
and participate more in the SPS Committee in the future. 
I also encourage participants to provide their experience, 
perhaps under the agenda item on “technical assistance” 
in the regular meetings, or to raise questions and share 
their experience in our upcoming thematic sessions. We 
do need their contribution to make this Committee better.
Division-
speciﬁc work
50%
Other
2%
Research, 
brieﬁng notes, 
accession 
documents 
30%
WTO
Meetings
8%
Training 
Sessions
10%
WHO: young graduates
WHERE FROM: developing 
and LDC Members
WHAT: work in the WTO 
Secretariat's Accessions Division
HOW LONG: 10 months on 
averageInterns' time allocation
Building trade capacities of interns at the WTO         On-the-job training
The WTO TA's internship and young professionals' 
programmes allow mid-level public officials and young 
professionals dealing with trade issues to 'learn-by-
doing' as they work either at the Secretariat or with their 
missions in Geneva. 
Internships are a very particular type of technical 
assistance, as they are lengthier (10 months on average, 
while some workshops last only a few days) and cost 
much more than the average activity. The resources 
available for the Regional Coordinator Internships (RCI) 
and the Young Professionals Programme (YPP) are 
more predictable, as they are funded entirely by the 
WTO TA non-earmarked voluntary contributions. For the 
other internship programmes, the funds depend on the 
contributions from their specific funders (China for the 
Accession Internship Programme, France, and Ireland 
for the FIMIP and the Netherlands for the NTP). They may 
therefore vary from year to year.In 2022, a total of 51 interns participated in these 
programmes. In the spirit of inclusion and of building 
capacities for Members who need it most, almost half 
of the participants came from LDCs. In general, total 
participation figures have been stable since the YPP 
started hiring over a dozen of interns per year in 2018. 
Interns and young professionals' performance is 
assessed at the end through close feedback from their 
supervisors. Out of 51 participants in these programmes 
in 2022, more than a third (35%) significantly exceeded 
performance requirements. Almost all the others fully 
met the performance standards, while just one intern 
received an unsatisfactory review. A network for interns 
called WINNER was launched in 2022. The platform 
provides an opportunity for former interns to exchange, 
inform, learn and network with experts and one another.
Accessions Internship Programme (AIP)  Working specifically in accessions 
provided me with a comprehensive 
overview of WTO rules and enhanced my 
understanding of the political realities 
involved in bilateral negotiations between 
acceding governments and WTO Members. 
My daily tasks were challenging, dynamic 
and innovative, and working under the 
supervision of the Division was very 
enriching: I received solid guidance while 
having the autonomy to focus on my areas 
of interest and to propose new ideas 
for research, events, and more.
Amanda Sayuri Miashiro,   
AIP Intern from BrazilThree young professionals from Brazil, Ghana and 
Viet Nam completed their AIP in 2022.
Interns were hosted in the Secretariat and supported 
the accession of countries like Comoros, Iraq, Lebanon, 
Sudan, Timor-Leste, or Uzbekistan, among others. In 
addition, they participated in the accession-related 
technical assistance, outreach, research, and 
transparency activities of the Secretariat. They also 
worked on the implementation of the Trade for Peace 
Programme, that aims at supporting fragile and 
conflict-affected states in achieving stability and 
prosperity through WTO accession.Trainee programmes 
and internships
ON-THE-JOB TRAININGCHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 1 – ENHANCED PARTICIPATION       
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  39 38  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272
Division-
speciﬁc work 
40%
Training
sessions
20%
WTO 
Meetings
18%
Other
9%
Research, 
brieﬁng notes, 
notiﬁcations 
12%
Regional 
Group 
Meetings 
1%
Interns' time allocation
WHO: government ofﬁcials
WHERE FROM: developing and 
LDC Members and small and 
vulnerable economies
WHAT: learn by working in the 
WTO Secretariat
HOW LONG: 9.5 months on average The exposure I gained at 
the WTO Secretariat in terms 
of facilitating regular work and 
negotiations in a multilateral 
context was invaluable. The various 
meetings with Members and 
discussions with senior colleagues 
and fellow trainees allowed me to 
broaden my view of the multilateral 
trading system. My capacity to 
deliver on my country's trade 
agenda has been greatly enhanced.
Alice Tumbo,  
NTP intern from Kenya Netherlands Trainee Programme (NTP)
Twelve junior to mid-level government officials from 
developing Members and Observers and LDCs had the 
opportunity to enhance their trade-related skills through 
practical work experience at the WTO in 2022. The trainees 
supported the daily work of WTO divisions, conducted 
research, and participated in WTO committees. Interns 
had the opportunity to actively follow the preparation of 
MC12, which was characterised by intensive discussions 
on various aspects of the WTO work programme.
Division-
speciﬁc work 
40%
Training
sessions
20%
WTO 
Meetings
18%
Other
9%
Research, 
brieﬁng notes, 
notiﬁcations 
12%
Regional 
Group 
Meetings 
1%
Interns' time allocation
WHO: government ofﬁcials
WHERE FROM: developing and 
LDC Members and small and 
vulnerable economies
WHAT: learn by working in the 
WTO Secretariat
HOW LONG: 9.5 months on average This internship experience 
has been very enriching and 
has allowed me to deepen my 
knowledge on the various issues 
that concern global trade and have 
an impact on the economies of 
Members, particularly developing 
countries like Eswatini.
Khetsiwe Khumbuzile 
Makhanya,  
FIMIP intern from 
EswatiniFrench-Irish Mission Internship Programme (FIMIP)
Nineteen capital-based mid-level government officials 
dealing with trade issues participated in the FIMIP and 
joined their country of origin's delegations to the WTO. 
The interns provided valuable support to their Missions, 
enhancing their capacity to participate in meetings of 
WTO bodies and regional groupings, and to perform 
related work, particularly in the preparation phase, 
during and after MC12. Interns got to deepen their 
knowledge of WTO Agreements and could stay informed 
of WTO current negotiation processes affecting their 
countries, subject matters and working procedures of 
different WTO bodies. 
WHO: capital-based mid-level 
public ofﬁcials 
WHERE FROM:  developing and 
LDC Members
WHAT: work in the permanent 
missions of their countries to WTO
HOW LONG: 9.5 months on averageInterns' time allocation
WTO 
Meetings
34%
Other
17%
Training 
sessions
20%
Research, 
brieﬁng 
notes
15%
Regional 
Group 
Meetings
14%CHAPTER 1 – ON-THE-JOB TRAINING CHAPTER 1 – ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  41 40  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272
 The practical knowledge I have 
gained as a YP at the WTO is 
invaluable. The year has allowed 
me to immerse myself in the 
Fisheries Subsidies negotiations 
and contribute to important WTO 
events such as the 12th Ministerial 
Conference, the 8th Aid for Trade 
Global Review and the Public 
Forum. I am extremely grateful 
for this unique opportunity 
to work alongside exceptional 
professionals in an incredibly 
supportive environment.
Assem Shakirtova,  
YPP intern from Kazakhstan  Thanks to the programme, 
I learned to use WTO information 
sources and platforms better, which 
helped me prepare speeches and 
meetings in advance. Under the 
RCI programme, I was privileged to 
represent my country in important 
discussions such as the fisheries 
and agriculture retreats. It was an 
extraordinary experience that gave 
me courage and self-confidence.
Jonah Taravaki,  
RCI intern from VanuatuYoung Professionals Programme (YPP)
WHO: qualiﬁed young professionals
WHERE FROM: priority to LDCs and developing Members with no or low professional representation in WTO Secretariat
WHAT: WTO Secretariat
HOW LONG: 1 year maximum
Young Professionals’ areas of work in 2022
Economic
Research
Development
Services
 Trade
Remedies
TBT
TRIPS
Standards
and Trade
Development
Facility
Market
Access
Media
Trade-Related
TA
Legal
Affairs
General
Trade
Issues
Twelve young professionals from diverse origins took 
part in the Programme. They spent 11 months in different 
divisions within the Secretariat and were supervised by 
senior WTO Staff. Their daily tasks ranged widely and 
included contributing to Secretariat working papers 
relating to the regular work of the WTO; assisting in 
servicing of WTO bodies and dispute settlement panels; 
preparing and co-delivering technical assistance 
presentations; and assisting in the preparation of the 
negotiating issues for MC12. Barbados, Ghana, Kenya, 
Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Zambia were 
represented for the first time in the young professionals 
programme.Regional Coordinator Internship (RCI)
Interns' time allocation
WTO 
Meetings
40%
Research, 
brieﬁng 
notes
11%
Regional 
Group 
Meetings
31%
Training 
sessions
9%
Other
9%WHO: capital-based mid-level public 
ofﬁcials
WHERE FROM:  Members coordinating a 
regional group or a group of Members 
and Observers at WTO
WHAT: work in the permanent missions 
of the group coordinator 
HOW LONG: duration of the coordinator's 
mandate, 1 year maximum This programme, subject to demand from WTO Members 
coordinating a WTO regional group or a group of 
countries, accepted four capital-based trade officials 
in 2022. While enhancing their own capacities, interns 
from Cameroon (African group), Jamaica (ACP group) 
and Solomon Islands and Vanuatu (Pacific Island Forum) 
supported their Missions in participating in the daily 
activities at the WTO and assisted them in coping with 
the additional workload linked to their responsibilities as 
group coordinators. CHAPTER 1 – ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  43 42  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
KEY RESUL T  1KEY RESUL T  1WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272CHAPTER 1 – ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
Figure 15.  Number of key accession 
documents submitted (2019-2022) 
2019 2021 2020 20227 6
46
Figure 16.  Accession meetings
by type (2019-2022)
2019 2020 2021 2022
Plurilateral 
meetingsInformal 
meetingsFormal
meetings41
3 41 1
4Progressing towards WTO membership   Supporting accessions
Acceding governments 
are participating in 
accession negotiationsKEY RESULT
2
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met20182018
2019
2020
2021
202250%
25%
40%
33%75%
60%60% 40%
67%50%
Technical assistance continues to be essential in 
supporting the advancement of accession negotiations, 
especially for LDCs. In 2022, several acceding 
governments continued working to join the WTO as 
Members. However, the number of those for which 
accession was in progress was lower than in 2021 (-44%) 
and the number of inactive accessions increased (+38%) 
(see infographic 5 ). This logically reduced the results of 
the TA under KR2, since the main assumption on which 
the TA targets had been defined (Accessions are active) 
did not fully materialise in 2022.
A new Coordination Group on Accession-related 
Technical Assistance was launched at the 2022 Aid 
for Trade Global Review in July, aiming to enhance 
coordination among TA providers and increase the 
effectiveness of accession-related TA and capacity 
building for the benefit of acceding governments. Five 
accession Working Party meetings took place in 2022 – 
4 formal and 1 informal working party meeting.
Approximately a thousand representatives from WTO 
Observers took part in accession-related TA activities. 
Many of these activities were conducted virtually, 
while an increasing number were hybrid ones mixing 
face-to-face, online and virtual components. Observers 
used e-Learning courses in the same proportion 
as Members (55%), as in 2021. Most participants 
were attracted by courses in the general category 
(multi-topics), followed by standards, TRIPS, and Market 
Access for Trade in Goods. Global and regional TA events included the 10th China 
Round Table on LDC accessions and celebrating 
the 10th anniversary of the China Programme in 
January. The  second High-Level Regional Dialogue for 
Arab accessions was also organized in February in 
collaboration with the Arab Monetary Fund and the 
Islamic Development Bank.
Several LDCs made progress in their accession.  
The Working Party on the accession of Timor -Leste held 
its 3rd and 4th formal meetings, and the Working Party on 
the accession of Comoros its 7th meeting. Elements of 
a draft Working Party Report and a draft Working Party 
Report on the Accession of Timor-Leste, and revised 
draft Reports of the Working Party on the Accession of 
Comoros were prepared. In addition, the Chairpersons of 
the Accessions of Comoros and Timor-Leste also issued 
progress reports on the respective accessions to the 
12th Ministerial Conference. National TA workshops on 
accession were held in Comoros, Sudan and Timor -Leste 
to support these processes.
National workshops were also delivered for Azerbaijan, 
Curaçao, Iraq and Turkmenistan, addressing specific 
subjects such as accession-related procedural issues, 
accession documentation, market access for goods, 
trade in services, state trading enterprises, among 
others.Figure 17.  Observers' participation
in TA by accession progress
status in 2022
Work in progress Strategic focus
Inactive Activation and reactivation35%
21%26%18%
SUPPORTING ACCESSIONS
Other key accession documents prepared or revised 
in 2022 include a Memorandum on the Foreign Trade 
Regime (MFTR) of Equatorial Guinea; a revised MFTR of 
Iraq; a revised Factual Summaries of Points Raised for 
the Working Party of Uzbekistan.
While Comoros and Timor-Leste were advancing towards 
the finish line, good progress was also registered in 
non-LDC accessions. Uzbekistan held the 5th meeting 
of its Working Party, based on a new set of updated 
negotiating inputs, while technical progress was also 
made in the accessions of Azerbaijan and Iraq. In total, 
seven accession documents were issued in 2022, which 
is an increase from the previous year.    Figure 15.  Number of key accession documents submitted (2019-2022)
Figure 16.  Accession meetings by type  
(2019-2022)
Figure 17.  Observers' participation in TA by  
accession progress status in 2022
WTO Accession  
CHAPTER 1 – SUPPORTING ACCESSIONS CHAPTER 1 
KEY RESUL T  2
KEY RESUL T  2
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  45 44  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272
Lower engagement from Observers           Infographic 5.  World map with Observers by WTO accession status
2022 saw lower engagement from Observers (see 
infographic 5), as the number of those with an inactive 
accession process increased by almost 40%. However, 
Comoros and Timor-Leste were advancing towards 
the finish line and technical progress was also made 
in the accessions of Azerbaijan and Iraq. Bosnia and 
Herzegovina is no longer a “strategic focus” even if work 
remained in progress, it was replaced by Timor-Leste.Meanwhile, Bahamas, Serbia and South Sudan have 
become less active in their accession process. They 
have now joined Algeria, Andorra, Bhutan, Iran, Libya, 
Sao  Tomé and Principe, and Syria in the category of 
“inactive” Observers. 
Infographic 5.  World map with Observers by WTO accession status
Comoros
Timor-Leste  
Iraq
Lebanon
Curaçao
Equatorial Guinea 
Somalia 
TurkmenistanAlgeria
Andorra
Bahamas
Belarus
Bhutan
Iran
Libya
Sao Tomé and Principe
Serbia 
South Sudan
SyriaObservers with 
a strategic focus
Observers whose 
accession process 
is being activated 
or reactivated
Inactive observers
Azerbaijan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ethiopia
Sudan
Uzbekistan 
Observers with 
work in progress
Promoting trade research in academia       Broadening engagement
The academic community is crucial in generating 
knowledge and data about trade and in the training of 
professionals and government employees. As a result, 
collaborating with local universities and academic 
institutions, and researchers is an effective way of 
expanding knowledge about trade and WTO-related 
issues in developing Members and Observers.
The scaling up of the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) 
boosted the capacity of the WCP Network and allowed 
for broader and deeper coverage of developing Members 
and regions. With a total of 35 groups of experts 
worldwide, the Chairs Network has reached the critical 
mass necessary for regional partnerships among Chairs 
leading the Secretariat to structure the network around 
geographical groups. It has achieved stronger and more 
balanced visibility at the global level. In July 2022, the 
WCP's Annual Conference brought this expanded group 
together, consolidating the regional spheres of the 
network.
Phase III of the WCP started very well in 2022, with 
increased outputs under each of the three pillars of the 
Programme (see figures 19 to 21). 
KEY RESULT
3
Academic institutions 
and other stakeholders 
analyse WTO issuesTarget not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met50%
38% 25% 13%
56%
67% 11%
100%38%
22%
11% 11%13%
25%
22%20182018
2019
2020
2021
2022
BROADENING ENGAGEMENT
 An independent external 
evaluation of the Chairs Programme 
recommended better representation 
– both geographically and regarding 
LDCs – and more integration with 
other WTO capacity building and 
research activities. I am pleased 
that these improvements have been 
fully addressed in the WCP's third 
phase. The programme now counts 
a total of 6 LDC Chairs, greatly 
boosted its presence in previously 
underrepresented areas across Africa, 
Asia and Latin America.
Usha Chandnee 
Dwarka-Canabady, 
Ambassador of 
Mauritius, Chair of the 
Committee for Trade and 
Development
KEY RESUL T  3
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  47
WT/COMTD/W/272KEY RESUL T  2 46  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
WT/COMTD/W/272CHAPTER 1 – SUPPORTING ACCESSIONS CHAPTER 1 – BROADENING ENGAGEMENT
Figure 20.  WCP Outreach activities (2020-2022)      
2020 2021 2022
3
1 231114
121 1 15
1414
11
17
1 14
21019
11 10
41725
22
68 9
n/a10 10
5ChinaCameroon
Chinese Taipei
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Egypt
India
Lesotho
Nepal
Pakistan
Peru
Rwanda
Tanzania
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
1 111
1
1
1 11 1 111Figure 18.   WCP Phase III Chairs research output (2021-2022)
2 2 2
3 35 111
31925
12
2 3 223050
6 51089
6
2
n/a44
Working papers
 Trade policy briefs Articles Conference papers BooksCameroon China Chinese
TaipeiColombia Costa Rica Ecuador Egypt India
Lesotho Nepal Pakistan Peru Rwanda Tanzania Uzbekistan Vietnam2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 2022
2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 20226
2 2817
4 36813 14
22
1
3 4724
23 10212
22
5
3 323
2
1 11
2 2
India
Lesotho
Nepal
Pakistan
Rwanda
Tanzania
Uzbekistan
VietnamFigure 19.   WCP Phase III Chairs students completing WTO-related courses (2020-2022)
80189
22 3068
45127
2915223
20 3038
16201
3575497
93
68270
64220
161
0220
027
07095747
221220
02076 701098321055
248297
199
0200223
2020 2021 2022
PeruChinaCameroon
Chinese Taipei
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Egypt221CHAPTER 1 – BROADENING ENGAGEMENT      Figure 18.  WCP Phase III Chairs research output  
(2021-2022)
       CHAPTER 1 – BROADENING ENGAGEMENTFigure 19.  WCP Phase III Chairs students  
completing WTO-related courses  
(2020-2022)
Figure 20.  WCP Outreach activities (2022)
KEY RESUL T  3KEY RESUL T  3
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  49 48  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272
Latin America and Caribbean WTO Chairs Network 
Through collaboration on research, outreach, and 
curriculum development, the WCP Latin American and 
Caribbean WTO Network has been working to build 
capacity in the region. The Chairs' research on technical 
barriers to trade, dispute settlement in Central America, 
and digital commerce was presented to stakeholders 
during a joint colloquium organized by the WTO Chair 
in Ecuador. The event hosted academics, government 
officials, and trade experts from various Latin American 
Members, discussing multiple topics such as regional 
trade agreements, the WTO’s dispute settlement system, 
agricultural trade, food security, e-commerce and 
services trade.African WTO Chairs Network
Spearheaded by Mauritius, the WCP Africa Network 
organised a virtual conference on the challenges and 
opportunities for international trade and investment 
in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 
The conference focused on the interactions and 
complementarities between the AfCFTA and the WTO and 
its role in supporting the implementation of the ‘Geneva 
package’ adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference.
At a conference organised by the Chair in Lesotho 
also focusing on the AfCFTA, public and private sector 
stakeholders from Namibia, South Africa, Nigeria, 
Rwanda, and Zimbabwe presented their research, 
expanding collaboration between the Chairs in southern 
Africa and Members and Observers outside the WCP 
Network.Infographic 6.  World map with WCP Chairs    Infographic 6.   World map with WCP Chairs
Asian WTO Chairs Network 
The WTO Chair in India hosted a conference on food 
security and international law with the participation of 
the WTO Chair in Nepal, focussing on how methodology 
serves as an effective means for understanding the 
recent developments in international economic law 
and how research should account for the changes in 
rules and governance structures. In Nepal, a workshop 
bringing together stakeholders from several ministries, 
the National Planning Commission of Nepal, the private 
sector, and representatives of the International Trade 
Centre (ITC), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 
and the WTO also brought policymakers together on 
this topic. Phase I Chairs (2010-2014)
Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (ARGENTINA), University of the West Indies 
(BARBADOS), Shanghai University of International Business and Economics (CHINA), 
University of Chile (CHILE), Universitas Gadjah Mada (INDONESIA), University of 
Jordan (JORDAN), University of Nairobi (KENYA), University of Mauritius (MAURITIUS), 
Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de Mexico (MÉXICO), Mohammed V University - Souissi 
(MOROCCO), St Petersburg State University (RUSSIAN FEDERATION), Cheikh Anta Diop 
University (SENEGAL), National University of Singapore (SINGAPORE)
Phase III Chairs
Université de Yaoundé II (CAMEROON), University of International Business and 
Economics (CHINA), Universidad de los Andes (COLOMBIA), Universidad Nacional 
(COSTA RICA), Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar (ECUADOR), Cairo University (EGYPT), 
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (INDIA), National University of Lesotho (LESOTHO), 
Kathmandu University School of Management (NEPAL), Lahore School of Economics 
(PAKISTAN), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PERU), University of Rwanda 
(RWANDA), National Taiwan University (CHINESE TAIPEI), Trade Policy Training Centre 
in Africa (TANZANIA), The University of World Economy and Diplomacy of Uzbekistan 
(UZBEKISTAN), Foreign Trade University (VIET NAM)Phase II Chairs (2010-2014)
University Abomey-Calavi (BENIN), Getulio Vargas Foundation (BRAZIL), Sultan 
Qaboos University (OMAN), North-West University (SOUTH AFRICA), University of Tunis 
(TUNISIA), Istanbul Bilgi University ( TÜRKIYE )
At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm 
El-Sheikh, Egypt, the WTO Chair at Cairo University 
organized a session with the University of Paris 1 
Panthéon-Sorbonne on the types of trade promoted 
by environmental regulations, global value chains and 
environmental upgrading, and environmental provisions 
in trade agreements and their effect on Egyptian firms' 
performance. The session concluded with presenting 
specific projects and case studies by the French 
Development Agency.
KEY RESUL T  3KEY RESUL T  3
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  51 50  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
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PhD Support Programme Building capacity in LDCs through the WCP
With the return to in-person delivery of this programme 
in 2022, participants could fully reap its benefits in a way 
that was not possible in the virtual work environment 
of the previous two years. Five students from Benin (1), 
Lesotho (1), Burkina Faso (1) and Togo (2) participated in 
the 2022 programme. Three completed their PhD thesis; 
the others will complete theirs in 2023.
A former PhD intern, Mag Jitsutthiphakorn of Thailand, 
was recognized with an award for the thesis she wrote with 
the support of the programme, under the mentorship of 
the WTO Secretariat staff. Mag was recognized within the 
Asian Development Bank Japan Scholarship Programme 
in the Law and Public Policy category and, overall, as the 
best thesis produced in any field. The award is given for 
each area of study under the programme.The WCP Chair in Lesotho organized student outreach 
activities to build capacity and harness positive change in 
LDCs. Students across the health sciences, humanities, 
law, social sciences, and science and technology 
departments at the National University of Lesotho 
participated in an interdisciplinary debate competition 
focussing on the role of the WTO and the country's Her thesis on the benefits derived from trade in ASEAN 
economies and whether entering the export market 
improved firm productivity was also published as a book 
chapter and separately in two journals. 
The PhD Support Programme assists doctoral students 
from developing countries in conducting advanced 
research for the final stage of their thesis at the WTO 
by providing them with mentoring/advice in close 
collaboration with the student's academic supervisors.
Mag Jitsutthiphakorn, 
Former WTO PhD internWTO Chairs 
Programme
 As a science student, I never 
considered some of the organizations 
our country is part of and their 
benefits. This debate competition 
taught me a lot about our country's 
economy and growth!
Mashai Pelei,  
Best Orator, WTO 
Chair Lesotho Student 
Debate, Department 
of Science and 
Technology, the 
National University of 
LesothoCHAPTER 1 – BROADENING ENGAGEMENT    CHAPTER 1 – BROADENING ENGAGEMENT
pursuit of export-led agricultural growth. The activity 
saw students debate on Motion 1: This House would pull 
Lesotho out of the World Trade Organization Motion 2: 
Lesotho should pursue export-led agricultural growth. 
The interactive activity encouraged student interest in 
international trade and domestic trade policy issues.
 It felt like I was doing something 
right for this country by engaging in 
such a debate; it made me feel alive 
and left me wanting to learn more and 
to educate others about the importance 
of the WTO for Lesotho.
Bokang Lepota,  
Member, Winning 
Team, WTO Chair 
Lesotho Student 
Debate, Department 
of Social Sciences, 
National University 
of Lesotho
KEY RESUL T  3KEY RESUL T  3
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Public outreach to non‑governmental stakeholders and 
legislators           Expanding audiencesFigure 21.  WTO TA outreach activities  
(2018-2022)
Figure 21.  WTO TA outreach 
activities (2018-2022)
Global National Regional2022 2018 2019 2020111
2021424
52
2
4
22
Non-governmental 
audiences are aware 
of WTO issuesKEY RESULT
4
Target not met Data not availableTarget met Target partially met20182018
2019
2020
2021
202280%
20% 20%
43%
29%
29%20%
29%
29%40%20%
29%
29% 14%
57% 14%
Beyond providing knowledge to government officials 
about trade-related issues, the WTO TA also seeks to 
engage with a broader audience, such as the business 
community, NGOs, journalists, Members of parliaments, 
and the public at large, to increase awareness and 
promote cooperation. 
In-person TA activities for non-traditional WTO actors 
resumed in 2022 without reaching yet their pre-pandemic 
average level. Four face-to-face TA outreach activities 
were organized; two regional and two global (See 
Figure  21 ). In 2022, the outreach activities focused on 
topics such as challenges facing the multilateral trading 
system, understanding the WTO and the legislative 
work required to implement the outcomes of the WTO's 
12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in June 2022.
Legislators from the Euro-Mediterranean Region held 
their first Economic Parliamentary Forum in Marrakech 
in December, building on cooperation between the WTO 
and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean 
(PAM). During the forum, WTO officials provided 
information on the MC12 outcomes, and the conditions 
needed for the Fisheries Agreement to take effect. 
Members of Parliament were given in-depth details on 
the Geneva Package, including the pandemic response, 
the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, and Members' 
discussions concerning WTO reform. The PAM President 
welcomed the outcome of MC12 and “Called upon 
its Member States to promptly ratify the agreements 
reached at the 12th Ministerial Conference of the World 
Trade Organization” . EXPANDING AUDIENCES
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)-WTO workshop in 
November, a joint initiative of the IPU and the European 
Parliament, brought together Members of Parliament 
from Latin America and the Caribbean in Buenos Aires to 
discuss the legislative work required to implement MC12 
outcomes at the National Congress of Argentina.
In partnership with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), the 
WTO held at the end of November a regional workshop 
for journalists from different African nations at the WTO 
headquarters. WTO organizes workshops for journalists 
to help them better understand the WTO and the 
rules-based trading system and brief them on the latest 
WTO developments such as the MC12 outcomes.          CHAPTER 1 – EXPANDING AUDIENCESInfographic 7.  Training Material Requests
Infographic 7.  Training Material Requests
Overall volume Regions
Languages Audience type
Other
11%
Public sector
7%
Private sector
29%Academia
53%Developed 
countries
13%
Latin America
20%Caribbean
1%
Africa
20%Middle East
3%CEECAC
9%
Asia-Paciﬁc
34%
French
7%
English
77%Spanish
16%2964
202219964619
3573
2019 2020 2021CHAPTER 1
TA training materials requests 
One of the goals of e-Learning is to reach out to 
non-traditional WTO publics who can use the e-Learning 
training materials for self-study. Requests for training 
materials from such non-traditional participants 
decreased from 3,573 in 2021 to 2,964 in 2022. Just like 
in the previous year, academia made the largest number of requests, followed by private sector representatives, 
governmental organization personnel and NGOs. 
Likewise, English was the language with the highest 
training material requests (77.2%) while for the regions 
of origin, most self-learners were from Asia Pacific, 
followed by Latin America and Africa.
KEY RESUL T  4KEY RESUL T  4
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Click here to follow WTO TA Social MediaCHAPTER 1 – EXPANDING AUDIENCES     Infographic 8.   Most-Viewed pages in the WTO Website
Infographic 8.  Most-Viewed pages 
in the WTO Website
10.6MHOME PAGE WTO NEWS 
AND EVENTS
SEARCH PAGE
2.2M
FACT FILE
966kINDEX
871kMEMBERS AND
OBSERVERS 635k
MEMBERS
GATEWAYABOUT WTO
2.1M 
1.6MTHE WTO
575kWHAT IS 
THE WTO?
543kWTO TRADE
BAROMETERS
608k7.7M 
PUBLICATIONS 
PAGE
799k
Diversifying promotion 
channels
Social media has brought WTO TA to people and 
audiences that previously could not be reached, as 
it can increase the visibility of results and impact. 
Social media channels continue to be utilized by the 
Secretariat to give visibility to TA activities to its potential 
audiences worldwide. The WTO TA social media accounts 
(Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube) 
remained active throughout 2022 to promote upcoming 
courses and advertise impact of results. The accounts 
following grew on all WTO TA five social media accounts. 
The WTO website also saw an increase in usage during 
the year. Regarding views, TA webpage and news items 
were again well above the 2018-2021 average.
 For me as a journalist, this training 
was an unexpected opportunity to 
discover the WTO closely, meet 
representatives of several countries, 
and get closer to their concerns and 
perception of things. It was also a great 
opportunity to take advantage of experts 
coming from different fields and better 
understand international trade's current 
challenges.
Ahlam Nazih,  
Journalist at 
L 'Economiste, 
Morocco
KEY RESUL T  4
56  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
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Chapter 2   
Prioritizing inclusionChapter 2  
Prioritizing inclusion
 § For the first time ever, more women participated in WTO TA activities than men
 § Participation of LDCs in TA activities was lower in 2022 compared to 2021
 § An increasing number of TA activities were held in languages other than 
English or with interpretation
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  57
WT/COMTD/W/272
Non-discrimination in trade is one 
of the core principles around which 
the multilateral trading system 
was built and keeps operating for 
more than 75 years. Given the wide 
diversity of national situations in 
the world, and the huge differences 
in development, an absence of 
discrimination means treating the 
smaller, more vulnerable, or less 
advantaged in a more favourable 
way for them to enjoy equal 
opportunities. This willingness to 
help rebalance the playing field is 
at the heart of the WTO TA activities.  
Concretely, the WTO tries to address 
any perceived disadvantage, be it in 
terms of gender, level of economic 
development, geographical proximity, 
language barrier etc.
Inclusivity is a priority in the WTO TA 
to ensure that government officials 
of all regions, especially the ones 
from least developed countries, 
enhance their negotiating skills 
and expertise on various aspects of 
the WTO work. TA activities are also 
planned for the business community, 
non-governmental organizations, 
journalists, legislators, other 
international organizations, and the general public, to enhance 
cooperation and raise awareness 
about international trade. 
By so doing, the Secretariat 
contributes to the active 
involvement of all participants in 
shaping the outcomes of the WTO. 
It incorporates developmental 
elements when designing its plan 
for providing capacity building and 
technical assistance to all the TA 
beneficiaries. 
Gender equality is essential for 
the achievement of global goals. 
The WTO Secretariat pledges to 
advocate for gender parity in all 
its endeavours; hence, WTO TA 
strives to incorporate a gender 
perspective in training materials 
and trade-related discussions. 
More participation of women in TA 
will result in more gender-sensitive 
training and in-depth knowledge of 
trade and gender issues, which can 
be used to advance policy changes 
to encourage greater participation 
of women in trade and economic 
growth. For the first time, more 
women than men participated in 
WTO TA activities in 2022. This is a 
very symbolic milestone for the WTO. Developing and LDC Members 
actively contribute to the 
Multilateral trading system's work. 
LDCs are a priority for the WTO TA. 
For LDCs to understand changes 
in the international trading system 
and analyse the need to modify their 
trade policies, technical assistance 
is crucial. WTO will continue to 
make  TA accessible to LDCs to 
ensure they can contribute to their 
economy's participation in the 
WTO's work and trade negotiations. 
Regarding geographical diversity, 
we are reaching more places with 
beneficiaries from diverse and 
underrepresented economies. 
For example, Barbados, Ghana, Kenya, Trinidad and Tobago, 
Ukraine, Vietnam, and Zambia were 
represented for the first time in the 
Young Professionals programme. 
They spent a year at WTO to improve 
their knowledge about international 
trade and to contribute to WTO 
activities.
WTO TA offers courses in any of its 
three working languages, sometimes 
with the provision of interpretation. 
Whilst English is predominant, like 
in most domains today, all the new 
e-Learning courses are translated 
into French or Spanish to promote 
language diversity. Multilingual 
activities allow participants who 
would otherwise not work together 
 Non-discrimination is the fundamental 
principle behind effective technical assistance
By Bridget Chilala, Director, Institute for Training and  
Technical Cooperation, WTO
New courses and training focusing 
on trade and gender have been 
developed to enable government 
officials to address women's 
trade-related challenges and to 
formulate and implement gender 
policies, strategies, and programmes 
to leverage opportunities in regional 
and international markets.INCLUSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
 The WTO tries to 
address any perceived 
disadvantage, be it in 
terms of gender, level of 
economic development, 
geographical proximity, 
language barrier.
Increasing the participation of 
women in the labour market 
could increase Members and 
Observers' productivity, fostering 
greater economic diversification, 
innovation, and poverty reduction. 
Engaging men on gender-related 
issues is also essential in ensuring 
their skills are enhanced with the 
ability to perform gender analysis 
and apply it to trade issues.to interact and share experiences. 
To enhance participants' 
ownership and make training more 
context-specific, WTO TA also 
uses regional or local experts as 
facilitators. 
The WTO remains dedicated to using 
trade capacity building initiatives to 
empower all stakeholders to have a 
say in its negotiations, discussions 
and policy making processes in order 
to create inclusive, sustainable, and 
prosperous economies. 
CHAPTER 2 – INCLUSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  59 58  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272CHAPTER 2 
CHAPTER 2 – INCLUDING LDC s
Internships e-Learning0%10%20%30%40%50%Figure 22.  LDCs share of 
participants (2018-2022)
2018 2022 2019 2020 2021
Driving change in least‑developed countries        Including LDCs   Figure 22.  LDCs share of participants  
(2018-2022)
Enhancing LDCs participation in global trade       
A major priority of WTO TA is promoting LDCs' participation 
in the Multilateral Trading System. There are 46 LDCs 
worldwide, of which 35 are WTO Members and eight are 
WTO Observers. LDCs hold the keys to unlocking the full 
potential of trade for the growth and development of 
their economies.  
In comparison to 2021, LDC participation in TA activities 
decreased in 2022. Nationals from LDCs accounted 
for 22% of the overall participation, coming from 42 
different WTO Members and Observers, mainly from 
Africa. That  share increased for interns and young 
professionals, as almost half (45%) were LDC nationals. 
The share of LDC nationals among e-learners slightly 
decreased in 2022 to 26% (30% in 2021). Regarding the 
completion of the courses, only 49% of LDC participants 
completed the courses that they enrolled in, which is in 
line with the performance of non-LDCs e-learners. 
The number of documents LDCs submitted to 
WTO Committees – another valuable indicator of 
their participation in the system shows that LDCs' 
submissions decreased in 2022 ( see page 36). Stronger 
participation by LDCs continues to be driven mainly by 
Africa and Asia-Pacific, where most LDC Members and 
Observers originate.
 The LDCs face daunting challenges - 
be it accessing markets, producing 
goods, linking the small businesses 
to bigger platforms, tapping into the 
opportunities from digital trade and 
other emerging trends. It is important 
for LDCs to remain vocal about ensuring 
the implementation of past LDC 
decisions. And it is equally important to 
ensure that policy flexibilities respond 
to LDCs’ real needs and help LDCs boost 
trade-led development. It was my first time to be at such 
WTO Seminar in-person event, and 
it was a great learning and hands-on 
experience for me as part of my career 
development and capacity building as a 
capital-based trade official. The sessions 
sparked interactions amongst the 
participants and speakers/ facilitators. 
 The seminar was 
very informative and 
interactive, one of the most 
intensive I have attended. 
I am fortunate to have 
participated because most 
sessions have elements 
related to my work.
Janice Ashwin,  
Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs and External 
Trade (MFAET), 
Solomon Islands 
Musu Kebba Ceesay,  
Ministry of Trade, Industry, 
Regional Integration and 
Employment, The Gambia 
INCLUDING LDC s    
Trade and Development
The least developed countries are home to over one 
billion people, but collectively they account for less 
than one per cent of global exports. Integration of LDCs 
into global trade has been an essential objective of the 
international community. The WTO has been supporting 
the integration of LDCs into the multilateral trading 
system through its technical assistance.
To explore the evolving LDC trade priorities, the WTO 
Secretariat hosted in December a three-day seminar 
in English and French for LDC capital-based officials. 
35  capital-based government officials from 24 LDCs 
joined the event in Geneva. Together with Ambassadors 
and experts of the WTO LDC Group in Geneva, participants 
exchanged views on the current trade priorities of the 
group in the area of market access and in broader WTO 
negotiations.
Capital-based officials showed interest in ensuring the 
full implementation of LDC-specific decisions, making 
special and differential treatment more effective, 
and making great use of regular WTO Committees 
and existing digital tools, including e-Ping. They were 
also keen to explore digital trade opportunities and to 
deepen regional integration efforts, such as the African 
Continental Free Trade Area.
Kirsti Kauppi,  
Ambassador of Finland, 
Chair of Sub‑Committee 
on LDCs
CHAPTER 2
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Increasing women's participation in global trade       Promoting women’s participation   Infographic 9.  Women's participation in TA
Increasing women's role and participation in global 
trade is part of WTO TA's mission. For the first time, more 
women (51%) than men participated in WTO TA activities. 
This is a good move towards raising awareness of how 
trade can impact women's economic empowerment. 
Symbolically, this constitutes a spectacular achievement 
especially after the COVID-19 years during which women 
were disproportionately affected by sanitary restrictions 
and work-from-home. 
In e-Learning activities, women accounted for 54% of 
all participants in 2022, which represents an increase 
of 21% from the previous year. Additionally, women 
participants accounted for 55% of all courses passed 
with a distinction mark ( ≥ 90% correct answers). The 
Secretariat remains committed to ensuring gender 
parity in its activities and sustaining its effort to provide 
a gender perspective in TA activities. The Secretariat will 
make a particular effort to improve the participation of 
women in those regions, which either showed a decrease 
or a stagnation in their participation. 
WTO technical assistance on trade and gender aims to 
support WTO Members in their work on this subject, raise 
awareness of how trade can impact women's economic 
empowerment, and explain how trade and trade rules 
are not gender-neutral. In 2022, 53 government officials 
from 37 WTO Members attended two courses on trade PROMOTING WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION    
Infographic 9.  Women's participation in TA
201341.5%44.5% 44.9%43.6% 43.6% 43.4%42.6%45.6%47.1%48.1%
45.1%46.5%
2014 2015 2011 2010 2012 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 202151%
of the overall TA
participation
2022For the ﬁrst 
time, female 
learners  were a 
majority in TA
and gender. About 83% of participants were female, 
and 16% male. Engaging men on gender-related issues 
is imperative to enhance their skills to perform gender 
analysis and apply it to trade issues. 
The evaluation survey conducted after completion of the 
courses found that government officials' knowledge and 
skills to implement a trade policy with a gender focus 
improved. They felt better equipped to advocate for more 
gender-responsive trade programmes and said they 
would promote activities that improve the conditions 
of women. They also will use what they have learned to 
strengthen national research and training initiatives, 
and they now better understand how to advocate for 
women's rights.
Latin America (with 56% of female learners) and the 
Caribbean (55%) remained the regions with higher 
female participation. Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle 
East, Latin America have seen an increase in women 
participation while CEECAC and the Caribbean saw a 
decrease compared to 2021. 
 TA on Trade and Gender
Figure 23.  Female participation in TA trainings by region in 2022
51% 54% Global activities e-Learning56%
Latin America43%
CEECAC
32%
Middle East50%
Asia-Paciﬁc
Africa41%55%
Caribbean
   CHAPTER 2 – PROMOTING WOMEN’S PARTICIPATIONFigure 23.  Female participation in TA trainings  
by region in 2022 
 The course enabled me to address 
women's trade-related challenges by 
participating in the formulation and 
implementation of gender policies, 
strategies and programmes to 
leverage opportunities in the regional 
(ECOWAS) and continental (AfCFTA) 
markets in Africa.Kemo SM Janka,  
Senior Trade Economist, 
Ministry of Trade, Industry, 
Regional Integration and 
Employment, The Gambia
CHAPTER 2 
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Fostering women's participation 
in TA activities     
 Trade has played a 
significant role in lifting 
more than a billion people 
out of poverty since the 
1990s. Research has found 
that increases in country 
participation in trade, 
especially developing 
country participation, 
coincide with a sharp 
decline in extreme poverty.  Trade has helped increase the 
number and quality of jobs in 
developing countries, stimulate 
economic growth, and increase 
productivity. However, despite these 
benefits, many poor countries, 
and poor people in rich countries 
or territories, including women, 
have been left behind. Inclusion is 
critical to correcting this disparity 
and ensuring that trade benefits 
everyone.
The WTO has conducted research 
that shows that a fragmented global 
economy would be detrimental 
to global GDP , with estimates 
indicating a 5% decline in the long 
run. Conversely, women who trade 
earn up to 2.8  times more than 
those who do not, and increased 
earnings lead to household 
budget improvements, ultimately 
contributing to economic growth. 
The  McKinsey Global Institute 
has estimated that if women 
participated in the economy at the 
same rate as men, it would add up 
to $28 trillion, or 26% of the annual 
global GDP . There is still a long way to go in 
closing the gender gap, with the 
World Economic Forum predicting 
that it would take 132 years to 
achieve equity globally. Inclusive 
technical assistance is one way 
to empower women and bring 
countries left behind into the global 
market. WTO TA has made significant 
strides in this area, including  more 
women in its programmes. These 
programmes also highlight how 
to create gender-integrated trade 
policies that promote inclusivity and 
sustainability. 
Inclusive technical assistance helps 
women and brings countries or 
territories often left behind into the 
global market.  Inclusive economic 
growth leads to the creation of new 
markets, increased consumption, 
and new investment opportunities.  
Therefore, bringing marginalized 
communities into the fold is an 
economic imperative to prioritize 
inclusion in trade.Nicole Mensa,  
Special Assistant and Advisor 
on Gender to the WTO 
Director General  
CHAPTER 2 – PROMOTING WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION
The world is currently facing multiple 
challenges, including recovering 
from the pandemic, dealing with 
a war in Ukraine, handling a 
debt crisis, and facing climate 
disasters. Both growth and trade 
growth are declining, while talks of 
fragmentation and decoupling are 
increasing. In such a scenario, it is 
crucial to remember the role that 
trade has played in the past and the 
role it can play now in the recovery 
to make it more inclusive. Allowing smooth participation from around the globe        Reaching every region  
On top of the specific objective of supporting LDCs, 
reaching a geographically diverse number of beneficiaries 
is also an objective in WTO TA’s endeavour for larger 
inclusion. In 2022, national and regional TA activities 
were organized in over 40 Members and Observers 
from different regions. These activities covered various 
aspects (from services to agriculture and from standards 
to e-commerce), and constantly adapted their contents 
to the regional or national context, thus providing 
valuable support to local audiences.
The lifting of sanitary restrictions made it easier to 
resume face-to-face activities at WTO headquarters and 
in beneficiary Members and Observers. Africa hosted 
more national and regional training, followed by Asia-
Pacific and Latin America.
The Young Professionals and interns ( see pages 43 ) 
came  from 46 different beneficiaries from across 
the world, thus geographically spreading these 
training opportunities and bringing greater diversity 
to the programmes and work of the Secretariat and REACHING EVERY REGION   
Geneva-based Missions. For example, Barbados, Ghana, 
Kenya, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Vietnam, and 
Zambia were represented for the first time in the young 
professional programme. Africa was again the most 
represented region, followed by Asia-Pacific. 
Regarding geographical diversity, Africa remained the 
region with the largest number of participants in TA 
activities in 2022, followed by Asia-Pacific and Latin 
America. There was an increase in participation in all 
regions except in Central and Eastern Europe and the 
Caucasus, which modestly decreased compared to the 
previous year. The Middle East accounted for the largest 
share of participation increase.
The number of e-learners grew in all regions except 
Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus and 
Latin America. When low enrolments from a specific 
region were observed in e-Learning courses, a targeted 
promotion was carried out through TA social media 
channels to encourage officials to join and improve the 
geographical balance.CHAPTER 2
 The WTO High-Level Pacific Regional 
Event on Fisheries Subsidies was very 
informative and insightful for me and 
the work of the Pacific representatives 
in advancing Pacific interests in the 
negotiations of the FSA.Rose Lesley Kautoke,  
Senior Crown Counsel, 
Attorney General's Office, 
Tonga
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Infographic 10.  National and regional training activities by 'host' country
Countries 'hosting' virtual activities Countries 'hosting' face-to-face activities
Figure 24.  Participants by region and type of training (2021-2022)
National e-Learning Regional2022 2021377347
3404627
106 236Middle East
10911091
333 487
2022 2020117187164Latin America2022 202119 467434
88 68CEECAC
2022 202189 130333Caribbean
2022 2021128 662022 202121751Asia-Paciﬁc
2022 20216187082437 2486
2831697
3491893
545 Africa
Inter-Governmental 
Organizations270
CHAPTER 2 – REACHING EVERY REGION            Figure 24.  Participant by region and type of  
training (2021-2022)Infographic 10.  National and regional 
training activities by 'host' country 
Sustaining multilingualism for a greater outreach       Inclusion through language diversityFigure 25.  Number of TA trainings by type and language in 2022
The Secretariat delivers TA activities in the three WTO 
working languages: English, French and Spanish; 
offering the same courses in the three WTO working 
languages is essential to promote inclusion and keep 
as much interactivity as possible. New courses have 
been launched in languages besides English, for 
example, a new course on Essentials for SPS Committee 
Participation in French. 
Interpretation into other languages remains very 
important, as it directly and immediately enhances the 
effectiveness of the activity for beneficiaries where 
English or any other WTO working language is not 
widely spoken and is used to reach a wider audience. 
Several live sessions were organised with simultaneous 
interpretation, increasing language diversity in the WTO 
TA activities. 
The e-Seminar on Competition Policy, Trade and 
Development was organized in the WTO's three official 
languages and delivered mainly through sessions 
pre-recorded in English and dubbed in French and 
Spanish. Simultaneous interpretation from English, INCLUSION THROUGH LANGUAGE DIVERSITY   
Figure 25.  Number of TA trainings by type and language in 2022
1030 10 21
4353
MultilanguageSpanishFrenchEnglish
GlobalNational
e-LearningRegional
99 343
112
2
French and Spanish was used during the live sessions 
of the seminar. The Seminar on LDC priorities in global 
trade, was organized in both English and French, allowing 
officials from 24 LDCs to discuss with ambassadors, 
delegates, and trade experts about MC12 outcomes 
and ways of strengthening LDCs participation in the 
multilateral trading system. An evaluation of the seminar 
found that it reached many LDCs in a cost-effective 
manner.
Regarding e-Learning – monolingual by essence – 
the number of supporting activities (live questions 
&  answers) in French and Spanish grew by more than 
a third in 2022. Over 86% of the Live Sessions were 
multilingual. Of the eight courses launched in 2022, four 
were in English, two in French and two in Spanish.
English remains the language of choice of most 
participants (66%), either in virtual, online or face-to-face 
TA activities. Over 15% of learners used French, 12% 
followed the activities in Spanish, and 7% engaged in 
multilingual training with simultaneous interpretation. CHAPTER 2
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CHAPTER 2 – INCLUSION THROUGH LANGUAGE DIVERSITY
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Chapter 3    
An evolving curriculum and 
participationChapter 3  
An evolving curriculum and participation  
 § The WTO revamped its e-Learning platform, implementing a more user-friendly  
open-source solution that enhances the users learning experience
 § The Secretariat launched a new Training of Trainers programme to develop the 
pedagogical skills of staff members who design and deliver TA
 § Virtual TA delivery, the stopgap means used during the pandemic, could not truly 
substitute more traditional forms of TA. It simply mitigated the full effects of the crisis
 § TA activities involving coaching or developing an action plan resumed in 2022, without 
reaching their pre-pandemic average level
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Increasing TA participation     Participation levelsFigure 26.   Participation by type of training  
in 2022
Figure 27.   Participants by mode of delivery  
in 2022
As in previous years, the courses with a general scope 
(multi-topic) attracted the biggest share of participation 
(35%). They were followed by standards (13%) and 
TRIPS (12%). COVID-19 
related-subjects as patents and vaccines may explained 
the strong interest in intellectual property rights area. 
Global activities, particularly in their virtual mode, 
captured more attendance than national and regional 
ones.Maintaining satisfactory levels of participation in TA 
activities was a challenge during the third year of the 
pandemic. The progressive lifting of sanitary measures 
around the world allowed face-to-face activities to 
resume in the second half of the year. Overall, the 
number of participants increased by 7% compared to the 
previous year, up to 12,184 learners.
The number of learners attending e-Learning courses 
slightly increased (+3%) in 2022. Participation in 
face-to-face courses was multiplied by 23 (from 126 to 
2941) compared to 2021, whilst it logically halved in 
virtual activities – probably explained by a persistent 
digital fatigue that has been dragging on since 2021.
Global National e-Learning RegionalFigure 28.  Participants by year and type of training (2018-2022)
64814641
1453 1152 20841717
1508
257211158942859
23634407
2728255611769
5846 6363
6430665022826
1435814795
1142512184
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Infographic 11.  Participation highlights 
Over
participants in TA activities
Most attended 
topicsGeneral capacity building
Standards (SPS and TBT)
TRIPSof attendance 
was in 
e-Learningof learners 
were from12 100
+7%55%
24% in face-to-face
21% in virtual courses
35%
13%
12%22%
LDCsParticipation
highlights
of overall 
participation
TA dashboards on  
participation
Figure 26.  Participation by type
of training in 2022
21%55%7%17%
GlobalNational
e-LearningRegional
Global National e-Learning Regionale-Learning Face-to-face Virtual6650
109514611350 734496398Figure 27.  Participants by mode 
of delivery in 2022
CHAPTER 3   CHAPTER 3 – PARTICIPATION LEVELSFigure 28.   Participants by year and type  
of training (2018-2022)
Infographic 11.  Participation highlights 
PARTICIPATION LEVELS
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Following beneficiaries TA needs and priorities              Responding to demandFigure 29.   Requests for national activities  
(2012-2022)
implementation of reforms after the review. After a 
suspension of the TPR follow ups in the previous two 
years, only one follow-up was organised in Guyana in 
2022. This activity allowed for further dissemination 
of Guyana's TPR findings to a variety of domestic 
stakeholders, while identifying specific pathways for TA 
activities that would help Guyana achieve its trade policy 
objectives.
The Secretariat conducted a topic-specific survey 
in preparation of three Advanced level activities for 
specialists, on intellectual property and transfer of 
technology, on SPS and on TBT. The responses helped 
assess beneficiaries' understanding to these issues and 
adapt the programme to address the perceived gaps and 
better respond to the objectives of these activities.
The three country assessments performed in 2022 
(see chapter 4) discussed their TA needs with national 
stakeholders. These were documented in reports shared 
widely with Secretariat staff involved in TA delivery, 
mainly through the TA Coordination Task Force.An accurate assessment of beneficiaries' needs, and 
priorities is critical to ensure that WTO TA remains 
relevant and effective. Regular exchanges with 
beneficiaries, national activity requests, questionnaires, 
Trade Policy reviews and other organisations' diagnostic 
studies help the Secretariat identify the institutional 
gaps as precisely as possible. However, there was no 
systematic technical assessment in 2022, since this is 
done every other year in preparation for the next biennial 
TA Plan. 
Except when preparing a new TA Plan, most of the 
consultations held with Members and Observers about 
their TA needs and priorities are informal and not 
systematically documented. This was the case when 
analysing and responding to the requests for national 
activities. These requests always trigger multiple 
bilateral exchanges between the Secretariat and the 
authorities of the requesting country, to identify more 
precisely their actual needs to design the most suited TA 
activity. 
Since 2020, beneficiaries have either had other priorities 
than institutional capacity building in the field of trade 
or waited for a resumption of face-to-face activities 
to reinitiate their requests. There was an increase in 
requests for national activities in 2022 (see Figure 29) 
compared to 2021, though remaining below the average 
recorded in the five years preceding the pandemic. This is 
most probably linked to the resumption of face-to-face 
TA activities in the second half of 2022. It is too early to 
see whether this recent change will last. 
TPR follow-up activities provide a crucial opportunity 
for the Secretariat to identify TA needs and can be 
very effective for Members to garner support for the Figure 29.  Requests for national 
activities (2012-2022)
050100150200250300
20122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Infographic 12.  Beneficiaries' Top TA Priorities for 2022-2023    Infographic 12.  Beneficiaries' Top TA Priorities for 2022-2023 
10   
Notifications9  
TRIPS and Transfer  
of Technology8 
Subsidies/
Trade Remedies
5  
Agriculture6  
e-Commerce7 
Market Access
1  
Technical Barriers to Trade
3  
Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary2  
Trade in Services
4  
Trade FacilitationRESPONDING TO DEMANDCHAPTER 3 – RESPONDING TO DEMAND CHAPTER 3
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One step at a time          Progressive learning in actionInfographic 13.  WTO TA Progressive Learning Strategy
Figure 30.  Evolution of participants mix  
by PLS (2018-2022)
Infographic 13.  WTO TA Progressive Learning Strategy
Geneva-based 
(for LDCs)
e-LearningINTRODUCTION 
COURSES
e-LearningThematic
coursese-LearningRegional
trade policy 
courses
Advanced 
thematic 
coursesAdvanced 
trade policy 
coursesGENERALISTS
SPECIALISTSINTRODUCTORY INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED
Since 2013, WTO TA is structured around three levels 
which progressively take the participants to a higher 
understanding of trade issues. With this approach, 
participants engaging in courses at the higher levels 
already master the necessary elements to follow the 
lectures and training. 
The Introductory level offers participants an initiation 
to the role, structure and functioning of the WTO, and 
its economic and legal underpinnings. The online 
course “Introduction to the WTO” and other e-Learning 
programmes are the mainstay at this initial level. 
The share of beginners introduced to WTO through 
this introductory level almost halved in 2019 and has 
remained somewhat stable since then (13% in 2022). 
There is still an appetite for introductory courses 
amongst beneficiaries, as completing the introduction 
course is a prerequisite to registering for higher level 
activities and many beneficiaries face a high level of staff 
turnover. Acceptance is greater for introductory courses 
as they do not require compliance with any prerequisite.
In 2022, the Secretariat offered two editions of the 
Introductory Trade Policy Course for LDCs, one in English 
and the other in French, for the first time in over a decade. 
The first edition was delivered virtually over five weeks. With the relaxation of pandemic-related restrictions, the 
traditional three-week face-to-face programme resumed 
after its suspension in 2020-21. National activities 
introducing the WTO were also held in Haiti and Mexico, in 
addition to the regular introductory trade policy course for 
Members of the Latin American Integration Association 
(ALADI). 
After completing the introductory level, participants can 
deepen their knowledge of a specific area or opt for a 
more horizontal exposure to trade policy content. 
Figure 30.  Evolution of participants 
mix by PLS level (2018-2022)
0%20%40%60%80%100%
2018 2019 2020 2021 202213.0%57.6%13.4%16.0%
Introductory IntermediateN/A Advanced
The number of learners engaging in Intermediate level  
activities increased compared to the previous year but 
remained below the average of the last five years. This 
level still accommodates most learners.
At the advanced level , participants can use WTO 
training products to increase their analytical capacity 
and autonomy on trade policy issues. Participation 
in advanced courses decreased compared to 2021, 
although  it remained higher than the average in 
pre-pandemic years. This reduction is related to how 
the activities are delivered: virtual courses in 2021 could 
accommodate more participants than the  in-person 
activities of 2022.
In 2022, the number of participants in advanced activities 
declined compared to 2021. However, the trend remains 
the same as in the last 10 years as shown in figure 31.
Capacity building at an advanced level is essential to 
enable government officials to acquire the advanced 
knowledge and develop the necessary skills that will 
ultimately allow them to contribute to implementing 
WTO Agreements and fully realising Members’ rights 
and obligations. These courses have been the most 
affected by the pandemic, as the virtual environment 
places some limitations on the pedagogy (case studies, 
Figure 31.  Number of participants
in advanced activities (2012-2022)
848224823802246
1689
11042700
17011623 16202095
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022 2021
group projects, etc.) adopted in these courses and the 
interaction between participants and with the trainers. 
Therefore, the resumption of advanced face-to-face 
courses for generalists (Advanced Trade Policy Courses) 
and for specialists, such as the advanced course on 
Trade in Services, is a positive development for WTO TA 
beneficiaries.
Given the complexity of tracking participants’ progression 
through the learning ladder, a complete integration of 
this strategy is not always possible. 
Besides tailoring courses to participants' knowledge 
levels, WTO offers two differentiated learning paths. 
The  'generalists' approach targets government officials 
who need a broad knowledge of the WTO to conduct 
their work (e.g., delegates posted to Geneva missions). 
'Specialists' courses are for officials requiring in-depth 
knowledge in a specific area, such as technical barriers 
to trade or sanitary and phytosanitary measures.  
The number of activities for specialists increased in 2022 
without recovering yet its pre-pandemic level (114 vs an 
average of 149 in the biennium 2018-19). As  shown in 
figure 32, participants choosing to follow the specialised 
path continue to be an increasing majority in Intermediate 
and Advanced levels (71%).                       CHAPTER 3 – PROGRESSIVE LEARNING IN ACTIONFigure 31.  Number of participants in advanced activities (2012-2022) 
Figure 32.  Pathway choice (2020-2022)
CHAPTER 3
PROGRESSIVE LEARNING IN ACTION
Figure 32.  Pathway choice (2020-2022)
2020 2021 202228.6%71.4%
28.7%71.3%
33.7%66.3%
Generalists SpecialistsPercentage of overal participants
 After completing this Introductory 
Course on Trade Policy, I would like to 
continue training on WTO issues. I have 
acquired the appropriate knowledge 
and confidence to continue my journey 
towards the intermediate and advanced 
courses.Ibrahim Tanda Bonkano, 
Director of Trade 
Promotion, Services and 
e‑Commerce, Niger
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Advanced level training resumes          
The difficulty of organizing advanced courses during 
the pandemic created a gap in the offer for specialists. 
Advanced TA activities, such as the Advanced Course on 
Trade in Services resumed in 2022.
The number of applications for this course was more than 
four times the number of places available. Participants 
came from all the regions and were directly involved – at 
a technical, practical or policy level – in the negotiations 
on trade in services at the WTO or in regional agreements. 
The course was organized in September on three main 
themes: key legal provisions and main trends of services 
in RTAs, methods of measuring services trade and tools 
for trade policy analysis, and emerging services policy 
agenda, such as environmental services, e-commerce, or 
investment facilitation. With the know-how and experience 
gained in the ATPC,  when returning 
to the ministry I can advocate the 
multilateral trading system and 
further improve WTO agreements 
implementation across sectoral 
Ministries and Departments in Malaysia. 
Moreover, the skills that I gained in 
the course can be disseminated to my 
subordinates and colleagues in Malaysia 
to further enhance their understanding 
of the multilateral trading system.
 By bringing in WTO services 
negotiators, technical experts on 
international trade, government 
officials from various WTO Members 
and Observers, the course allowed us to 
deepen our understanding and analysis 
of the current trends and issues in trade 
in services, such as domestic regulation 
and environmental services, and of the 
increasing relevance of e-commerce, 
among other topics. This will prove 
useful as we are involved in ongoing 
trade negotiations and communicating 
with stakeholders and the private 
sector back home about the benefits of 
engagement in services trade.Peter Hee Keong 
Cheah,  Senior Principal 
Assistant Director, 
Malaysia
Jan Redmond Dela Vega, 
Senior Trade Development 
Specialist, Bureau of 
International Trade 
Relations, Philippines
CHAPTER 3 – PROGRESSIVE LEARNING IN ACTION               
Understanding main provisions of the General Agreement on 
Trade in Services (GATS)           
I applied to the WTO Advanced Course on Trade in 
Services to improve my understanding of how Trinidad 
and Tobago could use and improve existing trade 
in services provisions in multilateral and regional 
frameworks and agreements to achieve our national 
trade and development goals. I expected a more practical 
understanding of how trade tools can enhance Member 
States' negotiating capacity and bring tangible benefits 
for the national services sector 
The most challenging aspect of my work is making trade 
policy decisions without detailed services trade data. 
Nationally and regionally, there has been significant 
focus on improving the production of trade services 
statistics as it is necessary to enhance our ability to 
make more effective policy decisions. 
Trinidad and Tobago is exploring the possibility 
of negotiating service chapters in existing trade 
agreements; this requires a better understanding of how 
domestic regulation impacts market access for service 
providers. Trade plays an invaluable role in Trinidad and 
Tobago’s economy and is critical to achieving our goals as 
set out in our Government’s Vision 2030. 
The activity gave me a better understanding of how 
domestic regulations could improve or enhance our 
services schedule commitments with key trading 
partners that are better in line with our national 
development goals for the services sector. I learned 
that there is no clear answer in some cases and that 
as the services sector evolves, so are the tools required 
to support its trade and growth. The activity was 
eye-opening, grounding, and invaluable.Services Trade is essential to Trinidad and Tobago as it is 
our largest economic sector, accounting for approximately 
72% of GDP and more than 85% of the labour force in 
2020. The services sector continues to play an important 
role in Trinidad and Tobago's diversification thrust, as 
the country keeps increasing its non-energy exports and 
reducing its dependence on the oil and gas industry.
I am interested in deepening my understanding of 
domestic regulation and mutual recognition agreements. 
It was also interesting to learn about the trade tools, 
particularly the trade statistics tools available to 
Members and how we, as technocrats, could use the 
information to enhance our services trade offers in 
negotiations.
It was a good experience meeting my counterparts from 
various parts of the world and hearing and learning from 
their experiences. It was surprising to learn where there 
were similarities and appreciate the differences, which 
led to rich dialogue and discussions. 
Lisa Mariel 
Douglas-Paul ,  
Trade Analyst, Ministry 
of Trade and Industry, 
Trinidad, and Tobago 
CHAPTER 3 – PROGRESSIVE LEARNING IN ACTION
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WIPO-WTO Special 
edition of Colloquium 
journal volume 11
A continuous effort to offer relevant content           
In 2022, virtual TA activities were organised throughout 
the entire year. On the other hand, face-to-face activities 
had to wait for the gradual easing of COVID-19 restrictions 
in the spring and mainly took place during the second 
half of the year. Regardless of the delivery method, the 
Secretariat made efforts to improve the content of 
the activities and make them relevant, valuable, and 
accessible to participants.
Specific activities are developed annually on the most 
pressing trade-related issues. Several training courses 
and TA activities focused on the link between trade and 
the health crisis and the significance of trade rules to 
effectively address the COVID-19 pandemic, gathering 
overall over 1,000 participants from all regions. For 
example, the Workshop on COVID-19 Vaccine R&D, 
Manufacturing and Distribution focused on how to 
source inputs globally, streamlining the regulatory 
process, distribution, and the necessary considerations 
to prepare for a successful vaccination campaign. 
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) 
and WTO jointly published the 2020 Special Edition 
of the WIPO-WTO Colloquium journal (Volume 11). 
The  peer -reviewed academic journal helps form the 
basis for capacity building on emerging Intellectual 
Property-related topics of particular importance to 
developing Members and Observers. The Special Edition 
contains 15 research papers on three topical themes:  
IP-related issues pertaining to the global health crisis, 
IP and emerging technologies, and IP and development 
within the framework of the Sustainable Development 
Goals.Other activities organised in close collaboration with the 
World Health Organization (WHO) and WIPO, explored a 
diverse range of policy areas, innovations and access 
to health technologies. Responding to demands for 
tailormade capacity building, WTO's Annual Trade 
and Public Health Workshop focused on pandemic 
preparedness and response. The objective was to assist 
senior government officials from developing Members 
and Observers health, intellectual property, and trade 
departments in effectively addressing the pandemic and 
being better prepared for future health crises. 
As expected in a ministerial year, several national and 
regional seminars on the progress of the negotiations 
were organised prior to the MC12 to prepare for the 
Conference, help delegations grasp the key aspects of 
the negotiations and understand the priorities of the 
different Members, and after MC12 to present its main 
results and facilitate their implementation.
The Secretariat also established a series of modules to 
train its staff responsible for undertaking TA and trade 
capacity-building programmes. The purpose of these 
modules was to maintain and enhance trainers' TA 
training skills.
 The workshop has been informative 
and comprehensive because of its 
holistic approach to health, trade and 
IP. The organizers achieved the goal of 
addressing public health challenges, 
considering all aspects. The presence 
of sister organizations and all relevant 
partners, such as WIPO, gave us diverse 
expertise. As someone with a legal 
background, I also learned about the 
aspects that I do not necessarily have much 
knowledge about, such as the health sector 
and pharmaceuticals.Ms Denisse Pérez Fierro,  
International Affairs 
Manager, Industrial Property 
Office, Chile
FIT-FOR-PURPOSE CONTENT            Fit-for-purpose content
Enhancing Pedagogic Skills of Trainers            Infographic 14.  Training of Trainers
Training is a process which aims to equip beneficiaries 
with the knowledge, skills and attitude that are needed 
for personal, social and/or professional development. 
Consequently, those who teach or train others on behalf 
of the WTO should possess solid training skills beyond 
the technical expertise on the subjects covered in the 
session or module. These skills are fundamental not only 
in the process of knowledge transfer but also in creating 
an environment that promotes analytical thinking.
The external evaluation of WTO TRTA in 2016 found 
the WTO was lacking an effective system for both 
trainer -training and assessment of Subject Matter 
Expert trainers, which recognised that not all of them 
are necessarily good at conveying their subject matter, 
especially to diverse groups, but that appropriate training 
can often help. 
The Secretariat launched a 2022 Campaign to provide 
training for staff members responsible for undertaking 
technical assistance and trade capacity-building 
programmes for government officials from Members and 
Observers and LDCs.
Unlike previous similar programmes, which mainly 
addressed the design and delivery of technical assistance 
training events, the 2022 programme comprised a foundation module on adult learning styles and training 
design and delivery as well as shorter thematic modules, 
which, in future, will be adjusted to the emerging needs 
of WTO staff. In 2022, the thematic modules addressed 
(i) Public Speaking with an Actor; (ii) Designing and Using 
Case Studies; (iii) Facilitating Virtual Panels; (iv) Using 
Virtual Platforms, e.g., ZOOM; (v) Evaluating Learning/ 
Technical Assistance Activities.
This modular approach made it possible to better tailor 
the programme to each trainer's needs, leading to a 
much higher participation than in previous years.
Infographic 14. Training of Trainers
Public Speaking with an Actor 
Designing and Using Case Studies
Facilitating Virtual Panels
Using Virtual Platforms, e.g. ZOOM
Evaluating Learning/ 
Technical Assistance ActivitiesAdult Learning StyleCHAPTER 3 – FIT-FOR-PURPOSE CHAPTER 3
In e-Learning, the priority was still to increase the 
interactivity of the content of the online courses. Eight  new 
courses introduced in 2022 were in the SCORM  format 
and included interactive training components, bringing 
the share of interactive online courses to 81%. SCORM 
is a collection of standards and specifications for 
web-based electronic educational technology that aims 
at easing the use and sharing of contents. All courses will 
continue to be revised to increase interactivity.            Figure 33.   e-Learning courses compliance  
with SCORM (2018-2022)
 Having completed over 50 WTO 
e-Learning courses, I am familiar with the 
organization's online course portfolio in 
English. The courses have been a great asset 
in my professional life, and I have also really 
enjoyed taking them. Digital learning is the 
future. Thank you to the WTO's e-Learning 
team for the great courses.
Joel Eshun,  
Commercial Officer, 
Ministry of Trade and 
Industry, Ghana
 55.6%61.4%69.2%80.2% 81.3%Figure 33.  e-Learning courses 
compliance with SCORM (2018-2022)
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
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Moving to a new e-Learning             
What is WTO e-Learning Programme?
The WTO has been offering online courses since 2010 to 
complement its in-person training activities and reach 
a wider audience. Over the past decade, it has regularly 
adapted its e-Learning courses to keep pace with 
modern technology and has progressively moved to the 
interactive SCORM format which favours higher levels 
of success and better knowledge retention over time. 
It has also developed more accessible and fast courses, 
including short and micro-courses. Since 2010, half of all 
participants in the WTO TA activities have taken online 
courses, making it possible for the Secretariat to reach 
people worldwide. Online courses have been particularly 
beneficial during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they have 
allowed the Secretariat to continue providing TA while 
travel restrictions were in place.
The WTO e-Learning programme proposes an extensive 
course catalogue of training on the various WTO 
Agreements and a large number of trade-related issues. 
Completion of an online course regularly constitutes 
a prerequisite to be eligible for more advanced WTO 
in-person TA activities. While WTO e-Learning courses 
are primarily addressed to trade practitioners, they can 
also be accessed by anyone interested in learning about 
the WTO and the Multilateral Trading System.
Why a WTO e-Learning Programme?
WTO e-Learning is an essential tool for meeting the TA 
needs of beneficiaries. The programme can be accessed 
24/7, on any device, without requiring physical travel. 
It  is a convenient and cost-effective TA solution for 
those seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge on 
the WTO and trade-related issues. The increased use 
of new e-Learning tools such as interactive multimedia 
solutions and blended learning methodologies 
combining asynchronous learning with synchronous 
training events such as live webinars and discussion fora 
provide users with a more personal and engaging digital 
learning experience. In addition to being cost-effective, 
the WTO e-Learning programme also has a wide outreach. 
It represented 55% of the total TA participation in 2022 
and, unlike traditional WTO TA reserved to government 
officials from developing WTO Members and Observers, 
it can be accessed by the wider public albeit subject to 
certain limitations such as no access to course exams 
and certification.
Over 50 courses 
covering trade-related 
matters
Exams and 
certiﬁcationWebinars and 
community discussionsContent available 
in English, French 
and Spanish
Multimedia 
resources24/7 free access 
to the courses
WTO news 
and eventse-Learning Portal at a Glance
e-LearningCHAPTER 3 – FIT-FOR-PURPOSE CHAPTER 3 – FIT-FOR-PURPOSE 
 I applaud the initiative of the WTO 
by coming up with this learning tool. 
It enhanced my skills especially that I'm 
working under international trade that 
indeed requires one to be well acquainted 
with multilateral agreements.
Micheal Neema,  
Policy Analyst, Ministry 
of Industrialisation 
and Trade, Namibia
Transition to a new e-Learning Portal
The growing global popularity of e-Learning, the rapid 
expansion of digital learning technologies and solutions, 
and budgetary, travel and environmental considerations, 
are some of the factors that guided the decision in 2022 
to revamp the WTO e-Learning programme and give it 
a new face, touch and feel. The solution for hosting the 
new e-Learning programme is an open-source Learning 
Management System (LMS) due to its many advantages 
over the former proprietary LMS platform. The new 
e-Learning platform is highly customizable, flexible, and 
feature-rich, allowing for collaborative, engaging, and fun 
learning experiences. It provides a user-friendly interface 
that is easy to use and navigate and easily integrates 
with other systems. Moreover, the LMS provides content 
management, full learning analytics, blended learning 
features, and competency-based training, making it an 
all-in-one solution for online training and development. 
The new LMS also supports mobile learning, enabling 
users to access training materials from anywhere, 
anytime, using any device and mobile app for offline 
learning.
More information on the  
e-Learning programme
The development, migration and launch of the new 
WTO e-Learning platform was a massive undertaking 
and a great team effort involving cooperation among 
several Divisions of the Secretariat. The result is an 
e-Learning platform offering tremendous opportunities 
for expansion and development. This online portal 
strengthens the outreach of the WTO to the wider world 
and is a 21st-century e-Learning programme capable of 
meeting its users' present and future training needs.  
Intuitive navigation and enhanced 
learning experienceNew features
Access to the course catalogue 
from the public page
Mobile application
Digital badges to reward paticipants
Automated notiﬁcations 
of traning events
Collaborative learning 
tools and activities
Certiﬁcate tailored to speciﬁc 
programmes and levels
Personalized dashboards
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Infographic 15.  Types of activities by mode of delivery
ONLINE 
COURSES
/parenleft.caseE/hyphen.caseLEARNING/parenright.case
FACE/hyphen.caseTO/hyphen.caseFACE 
ACTIVITIES
Available through the internet on a 24/7 and self-service basis; involves 
essentially self-paced self-study and limited interaction between 
participants and with trainers; it is by and large a pre-deﬁned 
one-size-ﬁts-all product.
One-off learning experiences (with ﬁxed-dates, invitations, etc.). It is 
generally tailor-designed for a closed group of participants, and 
comprises a mixture of self-study, live sessions, group work, etc. 
Participants and trainers are physically gathered in the same place, 
making live interaction easier and more frequent. All the participants 
move roughly at the same pace through the same content. 
Replication of face-to-face activities through the Internet due to 
pandemic-related travel restrictions. Regular interaction between the 
participants and with the trainers constitutes an essential part to tailor 
the activity to the needs of participants, and live webinars and other 
online sessions have replaced in-person gatherings.
A mixture of elements taken from either of the previous three 
categories, in variable proportions.
ON/hyphen.caseTHE/hyphen.caseJOB 
TRAININGInternship programmes and the Young Professionals Programme allow 
mid-level government ofﬁcials and young professionals to 
'lean-by-doing' as they work either at the Secretariat or with their 
countries' representations to the WTO. Internships are a very particular 
type of technical assistance, lasting ten months on average.VIRTUAL 
ACTIVITIES
BLENDED 
ACTIVITIES 
CHAPTER 3 – FIT-FOR-PURPOSE     Infographic 15.  Types of activities by mode of delivery
Evolving TA courses through blended learning          
In 2022, the Secretariat explored the possibility of 
delivering courses in a blended format, i.e., combining 
distance (through synchronous and/or asynchronous 
sessions) with face-to-face learning within the same 
activity. Four national activities were implemented in 
this modality: they covered the TBT Agreement and 
trade remedies investigations. After attending a virtual 
training – consisting of four synchronous sessions of two 
hours each – participants met again a couple of months 
later for a face-to-face training of 3-4 days to deepen 
the knowledge acquired in the virtual sessions and see 
concretely how to use it in practice. The on-site evaluation of one of these activities found 
that the contents of the virtual and face-to-face 
components were complementary. The main areas of 
complementarity highlighted were that the face-to-face 
segment was more in-depth, explored more complex 
issues and allowed participants to practice the 
theoretical or generalist aspects learned in the virtual 
phase, focusing on real cases. According to participants, 
this format made efficient use of their time.
The SPS and the TBT Transparency Champions 
Programmes and the Workshop on Agriculture 
Notifications – interspersed these two training methods 
over 7-9 months. The virtual sessions were very 
useful and helped to create common 
ground between participants with 
different responsibilities and 
profiles. However, the face-to-face 
modules  were more enriching, and 
the exchange more fluid and fruitful. 
I believe this blended format was 
more beneficial than a single online 
or face-to-face activity.
 The activity made me feel more 
comfortable when participating in future 
meetings of the Agriculture Committee, 
with more security and knowledge of the 
usual procedure followed in meetings.Soledad Britos De León,   
Assistant Director, Ministry 
of Foreign Relations, 
Directorate for International 
Economic Organisations, 
Uruguay 
Julissa Arelis Ruiz Guillen,  
Head of the Trade 
Negotiations Unit,  
Ministry of Agriculture, 
Dominican Republic
Advancing Agriculture notifications             
Given the complexity of agricultural notification 
requirements and seeing that agriculture has the 
largest share of outstanding notifications, an Advanced 
Notification Workshop is offered annually at the 
WTO headquarters since 2009. Members with many 
outstanding notifications, LDCs, and recently acceded 
Members are selected in priority. 
For the first time, the 2021 edition of the workshop was 
delivered in two phases: a virtual one held in October 2021 
and an in-person one in September 2022. The  virtual 
phase focused on the transparency requirements in 
agricultural subsidization. The in-person phase went 
deeper into all the notification requirements. Participants 
interacted with the Secretariat experts to discuss their 
specific notification-related matters. Phase  II of the 
workshop also devoted significant attention to the 
deliberations of the Committee on Agriculture and its Review Process. It allowed the participants to attend 
the  102nd meeting of the Committee on Agriculture. 
Given the highly positive feedback received from the 
participants on the organization of the workshop in 
two-phases, the Secretariat is considering repeating this 
format  for future notification workshops.
The workshop assists beneficiary Members to address  
the knowledge gap in preparing agricultural notifications 
according to the agreed rules and notification formats, 
and hence facilitates their  notification compliance. 
On  domestic support, notifying Members have to also 
invest in  domestic data collection systems, as many 
agencies and ministries are routinely responsible 
for actions in the notifiable domain; the notification 
workshop provides an important platform to beneficiary 
Members to share experiences in this regar.CHAPTER 3 – FIT-FOR-PURPOSE 
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132
92
4151169
135
39 44Figure 34.  Number of partners and
number of joint activities (2018-2022)
Number of partners Number of TA activities8582
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Logistics Cost SubstanceFigure 35.  Partners' contribution to courses by type of contribution in 2022 
0% 1% - 25% 26% - 50% 51% - 75% 76% - 100%3533
15
218
1128
13152927
15
410
Advancing partnerships for broader TA reach             WTO partnerships in 
actionFigure 34.   Number of partners and 
number of  
joint activities (2018-2022)Figure 35.   Partners' contribution to 
courses  
by type of contribution in 2022 
Partnerships play a critical role in promoting the 
benefits of WTO TA and facilitating the efficient 
delivery of activities by bringing additional knowledge 
and skills. WTO maintains and expands its extensive 
network of partnerships and collaborations with other 
relevant institutions. In 2022, WTO partnered with 
85  institutions to deliver 82 TA activities that reached 
over 6,650 beneficiaries.
Partner contributions to WTO led efforts are classified 
into four categories: substance (the content being 
delivered); costs (budget sharing); logistics (operational 
arrangements); and outreach with non-traditional WTO 
audiences. After the reduction imposed by the pandemic, 
2022 saw an increase in partners contributions to WTO 
TA initiatives as shown in Figure 35.
Examples of institutions with which the WTO partnered 
in 2022 include the World Health Organization, World 
Intellectual Property, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Inter 
Parliamentary Union, Organization for Economic 
Co-operation and Development (OECD), United Nations 
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and 
many others.WTO PARTNERSHIPS IN ACTIONCHAPTER 3  
A partnership to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic impacts     
As a result of strengthened trilateral cooperation, the 
Directors-General of the World Health Organization, the 
World Intellectual Property Organization, and the WTO 
launched a Trilateral COVID-19 Technical Assistance 
Platform on 11 April 2022. 
The objective is to help Members and WTO accession 
candidates address their capacity building needs 
to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Platform 
provides a one-stop shop that makes available the full range of WHO, WIPO and WTO expertise regarding the 
interface of public health, Intellectual Property and trade 
matters. The three organizations are organizing a series 
of technical workshops, on this subject, two of which 
took place in 2022. 
WHO-WIPO-WTO 
COVID-19 Technical 
Assistance Platform 
CHAPTER 3 – WTO PARTNERSHIPS IN ACTION
Harnessing synergies with partners     
The International Monetary Fund Middle East Center for 
Economics and Finance (IMF-CEF) collaboration with 
the WTO has reached its first decade. 18 activities have 
been jointly organised, making an average of two per 
year. The partnership provides training programmes in 
economics and finance to the 22 member countries of 
the Arab League. Approximately 500 government officials 
and other civil society stakeholders participated in these 
activities since 2012. The partnership with the WTO offers a 
unique opportunity to reach a wide network 
of internationally renowned experts in the 
field of trade law, thus contributing to our 
function as a knowledge hub in economic 
policy-oriented courses tailored to help Arab 
League countries strengthen their human, 
institutional, and technical capacities. The IMF-CEF is a valued and 
important partner to the WTO Secretariat. 
As a Contributing Member on the Board 
of the IMF-CEF, the Secretariat leverages 
its presence and technical assistance 
support to Arab Members and Observers. 
It ensures coherence in global economic 
policymaking.Paulo Drummond, Director of the 
IMF‑Middle East Center for Economics 
and Finance
Samer Seif El Yazal,  
Head of the Middle East Desk, WTO
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Chapter 4    
Evolution of management and 
resourcesChapter 4  
Evolution of management and resources
 § 2022 recorded the lowest level of voluntary contributions to the WTO technical 
assistance in over 20 years, as several donors held back, pending the resumption of 
higher TA expenditure
 § The development of the TA management online system (TAMS) stalled in 2022, due to 
technical challenges
 § The key drivers of TA expenses in 2022 were like in 2021 (internships, staff costs and the 
WTO Chairs Programme) but new dynamics were in play – resumption of face-to-face 
activities and inflation of prices
WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  87
WT/COMTD/W/272
Research on trade 
policy and WTO matters 
is generated
Academic institutions and others 
are analysing WTO issues and 
reaching out to policy makersCourses with WTO 
content are developed 
by the WCPStudents trained on 
WTO work  and issuesAccession 
internship 
programme 
participants’ 
knowledge 
enhancedAcceding 
governments 
participants’ 
knowledge on WTO 
matters enhancedInfographic 16.  WTO TA Framework for impact
KEY RESULT
1  
Implementation of 
WTO Agreements
KEY RESULT
2
Acceding 
governments 
participate in 
negociations
KEY RESULT
3  
Academic institutions and 
other stakeholders analyse 
WTO issues
KEY RESULT
4
Non-governmental 
audiences are aware 
of WTO issues
Observer GovernmentsMember GovernmentsCivil Society - Legislators - Journalists
Academia Government ofﬁcials are 
implementing  WTO AgreementsWTO data is accessed 
and used by MembersEffective partnerships 
are established
Members needs and 
priorities are identiﬁed
Government ofﬁcials have 
enhanced knowledge
Young 
Professionals 
are exposed to 
WTO issues 
and work
Improved access 
to WTO issues 
through online 
training
Information on 
WTO TA accessedUnderstanding of WTO 
work and issues by 
non-governmental 
stakeholders is 
improved
Interested Members’ 
expertise on GPA 
enhanced
Since adopting the Result-based management (RBM), 
TA plans outline the three result levels and their causal 
relationships through a Logical Framework Matrix or 
logframe. This matrix provides detailed performance 
indicators, baseline values, targets, evidence, and 
assumptions that guide the design and implementation 
of the TA Plan and help measure achievements 
(See Annex 1 ).
The logframe serves as the foundation to monitor and 
evaluate progress towards the expected results. It forms 
the backbone of TA annual reporting to Members, 
where performance is analysed, and achievements are 
identified. Monitoring is carried out by the programme 
managers, organizers, and trainers who focus on Back-to-Office Reports (BTORs), the TA annual report, 
and evaluations of TA activities remain the primary 
sources of insight on the degree in which participants 
have acquired skills. As face-to-face courses resumed, 
on-site evaluations and impact assessments of the TA 
provided by the WTO to Members also resumed.
In line with the TA M&E plan, the Secretariat conducted 
12  assessments of TA activities in 2022: on-site 
evaluations of four advanced and thematic activities held 
in Geneva, one global activity in Asia-Pacific, one regional activities’ immediate outputs, and ultimately by the 
Monitoring & Evaluation section of the Secretariat 
according to the TA Monitoring & Evaluation plan.activity in the Middle East, and two national activities 
(Laos and Uruguay); three country assessments of the 
effects and impact of TA provided to Kuwait, Singapore 
and Uruguay; and an ex-post evaluation of the impact of 
WTO TA over the period 1995-2021 (see box below).
These evaluations identified several good practices 
and recommendations for improvement, which were 
disseminated within the Secretariat. Feedback from the 
country assessments also confirmed the relevance of 
the TA provided and identified some specific TA needs.A FRAMEWORK FOR RESUL TS        A framework for results Infographic 16.  WTO TA Framework for impact
MEASURING RESUL TS: A NEW START    Measuring results: a new start
Biennial Technical Assistance 
and Training Plan 2022 – 2023 
TA Monitoring & Evaluation  
Plan 2022 – 2023
CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 4 
The TA management system: development stalled          
The WTO TA Management system, or TAMS, is the 
backbone of the Secretariat TA activities and the online 
tool that allows their effective monitoring and evaluation 
and, therefore, adherence to the RBM approach. 
Thanks to TAMS, the online availability of TA data has 
increased transparency and accountability, while 
making TA management more efficient. For instance, 
Back-to-Office Reports from trainers, a cornerstone of 
TA evaluation, can be fully managed through TAMS and 
this has streamlined the uptake of recommendations for 
improving training. 
Since its introduction at the end of 2018, TAMS has 
been constantly evolving to include new functionalities 
and enhance its accessibility and user experience. 
For  example, beneficiaries can now send their TA 
requests  directly through TAMS. The ultimate objective 
was to offer a single TA portal through which beneficiaries 
could file their TA requests and their representatives 
could register to participate in any of the TA activities organised by the WTO. In 2022, the development of 
TAMS stalled, as the consultant recruited in 2021 proved 
incapable of completing the work. No new functionalities 
could be introduced, and the system struggled to 
maintain existing ones.  The development of the single TA 
portal had to be put on hold.
Nevertheless, the dashboards available in TAMS were 
enriched. Predefined graphs by mode of delivery, reach, 
subject, LDC participation, gender, and internships 
are now available for the period 2016-21 and dynamic 
data can be consulted for 2022 and the current year. 
Beneficiaries can also access detailed data on their 
own participants in TA activities since 2016 and on their 
national requests.
TA Management System
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Measuring the impact of the WTO TA           
Measuring the impact of WTO TA, the highest result level 
in the result-based management logical framework, is 
conceptually and methodologically complex, as many 
external factors influence the results. An  external 
evaluation last conducted in 2016 could only measure 
lower-level results and infer their impact based on 
a large volume of anecdotal evidence, which made 
their conclusions not particularly strong from a 
methodological point of view. 
For the first time, one of the WTO young professionals 
attempted to design a methodologically sound approach 
to quantitatively assess the impact of WTO TA over the 
1995-2021 period and objectively measure the effects 
of TA on beneficiaries in the long-term. This would then 
guide TA design and implementation efforts to enhance 
such effects. The methodology relied on the generation 
of a WTO TA Analytical Database. The database merged 
eight datasets to create a country – year dataset of 
trade-related TA indicators that may be used to track and 
link TA consumption and expenditure, participation in 
WTO bodies, trade performance, and domestic economic 
performance. The evaluation employed scientific, yet 
intuitive methods to reach a wider comprehension of the 
WTO TA eco-system.
The evaluation executed over 1,650 granular 
difference-of-means tests on the effects of WTO TA and 
carried out ancillary trend and correlation analyses on TA 
consumption, participation in WTO bodies and economic 
and trade performance. The tests were carried out on 
three levels: TA effects on beneficiaries' participation in 
WTO bodies, participation in WTO body effects on trade 
performance, and TA effects on trade performance. 
At the fundamental level, the tests sought to understand 
whether TA beneficiaries that consume more TA also 
participate more in WTO bodies, whether such higher 
participation in WTO bodies is linked to higher trade 
performance, and whether beneficiaries that consume 
more TA have a higher trade performance.The results of the tests varied by TA topic, delivery mode 
and the Progressive Learning Strategy level consumed 
on the one hand and the type of participation in WTO 
bodies on the other. Nonetheless, patterns emerged 
that suggested that consumption of advanced level 
activities and participation in WTO bodies through 
notifications significantly affected the WTO TA theory of 
change. Of the controlled tests conducted on the seven 
most consumed TA topics, beneficiaries' participation 
through notifications had the most significant results on 
TA effects on participation in WTO bodies. Participation 
in WTO bodies through notifications had the most 
significant effects on trade performance and advanced 
level TA activities had the most significant effects on 
trade performance relative to total TA consumption, 
in-person TA and e-Learning TA.
TA beneficiaries' trade was found not to be as resilient 
as non-beneficiaries trade and faced more structural 
constraints. While some TA beneficiaries have increased 
their exports and imports since founding/joining WTO, 
others have not. While the trade performance of some TA 
beneficiaries recovered from the 2008-9 financial crisis, 
others have not. Trend analysis also showed significant 
variations in TA consumption, economic performance, 
and participation in WTO bodies among TA beneficiaries.
Notwithstanding the political dimension of WTO TA, 
the analysis showed only a weak connection between 
the WTO TA and the current impact indicators in the TA 
logical framework. Therefore, the WTO should consider 
adjusting the impact indicators to what the current TA 
offering can achieve. Subjects such as SPS, which have 
used innovative pedagogical approaches based on 
coaching, action plans and follow-up over time, appear 
to have stronger effects on expected outcomes than 
others. These best practices should be replicated across 
topics/functions. This would also require strengthening 
admission capacities in advanced TA activities. 
TA beneficiaries need to clear outstanding notifications, 
which appears to improve their trade performance. 
Active participation from all stakeholders in the WTO TA 
system is required to further enhance its impact on TA 
beneficiaries.CHAPTER 4  - MEASURING RESUL TS: A NEW START
Spending bounced back as the pandemic ended           TA expenditure Figure 36.  WTO TA expenses (2013-2022) 
The Secretariat was able to resume the implementation 
of face-to-face TA activities in the second half of 2022, 
as the COVID-19 restrictions that had prevented them 
were progressively eliminated worldwide. It organised 60 
in-person TA activities during the last six months of the 
year when only 3 such activities had taken place during 
the entire year 2021. After a long period of price stability, 
the year also saw a return of inflation in air ticket 
and hotel prices. TA-related expenses consequently 
increased by 50% compared to the previous year, and 
the Secretariat was again able to use the share of the 
Regular Budget dedicated to TA for its intended purpose.
Expense-wise, 2022 was a transition year between the 
pandemic during which TA expenditure concentrated on 
staff costs and long-term internship programmes, and 
a return to the pre-pandemic situation in which travel 
expenses represented the majority of TA costs. As shown 
in Figure 36, TA expenses in 2022 were still only 60% of 
their pre-pandemic average level. Approximately a third 
of the total was spent on travel costs in 2022, a quarter 
on long-term internships, a tenth on the WTO Chairs 
Programme, and the balance on staff costs.TA EXPENDITURE
202205101520Millions CHFFigure 36.  WTO TA expenses (2013-2022)
Trust
Funds
Regular
Budget
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Meanwhile, the voluntary contributions received during 
the year to finance TA reached a new historic low, 
amounting to 6.6 million CHF – the third consecutive 
such reduction. Unearmarked voluntary contributions 
(3.1 million CHF) were 20% lower during the year. 
Several  traditional donors started to earmark their 
voluntary contributions, and only seven donors made 
unearmarked contributions in 2022. These are two other 
historic lows.  Therefore, the share of unearmarked 
TA voluntary funds reached its lowest point in 2022, 
representing only a third of total TA resources for the 
first time since the beginning of the century (against an 
average of 50% in the previous decade). Total earmarked 
voluntary contributions increased for the sixth successive 
year, reaching 3.5 million CHF , and representing 44% of 
the TA funds available during the year.
Overall, TA expenses remained well below the total TA 
resources available during the year and the Secretariat 
was able to fully respond to the TA requested by 
beneficiaries. The unearmarked year end balance 
remained stable, marginally above the target amount for 
the following year (see Figure 37 ). This should guarantee 
full implementation of the TA Plan in 2023 at current 
inflation rates.CHAPTER 4
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GTF TargetContributions
Expenses
Year-end balance
05101520
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022Millions CHFFigure 37.  Unearmarked funds (2013-2022)
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 202125Figure 38.  Technical Assistance Resources (2013-2022)
202205101520Millions CHFNon-earmarked
Trust FundsEarmarked
Trust Funds
Regular
Budget
55%
Key Result 1
13%
Key Result 38%
Key Result 4
1%
Key Result 223%
Others costsFigure 39.  TA expenditure by Key Result (2022)
87.6
145.8246.6
268.6162.4164.8
124.86126
1714
GlobalMiddle East
Latin America37.4 41.7
CEECAC
64.5
Caribbean
Asia-Paciﬁc
Africae-Learning
National Regional60.3Figure 40.  Activity expenses by Region (2022)
(thousands of CHF)
Analysed by TA Key Results, Figure 39 shows that Key 
Result 1 carried the largest share of expenses with 
55%. Long-term internships and Geneva-based courses 
represented each 45% of that total, and national 
activities the remaining 10%. Half of the resources 
initially allocated in the Regular Budget to this Key 
Result were spent, a consequence of the resumption of 
Geneva-based TA activities in the second part of the year. 
That rate was 84% in the earmarked trust funds (lower 
than in 2021 because of a lower intake of interns), since the 
long-term internships (French-Irish Missions Internship, 
Netherlands Trainee and Regional Coordinator Internship 
Programmes), were less affected by the pandemic as 
their long durations justified subjecting participants 
to the pandemic travel requirements. Only  6% in the 
unearmarked trust fund resources for that Key Result 
were used, because of the limited number of regional 
face-to-face TA activities which could be organised in 
2022 in beneficiary Members and Observers.
Key Result 2 carried 1% of the TA expenses 
corresponding to the China LDCs and Accessions 
Programme (Accession Round Table and Accessions 
Internship Programme). The  Regular and unearmarked budgets under this Key Result were both not used, and 
only a quarter of the earmarked Trust Fund budget was 
expensed. Key Result 3 carried 13% of the TA expenses, 
of which 86% went towards the WTO Chairs Programme 
financed by earmarked contributions. Key Result 4 
carried 8% of the TA expenses, of which 89% went 
towards the Young Professionals Programme. In this 
regard, the unearmarked Trust Fund budget, financier of 
the programme, was expensed at 45%. Other Expenses, 
such as staffing (L-Posts), implementation of the 
Results-Based Management and development of 
e-Learning courses, carried 24% of the TA budget, 
with staffing representing 96% of this expenditure. 
The Regular budget under this category was underspent 
by 81% while the unearmarked Trust Fund budget was 
overspent by 2%.
In summary, the 2022 TA budget was underspent by 61%, 
with the earmarked Trust Fund budget having been the 
most expensed at 71% while the unearmarked Trust 
Funds and Regular Budget were expensed at only 26% 
and 48%, respectively. Figure 40 shows the distribution 
of TA expenses by region.CHAPTER 4  - TA EXPENDITURE                                          Figure 40.  Activity expenses by Region (2022)
CHAPTER 4 – TA EXPENDITURE                                       Figure 37.  Unearmarked funds (2013-2022) Figure 38.  Technical Assistance Resources  
(2013-2022)
Figure 39.  TA expenditure by Key Result (2022)
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The information contained in the Measure and 
Assessment columns in this annex summarises the 
analysis of the results of TA performed by the Secretariat, 
based on the Logical Framework adopted by Members as 
part of the TA Plan for 2023-24. The statements included 
in the table do not present any background or explanation 
of the circumstances or reasons leading to the measured 
result. Therefore, they should be read in conjunction with 
the more comprehensive analysis provided in the rest 
of the report. The following codes have been used in the 
table:
• Target met: the target identified in the TA Plan 
logframe has been fully met or has been exceeded;
• Target partially met: the target identified in the TA 
Plan logframe has been missed by a small margin, 
as significant progress has been made towards its 
achievement;• Target not met: the target identified in the TA Plan 
logframe has been largely missed and progress 
towards its achievement has been limited;
• Data not available: the data available to the 
Secretariat is incomplete, if not missing completely, 
or is not reliable or strong enough to support a 
conclusion one way or the other;
• Not applicable (N/A): The TA activities which should 
have been used to measure results did not take place, 
depriving the Secretariat of an assessment basis.
Expected Results Indicators Baseline Targets 2022 Measure 2022 Assessment
Impact
Developing and LDC Members are benefiting from their active 
participation in the WTOShare of developing Members' total trade (imports and exports) 2018-20 average: 41.3%  > 40% 43.1% in 2021 Target met
Developing and LDC Members are benefiting from their active 
participation in the WTOShare of LDC Members' total trade (import and exports) 2018-20 average: 1.1% > 1.00% 1.15% in 2021 Target metAnnexes     Annexes
Annex 1. Main results measured in 2022
ANNEX 1. MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2022
ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2022
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Expected Results Indicators Baseline Targets 2022 Measure 2022 Assessment
 Key Result 1 – Outcome
1: Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements 
and fully realising Members' rights and obligationsNumber of documents submitted by beneficiary developing 
Members to WTO BodiesAnnual average 2017-19: 611 Increase 510 Target not met
1: Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements 
and fully realising Members' rights and obligationsNumber of documents submitted by beneficiary LDC Members to 
WTO BodiesAnnual average 2017-19: 99 Increase 78 Target not met
1: Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements 
and fully realising Members' rights and obligationsNumber of outstanding notifications by TA beneficiary Members 26 per beneficiary Member on average in 
2017-19Decrease 26,33 Target not met
Key Result 1 – Output
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsNumber of participants completing PLS level 1 Annual average 2017-19: 3,608 Stability e-Learning: 593  
Face-to-face & virtual: 1,573  
Total: 2,166Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsNumber of participants completing PLS level 2 Annual average 2017-19: 11,746 Stability e-Learning: 1,767  
Face-to-face & virtual: 6,991  
Total: 8,758Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsNumber of participants completing PLS level 3 Annual average 2017-19: 1,833 Increase Face-to-face & virtual: 1,620 Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsNumber of national activities requested 2017-19 average: 145 Increase 80 Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsNumber of beneficiary Members and Observers participating in TA 
courses2017-19 average: 163 Stability 156 Target partially met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsNumber of beneficiary LDCs participating in TA courses 2017-19 average: 43 Stability 42 Target partially met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsInteractive training methods' share of time in each activity 
(exercises, case studies, simulations, Q&A, participation in 
Committee meetings, etc.)2017-19 average:  
- 42% lectures  
- 58% interactive methodsIncrease share of interactive 
training methods to an 
average of at least 60%Lectures: 36%  
Interactive methods: 64%Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsSuccess rate in 8-week RTPCs 2017-19 average: 96% Stability 96% Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsSuccess rate in 8-week ATPCs No baseline Stability 98% N/A
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsDistinction rate in 8-week RTPCs 2017-19 average: 37% Stability 13% Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsDistinction rate in 8-week ATPCs No baseline Stability 28% N/A
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsPercentage of participants rating the overall content and results 
in RTPCs with the two top marks2017-19 average: 98% Stability 96% Target partially met
ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2022 ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2022
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Expected Results Indicators Baseline Targets 2022 Measure 2022 Assessment
Key Result 1 – Output
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsPercentage of participants rating the overall content and results 
in ATPCs with the two top marks2017-19 average: 93% Stability 96% Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsPercentage of participants rating the overall content and results 
in advanced thematic courses with the two top marks2017-19 average: 96% Stability 86% Target partially met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsNumber of participants trained in advanced trade negotiating 
skills2017-19 average: 238 Stability 70 Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsNumber of advanced thematic courses using pre-diagnostics, 
coaching, leadership, action plans or follow-ups2019: 5 Stability 4 Target partially met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsNumber of interns in NTP 2017-19 average: 14 Stability 12 Target partially met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsNumber of interns in FIMIP 2017-19 average: 17 Increase 19 Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsNumber of interns in RCI 2017-19 average: 6 Stability 5 Target partially met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsFinal evaluation rate of each FIMIP intern 100% at least fully satisfactory in 2017-19 Stability Exceeded expectations: 11  
Fully satisfactory: 8Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsFinal evaluation rate of each NTP intern 100% at least fully satisfactory in 2017-19 Stability Exceeded expectations: 3  
Fully satisfactory: 9Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsFinal evaluation rate of each RCI intern 100% at least fully satisfactory in 2017-19 Stability Exceeded expectations: 2  
Fully satisfactory: 2Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsNew, revised or translated online courses released during the year 2017-19 average: 10 Stability 8 Target partially met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsPercentage of online courses in SCORM format 62% in 2019 Increase to 100% by end of 
biennium81% Target partially met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsPercentage of participants rating the quality of the online courses 
content with the two top marks2017-19 average: 94% Stability 93% Target met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationsPercentage of participants rating the effectiveness of the 
e-Learning website with the two top marks2017-19 average: 94% Stability 87% Target partially met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationse-Learning success rate 2017-19 average: 68% Stability 47% Target not met
ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2022 ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2022
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Expected Results Indicators Baseline Targets 2022 Measure 2022 Assessment
Key Result 1 – Output
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationse-Learning drop-out rate 2017-19 average: 24% Stability 49% Target not met
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about 
the WTO Agreements, formulation of trade policies and 
conduct of trade negotiationse-Learning distinction rate 2017-19 average: 53% Stability 54% Target met
1.2: Effective partnerships established Proportion of activities with the involvement of a partner 2016-18 average: 54% Stability 62% Target met
1.2: Effective partnerships established Proportion of partners' contribution to the TA activities 2017-19 average: 47% low contributions Decrease proportion of low 
contributions47% Target partially met
1.3: Members' needs and priorities identified periodically Number of responses to TA questionnaires 2017-19 average: 76 Stability No TA questionnaire sent in 
2022N/A
1.3: Members' needs and priorities identified periodically Number of TPR Follow-ups 2017-19 average: 8 Stability 1 Target not met
1.4: WTO data and databases accessed by Members Visits by Members' logging in to the WTO website 60,427 in 2019 Increase 133,600 Target met
1.4: WTO data and databases accessed by Members Number of TA activities including training on WTO databases as 
one of their objectives2017-19 average: 60 Increase 36 activities Target not met
Key Result 2 – Outcome
2: Acceding governments are participating in accession 
negotiationsNumber of formal or informal Working Party meetings held for 
acceding beneficiary governments2017-19 average: 6 Stability Formal meetings: 4  
Informal meetings: 1Target partially met
Key Result 2 – Output
2.1: Acceding governments participants' knowledge on WTO 
substantive and procedural matters enhancedNumber of participants from acceding governments attending TA 
activities focused on accessions2017-19 average: 1,179 Stability Face-to-face & virtual: 300  
e-Learning: 362Target not met
2.2: Accession Internship programme participants' knowledge 
enhancedFinal evaluation rate of each AIP intern 100% at least fully satisfactory Stability Exceeded expectations: 1  
Fully satisfactory: 0  
Not satisfactory: 1Target not met
2.3: Interested Members' expertise on GPA rules, accession 
negotiations enhancedAverage no. of relevant accession-related documents circulated 
per TA-eligible GPA acceding Member2017-19 average: 5.2 Stability 26 documents for 7 active 
accession  
3.71 doc / accessionTarget partially met
2.3: Interested Members' expertise on GPA rules, accession 
negotiations enhancedAverage no. of interventions made by TA-eligible GPA-acceding 
Parties during meetings of the CGP2018-20 average: 2.9 Stability No CGP Meeting Target not met
2.3: Interested Members' expertise on GPA rules, accession 
negotiations enhancedAverage no. of bilateral meetings of TA-eligible GPA-acceding 
Parties with Chair of the CGP2018-20 average: 1.29 Stability No CGP Chair Target not met
ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2022 ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2022
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Expected Results Indicators Baseline Targets 2022 Measure 2022 Assessment
Key Result 3 – Outcome
3: Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing 
WTO issues and reaching out to policy makersDiversity of WTO related topics covered by activities 2019-21 average:  
Semantic similarity: 0.64  
Normalised entropy: 0.90Stability Semantic similarity: 0.59 
(positive evolution)  
Normalised entropy: 0.91 
(positive evolution)Target met
Key Result 3 – Output
3.1: Research on trade policy and WTO-related matters 
generated by the WCPNumber of publications 2020-21 average: 119 Stability in 2022  
Increase in 2023275 Target met
3.1: Research on trade policy and WTO-related matters 
generated by the WCPAssessment of the quality of the key research output per Chair per 
year by the Advisory BoardN/A Positive evaluation Positive evaluation: 7  
Minor improvements: 5  
Significant improvements: 3  
N/A: 1Target met
3.2: Courses with WTO content developed by the WCP Chairs Number of students completing a WTO-related courses 2020-21 average: 1,938 Stability in 2022  
Increase in 20233,891 Target met
3.2: Courses with WTO content developed by the WCP Chairs Number of new or updated WTO-related courses 2020-21 average: 7.5 Stability in 2022  
Increase in 202368 Target met
3.3: WTO Chairs' research disseminated to policy makers and 
other stakeholdersNumber of outreach events per year 2020-21 average: 44.5 Stability in 2022  
Increase in 2023168 Target met
3.3: WTO Chairs' research disseminated to policy makers and 
other stakeholdersAdvice provided to governmental policy makers and other 
stakeholders2020-21 average: 77 Stability in 2022  
Increase in 2023175 Target met
3.4: Students trained on WTO work and issues Number of students participating in competitions supported by 
the WTO2020-21 average: 344 Stability 344 Target met
3.4: Students trained on WTO work and issues Number of PhD students supervised graduating with a PhD Students supervised graduate with a PhD 
each year: 5Stability 5 students graduated with 
a PhDTarget met
Key Result 4 – Outcome
4: Non-governmental stakeholders and legislators are aware 
of and knowledgeable about WTO work and issuesDiversity of WTO related topics covered by statements, reports, 
and papers produced by this group of stakeholders26 reports in 2017 Stability Data not available Data not available
Key Result 4 – Output
4.1:  Understanding of WTO work and issues by 
non-governmental stakeholders and legislators improved Number of seminars, workshops conducted 2017-19 average: 7 Stability 5 Target partially met
4.1:  Understanding of WTO work and issues by 
non-governmental stakeholders improved Number of key non-governmental stakeholders  and legislators 
reached during the year2017-19 average:  
355 legislators  
73 journalists  
28 civil societyStability Legislators: 426  
Journalists: 16  
Civil Society: 0  
Private Sector: 63Target partially met
4.2: Improved access to WTO issues through eLearning 
training material for self-studyNumber of training material consulted 2017-19 average: 3,336 Stability 2,964 Target partially met
4.3 Information on WTO trade-related TA accessed Number of views of the web pages on technical assistance 
including news items on this subject2017: 62,963 Stability 210,199 Target met
4.4: Young professionals are exposed to WTO work and issues Number of Young Professionals selected annually by the WTO 2018-19 average: 15 Stability 13 Target partially met
4.4: Young professionals are exposed to WTO work and issues Final evaluation rate of each intern's performance by their 
supervisor100% at least fully satisfactory in 2019-20 Stability 15 fully satisfactory Target met
ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2022 ANNEX 1 – MAIN RESUL TS MEASURED IN 2022
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Key Result 1 – Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements  
and fully realising Members' rights and obligations (thousands CHF)
Level Path Language(s) Title Target RegionRegular Budget GTF1 Other TFs2 Total 
Budget  
2022Expenses 
2022Budget 
2022 Expenses 
2022Budget  
2022Expenses 
2022 Budget 
2022 Expenses 
2022 
Level 1 Generalist E/F/SGeneva-based courses for LDCs - introduction and focus 
activities - Geneva weeksGlobal  441  193  -    -    -    -    441  193 
Level 3 Generalist E/F/S Applied Advanced Trade Policy Courses Global  1,625  869  -    -    -    -    1,625  869 
Level 2 Generalist E/F/SIntermediate level activities for:  Africa; Middle East; Asia and 
Pacific Economies; Caribbean; Central and Eastern Europe, 
Central Asia and Caucasus; Latin AmericaAll regions  -    -    3 172  5  -    -    3,172  5 
Level 2/3 Specialist E/F/SGeneva-based Advanced Thematic Courses and topic specific 
symposia for Capital-based officialsGlobal  1,866  828  950  39  -    -    2,816  867 
Level 3 Specialist E/F/S Advisory role on legal issues (Art. 27.2 of DSU)  60  14  -    -    -    -    60  14 
Level 2 Generalist E/F/SRegional and/or sub-regional general capacity-building 
activitiesAll regions  -    -    370  -    -    -    370  -   
Level 2/3Generalist / 
Specialist E/F/SNational seminars and workshops, including assistance for 
needs assessment and monitoring and evaluationAll regions  680  398  40  -    -    -    720  398 
Level 2 Specialist E/F/S Regional and sub-regional topic-specific seminars All regions  -    -    3,000  301  -    -    3,000  301 
E/F/SChina's LDCs and Accessions Programme:  Participation 
of LDCs' in selected WTO meetings; LDCs TPR follow-up 
workshops; and, South-South DialogueAll regions  -    -    -    -    95  39  95  39 
Level 3 Generalist E/F/SInternships in the framework of the Netherlands Trainee 
Programme (NTP)Global  -    -    -    -    774  642  774  642 
Level 3 Generalist E/F/S Regional Coordinator Internships Programme (RCI) Global  -    -    210  111  -    -    210  111 
Level 3 Generalist E/F/S French-Irish Missions Internship Programme (FIMIP)  Global  -    -    -    -    1,061  933  1,061  933 
Level 1 Generalist E/F/S Online courses:  introduction level
Capital-based officials x  -    -    -    -    -    -    -   
Level 2Generalist /
Specialist E/F/SOnline courses: intermediate level (Generalists and 
Specialists) x  -    -    -    -    -    -    -   
Generalist /
Specialist EnglishOnline course:  tailored course - Create your own eLearning 
Courses x  -    -    -    -    -    -    -   
Sub-total  4,672  2,303  7,742  456  1,930  1,614  14,344  4,373 
Overheads @13%  -    1,006  59  251  210  1,257  269 
Total  4,672  2,303  8,748  516  2,181  1,824  15,601  4,643 ANNEX 2. ACTIVITY MATRIX       Annex 2. Activity matrix
ANNEX 2 – ACTIVITY MATRIX
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Key Result 2 – Acceding governments are participating in accession negotiations (thousands CHF)
Level Path Language(s) Title Target RegionRegular Budget GTF1 Other TFs2 Total 
Budget  
2022Expenses  
2022Budget 
2022 Expenses 
2022Budget  
2022Expenses 
2022 Budget 
2022 Expenses 
2022 
 Level 2/3Generalist /
Specialist E/F/S National Seminars, courses and workshops on Accessions All regions  50  -    313  -    -    -    363  -   
EChina's LDCs and Accessions Programme: WTO Accession 
Round Table meetingsGlobal 0  -    -    -  230  21  230  21 
Level 1 Generalist E/F/SChina's LDCs and Accessions Programme: WTO Accessions 
Internship Programme (AIP)Global  -    -    -    -    100  64  100  64 
Level 2 Generalist E/F/S Online course:  Accession to the WTO Global  x  -    -    -    -    -    -    -   
Sub-total  50  -    313  -    330  85  693  85 
Overheads @13%  -    41  -    43  11  84  11 
Total  50  -    354  -    373  96  777  96 
Key Result 3 – Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing WTO issues  
and reaching out to policy makers (thousands CHF)
Level Path Language(s) Title Target RegionRegular Budget GTF1 Other TFs2 Total 
Budget  
2022Expenses  
2022Budget 
2022 Expenses 
2022Budget  
2022Expenses 
2022 Budget 
2022 Expenses 
2022 
Generalist E/F/S WTO Chairs programme All regions  -    -    1,300  813  -    -    1,300  813 
E/F/S WTO Support programme for doctoral students  -    -    65  46  -    -    65  46 
E/F/SDonation of WTO publications to Academic Institutions and 
other academic activities  1  1 Refer to 
outcome 1 87  -    -    1  88 
Sub-total  1  1  1,365  945  -    -    1,366  947 
Overheads @13%  -    -    177  123  -    -    177  123 
Total  1  1  1,542  1,068  -    -    1,543  1,070 
Key Result 4 – Non-governmental stakeholders are aware of and knowledgeable about WTO  
work and issues (thousands CHF)
Level Path Language(s) Title Target RegionRegular Budget GTF1 Other TFs2 Total 
Budget  
2022Expenses  
2022Budget 
2022 Expenses 
2022Budget  
2022Expenses 
2022 Budget 
2022 Expenses 
2022 
E/F/SOutreach for legislators, journalists, civil society and 
businessesAll regions  -    -    605  66  -    -    605  66 
Specialist E/F/S WTO Young Professionals' programme (YPP)  -    -    657  508  -    -    657  508 
E/F/S Online training material for self-study All regions  -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   
Sub-total  -    -    1,262  573  -    -    1,262  573 
Overheads @13%  -    -    164  75  -    -    164  75 
Total  -    -    1,426  648  -    -    1,426  648 
ANNEX 2 – ACTIVITY MATRIX ANNEX 2 – ACTIVITY MATRIXWTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022  107 106  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
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Other costs – Programme staff and Monitoring & Evaluation (thousands CHF)
Other Costs Title Target RegionRegular Budget GTF1 Other TFs2 Total 
Budget  
2022Expenses  
2022Budget 
2022 Expenses 
2022Budget  
2022Expenses 
2022 Budget 
2022 Expenses 
2022 
L-Posts (Commitments till 31 December 2021 included) 0  -    1,700  1,696  -    -    1,700  1,696 
Implementation of RBM and development of eLearning 
courses 125  24  -    -    -    -    125  24 
Transfer Balance from TDA 21  -   45.12  -    -    -    45 
Sub-total  125  24  1,700  1,741  -    -    1,825  1,766 
Overheads @13%  -    -    221  226  -    -    221  226 
Total  125  24  1,921  1,968  -    -    2,046  1,992 
Summary Grand Total (thousands CHF)
Summary Grand Total Title Target RegionRegular Budget GTF1 Other TFs2 Total 
Budget  
2022Expenses  
2022Budget 
2022 Expenses 
2022Budget  
2022Expenses 
2022 Budget 
2022 Expenses 
2022 
Sub-total  4,848  2,329  12,382  3,717  2,260  1,699  19,490  7,744 
Overheads @13%  -    -    1,610  483  294  221  1,903  704 
Total  4,848  2,329  13,992  4,200  2,554  1,919  21,393  8,448 
2  Other trust funds include those financing the French-Irish Mission Internship Programme 
(FIMIP), Netherlands Trainee Programme (NTP) and China LDC & Accession Programme, 
which are under the sole authority of the WTO and which it can use to finance its TA activities. 
The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), the Enhanced Integrated Framework 
(EIF) and Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (TFAF) trust funds are consequently excluded. 
These trust funds have their own governance and reporting mechanisms1  The Global Trust Fund (GTF) includes unearmarked funds and funds earmarked to finance 
the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP)
ANNEX 2 – ACTIVITY MATRIX ANNEX 2 – ACTIVITY MATRIX
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WT/COMTD/W/272 WT/COMTD/W/272
Acknowledging donors
Sweden
Korea
Netherlands
Norway
Australia
Japan
European Union
Ireland
France
Germany
Austria
Finland
Estonia
Liechtenstein
China
United States
Donor funding is essential to continue providing technical assistance to TA beneficiaries. The technical assistance 
activities are funded by the WTO regular budget and by WTO members' voluntary contributions to the Global Trust 
Fund or other trust funds. 2022 recorded the lowest level of voluntary contributions in over 20 years, as several 
donors held back pending the resumption of regular TA expenditure.
The voluntary contributions in 2022 shrank to a historic low, amounting to 6.6 million CHF . Meanwhile, even if TA 
expenses bounced back to 50% in 2022 due to the resumption of in-person training, they remained well below the 
total TA resources available.Report designed by Graphic and Event Design, 
Print and Distribution Section.  
Printed by the WTO Secretariat.
Image credits: © WTO 
© World Trade Organization 2023Financing of Trade-Related 
Technical Assistance (TRTA)
110  WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ANNUAL REPORT 2022
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Enhancing Understanding and Knowledge of the Multilateral 
Trading System
This report was prepared on behalf of the WTO Secretariat 
by the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC), 
the division managing, coordinating, and evaluating the 
organization and delivery of WTO technical assistance (TA) 
activities. It benefitted from the input provided by all divisions 
involved in the implementation of the TA programme. As a 
tool to assess WTO TA performance and communicate on 
its achievements, the report identifies a variety of concrete 
results produced, and which could be measured during the 
year. It highlights how the WTO responds to the evolving needs 
of its developing and least developed Members and Observers 
through a constant adaptation of its offer for a an ever-greater 
relevance and quality. Throughout the report are testimonials 
recounting the perspectives and experiences of those by and 
for whom WTO TA makes a difference.TRANCHE POUR 104PAGES Anglais 3.75mm
Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation 
World Trade Organization
Centre William Rappard,
Rue de Lausanne 154
CH-1211 Geneva 2 
Switzerland
Tel. +41 (0)22 739 51 11
Email: TAMS@wto.org
Website: https://www.wto.org
Find out more The post-pandemic return 
of face-to-face activitiesWTO Technical 
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Committee on Trade and Development  
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