WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/W/154 
16 October 2006 
 (06-4992) 
Committee on Trade and Development  
  
 
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 
SEMI-ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES  
(1 JANUARY TO 30 JUNE 2006) 
 
Note by the Secretariat
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. This progress report on the implementation of the Technical Assistance and Training Plan 
(the Plan) provides a broad overview of all Trade-Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) activities undertaken in the first semester of the year 2006.  Following a quantitative overview of activities held, 
the second part of the document provides more detailed  information on two 'products': use of internet-
based training (e-training) as a medium for the delivery of TRTA; an update on the standards and trade development facility (STDF), which is an im portant financing and coordination mechanism to 
assist developing countries in their capacity to m eet international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) 
standards. 
2. The process of informal consultations with donor s and beneficiaries continues to be important 
as a mechanism for discussing any issues related to TRTA, including the design and implementation 
of activities, the funding situation of the DDAGTF and the strategic review of TRTA, which took 
place in the first half of this year. On several occ asions, at the CTD and in the informal consultations, 
Members' attention was specifically drawn to the critical financial situation in the DDAGTF, as the contributions received were not in line with Member's commitments. There was therefore a serious 
risk that the Plan  per se  might be jeopardized, and at one point, two of the Regional Trade Policy 
Courses were seriously compromised in view of the shortage of funding. 
3. The period under review was challenging from different perspectives. The Ministerial 
Declaration, adopted in December 2005 in Hong Kong,  contained fairly tight negotiating deadlines in 
several specific areas, in order to meet the overall objective of concluding the round by the end of this 
year. This had direct implications for the Secr etariat, which continued to provide the necessary 
support to the negotiations, to service the regular and negotiating bodies and at the same time was 
required to provide technical assistance to Members,  in support of the negotiations, both in Geneva 
and in the field. Also, the Netherlands Trainee Pr ogramme (NTP) had become fully operational with a 
total of some 30 trainees present in that period. Th is posed a formidable challenge, both in terms of 
administration, management and last but not least, in providing office space. 
II. A BROAD OVERVIEW OF IMPLEMENTATION OF TRTA 
4. In the first six months of this year, a total of 69 countries (of which 33 least-developed) 
requested national technical assistance, corresponding to  167 specific activities.  It is recalled that, as 
a rule of thumb, Least-Developed Countries (L DCs) can request three national activities and  
developing countries can request two.  Thus, while the number of requests received is encouraging, 
there are still many beneficiaries who do not u tilize their entitlement to training and technical 
assistance. In order to raise the awareness of benefici aries of their rights to TRTA, the Secretariat uses 
various ways to remind Members of this entitlement, i.e. in meetings (CTD, informal consultations) 
and through direct contacts with delegations and the regional co-ordinators, including the LDC Group. WT/COMTD/W/154 
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  Taking into account Members' focus and the conti nued pressure on the Secretariat to provide support 
to Members in the negotiations, the high level of  implementation can be considered quite good. 
5. The implementation rate of all activities during th e first semester shows a level similar to the 
same period of last year.  A total of 259 Techni cal Assistance and Training activities and related 
projects were conducted, of which the majority, i. e. a total of 211 included seminars, workshops and 
training courses, which were held either at the na tional, regional or global level. These numbers do 
not take account of the Trainee Programmes and internships, research projects and the four e-Training courses conducted. 
6. Using the indicator which was introduced in 2004 (number of participant/days), statistics 
show that in the first semester of 2006, sixt y-one activities planned and organized by the WTO 
(including those undertaken in close cooperation with  partner institutions) at the regional or global 
level, and at the national level for WTO Refere nce Centres and Doctoral students internships, 
represented 18,039 participant/days of delivery (out of 35,430 foreseen in the Plan for the whole year 
2006).  These figures include the Geneva-based Courses, as well as the Regional Trade Policy 
Courses (RTPCs) in Jamaica, Hong Kong, China, Mo rocco and Namibia.  This figure also includes 
two activities which were carried-ove r from the TA Plan 2005, and we re implemented at the regional 
level (Dispute Settlement for the Caribbean, in Barb ados) and at the global level (Special Workshop 
on the SPS Agreement, in Geneva) within the first th ree months of 2006.  This delivery rate is in 
progression compared to the implementation rate in 2005.   
7. Specific features of the activities undertaken in the period under review are as follows: 
• Geneva-based training and other activities
 in the first semester included three of the 
four Trade Policy Courses (TPCs) planned for 2006 (the 35th , 36th  and 37th  TPCs).  
The 9th Introduction Course for LDCs (French) took place, and two Specialized 
Courses (on Dispute Settlement and on Trade Negotiations) were held.  In addition, 
one Introduction Day carried-over from the previ ous year was organized in March.  In 
preparation of the Regional Trade Policy Courses in Hong Kong, China, Morocco, and Namibia, Preparatory Workshops for re gional co-lecturers involved in the courses 
were organized during the pe riod under review. Other Geneva-based activities, such 
as Missions internships, and the WTO Ph D Doctoral Support Programme, discussed 
in the Plan, as well as the Netherlands Trainee Programme were actively pursued.   
• A regional balance
 was maintained in the delivery of TRTA activities.  All regions 
benefited from regional and national activities.   Close to 40 per cent of all activities 
were targeted at Africa, and 16 per cent at Asia and Pacific countries.  Global 
activities, which represented 17 per cent of delivery, benefited pa rticipants from all 
the regions (they included Geneva-based symposia, attendance at conferences, specific projects such as Internships, r esearch papers, Distance Learning and TA 
development tools).  Central and Eastern European and Central Asian countries, the 
Caribbean, Latin America and Arab and Middl e East countries almost equally shared 
the remaining TRTA in the first semester.  As in 2005, but for different reasons, the 
implementation of many activities was frontloaded. 
• Cooperation with partners
 in the delivery of activities was further enhanced.  More 
than 80 per cent of all activities were undert aken in collaboration with one or several 
partner institutions.  Such collaboration involves support provided by the partner 
institution for logistical arrangements, cost and/or resource-sharing, co-lecturing, or a combination of those aspects.  A good illustration of regional activities organized in 
cooperation with partner in stitutions and delivered over a longer period than the 
average three days is SPS workshops, to  which an extra day was added for OIE 
training under the premises of the STDF, for all activities.  The preparation and implementation of the RTPCs also remain good examples of successful partnerships.    WT/COMTD/W/154 
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  • Least-Developed Countries (LDCs)   were involved in 110 activities in the first 
semester.  Forty-two per cent were organized  at the national level, upon request from 
the beneficiary country, or at the initiative of the institution(s) in the case of TPR, JITAP or IF missions, as well as the upgrading of WTO Reference Centres.  They focused on subject matters such as Cust oms Valuations, Non-Agriculture Market 
Access, Rules, SPS, Services and TRIPS.  Regional events with which LDCs were 
associated included three DDA Advanced Tr aining Programmes, several Intensive 
Courses on Trade Negotiations Skills, NAMA, Regional Trade Agreements and TRIPS.   LDCs were also invited to par ticipate in the RTPCs in Jamaica, Hong Kong, 
China, Morocco, and Namibia, as well as in Geneva-based symposia and the Geneva 
Week, which was  held in April. 
• Subject areas covered
:  from January to June 2006, all subject matters included in the 
Plan were covered in regional activities, except for Trade Remedies, for which an 
eTraining activity was held online (all fi eld-based events are nonetheless scheduled 
for the second part of the year).  Implem entation of regional workshops on Regional 
Trade Agreements, Development issues, TB T, Trade Facilitation, Trade negotiations 
skills and TRIPS reached more than 50% of  the planned activities on those subjects.  
Three Geneva-based Courses and four RTPCs,  running over 60 days, were started in 
the period.  Eight DDA Advanced Training Programme Workshops and Short Trade Policy Courses were organized in this peri od, for African countries, Asia and Pacific 
economies, Arab and Middle East countries, Central and Eastern European countries and Latin America.  Six of those events we re organized jointly or in close cooperation 
with regional partners.  Thirteen ac tivities were implemented under the Joint 
Integrated Technical Assistance Programme  (JITAP) for African countries (jointly 
operated by ITC, UNCTAD and WTO).  Two we re held at the regional level, and the 
remaining eleven focused on JITAP coordination and monitoring, current state of play in the DDA negotiations after the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference, and the 
implementation of Module II, i.e. the esta blishment of JITAP Reference Centres and 
National Enquiry Points.  
 
III. ELECTRONIC TRAINING: ON-LINE 
8. The eTraining website (https://etraining.wto.or g) provides interactive online courses on WTO 
and the multilateral agreements to government o fficials from developing Members and Observers. 
Using the Internet as a medium, eTraining allows government officials who are not in a position to 
attend courses offered by the WTO to avail of the sa me training online.   From their office in the 
capital, the mission or anywhere else in the wo rld, government officials have online access to: 
 downloadable training material (modules,  tests, case studies, support documents, 
library...); 
 assigned tutors following participants' progr ess throughout the course and available for 
questions, clarification or discussion; 
 interactive functions (discussion forum, intern al email system, chat function allowing live 
interaction with other particip ants and invited WTO experts); 
 a course administrator; and  
 a dedicated Helpdesk. 
 WT/COMTD/W/154 
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  9. Within the course duration, participants may access the course anytime and work at their own 
pace, depending on their time availability.  In a ddition, the eTraining webs ite has been improved in 
order to allow fast and easy access to participants from any location. 
10. The objectives of the eTraining TA project are to: 
• take full advantage of IT and the Internet as a complement and an alternative to traditional 
training programs; 
• develop participants' understanding of the multilateral trading system; 
• enhance participants' knowledge of the basic prin ciples of the WTO and the legal structure of 
the Uruguay Round Agreements; 
• increase participants' ability to interpret releva nt information and documents on WTO-related 
issues, and to use the WTO legal te xt and related background material; 
• allow participants to take part effectively in  more in-depth technical assistance activities in 
the future as a result of having first successfully completed a basic WTO training;  and 
• establish and/or strengthen a network of useful contacts between participants and WTO tutors 
from the Secretariat. 
 
11. To achieve these objectives, various online c ourses were organized from January 2005 to 
June 2006: 
- Introduction courses : one course in English, one course in French and one course in 
Spanish.  The course material aim at provi ding an overview of the WTO and the MTS to 
governement officials: WTO (objective, function, organization...), basic principles 
underpinning the multilateral framework, key f eatures of the multilateral agreements and 
main rights and obligations.  The number of participants in the introduction courses (338) increased by 95% if compared to the total number of participants in similar courses held in 2005 (173).  All  geographical 
regions were covered. 288 participants comple ted the course, leading to a success rate of 
around 85%. 214 participants returned the eval uation questionnaire and provided feed-back 
on the course. Most of the respondents rated the activity as successful or very successful 
(88%) and confirmed that the objectives of the course were met (81%).  
- Specialized courses : Advanced TRTA is provided with a view to enhancing participation 
from developing countries in the negotiations  and facilitating the implementation of the 
multilateral agreements. To set the basis for the delivery of targeted and advanced TRTA to 
recipient Members and Observers a specialized eTraining course on Trade Remedies was offered from January 2005 to June 2006 as pre-re quisites for participation in three advanced 
regional workshops on Anti-Dumping. The objec tives were to ensure a minimum level of 
understanding of WTO trade remedies prior to the regional event and allow in-depth 
discussions and active participation in the face-to-face activity.   
The number of participants in the first half of 2006 (129 participants from three regions) has 
increased significantly if compared to the previ ous course (32 participants from one region in 
2005). A good participation rate in the course by Members/Observers concerned ensured an 
excellent geographical coverage for the three re gions.  The success rate of participants was 
very high with 96% of the participants having managed to successfully complete the course. 
62 participants returned the evaluation ques tionnaire and provided their feed-back on the 
course. Most of the respondents rated the ac tivity as successful or very successful (87%) and 
estimated that the objectives of the course were met (82%). 
  WT/COMTD/W/154 
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  12. In the future more specialized courses will be offered on a variety of other WTO subjects, as 
stand-alone courses  or as a pre-requisite to the activities . 
 
IV. STANDARDS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY (STDF) 
13. The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) is both a financing and a coordination 
mechanism. 1  Its aim is to assist developing countries enhance their capacity to meet international 
sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, improve their human, animal and plant health situation, 
and thus gain and maintain market access.   
14. The STDF provides funds to private and public or ganizations in developing countries for two 
types of grants:  project preparation grants (PPGs)  and project grants.  Applications for STDF funding 
may be made at any point in the year.  The STD F Working Group meets at least twice per year to 
consider funding requests.  A total of 22 projects and 21 project preparation grants had been approved 
for STDF funding at the end of July 2006.  Of th ese projects, 10 were scheduled to finish in 2006, 
four were being implemented and ei ght were awaiting contracting at the same date.  Of the project 
preparation grants, 10 had been completed, three were nearing completion and eight were awaiting 
implementation.2   
Figure 2: Projects and project preparation grants funded by the STDF 
0246810121416
2003 2004 2005 2006Total number of projects Total number of PPGs
 
15. Of particular note is the project preparation grant (PPGs) mechanism which aims to help 
overcome constraints faced by developing countries in  the articulation of their needs.  Grant funds up 
to a maximum of US$20,000 are available for pr oposal development and are also a mechanism 
ensuring synergy with other on-going initiatives.  For example, in the national Diagnostic Trade 
Integration Studies conducted under the Integrated Fr amework, priority actions in the SPS area have 
been identified.  PPGs have been used to bridge the gap between the identification of these needs and 
their articulation in projects.  To date, nine out of the 21 PPGs commissioned were based on needs 
identified in national DTIS. 
                                                      
1 Further information on eligibility criteria, the application process and governance arrangements for 
the STDF can be found in document G/ SPS/GEN/523 and on the STDF website ( www.standardsfacility.org ).   
2 For further information on projects and project preparation grants funded, see document 
G/SPS/GEN/718. WT/COMTD/W/154 
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  16. The growth in the STDF has out-stripped funding from donors and also prompted a reflection 
on the management structure necessary to manage such this increasingly complex programme.  To this end, the STDF Policy Committee decided in J une 2006 to establish a strategic Task Force to 
examine the best way forward.  At the Task Forc e's first meeting on 29 June 2006, there was general 
agreement on the part of donors that the success of  the STDF should be consolidated and a medium 
term strategy devised with annual funding of $5 million per year.  In addition to the continued funding 
of PPGs and projects, there was also agreement that the STDF pay greater attention to acting as a vehicle for co-ordination in the provision of SPS-rela ted technical assistance.  The Task Force will 
submit a preliminary report to the next Work ing Group meeting on 16-17 October 2006.  A final 
report will then be submitted for adoption by the Policy Committee in the first quarter of 2007.  
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