WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/W/141 
3 August 2005 
 (05-3486) 
Committee on Trade and Development  
  
 
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: 
SEMI-ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES  
(1 JANUARY TO 30 JUNE 2005) 
 
Note by the Secretariat
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. This progress report on the implementation of the Technical Assistance and Training Plan 
(the Plan) provides an overview and quantitativ e and qualitative assessment of all Trade-Related 
Technical Assistance (TRTA) activities undertaken in the first semester of the year 2005.  Following a 
quantitative overview of activities undertaken, the second part of the document provides more 
detailed information on a specific product, i.e. the Intensive Course on Trad e Negotiations Skills, as 
well as on the Netherlands Trainee Programme (N TP), so as to illustrate through examples how 
TRTA is put in effect. 
2. The process of informal consultations with donor s and beneficiaries continued to prove useful 
in designing WTO TRTA activities and discussing all re lated issues.  One such meeting was held in 
April, coinciding with the Geneva Week, which thus provided a good opportunity to associate 
Non-Residents with the discussions relating to TRTA.  One issue related to linking more directly a 
country's Needs Assessments for TRTA to the Trad e Policy Reviews (TPR).  A Secretariat proposal 
to follow a more systemic approach to integrate needs assessments into the TPR process, and to assist 
beneficiary countries in conducting this process, found broad overall support.  Other issues related to 
the funding requirements of TRTA and the NTP, whic h was launched in the Spring of this year.  The 
main points will be discussed further. 
II. A BROAD OVERVIEW OF IMPLEMENTATION OF TRTA 
3. In the first six months of this year, a total of 66 countries (of which 30 least-developed) 
requested national technical assistance, corresponding to  164 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, it is not ed that a considerable number of beneficiaries do 
not utilize their entitlement to training and technical  assistance, despite the fact that the Secretariat 
uses various ways to remind Members of their right , i.e. in meetings and in direct contacts. 
4. Taking into account all other products, training and technical assistance programmes, 
processes and the partnership arrangements, the impl ementation rate of all activities during the first 
semester shows a level similar to the same period of last year.  A total of 263 Technical Assistance 
and Training activities were conducted, of which the majority, i.e. a total of 240 included seminars, 
workshops and training courses, which were held either  at the national, regional or global level.  In 
addition, there were some twenty -four interns, a variety of resear ch projects were initiated, and 
e-Training courses conducted. 
5. Using the indicator which was introduced in 2004 (number of participant/days), statistics 
show that in the first semester of 2005, more th an fifty activities planned and organized by the WTO 
(including those undertaken in close cooperation with  partner institutions) at the regional or global WT/COMTD/W/141 
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 level represented 17,244 participant/days of delivery (out of 36,213 foreseen in the Plan for the whole 
year 2005).  These figures include the Geneva-based Courses, as well as the Regional Trade Policy Courses (RTPCs) in Jamaica, Namibia, and in Hong  Kong, China.  This figure also includes four 
activities which were carried-over from the TA Plan  2004, implemented at the regional level within 
the first two months of 2005.  This delivery rate is  in line with the implementation rate in 2004.   
6. 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 2005 (the 31st, 32nd and 33rd TPCs).  
The Seventh Introduction Course for LDCs (F rench) took place, and two Specialized 
Courses (on Dispute Settlement and on Trade Negotiations) were held.  In addition, 
two Introduction Days were organized.  In the context of the RTPCs in Namibia, 
Hong Kong, and Morocco, Preparatory Works hops for University Professors involved 
in the courses were organized during the period under review.  Other Geneva-based 
activities, such as Internships, and the WTO PhD Doctoral Support Programme, described in the Plan 2005, as well as the Netherlands Trainee Programme were 
initiated or implemented.  Fi nally, five different resea rch papers on Regionalism, 
Investment Agreements, Textiles and Clot hing and related Import Competition, and 
Non-Tariff Measures were launched under the research projects with Academic Partners. 
• A regional balance
 was maintained in the delivery of  TRTA activities.  Overall, all 
regions benefited from regiona l and national activities, with  Africa receiving over a 
third of all activities.  Twenty-three per cent of TA provided in the period was targeted at Asia and the Pacific, eight pe r cent at Central and Eastern European and 
Central Asian countries; Latin America (sev en per cent) and the Caribbean (four per 
cent), and activities for Arab and Middle East countries accounted for four per cent.  Other activities included Geneva-based symposia, attendance at conferences, specific projects such as Internships, research pape rs, Distance Learning and TA development 
tools.  In general, the undertaking to frontload implementation this year has been most 
successful in relation to regional activities. 
• Cooperation with partners
 remains a key feature in the delivery of activities in 2005.  
More than forty per cent of all activities in  the first semester were undertaken in 
collaboration with one or se veral partner institutions.  A number of regional activities 
organized in cooperation with regional partne rs were delivered over a longer period 
than the average three days.  In some inst ances, partnering with other institutions led 
to the extension of the activity by a couple  of days, so that the WTO and the regional 
partner could share the programme.  The preparation and implementation of the 
RTPCs are good examples of successful partnerships.  In Jamaica, cooperation with the University of the West Indies was renewe d in 2005; in Namibia, the University of 
Namibia became the partner for the RTPC for English-speaking Africa and in Hong 
Kong, China, the University of Hong Kong continued to provide inputs for the 
organization of the course for Asia-Pacific.  Cost and/or resource-sharing remained a 
feature of most partnership activities undertaken in the first semester.  WT/COMTD/W/141 
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 • Least-Developed Countries (LDCs)   were involved in 100 activities in the first 
semester.  More than half 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 and IF missions.  They focused on subject matters  such as Agriculture, Competition Policy, 
Customs Valuations, Notifications, Rules, a nd Services.  Regional events with which 
LDCs were associated included three DDA Advanced Training Programmes, several Intensive Courses on Trade Negotiations Sk ills, Agriculture, Services, NAMA, and 
Regional Trade Agreements.   LDCs were also  invited to participate in the RTPCs in 
Namibia and Hong Kong, as well as in Geneva -based symposia and the Geneva Week 
held in April. 
• Subject areas covered
:  in the first semester, all subject matters listed in the Plan, with 
the exception of Customs Valuation and San itary and Phytosanitary Measures (which 
are mostly scheduled for the second part of  the year)  were covered in regional 
activities.  Three Geneva-based Courses and three RTPCs, running over 60 days, were started in the period.  Seven DDA Adva nced Training Programme Workshops and 
Short Trade Policy Courses were organized with different partne rs, covering Africa, 
Asian and Pacific economies, Arab and Middl e East countries, and Latin America.  
An ongoing partnership programme, the Jo int Integrated Technical Assistance 
Programme (JITAP) for African countries (jointly operated by ITC, UNCTAD and WTO) represented an important part of th e delivery in the first semester, and focused 
on the implementation of Module II, i.e.  the establishment of JITAP Reference 
Centres and National Enquiry Points, as well as training in services, customs matters and trade facilitation, for example.  Other IT-related projects included the 
establishment or upgrading of twelve WTO Reference Centres in the regions or for 
Geneva-based delegations. 
• Distance Learning and e-Training:
  technical assistance modules on "GATS and 
Maritime Transport" (English and Fren ch) and on "Specific GATS Commitments" 
(English and French) were developed by the Secretariat.  e-Training technical assistance courses were launched:  the thr ee Introduction Courses to the WTO and Its 
Basic Principles (in English, Spanish and in French) were conducted during the first 
semester.  The "1st Introduction Course to WTO Rules: Antidumping, Safeguards, Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (in E nglish) for the Asian Region", which is 
linked to the Advanced Regional Seminar on Anti-dumping scheduled to take place in October, was held from 13 June to 15 July 2005. 
III. THE INTENSIVE COURSES ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS SKILLS 
7. The Intensive Courses on Trade Negotiations Skills are offered to six regions in the Plan.  
Three of these Courses have taken place in the first part  of the year in Kenya for African countries, in 
the United Arab Emirates for Arab and Middle East countries, and in Austria for Central and Eastern 
European and Central Asian countries.  In addition,  the WTO Secretariat participated in the delivery 
of a Sub-Regional Workshop organized by othe r bodies and conducted four National Intensive 
Courses in Botswana, Angola, Ethiopia and Ug anda.  The courses are organized as follows: 
• The Intensive Courses on Trade Negotiations Sk ills are delivered over five days, and are 
designed to provide participants with skills and knowledge appropriate  for use in both an 
informal negotiating process, characteristic of decision-making within and between 
organizations, and in more fo rmal negotiations, at both bila teral and multilateral levels.  
They aim at contributing directly to the objectives of the Doha Development Agenda 
(DDA) by improving, deepening and enhanc ing participants' understanding of the DDA 
Negotiations, more particularly the "July Package".  The core of the Courses encompasses all the stages in Trade Negotiations - from the consultation stage to actual negotiations, 
involving real give-and-take.   WT/COMTD/W/141 
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 • This form of training is targeted at officials with good knowledge of the WTO 
Agreements or the Multilateral Trading System (MTS), and who serve or will serve as their government negotiators in regional or international trade negotiations.  Typical 
target groups are high level government officials, including Directors of Trade, Permanent Secretaries, and other senior official s.  The course is designed to ensure that 
participants acquire skills and knowle dge concerning pre-negotiation planning, 
appropriate strategies and tactics for the c onduct of negotiations, as well as techniques of 
systematic decision analysis for monitoring and managing the negotiating process.  Participants apply the lessons in simulated bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral trade 
negotiations.  Generally, the feedback from par ticipants indicates that they would use the 
knowledge and skills acquired in  preparing their countries' positions for the next NAMA 
negotiations, for the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference, and in submitting their 
countries' Services offers, in DDA and ACP-EU-EPA negotiations, as well as accession negotiations.   
• Typical delivery and implementation includes one day of background information on 
Course objectives and expectations, as well as presentations on trade negotiations 
approaches and strategies, and on the organi zation and planning of the bilateral and 
plurilateral negotiations.  Participants ar e assigned to hypothetical "country" groupings, 
and four days are dedicated to simulation exercises, which encompass national, bilateral 
and, finally, multilateral negotiations exercises.  In particular, the participants assigned to 
the developed country groups have the opportunity to engage in trade policy formulation 
and consultation process from the perspectives of  developed countries – an opportunity to 
view issues from different perspectives.   
• Participants are particularly interested in  trade negotiations techniques, formulae for 
calculating trade barrier reductions in agriculture and NAMA, services negotiations, rules negotiations, coalition building, and acquire va luable presentation skills in the negotiating 
process.  Overall, courses are evaluated very positively. 
IV. THE NETHERLANDS TRAINEE PROGRAMME (NTP) 
8. The Netherlands Trainee Programme provides an opportunity to officials from 
Least-Developed Countries, African and low inco me economies, through dedicated funding, to 
address specific WTO issues of direct relevance to thei r country.  Up to 20 trainees, for a period of up 
to ten months, can be accommodated each year and be provided with an opportunity to directly 
participate in the work of the WTO in Geneva, thus facilitating the implementation of Members' 
commitments in the WTO.  The main objective of the Programme is to produce tangible and 
measurable results.   
• The Programme is operated by the WTO Secretaria t, particularly the Institute for Training 
and Technical Cooperation and the Human Re sources Division, who jointly conduct the 
selection process of candidates, and have th e full responsibility for the management and 
execution of the Programme.  There are different entry modes into the programme, but it is essentially geared towards government officials.  Selected officials will be housed 
either at the Secretariat, but given the sp ace constraints, can also be housed at the 
Permanent Missions.  They are fully associ ated with the ongoing activities in the 
Secretariat, and are expected, inter alia , to contribute to the achievement of the goals of 
the Doha Development Agenda, and those set out in the "July Package".  During their 
training period, officials are thus expected to  complete a specific task that should have 
relevance for the beneficiary country in terms of capacity-building, or in the ongoing 
Negotiations.  This task has to be clearly defi ned prior to the beginning of the traineeship.  
Trainees work under the direct supervision of senior WTO staff members.  WT/COMTD/W/141 
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 • This Programme began in Spring 2005.  Th e first Netherlands Trainee was appointed 
during the first semester 2005, for a period of ten months.  Some 20 further candidates have been considered and/or retained, who will start their training with the WTO shortly 
after the summer break. 
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