WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/W/173 
10 June 2010 
 (10-3161) 
Committee on Trade and Development  
  
 
ANNUAL REPORT ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING  
(1 JANUARY TO 31 DECEMBER 2009) 
 
 
Table of Contents
 
Page  
 
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................3  
II. A BROAD OVERVIEW OF TH E ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN.....................................5  
III. E-LEARNING..................................................................................................................... ......9  
A. OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................... ....9 
B. DELIVERY ............................................................................................................................... .....9 
C. SELF-TRAINING COURSES .........................................................................................................12  
IV. GLOBAL AND THEMATIC TRAINING COURSES (REGIONAL TRADE 
POLICY COURSES (RTPCS), GENEVA-BASED TRAINING ACTIVITIES, OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, ACADEMIC COOPERATION AND INTENSIVE 
COURSES ON TRADE NEGOTIAT IONS SKILLS (ICTNS) ..........................................13
 
A. REGIONAL TRADE POLICY COURSES (RTPC S) AND CONSOLIDATION COURSE ........................13  
B. GENEVA -BASED TRAINING ACTIVITIES ....................................................................................15  
C. INTENSIVE COURSE ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS SKILLS (ICTNS).............................................21  
D. OUTREACH ACTIVITIES FOR CIVIL SOCIETY , PARLIAMENTARIANS AND MEDIA ......................21  
V. REGIONAL APPROACHES TO TRTA AND PARTNERSHIPS....................................23  
A. AFRICA ............................................................................................................................... .......23  
B. ASIA-PACIFIC ............................................................................................................................24  
C. ARAB COUNTRIES AND THE MIDDLE EAST...............................................................................26  
D. CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA AND CAUCASUS COUNTRIES ..............27  
E. LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (LAC) .........................................................................28  
VI. TRAINEE PROGRAMMES AND INTERNSHIPS............................................................31  
A. NETHERLANDS TRAINEE PROGRAMME (NTP)..........................................................................31  
B. THE MISSION INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME (MIP)........................................................................33  
C. THE WTO  REGIONAL COORDINATOR INTERNSHIP (RCI).........................................................36  
D. A BROAD APPRECIATION OF THE TRAINEE PROGRAMMES .......................................................37  
VII. REFERENCE CENTRES (RCS) ..........................................................................................39  
VIII.  FINANCIAL SITUATION ....................................................................................................41  WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 2  
 
  ANNEX
 1 .............................................................................................................................. ................43  
ANNEX  2 .............................................................................................................................. ................46  
ANNEX  3 .............................................................................................................................. ................48  
  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 3 
 
 
  I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
1. The year 2009 was characterised by a number of changes in the organization of work, 
reflecting the new vision that had been developed in close consultation with Members, during 2008.  
The changes relate in particular to the preparations  of the Secretariat's TRTA activities, including the 
strengthening of the coordination of TRTA through the Regional Desks at the Institute for Training 
and Technical Cooperation (ITTC), as well as a reth inking of the training events, with particular 
emphasis being put on the gradual and incremental learning process, referred to as 'progressive learning', with a clearer differentiation between th e products, each being geared to attaining agreed 
objectives.   
2. The new structure of the Secretariat's ITTC, aimed at enhancing its capacity to design and 
deliver an effective programme of capacity-building, was put fully into effect.  This realignment has 
reinforced the capacity of the ITTC to interact w ith beneficiaries in all re gions, and it has enhanced 
the scope for coordination with regional and multilatera l partners.  The internal coordination of TRTA 
programmes at all levels within the Secretariat has also been put on a firmer footing, particularly 
through the establishment of the Technical Assist ance (TA) Coordination Task Force.  During the 
year, several coordination meetings were held with  the partner institutions to share information on 
upcoming activities and with a view of  creating synergies between them. 
3. It is recalled that the main purpose of the Secr etariat's trade capacity-building programmes, as 
contained in the Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan (TA Plan) 2008-2009 (WT/COMTD/W/160), has been to provide direct s upport to beneficiaries enhancing their human and 
institutional capacities to deal with the challeng es emerging from the multilateral trading system 
(MTS).  All the products and TRTA activities have been geared towards achie ving that objective.  
The Secretariat's TRTA efforts are part of the br oader Aid for Trade initiative and can be seen as the 
Secretariat's contribution to that programme. 
4. As a first element in the process of stre ngthening the concept of gradual learning, 
considerable efforts were pursued to reposition and revamp eTraining within the means of delivery of 
TRTA, which permeates all other products.  Through eTraining the Secretariat has been able to 
incorporate the concept of progressive learning ensu ring that participation in advanced WTO courses 
is premised on a full understanding of basic WTO concepts and principles.   
5. A second salient element continued to be the strengthening of the regional dimension of 
TRTA, by working more systematically with the re gional secretariats and partnering with filed based 
agencies.  Thus, the Secretariat has continued to seek out strategies for enha ncing its cooperation and 
relationships with regional institu tions and partners and engaged in preparing new Memoranda of 
Understanding (MOUs).  This c ooperation is being undertaken through a number of activities 
including the RTPCs that are organised and conducte d with the participation of regional and national 
academic institutions and experts.  The RTPCs are be ing re-engineered, so as to specifically bring out 
the regional dimension to trade policy formulation.  The role of regional economic communities and 
economic commissions and other relevant regional in stitutions in the delivery of TRTA will remain a 
central element of the WTO TRTA programme.  This regional approach to addressing capacity constraints is consistent with overall approach on aid for trade strategies. 
6. Thirdly, following the recommendations made by the Committee on Trade and Development 
(CTD) members, the Secretariat expanded its ou treach programmes, including its work with 
parliamentarians, private sector, media, civil soci ety, academics and universities. Best endeavours are 
also made for the new TA biennial 2010-2011 to targ et all regions and engage a sizeable number of 
these stakeholders.  In 2009, the Secretariat pursued the pr eparations for the launching of the WTO 
Chairs' Programme (WCP) with a dvice and insights obtained from  scholars with experience in 
academic outreach activities, in order to optimize th e design of the WCP.  The selection process of the WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 4  
 
  Universities that would formally be included in th e WCP was also pursued and came to a conclusion 
at the end of the year, thus permitting the launching of the WCP early 2010.  Also, during this period 
the TRTA reinforced its activities with parliament arians and media, following the recommendations 
made by the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) members. 
7. Fourthly, the Regional Desks in the ITTC, the ro le of which was further strengthened in 2009, 
systematically interacted with the beneficiaries in  all the regions and with the regional partners to 
discuss the national and regional TRTA requirement s, based on their needs assessments.  This 
interaction was particularly useful in the prepar ation of the new TA Plan 2010-2011, which followed 
a bottom up approach, with various rounds of consul tations with the regional groupings, but also the 
least-developed countries (LDCs) and other stakeholders.   
8. Fifthly, the year 2009 has also been of importance in terms of strengthening the intern 
programmes, including the Netherlands Trainee Pr ogramme (NTP) which had already been extended 
by the Netherlands and the Mission Intern Progra mme (MIP), which is now benefiting from new 
funding obtained from France, thus effectively incr easing the number of mission interns that can be 
accommodated by a dozen.  This has been found partic ularly welcome in light of the challenges that 
small delegations encounter in following the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations and 
being represented at meetings. 
9. Sixthly, the RC Programme has been re-launche d after a reflection process that led to the 
design of a new strategy, which includes more em phasis on enhancing local ownership, sharing of 
information between the WTO and the RCs as well as creating more interaction between the various 
centres, through the RC network, and a fuller and in-d epth training of the RC managers in operating 
the centres and getting access to all trade-related da ta.  It also includes an important component 
consisting of outsourcing of the procurement of th e hardware, the installation of the RCs and the 
aspects related to maintenance. 
10. Seventh, the efforts to prepare the WTO's Gl obal Technical Assistance Database (GTAD) are 
being pursued with a view of launching the GTAD in 2010.  The main aim of this forward looking 
database is to provide access to information regard ing upcoming TRTA activities to be undertaken by 
relevant agencies.  The work undertaken on GTAD included considerable efforts both at the policy 
level, i.e. establishing the sort of data and informa tion that would need to feature in the database and 
who would be reporting, as well as at the tec hnical level, involving outside consultants and 
information technology (IT) experts.   
11. Finally, in 2009, the WTO hosted the Second Global Review on Aid for Trade which 
provided a timely opportunity for a dialogue among Members on innovative ways to optimise the 
financing of TRTA, particularly within the c ontext of the current global and economic crisis. 
  WT/COMTD/W/173 
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  II. A BROAD OVERVIEW OF THE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN 
12. This Report provides a brief qualitative and quan titative overview of the TA and training 
activities undertaken in the year 2009, as contained in the biennial TA Plan 2008-2009 (WT/COMTD/W/160).  The Report will cover eLearning, global training courses (RTPCs, TPCs, Academic programmes), followed by a discussion of  the regional activities (seminars, workshops), 
trainee programmes and internships, RCs and the financial situation. 
13. In designing the Secretariat's TRTA activities fo r implementation in the year 2009, as well as 
in the preparatory process of drafting the new biennial TA Plan 2010-2011 (WT/COMTD/W/170/Rev.1), which was adopted at th e first reading in November 2009, the main 
objective was to build long-lasting human and ins titutional capacity and to enhance ownership.  
Intensive consultations have been held between th e Secretariat and the Members, including with all 
regional groupings, through the I TTCs Regional Desks, as well as with the LDCs, with a view of 
ensuring that all the products are, as much as possible, been tailored to the needs of the beneficiaries.  
Consultations were also conduc ted with regional development banks, and other international 
organizations, to enhance the cohere nce and efficiency in the delivery of the Secretariat's TRTA.  As 
in the past, countries have been invited in writing, to submit to the Secretariat directly, their requests 
for national TA at any time during the year, when th e need arises.  This flexibility has been found to 
be indispensable to allow for the delivery of TA that is focused and timely, related to identified needs.   
14. Some of the features that are worthwhile high lighting are the concerted efforts undertaken by 
the Secretariat to put the Institute's new strategy in to effect.  This includes the notion of progressive 
learning, as explained in detail in the new TA Plan ; a fundamental review of the contents of the 
Geneva-based TPCs and field based RTPCs; the strengthened coordination of TRTA, especially 
through the Regional Desks; within the Secretar iat; as well as with Members and international 
agencies; the strengthening of the Secretariat's ac ademic programmes, in particular through the WTO 
Chairs programme; the strengthening of the MIP, through important new funding made available by 
France; a better focus on the prioritization of needs of beneficiaries by conducting the needs 
assessments for beneficiaries; intensification of the utilization of the partnership arrangements; 
enhancing the visibility of the Secretariat's TRTA activities and lines communication with the 
stakeholders and last but not least the impor tant work done on the databases, including the 
enhancement of the Secretariat's internal TRTA database; as well as the setting up of the WTO's Global Technical Assistance Database (GT AD), which will be launched Spring 2010. 
15. The Secretariat has again used all opportunities to explain the features of the TA Plan and 
beneficiaries' entitlements, and to draw their attention to how TA can be requested.  Short 
presentations on TRTA have been made at each of the CTD meetings, explaining to Members the state-of-play in the implementation and providing specific information on the products.  The Regional 
Desks of the ITTC continued to interact with bene ficiaries, to ensure that the proposed TRTA would 
meet the countries' needs and requirements.  In close coordination with the line divisions in the 
Secretariat and the beneficiaries, they ensured th at the right terms and conditions for successful TRTA 
were set. Those countries that were not using thei r rights were contacted, to explore whether they 
would have any particular need for assistance.  TR TA also featured prominently on the agenda of the 
Geneva Week, in order to alert non-residents to the possibilities of benefiting from WTO programmes.  In order to monitor the quality of th e products and to ensure that the needs of the 
beneficiaries are best catered for, the activitie s are assessed through the Back-to-Office Reports 
(BTORs), which are systematically analyzed by the Technical Cooperation Audit Unit (TCAU), 
leading to follow-up recommendations. 
16. In 2009, to achieve the goal of sustainable capac ity building and in line with expectations, a 
total of 459 activities were implemented includi ng Geneva-based activities as well as those held 
abroad.  While this seems to point to an important  decrease compared to the year 2008, it is mainly WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 6  
 
  the result of a change of approach.  By way of ex ample, the report does not include the EIF as well as 
STDF related activities, except for those that directly  involved WTO staff.  In addition, a number of 
entries that were previous reported no longer are, as some were not strictly considered to be WTO 
activities.  Finally, the intern programmes (NTP, MIP, RC) are each counted once, while previous 
data used to report on the number of interns. In  other words each programme leads to one entry.  
17. It is also noted that this number comprises activities of significantly different durations, 
varying between one day to 12 weeks, and involv ing as little as one staff member, or as many as over 
two dozen for the longer courses, as well as the internships, doctoral studies and research collaboration programmes.  In addition, it is noted that the number of participants varies from one 
activity to another.  A majority of these activ ities were organized in partnership with other 
international organizations.  Particular emphasis ha s been put on assistance provided to Africa, and 
more specifically to LDCs, whose integration into  the MTS remains a priority for the WTO.  The 
Report provides detailed information about the activ ities undertaken in 2009, the specific means of 
delivery and the beneficiaries. 
18. As to the objective of maintaining a regional ba lance in the distribution of the TA activities, 
(cf Table 1 and Graph 1), the majority of activiti es were held in Africa (131), representing 29 per cent 
of WTO's TRTA, followed by Asia and Pacific (103), representing 22 per cent of all activities.  A total of 45 activities were organized for Latin Ameri ca (ten per cent), 30 for the Central and Eastern 
Europe Central Asia and the Cauc asus (CEECAC) (seven per cent), 26 for the Arab and Middle-East 
countries (six per cent), and 23 for the Caribbean (five per cent).  While the LDCs are not listed 
separately, it should be noted that out of all activities,  LDCs have been associated with half of them.  
This includes national activities held in LDCs ( 61) as well as regional seminars, workshops and 
training activities in which LDCs participated.   
19. In terms of national versus regional activities, it can be observed that a total of 185 activities 
were held at the national level a nd 177 activities were regional and globa l events.  This is consistent 
with the notion that more targeted TRTA is require d at the national level.  In addition, some 97 
activities consisted of WTO's participation in activ ities organized by other agencies and to which the 
Secretariat was asked to make a contribution, as well as WTO's representation in trade-related conferences, symposia and high-level meetings.  As is discussed further in the report, a considerable 
number of activities are undertaken as part of the pa rtnership arrangements with other agencies that 
the WTO cooperates with, and are directly relevant  in terms of TRTA and capacity-building.   
20. The total number of regional and global activities undertaken includes WTO's regional 
workshops and seminars, preparatory workshops for the RTPCs, the eTraining modules, as well as 
regional events that were proposed under partnershi p arrangements with other agencies and bodies, at 
which each institution provided a specific input, su ch as Short Trade Policy Courses (STPCs) with the 
Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) and the International Development Law Or ganization (IDLO), for example. 
21. The logistical and administrative arrangements,  as well as the human resource inputs and the 
cost relating to regional seminars, the three-month TPCs held either in Geneva or in the regions 
(RTPCs),  are most demanding.  For the regional se minars, preparation time requires at least nine 
weeks, depending on whether the activity is organized solely by the WTO, or whether it is part of a 
partnership arrangement with another agency.  Thr ough the implementation of the partnerships, this 
burden is lessened somewhat, particularly when other agencies are taking charge, in part or in full, of 
the logistical and administrative arrangements of th e regional activities.  For the TPC and RTPCs, the 
preparation time is even much longer. 
22. In line with the Doha Declaration, priority a ttention continued to be given to LDCs with a 
view to facilitating their full integration into the M TS.  Not only is this confirmed with the absolute  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 7 
 
 
  and relative numbers, i.e. the frequency with which LDCs have been associated with TRTA, but this 
is also expressed through the products, several of wh ich are specifically and/or largely geared towards 
LDCs.  Last year, LDCs benefited from 48 per cen t of all WTO TRTA activities.  Out of the 185 
national activities that were held, 61 took place in LD Cs.  With respect to regional seminars, LDCs 
participated in 79 out of a total of 111 activities that were organized.  They also were associated with 
all the 65 global activities that were organised.  In addition, LDCs are also given priority in our 
internship programmes, i.e. the NIP and the MIP.  Last year, out of the eleven NTPs, six came from 
LDCs.  Out of the nine MIPS, five came from LDCs .  Conscious of the capacity constraints of LDC 
and other developing country Missions in Geneva, th e Secretariat is positively predisposed to making 
available interns to assist countries which may be  coordinating a regional grouping such as the LDC 
Group, the African Group or the Cotton-Four.  To en sure that LDCs are not disadvantaged from the 
introduction of the progressive learning strategy, the Secretariat organizes each year two Introduction Courses which would enable them to participate in  Level Two activities.  Greater efforts are also 
being made to further improve CD-based training materials for LDCs bearing in mind interconnectivity problems and other challenges.  LDCs  are also given priority under the new strategy 
for RCs.  In 2009, the majority of RCs were establis hed in LDCs.  The Secretariat believes that the 
RCs could assist LDCs, particularly those with out missions in Geneva to keep abreast of 
developments in the DDA negotiations and othe r WTO-related work.  Least-developed country 
officials could also make use of the Centres to complete as many online eTraining courses as possible 
in order to fully benefit from th e introduction of the progressive learning strategy.  In preparing for 
the 2010-2011 TA Plan, the ITTC held consultations  with the LDC Group and individual LDCs to get 
their views on priority areas.  It was against th at background that priority was given to accessions, 
notifications, scheduling in the TA Plan.  To make  activities more relevant for LDCs, the ITTC has 
been working with LDCs to assess their TRTA n eeds.  LDCs will continue to be the primary 
beneficiaries of the WTO's TRTA programme.  Not only do they have the right to three national activities under the TA Plan, but they would also be  given priority in all other areas of the WTO 
TRTA programme. 
23. The 2
nd Global Review of Aid for Trade which took place on 6 and 7 July 2009 provided an 
opportunity to give added impetus to the mandate on Aid for Trade, agreed at the WTO's Hong Kong Ministerial Conference in 2005.  The Review evaluated progress made since the 1
st Global Review 
held in November 2007 and examined how Aid fo r Trade was being operationalized on the ground.  
Each session focussed on the key objectives of the Review, namely moving from commitment to 
implementation, mainstreaming trade in national an d regional development strategies, sustaining aid 
flows during the global economic downturn  and assessing the effectiveness of Aid for Trade.  In his closing remarks, the Director-General highlight ed the need to focus on strengthening regional 
dimensions of Aid for Trade, on further evaluating the implementation of Aid for Trade, on fostering 
the role and contribution of the private sector a nd on encouraging South-Sout h cooperation in Aid for 
Trade.  A report of the 2
nd Global Review is reproduced  in document WT/COMTD/AFT/W/15. WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 8  
 
  Table 1:  Trade-Related Technical Assistance by Region in 2009 (1 January to 31 December)
 
TRTA BY 
REGION National TA Regional Global(1) Other 
(Conferences, 
etc.) Total 
Africa 67   36% 36 32% 1 2% 27 28% 131 29% 
Arab and  
Middle East 10 5% 13 12% 0 0% 3 3% 26 6% 
Asia and the  
Pacific 58 31% 28 25% 0 0% 17 18% 103 22% 
Central and  
Eastern  18 10% 9 8% 0 0% 3 3% 30 7% 
Caribbean  9 5% 12 11% 0 0% 2 2% 23 5% 
Latin 
America 23 12% 13 12% 0 0% 9 9% 45 10% 
Sub-Total 185 100% 111 100% 1 2% 61 63% 358 78% 
Global 0  0% 0 0% 65 98% 36 37% 101 22% 
Total 185 100% 111 100% 66 100% 97 100% 459 100% 
 
(1)  Activities under the TRTA Global region include those that are not targeted at a specific region, such as the 
Geneva-based courses and topic-specific workshops an d symposia, distance learning, internship programmes 
and the advisory role on legal issues – dispute settlement understanding (DSU) - Article 27.2. 
 
 
Graph 1:  TRTA by region in 2009  
 
Arab and Middle East 
countries
5.7%Africa
28.6%
Asia and Pacific 
economies
22.5%Glo b al
21.8%
Central and Eastern 
Europe, Central Asia and 
the Caucasus
6.6%Latin America
9.8%
Caribbean countries
5.0%
 
 
 
  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 9 
 
 
  III. E-LEARNING 
A. OVERVIEW  
24. The WTO e-Learning programme takes full advantag e of IT and the Internet as a complement 
- as well as an alternative to - more traditiona l training programmes.  In addition to establishing 
networks of useful contacts between course partic ipants and their WTO tutors, e-Learning aims to 
give participants a homogeneous and strengthened understanding of th e MTS; enhanced knowledge of 
the basic principles of the WTO and the legal structure of the WTO Agreements; and improved capability to interpret relevant information and documents on WTO-related issues, as well as to use 
the WTO legal texts and legal background material.   
25. The new approach of progressive learning invol ves the sequencing of products in order to 
improve the delivery of TRTA, with a view to gradua lly and progressively moving to higher levels of 
learning.  Progressive learning has been already an important element in the eTraining Programme itself since 2005, with the online Introduction Course being a pre-requisite for participation in more 
advanced online courses on specific WTO topics to ensu re that participation in the advanced courses 
was premised on a full understanding of basic WTO concepts and principles as well as of the main 
provisions of the Agreements.   
26. This approach continued to be used in th e 2009 eTraining Programme and was strengthened 
further.  Online Introduction Courses were used system atically as a prerequisite for participation in 
RTPCs and in Geneva-based advanced thematic courses.  In 2009, candidates were required to 
successfully complete an eTraining online Introduc tion Course on the WTO, the basic principles of 
the MTS and the main disciplines of WTO Agreements before they could be selected to participate in 
the above-mentioned higher level of learning. 
B. D
ELIVERY  
27. In 2009,  a total of 27 eTraining courses were offered ( 14 in English, nine in French and four 
in Spanish) on the eTraining platform.  Courses were clustered in ten different sessions.  Each session lasted from six to eight weeks and was delivered  in one of three WTO official languages.   
Table 2:  Number of online courses held in the three official languages, 2007-2009
 
 
Year Number of courses held Number of courses held, by language 
(English=E, French=F, Spanish=S) 
2007 18 E=10; F=4; S=4 
2008 27 E=16; F=6; S=5 
2009 27 E=14; F=9; S=4 
 
28. In 2009, two new courses were added to th e course catalogue: a course on trade in services 
and an advanced course covering the WTO Agreem ents and the main trade-related cross-cutting 
subjects (eWTO).  The course catalogue therefore included the following available courses:  WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 10  
 
   
-  Introduction to the WTO -  Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) -  Trade Remedies -  Agriculture in WTO 
-  Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT)  
-  Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) -  Trade in Services – NEW -  eWTO: Advanced Course on the WTO Agreements – NEW 
 
29. Substantive progress in the development of th ree other courses on trade and development, 
Trade and environment and on market access was made  in 2009, with a view to finalizing the draft 
training material for these courses in 2010.   
30. A total of 4,370 participants participated in  an online course in 2009, which represents an 
increase of 64 per cent compared to 2008 and of 144 per cent compared to 2007. 
Graph 2:  Number of particip ants in online courses, 2007-2009
 
0500100015002000250030003500400045005000
2007 2008 2009
 
31. Efforts were also made to enhance participa tion from TA recipients from all regions.  Latin 
America and the Caribbean (LAC) again provided the highest number of participants in 2009.  This 
number continues to increase, with some 20 per cent between 2008 and 2009.  During the same 
period, the number of participants sharply raised in Africa, the Arab and Middle-East region and in 
Asia and the Pacific with participants' number in creasing by 181 per cent, 174 per cent and 115 per  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 11 
 
 
  cent respectively from 2008 to 2009.  Participation from Central and Eastern Europe and from Central 
Asia remained stable. 
 
Table 3:  Participants by region, 2007-2009  
 
Region 2007 2008 2009
Africa   291 442 1242
  - English-Speaking Africa 181 274 572
  - French-Speaking Africa 110 168 670
Asia and Pacific 193 575 1237
Latin America and Caribbean 888 1137 1318
  - Latin America 704 791 1052
  - Caribbean 184 346 266
Other 429 556 896
  - Arab and Middle-East 102 199 545
  - Central and Eastern Europe 317 344 326
  - Central Asia 10 13 25
   
 
Graph 3  
0200400600800100012001400
Africa Asia and
PacificLatin
America
and
CaribbeanArab and
Middle-
EastCentral
and
Eastern
EuropeCentral
Asia2007
2008
2009
 
 
32. In 2009, participation of LDCs in the onlin e course programme was strongly encouraged.  
The number of participants from LDCs rose from 269 in 2008 to 838 in 2009, which corresponds to a 
212 per cent increase over a year.  The percentage of LDC participants among the total number of 
eTraining participants was multiplied by two in 2009, reaching a 21 per cent share.  From 2007 to 
2009, all LDCs benefited from the online course progra mme and participated at least  in one online 
activity. WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 12  
 
   
Table 4:  Overall Number of Participants from Least-Developed Countries (LDCs), 2007-2009
 
 
 2007 2008 2009 
Total Number of Participants 1788 2658 4370 
Number of LDC Participants 195 269 838 
Percentage LDCs/Total 11% 10% 19% 
 
 
Graph 4:  Number of Participants from LCDs, 2007-2009  
 
   
 
 
 
  
 
 
Table 5:  Participation of LD Cs in online courses, 2007-2009
 
 
 2007-2009 
Total Number of LDCs in the WTO 32 
Percentage of LDCs, which have participated at least in an eTraining courses 100% 
 
C. SELF-TRAINING COURSES  
33. In 2009, a number of self-training modules covering a wide range of WTO topics (overview 
of the WTO, legal and economic underpinnings, di spute settlement, SPS measur es, trade in services, 
accessions procedures, trade facilitation, trade and fi nance, etc.) were available online through the 
WTO Webpage on distance learning, the eTra ining website and on CD-Rom or DVD.   
34. The modules were accessible free of charge and open to all website users.  Each module 
included theory and exercises through multiple choice questions with an automatic correction 
mechanism.    
0100200300400500600700800900
2007 2008 2009 WT/COMTD/W/173 
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  IV. GLOBAL AND THEMATIC TRAINING COURSES (REGIONAL TRADE POLICY 
COURSES (RTPCS), GENEVA-BASED T RAINING ACTIVITIES, OUTREACH 
ACTIVITIES, ACADEMIC COOPERATION AND INTENSIVE COURSES ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS SKILLS (ICTNS)  
A. R
EGIONAL TRADE POLICY COURSES (RTPC S) AND CONSOLIDATION COURSE  
35. Four RTPCs were  implemented in 2009: one in  partnership with the Universidad Sergio 
Arboleda (Colombia) for Latin America (19 January to  10 April); one with the National University of 
Singapore (NUS) for  the Asia-Pacific region (11 Ma y to 31 August); one in partnership with the 
University of Swaziland for English-speaking Africa (1 June to 21 August 2009); and, finally, one in 
partnership with l'Université d'Abomey-Calavi (B enin) for French-speaking Africa (28 September to 
18 December 2009). 
36. Both the Universidad Sergio Arboleda and the Un iversity of Swaziland were first-time RTPC 
partners in 2009.  They each dealt with the challe nges of hosting the RTPC in a constructive way and 
the RTPC Unit considers that the first experience with the new partners was very positive.  While 
there were lessons learned in both cases, each university added to the improvement of the RTPC 
activity.  The Universidad Sergio Arboleda showed the benefits of the "virtual classroom", an 
electronic platform which stored all the training material  used in the course.  As well as ease of use by 
participants and trainers, the virtual classroom greatly reduced the amount of paper used during a 
RTPC.  The University of Swaziland had to resolve a number of logistical difficulties during the RTPC, which it did successfully.  In addition, th e Swaziland RTPC introduced some aspects which 
strengthened the evaluation process of the RTPC.  Both  universities showed that they have a lot of 
potential at different levels which will be further explored with them in 2010.   
37. The pre-requisite for RTPC participants  - successful completion of a level one
1 training 
activity, i.e., the on-line WTO eTraining Course "Introduction to the WTO" or a Geneva-based 
Introduction Course for LDCs - was successfully implemented for all RTPCs in 2009.  The 
introduction of the pre-requisite impacted on th e composition of RTPC participants, as some 
countries/customs territories presented candidates w ho did not successfully complete the pre-requisite 
and so were not selected, while other countries/cust oms territories did not submit any candidates at 
all.  It became clear during the year that in order to facilitate countries' adhe rence to the pre-requisite, 
the RTPC invitation process needed to be aligned wi th the offer of online Introduction Courses by the 
eTraining Team so that potential candidates had time  to register and complete the course.  In some 
cases, the RTPC Unit offered a limited number of can didates the option to complete the online course 
on CD, whereby the end-of-module exams and the final exam were sent by email.  The results were 
mixed: first, it left little time to complete the list of participants before the start of the course; and 
second, some of these candidates did not manage to complete the online course successfully.   
38. In spite of these challenges, participants were  very positive about the benefit to them of 
completing the level one activity.  They believed that , as a result, they became more familiar with the 
WTO in a way that they would not otherwise have done.  A number of trainers also remarked on the 
benefits of the level one activity to the participan ts.  One Academic Coordinator commented that "[it] 
has proved to be a major boost to participants' acad emic performance".  He also said that many of the 
resource persons and the participants themselves attributed the commendable performance of the participants primarily to the introduction of the pre-requisite and also to the commitments of the 
participants.  While 2009 marked a positive development in the use of a pre-requisite for all RTPCs 
participants, further work is required and will con tinue on building stronger li nks between the content 
of the level one activity and the content of  the RTPC Programme. 
                                                     
 
1 In accordance with the progressive learning approach introduced by ITTC in 2009, RTPCs are 
sequenced as level two activities. WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 14  
 
  39. The RTPC Programme has been revisited (ITTC  and the Economic Research and Statistics 
Division (ERSD) worked closely on the project) and was implemented for the first time in 2009 in its 
revamped format, starting in Singapore and contin uing in Benin and Swaziland.  The revised RTPC 
programme comprised a new  introductory segment , "Trade Policy in Regional Perspective", which 
focused on the conceptual and theoretical aspects of international trade, as well as on the practicalities 
of trade-policy making in the specific region.  The following segments, "Multilateral Trading System 
and Doha Development Round" and "WTO at Work",  comprised respectively the coverage of WTO 
Agreements and WTO Work Programme, and simulati ons, practical exercises, and revision sessions.  
The change in the RTPC programme is directly re lated to the repositioning of this course as a second 
step in a learning progression.   
40. The challenge of this first segment was to find the balance between necessary technicalities 
and intuitive teaching or "story-telling".  There was also a challenge to find the optimal length of time 
to devote to this segment, in order to retain particip ant's interest and concentration, to avoid repetition, 
and to allow sufficient time for practical exercises and participant's interaction.  There was also a 
challenge to finding a balance in covering the interest s of all the participants in reasonable measure.  
Each subsequent RTPC adjusted the first segment of the programme according to the specificities of 
the region and to the lessons l earned in previous courses.   
41. The evaluation of the new introduction segme nt indicated that these challenges were 
positively overcome, with some qualifications, and show ed the interest of the participants in this 
approach.  Fine-tuning of the revised RTPC progra mme is still necessary and will continue throughout 
2010.   
42. The ITTC continued its practice of appointing an official Patron or Patroness for each RTPC 
and Geneva-based TPCs.  The Patron provides inspirati on, guidance and leadership to the participants 
in these Courses.  In order to celebrate and h onour the achievements of prominent, accomplished 
women in international trade or law, the Patr onesses in 2009 were successful and dynamic women 
who have contributed substantially to their areas of expertise.  The Colombia RTPC valued the 
patronage of Mrs. Angela María Orozco, former Mini ster of Trade for Colombia.  In Singapore, Ms 
Indranee Rajah, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament honoured the participants 
by being Partroness of the RTPC.  The RTPC in Sw aziland had the privilege of the Patronage of Ms 
Sibongile G. Mdluli, Deputy Governor of the Ce ntral Bank of Swaziland, while Mrs. Koubourath 
Osseni, Grande Chancelière de l'Ordre National du Bé nin and former Minister of Labour and Social 
Affairs, honoured the participants of the RTPC in Benin with her Patronage.  In each case, the 
Patroness met with the RTPC participants, discu ssed her professional experience with them and 
encouraged the participants to benefit to the ma ximum from their participation in the RTPC and to 
work to strengthen the MTS. 
43. Four RTPC Preparatory Workshops were held  at the WTO in 2009: for the Asia Pacific 
RTPC (Singapore); the French-speaking RTPC (Ben in); the English-speaking RTPC (Swaziland) and 
the Latin America RTPC (Colombia).  As usual, the purpose of the workshop was to bring together 
the academics who would be co-delivering the RTPC with WTO officials for a three-day update and  
meetings. 
44. The Preparatory Workshop for the Latin Am erica RTPC, which took place at the WTO from 
7 to 9 December 2009, was significantly overhauled in  order to achieve one objective: the delivery by 
WTO and regional trainers of annotated programme s for their sessions in the RTPC.  As a result, 
significantly more of the Workshop was dedicated to working sessions between regional resource 
persons and WTO colleagues than ever before, a nd this required a greater involvement of WTO 
colleagues in the Workshop, than ha d been the practice up to now.    WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 15 
 
 
  45. One of the most successful part s of the workshop was a session in which each of the trainers 
presented their annotated programme to the Works hop participants (and also to a number of WTO 
colleagues who attended).  For the first time, trai ners received a coherent  overview of the RTPC, 
instead of only an awareness limited to their own sessions.  Each presentation outlined the objectives, 
methodology and bibliography for the session and w as followed by a general discussion in which the 
Workshop participants offered suggestions, case studi es, further reading material or indicated that 
they would make revisions to their own programm es in light of what would be covered in other 
topics. 
46. The evaluation showed that the new approach w as appreciated by the Workshop participants.  
They commented that the revised approach was very useful, being an interesting blend of new aspects, 
while retaining established elements.  This was a ve ry interesting, experimental approach to the 
Preparatory Workshops and based on the successful out come, it will be further refined for use again in 
2010.   
47. The RTPC Unit also organized an activity for th e Caribbean in 2009, a Consolidation Course, 
which was a two-week modular course covering Agriculture, SPS and TBT.  This course was 
organized in partnership with the University of th e West Indies (UWI) and was offered only to former 
participants of Caribbean RTPCs and former Ca ribbean participants of Geneva-based TPCs who 
worked on the topics covered.  It was co-delivered  by WTO and regional trainers and was overseen by 
an Academic Coordinator from UWI.  The organizers of the course wanted it to be a practical exercise which participants would leave feeling that they ha d truly learned something, and not just theory, but 
the application of the material (including an appreci ation of all the issues, benefits, challenges, etc).  
In order to achieve this result, the Consolid ation Course was innovative in commissioning regional-
specific case studies and marrying those studies very  closely with an interactive, participatory 
programme and tailor-made, well-prepared site visits.   
48. The Course organizers, Academic Coordinator, tr ainers and participants alike all considered 
the Course to have been successful.  In particular, this Course highlighted the benefits of successful 
co-training and the importance of early and consiste nt involvement of regional resource people in the 
development and delivery of a training activity.  The regional resource persons involved in this 
activity had participated as co-trainers in RTPCs a nd this course showed the value added of having 
developed relationships with regi onal resource persons through their very important input into the 
Consolidation Course.  The Course focused on being pr actical in terms of the material being covered 
and the manner in which it was delivered to the pa rticipants and a result, the use of case studies and 
field trips were very important aspects of the Course.  Participants rated the case studies and the field 
trips as the most successful elements of the Course for their practicality  and relevance and for 
fostering a deeper understanding of the practi cal challenges faced by businesses in the region. 
49. The success of the 2009 Consolidation Course wi ll be harnessed for 2010, when another 
Consolidation Course will be delivered in the Caribbean. 
B. G
ENEVA -BASED TRAINING ACTIVITIES  
1. Overview 
50. In 2009, the WTO Secretariat delivered a series of training activities as part of its Geneva-
based training programme.  These courses were c onducted under the responsibility of the Geneva-
Based Courses Unit (GBCU) of the ITTC, in collaboration with officials from other Secretariat Divisions.  Ranging in length from one week to th ree months, these Geneva-based training activities 
included comprehensive TPCs; Introduction Courses for LDCs; and Thematic Courses on particular 
WTO-related topics (i.e. negotiations, dispute settle ment, SPS, TRIPs).  The GBCU also held two 
Introduction Days.   WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 16  
 
  51. Last year was a year of considerable challe nge and innovation in respect of Geneva-based 
training activities.  During this year, the GBCU pursued the development and implementation of the 
progressive learning strategy.   
52. In line with the progressive learning appr oach, the Geneva-based course curriculum 
commenced its re-orientation in three main ways: fi rst, differentiating amongst the levels of activities 
delivered (i.e. levels 1, 2 and 3); second, including prerequisites for some more advanced courses; 
and, third, renovating existing products and designing  and delivering new, more advanced, training 
activities.  For example: 
53. the programme of the Introduction Course for LD Cs underwent a renovation to ensure that it 
was more tailored to the particular needs of LDCs and was a basic "level 1" activity in the progressive 
learning strategy;   
54. certain aspects of the TPC acquired a more adva nced focus, with the knowledge that this 
activity would evolve into the "level 3" Advanced Trade Policy Course ("ATPC") in 2010;   
55. the trade negotiation module underwent a renovation, and the product was delivered both in 
the context of a TPC and in a dual-module activity (that is, an introductory eLearning module, 
followed by a face-to-face activity in Geneva);   
56. prerequisites – in the form of eLearning and/or commensurate knowledge or experience - 
were introduced in respect of advanced thematic  activities on TRIPs, SPS and dispute settlement; TPC 
applicants were strongly encouraged to have co mpleted the introductory WTO eLearning module;   
57. 2009 saw the launch of the first joint WIPO-W TO Advanced Course on Intellectual Property 
for Government Officials, in collaboration with the WTO IP Division and WIPO; and,  
58. in collaboration with the WTO Legal Affairs Di vision and the Appellate Body Secretariat, 
advanced dispute settlement activiti es were designed and delivered, including, in particular, the first 
Geneva-based Advanced Dispute Settlement Course.   
59. Geneva-based training activities draw upon a rich  tradition with a steady record of success 
spanning over fifty years.  They benefit from their comparative advantage of taking place at the heart 
of the WTO Secretariat.  This offers an authorit ative and comprehensive platform for the delivery of 
training – from a multilateral  perspective - on WTO rules and functioning.  It allows the possibility of 
attending WTO meetings to witness the day-to-day op eration of the institution, as well as easy and 
direct access to officials from specific divisions of the WTO Secretariat and other international 
organizations located in Geneva, in addition to delegates from missions based in Geneva.  Geneva-
based training courses provide an opportunity for par ticipants to have first- hand exposure to, and on-
site experience of, the functioning of the WTO. 
60. In order to maximize the effectiveness of its  face-to-face training activities, the pedagogical 
approach followed in Geneva-based training activ ities continues to evolve toward resolutely 
interactive and participatory training.  Moreove r, these training activities constitute synergistic 
laboratories for the development and continuous updating and adaptation of training materials and 
modules.  The material generated is then made widely available in order to support other WTO 
training and capacity-building activities.    WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 17 
 
 
  Graph 5:  Participation in Gene va-Based Training Courses, by Region  
 
(based on the number of participants having comp leted the courses from January to December 2009) 
40%
18%4%8%24%6% Africa
Asia and Pacific
Caribbean
Central & Eastern Europe
Latin America
MENA
 
 
2. Trade Policy Courses (TPCs) 
61. The long-standing flagship of Geneva-based tr aining activities is the comprehensive twelve-
week TPC.  Two such courses were held in 2009 (the 47th in English; and the 48th in French).  The 
TPC consists of a series of interactive modules,  comprising lectures, exercises and simulations, 
covering virtually all the areas of work of the WTO.  It also includes visits to other international 
organizations active in trade-rela ted matters as well as attendance at selected meetings of WTO bodies 
and regular briefings on WTO work-in-progress.  C ontacts with officials in the WTO Secretariat and 
other international organizations – including the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Nations 
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), th e Agency for International Trade information 
and Cooperation (AITIC), the World Bank, the Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL) and the 
World Intellectual Property Rights Organization (WIP O) - as well as delegate s from Geneva missions, 
are also a common feature.  Participants are encour aged to establish contacts with experts in relevant 
divisions of the WTO Secretariat, to pursue discussi ons of interest to their country with experts in 
specific fields, and build working relations with WTO officials.   
62. As mentioned, certain aspects of the TPC acqui red a more advanced focus in 2009, in the 
knowledge that this activity would evolve into the "level 3" ATPC in 2010.  Conceptualization and 
design of the renovated ATPC is in progress, in view  of the future introduction of the introductory 
eLearning module and an RTPC (or eWTO) as prere quisites for this advanced training activity.  
Certain cardinal elements may nevertheless be highli ghted at this stage.  ATPCs will be organized by 
the ITTC in cooperation with Secretariat colleag ues from divisions.  Rather than featuring the 
"knowledge transfer" that will predominate in the prior stages of the WTO training programme (in 
particular, introductory eLearning and RTPC /eWTO), ATPCs will focus on strengthening 
participants' conceptual understanding and analytical  skills as they learn to apply their WTO-related 
knowledge and engage in more anal ysis and evaluation of material.  The ATPC aims to promote a 
higher level of learning and to encourage the developm ent of participants' autonomy.  Participants will 
also be encouraged to develop an analytical frame work placing their country's interests in the context 
of the WTO system.  It is anticipated that this  will contribute to building sustainable human and 
institutional capacity of beneficiary countries to par ticipate most effectively in the rules-based MTS.   WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 18  
 
  63. As mentioned, the ITTC appoints an official Patron for each TPC to provide inspiration, 
guidance and leadership to the participants.
2  The Patron for the 47th TPC was Ms. Patricia Francis, 
Executive Director, ITC.  Ms. Francis met with th e participants on several occasions, allowing them 
to benefit from her wise advice,  drawn from her lengthy and diverse experience working in an 
international environment.  Her frank appraisal of the risks and consequences of the economic crisis, 
which provoked the first shrinking of the world economy since the 1930s, served as a solemn 
reminder of the importance of international coopera tion and of the continuing need to strengthen the 
multilateral trading system.  Her Patronage underlined the institutio nal links and cooperation between 
ITC, the UNCTAD and the WTO.  The Patron of the 48th TPC was H.E.  Mrs.  Ambassador Marie-
Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, Head of World Trade , Member of the Executive Board, State Secretariat 
for Economic Affairs (SECO) in the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA).  H.E.  
Ambassador Ineichen-Fleisch also shared her experiences with participants, offering them a 
privileged glimpse into "a day in her professional lif e" as a busy senior trade official in Bern.  She 
emphasized the importance of human relations built during this type of training activity:  for her, they 
are just as important as a good knowledge of the topics in creating good relations between countries 
and improving the functioning of the multilateral trading system. 
3. Introduction Courses for Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) 
64. Two three-week introduction courses for LDCs (one  in English, one in French) focused on 
issues and perspectives of specific concern to LD Cs.  During 2009, the course programme underwent 
a renovation to ensure that it is more  tailored to the particular needs of LDCs and is a basic "level 1" 
activity in the progressive learning strategy.  This  activity introduces participants to the WTO, its 
basic rules and disciplines and its functioning for the benefit of government officials from LDCs.  
Briefing on overall WTO work-in-progress is an inte gral part of the course.  The development 
dimension, with a particular focus on LDC-related issues, constitutes an important component of the 
programme.  The course often benefits from involve ment of the ITC, UNCTAD, AITIC, the World 
Bank and the ACWL.   
4. Thematic and Specialized Courses:  Basic and Advanced 
65. The 2009 Geneva-based training agenda also in cluded courses on particular WTO-related 
topics.  In 2009, six thematic courses took place on  TRIPs (1); dispute settlement (2); SPS (1) and 
negotiations (1).   
66. The first joint WIPO-WTO Advanced Course on Intellectual Property was organized by the 
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)  and the WTO and took place in Geneva in 
October 2009.  Participants were to have co mpleted the WTO online TRIPs eLearning module (or 
have commensurate knowledge or professional experi ence).  The one-week course was opened by Dr.  
Francis Gurry, Director-General WIPO, and the par ticipating government officials spent the first part 
of the course at the WIPO Headquarters.  They fi nished up at the WTO Headquarters in Geneva, and 
Mr.  Pascal Lamy, Director-General WTO, addressed the participants at the closing ceremony for this 
advanced course.  The main objective of the course was to update participating government officials 
on the activities and instruments of the WIPO and the WTO and to provide a forum for an exchange 
of information and ideas between them and the tw o secretariats on these matters.  This advanced 
Course built on the success of the WIPO-WTO Colloquium for teachers of intellectual property, which has been held annually since 2004. 
67. Two one-week thematic courses on dispute settleme nt took place in 2009.  The first Geneva-
based advanced ("level 3") dispute settlement c ourse, in English, consisted of interactive 
                                                     
 
2 The 46th TPC - held in French in the Autumn of 2008 - was the first to have an official patroness:  
Ambassador Mounina MINT ABDELLAH of Mauritania.     WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 19 
 
 
  presentations, lunch conferences, round tables, group  discussions and practical exercises given both 
by in-house experts from the WTO Secretariat and the Appellate Body, as well many guest speakers 
from other international organizations (such as the ACWL), the private sector, missions and academia.  Participants in this advanced course we re asked to have already completed a thematic 
dispute settlement course (or have commensurate know ledge or professional experience).  In addition, 
a renovated "level 2" course, in Spanish, aimed to  provide a better understanding of the WTO dispute 
settlement rules and procedures through a combina tion of lectures and interactive exercises.   
68. The three-week thematic SPS course, delivered in  Spanish, offered an in-depth and "hands-
on" interactive training course, which addressed ma ny SPS-related issues, including implementation 
problems, as well as SPS-related market access difficulties.   All participants were asked to complete 
an SPS questionnaire, as well as the WTO on-line SPS eL earning module.  They were also asked to 
elaborate an action-plan to allow them to address at least one or two difficulties encountered in the 
implementation of the SPS Agre ement in their countries.  A team of WTO staff, external experts, 
including from Codex, World Organization for An imal Health (OIE) and International Plant 
Protection Convention (IPPC), coached participants during the course.
3 
69. The follow-up session of the 4th Specialized Course on the SPS Agreement was organized for 
the participants of the Specialized Course on the SPS Agreement held in 2008 to report on the 
implementation of the Action Plans they developed during the course.  Their Action Plans covered a 
broad array of subjects, including: strengtheni ng SPS enquiry points and national notification 
authorities, creating national SPS coordination me chanisms, launching Internet web site on SPS 
matters for their constituencies, disseminating info rmation through capacity building activities, and 
elaborating new SPS-related legislation in acco rdance with the SPS Agreement.  The follow-up 
session was organized just prior to the SPS Committee meeting week, so the participants could also 
participate in the Committee meetings. 
70. The renovated two-week trade negotiations m odule was designed, on one hand, to enhance 
participants' knowledge and skills for the conduct of negotiations through a clearer link between 
theory and practice, and on the other hand, to d eepen their experience of the WTO negotiation process 
by actively engaging in a trade negotiations simula tion.  This negotiations module was delivered, in 
French, as part of the 48th TPC, as well as in a dual-module course  (the online "Introduction to the 
WTO" eLearning module, followed by the face-to-face module). 
5. Introduction Days 
71. The Geneva-based course training programme was rounded out by two one-day Introduction 
Days.  Intended for newly arrived delegates in  Geneva, non-governmental  organizations, new WTO 
staff members, interns working in  the Secretariat and interested officials from other international 
organizations, this activity allows for the dissemi nation of general information about the WTO, its 
basic principles, its functioning and current issu es, as well as about ways to access WTO-related 
information through the WTO Library and Internet.   
6. Launching of the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) 
72. Furthering its commitment to support the deve lopment and consolidation of capacities on 
matters related to trade policy and the multilatera l trading system in academic institutions from 
developing and least-developed countries, the WTO launched in March 2009 a competitive bidding 
process for a new WTO Chairs Programme (WCP).  This programme will provide financial support to 
teaching, research and outreach activities with a view  to enhancing the contribution of beneficiary 
                                                      
3 During 2009, a follow-up activity to the 2008 4th Specialized SPS Course al so occurred, administered 
by the Agriculture and Commodities Division of the Secretariat. WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 20  
 
  institutions to the formulation and implementation of national trade policy, and to the participation of 
the beneficiary countries in the multilateral tradi ng system.  The WCP is managed jointly by the 
Institute for Training and Tec hnical Cooperation and the ERSD. 
73. This programme provides dedicated and pred ictable support (grants will be made for a 
maximum of 4 years) to academic programmes in th e selected universities.  Universities that have 
partnered in the past with the WTO for the joint organization delivery of RTPCs were encouraged to 
apply, and it is expected that subject to havi ng submitted quality projects these universities could be 
awarded a WTO Chair.  In this sense, the follow-up priority areas of interest of  former RTPC 
partners could be supported in a sustainable way.    
74. A total of 70 proposals were received, The proposals were examined taking into account a 
series of criteria including: 
(a) networking plans;  
(b) new versus established programmes;  
(c) development of young scholars;  
(d) capacity-building and sustainability;  
(e) joint implementation with other institutions, and;  
(f) utilization of resources.   
(g) Particular consideration was given to qua lity proposals from institutions with which 
the WTO has already been in partnership fo r the delivery of the RTPCs, as well as 
regional balance.  The announcement of the award of the WTO was made in early 2010.   
7. Enhanced Presence in Academic Events and Academic Programmes 
75. The WTO Secretariat is frequently invited to take  part in academic events of different types.  
The participation was streamlined further into  the activities of the WTO Secretariat involving 
academic communities with a view to enhance inte raction with these, and to identify and develop 
possible new areas and modalities of effectiv e support.  Under the Academic Cooperation 
Programme,  the WTO participated in scientific and organization committees  of various academic 
events, as well as in the Board of important academ ic institutions, including the annual Global Trade 
Policy Analysis Project (GTAP), the Trade Law Center for Southern Africa (TRALAC), and the 
annual International Colloquium for academics from the Mediterranean, jointly organized with the 
United Nations Economic Comm ission for Africa and the Université Mohammed V-Souissi  
(Morocco), and the Université d Lumière Lyon II  (France).  During 2009, a total of twenty activities 
were implemented under the Acad emic Cooperation Programme, in cluding regional and national 
activities.   
76. Furthermore, the WTO started developing new partnerships with regional academic 
institutions , and implementing activities in countri es not yet covered by the Academic Cooperation 
Programme, such as the Institute de la Francophon ie pour la Administration et la Gestion (IFAG) , 
based in Bulgaria, as well as the new activities im plemented in French-speaking Africa for Senegal 
and Algeria.    WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 21 
 
 
  77. Enhancing support to academic events on WTO le gal matters, the ITTC incorporating into the 
Academic Programme the Regi onal Rounds and Final Round of the  Moot Court on WTO Law 
organized by the European Law Students Associ ation (ELSA), which now encompasses universities 
from developing countries.  The f eedback received is highly positive. 
C. INTENSIVE COURSE ON TRADE NEGOTIATIONS SKILLS (ICTNS) 
78. The intensive course on trade negotiations skills is  designed to provide participants with skills 
and knowledge concerning appropriate  strategies and tactics for the conduct of negotiations, as well as 
techniques of systematic decision analysis for m onitoring and managing the negotiating process.  It 
contributes directly to the objectives of the DDA by  improving, deepening and enhancing participants' 
understanding of the DDA negotiations, more partic ularly the Crawford Falconer document on Draft 
Modalities for Agriculture and Don Stephenson/ Luiz Wasescha document on Draft Modalities for 
non-agricultural market access (NAMA), 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, and the 2004 July 
package.  The core of the c ourse encompasses all the stages in trade negotiations—from the 
consultation stage to actual negotiations, involving real give-and-take.  The use of the DDA mandate 
for the simulation exercise makes this training prog ram particularly relevant since participants can 
apply their strengthened skills immediately to r eal world negotiations in Geneva and other fora. 
79. The course has been found to be extremely va luable, bringing participants into real 
negotiation mode.  Feedback from participants has been very positive and reassuring.  A computed 
average score for 2009 shows that 95% of participan ts expressed satisfaction with the results of the 
TA while 91% pointed to the achievement of the objectives of the TA.  Virtually all participants 
indicated in the evaluation forms that they ha d benefited from the course and expanded their 
knowledge of bilateral and multilatera l trade negotiations.  A number of participants indicated that 
they would use the knowledge and skills acquired in th eir daily work, bilateral and international trade 
negotiations, FTAs and at the policy-making support level. 
80. During 2009, seven regional intensive courses we re held in Vienna (Austria), Cape Town 
(South Africa), Singapore (RTPC), Swaziland (RTPC), Casablanca (Morocco), Cotonou (Bénin-- 
RTPC) and Jakarta (Indonesia-STPC).  Equally, three national intensive courses were held in Uganda, 
Thailand and Ghana.  Since the training program was designed on the basis of the actual negotiating 
issues in the DDA, most of the participants fe lt that their trade negotiations skills had been 
substantially strengthened in practical terms.  In particular, the participants assigned to the developed 
country groups had the opportunity to engage in trade policy formulation and consultation process 
from the perspectives of developed countries – a rare opportunity to view the same issues from 
different perspectives.  A selection process has been  introduced to improve the quality of the results.  
Selected participants are those who have good kn owledge of the WTO Agre ements, have attended a 
WTO workshop or seminar on any topic before, or have followed the WTO e-training.   
81. Over the years, the WTO has built partnership with the APEC-Economic Integration project, 
Thailand Institute for Trade and Development (ITD) , Canadian International Development Agency 
and the Conference Board of Canada in running inte nsive courses on trade nego tiations skills in Asia.  
In Africa, partnership has been built with the Organisation internationa le de la Francophonie, 
University of Pretoria, University of the Western Cape (South Africa), University of Dar es Salaam 
and the University of Nairobi.  The Islamic Deve lopment Bank has been involved in partnership 
arrangements in the Middle East.   
D. OUTREACH ACTIVITIES FOR CIVIL SOCIETY , PARLIAMENTARIANS AND MEDIA  
82. Outreach activities for Parliamentarians, civil so ciety and media are part of an overall WTO 
strategy to help these stakeholders better understand and engage in informed debate on the provisions 
of WTO agreements, the Doha Ministerial Decl aration and the DDA negotiations. In 2009, the WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 22  
 
  number of Outreach activities has been enhanced to wards building dialogue and capacity within WTO 
TRTA's overall aim of sustainable capacity build ing. Five Regional activities were carried out, 
targeting Parliamentarians and Civil Society.  The Regional initiatives complement the national 
outreach workshops, which are carried out as part of the WTO’s regular technical assistance work. In 
2009, several efforts were made to engage with national media, all ca rried out back-to-back with other 
WTO TA activities. Therefore, the cost of engaging  with the media was marginal, while reaching out 
to a wider, non Geneva based media constituency. 
83. All of the five Outreach activities implemented in 2009, involved partnerships with regional 
Parliamentary or Civil Society organizations. Thes e partnerships have beco me regular and involve 
long lasting relationships with Parliamentar y associations of the Commonwealth and the 
Francophonie. The partnership normally include joint funding arrangements and help in the logistics 
involved in organizing the events. The joint f unding has increased the possibilities offered by the 
TRTA Budget. 
84. Regional balance has been crucial in delivering the outreach activities. Parliamentarians, Civil 
Society and Media from Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Pacific, Arab and Middle East, and Latin 
America were engaged in 2009.  Demand from deve loping countries is clearly high for these activities 
in all regions. Best efforts were made to match av ailable resources with a growing demand. This will 
become even more apparent for the new TA bienni al 2010-2011, as eventually,  all regions will need 
to be targeted and involve a sizeable number of th ese stakeholders. The new biennial TA Plan will 
therefore witness a qualitative and quantita tive increase of outreach activities. 
85. Regional outreach is aimed at complementi ng some of the WTO's Geneva-based outreach 
activities such as the Public Forum and Open Day. Th e Public Forum is consolidating its status as a 
prominent fixture on the international calendar and brings together Government officials, Civil 
Society, Academics, Parliamentarians, Media a nd the general public to debate multilateral trade 
issues. WTO Open Day made its successful debut in  2009 and proved to be a fruitful transparency 
exercise and an outreach activity "par excellence".  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 23 
 
 
  V. REGIONAL APPROACHES TO TRTA AND PARTNERSHIPS 
A. AFRICA  
86. Consistent with overall WTO TRTA policy, Africa remained a major priority area for WTO 
TA in 2009.  The WTO continues to dedicate a very high proportion of its TA activities to Africa.  In the past year, for example, approximately 36 per cent of all WTO national TA activities were 
delivered in Africa, as were over 30 per cent of all regional activities.  The WTO is committed to 
strengthening the capacity of African countries in trad e-related matters with a view to facilitating their 
integration into the multilateral trading system..  Give n that priority is also given to LDCs under the 
WTO's TRTA programme, and in view of the fact that  Africa has the vast majority of LDCs (33 of the 
49 LDCs), WTO's prioritization of Africa and LDCs are in effect two sides of the same coin. 
87. In 2009, African countries continued to be nefit from numerous national activities and 
internship programmes, as well as regional seminars  and workshops.  National activities are intended 
to assist the countries to develop and strengthen their institutional capacity in relation to the MTS, so that they can participate effectivel y in the work of the WTO which, in turn, would enable them derive 
significant benefits from the MTS.   
88. The subjects covered in the national activities included agriculture, trade facilitation, the 
General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), TRIPS, NAMA, TBT, SPS, customs valuation, 
trade remedies, regional trade agreements (RTAs) , government procurement, and trade negotiation 
skills.  The progressive learning approach adopted by the Secretariat was tested in a few subjects, and 
is expected to be phased in gradually for most na tional and regional activities for Africa in the coming 
year.  This is intended to improve , and even out, the level of participants in WTO activities, and hence 
raise the overall quality of the TA provided.   
89. It is now widely accepted, that TA is only effec tive if it addresses clearly identified needs.    
Most of the subjects covered at national seminars were specifically identified by the beneficiary 
country using the new standard format for na tional requests or through the Diagnostic Trade 
Integration Studies (DTIS) carried out within the EI F (see below); as well as specific needs identified 
pursuant to trade facilitation needs assessments and within the framework of the STDF.   
90. Another important source for identifying the TA needs of beneficiary countries is the TPR 
reports.  In recent years, every TPR of a developi ng country or LDC includes a detailed analysis of 
the country's TRTA needs, as well as its supply-si de constraints.   Thus, the TPR process has now 
become a major source of information on the TRTA needs of African countries.  In 2009, 10 African 
countries
4 had their trade policies reviewed.  This inte rplay of TRTA needs assessments and TPRs has 
necessitated a collaborative relationship between the Trade Policies Review Division (TPRD) and the 
ITTC.    
91. Regarding LDCs, the EIF (through the DTIS) is th e main source of needs identification for 
LDCs, and also provides the platform by which TA  delivery under various configurations can be 
delivered.  In view of the fact that the EIF is multi-agency, it seeks to identify all forms of needs of 
LDCs (of which African countries constitute the vast  majority), and not necessarily only those needs 
than can be delivered by the WTO.  It is expected that in 2010, the EIF will consolidate its capacity to 
be the basis for the identification of TRTA need s for LDCs, and hence be the major vehicle for 
determining TA activities to be delivered to LDCs in the coming years.   
                                                      
4 Mozambique, Morocco, Niger, Senegal Zambia, and the Southern African Customs Union countries 
(Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland). WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 24  
 
  92.  In a number of situations, the TRTA needs of many African countries converge around a core 
number of subjects.  In this regard, regional activiti es are used to meet the collective needs of many 
countries for a particular WTO subject of interest .  Admittedly, individual country needs are best 
addressed at the national level.  However, human an d financial resource constraints on the Secretariat 
make regional activities a very good alternative to  delivery of TA at the national level.   
93. Regional activities have the distinct advantage of reaching a wider country coverage on as 
many WTO subjects as possible.  The Secretariat ha s also taken advantage of its working relationship 
with regional partners involved with human and institutional capacity-building in Africa.  These 
include the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa) UNECA, the African Development 
Bank (AfDB), the International Organization de la Francophonie (OIF), as well as sub-regional 
institutions such as the Southern African Devel opment Community (SADC), the Common Market for 
Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the E ast African Community (EAC), the Economic 
Community of West African States (ECOWAS), th e West African Economic and Monetary Union 
(WAEMU) and the Central African Economic and Monetary Cooperation (CEMAC).   
94. The regional TA activities in Africa included th e three-month RTPCs, held with a selected 
academic partner; targeted activities depending on specific regional/sub-regional demands; as well as 
participation in international semi nars and conferences organized by other agencies.  In 2009, for the 
second year running, the RTPC for French-speaking African countries was held in Cotonou, Benin, while the RTPC for English-speaking African countries was held in Manzini, Swaziland.  In addition, 
the regular three-month Geneva-based TPCs included the participation of several African countries. 
95. In 2009, sub-regional activities were organized with several African sub-regional economic 
groupings, including COMESA, EAC and CEMAC for th eir member states.  These activities have the 
distinct advantage of allowing for complementary c ontributions by resource persons with expertise in 
specific trade issues from the Secretariats of UNECA, COMESA, SADC, ECOWAS, CEMAC, as well as from the respective national Government de partments represented at these activities.  Such 
synergies were evident during the biannual STPC orga nised for all African countries in Accra, Ghana 
in October 2009 by the WTO, the AfDB, and the ECA.   
96. The priority given to Africa is also evident in several other WTO TA initiatives.  Under the 
Netherlands Trainee Programme (NTP), a programme  designed to bring officials to the WTO for a 
ten-month period, the majority of the selected part icipants are from LDCs and African countries.  In 
2009, 7 out of the 11 candidates admitted to the NTP were officials from African countries.  This has 
allowed African officials to further broaden their ex posure to the day- to-day work of the WTO in all 
the relevant areas, particularly those of utmost importance to them.   
97. The WTO Reference Centre (RC) programme con tinues to be a major source of assistance to 
African countries for the transfer of trade-relate d information from Geneva to the capitals.  The 
strategy behind the RCs continues to be aimed at utilizing them as "one-stop" information centres on 
all MTS related issues in the country, but also as a va luable tool for the private sector in search of new 
market opportunities.  African countries benefited fro m an upgrade of their RCs, to bring them up to 
speed with latest information technology (IT) to enable their effective use for transmission of 
information.  It is widely acknowledged that pr operly functioning RCs could also be an effective 
medium for the WTO's e-learning activities.   
B. A
SIA-PACIFIC  
98. In the Asia and Pacific region, WTO TA rests on solid foundations with the help of regional 
partnership arrangements which ensure high quality interaction in the preparation and implementation 
of joint technical cooperation and capacity-building activities.  Also, the efficient implementation of 
TA and capacity-building requires extensive coope ration between WTO colleagues within ITTC and  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 25 
 
 
  in WTO Divisions, diplomats in Permanent Missions and capital-based officials, regional institutions 
and international organizations.  The WTO conducted joint TA activities or liaised with a number of 
institutions which include the Pacific Islands Foru m Secretariat (PIFS), the United Nations Economic 
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the South Asian Association for Regional Coope ration (SAARC), the Melanesian Spearhead Group 
Trade Agreement (MSG), the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific 
Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), the Colombo Plan  Secretariat, the International Development 
Law Organization (IDLO) and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie .   The WTO 
TRTA activities continued to focus on acceding countries (Bhutan, Lao PDR, Samoa and Vanuatu) 
and recently acceded countries (e.g. Tonga). Direct support has been provided by the Accession 
Division and other specialized Divisions to address  all concerns and issues raised.  Support was 
provided through the NTP, in partic ular regarding the elaboration of needs assessments.  Also, the 
RTPCs, first at Hong Kong China, now at Singapore , give support regionally, with the setting up of 
institutional partnerships at the regional level fo r capacity-building and the creation of networks 
among academia.  Furthermore, the WTO encourages  the use of eTraining and distance learning. 
99. Thanks to their strategic partnership arra ngements, WTO and the UNESCAP joint TA/CB 
operations contribute both a global and regiona l development perspective and facilitate the 
constructive exchanges between Asian capital-based and Geneva-based trade officials.  Distribution 
of tasks and cost-sharing between WTO and UN ESCAP strengthen cooperation between the two 
institutions regarding the implementa tion and conduct of joint TA activities.  For example, from 22 to  
26 June 2009, Thailand hosted the UNESCAP/WTO  ARTNeT Capacity Building Workshop for 
Junior Researchers on research tools and on modern izing curricula of international trade in Asia-
Pacific universities.  Since 2005, the WTO (through the ERSD) has been providing assistance in the form of trainings on trade-relate d economic methods to researcher s and academics who are members 
of ARTNeT.  ARTNet has the principal objective of enhancing the capacity of research institutions in 
the Asia Pacific region.  It s activities are supported by, among others, UNESCAP, UNDP, UNCTAD, 
and WTO.  Another joint ESCAP/WTO ARNet Ca pacity-Building Workshop was conducted in 
Manila from 4 to 6 March 2009 with a view to tr ain senior researchers.  A number of joint 
WTO/UNESCAP regional seminars were conduc ted on the DDA negotiating issues (Bangkok, 12-14 
May 2009), trade in agriculture and agriculture ne gotiations (New Delhi, 7-8 September 2009), WTO 
rules and procedures relating to regional tr ade agreements (Bangkok, 15-16 October 2009), 
government procurement (Bangkok, 24-26 Novemb er 2009) and implementation of the TBT 
Agreement (Hanoi, 24-26 November 2009). 
100. The WTO also continued its collaboration with  the IDLO and its Sydney based Asia-Pacific 
Training Centre in the delivery of the Asia-Pacifi c Regional Public Interna tional Trade Law Course 
(PITLC), pursuant to a Memorandum of Understa nding between the two Institutions.  The eighth 
course was held in November 2009 with the particip ation of 25 selected government officials from 12 
Asia and Pacific developing countries.  Many ec onomies in the Asia-Pacific region lack the capacity 
to effectively participate in the international tr ading system, hampering their economic development 
and poverty reduction efforts.  The PITLC seeks to strengthen the capacity of developing countries in 
the region to more effectively participate in the in ternational trading system in order to better realise 
the gains/returns from trade which can then be  used to pursue poverty reduction and achieve 
sustainable broad-based economic development.   
101. In 2009,  collaboration between the WTO and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) 
continued with the joint organization of two Sp ecialized Regional Workshops (SPS and Advanced 
Course on DDA Negotiations for Senior Officials) for the 14 Pacific Island countries.  These TA activities result in an in-depth, subj ect-specific assistance, and a deep ened knowledge in the field of 
key WTO Agreements, thus enhanci ng the fuller integration of PIFS countries into the trading system.  
Particular emphasis was put on fisheries trade-re lated issues for Pacific Island Economies.  The 
Forum Secretariat is WTO's current partner for TA activities in the Pacific region.  Since the signing WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 26  
 
  of the first MoU between the WTO and the Forum Secretariat in 2000, twenty-two joint WTO/PIFS 
regional TA activities were implemented.  These jo int activities are financed entirely from the WTO 
Global Trust Fund.  The joint participation of the Forum Secretariat has a value-added effect on our 
WTO TA activities in the Pacific region, in terms of  logistical arrangements, involvement of local 
resource persons and giving a regional di mension to the training activities.   
102. Annually, as indicated earlier on, improved c oordination with regional institutions on TA 
delivery implements the existing Memoranda of U nderstanding (MoUs) in the Asia-Pacific Region 
(Singapore/WTO, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific 
(UNESCAP)/WTO, Pacific Islands Forum Secretaria t (PIFS)/WTO, International Institute for Trade 
and Development in Bangkok.  Close working relations  are maintained with other Asia and Pacific 
institutions (e.g.  the Asian Development Bank ( ADB), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum 
(APEC)  and the South Asian Association for Regi onal Cooperation (SAARC)).  For example, the 
Government of Singapore finances two Singapore /WTO regional workshops annually for some 25 
Asia and Pacific officials. 
103. An essential issue is the adequate design and an up-to-date knowledge of the needs 
assessments of Asia and Pacific economies with a vi ew to set up appropriate plans and programmes to 
address their capacity needs.  With  the assistance of multiple partners, the Asia and Pacific Desk 
compiles the trade-related technical assistance needs of all Asia and Pacific economies.  The primary 
sources of information are Trade Policy Review re ports, Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies, World 
Bank Reports and exchange of information with  Technical Assistance focal points in Geneva 
Permanent Missions and in capitals.   
104. Efficient local and regional partnership suppor t continues to be provided by a plethora of 
national and regional trade institutes, associatio ns, plans, fora, foundations, business centres, 
academia entities, training centres, e.g.  Intern ational Institute for Trade and Development in 
Bangkok, the International Trade Institute in Sing apore, the Pakistan Institute for Trade and 
Development, the Temasek Foundation Centre for Trade and Negotiations at the S.  Rajaratnam 
School of International Studies in WTO Affairs Co nsultation Centre, the Shanghai Customs College, 
the Shenzhen WTO Affairs Centre.  In conclusion,  WTO participates in TA missions nationally and 
regionally with the objective of advising Asia a nd Pacific economies on how to enhance on a daily 
basis their participation in the DDA negotiations and the work of the WTO.  In missions abroad, 
WTO provides direct advice to local officials, parliamentarians, academics, NGOs, and civil society at large with a view to discussing programmes contribu ting to the strengthening of their trade-related 
capacity.  For example in June 2009, a WTO outreach regional workshop was conducted in 
Singapore, jointly with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, for the Asia and Pacific region.  Authoritative advice given at the request of Ministerial Departments in Asia and Pacific 
Economies on how to benefit from all aspects of the WTO Multilateral Trading System, including the active participation of WTO Members and acced ing economies in the DDA negotiations (the 
developing negotiating strategies, addressing institu tional implications and advising on specific 
issues). 
C. A
RAB COUNTRIES AND THE MIDDLE EAST  
105. The objectives of the desk covering the Arab and Middle East countries are to put in place 
clear and coherent WTO training paths based on a progressive, multi-modular approach.  At the regional level, Arab countries have significantl y benefited from WTO's technical cooperation and 
capacity-building activities.  A large number of govern ment officials participated in 13 WTO regional 
seminars and training events, covering a wide range  of WTO-related areas including Non-agricultural 
Market Access; Government Procurement; rules on Regional Trade Agreements; Trade Remedies; Trade and Environment; Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights; outreach activities for  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 27 
 
 
  Parliamentarians, academics and civil society,  trade negotiations skills, as well as other DDA 
negotiating subjects.   
106. Ten national activities were organized in AM EC.  Subjects covered included Technical 
Barriers to Trade; Sanitary and phyto-Sanitary measures; accessions related matters; Trade Negotiations Skills courses; academic cooperation and NAMA.  The low figure is mainly due to the 
fact that some needs were being addressed at the regional level or by other partner institutions.  An 
additional facture which hampered any effort by the Secretariat to organize specific events related to 
the security situation in some countries.  Th is was somehow addressed by organizing specific 
programmes in Geneva funded by other partner in stitutions for Groups of officials coming from these 
countries and accepting more of their officials to be nefit from internship programmes on offer at the 
WTO in particular within the NTP or Mission internship programme. 
107. Due to human and financial resource constrai nts, the Secretariat was not in a position to 
organize a full fledged three-month RTPC for the Ar ab Countries as is the case for other regions.  
Until this objective is achieved, the Secretariat has been working closely with academics from the 
region with a view of co-delivering some joint ac tivities.  The first such activity was organized in 
close collaboration with the Islamic Developmen t Bank (IsDB) for government officials for one 
month.  While shorter than a normal RTPC, it will still qualify officials from the region to be 
considered for the new ATPC (level three of the ne w learning progressivity strategy) that will be held 
in Geneva.  This activity to a large extent achieve d its set objectives.  However, a number of lessons 
learnt were retained to further fine tune future courses, including a better selection of participants to 
ensure the homogeneity of the Group of particip ants and increasing the frequency of practical 
exercises.  Furthermore, the preparatory academic workshop remain instrumental to identify lecturers 
who will be invited to co-lecture with WTO Sta ff and prepare them for the joint delivery.   
108. Partnership arrangements with the main regi onal economic organizations such as the United 
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Wester n Asia (UNESCWA), the Arab Monetary Fund 
(AMF), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Gulf  Cooperation Council (GCC), continued to play a 
significant role in achieving the desired common objectives of empowering and enhancing the 
participation of the Arab countries in the MTS.   Several regional events were organized in 
collaboration with partner institutions  during 2009.  The Secretariat has been working with its partners 
in the various regions to go beyond the traditional TRTA activities it provides to government officials, 
and has worked directly with other stakeholders , such as private sector representatives, academia, 
journalists, and civil society.   
109. Several Arab countries, including the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) completed 
their needs assessments in the context of the trade facilitation negotiati ons.  Others benefited, from the 
EIF and the STDF, such as Yemen.  Finally, AMEC  (Members and Observers) have been continually 
invited to all Geneva-based activ ities planned in 2009, such as the specialized courses and the TPCs 
as well as e-training modules. 
D. C
ENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA AND CAUCASUS COUNTRIES  
110. The CEECAC economies have benefited fro m the WTO's technical cooperation and 
capacity-building activities in 2009.  Officials from CEECAC economies have participated in 9 WTO regional seminars and training events, covering th e WTO dispute settlement mechanism, WTO rules 
on trade remedies, the GATS and the Services nego tiations, trade and deve lopment, Government 
Procurement, Workshop for Academi cs, and other DDA negotiating subjects. 
111. During 2009, efforts by the Secretariat were focused on assisting the CEECAC countries to 
identify their TA needs.  For Memb ers, this was carried out, to the extent possible, in collaboration 
with the TPRD through the trade policy review mechanism.  For Observe rs, the ITTC has been WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 28  
 
  working closely with acceding countries as well as  with the Accessions Division with a view of 
identifying the specific TA needs of each individual observer.   
112. Due to human and financial resource constrai nts, the Secretariat was not in a position to 
organize a three-month RTPC for the CEECAC count ries.  Until this objective is achieved, the 
Secretariat has been working closely with academi cs from the region with a view of co-delivering 
some joint activities.  The first such activity was organized in close collaboration with the IDLO for 
government officials for one month, in Rome, Italy.   While shorter than a normal RTPC, it will still 
qualify officials from the region to the new ATPC (level 3) that will be held in Geneva in 2010.  This 
course was well designed and achieved to a large extent its set objectives.    
113. During 2009, the contributions of regional institu tions was crucial to the efficient delivery of 
WTO TRTA.  For the CEECAC region, the Joint Vienna  Institute (JVI) is an important partner.  A 
large number of the regional activities (four) were or ganized jointly with the JVI at their Headquarters 
in Vienna, Austria.  This successful collaboration continued to be practical and beneficial for the 
WTO in 2009.  The IDLO is also an important pa rtner for the joint delivery of the short RTPC.  
Partnership arrangements ensure high quality inter action in the preparation and implementation of 
joint technical cooperation and capacity-building activities. 
114. Countries from the region also benefited from othe r TA related programmes, such as the EIF, 
the STDF; a large number of Geneva based ac tivities and the internships programmes.   
E. L
ATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (LAC) 
115. The ITTC has continued delivering TRTA throughout  the region and has put particular care in 
pursuing consultations with delega tions and capitals to better tailor workshops and seminars to actual 
national needs.  The delivery of many region al activities was made successful thanks to WTO 
collaboration with our regional partne rs.  Of particular help has been  our well establis hed partnership 
with the Institute for the Integration of LAC ( INTAL), the development institute of the Inter 
American Development Bank (IADB).  This partne rship, beyond allowing for cost-savings, has also 
resulted in quality improvements as Inter-Ame rican Development Bank (IADB)/INTAL provides 
speakers and instructors to complement ours. 
116. Other partnerships, as those with the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean 
Community  Secretariat (CARICOM), the Latin Am erican Integration Association (ALADI), the 
Secretariat for Centro-American Integration (SIE CA), Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on 
Agriculture (IICA) and the Organization of Easter n Caribbean States (OECS) have also been of 
invaluable help to make our TRTA activities more effective and successful.   
117. Thanks to the aforementioned partnerships, to enhanced in-house coordination and to the use 
of new technical tools we have managed to ov ercome staff constraints.  However, the WTO 
Secretariat must still strive for a fine balance between allocating staff for TRTA activities and for 
servicing meetings in Geneva, cognizan t of the ongoing DDA negotiations.   
118. Participants' evaluation reports continue to sugg est that after the delivery of the majority of 
TRTA activities, Members generally have a better appreciation of WTO rules and their interest in a 
successful DDA negotiations.  In this respect we ar e trying to include in every activity exercises on 
notifications and scheduling.  It is  also worth noting that the increased   participation of private sector 
representatives in our TRTA activities (both as lecturer s and as participants) is helping to create a 
network of related stakeholders.    WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 29 
 
 
  119. Six national needs assessments were conducted in the LAC region 2009.  Given the success 
of trade facilitation needs assessment exercise over th e last three years, the next phase of TA will be 
better informed by the expertise a nd knowledge developed in the region. 
120. Four countries from the region conducted their Trade Policy Reviews in 2009.  These 
meetings were informative and revealed many ar eas of progress due to reforms undertaken by the 
selected Members.  The reports also signalled the challenges that some Members face in the process 
of trade reform, making recommendations for improve ments.  Some of these recommendations have 
led to specific requests and delivery of TA in the pa rticular area of concern.  This proves that the 
Reports gives useful insights into TRTA needs pr oviding guidance to both the Secretariat and the 
governments.   
121. In the Latin American region, the main nati onal activities included topics covering agriculture 
and NAMA, dispute settlement, TBT, SPS, services, trade remedies, and RTAs.  There is increasing interest for the Financial Crisis and the impact of  fiscal and monetary stimulus measures on trade.  
Interest is also high on Climate Change and its impact on trade.   
122. In the Caribbean region national requests have b een related more to general trade policy with 
a fewer activities on SPS/TBT, services, NAMA, nego tiations skills, trade and the environment as 
well as the impact of the financial crisis on the re gional economies (trade, financial services, tourism, 
remittances).     
123. In more specific areas, Haiti is the only LA C Member benefiting from the implementation of 
the EIF activities.  The EIF stakeholders have agre ed in 2008 to start the EIF process – namely the 
DTIS in Haiti, after the lead agency has been notifie d.  In 2009, Haiti notified the stakeholders of its 
intention to work with the World Bank as DTIS le ad agency.  DTIS activities had been scheduled to 
start in early 2010, but tragic events upset this schedule.   
Graph 6:  Partnerships: Regional activities
 
 
Latin America
IADB/INTAL
46%
IICA
18%ALADI
9%SIECA
18%OAS
9%
 
 
  WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 30  
 
  Graph 7
 
 
Caribbean
33%
67%IADB/INTA L
CARICOM
 
 
Funding  
 
Graph 8  
 
Regional activities
OAS/SPAIN
6%SPANISH 
TRUST FUND
29%
WTO
24%IADB/INTAL-
SPAIN
41%
 
Graph 9  
 
National activities
63%37%
SPANISH TRUST FUND
WTO
  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 31 
 
 
   
VI. TRAINEE PROGRAMMES AND INTERNSHIPS 
124. The WTO Secretariat operates three main train ee programmes and internships, as contained  
in the TA Plan.  The programmes are all geared to wards trade capacity-building in beneficiaries.  
They include:  
• the NTP,  
• the MIP and, 
• the WTO Regional Coordinator Internship (RCI). 
125. Since the launching of the intern programmes, a to tal of 146 interns have been recruited, with  
60 trainees under the NTP, 53 interns have benefite d from the MIP, and 33 officials have benefited 
from the RCI programme 
A. NETHERLANDS TRAINEE PROGRAMME (NTP) 
126. The main objective of the Programme is to gene rate tangible and measurable results and thus 
leave a lasting trace, including through: 
(i) building sustainable capacity in benefici ary countries, by providing officials 
with an opportunity to directly participate in WTO's work in Geneva; 
(ii) providing exposure to ongoing activities in the Secretariat, which will assist 
officials in enhancing their understanding of the functioning of the WTO and 
the MTS, and providing relevant policy advice to the governments; 
(iii) facilitating the implementation of Member's commitments in the WTO; and 
(iv) contributing to the achievement of  the goals of the DDA, and more 
specifically, those set out in the Decision of the General Council (GC) in August 2004 (the "July Package"). 
127. During its lifespan, a total of some 300 appli cations were received and reviewed by the 
selection committee, 60 candidates were retained from  52 different countries (Cf.  Annex 2).  In the 
Autumn 2009, another thirteen candidates were selecte d for 2010.  In terms of regional distribution of 
participants under the NTP, as can be seen from gr aphs 8 and 9, most trainees came from Africa (38 
or 63 per cent), followed by Asia (thirteen or 22 pe r cent), LAC (three or five per cent), CEECAC and 
AMEC (six or ten per cent).  Particular attention was given to LDCs (Cf.  graphs 10 and 11) who had 
the largest number of trainees (40 or 67 per cent).  Most trainees stayed for 10 months.   
128. It is recalled that the NTP is designed in a ma nner to build in-country capacity in the most 
effective ways, to assist in the economic and soci al development of LDCs, low income countries and 
comparable poor, small and vulnerable economies in areas related to trade policy.  It thus provides officials with a direct opportunity to learn about matters dealt with within the WTO, under the 
direction of staff members of the WTO.  Under th e terms of reference of the Programme, particular 
attention is given to African countries.   WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 32  
 
  Graph 10:  Netherlands Trainee Programme (2005-2009)
 
 
Number of interns over 5 years
38
13
36
010203040
Africa Asia &
PacificLA &
CaribbeanCEECAC &
AMECSeries1
 
Graph 11:  Netherlands Trainee Programme (2005-2009)  
 
Relative share per region
63%22%5%10%
Africa
Asia & Pacific
LA & Caribbean
CEECAC & AMEC
  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 33 
 
 
  Graph 12:  Netherlands Trainee Programme (2005-2009)  
 
Number of interns from LDCs
40
20
01020304050
LDCs OthersSeries1
 
Graph 13:  Netherlands Trainee Programme (2005-2009)  
 
Relative share of LDCs
67%33%
LDCs
Others
 
B. THE MISSION INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME (MIP) 
129. This Programme was developed in early 2001 ; the main objectives are similar to the ones 
contained in the NTP, but the programme is g eared towards providing support to Geneva-based 
missions.  The candidates work in their own country Mission in Geneva and not in the WTO Secretariat, and can represent their country in the va rious bodies within the WTO.  This Programme is 
available primarily to missions of LDCs and smal l and vulnerable economies.  Resources for this 
Programme so far were limited with primarily Irela nd founding the programme in the most recent 
years; the resource availability increased considerably , following France's decision to make an annual 
contribution of Euros 500,000,- over the next four years.  As a result, the in-take of MIPs in 2010 was increased, as will be reflected in next year's annua l report.  Under the MIP, preference is given to 
countries with the least number of staff in Gene va.  Requests for Mission interns should be addressed 
to the Director of ITTC.  A total of 53 offici als have been recruited under this programme from 28 
different countries (cf.  Table 3).  In terms of re gional distribution, most interns provided support to 
African missions (29 or 54 per cent), followed by La tin America (thirteen or 25 per cent), Asia and WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 34  
 
  Pacific Economies (ten or 19 per cent) and the Arab  and Middle East Countries (one or two per cent) 
(cf.  Graph 12).  In line with the main objectiv e of the programme, LDCs benefited mostly from the 
programmes (Cf.  Graph 13), with a total of 30 interns or 57 per cent.   
Table 6:  Mission Intern Programme (2001-2009)
 
Number of  interns per countries  
 
Country Interns 
Bangladesh 3 
Barbados 1 
Benin 2 
Bolivia 4 
Burundi 1 
Burkina Faso 1 
Cambodia 1 
Djibouti 1 
Dominican Republic 1 
El Salvador 3 
Guinea 2 
Kenya 4 
Lesotho 3 
Mali 1 
Mauritania 1 
Mauritius 2 
Mongolia 1 
Nepal 3 
Nigeria 1 
Nicaragua 3 
Rwanda 3 
Sri Lanka 1 
Tanzania 2 
Uganda 3 
Uruguay 1 
Vietnam 1 
Yemen 1 
Zambia 2 
Total 53 
  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 35 
 
 
  Graph 14:  Mission Intern Programme (2001-2009)  
 
Relative share per region
54%
19%25%2%
Africa
Asia & Pacific
LA & Caribbeans
CEECAC & AMEC
 
 
 
Graph 15:  Mission Intern Programme (2001-2009)  
 
Number of interns from LDCs
30
23
05101520253035
LDCs OthersSeries1WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 36  
 
   
C. T
HE WTO  REGIONAL COORDINATOR INTERNSHIP (RCI) 
130. In this Programme, the mission of a rotating group coordinator is eligible to have an intern, 
paid by the WTO, for a period of six months, without extension .  At the end of six months, the system 
will rotate to the next designated group coordinator.   A total of 31 officials have been funded under 
this programme (Cf.  Table 4), pr oviding support to 18 missions. 
Table 7:  Regional Coordinator Internship – List of Coordinators  
 
Country Interns 
ACP Mission 8 
Bangladesh 1 
Belize 1 
Benin 2 
Côte d'Ivoire 1 
Egypt 2 
India   1 
Jamaica 1 
Lesotho 2 
Mauritius 2 
Morocco  1 
Pacific Islands Forum 1 
Rwanda 2 
Sri Lanka 1 
St.Kitts and Nevis 1 
Tanzania 1 
Trinidad and Tobago 2 
Uganda 1 
Total of interns 31 
  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 37 
 
 
  Graph 16:  The WTO Regional Coordinator Internship – Regional distribution  
 
26%
39%6%13%16% ACP Mission
Africa
CEECAC & AMEC
Asia & Pacific 
LA & Caribbeans
 
131. The strongest support has again been given to LDCs, with a total of 17 interns thus 
representing 61 per cent of the total intake under this programme. 
Graph 17:  The WTO Regional Coordinator Internship  
 
Relative share of LDCs
58%42%
LDCs
Others
 
D. A BROAD APPRECIATION OF THE TRAINEE PROGRAMMES  
132. Since the restructuring of ITTC and the estab lishment of Regional Desks, the Trainees under 
the NTP have been working closely with the Regi onal Desks in undertaking beneficiaries' needs 
assessments, as well as country notes, briefs and reports.   Furthermore, all trainees are fully associated 
with the Committee work and relevant WTO meetings  and are encouraged to participate in all  
training events organized at the Secretariat.  These include the meetings of the General Council, Trade 
Negotiations Committee (TNC), CTD, Council meeti ngs (Goods, TRIPS, Services), and DDA-related 
meetings etc.  The trainees are often required to  prepare inputs into the work of the divisions, 
including notes by the Secretariat in support of the negotiations and/or ongoing committee work.   
133. The trainees prepare studies and make topi c-based presentations to colleagues in the 
Secretariat to test their ideas and knowledge with a view of receiving feedback for further study and 
analysis.  This is often is followed with direct  contacts the line Divisions to resolve outstanding 
issues.  This contributes to developing specifi c technical knowledge, a good command of the subject, WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 38  
 
  but also a better understanding of the process of the negotiations, the dynamics as well as interaction 
with the delegations.  Mission interns essentially  attend and represent their delegations at WTO 
meetings in the same ways as delega tes and write reports for capitals.   
134. Some trainees continued to provide support to the TPRD by preparing their country's TPR, 
others provided support in the accession process, including in the drafting of a Services Schedules of 
Commitments and/or making offers.  The mere fact of being in Geneva greatly facilitates the 
accession process both at the multilateral and bilateral levels.  Trainees from recently acceded countries largely assist in the implementation of thei r WTO obligations, including notifications.  Also, 
one of their main objectives was to enhance thei r understanding of specific WTO Agreements.  Some 
trainees have worked on highly specific issues,  including tariff schedules for their countries. 
135. The trainees have been actively involved in the thinking of policy-related issues, particularly 
on how to ensure further strengthening local capacity in beneficiary countries, including through a proper follow up to the delivery of TRTA, following the conclusion of a training event;  how to ensure that all relevant informati on, knowledge and experi ence is equally shared with all stakeholders; 
how to conduct a more effective selection process fo r participants to TRTA activities; how to render 
the delivery of TRTA more effective at the country  level; how to train trainers, build interactive 
networks to share best practices etc.  The trai nees have been asked to prepare reports on their 
traineeship and reflect ideas for improvements that  could be made to the implementation of the 
programme. 
136. The trainees were encouraged to participate in all relevant training events, both of a broader 
nature and more specifically on certain topics, including those provided by the ITTC on the DSU, 
SPS, Notifications etc..  In many cases this allowed the trainees to resolve issues that could not be 
addressed adequately from the capital.  Most of the trainees have attended the so called 'Geneva 
Weeks' as well as any other relevant topic based WTO symposia and conferences, including the public Symposium for Non-Governmental Organizati ons (NGOs) and Civil Society.  Trainees have 
been encouraged to attend meetings at other organi zations and participate in relevant training events 
and prepare reports on those meetings.  Several trai nees have thus established contacts with the ITC, 
with UNCTAD, WIPO, but equally with the ACWL, w ith AITIC etc..  and atte nded meetings at those 
organizations and for benefited from training. 
137. The mere fact that trainees had the possibility  of attending WTO as well as other, outside 
meetings, including the General Council, the 
TNC and any other relevant meetings in relation to the 
DDA was considered an invaluable advantage.  Althoug h the impact is hard to quantify, it is generally 
felt that this is one of the main benefits of the intern programmes, i.e.  for the trainees to get first 
hand exposure to the negotiating process and expe rience the intricacies and dynamics of the 
negotiations.  It helps understand the difficulties involved in building consensus, not only from a political perspective, but also as a result of the comp lexity of the issues at stake and the technicalities 
in each specific field.  These can hardly be fully appr eciated from capital.  As a result, several trainees 
have stayed on in Geneva following completion of th e internship, to take up duties at their permanent 
mission.  It is also note worthy that nearly tw o dozen former trainees under the one or the other 
programmes attended the Ministerial Conference (MC VII) as part of their national delegation.  To 
this should be added the interns that  were finalizing their internship in  2009.  Altogether, this seems to 
confirm the feeling that overall a good use is ma de of the interns following completion of the 
programme and that it contributes to sustainable capacity-building. 
  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 39 
 
 
  VII. REFERENCE CENTRES (RCS) 
138. In 2009, as part of the internal restructuring and repositioning of ITTC, and following a series 
of internal consultations within the WTO Secretariat,  a new strategy with regard to the installation and 
operation of reference centres (RCs) was developed and adopted at the meeting of the Committee on 
Trade and Development held in November 2009.  This new approach takes into account the 
recommendations made through BTORs, as well as the outcome of evaluations conducted in the 
course of recent years by the TA audit and to ta ilor the RC programme to the specific needs of the 
clients.   
139. In line with the new strategy, it is proposed to  reduce the number of RCs to be established and 
concentrate the programme, focusing more specifi cally on those countries that are most in need 
(LDCs, Sub Saharan Africa, non-residents).  The ow nership of the RCs will be enhanced at the 
national level, through the appointment of a RC ma nager, who will receive adequate training on the 
access and use of data. 
140. In the course of 2009, the programme has been  revamped and  two RCs were installed 
successfully.  At the same time, 15 requests have been received and are currently in different phases 
of implementation and for some of the requests, th e establishment or upgrading are already planned.  
A total of 153 RCs have been established since the creation of the programme in 107 countries.  
During the year we have updated the contact list a nd 88 RCs in 80 countries are effectively operating.  
As far as the regional coverage is concerned, 35 RCs  (40 per cent) are in Africa, 30 (34 per cent) in 
Asia and Pacific, 14 (16 per cent) in LAC and nine (ten per cent) in CEECAC and AMEC.   
Graph 18  
 
Number of RCs per region
3530
149
010203040
Africa
Asia & Pacific
LA & CaribbeansCEECAC & AMECSeries1
 
 
 
 WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 40  
 
  Graph 19
 
 
Relative share of RCs per region
40%
34%16%10%
Africa
Asia & Pacific
LA & Caribbeans
CEECAC & AMEC
 
 
 141. Specific training events were developed to the benefit of the interns of the NTP.  This 
programme includes theoretical training sessions, pr actical workshops and discussion meetings and 
will serve as a basis for a one week training programme for the RCs managers.  The programme was 
jointly developed with the WTO divisions concerned in  order to provide the participants with the best 
and most appropriate tools useful for the day to da y functioning of the RCs.  These training events are 
also aiming at creating synergies between different programmes and thus reinforce their impact.  They 
will be extended to the MIP trainees as from 2010. 
142. 
Communication and visibility tools, another important aspect of the new strategy, has been 
developed in direct line with the enhancement of the programme and the mandate of ITTC.  In this 
regard, a logo was created which will permit to bette r identify the Programme.  In the same spirit, 
other products are in course of elaboration, i.e.  a wall plate (one for each RC), a brochure, a poster (to 
be sent to the RC).  Also, a mailing list has been created for regular dissemination of WTO-related 
information.     WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 41 
 
 
  VIII.  FINANCIAL SITUATION 
143. Globally, the total cost of the activities included in  the TA Plan for each year of the biennium 
2008 -2009 had been estimated at CHF 30.8 million to be financed from the DDAGTF, regular budget, and other trust funds as follows:  
                                       CHF  million
    
Regular budget         5.5  
DDAGTF           24.0   Other Trust Funds        1.3  TOTAL       30.8   
144. Actual expenditures in 2009 amounted to CH F 3.7 million, CHF 18. 4 million and CHF 0.9 
million financed from the regular budget, DDAG TF and other trust funds respectively. 
145. Tables 5, 6 and Annex 3 present  further deta ils regarding the voluntary contributions 
received and the actual expenditures incurred in the last four years.   
146. It can be noted that incoming funds have been sufficient to cover the expenditures over the 
last four years.  What the tables do not show is the timing of the incoming moneys, which actually 
occur in the course of the year.  This makes pla nning of TRTA activities harder and also may imply 
the deferral or even cancellation of activities, if the corresponding amounts were not in the bank accounts. 
147. It is recalled that the DDAGTF was estab lished in December 2001, pursuant to the 
commitment contained in paragraph 40 of the D oha Declaration, to finance TA programmes and 
training activities for developing and LDCs as well as economies in transition.  One of the purposes 
for creating a global fund was to consolidate the extra-budgetary funds in one single un-earmarked fund, so as to provide a solid and stable financ ial basis for the delivery of a global programme.  
Following the finalization of the TA Plan 2008-200 9 in Autumn 2007, the General Council approved 
the recommended target amount of CHF 24 million for the planned volume of TA to be financed from 
the DDAGTF in 2008, thus maintaining the cost of  the TA Plan at the same level since 2003. 
148. Implementation of the activities under the DDAGTF is  subject to the availability of financial 
resources, which rely on voluntary contributions.  It is recalled that, in order to ensure a smooth 
implementation of the TA Plan from the beginning of the year, timely and adequate levels of funding 
are required.  Most activities to  be financed under the DDAGTF, a nd more specifically 'big item' 
programmes, e.g.  regional seminars undertaken  by the WTO or in partnership with other 
organizations and RTPCs, require advance planning of at least 3 months, if not more.  Under the 
financial rules, activities can only be  committed to, if the financing is received in the bank.  Given the 
uncertainties about the timely receipt of incoming fu nds, it was decided to defer the organization of 
the more costly regional seminars to the Spri ng/early Summer and to focus more on the national 
activities at the beginning of the year, which are essentially financed from the regular budget. 
149. The period benchmarks rega rding the funding of the DDAGTF, as established by the 
Members, were as follows: (i) by 31 December of  the year preceding the fund's revolving annual 
target period, contributions amounting to 25 per cent  of the total estimated costs of the TA Plan 
should be in the bank, (ii) by 31 March, another 50  per cent for an overall 75 per cent of the total, and 
(ii) by 30 June, 100 per cent of the funds needed.   Unfortunately, the benchmarks were missed, once 
again, thus creating uncertainty whether the implementation of some activities under the DDAGTF 
could be maintained.   WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 42  
 
  Table 8
 
  
DDAGTF – CHF 
  2006 2007 2008 2009 
Brought forward from previous y ear 7,584,845 7,266,603 7,778,416 9,541,433 
Contributions received 18, 187,859 18,701,871 18,575,868 19,676,896 
Transfers from/to other funds -225,000 281,163 0 0 
Interest earned 107,327  212,821  221,935  46,180  
Total funds 25,655,031 26,462,458 26,576,219 29,264,509 
Total expenditures 18,388,428  18,684,042  17,034,786  18,395,512  
Balance to be carried forw ard 7,266,603 7,778, 416 9,541,433 10,868,997 
 
Table 9  
  
  EARMARKED FUNDS FOR DDAGTF - CHF 
  2006 2007 2008 2009 
Brought forward from previous year - Spain 181,670 224,768     
Brought forward from previous year - Finland 694,290       
Contributions received - Sp ain 532,836       
Contributions received - Fi nland 788,500       
Transfers from/to other funds - Spain (*)   -224,768     
Transfers from/to other funds - Finland         
Interest earned - Spain 9,382       
Interest earned - Finland 17,946        
Total funds - Spain and Finland 2,224,624 0     
Total expenditures - Spain 499,120       
Total expenditures - Finland 1,500,737        
Total expenditures - Spain and Finland 1,999,857 0     
Balance to be carried forward 224,768 0     
     
(*) Transferred to DDAGTF and earmarked Spanish fund closed in 2007.   
  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 43 
 
 
  ANNEX 1 
 
Overview of TRTA provided from 01/01/2009 to 31/12/2009  
 
 Biennial TA Plan chapters National 
TA Regional Global Other 
(Conferences, 
etc.) Total 
A  General WTO-related 
Technical Assistance and 
Training   24 48% 22 44% 4 8% 50 11% 
A 1.   Trade Policy Courses   9 69% 2 15% 2 15% 13 3% 
A 1.  (i) Geneva-based Trade 
Policy Courses 
(TPCs)     2 100%   2 0% 
A 1.  (ii) Regional Trade Policy 
Courses (RTPCs)   9 82%   2 18% 11 2% 
A 2.   Geneva-based 
Introduction Courses     2 100%   2 0% 
A 3.   Geneva-based Thematic 
courses     4 100%   4 1% 
A 4.   WTO Introduction Days     2 100%   2 0% 
A 5.   Geneva Week       2 100% 2 0% 
A 6.   Geneva-based Topic-
specific Symposia     11 100%   11 2% 
A 7.   Advisory Role on Legal 
Issues (Art.  27.2 of DSU)     1 100%   1 0% 
A 8.   Regional and Sub-
regional Capacity-building programmes 
(Short Trade Policy 
Courses)   15 100%     15 3% 
B  Specialised & Advanced 
Training & Technical 
Assistance 145 69% 63 30% 2 1% 1 0% 211 46% 
B 1.   Geneva-based Specialised 
Courses     2 100%   2 0% 
B 2.   National Technical 
Assistance Activities 142 99% 2 1%     144 31% 
B 2.  (i) National topic-specific 
activities 119 100%       119 26% 
B 2.  (ii) Technical Assistance 
within the TPRM Framework 22 92% 2 8%     24 5% 
B 2.  (iii) Assisting beneficiaries 
in conducting Needs Assessment
 1            
B 2.  (iv) Reference Centres 1 100%       1 0% 
B 3.   Regional Seminars   50 100%     50 11% WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 44  
 
   Biennial TA Plan chapters National 
TA Regional Global Other 
(Conferences, 
etc.) Total 
B 3.  (i) Agriculture   4 100%     4 1% 
B 3.  (ii) Dispute Settlement   5 100%     5 1% 
B 3.  (iii) Government 
Procurement 
(Plurilateral 
Agreement on)   4 100%     4 1% 
B 3.  (iv) Non-Agriculture 
Market Access (NAMA)   6 100%     6 1% 
B 3.  (ix) TBT   2 100%     2 0% 
B 3.  (v) Regional Trade 
Agreements   3 100%     3 1% 
B 3.  (vi) Rules   4 100%     4 1% 
B 3.  (vii) SPS   5 100%     5 1% 
B 3.  (viii) Services   4 100%     4 1% 
B 3.  (x) T & Development   5 100%     5 1% 
B 3.  (xi) T & Environment   3 100%     3 1% 
B 3.  (xii) Trade Facilitation            
B 3.  (xiii) TRIPs   5 100%     5 1% 
B 4.   Advanced Training 
Programme for senior 
government officials   3 100%     3 1% 
B 5.   Intensive Course on 
Trade Negotiations Skills 3 50% 3 50%     6 1% 
B 6.   Outreach Activities for 
Parliamentarians and Civil Society   5 83%   1 17% 6 1% 
C  Academic Support for 
Training and Capacity-building: an integrated 
approach 11 58% 6 32% 2 11%   19 4% 
C 2.   University programme 11 65% 6 35%     17 4% 
C 2.  (i) Follow-up to RTPCs 
(Phase II) 0 0% 1 100%     1 0% 
C 2.  (ii) Workshops for 
University Professors   5 100%     5 1% 
C 2.  (iii) National workshops 11 100%       11 2% 
C 3.   Doctoral Studies     1 100%   1 0% 
C 5.   Research Collaboration 
(ERSD)     1 100%   1 0% 
             WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 45 
 
 
   Biennial TA Plan chapters National 
TA Regional Global Other 
(Conferences, 
etc.) Total 
D  Trainee programmes and 
Internships     3 100%   3 1% 
D 1.   Netherlands Trainee 
Programme     1 100%   1 0% 
D 2.   WTO Regional 
Coordinator internship     1 100%   1 0% 
D 3.   WTO Mission internship     1 100%   1 0% 
E  E-learning programme     37 100%   37 8% 
E 1.   eTraining: online courses      28 100%   28 6% 
E 2.   Self-training modules: 
computer-based training 
modules     6 100%   6 1% 
E 3.   State of Play briefing     3 100%   3 1% 
F  Other Programmes and 
Support Activities 26 90%     3 10% 29 6% 
F 2.   Programme activities 26 90%     3 10% 29 6% 
F 2.  (iii) Standards and Trade 
Development Facility 
(STDF)       3 100% 3 1% 
F 2.  (Viii) Trade Facilitation 
Needs and Priorities 26 100%       26 6% 
G  Participation in 
conferences 3 3% 18 16% 0 0% 89 81% 110 24% 
 Total 185 40% 111 24% 66 14% 97 21% 459 100%
   
1 Assisting beneficiaries in conductin g Needs Assessment does not require missions per se, and is mostly taken 
care of through the Netherlands Trainee Programme, the TA missions within the Trade Policy Review 
Mechanism Framework, and other national activities.   WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 46  
 
   
ANNEX 2 
 
NTP participants from 2005 to 2009  
 
  Country Status Year Number 
of  
trainees Region 
1 Afghanistan LDC 2007 1 CEECAC & AMEC 
2 Angola LDC 2006 1 Africa 
3 Armenia Low income 2005 1 CEECAC & AMEC 
4 Bangladesh LDC 2006 1 Asia & Pacific 
5 Benin LDC 2006 1 Africa 
6 Bhutan LDC 2005 & 2009 2 Asia & Pacific 
7 Botswana Upper Middle income 2009 1 Africa 
8 Burkina Faso LDC 2007 & 2008 2 Africa 
9 Burundi LDC 2005 1 Africa 
10 Cambodia LDC 2007 1 Asia & Pacific 
12 Central African 
Republic LDC 2006 1 Africa 
13 Chad LDC 2008 1 Africa 
14 Comoros LDC 2009 1 Africa 
15 Côte d'Ivoire Low income 2008 1 Africa 
16 Democratic  Rep.  of  
Congo LDC 2008 1 Africa 
17 Djibouti LDC 2006 1 Africa 
18 Nepal LDC 2006 1 Asia & Pacific 
19 Gambia LDC 2007 1 Africa 
20 Ghana Low income 2009 1 Africa 
21 Guinea LDC 2005 & 2009 2 Africa 
22 Guinea-Bissau LDC 2007 1 Africa 
23 Kenya Low income 2005 1 Africa 
24 Kyrgyz Republic Low income 2006 & 2008 2 CEECAC & AMEC 
25 Lao People's  
Democratic Rep. LDC 2005 & 2008 2 Asia & Pacific 
26 Lebanon High income 2005 1 CEECAC & AMEC 
27 Lesotho LDC 2005 1 Africa 
28 Liberia LDC 2009 1 Africa 
29 Madagascar LDC 2007 1 Africa 
30 Malawi LDC 2006 1 Africa 
31 Mali LDC 2005 & 2007 2 Africa 
32 Mauritania LDC 2005 1 Africa 
33 Mongolia Lower Middle income 2005 1 Asia & Pacific 
34 Myanmar LDC 2009 1 Asia & Pacific 
35 Namibia Lower Middle income 2005 1 Africa 
36 Niger LDC 2008 1 Africa  WT/COMTD/W/173 
 Page 47 
 
 
  37 Nigeria Low income 2009 1 Africa 
38 Pakistan Other Low income 2009 1 Asia & Pacific 
39 Paraguay Low Middle 2006 1 LA & Caribbean 
40 Rwanda LDC 2006 1 Africa 
41 Saint Kitts and Nevis High income 2005 1 LA & Caribbean 
42 Saint Lucia High income 2006 1 LA & Caribbean 
43 Senegal LDC 2006 1 Africa 
44 Sierra Leone LDC 2006 1 Africa 
45 Sudan LDC 2006 & 2009 2 Africa 
46 Swaziland Low Middle 2008 1 Africa 
47 Tonga Low Middle 2006 1 Asia & Pacific 
48 Uganda LDC 2005 & 2008 2 Africa 
49 Vanuatu LDC 2006 1 Asia & Pacific 
50 Viet Nam Other Low income 2009 1 Asia & Pacific 
51 Yemen LDC 2007 1 CEECAC & AMEC 
52 Zambia LDC 2005 1 Africa 
53 Zimbabwe Low income 2005 1 Africa 
      TOTAL 60   WT/COMTD/W/173 
Page 48  
 
  ANNEX 3 
  
 
CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED (CHF)  
    DDAGTF  
Donors 2006 2007 2008 2009  Total  
Australia 228,125 735,875 986,050 1,525,650 3,475,700
Austria 310,550 320,780 322,320 302,480 1,256,130
Canada 500,501 415,000 404,621 456,121 1,776,243
China (People's Republic)     205,600 211,000 416,600
Czech Republic 76,173 87,265 87,288   250,726
Denmark 743,050 758,027 205,779 616,746 2,323,602
Estonia 15,282 32,038 49,425   96,745
European Union 717,300 1,669,450 1,513,520 1,518,550 5,418,820
France 1,195,500     2,250,500 3,446,000
Finland   619,500 1,347,225 1,534,000 3,500,725
Germany 2,608,000 1,627,000 1,566,000 1,509,500 7,310,500
Hong-Kong, China   300,000     300,000
Iceland 120,000 60,000     180,000
Ireland 786,000 1,000,700 1,547,000 1,357,200 4,690,900
Italy   607,840     607,840
Japan 708,934 648,499 489,316 474,637 2,321,386
Korea 248,000 427,000 359,800 357,000 1,391,800
Latvia   11,200     11,200
Liechtenstein 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 160,000
Lithuania 46,087 220,000     266,087
Luxembourg   722,250 771,500 754,000 2,247,750
Netherlands 1,395,349 1,395,349 1,472,990 1,472,990 5,736,678
New Zealand   234,450     234,450
Norway 2,006,421 1,994,414 2,005,214 1,710,279 7,716,328
Romania   165,200 79,450   244,650
Slovak Republic     60,000   60,000
Spain   573,650 571,550 533,750 1,678,950
Sweden 2,662,400 2,852,720 2,697,280 2,026,384 10,238,784
Switzerland     800,000   800,000
Taipei (Chinese) 227,480       227,480
Turkey   60,000 50,000   110,000
UK 2,323,000       2,323,000
USA 1,229,708 1,123,664 943,941 1,026,109 4,323,422
            
Total 18,187,860 18,701,871 18,575,869 19,676,896 75,142,496
 
 
__________