RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/BFA/W/41/Add.1
21 June 2000
(00-2545)
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration
NON-GOVERNMENTAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WTO
Addendum
1. After discussions of the proposal of the Director-General with regard to voluntary
contributions, gifts or donations from the privat e sector in the Committee on Budget, Finance and
Administration on 26 May 2000, the Director-General hereby submits a revised proposal in order to
take account of the remarks made during that meeting.
Point 2
2. It is made explicit at the end of point 2(a) that contributions, gifts and donations may be given
"in kind" and in the form of goods or services. It is important to state this explicitly, in particular in
connection with rule 5(b) which, in reaction to the many objections against such secondment, now
contains a complete prohibition. Given such total prohibition, acceptance of a donation of services in
kind still makes it possible to accept e.g. servicing personnel of a non-profit computer centerperforming maintenance and installation services on hardware also donated to the WTO or its
reference centers.
Point 3
3. Points 3 (a) and (b) respect the differentiation made in Regulation 19 of the Financial
Regulations between donations which increase the financial liability of the organization and whichtherefore require the consent of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration and those
which do not so increase the financial liability of the Organization. It is nevertheless important to the
Director-General to have the opinion of the Committee even on voluntary contributions, gifts or
donations from the private sector which do not increase the financial liability of the Organization.
This is now explicitly provided for at the end of point 3(a). It goes without saying that the Director-General will not normally accept voluntary contribut ions from the private sector which do not
increase the financial liability of the WTO against the opinion of the Committee on Budget, Finance
and Administration.
Point 4
4. In response to remarks made during the meeting of 26 May, the distinction between voluntary
contributions over CHF 100,000 and below that threshold is dropped. With a view to ensuring that
private contributions are channelled into activities which will not normally pose problems of conflict
of interest the Director-General now proposes the creation of a special private sector supported trustfund in which a number of such activities are bundled together.  Since Regulation 19(2) of the
Financial Regulations states that "moneys accepted for purposes specified by the donor shall be
treated as trust funds", it is necessary to stimul ate the donor to specify a purpose for his donation,
contribution or gift. If the donor makes a contribution to the trust fund at large, he will be deemed to
have specified all activities of the trust fund and Regulation 19(2) will be satisfied in this way.WT/BFA/W/41/Add.1
Page 2
Point 5
5. In reaction to remarks made during the meeting of 26 May, the possibilities to accept use of
the logo and secondment from donor's organizations in specific circumstances  have been totally
removed.
Attachment
6. Attachment 1 shows the changes made to the original proposal and includes an annex.
Attachment 2 provides a clean copy of the revised proposal with annex.WT/BFA/W/41/Add.1
Page 3
ATTACHMENT 1
VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS, GIFTS OR DONATIONS FROM THE PRIVATE
SECTOR
Revised Proposal by the Director-General
1. Voluntary contributions, gifts or donations from non-governmental donors which are for-
profit organizations or companies shall not be accepted
2. (a) Voluntary contributions, gifts or donations given or bequeathed by private individuals
and non-governmental, non-profit organizati ons or foundations may be accepted. These may include
contributions, gifts or donations of goods or services "in kind".
(b) The activities, aims and motivations of the individuals, non-profit organizations or
foundations mentioned under (a) above shall not be incompatible with the policies, aims and activitiesof the WTO and shall not give rise to a conflict of interests on the part of the donor or the WTO.
3. (a) In case voluntary contributions, gifts or donations may be in conformity with point 2
above, they shall not directly or indirectly involv e additional financial liability for the organisation. In
such cases the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration shall be notified of and express an
opinion on such contributions, gifts or donations.
(b) In case they involve such additional financia l liability, they shall require the consent
of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration in conformity with Financial Regulation
19.1
4. (a)         Sums of over [CHF. 100.000,-] may only be accepted as voluntary contributions, gifts
or donations under point 2 above, provided that the donor specifies their purpose. In accordance with
Regulation 19.2 such monies shall be treated as trust funds or special accounts.  They shall not be
used to hire regular staff of the WTO.
              (b)         Sums for which no purpose is specified by the donor and accepted as  miscellaneous
income and which consequently may be used to finance the expenses of the WTO pursuant to
Regulation 12.1, shall not exceed [CHF 100.000,-].
All accepted contributions, gifts or donations shall be placed in the "WTO Private Sector
Supported Trust Fund", as described in the annex to these rules, and used exclusively for the
activities associated with that trust fund, as set out in the annex. The donor may specify one or
more of the activities associated with that trust fund as the purpose of the contribution, gift or
donation or  may make a contribution to the trust fund at large.
5. (a) Donors of voluntary contributions, gifts or donations shall be prohibited from using
the WTO name or logo in any way as a result or condition of the contribution, gift or donation. In
specific instances they may use the WTO name or logo after express written authorization by the
Director-General.
(b) Secondment of staff from donors of voluntary contributions, gifts, or donations to the
WTO is prohibited ., unless the WTO is unable to recruit persons with the required expertise for the
assignment concerned elsewhere.WT/BFA/W/41/Add.1
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ANNEX
WTO PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORTED TRUST FUND
WTO would establish a "globalized" trust fund into which would be channeled all voluntary
contributions, gifts and donations from non-governme nt sources.  Donors would have the option of
giving generally into the fund or specifying that their contributions be used in one or more of the
individual activity headings.  More specific earmarking would not be permitted.
Activites to be supported by the trust fund:
1. Support of WTO Reference Centers2. Creation and maintenance of WTO reference libraries in LDCs3. Underwriting WTO cooperation and support of University-based education and
training programmes on WTO and multilateral trade law and policy
-  WTO Accredited Programmes
-  ”Eric Wyndham White" Chairs in WTO law
4. Facilitation of LDC participation (Officials, Press and, as appropriate NGOs) in important
WTO meetings (Ministerial Conferences, Development Symposia, etc.)
5. Symposia and seminars as may be decided by the Members of the WTO6. WTO Secretariat participation in special projects outside of defined "core" WTO activities
(e.g., WHO-sponsored macroeconomics and health project)
7. WTO-sponsored capacity-building and training activites in the context of technical assistance
not covered by the regular budget supported training programme.
8. Any other activities which Members may decide by consensus should be supported by this
trust fund.WT/BFA/W/41/Add.1
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ATTACHMENT 2
VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS, GIFTS OR DONATIONS FROM THE PRIVATE
SECTOR
Revised Proposal by the Director-General
1. Voluntary contributions, gifts or donations from non-governmental donors which are for-
profit organizations or companies shall not be accepted
2. (a) Voluntary contributions, gifts or donations given or bequeathed by private individuals
and non-governmental, non-profit organizations or foundations may be accepted.  These may include
contributions, gifts or donations of goods or services "in kind".
(b) The activities, aims and motivations of the individuals, non-profit organizations or
foundations mentioned under (a) above shall not be incompatible with the policies, aims and activities
of the WTO and shall not give rise to a conflict of interests on the part of the donor or the WTO.
3. (a) In case voluntary contributions, gifts or donations may be in conformity with point 2
above, they shall not directly or indirectly involve additional financial liability for the organisation.  Insuch cases the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration shall be notified of and express an
opinion on such contributions, gifts or donations.
(b) In case they involve such additional financial liability, they shall require the consent
of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration in conformity with FinancialRegulation 19.1
4. All accepted contributions, gifts or donations shall be placed in the "WTO Private Sector
Supported Trust Fund", as described in the annex to these rules, and used exclusively for the activities
associated with that trust fund, as set out in the annex. The donor may specify one or more of the
activities associated with that trust fund as the purpose of the contribution, gift or donation or  may
make a contribution to the trust fund at large.
5. (a) Donors of voluntary contributions, gifts or donations shall be prohibited from using
the WTO name or logo in any way as a result or condition of the contribution, gift or donation.
(b) Secondment of staff from donors of voluntary contributions, gifts, or donations to the
WTO is prohibited.WT/BFA/W/41/Add.1
Page 6
ANNEX
WTO PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORTED TRUST FUND
WTO would establish a "globalized" trust fund into which would be channeled all voluntary
contributions, gifts and donations from non-governme nt sources.  Donors would have the option of
giving generally into the fund or specifying that their contributions be used in one or more of the
individual activity headings.  More specific earmarking would not be permitted.
Activites to be supported by the trust fund:
1. Support of WTO Reference Centers2. Creation and maintenance of WTO reference libraries in LDCs3. Underwriting WTO cooperation and support of University-based education and
training programmes on WTO and multilateral trade law and policy
-  WTO Accredited Programmes
-  ”Eric Wyndham White" Chairs in WTO law
4. Facilitation of LDC participation (Officials, Press and, as appropriate NGOs) in important
WTO meetings (Ministerial Conferences, Development Symposia, etc.)
5. Symposia and seminars as may be decided by the Members of the WTO6. WTO Secretariat participation in special projects outside of defined "core" WTO activities
(e.g., WHO-sponsored macroeconomics and health project)
7. WTO-sponsored capacity-building and training activites in the context of technical assistance
not covered by the regular budget supported training programme.
8. Any other activities which Members may decide by consensus should be supported by this
trust fund.
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