 RESTRICTED  
  
WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
9 October  2019 
(19-6021) Page: 1/41 
Committee on Trade and Development  
    
 
 
 
  
BIENNIAL TECHNICAL A SSISTANCE AND TRAINI NG PLAN  2020 – 2021  
BIENNIAL TECHNICAL A SSISTANCE AND TRAINI NG PLAN 2020 – 2021  .........................  1 
ACRONYMS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  3 
1   EXECUTIVE SUMMAR Y ................................ ................................ ................................  4 
2   INTRODUCTION  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  5 
3   LESSONS LEARNT F ROM THE IMPLEMENTATI ON OF THE TA PLAN 20 18-19 AND  
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXTERNAL EVAL UATION  ................................ .............  6 
3.1   Key achievements of the TA Plan 2018 -19 ................................ ................................ ..... 6 
3.2   Lessons learnt from implementing the TA Plan 2018 -19 ................................ ..................  7 
3.2.1    Managing for results  ................................ ................................ ................................  7 
3.2.2    The Progressive Learning Strategy  ................................ ................................ .............  7 
3.2.3    Pedagogical method  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 8 
3.2.4    Language mix  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  8 
3.2.5    Improvem ents to the Advanced Trade Policy Course  ................................ ....................  9 
3.2.6    Follow -up to Trade Policy Reviews ................................ ................................ ..............  9 
4   TECHNICAL ASSIST ANCE NEEDS AND PRIOR ITIES  ................................ ...................  10 
5   STRATEGIC APPROA CH FOR TECHNICAL ASS ISTANCE IN 2020 -21 ...........................  12 
5.1   Managing for results strategy  ................................ ................................ .....................  13 
5.2   Progressive Learning Strategy  ................................ ................................ ....................  13 
5.3   Use of partnerships  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 14 
5.4   TA and gender issues  ................................ ................................ ................................  15 
5.5 Use of eLearning  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 16 
5.6 Use of a ppropriate pedagogical methods  ................................ ................................ .... 16 
6   EXPECTED TECHNIC AL ASSISTANCE KEY RE SULTS  ................................ ...................  17 
6.1   Key Result 1: Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully realising 
Members' rights and obligations  ................................ ................................ .........................  18 
6.1.1    Output 1.1: Beneficiary government officials have enhanced knowledge about WTO 
Agreements, policy formulation and conduct of trade negotiations  ................................ .........  19 
6.1.2    Output 1.2: Effective partnerships established  ................................ ...........................  23 
6.1.3    Output 1.3: Members' needs and priorities identified periodically  ................................ . 23 
6.1.4    Output 1.4: WTO data and databases accessed by Members  ................................ ....... 24 
6.2   Key Result 2: Acceding governments are participating in accession negotiations  ...............  24 
6.2.1    Output  2.1: Acceding governments' participants knowledge on WTO substantive and 
procedural matters enhanced  ................................ ................................ ............................  25 WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
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  6.2.2    Output 2.2: Accessio ns Internship Programme participants' knowledge enhanced  ..........  25 
6.2.3    Output 2.3: Interested Members' expertise on GPA rules, accession negotiations 
enhanced  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  26 
6.3   Key Result 3: Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing WTO issues  
and rea ching out to policy makers.  ................................ ................................ .....................  26 
6.3.1    Output 3.1: Research on trade policy and WTO -related matters generated by the WCP  .. 27 
6.3.2    Output 3.2: Courses with WTO content developed by the WCP  ................................ .... 27 
6.3.3    Output 3.3: Students trained on WTO work and issues  ................................ ...............  28 
6.3.4    Output 3.4: The WTO Chairs research disseminated to other stakeholders including  
policy makers  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  28 
6.4   Key Result 4: Non -governmental stakeholders and legislators are aware of and 
knowledgeable about WTO work and issues  ................................ ................................ .........  28 
6.4.1    Output 4.1: Understanding of WTO work and issues by non -governmental stakeholders 
improved  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  29 
6.4.2    Output 4.2: Improved access to WTO issues through online training material for  
self-study ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  29 
6.4.3    Output 4.3: Information on WTO trade -related technical assistance provided  ................  29 
6.4.4    Output 4 .4: Young Professionals are exposed to WTO issues and work  .........................  29 
7   FUNDING  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  29 
7.1   Regular Budget for TA  ................................ ................................ ...............................  30 
7.2   Extra -budgetary funds for TA  ................................ ................................ .....................  31 
ANNEX 1: WTO TRTA LO GFRAME 2020 -21 ................................ ................................ ..... 32 
ANNEX 2: ACTIVITY MA TRIX  ................................ ................................ .........................  38 
 
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  ACRONYMS  
AIP Accessions Internship Programme  
ATPC Advanced Trade Policy Course  
CBFA Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration  
GPA Government Procurement Agreement  
GTF Global Trust Fund  
GVC Global Value Chain  
ITPCs  Intermediate Trade Policy Courses  
ITTC Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation  
LDCs Least developed countries  
FIMIP  French & Irish Mission Internship Programme  
MSMEs  Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises  
MTS Multilateral Trading System  
NTP Netherlands Trainee Programme  
PLS Progressive Learning Strategy  
RBM Results -Based Management  
RCs Reference Centres  
RCI Regional Coordinator Internship  
RTPC Regional Trade Policy Course  
SPS Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  
TA Technical Assistance  
TA Plan  Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan  
TAME  Technical Assistance Monitoring & Evaluation Unit  
TBT Technical Barriers to Trade  
TFA Trade Facilitation Agreement  
ToT Training of Trainers  
TPR Trade Policy Review  
TRIPS  Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights  
TRTA Trade -Related Technical Assistance  
WCP WTO Chairs Programme  
WTO World Trade Organization  
YPP Young Professionals Programme  
  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
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  1  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  
1. Trade -related Technical Assistance (TRTA) is a core function of the WTO. Its main purpose is 
to enhance the human and institutional capacities of beneficiaries to take full advantage of the rules -
based Multilateral Trading System (MTS), meet their obligati ons and enforce their rights as Members, 
and deal with emerging trade -related challenges.   
2. This Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan (TA Plan) defines the strategy and 
priorities that will be followed by the Secretariat in this domain over 2020 -21. The TA Plan is 
principally a policy framework that identifies priorities, anticipate s results, mechanisms for 
implementation and sources of funding for the activities. The TA Plan is designed to deliver technical 
assistance taking into account the pro visions of paragraph 38 of the Doha Declaration (and the 2001 
TA strategy).  
3. The TA Plan 2020 -21 also aims to give continuity to and build on the work carried out under 
the 2018 -19 TA Plan while adapting the TA offer to the evolving needs of the MTS and its  Members 
and Observers. The overall design of this Plan is mainly guided by WTO's managing for results and 
progressive learning strategies and is structured around the following four Key Results:  
• Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fu lly realising Members' rights 
and obligations;  
• Acceding governments are participating in accession negotiations;  
• Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing WTO issues and reaching out to 
policy makers; and  
• Non-governmental stakeholders are  aware of and knowledgeable about WTO work and issues.  
4. The TA Plan explains how the above four Key Results will be pursued over the 2020 -21 
biennium, taking into consideration Members’ needs and the outcome of the most recent Ministerial 
Conferences. In ad dition, the TA Plan identifies the performance indicators and targets that will be 
used to measure the attainment of the Key Results. The TA Plan also has sufficient flexibility to 
accommodate any specific outcomes from the 12th Ministerial Conference.  In  keeping with the 
introduction of RBM, and ensure the availability of comprehensive data, the Secretariat will continue 
working towards a fuller implementation of its monitoring and evaluation framework and tools where 
applicable.  
5. During the 2020 -21 bienni um, the Secretariat will continue to promote  TA activities that focus 
on the implementation of WTO Agreements, refin e its internal Results -Based Management (RBM) 
tools, and consolidat es the Progressive Learning Strategy (PLS) where applicable. The Secretar iat 
will also continue to make further improvements to the eLearning  programme, its pedagogical 
methods and Training of Trainers (ToT) scheme, and its use of value -adding partnerships.  
6. Under the guidance of Members, the Secretariat will continue to carry out those actions that 
still require attention as outlined in its response to the TRTA External Evaluation conducted in 2016. 
This will include looking into the recommendations of the external evaluation of the WTO Chairs 
Programme (WCP) with a view to imp lement ing a future Academic Programme that also attempts to 
develop a link between other TA activities targeted at academic institutions.  Refining trade and 
gender issues and  addressing the availability of course -offerings in all three languages will also  
continue to receive attention.  
7. In parallel, the Secretariat will continue to engage with Members on issues brought to light by 
the MTS that might require action. These include alternative approaches to Reference Centres,  
examining the TA needs linked to new trade issues, and expanding the assessment of trainees' 
learning and their use of the skills gained through TA. The Secretariat will also redouble its efforts 
to address the constraints arising from the limited training infrastructure available in the WTO 
campus including, where  possible, the setting up of a second training room appropriate for hosting 
the type of interactive courses promoted by the TA Plan.  
8. The TA Plan has been developed in the context of a WTO Regular Budget that has been static 
in nominal terms since 2009, and of generously provided thou gh declining voluntary extra -budgetary 
resources. Taking this into account, th e TA Plan assumes that TA resources will be stable during this 
biennium , thereby allowing approximately the same level of TA activity as in previous years. Towards WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
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  this aim , the Secretariat will continue its efforts to improve the efficiency of the TA programme while 
enhancing its quality and benefits to recipients. These efforts will be guided by the lessons learnt as 
well as by the priorities identified by beneficiaries for this biennium .  
2  INTRODUCTION  
9. WTO’s TRTA activities aim to help beneficiaries build their human and institutional capacities 
so that they can participate more effectively in the MTS. In this regard, Ministers declared at WTO's  
4th Ministerial Conference in Doha  that: 
“The delivery of WTO technical assistance shall be designed to assist developing and 
least-developed  countries and low -income countries in transition to adjust to WTO rules 
and disciplines , implement obligations  and exercise the rights of membership, including 
drawing on the benefits of an open, rules -based multilateral trading system ".1  
10. The importance of TA was more recently re -affirmed by Ministers at the 10th WTO Ministerial 
Conference in Nairobi when they stated that:  
"We also reiterate the importance of targeted and sustainable financial, technical, and 
capacity building assistance programmes to sup port the developing country Members, 
in particular LDCs, to implement their agreements, to adjust to the reform process, and 
to benefit from opportunities presented”. 2 
11. In the preparation of this TA Plan for 2020 -21, the Secretariat worked with beneficiari es to 
articulate needs and to ensure the relevance of the TRTA activities offered. Starting points for the 
preparation of th e TA Plan were the information gathered through a questionnaire submitted by TA 
beneficiaries and consultations with Members and Obs ervers. This information is complemented by 
the lessons drawn from the implementation of the previous TA Plans.  
12. The TA Plan 2020 -21 maintains the overall strategy and approach adopted by the 2018 -19 TA 
Plan and, continues to give priority to activities sup porting Members' efforts to implement WTO 
Agreements, addressing their TRTA priorities, and promoting better TA results. Furthermore, the 
activities included in the TA Plan 2020 -21 have been designed to achieve similar overall results as 
those of the 2018 -19 Biennial TA Plan. The results expected for 2020 -21 are elaborated in section 6  
and in the detailed logframe included in Annex 1. Th e Annex is an integral part of the TA Plan.  
13. The TA Plan has been developed against a background of rising global trade ten sions and 
increased economic uncertainty. The majority of TA beneficiaries continue to have similar challenges 
as those that necessitated the development of the WTO TA programme over the years. Furthermore, 
a number of TA beneficiaries are seeking increased information  about ongoing discussions on 
emerging trade issues such as e-commerce, investment facilitation, Micro, Small and Medium 
Enterprises (MSMEs), Global Value Chains (GVCs), etc.  
14. The TA Plan for 2020 -21 is designed to deliver technical assistance taking into account the 
provisions of paragraph 38 of the Doha Declaration and the relevant parts of the 2001 TA strategy 
which also indicates  the TA beneficiar ies.3 As in the previous TA Plan, the TA activities to be delivered 
will depend on Members' identified needs particularly at the national level , with regional activities 
reflecting overall needs of the various regions. The main TA activities and programmes  associated 
with this TA Plan are listed in Annex 2.  
15. The rest of this document comprises the following sections: a summary of the main lessons  
learnt  from the implementation of the past TA activities and from the recommendations by the 2016 
External Evalua tion, the TA priorities identified by Members, the strategies and actions to respond 
to Members' and Observers' priorities, the overall results expected from the delivery of this TA Plan, 
and the funding requirements necessary to implement it.  
                                                
1 WTO Ministerial Declaration, WT/MIN(01)/DEC1, 20 November 2001, paragraph 38.  
2 WTO Ministerial Declaration, ( WT/MIN(15)/DEC), 21 December 2015, paragraph 17.  
3 WTO Ministerial Declaration, t WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1, 20 November 2001, and A New  Strategy for WTO  
Technical Cooperation for Capacity Building, Growth and Integration, WT/COMTD/W/90, 21 September 2001.  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
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  3  LESSONS LEAR NT FROM THE IMPLEM ENTATION OF THE TA PLAN 2018 -19 AND THE 
RECOMMENDATIONS OF T HE EXTERNAL EVALUATI ON  
3.1  Key achievements of the TA Plan 2018 -19 
16. The lessons learnt from the implementation of the TA Plan 2018 -19, as well as from previous 
TA Plans, have helped guide the design of the TA Plan 2020 -21. The Annual Performance Report on 
TA and Training for 2018 analysed in detail the TRTA provided by the WTO during the first year of 
implementation of the TA Plan 2018 -19.4 The report shows that WTO TA produced excell ent results 
in 2018 in the areas for which results could be measured.  The initial results for 2019 indicate that 
the implementation of the TA Plan has remained on track to achieve similar results.  The following 
paragraphs describe a selection of results fo r 2018 that help give context to this TA Plan.  
17. The proportion of the targets met in 2018 reached its highest level since 2015. Targets listed 
in the logframe were met in 76% of the cases ; this proportion was 57% on average during the period 
2015-17. In 201 8, only  4% of the targets were not met and 15% of them were missed by a small 
margin. Through  the Secretariat's continuous efforts to enhance the quality of its TA performance 
indicators, significant progress has been  made in terms of data availability.  T he proportion of 
indicators for which no data was available decreased progressively from 18% in 2016 and 10% in 
2017 to 4% in 2018.  
18. During 2018, the Secretariat carried out 307 TA activities (18% more than in 2017) - in Geneva 
and elsewhere - and participate d in 52 (compared to 40 in 2017) TA -related activities mainly 
organized by partner institutions. Counting eLearning  and face -to-face activities, around 22,800 
participants were trained during the year indicating an increase of 25% compared to 2017. This 
growth was mostly due to a 65% increase in face -to-face activities.  During the 2020 -21 biennium, 
the Secretariat intends to  continue with this level of activity . 
19. In 2018, LDCs and Africa continued to be a priority for WTO TA. Africa recorded the highest 
number of TA activities, reversing a decline observed in the last few years. However, the  participation 
of LDCs in TA activities was proportionately lower in 2018 than in 2017, mainly because demand for 
national activities from these countries grew at a slowe r pace than demand from other beneficiaries. 
LDCs cited funding limitations to host national activities and a number of LDCs were not eligible for 
WTO TA as they were in arrears on their annual contributions to the WTO budget . The challenges 
LDCs face in taking full advantage of TA are discussed later in the TA Plan.  
20. As in previous years, in 2018 over 60% of the TA was provided in English, 15% each in French 
and Spanish, and the  last 10%  in more than one language. This mirrored approximately the language 
preferences of Members and Observers in the WTO.  Subject specific regional seminars were 
conducted in all regions in 2018 and this trend will continue for the 2020-21 period. Ove rall, women 
represented approximately 47% of the participants in WTO activities, an increase of 25 % compared 
to the 2012 -17 average.  
21. An overwhelming majority of TA activities (approximately 86%) contributed to Key Result 1: 
"Government officials are imple menting WTO Agreements and making full use of Members' rights", 
for eLearning  courses the proportion was close to 100%.  For Key Result 2:"Acceding governments 
are participating in accession negotiations" , 7% of the activities contributed to this result , followed 
by 5% of the activities to Key Result 3: "Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing 
WTO issues and reaching out to policy makers ", followed by Key Result 4: " Outreach to 
non-governmental stakeholders and legislators are aware of an d knowledgeable about WTO work 
and issues." The strategy for achieving  these Key Result s is explained in section 5 below .  
22. Methods  to improve participants ' learning  will continue to be pursued. Courses based on 
blended -learning approaches (using a combinat ion of online and in -situ modules, self -study and 
practical follow -up work) will continue to be encouraged while also maintaining the balance between 
the three levels of training in the WTO’s PLS , considering  that full integration of the PLS across all 
different TA programmes is not always possible. In 2018, the share of activities without a defined 
PLS level stood at 9%. Activities at introductory level will continue to represent a small proportion 
of the total TA activities while ensuring that most of the  growth in TA activities will come from 
                                                
4 WTO document WT/COMTD/W/245, 27 May 2019 . 
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  advanced activities with regard to face -to-face activities.  For eLearning  most courses will continue 
to be offered at intermediate and introductory levels.  
23. The number of  activities targeting , on one hand, generalis ts and , on the other hand  specialists 
will be guided by the identified needs and priorities of each category , while maintaining a similar 
balance as that of the 2018 -19 TA Plan. The TA Annual Report for 2018 noted that work was ongoing  
to improve the TA of fer in terms of both quality and adequacy to the actual needs of Members. In 
particular, the new online cloud -based platform that has been  configured  and includes all onlin e 
courses from the  E-Campus  in the three WTO languages will improve the eLearning offer. Having 
ensured that the entire 2017 catalogue is available in all three WTO official languages, the aim in 
2020-2021 is to ensure that the new courses developed in 2018 are all available in the other two 
languages.  Five new interactive courses were finalized and made available in English in 2018: "Trade 
Facilitation Agreement"; "CITES and the WTO – Enhancing Cooperation for Sustainable 
Development"; "Agriculture Information Management System"; "D ocuments Online 
E-Subscriptions"; and "Mainstreaming Trade – The Fundamentals".  In addition, the course "The 
Agriculture Xpress" , finalized in December 2017 , was offered in the 2018 programme.  Two courses  
developed before 2014  were also updated in Englis h: "Accession to the WTO – New version" and 
"Trade and Environment – New interactive version".  Regular updates were also completed in the 
material to include latest trade -related developments in English, French and Spanish, and efforts 
were made in a numb er of areas to better tailor TA to the needs of beneficiaries.   
24. Several activities focused on the implementation of the WTO Agreements in fields like SPS, 
TBT, TRIPS and government procurement, with some introducing new e -tools to facilitate Members' 
notification and their better compliance with specific provisions of the Agreements concerned.  
25. Likewise, progress made towards the full implementation of a TA management system based 
on results, which included the introduction of significant improvements to the  reporting on TA 
activities in 2018 and 19, leading to almost complete records, should lead to the full implementation 
of a TA management system.  
3.2  Lessons learnt from implementing the TA Plan 2018 -19 
26. A number of relevant lessons can be drawn from the implem entation of the TA activities in 
2018-19 and in earlier years which will shape the implementation of this TA Plan. The lessons drawn 
relate to the implementation of the Secretariat's RBM approach, the PLS, participation of LDCs, 
product mix, language mix, and key result mix.  
3.2.1   Managing for results  
27. The progress made over the last five years, has indicated by the forgoing analysis of the 
Secretariat's TA programme, and  its monitoring and evaluation , provides the basis for the TA Plan 
to continue the overall approach established in the last biennium with the necessary changes to 
reflect new TA demands to meet evolving circumstances surrounding the WTO work programme.  
Consequently, this TA Plan is structured according to the same philosophy and operational modalities 
as the TA Plan . 
28. At the same time , adjustments have been made to the indicators, targets and assumptions 
for some Key Results and Outputs , as a result of les sons learned in the 2018 -19 period. These 
changes will allow the Secretariat to collect the relevant data, taking account of the limited capacity 
of many developing and LDC Members and Observers to provide reliable information on the results 
of TA at the n ational level.  
29. Furthermore, even though the proportion of targets met increased in 2018, some targets need 
to be reconsidered as they proved to be overly ambitious or irrelevant. This will also involve 
reconsidering the relevant assumptions. Consequently, the logframe (Annex 1) has been amended 
to address identified shortcomings.  
3.2.2   The Progressive Learning Strategy  
30. Further efforts will be applied to implement the PLS more thoroughly (explained in s ection 
5 below) . In particular, steps are needed to improve the understanding of the concepts underpinning WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
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  the different training levels ; there is a need for  more precision  about the knowledge, concepts and 
principles that have to be acquired at each level . Moreover, the concept of progressivity needs to  be 
facilitate d by the introduction of new means to test participant s' knowledge at the end of face -to-face 
TA activities. Further work is needed to develop a more coherent combination of face -to-face and 
online TA activities to respond to the identified needs of beneficiaries, and to support the design of 
face-to-face activities that assist Members in the implementation of WTO Agreements.  
31. By and large, the External Evaluation conducted in 2016 validated the  PLS approach adopted 
by the Secretariat to manage TA activities, while at the same time putting forward specific 
recommendations for improving this approach . The m ajority of these recommendations have been 
implemented or are on -going with a view to be com pleted during this biennium5. It is worth 
mentioning that a number of the recommendations made by the External Evaluation were already 
being addressed, at least partially, during the 2016 -17 and 2018 -19 TA Plans .  
32. During this biennium, the Secretariat will  also focus on consolidating the PLS to a wider scope  
of activities , particular ly national activities . Applying the  PLS approach to national activities  is still a 
major challenge due to the limited control that the Secretariat has in determining participat ion these  
activities.  
33. The Secretariat will continue its efforts to develop a more coherent synergy between 
face-to-face and online activities to ensure progressivity according to the PLS while, at the same 
time, responding to the identified needs and prio rities of the beneficiaries.  
3.2.3   Pedagogical method  
34. Efforts to adjust the curricula for the various courses, improve the pedagogical approach, 
better ascertain the needs of beneficiaries as may be identified through different mediums with a 
view to achieving  desire target outcomes will continue. These will be elaborated under each 
respective Key Result. Against this background, the implementation of a coherent system of Training 
of Trainers ( ToT) will continue to cater for  specific target groups, including  new staff  recruits to 
ministries/departments.   
35. The sections below cover  some of the main issues for which specific recommendations  had 
been made in  the 2016 External Evaluation of the WTO TRTA and  which had been  incorpora ted in 
the 2018 -19 TA Plan  with an explanation on the steps taken by the Secretariat during the same 
period.  
3.2.4    Language mix 
36. The Secretariat offers training in the three WTO official languages (English, French and 
Spanish). Participants in TA activities may , therefore, follow TA courses in any of these languages, 
to the extent that a particular course is available in all the languages. The External Evaluation 
recommended regular reviews on the availability of course -offerings in French and Spanish in view 
of the fact that certain course -offerings at the advanced level available in English had not been 
available in the  two other WTO official languages. As a response, the Secretariat conducted an 
analysis and its findings and recommendations on this subject wer e presented to Members.6  
37. The Secretariat pilot -tested the use of interpretation for such courses in addition to the 
preferred option to offer the same courses in French and Spanish. Offering the same courses in other 
languages will remain the preferred op tion in order to keep as much interactivity as possible. To the 
extent allowed by human and financial constraints, interpretation from English  to French and English  
to Spanish will continue to be used on a course -by-course basis in the 2020 -21 TA Plan.  
38. The TA Annual Report 2018 indicates that during the year  there was a marginal increase in 
the proportion of face -to-face activities held in at least two WTO languages (with a few cases of 
activities in all three WTO languages). This was achieved through the use of simultaneous 
interpretation during the training. These activities represented 8% of the total face -to-face activities, 
                                                
5 Annual Performance Report  on Technical Assistance and Training for  2018, WT/C OMTD/245  
6 WTO document WT/COMTD/W/229.  
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  which was a marginal improvement from 2017 (7%). Face -to-face activities conducted at a global 
level (in Geneva) in English only a ccounted for 66% of total face -to-face global activities. This is 
within the 64% average for the years 2012 -17. 
39. The choice between the two solutions mentioned above depends on a number of factors, 
including the level of demand for the courses in the three languages as well as the cost implications 
and technical feasibility of each solution. In view of the preferences expressed by Members during 
the relevant consultations and the lessons to be learnt from trying out different solutions, the 
Secretariat will aim to increase the language diversity of the face -to-face training activities offered 
in Geneva during this biennium . 
40. However, to achieve the desired balance in the language mix will also require making available 
sufficient training facilities to accommod ate any additional course -offerings or additional 
participant s. In this regard, the Secretariat does not expect any major increase in training facilities 
during the 2020 -21 biennium that would result in a major increase in course -offerings in the other 
WTO languages. Consequently, only  a modest increase in the course -offerings can realistically be 
expected in 2020 -21.  
3.2.5   Improvements to the Advanced Trade Policy Course  
41. Following the recommendations of the External Evaluation, as well as the subsequent 
assessm ent of the ATPC carried out by the Secretariat in 2017, t he Secretariat will continue to 
implement improvements to the Advanced Trade Policy Course (ATPC), as well as to other courses 
undertaken in Geneva .  
42. The Secretariat will continue to monitor and upda te the ATPC programme in the context of 
the PLS path for generalists and the needs expressed by WTO Members. Some modules have already 
been reinforced and new modules included in the programme (such as Transparency/Notifications 
and Trade & Gender) . Additional adjustments may be required as the programme for the Regional 
Trade Policy Course (RTPC), a prerequisite for attending the ATPC, is revised and updated.  
43. In line with the recommendations in the External Evaluation, the Secretariat will introduce a 
final exam for the ATPC in 2020. The design of the final exam will take into account the practical 
nature of the ATPC , as well as the fact that it is an advanced level  training course which require s a 
thorough consideration of the method of examination and the  depth of the questions.  
3.2.6   Follow -up to Trade  Policy Reviews   
44. The Trade Policy Review ( TPR) exercise is a unique opportunity for a Member under review  to 
consider in a holistic way the many components of its trade policy. During the fifth appraisal of the 
TPR Mechanism conducted in 2013 : 
"Members also considered it important to enhance, where required, the role of the TPRM 
in making available TA to deve loping -country Members, and in particular to LDC 
Members (in accordance with Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement). Members agreed 
that there could be further follow -up to reviews of those Members, at their request.  
This follow -up could involve a workshop/s eminar to discuss and disseminate the results 
of the review, as well as to identify the TRTA and capacity -building needs of the 
reviewed Member(s) ".7 
45. The  External Evaluation proposed that new training options be identified by the Secretariat 
on the basis of proposals from TPRs .8 The WTO Secretariat Management Response to the External 
Evaluation agreed with this recommendation indicat ing that it had already been partially 
implemented and that full implementation would need to involve Members.9 The Managemen t 
Response also pointed out that the Secretariat did not have the resources to increase the number 
of national TPR follow -up activities if there was to be a surge in such requests. The Secretariat has 
continued to offer the possibility to deliver follow -up workshops for Members who have undergone 
                                                
7 WTO document WT/ MIN(13)/5  28 October 2013, para 2.4 . 
8 WT/COMTD/89, 2 December 2016, Recommendation 15 .  
9 WT/COMTD/ 90, p. 13.  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
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  a TPR. However, data from national TA activity requests in 2018 does not show any significant 
increase in demand for such activities.  
46. The TA Annual Report 2018 shows that TPRs were conducted in five ( 5) LDCs and that  TPR 
follow -up workshops  were requested in only two (2)  of them.10 Furthermore, the challenges many 
LDCs and other low -income countries face in accessing national TA activitie s will also have an impact 
on the number of TPR follow -up activities requested. The challenges in accessing TA by these 
beneficiaries  have been highlighted in the TA Report 2018.11 
47. Activities designed to follow -up on the findings and recommendations of TPRs  will continue to 
be organized by the Secretariat based on request by any Member eligible for TA. TPR follow -ups are 
designed to disseminate the results of the review to national stakeholders, to identify the TA needs 
of the country in support of the imple mentation of the WTO obligations, and/or to help a Member 
identify areas in need of reform and mobilize the required sources to undertake such reforms. In 
some cases, some beneficiaries have requested an activity on the shortcomings identified in the 
TPR, rather than an activity to discuss the findings of the TPR.  
48. Consequently, during the implementation of the TA Plan, the Secretariat will continue to 
respond  to Members' requests for TPR follow -up activities to the extent possible. As already indicated 
above, demand for such activities is  currently within  manageable levels . 
4  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  NEEDS AND PRIORITIES  
49. As part of the preparations for the TA Plan, and consistent with past practice, the Secretariat 
interacted with Members in order to identify their TA priorities. In this regard, an online 
Questionnaire was circulated to all permanent missions to the WTO, i nviting feedback on a number 
of issues: their TA needs and priorities; the TA challenges they face in accessing TA; and their views 
on the involvement of various stakeholders in training activities. The responses received were 
analysed and used as the basis for the preparation of the TA Plan.  
50. In total, the Secretariat received responses from 7 1 beneficiaries, representing approximately 
55% of total potential beneficiaries. The information gathered can, therefore, be considered as 
representative of beneficia ries’ views concerning their TA priorities and desired outputs from TA 
activities for this biennium . As shown in Chart 1, the responses on TA needs and priorities were 
generally similar to those provided in the preparation of the previous TA Plan with resp ect to the 
traditional WTO subjects such as SPS, TBT, NAMA, GATS, etc., but with a noticeable rise in demand 
for emerging issues such as e -commerce and investment facilitation. However, there were also 
regional divergences among the general range of subjec ts identified. Certain regions showed a 
continuing need for standard WTO training activities while a few regions exhibited a greater need 
for different forms of TA delivery, such as interactive dialogues with stakeholders or the provision of 
specific techn ical advice on various trade -related issues. These regional divergences will , to the 
extent possible,  be reflected in the implementation of both national and regional activities under the 
TA Plan.  
51. The Secretariat invited all WTO Members and Observers to informal consultations on 
11 July 2019. The consultations were intended to update Members and Observers  on the TA needs 
as formulated by respondents to the TA  Questionnaire , as well as to discuss any other issues relating 
to the implementation of the 2018-19 TA Plan and the preparation of this TA Plan.   
                                                
10 WT/COMTD/W/245, para. 4.9.   
11 Ibid., para. 4.12.  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 11 - 
 
  Chart 1 TA Beneficiaries priorities for 2020 -21 
 
 
* NAMA/Market Access Issues also includes: Customs Valuation, Import Licensing & Rules of Origin . 
** General Capacity Building refers to training on the WTO Agreements  and other horizontal issues, 
including for officials who need a basic overview of the WTO .  
 
52. According to the responses to the Questionnaire, some of the challenges faced by beneficiaries 
to address their TA needs include: insufficient human and financial resources; continued mobility of 
trained officials from department to department or exit from the public service, resulting  in poor 
institutional memory; weak institutional capacity caused by inadequate staffing; and, generally, 
insufficient  coordination at the national level between the ministry responsible for international trade 
and the various departments whose work is connected with any of the WTO Agreements.  
53. Beneficiaries also conside red it important to involve “other” stakeholders such as legislators, 
academia , researchers, civil society and media  in TA activities in order to support domestic policy 
making and implement ation of  Member’s rights and obligations under the WTO Agreements.  In this 
regard, the range of views on the importance beneficiaries attach to involving other stakeholders  as 
a means of enhancing capacity on WTO -related issues  will be respected when designing activities 
targeting non -governmental stakeholders.  Although the areas identified as useful for "other" 
stakeholders to be informed of were quite varied across the regions, they can be broadly stated to 
include general sensitization on the role and functioning of the WTO and its Agreements, ongoing 
discussions on in stitutional reform of the WTO, emerging issues such as e -commerce, MSMEs, and 
investment facilitation, as well as the interplay between trade and development generally. In this 
regard, therefore, activities targeting "other" stakeholders will need to respe ct the specific needs of 
each region.  
54. On the basis of the information obtained from the Questionnaire, the additional information 
obtained from the informal consultations held on 11 July 2019 , and lessons learnt from the 
implementation of previous TA Plans , the Secretariat will adopt the strategy indicated in the following 
paragraphs in implementing activities under the TA Plan . 
55. In order to  better tailor  activities  for each specific country rather than offer generic products, 
as is done at the regional or g lobal level , the Secretariat will give priority to national activities . This 
is the best way in which each Member's or Observer's specific interests can be accommodated in the 
design of the TA activity.  
WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 12 - 
 
  56. In this regard, the national TA online request form will continue to be used as the main tool 
for requesting TA to be provided to Members and Observers .  Many beneficiary countries have not 
made full use of national activities from the Secretariat. This is due to several challenges , including 
those specific ally affecting  LDCs and some low-income developing countries. Some of these 
challenges were highlighted in the TA Annual Report 2018. In particular, the Report pointed out that 
Africa was disproportionately affected by the administrative measures taken wit h respect to 
Members and Observers in arrears on their contributions to the WTO. Twelve ( 12) African countries 
(11 of which are LDCs) could not access TA from the WTO for approximately 80% of the year due 
to the administrative measures. If this trend conti nues in 2020 and 2021, it poses a challenge to the 
Secretariat in addressing the needs of quite a number of countries, especially LDCs.  
57. With respect to regional activities  conducted in the respective regions, the Secretariat will 
ensure that these  activiti es are organized around subjects on which there is a collective interest 
among most of the countries in that region. In this regard, the programme content in regional 
thematic activities will reflect the specific needs of each region . 
58. Some beneficiaries  feel that the Secretariat should broaden its scope of assistance to include 
trade policy advice . However, the Secretariat is limited only to what it can do within its mandate and 
within the common understanding among Members on the role of the Secretariat. The Secretariat is 
willing to engage Members on this point  for further guidance.  In the meantime, for those activities 
delivered jointly with partners this role will continue to be assumed by those institutions whose 
mandate permits them to pr ovide trade policy advice.  
59. With regard to requests on emerging issues, the Secretariat , while acknowledging that such 
issues may not be agreed to by all Members and as such remain sensitiv e, will respond positively on 
the basis that WTO TA is demand -driven. The Secretariat will, therefore,  provide TA in those cases 
where such TA is specifically requested. The Secretariat will  particularly make use of partnerships in 
the delivery of  such TA requests.  
60. Some responses to the TA Questionnaire indicated that the  Secretariat should increase  the 
means of reaching potential beneficiaries of TA instead of limiting training announcements to one 
official channel in Geneva . Based on previous discussion and guidance on this matter from Members, 
Observers and from the con sultations undertaken during the preparation of the TA Plan 2018 -19, 
the Secretariat will maintain the agreed communication channel, which is the permanent missions 
to the WTO. However, to complement these efforts, the planned regional and global TA activi ties will 
continue to be published on the dedicated TA link to the WTO website 
(https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/teccop_e/tct_e.htm ). Applicants will be directed to 
contact the responsible Ministry/department or WTO Mission of their country for  nomination to the 
TA activities announced on the website.  
61. A number of responses to the questionnaire from acceding countries emphasised the need for 
the Secretariat to prov ide specific activities to assist in their accessions process. The Secretariat 
already conducts accession -related TA activities developed in consultation with the Accessions 
Division; almost all national activities in acceding countries are in furtherance of their accession to 
the WTO. Furthermore, countries which have recently acceded to the WTO also benefit from a 
number of post -accession activities, again implemented jointly with the Accessions Division. The 
Secretariat will continue with this approach in the 2020 -21 biennium.  
5  STRATEGIC APPROACH F OR TECHNICAL ASSISTA NCE IN 2020 -21 
62. The Secretariat attaches great importance to needs assessments in developing TA activities  
that are tailored to the needs of each country. Nevertheless, the Secretariat believes that needs 
assessment s are  best undertaken by the beneficiaries themselves as they are best placed to 
determine their needs. However, in view of the fact that a number of beneficiaries, especially LDCs, 
would like assistance with the tools with which to conduct their own TRTA needs assessments, the 
Secretariat will continue to provi de as much guidance as is practically possible, so as to assist 
beneficiaries in undertaking their own needs assessments.  
63. Therefore,  the TA Plan , while responding to the evolving needs of the MTS and its Members , 
seeks to make  improvements in the quality a nd effectiveness of TA by prioritizing activities with the 
highest potential to produce results for beneficiaries. At the same time, the volume of TA offered WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 13 - 
 
  remains relatively the same, consistent with the assumption that TA human and financial resources 
will remain unchanged during the 2020 -21 biennium.  
64. The overall strategic approach for the design of the TA Plan is mainly established by two 
components: WTO's Managing for Results Strategy and the Progressive Learning Strategy (PLS). 
Those two strategies are complemented by the following considerations: implementation of WTO 
Agreements, use of eLearning , use of appropriate pedagogical methods, and use of partnerships.  
5.1  Managing for results strategy  
65. The TA Plan is designed on the basis of the Secretariat’s m anaging for results strategy 
endorsed by Members in 2013. This strategy is framed by the concepts and terms defined by the 
Result -Based Management (RBM) approach, which focuses on achieving measurable results through 
improved planning, decision -making, tra nsparency and accountability.  
66. Under the RBM methodology, Key Results feed into a higher result level, termed Impact. 
Although no causal link can be expected to be established between TA activities and any observable 
result at the global Impact level, the TA Plan will focus on defining and measuring the Secretariat's 
contribution towards agreed Outputs and the achievement of Key Results. In this context, clear 
objectives of what needs to be achieved are set together with sound indicators for measuring 
progr ess and making sure that the various TA activities all contribute to reaching the set objectives.   
67. Since the adoption of the managing for results strategy, TA Plans have presented the two 
result levels and their causal relationships by using a Logical Fra mework Matrix or Logframe. This 
matrix provides the detailed performance indicators, baselines, targets, evidence and assumptions 
that guide the design and implementation of the TA  Plan and that also help measure its 
achievements. For the TA Plan, the rele vant logframe matrix is presented in Annex 1, which is an 
integral component of the TA Plan. The Outputs, Key Results and other components of the logframe 
for 2020 -21 are discussed in section 6 below .  
68. The logframe serves as the foundation to monitor and e valuate progress towards the expected 
results during the implementation of the TA Plan, which is essential for an efficient utilisation of TA 
resources. ITTC is responsible for coordinating the monitoring and evaluation of TA activities, and 
for producing at the end of each year an annual report on implementation of TA activities. The 
Secretariat will update the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan produced for the TA  Plan 2018 -19, taking 
into account any changes introduced by the TA Plan.  
69. The Secretariat will c ontinue with its Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, as well as continuing its 
internal evaluation of TA activities. As in the past, the TA annual reporting to Members will continue 
to focus on TA results as outlined in the TA logical framework with monitoring  conducted by the 
programme managers, organizers and trainers focusing on the immediate results or Outputs of the 
various TA activities.  
70. The Secretariat has already made several improvements to the continued implementation of 
RBM. Most significantly, these improvements include (i) the development of a new TA management 
system from January 2019; (ii) the streamlining of workflows on the new TA management system; 
(iii) an increase in, and better rationalization of evaluations of Secretaria t TA activities; and (iv) a 
better review of recommendations contained in Secretariat Back to Office Reports (BTORs).  The TA 
Annual Report 2018 shows that almost 100% of the Secretariat's TA activities have been fully 
reported. These improvements will be further consolidated in the 2020 -21 biennium.12 
5.2  Progressive Learning Strategy  
71. The other major component of the overall framework for the TA Plan is the Progressive 
Learning Strategy (PLS) endorsed by Members in 2011. The PLS has made it possible to tailor W TO 
activities more closely to the evolving needs of Members while improving the effectiveness and 
efficiency of WTO's overall TA programme. The PLS also allows for a more efficient use of TA 
                                                
12 WT/COMTD/W/245, paragraphs 1.2 & 1.3.  
 WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 14 - 
 
  resources by building on the knowledge and experience previously acquired by participants, and 
progressively taking the participants to a higher level of training.  
72. Under the PLS, WTO training activities are defined by two criteria: level and target audience. 
The PLS comprises three progressive levels, namely: introducto ry (Level 1); intermediate (Level  2); 
and advanced (Level 3). In parallel, the PLS includes two categories of target audiences: generalists 
and specialists. Generalists are government officials who need broad knowledge of the WTO to 
conduct their work, suc h as capital -based officials dealing with WTO issues or delegates posted to 
WTO permanent m issions with general responsibility for the entire WTO work programme.   On the 
other hand, specialists are government officials who require in -depth knowledge of a s pecific WTO 
subject matter, such as officials working on a specific issue in a particular ministry or department. 
Chart 2  illustrates the configuration of the PLS framework.  
Chart 2 WTO's Progressive Learning Strategy  
 
73. The Secretariat has developed guidel ines on the content of each of the three training levels, 
subject by subject, to define the substantive elements that should be mastered by generalists and 
specialists at the end of each training activity. Successful completion of each step constitutes a 
prerequisite for progression to the next level. Such progression might also be possible where a 
participant possesses knowledge or professional experience that is demonstrably commensurate 
with the requirements of a level stated as a prerequisite for traini ng at the next level. WTO training 
programmes have been progressively revised in order to provide beneficiaries with a more clearly 
defined progressive training path, both for generalists and specialists.  
74. The TA Annual Report 2018 noted that under  10% of total TA activities have no  level ascribed  
to them,  although efforts to introduce progressivity in the training courses have so far concentrated  
mainly  on regional, global and online courses, especially for generalists . Hence, more than 90% of 
TA activitie s fall into a category of the PLS, which indicates very good absorption of PLS in the 
Secretariat's TA activities. The Secretariat will continue implementing this strategy in the 2020 -21 
biennium.  
5.3  Use of partnerships  
75. The WTO has entered into numerous partn erships to deliver TA throughout the years;  more 
than 50% of the TA activities which the WTO organized or in which it participated were 
organized/delivered in association with a partner in the last biennium. The Secretariat will continue 
with this approach . 
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1Generalists Specialists
Advanced 
ATPC
GenevaAdvanced 
Thematic Courses
Geneva, Regions
Intermediate 
ITPCs
Regions, eLearningIntermediate 
Thematic Courses
Geneva, Regions, eLearning
Introductory 
Introductory Trade Policy Course for LDCs
eLearningWT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 15 - 
 
  76. Partnerships are either long term, short term or ad-hoc for a particular TA activity. In this 
regard,  the Secretariat will recommit to organizing as many activities as possible with partners. 
Furthermore, as one of the strategic approaches for 2020 -21, the Secretariat will continue to focus 
on the four areas below in which partners could add value to the TA provided by the WTO:  
a. Substance : whether the cooperation is mandated by a WTO Agreement or not, the partner 
adds value to the content of the TA activi ties by bringing on board their specialized 
knowledge on a particular subject, a local context or the institutional role it plays in an area.  
Such partnerships would typically involve a joint preparation and delivery of the programme 
of the activity, or o f part of it.  
b. Cost-sharing : the partner shares the costs associated with the organization of a particular 
TA activity. The contribution of the partner may be limited to some of these costs, defined 
in terms of percentage of the total or as a lump sum.  
c. Field support / Logistics : the partner takes care of part of the logistics related to the TA 
activity. This may involve tasks such as the identification of a venue for the activity, booking 
the hotel, preparing travel itineraries, sending invitations, organizi ng interpretation or local 
transportation, providing support staff on site, setting up and maintaining a virtual 
classroom, or distributing the Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) to participants, where 
applicable.  
d. Outreach:  cooperation with certain institut ions may give the WTO access to a different 
public or may increase its visibility in non -traditional circles.  
77. The Secretariat will continue to analyse the functioning of different partnerships, including the 
encouragement of those that are more valuable to  WTO's TA programme. Furthermore, the use  of 
regional experts for its regional activities will be encouraged whenever possible. The Secretariat will 
consult further on the possibility of strengthening training capacities within beneficiary countries and 
regions in addition to existing activities that target the academia.  
5.4  TA and gender  issues  
78. The participation of women and men in WTO TA activities will continue to be monitored and 
reported on with a view to addressing remaining gender imbalances. Furthermore, every opportunity 
will be made to integrate issues of gender equality and the empowerment of women into TA 
programmes and training material in the context of emerging initiatives on social and poverty 
implications of trade.  
79. There has already b een a marginal increase in women's participation in overall WTO activities 
in 2018 (47%) compared to an average of 44% since 2010. However, there were variations across 
the regions with increases in some regions, decreases in some regions, and stability in  other regions. 
The Secretariat will continue to monitor and report the participation of women in WTO TA activities 
for the foreseeable future. In addition, reflecting the importance it attaches to gender issues, the 
Secretariat will maintain its efforts t o ensure gender balance in WTO TA participation. The Secretariat 
will make particular effort to improve the participation of women in those regions which either 
showed a decrease or a stagnation in their participation.   
80. The approach on gender issues and t he decision to introduce modules on trade and gender in 
face-to-face activities reflects the Secretariat’s conviction that more needs to be done to close the 
gender gap in access to WTO TA activities, including through the provision of training to build th e 
necessary knowledge and skills. One of the main reasons that justify action in this sphere include 
the fact that women's economic empowerment has a positive impact on economic growth and helps 
to reduce poverty. Although trade has increased job opportuni ties for women and expanded their 
access to training, women still participate less in trade because they face numerous challenges and 
obstacles, including extra hurdles in acquiring trade -related knowledge.  
81. This approach to gender empowerment will continu e under the TA Plan, emphasizing the 
importance that the Secretariat attaches to using its capacity -building programmes to empower 
women. The Secretariat has recently piloted a module on trade and gender in the face -to-face 
courses that are of a duration o f more than four (4) weeks. This has been done in partnership with WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 16 - 
 
  other organizations to leverage value addition and avoid duplicating efforts. In the context of 
implementing this TA Plan, the Secretariat, while recognising that there are other internatio nal actors 
with a specific mandate on gender issues, will incorporate the trade and gender training module 
developed by the Secretariat and initially implemented under the previous TA Plan. The impact of 
this will be assessed within the first year of imple mentation of the TA Plan.  
5.5 Use of eLearning  
82. eLearning  has played a critical role in the provision of TA activities over the past years, proving 
to be a n efficient and  cost-effective way to train large numbers of individuals around the world on a 
number of WTO topics. The WTO eLearning  courses are part of the PLS and provide training at the 
basic and intermediate levels. The course catalogue includes a generalist and a specialist path to 
respond to participants’ profiles and to specific learning needs. In addition, some courses are offered 
outside the PLS to increase outreach and develop awareness of WTO issues.  
83. In the period 2020 -2021, the eLearning  courses will contin ue to be available on the  eLearning  
platform ( https://wtolearning.csod.com/client/wtolearning/default.aspx ) on a 24/7 basis. This 
allows participants to combine learning with thei r daily work and also to study at their own pace.  
Interested government officials will be able to register, have access to the catalogue of eLearning  
courses, select curricula that fit their needs, undertake courses, take part in interactive activities, 
access the module exams and obtain a WTO certificate at their convenience throughout the year.  
84. Within the eLearning  environment, the online course "Introduction to the WTO" will continue 
to be used to provide the basic training required to understand the st ructure and functioning of the 
WTO. This course will also serve as a prerequisite for participation in more advanced online or 
face-to-face activities. Intermediate eLearning  courses for generalists will allow participating 
government officials to enhance their overall understanding of the WTO, while the courses for 
specialists will permit participants to acquire expertise on specific WTO Agreements or subjects.  
85. The training material will remain available for self -study on the eLearning  platform for those 
who are not eligible to register for a course but are interested in getting acquainted with the WTO 
and/or trade -related issues generally. This is an important component of the WTO eLearning  
programme, which aims to increase outreach to academics, parliamen tarians, journalists, NGOs and 
the private sector.  
86. The eLearning catalogue includes courses that may or may not be in interactive format 
(Sharable Content Object Reference Model - SCORM).   The Secretariat will progressively develop 
new interactive courses and also replace those that were developed in a non -interactive format.   On 
portfolio management, while courses on core trade -related topics will continue to be updated and 
enhanced, new topics will continue to be introduced to provide training on the main  issues being 
discussed in the WTO work programme, in the three WTO official languages.  
87. The new eLearning  platform launched in 2019 will provide a more secure learning environment 
for participants as well as enhanced functionalities.  
5.6 Use of appropriate  pedagogical methods  
88. The Secretariat continues to incorporate more interactive training methods like Q&A sessions, 
case studies, and small group discussions. In view of the importance of using the right training 
methods to create an effective learning envi ronment, the ITTC has , in the last few years , closely 
monitored the use of the different training methods used by trainers when delivering TA. The 2018 
Annual report indicates a turnaround in which interactive methods are increasingly being used.  
89. The Secre tariat will maintain the practice of having consultations with beneficiaries ahead of 
regional and national activities to tailor TA activities to the specificities of the local contexts of 
beneficiaries. This will help identify the most appropriate pedagog ical approach to organizing a TA 
activity, and tailor the substance to the particular needs of the activity.  
90. For Geneva courses, efforts will continue to encourage trainers to make greater use of 
interactive methods. The Secretariat encourages trainers to  use an appropriate mixture of traditional 
lectures and interactivity with other methods such as hands -on training in those cases where this WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 17 - 
 
  helps participants to learn and retain knowledge. The Secretariat will also continue its efforts to 
promote, improv e or widen the availability of courses already available. This may involve altering 
the programme or the methodology, or the possibility of proposing additional thematic courses in 
French or Spanish. Efforts will also continue to increase the number of sel ected candidates, such as 
for the ATPC and the RTPC, subject to physical capacity of the facilities at which these courses are 
held. 
6  EXPECTED TECHNICAL A SSISTANCE KEY RESULT S 
91. One of the Secretariat's main functions under the TA programme is to enhance the capacity 
of developing -country and LDC government officials to deal with the various issues under the WTO 
Agreements. WTO TA is aimed at enhancing capacity in developing countries and LDCs so that they 
can: (i) participate effectively in the core areas of the WTO's work and its respective Bodies; (ii) 
implement their WTO obligations; (iii)  be able to defend the rights accruing to them under the WTO 
Agreements ; and (iv) negotiate effectively .  
92. The TA Plan primarily targets government officials since the main  purpose of TA is to assist 
governments build capacity to implement the WTO Agreements and thereby enforce their rights 
under the Agreements. The Secretariat will continue to provide TA to government officials through 
a mixture of online training and face -to-face activities organized at national, regional and global 
level; global level activities in each of the three official WTO languages will continue to be held in 
Geneva.  
93. It is also recognized that trade policy has multiple actors, in addition to governm ent officials. 
The Secretariat will, therefore, continue to target other audiences such as academics, legislators, 
journalists and private sector operators, particularly in outreach activities.  
94. The TA Plan has been designed to eventually achieve four Key Results indicated in Chart 3, 
which have remained the same as in the TA Plan 2018 -19. As in the past, achieving the Key Results 
in the TA Plan will require a close cooperation between the Secretariat, governments  and other non -
governmental beneficiaries , financial contributors to the TA budget, and TA delivery partner 
institutions.  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 18 - 
 
  Chart 3 TA Key Results for 2020 -21 
 
Note:  the chart is not drawn up with the intention of showing hierarchical levels among Key Results.  
 
95. Chart 4 identifies an overall Impact as the highest level of result to which the WTO related 
work contributes jointly with other  players in trade related capacity building.  It is not an exclusive 
attribution to TA from the WTO, but an indication of the contributio n the WTO is making to a common 
goal. In view of this, the Secretariat, like in the previous TA Plan, will focus on measuring Outputs 
and progress towards specific Key Results, which are discussed in detail in the subsequent parts of 
this section.  
96. The log ical framework in Annex 1 provides details on the indicators and targets associated 
with each of the Key Results in Chart 4. Those indicators and targets constitute the markers that 
will guide the implementation of the TA Plan at the operational level and will help measure its 
achievements.  
6.1  Key Result 1: Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully 
realising Members' rights and obligations  
97. Key Result 1, which aims to enhance Members' capacity to comply better with their obligations 
under the WTO Agreements and make full use of their rights, represents the bulk of the TA provided 
by the WTO to Members and Observers. The goal is to ensure that government officials have 
enhanced knowledge about the WTO Agreements and trade issues and are able  to participate 
effectively in the MTS to strengthening it while stimulating economic development.  Indeed, the TA 
Annual Report 2018 confirmed that during the last biennium, 86% of TA activities contributed to Key 
Result 1 (see Sections 2 and 3 above).  The Secretariat will maintain this threshold for the 2020 -21 
biennium.  
98. Drawing from the implementation of 2018 activities, the bulk of TA activities for this Plan are 
geared  towards assisting Members to implement WTO Agreements and enhance knowledge abou t 
their rights and obligations,  to better formulate their trade policies and effectively participate in trade 
negotiations. These include  training activities on  specific topics of interest to the TA beneficiaries as 
pursued in recent years .  
  
Impact 
Key Results  
  
1: Beneficiary government officials 
are implementing WTO Agreements 
and fully realizing Members ’ rights 
and obligations  
2: Acceding governments 
are participating in 
accession negotiations  
4: Non - governmental 
stakeholders and legislators 
are aware of and 
knowledgeable about WTO 
work and issues  
3: Academic institutions and 
other stakeholders are 
analys ing WTO issues and 
reaching out to policy makers  
Developing and LDC Members are benefiting 
from their active participation in the WTO  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 19 - 
 
  99. To achieve Key  Result 1, the Secretariat will continue to work closely with the permanent  
missions to the WTO and capital -based focal points responsible for WTO issues. Attaining this Key 
Result will also entail allocating time and resources to the design of new courses  on the basis of 
Members' identified needs and PLS guidelines. In addition, this will also require the support from 
beneficiaries, such as measures taken to retain trained participants in appropriate functions, the 
ability to impart the knowledge acquired across relevant ministries, as well as effective 
communication between the permanent missions and the capitals.  
100.  Details on indicators, baseline, target, evidence and assumptions associated with this Key 
Results are included in Annex 1. As indicated, Key R esult 1 targets, among other things, an increase 
in beneficiaries' submissions to WTO bodies and a decrease in the number of outstanding 
notifications.  
101.  To achieve Key Result 1, the Secretariat will aim to achieve four main Outputs identified in 
Chart 4. The Secretariat will be responsible for the effectiveness and efficiency with which Outputs 
are achieved, while accountability for achieving the overall Key Result 1 will be shared with TA 
beneficiaries.  
102.  It is expected that a total of approximately CHF13,17 2,300  per year in 2020 and 2021 will be 
available to implement the planned activities contributing to Key Result 1, which represents about 
74 %  of the total TA funding planned for the four Key Results in both 2020 and 2021 (see Table 1 
in section 7 on fund ing). 
Chart 4 Key  Result 1: Outputs  
 
6.1.1   Output  1.1: Beneficiary government officials have e nhanced knowledge about  WTO 
Agreements, policy formulation and conduct of trade negotiations  
103.  Output 1.1 – Government officials hav ing enhanced knowledge of the WTO Agreements, 
formulati on of trade policies , and conduct of trade negotiations has historically been the main item 
under the Key Result 1 of the Logframe. The objective is to offer generalists and specialists 
progressive learning paths that help them improve their knowledge and effectiveness in performing 
their work  and negotiations  
104.  The indicators, baseline, target, evidence and assumptions associated with this Output are 
detailed in Annex 1. The indicators related to the use of interactive teaching methods deserve explicit 
1: Government officials are implementing WTO  
Agreements and making full use of Members' rights.  
  
Key Result  
Outputs 
Face 
- 
to 
- 
face  
training 
Internship  
Programmes  
  
1.1: Beneficiary government officials 
have enhanced knowledge about 
WTO Agreements, policy formulation 
and conduct of trade negotiations  
eLearning  
 1.2: Effective 
partnerships 
established  
1.4: WTO data and 
database accessed by 
Members 
1.3: Members ’ needs 
and priorities 
identified WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 20 - 
 
  menti on here as the External Evaluation remarked that WTO training activities could benefit from 
applying a greater share of more innovative and interactive techniques – see section 5.5 for a 
discussion of appropriate pedagogical methods in TA activities. The p ercentage of participants 
getting high marks in both the RTPC and the ATPC is one of the indicators that have been amended 
this year with the introduction of final exams in the ATPC starting in 2020.  
105.  As in the past, the majority of  the TA  activities under Output 1.1 will seek to enhance the 
WTO-related knowledge of junior to senior level government officials from eligible Members and 
Observers through generalised or specialized and targeted technical assistance. A description of the  
wide range of TA activities under Output 1.1 can be structured around the following three training 
modalities, each of which is discussed in the sub -sections  below : 
• eLearning , 
• face-to-face training , and 
• internship  programmes  
 
6.1.1.1   ELearning  
106.  eLearning  courses are an indispensable entry portal for most TA activities, providing large 
numbers of participants with the opportunity to learn about the WTO, the WTO Agreements and 
other key trade -related issues. During the biennium, the Secretariat will seek to  train the same 
number of participants as in the previous biennium so as to  secur e a good geographical balance 
across the regions. Moreover, the Secretariat will seek to maintain the good results obtained 
previously regarding participants' success rate in the courses.  
107.  The Secretariat will also update and maintain the content of the courses in the eLearning  
catalogue in the three WTO official languages, to the maximum extent possible within the available 
resources. The strategy that will be implemented in 2 020-21 will include the upgrading of the training 
material into a more interactive format and in corporating  more multimedia elements, interactive 
exercises and other improved pedagogical methodologies. In particular, the objective is to develop 
new interac tive versions of older courses or new material covering trade -related topics that had not 
been previously covered by the eLearning  programme. These new courses will continue to be made 
available in English, French and Spanish. The detailed targets are cove red in Annex 1 as part of the 
key results in the logframe.  
108.  An appropriate focus on the use of social media will also be maintained to develop outreach, 
raise awareness and promote WTO training activities. Blended learning will also continue to be 
maintaine d to develop strategic synergies with face -to-face activities. The use of blended learning 
combining face -to-face and online sessions will be explored as a way to increase the efficiency of 
traditional TA activities.   
109.  Interactivity will remain an importan t component of the eLearning  courses to trigger interest, 
achieve effective knowledge transfer, reduce the digital gap and keep participants up to date with 
the latest developments. Therefore, chat sessions will continue to be organized and activity in the  
social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube) will be maintained.  
110.  In addition, taking advantage of new functionalities in the new eLearning  platform, and 
following -up on the assessment in the 2018 TA Annual Report, learning c ommunities will be created 
in order to develop peer -to-peer interactions in the online courses, as well as allow participants to 
have updates on the latest news on trade -related issues, exchange views with other trade experts, 
and establish a global profes sional network.  
6.1.1.2   Face -to-face training  
111.  The TA Plan aims to provide face -to-face training at the national, regional or sub -regional and 
global levels at any of the three PLS levels depending on the specific needs of beneficiaries. The 
face-to-face training f or generalists includes trade policy courses at the introductory, intermediate 
and advanced PLS levels. These courses, held in Geneva and in the regions, aim to provide a strong 
general knowledge of the MTS and of the main provisions of the WTO Agreements,  which should 
enable participants to work in a large variety of WTO -related areas or develop a more specialized WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
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  expertise. The TA Plan will maintain a suitable concentration of candidates complying with the 
prerequisites of an activity to ensure the effect iveness of the PLS.  
112.  The Secretariat will continue to collaborate with beneficiary countries in order to promote the 
movement of participants through the three PLS levels.  This requires, for example, ensuring that 
candidates nominated for the available cour ses satisfy the pre -requisites required for each course. 
Uniformity in application of this requirement will ensure that all participants for a particular course 
begin each training at the same level of knowledge.    
113.  At the introductory level, the TA trainin g courses for generalist will comprise the Geneva -based 
Introductory Trade Policy Course for LDCs, which will continue to be offered once a year as it has 
proven to be in high demand by beneficiaries. This course will be delivered in English and/or French.  
114.  Face-to-face courses for generalists will also continue, including the Regional Trade Policy 
Courses (RTPCs). These eight -week courses, held in the WTO's seven global regions, will target 
government officials working on trade -related issues who have compl eted an introductory WTO 
training. RTPCs will continue to deliver a comprehensive syllabus covering the WTO Agreements and, 
generally, the MTS as a whole through pedagogical methods that can help strengthen participants' 
knowledge of the WTO Agreements, an d their autonomy to use WTO resources and conduct 
WTO-related work. In addition, horizontal issues were already incorporated into the 2019 courses, 
and will also be fully captured in all RTPCs from 2020 to include modules on Trade and Gender, and 
on Transp arency/Notification measures. Participants' progress will continue to be regularly 
monitored, through a final graded exam as well as a portion of the final grade capturing participants' 
participation and engagement in the course. RTPCs will continue to be organized in partnership with 
a local academic institution.  
115.  The eight -week ATPCs, the most advanced training for generalists, has benefitted greatly from 
the improvements implemented in the last biennium, such as a better monitoring and measuring of 
results that makes possible a more rigorous evaluation of its benefits to Members. The existing 
arrangement of three ATPCs per year will be maintained, two being delivered in English each year 
and the third alternating between French and Spanish in each of the two years. This reflects the 
language demand of Members for this course.  
116.  The Secretariat intends to offer a comprehensive range of advanced thematic training 
activities for specialists in Geneva. This is in response to demands from a number of beneficiarie s, 
who have clearly expressed an interest in more specialized thematic courses. Reflecting the lessons 
learnt in previous years, some of these activities will seek to focus on implementation challenges, 
including through the development of action plans and  coaching participants after an activity. 
Budgetary provision has been made for implementing approximately 20 advanced thematic activities 
per year.  
117.  The Geneva -based activities will also comprise symposia or seminars held at the request of 
WTO Committees,  the Geneva Weeks and Focus Activities. The Secretariat will also continue to 
accommodate Focus Activities for Geneva -based delegates, NGOs, WTO staff members, interns 
working in the Secretariat and officials from international organizations. The aim of Fo cus Activities 
is to cover in depth a narrowly defined WTO subject over one or two days.  
118.  At the national level, face -to-face national activities will aim to contribute to building trade -
related local capacities. Each national TA activity will be guided by its own specific objectives 
addressing the priority needs of the beneficiary. To achieve this, beneficiaries will continue to be 
asked to indicate their needs in a national TA request form (available online). The proposed 
budgetary provision included in th is TA Plan is to implement up to 110 national activities per year.  
119.  At the regional and sub -regional levels, this TA Plan includes face -to-face activities for 
capital -based officials, mostly at intermediate level, focusing on areas identified as priorities by the 
beneficiaries concerned. Geography or common interests will guide the inclusion of a beneficiary in 
a region or sub -region. Where relevant, such activities will be conducted in collaboration with partner 
institutions to ensure that local considerati ons are incorporated into the training. The TA Plan 
includes budgetary provisions for implementing 30 regional or sub -regional activities per year.  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 22 - 
 
  120.  Reflecting the wide range of face -to-face training activities, these activities are associated with 
several different indicators and accompanying targets, baseline values, evidence and assumptions. 
As shown in the logframe, the targets for face -to-face activities seek further improvements in several 
areas, such as reducing the share of instructor -led lectures, f urther enhancements to the courses' 
syllabus and greater rates of satisfaction by participants.  
121.  A final exam for the ATPC  will be introduced with the first ATPC in 2020 , as had been 
recommended in the internal assessment for this course; this approach wil l be replicated  for all the 
trade policy courses for generalists offered at all PLS levels. This would, hopefully, also guide future 
efforts to extend the use of final exams to other face -to-face courses.  
6.1.1.3   Internship programmes  
122.  The WTO operates four long -term internship programmes focused on "learning -by-doing". 
Three of the se programmes focus on government officials, to give these  beneficiaries an opportunity 
to acquire in -depth knowledge on WTO matters under the guidance of staff in the Secretariat or in 
the permanent missions to the WTO in Geneva. Given the strong evidence of the effectiveness of 
internship programmes, although with variations between them , the TA Plan  include s the following 
internship programmes:  
a. NTP  Netherlands Trainee Programme, financ ed by the Netherlands;  
b. FIMIP  French and Irish Mission Internship Programme, financed by France and  
  Ireland; and 
c. RCI Regional Coordinator Internship, financed by the GTF.  
 
123.  Participants in the NTP are mid -level public officials from LDCs, low income countries and small 
and vulnerable economies. NTPs work in areas of interest to them or their countries and are usually 
assigned to various Secretariat divisions at different peri ods of their programme in the Secretariat, 
which cumulatively lasts a maximum of ten months. NTP interns will be evaluated by their supervisor 
based on the objectives set individually at the beginning of the internship. A maximum of 15 NTP 
interns will be recruited annually during this biennium.  
124.  Measuring how much was learnt by these interns is a real challenge, therefore, a proxy 
indicator to measure how much the interns did during their stay in Geneva will be used as has been 
the case in previous years. As a result, interns will be required to prepare monthly report explaining 
how their time has been allocated between five broad categories of the NTP outputs: i) WTO 
meetings; ii) meetings of regional groups; iii) training sessions organized by the Secreta riat; iv) 
research, briefing notes, needs assessments; and v) other activities. This data is incorporated when 
analysing the performance of the NTPs.   
125.  FIMIP interns are mid -level public officials from LDCs and economies in transition placed in 
the Geneva -based mission of their country for purposes of this internship. The internship has a 
maximum duration of ten months. FIMIP interns operate under the direction of the Ambassador and 
other officials of their mission, who evaluate the intern's work at the end of the internship based on 
the objectives agreed at the beginning of the internship. The programme targets primarily Members 
with small missions in Geneva whose capacity to follow WTO matters is very limite d. A maximum of 
16 FIMIP interns will be recruited annually.  
126.  As in previous years, FIMIP interns will devote most of their time to participating in the work 
of the different WTO bodies. This is particularly important for small understaffed missions as it 
supports their ability to participate in such meetings. In addition, interns also work on coordination 
between the Secretariat and relevant government agencies in their respective capitals regarding 
various WTO -related issues affecting their countries, incl uding their country's notifications 
commitments under various WTO Agreements. Each intern submits a monthly report which is used 
to monitor their performance. The supervisors of the interns in the permanent missions evaluate 
their work and inform the Secre tariat. The Secretariat will continue with the same approach for this 
biennium.  
127.  RCI participants are mid -level public officials from any TA beneficiary Member selected to 
coordinate a regional grouping. These interns are posted in the Geneva -based mission of the Member 
acting as coordinator of a regional grouping, provided the Member is eligible for TA from the WTO. WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
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  The RCIs work under the supervision of the head of the mission or his designate, who also evaluate 
the intern's work at the end of the internsh ip based on the objectives agreed at its beginning. An 
RCI internship is for the duration of the tenure of the Member as group coordinator but cannot 
exceed twelve months. The allocation of an intern is demand -driven and depends on a request being 
received  from a Member acting as coordinator for a region. A maximum of six (6) RCIs will be 
recruited annually, reflecting the number of WTO regional groupings of countries eligible for TA.  
128.  To facilitate the assessment of the RCI programme, each intern is require d to produce a 
monthly report. The main tasks of the interns include attending meetings of WTO regional groups to 
which their country belongs, of WTO committees and other institutional bodies, and the related work 
to facilitate the country's coordination r equired for their WTO regional group. In addition, the interns 
also work on research to facilitate the work of the coordinator of the respective regional group and 
prepare briefing notes, as part of their general training. Available data confirms that the RCIs 
reinforce the capacity of the permanent missions acting as coordinators of WTO regional groups to 
perform their work. Therefore, this programme will continue to be operated on the same basis.  
129.  Details on the relevant targets and baseline values, eviden ce and assumptions for the above 
internship programmes are included in the logframe in Annex 1.  
6.1.2   Output 1.2: Effective partnerships  established  
130.  Under this Output, the Secretariat will continue to seek partnerships that add the most value 
to its TA activiti es according to the four parameters defined in its effective partnership strategy, 
namely: substance, cost -sharing, logistics and outreach (see section 5. 3 for additional information).  
131.  In 2018, the Secretariat continued to leverage strategic partnership t o deliver better -tailored 
TA activities in a cost -efficient way. As a result, the Secretariat collaborated with 117 different 
partners to deliver 169 TA activities. In addition, Secretariat staff contributed to 30 activities 
organized by other partner inst itutions.   
132.  As detailed in the logframe in Annex 1, the TA Plan intends to maintain the same level of 
activities with involvement of a partner while increasing the proportion contributed by partners to 
particular TA activities. As also indicated in the log frame, attaining Output 1.2 assumes that 
interested partners will be available with appropriate resources to complement WTO expertise or 
financial resources.  
6.1.3   Output 1.3: Members' needs and priorities identified periodically  
133.  This output relates to the need to assess on a regular basis the TA needs of beneficiaries to 
ensure that WTO TA designed meets their priorities. With this aim, needs assessments will be 
conducted periodically, based on demand, to identify beneficiaries' needs and matching these to the 
most effective and efficient TA product.  
134.  As described in section 4 and illustrated in Chart 1, the consultations held in preparation of 
the TA Plan indicated several priorities for TA. This information has been confirmed through 
additional formal and infor mal consultations between the Secretariat and beneficiaries . The online 
form for national requests will complement  the responses to the TA questionnaire. The online   
National TRTA Request Form  will continue to be used to identify the changing needs and pr iorities 
of the beneficiaries of WTO TA . Despite a decline in national requests recorded in 2017, 2018 
recorded an increase of 45% in the number of national activities requested leading to a comparable 
increase in the number of needs analysed.  
135.  The needs a ssessments conducted by the NTP interns will continue to be used where relevant 
to provide a comprehensive picture of the needs and priorities of a TA beneficiary. Further still, 
needs assessments prior to the delivery of advanced activities will continue to rely on pre -course 
questionnaires in one form or another.  The responses are used to then tailor the content of the 
activity to the specifics of the participants.  
136.   The TPR process, as well as the TPR follow -up activities, which are conducted on request,  will 
also continue to contribute to the identification of specific needs and necessary actions.  To attain 
this target, beneficiary countries would need to utilize the TPR follow -up option by requesting a WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
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  TPR-follow -up activity after a TPR is concluded. O nly a few such requests for TPR follow -up activities 
have been received by the Secretariat in the last TA Plan.   
137.  Details on the indicators relevant to this Output are detailed in the logframe in Annex I. The 
number of responses to the TA questionnaires rec eived prior to the preparation of TA Plans will 
continue to be the main source of information on the needs and priorities of the TA beneficiaries.  
6.1.4   Output 1.4: WTO data  and databases accessed by Members  
138.  The Secretariat aims to use TA to make WTO statistical  tools and databases available to 
government officials dealing with trade -related issues as well as to other interested parties so as to 
improve the analysis of trade developments and trade negotiating positions. In previous years, the 
Reference Centres we re considered a tool to enable Members to access and use WTO –related 
information to raise awareness of WTO matters with all stakeholders. However, Reference Centres 
have declined in usefulness even for those countries with established Reference Centres, ma inly due 
to the fact that online access in many LDC countries is done mainly though mobile devices, which is 
relatively inexpensive, and not through the considerably more expensive fixed broadband internet, 
to which Reference Centres are connected.  
139.  The TA Plan does not envisage any further support to existing Reference Centres, which should 
be the responsibility of beneficiaries, as is already stated in the Guidelines signed by all beneficiaries 
of WTO Reference Centres at the time of the establishment of a  particular Reference Centre. 
Reference Centres may exceptionally be provided to LDCs who have not already benefitted from the 
establishment of a WTO Reference centre. This will mainly concern LDCs in the process of accession 
to the WTO. The Secretariat wi ll continue to consult with Members with a view to find more effective 
tools to enable LDCs gain better access to WTO online information.  
140.  The Secretariat will continue to offer an array of online and face to face activities to enhance 
participants' ability  to access WTO data and related information. In 2018, the Secretariat organised 
73 such activities at the global, regional and national levels. Training on information sources and 
databases will continue to be provided as part of the activities for general ists, including the 
Introduction Course for the LDCs, the Regional Trade Policy Courses (RTPCs), the Advanced Trade 
Policy Course (ATPC), specific training for Interns covered in thematic activities e.g. notifications, 
agriculture, NAMA etc.  
6.2  Key Result 2:  Acceding governments are participating in accession negotiations  
141.  This Key Result aims to ensure that acceding governments are participating effectively in 
accession negotiations, in line with WTO accession processes and procedures. This reflects the 
strategic priority the WTO gives to accessions -related activities, with 22 governments at various 
stages of the accession process as at [31 October2019].  Key Result 2 seeks to support these ongoing 
efforts by helping acceding governments to define their long -term trade reform agendas and 
strategies. In this context, the TA provided to acceding governments is designed to: (i) enhance 
their understanding of WTO rights and obligations; (ii) support a WTO -relevant domestic policy and 
legal framework; and (iii)  facilitate the accession process. In addition, this key result area will include 
the support the Secretariat provides to those seeking to accede to the Government Procurement 
Agreement (GPA).  
142.  The Secretariat will seek to support acceding governments on the desi gn of accession -specific 
start-up roadmaps  and endgame plans as appropriate.13 In addition, the "China Programme" will 
continue to assist acceding LDCs through the Accessions Internship programme, the follow -up to 
the TPRs of recently acceded Members, annua l WTO Accession Round Table Meetings, and support 
for their participation in WTO meetings. This is in line with the priority given to the accession of LDCs 
by the agenda set out at the Doha Ministerial Conference in 2001.  
                                                
13 The Secretariat also makes available an Accession Transparency Tool Box, available at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/attb_e.htm . 
 WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 25 - 
 
  143.  Key Result 2 includes the two Outp uts shown in Chart 5 Outputs 2.1 and 2.2 are guided by 
the same considerations mentioned in the previous paragraphs for the overall Key Result 2.  
Chart 5 Key Result 2: Outputs  
 
 
6.2.1   Output 2.1: Acceding governments' participants knowledge on WTO substantive 
and procedural matters enhanced  
144.  In 2018, 15 out of 22 acceding governments had an active accession process. Acceding 
governments were invited to 104 face -to-face activities. A total of 1,482 participants from the 
acceding governments benefited. National activities at the request of the a cceding governments will 
continue to be organised to address their specific priorities. In 2018, 14 national activities were held 
attracting a total of 592 participants. The Secretariat will continue to address the specific needs of 
the acceding government s on a demand -driven basis. The targets during this biennium  are to sustain 
the current number of accessions  working party meetings .  This assumes that accession negotiations 
remain active and that acceding governments submit the required documentation to their Working 
Parties.  
6.2.2   Output 2.2: Accessions Internship Programme participants' knowledge enhanced  
145.  The beneficiaries of the Accessi ons Internship Programme ( AIP) are recent graduates or 
postgraduate students from LDCs and developing Members. The AIP is funded by China under the 
auspices of the "China Programme " as part of its support for the Aid for Trade Initiative within the 
context  of South -South cooperation. The AIP interns work primarily on accessions issues in the 
Accessions Division of the Secretariat under the supervision of a staff member. The AIP interns spend 
ten (10) months in the Secretariat spread over a two -year calendar . In 2018, four (4) interns were 
recruited, and for this biennium the Secretariat will target to increase this number to five (5) interns. 
The intake of interns is adjusted annually according to the workload of the Accessions Division. AIP 
interns are supe rvised by a professional staff in the Accessions Division who provides day -to-day 
guidance, coaching and training and evaluate s their performance  based on the  objectives  set at the 
beginning of the internship. As indicated in the logframe in Annex 1, a max imum of five AIP interns 
will be recruited annually for a maximum period of ten (10) months.  
 
  
Outputs 
  
2.1: Acceding governments ’ 
participants knowledge on WTO 
substantive and procedural matters 
enhanced  
2.2 Accessions internship 
programme participants 
knowledge enhanced  
2.3: Interested Members ’ 
expertise on GPA rules, 
accession negotiations 
enhanced  
2. Acceding governments are participating in  
accessi on negotiations  
 Key  Result WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 26 - 
 
  6.2.3    Output 2.3: Interested Members' expertise on GPA rules, accession negotiations 
enhanced  
146.  This output also shows the TA support that the Secretariat has been provi ding for accession 
to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) for many years. With respect to the GPA, the 
TA Plan will focus on general compliance with the GPA and on empowering government officials to 
work with stakeholders in order to realize the ben efits from the new procedures and market access 
possibilities to which they commit themselves in joining the Agreement. A significant amount of this 
support is provided in partnership with other organizations . In 2018, there were five active GPA 
accession negotiations involving TA eligible Members. During this biennium, the Secretariat will 
continue to provide TA to support the GPA accession process while building their implementation 
readiness. Six (6) national activities were requested and organized in 20 18.  
147.  The 2018 -19 Plan identified the volume of documentation related to GPA accession circulated 
by TA -eligible GPA acceding countries as a proxy to measure the extent to which TA provided by the 
Secretariat enhanced the capacities of these countries to ef fectively complete their accession 
negotiations. For this biennium, the Secretariat will apply the same approach to measure that the 
capacities are enhanced.  
148.  The TA Plan provides for CHF818,000  per year in 2020 and 2021 to implement the planned 
activities  contributing to Key Result 2 and its t hree Outputs, which is equivalent to about 5 % of the 
total TA funding planned for the four Key Results for those years (see Table 1).  
6.3  Key Result 3: Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing WTO issue s 
and reaching out to policy makers.  
149.  All activities designed to respond to the needs of the academic institutions are grouped under 
this Key Result. The WTO Chairs Programme (WCP), General Academic Support, the PhD fellowships 
and the ELSA Moot Court Compe tition are what constitutes activities that fall within this Key Result. 
The Secretariat will continue to support a limited number of doctoral students and the annual 
European Law Students Moot Court Competition (which now covers the rest of the world). For the 
latter, the Secretariat will provide technical support through the participation of WTO staff as judges 
in the regional rounds; and host the final competition at the WTO, thereby giving students an 
opportunity to interact with WTO staff. Other activi ties with the academi a will be organized on merit 
and on the availability of resources, after taking into account the external evaluation findings.  
150.  The WCP is the largest programme under this Key Result. The TA external evaluation of 2016 
recommended a com prehensive and independent evaluation of this programme to assess the 
sustainability of the results. The nature of the programme and its specific duration of four ( 4) years 
for each phase, and the fact that it is the only programme in which grants are give n, makes it difficult 
to report annually or biennially on the outcomes and in particular, on its policy influence in the 
beneficiary countries. As a result, t he outputs for the WCP defined in Key Result 3 have  to take into 
account the adjustments to be made in the design of the WTO Chairs Programme, following the 
independent external evaluation conducted in the first half of 2019 . While the outputs of activities 
contributing to other academic stakeholders to devel op and access expertise on WTO issues and 
work will continue unchanged. The Secretariat , while waiting for a decision on the future of the WCP 
will continue its support to expose students in those institutions to WTO -related issues when 
requested and subje ct to availability of funds. Key Result 3 includes four  (4) Outputs as shown in 
Chart  6. WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 27 - 
 
  Chart 6 Key Result 3: Outputs  
 
 
151.  Key Result 3 and 4 have been slightly amended in this TA Plan to distinguish TA activities for 
academia, including the WCP in the light of the external evaluation recommendations which are still 
under consideration by the Secretariat, and the YPP which has been  grouped under the activities 
contributing to the general WTO outreach work.  
6.3.1   Output 3.1: Research on trade policy and WTO -related matters generated by the 
WCP14 
152.  The WCP aims to enhance knowledge and understanding of the MTS among academics and 
students thr ough teaching, research and outreach activities in the eligible academic institutions. 
Phase II of the WCP was concluded in 201 8, and an evaluation of the programme to assess its results 
and sustainability, conducted by external evaluators, was presented t o the Secretariat in July 2019. 
The recommendations from the evaluation will guide the Secretariat in the design of a future 
programme and activities to be undertaken under the WCP and TA to be provided to the academic 
community.  
153.  Output 3.1  aims to promote  research on trade policy and WTO -related matters by WTO Chairs 
and other academics. This reflects the view that research once well disseminated targeting policy 
makers has the potential to influence trade developments and policy. Thus, the Secretariat wil l guide 
the Chairs' choice of research subjects to ensure that these are WTO  relevant and may request the 
Chairs to contribute case studies to trade policy courses  organised by the Secretariat for TA 
beneficiaries .  
6.3.2   Output 3.2: Courses with WTO content developed by the WCP15 
154.  Output 3.2  seeks to use WTO support to help ensure that courses developed by the relevant 
academic institutions have WTO content and students are being trained on WTO -related subjects by 
the WTO and its Chairs. The objective i s to encourage Chair holders to train the future generations 
of trade policy experts. To help attain such objective, the Chairs will continue to be provided with 
                                                
14 Subject to the outcome of the consultations on external evaluation recommendations.  
15 Subject to what recommendations will be agreed to once the consultations are completed.  
  
Outputs 
  
3.1: Research on trade policy and 
WTO -related matters generated by 
the WCP 
3.2: Courses with WTO 
content developed by the 
WCP 
3.4: The WTO Chairs research 
disseminated to other 
stakeholders including policy 
makers 
3.3: Students trained on WTO 
work and issues  
3. Academic institutions and other stakeholders are 
analysing WTO issues and reaching out to pol icy makers  
Key  Result WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 28 - 
 
  access to the Secretariat didactic material, including eLearning  and expert advice. As shown i n the 
logframe in Annex 1, this Output targets  both an increase in the number of students trained and 
courses updated or developed with WTO content.  
6.3.3   Output 3.3: Students trained on WTO work and issues  
155.  The TA Plan provides for approximately CHF165,000  per year in 2020 and in 2021 to 
implement the planned activities contributing to Key Result 3 and its four Outputs, which are 
equivalent to about  1 % of the total TA funding planned for the four Key Results for 2020 and 2021, 
respectively (see Table 1).  
6.3.4   Output  3.4: The WTO Chairs research disseminated to other stakeholders including 
policy makers  
156.  Output 3 .4 calls for WTO Chairs to reach out to other stakeholders and key decision -makers. 
The objective is to increase the dissemination and visibility of academic research, for example 
through seminars, conferences or roundtables, with the ultimate aim of contributing to decision 
making. As indicated in the logframe in Annex 1, the tar get associated with this Output is to raise 
both the volume of outreach activities and the involvement of key decision -makers  with a view to 
contribute to policy -making.  
6.4  Key Result 4: Non -governmental stakeholders and legislators are aware of and 
knowledge able about WTO work and issues  
157.  Under the TA Plan, Key Result 4 seeks to ensure that non -governmental stakeholders are 
knowledgeable about WTO work and issues. The aim is to increase their involvement in trade policy 
and WTO -related issues to stakeholders o ther than government officials, e.g., Young Professionals, 
legislators, journalists and civil society. The TA Plan aims to achieve this by strengthening the 
understanding and institutional capacities of non -governmental stakeholders so that they can 
reinfo rce the results of the TA directly provided to Members and their officials. Key Result 4 includes 
five (5) Outputs as shown in Chart 7.  
Chart 7 Key Result 4: Outputs  
 
 
Outputs4.1: Understanding of WTO work 
and issues by non -governmental 
stakeholders improved
4.2: Improved access to WTO 
issues through online training 
material for self -study
4.4: Young Professionals are 
exposed to WTO issues and 
work4.3: Information on WTO 
Trade -related technical 
assistance provided4. Non -governmental stakeholders and legislators are 
aware of and knowledgeable about WTO work and issues
Key Result
  
Outputs 
  
4.1: Understanding of WTO work 
and issues by non -governmental 
stakeholders improved  
4.2: Improve d access to WTO 
issues through online training 
material for self -study 
4.4: Young Professionals are 
exposed to WTO issues and 
work 
4.3: Information on WTO 
Trade -related technical 
assistance provided  
4. Non -governmental stakeholders and legislators are 
aware of and knowledgeable about WTO work and issues  
Key Result  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 29 - 
 
  6.4.1   Output 4.1: Understanding of WTO work and issues by non -governmental 
stakeholders improved  
158.  Output 4.1 seek s to organize outreach activities to attain an improved understanding by 
legislators, journalists, civil society and private sector operators of WTO -related issues. The 
expectation is that broadening the pool of stakeholders with an appropriate knowledge an d 
awareness of WTO matters will encourage support for more engagement in global trade. As indicated 
in the logframe in Annex 1, the TA Plan foresees maintaining the same number of stakeholders and 
activities. The number of courses or workshops organised wi ll be one of the indicators to be used 
under this output. In 2017 and 2018 the activities were organized at global and regional levels. The 
same approach will be followed for this biennial. As in the past, these activities will be delivered in 
collaboratio n with WTO's regular TA partners.  
6.4.2   Output 4.2: Improved access to WTO issues through online training material for 
self-study  
159.  Output 4. 2 relates to access to online training material for self -study for those not eligible to 
enrol for WTO eLearning  courses, w hich are reserved for government officials from eligible Members 
and Observers. Under this Output, online training material is made freely available to the public for 
self-study on the e -Campus website. As indicated in Annex 1, the target is to maintain th e same 
number of downloaded training materials over 2020 and 2021.  
6.4.3   Output 4.3: Information on WTO trade -related technical assistance provided  
160.  Output 4. 3 is related to access to trade -related TA information provided by the Secretariat, 
including through th e Secretariat's Newsletters made available to the public through the WTO 
website.  Social media channels are increasingly used by the Secretariat to give visibility to its TA 
activities. The Secretariat also disseminates information on its TA activities thr ough a TRTA 
Newsletter available in all three languages. The Newsletter covers discussions during Ministerial 
Conferences, objectives of WTO TA, the results of the TA provided and the importance of voluntary 
contributions.  
6.4.4   Output 4.4: Young Professionals a re exposed to WTO issues and work  
161.  Output 4.4 relates to the Young Professional Programme (YPP) introduced in 2016, which aims 
to expose young professionals to WTO issues and work. The Secretariat aims to host a maximum of 
15 young professionals per year, s ubject to the absorption capacity of the Secretariat in each year. 
As YPP recruits will work hand -in-hand with Secretariat staff, their work performance will be 
evaluated by their supervisors following a procedure similar to that applied to WTO staff membe rs. 
The performance evaluation and the number of young professionals hosted annually will be used as 
indicators for this Output, as indicated in the logframe in Annex  1. 
162.  The WTO Young Professional's Programme (YPP) recruited its first six  (6) YPs in  2017. The 
YPP targets young professionals with graduate degrees in international trade and trade policy. 
Recruitment for young professionals takes place through a competitive process based on merit.16  
On the basis of a positive mid -term review and feedback from the young professionals, this 
programme expanded to cover fifteen YPs in 2018 and 2019. Priority will be given to professionals 
from LDC and developing Members not represented at the professional level in the Secretariat . 
163.  It is expected that a total of app roximately CHF 1,262,300  per year in 20 20 and 2021 will be 
available to implement the planned activities contributing to Key Result 4 and its four  (4) Outputs 
(see Table 1).  
7  FUNDING  
164.  The implementation of the TA Plan will be funded through the Regular Budget, extra budgetary 
funds from voluntary contributions by Members, and cost -sharing arrangements with identified 
partners. The management of the Regular Budget under the TA Plan will follow the same underlying 
                                                
16 Details on the YPP were presented to Members in internal document INT/SUB/DDG/3, 11 May  2015.  
 WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 30 - 
 
  principles as previous TA Plans, building on the improvements implemented during the last two TA 
Plans.  
165.  Table 1 provides a summary of the budget by Key Results of the TA Plan, while Annex 2 gives 
detailed information on the budg et per Key Result and main activities and programmes.  
Table 1 Costs by Key Result – 2020 and 2021  
 (in thousand Swiss francs)  
Key results  Budget line - 2020  
Regular 
Budget  GTF17 Other 
TF Total  
Key result 1: Beneficiary government officials are 
implementing WTO Agreements and fully realizing 
Members' rights and obligations  4,353  7,074  1,745  13,172  
Key result 2: Acceding governments are participating in 
accession negotiations  80  313  425  818  
Key result 3: Academic institutions and other stakeholders 
are analysing WTO issues and reaching out to policy 
makers  50  115  - 165  
Key result 4: Non -governmental stakeholders and 
legislators are aware of and knowledgeable about WTO 
work and issues  - 1,262  - 1,262  
Sub-total  4,483  8,765  2,169  15,417  
Other programmes  65  2,368  - 2,433  
Total  4,548  11,133  2,169  17,850  
Overheads (13%)  - 1,447  282  1,729  
Grand total - 2020  4,548  12,580  2,451  19,580  
 
Key results  Budget line - 2021  
Regular 
Budget  GTF Other 
TF Total  
Key result 1: Beneficiary government officials are 
implementing WTO Agreements and fully realizing 
Members' rights and obligations  4,353  7,074  1,745  13,172  
Key result 2: Acceding governments are participating in 
accession negotiations  80  313  425  818  
Key result 3: Academic institutions and other stakeholders 
are analysing WTO issues and reaching out to policy 
makers  50  115  - 165  
Key result 4: Non -governmental stakeholders and 
legislators a re aware of and knowledgeable about WTO 
work and issues  - 1,262  - 1,262  
Sub-total  4,483  8,765  2,169  15,417  
Other programmes  65  2,368  - 2,433  
Total  4,548  11,133  2,169  17,850  
Overheads (13%)  - 1,447  282  1,729  
Grand total - 2021  4,548  12,580  2,451  19,580  
 
7.1  Regular Budget for TA  
166.  The Regular Budget dedicated to TA stood at CHF  4.5 million per year during the last two 
biennia. The TA Plan has been prepared under the assumption that this part of the Regular Budget 
will remain sta ble. As was the case for the previous TA Plan, the Secretariat will continue with the 
practice of redirecting savings registered on any of the activities during the year to finance other TA 
programmes included in the TA Plan  and identified as priorities by  Members and Observers  
                                                
17 Global Trust Fund.  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 31 - 
 
  167.  To preserve the minimum level of flexibility required to make the best possible use of the 
approved budget, the Regular Budget for TA will continue to be grouped in four  (4) main envelopes:  
• Geneva -based activities for generalists : These will include the ATPC, the Introductory Trade 
Policy Course for LDCs, Geneva Week  for non -residents, specific activities for Geneva -based 
delegates and any other training activity with a general scope held in Geneva. The TA 
Plan intends to allocate CHF 1.8 million to these activities per year.  
• Geneva -based thematic activities : These will include, among others, the current activities in 
the field of dispute settlement, the thematic advanced courses held in Geneva and thematic 
activities for  LDCs. Some Geneva -based symposia or workshops organized by WTO 
Committees in relation to aspects of their work may also be financed as part of this envelope. 
It is proposed to allocate CHF 1.8 million to these activities per year.  
• National activities : The TA Plan proposes to set the budget for this envelope at 
CHF0.7 million . 
• Miscellaneous : This will include the funding of consultants performing the advisory role under 
Article 27.2 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding and of external consultants on the 
implementation of RBM and eLearning  courses. Some o utreach activities for 
non-governmental audiences will also be funded under this envelope. Limited funds will be 
set aside to purchase WTO publications to be donated to universities and distributed at 
outreach events. Altogether, it is proposed to set aside CHF 0.2 million for these various 
purposes.  
168.  It should be noted that the budget line for hiring external experts will continue to be managed 
as a pool and distributed as appropriate where required without exceeding the overall budgetary cap 
for such expenses.  
7.2  Extra -budgetary funds for TA  
169.   As has been the case for many years, the main proportion of the implementation of the TA 
Plan will again be funded through extra -budgetary funds during the 2020 -21 bienni um. The Global 
Trust Fund (GTF) will continue to play a central role in this regard, as it is the main channel through 
which Members' contributions support the TA provided by the WTO.  
170.  The TA resources available to the WTO (carried forward from previous ye ars) to finance its TA 
to developing Members and Observers have been relatively stable since 2016. The Secretariat has 
assumed continued support from Members, in particular from contributors to the GTF during the 
previous biennium.    
171.  The TA Plan has been prepared on the premise that the support to the GTF will continue during 
this biennium  at a slightly higher level than in the last TA Plan. This would allow the Secretariat to 
maintain recent increases in the volume of TA activities and the possibility of a new agreement on 
Fisheries Subsidies. Taking these elements into consideration, it is proposed to set the target amount 
for the GTF in 2020 and 2021 at CHF12 million . 
    
  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 32 - ANNEX 1:  WTO TRTA LOGFRAME 2020-21 
 
 Results  Indicators  Baseline  Target  Evidence  Assumption  
Impact1 Developing and LDC 
Members are benefiting 
from their active 
participation in the WTO  • Share of developing 
Members' total trade 
(imports and exports)  • 2015-17 average: 
40.4% • > 40%  • WTO statistics  • 1. Global economic and political 
stability or improvement  
• 2. The number of LDCs remains 
constant over the biennium  • Share of LDC Members' 
total trade  (imports and 
exports)  • 2015-17 average: 
1.07%  • > 1.00%  • WTO statistics  
Key 
Result  1: Beneficiary 
government officials 
are implementing 
WTO  Agreements and 
fully reali zing 
Members' rights and 
obligations  • Number of documents 
submitted by beneficiary 
developing and LDC 
Members to 
•  WTO Bodies  • Annual average 2016 -18: 
• Developing: 53 7 
• LDCs: 81 • Increase  • WTO Documents 
Online database  • 1. Political support for WTO -
related issues  
• 2. Trained staff retained in 
relevant positions  
3. Human and financial resources 
available  • Number of outstanding 
notifications by TA 
beneficiar y Member  • 28 per beneficiary 
Member on average  in 
2016-18 • Decrease  • Notifications 
database  (CRN)  
Output  1.1: Government 
officials have enhanced 
knowledge about the 
WTO Agreements, 
formulation of trade 
policies and conduct of 
trade negotiations  • Number of participants 
completing each PLS level  • Annual average 2016-18: 
• Level 1 - 4,271 
• Level 2 - 12,408 
• Level 3 - 1,802 • Stability  for 
levels 1 and 2  
• Increase in 
level 3  • TAMS database  • 1. WTO negotiations remain active  
• 2. Trained staff retained in relevant 
positions  
• 3. Members present suitable 
candidates  
• 4. WTO administrative measures 
do not reduce the access to TA  
• 5. Availability of training facilities 
in Geneva    • Number of national 
activities requested  • 2016-18 average: 147  • Increase  • TAMS database  
  • Number of beneficiary 
Members and Observers 
participating in TA 
courses  • 2016-18 average: 174  • Stability  • TAMS database  • 1. WTO negotiations remain active  
• 2. No LDC graduation  
• 3. WTO administrative measures 
do not reduce the access to TA  
  • Number of beneficiary 
LDCs participating in TA 
courses  • 2016-18 average: 46  • Stability  • TAMS database  
                                                
1 In accordance with the RBM approach, the impact  is the highest -level result to which WTO contributes jointly with other stakeholders.  It is not an exclusive attribution to 
WTO TA, but an indication of the contribution the WTO TA is making to a common impact – see section 6 for further information.    
  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 33 -  Results  Indicators  Baseline  Target  Evidence  Assumption  
  • Interactive training 
methods' share of time in 
each activity (exercises, 
case studies, simulations, 
Q&A, participation in 
Committee meetings, 
etc.) • 2016-18 average : 
• - 43% lectures  
• - 57% interactive 
methods  • Increase share 
of interactive 
training 
methods  to an 
average of 
60%.  • TAMS database  • Enough WTO staff undergo training 
on pedagogical skills  
  • Success rate in 8 -week 
RTPCs and ATPCs  • 2016-18 average  
(RTPC) : 95%  • Stability  • BTORs  •  
  • Distinction rate in 8 -week 
RTPCs and ATPCs  • 2016-18 average  
(RTPC) : 32% • Stability  • BTORs  •  
  • Percentage of participants  
giving a  top mark to the 
overall content and 
results  in RTPCs, ATPCs 
and advanced thematic 
courses  • 2016-18 average:  
• - RTPCs: 61% 
- ATPCs: 83% 
- advanced thematic 
courses: 87% •  
• Increase to 
80% 
• Stability  
• Stability  • BTORs  •  
  • Number of participants 
trained in advanced trade 
negotiating skills  courses  • 2016-18 average: 290  • Stability  • TAMS database  • 1. Enough demand for training 
activities  
• 2. Availability of resources  
• 3. Availability of training facilities in 
Geneva    • Number of a dvanced 
thematic courses using 
pre-diagnostics, coaching, 
leadership, action plans or 
follow -ups • 2018: 4  • Stability  • BTORs  
• TAMS database  
  • Number of interns trained 
in various Internship 
programmes  • 2016-18 average : FIMIP: 
16; NTP: 16;  RCI: 7 • Stability  • BTORs  
• TAMS database  • Funding remains constant  
  • Final evaluation of each 
intern by their supervisor  • 100% of at least fully 
satisfactory in 201 6-18 • Stability  • Evaluation by the 
supervisor s •  
  • New, revised  or translated 
online courses released 
during the  year • 2016-18 average:  10 • Stability  • BTOR  • 1. Appropriate e -Learning 
resources  
• 2. Absence of external disturbance 
in e-Campus    • Percentage of online 
courses in SCORM format  • 56% in 2018  • Increase  • BTOR    
  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 34 -  Results  Indicators  Baseline  Target  Evidence  Assumption  
  • Percentage of participants 
rating the quality of the 
online courses content 
with the two top marks  • 2016-18 average : 85% • Stability  • BTOR   
  • Percentage of participants 
rating the effectiveness of 
the e-Learning website 
with the two top marks  • 2016-18 average: 93%  • Stability  • BTOR  • Absence of external disturbance 
in e-Campus  
  • eLearning success rate  • 2016-18 average : 67%  • Stability  • TAMS database  
• BTOR •  
  • eLearning drop -out rate  • 2016-18 average : 28%  • Stability  
  • eLearning distinction rate  • 2016-18 average : 51%  • Stability  
Output  1.2: Effective 
partnerships established  • Proportion of activities 
with the involvement of a 
partner  • 2016-18 average : 54% • Stability  • TAMS database  • Potential partners are interested 
and have the required resources  
• Proportion of partners' 
contribution to the TA 
activities  • 2016-18 average : 46% 
low contributions  
•  • Decrease the 
proportion of 
low 
contributions  
Output  1.3: Members' TA needs 
and priorities identified   
 • Number of responses to 
TA questionnaires.  • 2017-19 average: 76  • Stability  • BTORs  
• Secretariat 
questionnaires  • Members can identify and 
prioritize their needs  
• No of TPR Follow -ups 
•  • 2017-18 average: 8  • Stability  
Output  1.4: WTO data and 
databases accessed by 
Members   • Visits by Members' 
logging in to the WTO 
website  • 49,927 in 2018 • Increase  • WTO Webmaster  • Members' willingness to use 
available WTO data sources  
• Number of TA activities 
including training on WTO 
databases as one of their 
objectives  • 2016-18 average: 63  • Increase  • TAMS database  
• BTORs  • Enough demand for training on 
WTO databases    
  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 35 -  Results  Indicators  Baseline  Target  Evidence  Assumption  
Key 
Result  2: Acceding 
governments are 
participating in 
accession 
negotiations  • Number of formal or 
informal Working Party 
meeting s held for  
acceding beneficiary 
governments  • 2016-18 average: 6  • Increase  • DG Annual Report 
on Accessions  • Accessions are active  
• Governments submit required 
input to their Working Parties  
Output  2.1: Acceding 
governments 
participants' 
knowledge on WTO 
substantive and 
procedural matters  
enhanced  • Number of participants 
from acceding 
governments attending 
TA activities  focused on 
accessions  • To be collected in 2019  • Stability  • BTORs  
• TAMS Database  
• DG Annual Report 
on Accessions  • 1. WTO administrative measures 
do not reduce the access to TA  
• 2. Trained staff are retained in 
relevant positions  
 
 
• 1.. Members present suitable 
candidates  
•  
•  
• 1. GPA accession negotiations 
remain active  • Number of roadmaps 
and endgame plans 
designed  • 2016-18 average : 5 • Stability  
Output  2.2: Accession 
Internship programme 
participants' 
knowledge enhanced  
  
 •   
• 100% of at least fully 
satisfactory in 2016 -18 
•  • 100%  
•  
•  
•  • Stability  
•  
•  
•  
•  • Evaluation by the 
Supervisors  
 
 
 
 
Documents online   2.3: Interested 
Members' expertise on 
GPA rules, accession 
negotiations enhanced  • Average no. of relevant 
accession -related 
documents circulated 
per GPA acceding 
Member2 • 2016-18 average: 6.8  • Stability  
                                                
2 Eligible documents for purposes of the indicator include(i) GPA/ACC/* series documents; (ii) relevant documents in the GPA/*; W T/Let/*; GPA/W/*; GPA/CD/* (from 
2018); RD/GPA/* series: and (iii) any other relevant documents.    
  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 36 -  Results  Indicators  Baseline  Target  Evidence  Assumption  
Key 
Result  3: Academic 
institutions and 
other stakeholders 
are analysing WTO 
issues and reaching 
out to policy makers  
 
 Number of consultative 
processes  between WTO 
Chairs  and Policy makers  • Consultative processes 
in 2016:  13 • Stability  • Chair holders’ 
annual reports  
• BTORs  • Members' willingness to engage 
with WTO Chairs and other 
stakeholders  
Number of National TA 
Requests for Academic 
institutions  • To be collected in 2019  • stability  • BTORs  • Members' willingness to engage 
with Academic stakeholders  
Output  3.1: Research on trade 
policy and WTO -
related matters 
generated  • Number of publications 
in internationally peer -
reviewed journals  • 13 in 2016  • Increase  • Publications  
• Chair holders’ 
annual reports  
• WCP final 
evaluation  • Compliance with programme 
guidelines  
• Quality of research 
papers as measured by 
SJR and SNIP ratings of 
the journals in which the 
Chairs' research is 
published  • Average SNIP rating in 
2016:  .69 
 
Average SJP  
rating in 2016: .38 • Increase  • Publications  
• Chair holders’ 
annual reports  
• WCP final 
evalu ation 
Output  3.2: Courses with WTO 
content developed by 
the WCP  
 • Number of students in 
WTO-related courses or 
getting a degree per 
year • 2,091 students trained 
by the Chairs in 2016  
 
•  • Stability  • Chair holders’ 
annual reports  
•  •  
Output  3.3 Students trained on 
WTO work and issues  • Number  of requests from 
Academic institutions not 
designated as WTO 
Chairs  • 985 students and 
academics trained by 
the WTO in 2016  • Stability  • BTORs  • Financial resources are available 
for these activities  
Output  3.4: WTO Chairs 
research papers 
disseminated to other 
stakeholders and 
policy makers  • Number of outreach 
events per year  • 54 in 2016 • Increase  • Chair holders’ 
annual reports  
•  • Chairs remain active  
• Involvement of key 
policy makers  • 383 in 2016  • Increase  • Chair holders’ 
annual reports  
•    
  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 37 -  Results  Indicators  Baseline  Target  Evidence  Assumption  
Key 
Result  4: Non -
governmental 
stakeholders and 
legislators are 
aware of and 
knowledgeable 
about WTO work 
and issues  Diversity of WTO related 
topics covered by 
statements, reports, and 
papers produced by this 
group of stakeholders  • In 2017: 26 reports?  •  
• Stability  •  
• Media reports when 
available  
• Statements made 
by legislators, 
business 
associations, NGOs 
when available  • 1. Stakeholders remain  
interested in WTO issues  
• 2. Partners remain interested in 
trade issues  
Output  4.1:  Understanding  of 
WTO work and issues 
by non -governmental 
stakeholders improved  • Number of seminars, 
workshops conducted  • 2016-18 average : 26 
activities  • Stability  • TAMS database  Legislators, j ournalists and 
civil society remain  
interested in WTO issues  
• Legislators, j ournalists and civil 
society stay interested in WTO 
issues  • Number of key non-
governmental 
stakeholders reached 
during the year  • 2016-18 average : 
• 437 legislators  
• 66 journalists  
• 32 civil society  • Stability  • BTORs  
Output  4.2: Improved access 
to WTO issues through 
online training material 
for self -study  • Number of training 
material  consulted  • 2016-18 average: 
3,157  • Stability  • Online form  • Public interest in WTO issues  
Output  4.3 Information on 
WTO trade-related TA  
accessed  • Number of views of the 
web pages on technical 
assistance including 
news items on this 
subject  • 2016-18 average: 
59,105  • Stability  • WTO webmaster  • Public interest  in WTO issues  
Output  4.4: Young 
professionals  are 
exposed to WTO  work 
and issues  • Number of Young 
Professionals engage d 
annually by the WTO  • 15 in 2018 • Stability  • TAMS Database  • Enough  suitable applications 
received  
  • Final evaluation rate of 
each intern 's 
performance  by their 
supervisor  • 100% at least fully 
satisfactory in 201 7-18 • Stability  • Evaluation by the 
supervisor s 
 
    
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- 38 - ANNEX 2:  ACTIVITY MATRIX  
(in thousand swiss francs)  
Key Result 1: Beneficiary government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully realizing Members' rights and obligations  
Level  Path Language(s)  Title Region  Estimated cost 2020  Estimated cost 2021  
RB GTF Other 
TF RB GTF Other 
TF 
Introduction  Generalist  E/F/S  Geneva -based Courses for LDCs - Introduction and Focus 
Activities - Geneva weeks  Global  441      441      
Advanced  Generalist  E/F/S  Applied Advanced Trade Policy Courses  Global  1,382      1,382      
Intermediate  Generalist  E/F/S  Intermediate level activities for:  Africa; Middle East; Asia 
and Pacific Economies; Caribbean; Central and Eastern 
Europe, Central Asia and Caucasus; Latin America  All   2,504      2,504    
Advanced  Specialist  E/F/S  Geneva -based Advanced Thematic Courses and topic 
specific symposia for Capital -based officials  Global  1,820  950    1,820  950    
Advanced  Specialist  E/F/S  Advisory Role on Legal Issues (Art. 27.2 of DSU)  Global  60      60      
Intermediate  Generalist  E/F/S  Regional and/or sub -regional general capacity -building 
activities  All   370      370    
Intermediate 
/ Advanced  Generalist/ 
Specialist  E/F/S  National seminars and workshops - Assistance to needs 
assessment  All 650  40    650  40    
Intermediate  Specialist  E/F/S  Regional and sub -regional topic -specific seminars  All   3,000      3,000    
  E/F/S  China's LDCs and Accessions Programme:  Participation of 
LDCs in selected WTO meetings; LDCs TPR follow -up 
workshops; and, South -South Dialogue  All      Refer 
to key 
result 2       Refer 
to key 
result 2  
Advanced  Generalist  E/F/S  Internships in the framework of the Netherlands Trainee 
Programme (NTP)  Global      774      774  
Advanced  Generalist  E/F/S  Regional Coordinator Internships programme (RCI)  Global    210      210    
Advanced  Generalist  E/F/S  French -Irish Missions Internship programme (FIMIP) -  Global      970      970  
Introduction  Generalist  E/F/S  Online courses:  Introduction level  Capital -
based 
officials   x       x      
Intermediate  Generalist/ 
Specialist  E/F/S  Online courses: intermediate Level (Generalists and 
Specialists)   x       x        
  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 39 - Level  Path Language(s)  Title Region  Estimated cost 2020  Estimated cost 2021  
RB GTF Other 
TF RB GTF Other 
TF 
 Generalist/ 
Specialist  English   Online courses: Agriculture Information Management 
System, Documents Online E -Subscriptions, The Agriculture 
Xpress and WTO in 10'  (outreach material outside the PLS).  
   x       x      
 Sub-total   4,353  7,074  1,745  4,353  7,074  1,745  
Overheads @13%   -    920  227  -    920  227  
Total   4,353  7,994  1,971  4,353  7,994  1,971  
Key Result 2: Acceding governments are participating in accession negotiations  
Level  Path Language(s)  Title Region  Estimated cost 2020  Estimated cost 2021  
RB GTF Other TF  RB GTF Other TF  
Intermediate / 
Advanced  Generalist/ 
Specialist  E/F/S  National seminars, courses and workshops on Accessions  All 80  313    80  313    
  E WTO Accession Round Table meetings  Global      326                   
326  
Introduction  Generalist  E/F/S  WTO Accessions Internship Programme (AIP)  Global      99                     
99  
Intermediate  Generalist  E/F/S  Online course:  Accession to the WTO  Global   x       x      
 Sub-total   80  313  425  80  313  425  
Overheads @13%   -    41  55  -    41  55  
Total   80  354  480  80  354  480  
Key Result 3: Academic institutions and other stakeholders are analysing WTO issues and reaching out to policy makers  
Level  Path Language(s)  Title Region  Estimated cost 2020  Estimated cost 2021  
RB GTF Other 
TF RB GTF Other 
TF 
 Generalist  E/F/S  WTO Chairs programme  All   50      50    
  E/F/S  WTO Support programme for doctoral students  Global  -    65    -    65    
  E/F/S  Missions to Academic Institutions  All 50  -      50  -        
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- 40 - Level  Path Language(s)  Title Region  Estimated cost 2020  Estimated cost 2021  
RB GTF Other 
TF RB GTF Other 
TF 
   Sub-total  50 115 - 50 115  
 Overheads @13%   - 15 -    - 15 -    
Total   50     130  -    50 130 -    
Key Result 4: Non -governmental stakeholders and legislators are aware of and knowledgeable about WTO work and issues  
Level  Path Language(s)  Title Region  Estimated cost 2020  Estimated cost 2021  
RB GTF Other 
TF RB GTF Other 
TF 
  E/F/S  Outreach for legislators, journalists, civil society and 
businesses  All -    605    -    605    
 Specialist  E/F/S  WTO Young Professionals' programme (YPP)  Global    657                    
657    
  E/F/S  Online training material for self -study  All  -        -      
 Sub-total   -    1,262  -    -    1,262  -    
Overheads @13%   -    164  -    -    164  -    
Total   -    1,427  -    -    1,427  -    
Other programmes' costs: programme staff and Monitoring and evaluation  
Level  Path Language(s)  Title Region  Estimated cost 2020  Estimated cost 2021  
RB GTF Other TF  RB GTF Other 
TF 
   L-Posts    2,368      2,368    
   Monitoring and Evaluation    Refer 
to key 
result 1       Refer 
to key 
result 
1      
   Implementation of RBM and development of eLearning 
courses   65      65        
  WT/COMTD/W/248  
 
- 41 - Level  Path Language(s)  Title Region  Estimated cost 2020  Estimated cost 2021  
RB GTF Other TF  RB GTF Other 
TF 
 Sub-total   65  2,368  -    65  2,368  -    
Overheads @13%   -    308  -    -    308  -    
 Total   65  2,676  -    65  2,676  -    
Summary Grand Total  
   Title Region  Estimated cost 2020  Estimated cost 2021  
RB GTF Other TF  RB GTF Other 
TF 
   Sub-total   4,548  11,133  2,169  4,548  11,133  2,169  
   Overheads @13%   -    1,447  282  -    1,447  282  
   Total   4,548  12,580  2,451  4,548  12,580  2,451  
 
 
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