2021 part4

84/ WTO members approve 2022-23 technical assistance priorities for developing countries

10 NOVEMBER 2021

WTO members approved on 10 November the Technical Assistance and Training Plan for 2022-23 outlining the WTO’s Secretariat strategy for providing training activities for government officials from developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs). The objective of the plan is to help these countries strengthen their trade capacity and participate more effectively in international trade.

The 2022-23 plan takes account of the needs and priorities expressed by beneficiaries of technical assistance at the national and regional level. Most of the activities are aimed at government officials from WTO members and observers. Some activities target parliamentarians as well as academic and media representatives.

The technical assistance and training activities delivered by the WTO include:

• Introductory, regional, and advanced trade policy courses
• specialized training activities at the national, regional and global level
• an e-learning programme
• internships
• a Young Professionals Programme.

The plan stresses that an important objective is to help developing countries and LDCs use trade to support their economic recovery. WTO members expect to invest approximately CHF 42.3 million in technical assistance in 2022 and 2023. The WTO Secretariat’s regular budget will finance 22 per cent of this amount and additional voluntary contributions from donor members will finance the rest. This amount is similar to the budget for the previous two years.

A total of 216 training activities were delivered by the WTO Secretariat in 2020, involving 15,000 participants from across the world. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the WTO’s face-to-face training activities have been delivered online. However, internships and the Young Professionals Programme have continued to be carried out as previously, with on-site participation at the WTO’s headquarters in Geneva. Face-to-face training activities are expected to resume as soon as conditions allow.

The technical assistance plan was prepared by the WTO Secretariat following consultations with donors and beneficiaries. Technical assistance and training is a core function of the WTO.

Source: wto.org