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Global Trade-Related Technical Assistance Database (GTAD)
Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation
http://gtad.wto.org
2 | Global Trade-Related Technical Assistance Database (GTAD) http://gtad.wto.org
Why the Global Trade-Related Technical
Assistance Database (GTAD)?
Under the mandate of the Doha Development Agenda
(DDA), trade-related technical assistance (TRTA) and
capacity-building (CB) are recognized as being core
elements for the development of the multilateral
trading system (MTS). The main purpose of the trade CB
programmes is to provide direct support to beneficiary
countries enhancing their human and institutional
capacities to take full advantage of the rules based MTS,
deal with the challenges emerging from it, and enforcing
their rights and obligations.
Enhancing communication and visibility with other
institutions active in the field of TRTA and CB are of critical
importance for the efficient delivery of TRTA and building
synergies between programmes.
The GTAD was developed with a view to ensuring
coherence for the design and implementation of TRTA
programmes with partner agencies, beneficiary and donor
stakeholders alike.
A well-planned, targeted and coordinated delivery of TRTA
activities will not only assist resource-constrained Members
to adjust to WTO rules and disciplines, implement
obligations and exercise the rights of the Membership, but
will also support domestic efforts to mainstream trade into
national plans for economic development and strategies
for poverty reduction.
The GTAD features future, i.e. planned TRTA activities
by partner agencies. By bridging the existing gap and
improving transparency, a better coordinated delivery of
all TRTA activities among stakeholders can contribute to
enhancing the efficiency in the implementation.
It is also recalled that the TRTA programmes and CB efforts
are one of many delivery components in the Aid for Trade
work programme.
What is the Global Trade-Related Technical
Assistance Database (GTAD)?
The GTAD is the portal for this exchange and sharing
of information on the future execution of TRTA and CB
activities. The GTAD is an interactive tool taking into
account national and regional TRTA projects, as well as
global training courses. Its main innovative feature is
that it is forward-looking, and includes data reported by
multilateral and regional agencies since early 2010, going
as far as the information is known in the future.
This database, which was made available online in the
Summer of 2010, and officially launched in the Autumn
of the same year, started its pilot phase with information
from the WTO, the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF),
the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF)
and will include data from partner agencies that have
expressed interest in uploading data to the GTAD, and/
or are in the process of doing so (e.g. the International
Trade Centre (ITC), the United Nations Conference for Trade
and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO), the Organisation
Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)). Several other
agencies have also approached the WTO Secretariat and
have expressed their interest in the GTAD.
The objectives of the GTAD are: to create transparency in
the delivery of TRTA and CB by agencies; to coordinate and
to cohere; and, to encourage as well as to assist beneficiary
countries in managing their TRTA needs.
The GTAD is available to the public on the Internet at the
following address: http://gtad.wto.org. It is also accessible
through the WTO trade capacity-building Web pages
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/teccop_e/
tct_e.htm.
http://gtad.wto.org Global Trade-Related Technical Assistance Database (GTAD) | 3
What does it offer?
In addition to consulting the list of upcoming activities
using different interfaces, as described below, users can
access several other sources of information through
the GTAD Highlights, such as a step-by-step guide on
how to use the database, selected documentation and
publications from reporting institutions, including the WTO
Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plans, Annual
reports on Technical Assistance and Training activities,
guidelines for conducting needs assessments, and other
specific programmes. Links to partner agencies' WebPages
are also available for further searches on their programmes.
Moving to the activities, with its period of coverage
starting in January 2010, the GTAD includes TRTA-related
data of around 30 TRTA and CB categories. These include
20 sub-categories under trade policy and regulations (TPR),
and six sub-categories under trade development, to be
used as one of many search parameters made available in
the interface. Under the TPR category, the sub-category of
sanitary and phytosanitary measures can be refined further
into four other even more refined categories (animal
health, food safety etc.). The uploads are done twice a
month, so as to ensure having updated and relevant
information. Activities can be uploaded even when the
precise date is not yet known. It can be completed at any
time.
Who Can Benefit from the GTAD?
Anyone interested in finding out more about building
trade-related capacity, one of the core mandates of the
WTO, and an essential element of the DDA, is encouraged
to consult the database, since it provides insight not only
into the WTO’s response to the Aid for Trade initiative, but
it also includes valuable information on efforts made by
partner institutions in building the capacity of developing
countries to gain from the trading system.
Who Contributes?
All agencies active in the field of TRTA activities are invited
to join the project and contribute to the database by
submitting information on their trade CB projects. To
facilitate uploads, the GTAD integrates partner-dedicated
access, through which other institutions can upload
their data independently, at any point in time, with the
understanding that any information and update posted
by the agencies remain under their responsibility. Any
institution wishing to join the project is invited to contact
the WTO Secretariat at the following address.
Management Structure
The management of the GTAD will be a collective
responsibility of the partner agencies, meeting at regular
intervals to take decisions on the operation of the GTAD
and give strategic directions.
GTADHomepage
The GTAD Homepage
4 | Global Trade-Related Technical Assistance Database (GTAD) http://gtad.wto.org
Other “single” search parameters include region or group,
agency provider, specific text in description or documents,
cotton-related activities, and EIF data.
In addition, the “advanced search“ facility enables the
user to explore the database using multiple criteria – i.e.
reporting agency (one or more), extending agency, trade
category, beneficiary country, region or group, and dates.
Key words may also be used as search parameters in the
project title or in the project description.
The GTAD Trade-Related Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Categories
TRADE POLICY AND REGULATIONS• Dispute Settlement • Trade and Environment• Customs Valuation • Trade and Competition• Technical Barriers to Trade • Trade and Investment• Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures • Food Safety• Animal Health• Plant Health• General
• Trade Facilitation
• Trade Mainstreaming in PRSPs/dev. plans • Transparency and Government Procurement• Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights • Accession• Agriculture • Tariff Reforms• Services • Trade-Related Training Education• Tariff Negotiations - Non-Agricultural Market Access • Negotiation Training• Rules • Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs)
TRADE DEVELOPMENT
• Business Support Services and Institutions • Trade Finance• Public-private Sector Networking • Trade Promotion Strategy and Implementation• E-commerce • Market Analysis and Development
ContactDatabase Management UnitTechnical Assistance Coordination SectionInstitute for Training and Technical CooperationEmail: [email protected]. +41 (0)22 739 52 02Fax +41 (0)22 739 57 64World Trade OrganizationRue de Lausanne 154CH-1211 Geneva 21Website: http://gtad.wto.org