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: trta.admin@wto.orgTel. +41 (0)22 739 52 02Fax +41 (0)22 739 57 64World Trade OrganizationRue de Lausanne 154CH-1211 Geneva 21Website: http://gtad.wto.org