Title of the activity
Trade and Public Health Virtual Course with a Special Focus on the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Activity Type
Virtual workshop - Global
Description
The Trade and Public Health Virtual Course (T&PH VC) responds to requests by Members and Observers for training and capacity building on these topical and current issues, in the current sanitary context. The overall objective of the Virtual Course is to develop a comprehensive understanding of overlapping policy issues with a bearing on public health and to encourage the analysis of their relationship with multilateral trade agreements. The substance focuses on innovation and access to medical technologies, as well as wider trade and health related policy issues, with a particular focus on the role of trade policy to secure sustainable development and production of, as well as equitable access to COVID-19 diagnostics, vaccines and treatments. It follows the approach developed in the 2nd Edition of the WHO-WIPO-WTO Trilateral Study "Promoting Access to Medical Technologies and Innovation: Intersections between Public Health, Intellectual Property and Trade", available at wto.org/trilateralstudy2020.
AUDIENCE:
The T&PH VC is intended for a global audience from government authorities working on trade, intellectual property and public health issues.
Participants will be selected out of the pool of applicants that fulfill the required criteria and are duly validated by their respective Missions/Embassies. Candidates who fulfilled the requirements and were duly validated by their respective Missions/Embassies for the face-to-face 2020 Trade and Public Health Workshop, will receive a direct invitation to register for the Virtual Course on Trade and Public Health.
Selected participants would also be required to respond to specific questions related to their trade and public health regimes; and could be invited to present their national experiences and lessons learnt so far.
Around 100 participants will be selected.
STRUCTURE OF THE VIRTUAL COURSE
The T&PH VC is envisaged for policymakers who already have a high-level practical understanding of some aspects of trade, intellectual property and health policy, and who either have or expect to acquire further responsibilities for assessing and implementing trade and intellectual property policy options that relate to public health matters.
Taking into consideration the different time zones and that participants will be working, the VC is envisaged as a "blended training" with background materials, recorded lectures (videos) and webinars with live discussions among different stakeholders. The VC consists of one introductory module, plus five modules focusing on substantive issues. Participants would have one week to work through each module, at their own pace. Upon completion of a module, participants will need to take a multiple-choice quiz. The submission of the quiz should automatically enable access to the subsequent module. Each module consists of:
• Specific, topical 10-15-page main reading, with links to more detailed background materials;
• Pre-recorded video presentations by experts - and of commentators, as appropriate;
• Moderated forum to exchange views on specific questions related to the module; and
• Graded quiz (multiple-choice (10 questions), 60% correct responses of each quiz required to pass).
Participants who successfully complete the course will receive an electronic certificate.
Effective support is required for setting up the Virtual Classroom and running a help desk for participants; running the webinars on IPD Zoom account; editing and preparing videos for upload to the VC; and, preparing the certificates. Also, the customary logistic support regarding the required validations by Missions, updating and preparing the list of participants, etc. is required.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The 16th Workshop (T&PHW) had been scheduled to take place, in Geneva, from 9 to 13 November 2020. The budget included provision for 30 financed capital-based officials, plus 5 non-financed. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing restrictions to international travel and quarantine requirements, and considering the importance of the subject, it was decided to transform the face-to-face activity into an advanced Virtual Course.
AUDIENCE:
The T&PH VC is intended for a global audience from government authorities working on trade, intellectual property and public health issues.
Participants will be selected out of the pool of applicants that fulfill the required criteria and are duly validated by their respective Missions/Embassies. Candidates who fulfilled the requirements and were duly validated by their respective Missions/Embassies for the face-to-face 2020 Trade and Public Health Workshop, will receive a direct invitation to register for the Virtual Course on Trade and Public Health.
Selected participants would also be required to respond to specific questions related to their trade and public health regimes; and could be invited to present their national experiences and lessons learnt so far.
Around 100 participants will be selected.
STRUCTURE OF THE VIRTUAL COURSE
The T&PH VC is envisaged for policymakers who already have a high-level practical understanding of some aspects of trade, intellectual property and health policy, and who either have or expect to acquire further responsibilities for assessing and implementing trade and intellectual property policy options that relate to public health matters.
Taking into consideration the different time zones and that participants will be working, the VC is envisaged as a "blended training" with background materials, recorded lectures (videos) and webinars with live discussions among different stakeholders. The VC consists of one introductory module, plus five modules focusing on substantive issues. Participants would have one week to work through each module, at their own pace. Upon completion of a module, participants will need to take a multiple-choice quiz. The submission of the quiz should automatically enable access to the subsequent module. Each module consists of:
• Specific, topical 10-15-page main reading, with links to more detailed background materials;
• Pre-recorded video presentations by experts - and of commentators, as appropriate;
• Moderated forum to exchange views on specific questions related to the module; and
• Graded quiz (multiple-choice (10 questions), 60% correct responses of each quiz required to pass).
Participants who successfully complete the course will receive an electronic certificate.
Effective support is required for setting up the Virtual Classroom and running a help desk for participants; running the webinars on IPD Zoom account; editing and preparing videos for upload to the VC; and, preparing the certificates. Also, the customary logistic support regarding the required validations by Missions, updating and preparing the list of participants, etc. is required.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The 16th Workshop (T&PHW) had been scheduled to take place, in Geneva, from 9 to 13 November 2020. The budget included provision for 30 financed capital-based officials, plus 5 non-financed. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing restrictions to international travel and quarantine requirements, and considering the importance of the subject, it was decided to transform the face-to-face activity into an advanced Virtual Course.
Venue
Switzerland
Trade topic
Trade and Public Health
Start Date
End Date
Duration (days)
30
selection process
Members and Observers to the WTO, eligible to benefit from training and technical cooperation activities, are invited to nominate who meet the following criteria:
1. Current direct responsibility for matters related to the interaction between trade agreements and public health, whether from authorities responsible for foreign affairs, trade, intellectual property, public health or from other relevant government entities working on the interface between trade agreements and public health;
2. Definite expectation of continuing to work, or being assigned increased responsibilities in this field;
3. Established expertise and experience in this area, and a good level of knowledge about trade law and policy, including, but not limited to, the WTO's TRIPS Agreement, and public health policy; and
4. All-round proficiency in English.
Selected participants will receive confirmation directly.
Important Note: Candidates who fulfilled the requirements and were duly validated by their respective Missions/Embassies for the face-to-face 2020 Trade and Public Health Workshop, will receive a direct invitation to register for the Virtual Course on Trade and Public Health.
1. Current direct responsibility for matters related to the interaction between trade agreements and public health, whether from authorities responsible for foreign affairs, trade, intellectual property, public health or from other relevant government entities working on the interface between trade agreements and public health;
2. Definite expectation of continuing to work, or being assigned increased responsibilities in this field;
3. Established expertise and experience in this area, and a good level of knowledge about trade law and policy, including, but not limited to, the WTO's TRIPS Agreement, and public health policy; and
4. All-round proficiency in English.
Selected participants will receive confirmation directly.
Important Note: Candidates who fulfilled the requirements and were duly validated by their respective Missions/Embassies for the face-to-face 2020 Trade and Public Health Workshop, will receive a direct invitation to register for the Virtual Course on Trade and Public Health.
Pre-requisite
Preference will be given to participants who have successfully completed of e-Learning (remote) or face-to-face training courses delivered either by WHO, WIPO and WHO. Details of the completed course, including uploading of certificate is requested in the online application form.
Target Audience
Government officials
Language
English
Key Result
1. Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully realising Members' rights and obligations
Key Output
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about WTO Agreements, trade policy formulation and conduct of trade negotiations
Invited Members and Observers:
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain, Kingdom of
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia, Plurinational State of
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Costa Rica
Côte dʼIvoire
Cuba
Curaçao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
The Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong, China
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea, Republic of
Kuwait, the State of
Kyrgyz Republic
Lao Peopleʼs Democratic Republic
Lebanese Republic
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Macao, China
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova, Republic of
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Qatar
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Sao Tomé and Principe
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Syrian Arab Republic
Chinese Taipei
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Türkiye
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
Viet Nam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe