Title of the activity
SPS In-depth Virtual Course
Activity Type
Virtual workshop - Global
Description
The SPS In-depth Virtual Course is comprised of a series of virtual sessions dedicated to an in-depth analysis of aspects related to the implementation of the SPS Agreement and topical SPS issues which will enable the effective participation of capital-based delegates in the SPS Committee. The course will be held over 3 weeks through various sessions with SPS experts and other topic-specific speakers, as well as participant-led discussions. Each session will last for approximately 1.5-2 hours. In addition to the scheduled sessions, participants will be expected to allocate dedicated time for self-study, assignments, informal follow-up sessions, group work and assigned pre-reading during the 3 weeks of the course. The course will be held via Zoom (i.e. Zoom meeting). Participants who meet the defined criteria will be eligible to receive a certificate of completion for the course.
Participants will also be encouraged to participate in the November 2021 SPS Committee meetings and thematic session, with the agreement of their respective Missions. This will be individually coordinated between participants and their respective Missions.
Participants will also be encouraged to participate in the November 2021 SPS Committee meetings and thematic session, with the agreement of their respective Missions. This will be individually coordinated between participants and their respective Missions.
Venue
Switzerland
Trade topic
Sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS)
Start Date
End Date
Duration (days)
15
selection process
The Secretariat will select participants for the SPS In-depth Virtual Course. The target audience for this course are government officials, in particular those:
a. holding direct responsibilities in SPS areas, e.g. specialists on food safety, animal health, plant protection or officials from a relevant Ministry in charge of coordinating SPS matters and international trade;
b. possessing a proven advanced level of understanding of the provisions and structure of the WTO, and the principles and provisions of the SPS Agreement; and
c. fluent in oral and written English.
All candidates are required to have successfully completed the WTO SPS e-Learning Course by the time of their application. Applications from candidates who have not successfully completed the SPS e-Learning Course will not be considered. See Section 1 of G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.11 regarding enrolment in the e-Learning Course. In addition, candidates must be government officials at the time of applying for the course and during the course.
Candidates will be selected using criteria such as the fulfilment of pre-requisites, prior selection of other candidates from the Member, as well as balance among the selected candidates.
Government officials from WTO Members and Observers wishing to apply for the SPS In-depth Virtual Course must consult the instructions provided in Annex II, and complete and submit the online application form available at: https://worldtradeorganization.wufoo.com/forms/2021-wto-sps-indepth-virtual-course/.
The Secretariat will inform Members' and Observers' contact points to the WTO (e.g. mission in Geneva) of the proposed selection of candidates from their government before the final selection.
a. holding direct responsibilities in SPS areas, e.g. specialists on food safety, animal health, plant protection or officials from a relevant Ministry in charge of coordinating SPS matters and international trade;
b. possessing a proven advanced level of understanding of the provisions and structure of the WTO, and the principles and provisions of the SPS Agreement; and
c. fluent in oral and written English.
All candidates are required to have successfully completed the WTO SPS e-Learning Course by the time of their application. Applications from candidates who have not successfully completed the SPS e-Learning Course will not be considered. See Section 1 of G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.11 regarding enrolment in the e-Learning Course. In addition, candidates must be government officials at the time of applying for the course and during the course.
Candidates will be selected using criteria such as the fulfilment of pre-requisites, prior selection of other candidates from the Member, as well as balance among the selected candidates.
Government officials from WTO Members and Observers wishing to apply for the SPS In-depth Virtual Course must consult the instructions provided in Annex II, and complete and submit the online application form available at: https://worldtradeorganization.wufoo.com/forms/2021-wto-sps-indepth-virtual-course/.
The Secretariat will inform Members' and Observers' contact points to the WTO (e.g. mission in Geneva) of the proposed selection of candidates from their government before the final selection.
Pre-requisite
Candidates are required to have successfully completed the WTO SPS e Learning Course by the time of their application, in any of the WTO working languages. Applications from candidates who have not successfully completed the SPS e-Learning Course will not be considered. The e-Learning Course is available at: https://wtolearning.csod.com.
Fluent in oral and written English.
Fluent in oral and written English.
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
Chinese Taipei
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
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
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
The Gambia
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