TC22-1

The first week (i.e. the Geneva-based segment) of the SPS Transparency Champions Course will be aimed at enhancing participants' understanding of the transparency provisions of the SPS Agreement, its associated obligations and recommendations and its relevance for agricultural trade. The course will target government officials from SPS National Notification Authorities (NNAs) and/or SPS National Enquiry Points (NEPs) in English-speaking African countries. The programme is designed to stimulate the active engagement of participants on SPS transparency-related matters which may affect trade, such as those related to notifications and coordination. It will include presentations, interactive exercises, group work, hands-on and specialized trainings, and discussion on SPS transparency matters. The Codex, OIE, IPPC, national and regional representatives would also be invited to participate in parts of the course. By the end of the first week, participants are expected to have a clear understanding of SPS transparency provisions and develop practical strategies to strengthen their implementation in their country or region.

Building on this, the second virtual phase of the SPS Transparency Champions Course will in part focus on the elaboration of an action plan to address implementation and/or market access challenges encountered in participants' countries and region. The implementation of these action plans will be monitored through periodic ad-hoc reporting to the WTO Secretariat.

A second face-to-face activity session (in Geneva or in the region) may be organized in March/May 2023, where participants to the SPS Transparency Champions Course would be invited to report on the implementation of their action plans.