See also:
> Building trade capacity
> Economic research and analysis

> Press release: WTO to establish chairs at 14 developing country universities

Academic institutions awarded WTO Chairs will receive support in the following areas: course preparation, teaching, research and outreach activities. The Chairs will be selected through a competitive bidding process.

While the Programme provides direct support to academic institutions from developing countries, it is also open to academic institutions in developed countries, particularly those who cooperate closely with developing-country counterparts.

Objectives of the Programme  back to top

The main objectives of the Programme, which was launched in March 2009, are to:

• build lasting relationships with institutions from developing and developed countries by according financial support to beneficiary institutions for four years
    
• support trade-related teaching by providing WTO support for the development and delivery of courses on trade policy and WTO-related matters in academic institutions
    
• foster further research in trade-related matters and highlight the policy relevance of existing research — universities awarded the Chairs are expected to cooperate with other institutions in the Programme, through joint research, shared lecturing arrangements and student/academic exchanges
    
• encourage and extend outreach/communication — universities awarded the WTO Chairs are expected to organize public activities aimed at disseminating research and promoting discussion regarding international trade and trade cooperation.

Advisory Board  back to top

An Advisory Board will oversee the Programme and participate in all substantive decisions regarding the Programme. Chaired by the WTO Secretariat, it comprises academic partners, beneficiary academic institutions, donors and other relevant representatives. The Advisory Board will report annually to the WTO Committee on Trade and Development in the context of the WTO Secretariat's overall training and technical co-operation activities.

Advisory Board members

Selection process  back to top

Fourteen partner institutions will be awarded WTO Chairs in the Programme.

More information on the Programme is contained in Background information and guidelines for submitting proposals

The deadline for submissions was 29 May 2009.