The course was attended by 27 government officials from 16 African countries and was closed by Professor K. Thaga, Acting Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Botswana. In his closing remarks, Professor Thaga expressed the University’s appreciation for the partnership with the WTO and the opportunity to implement the RTPC since 2013. The University was particularly proud to have contributed, through the RTPC, to building the capacity of over 100 African government officials working on trade issues. Statements echoing the positive contribution of the partnership and the RTPCs were also made by Mr P. Butale, Chief Trade Negotiator of the Government of Botswana, and Ms Vonai Muyambo, Training Officer, WTO Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation.  

The RTPC is a “generalist” Level 2 training activity in the WTO’s progressive learning strategy (PLS). The two-month course is targeted at government officials working on trade-related issues who have successfully completed a PLS Level 1 course.

The training curriculum covered the multilateral trade agreements, a trade negotiations workshop and a final exam. To ensure a regional focus, the course brought together regional academics and trade practitioners to co-lecture with WTO officials. This helped foster networks among government officials, regional trade experts and regional trade-related institutions, with a view to enhancing dialogue on national and regional trade policy issues. Participants also benefited from a visit to the Botswana Meat Commission, where they were shown the trade-related procedures relating to meat processing and preparation.

All participants successfully completed the course and are therefore eligible to apply for the Level 3 “Advanced Trade Policy Course”, the highest-level training course in the WTO’s PLS.