Participants engaged in hands-on training on SPS-related matters, ranging from interactive presentations and practical case studies to discussions with internal and external keynote speakers. Throughout the course, they also worked on communication and leadership skills, which will help participants, as the informal motto of the course says, to “make a difference” in their home countries.

A central element of the course was the elaboration of individual action plans to address implementation and/or market access difficulties encountered in the participants' home countries. During the coming months, they will continue working on the implementation of the action plans with the assistance of dedicated coaches. In June 2020, the group will reunite in Geneva to discuss implementation and outcomes.

During their time in Geneva, participants had the opportunity to attend SPS Committee meetings and a Thematic Session on Approval Procedures. This enabled them to network and share experiences with WTO experts, delegates and representatives from other international organizations active in SPS-related matters, such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the International Plant Protection Convention and the World Organisation for Animal Health.

To mark the milestone of 15 years since the inception of the course in 2005, the course was opened on 29 October by WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo. DG Azevêdo emphasised the important role that SPS plays in today’s agricultural trade, which is increasingly shaped by new technologies, a changing climate, and a growing population.

The WTO Secretariat issued a flyer highlighting some of the main features and successes of this advanced course.

List of participants

Mr Christopher Depaul WORRELL (Bahamas)
Ms Hanna SANDUL (Belarus)
Mr Jakub BUTKOVIC (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Mr Jonathas Jose SILVA DA SILVEIRA (Brazil)
Mr François Felix GANDJI MOSSI (Cameroon)
Ms Yuqiong DENG (China)
Mr Mohamed Awad Abdelhady ABDELAZIZ (Egypt)
Mr Harikumar BALAKRISHNAN NAIR (India)
Miss Dua'a Abdel Razzaq Odeh AL-DALAHMEH (Jordan)
Mr Geoffrey Oduor ODERO (Kenya)
Miss Viengphet VANSILALOM (Lao People's Democratic Republic)
Mr LordErnest Pappy BENJAMIN (Liberia)
Mr Hussain Bin TAHIR (Malaysia)
Mrs Antonia Augusto Sabonete VAZ TOMBOLANE (Mozambique)
Mrs Tin Tin AUNG (Myanmar)
Mr Arun G C (Nepal)
Mr Ildephonse NIRAGIRE (Rwanda)
Mr Marcus Leontus RICHARDS (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Mr Thembelani Theophilus PONGOLO (South Africa)
Mrs Harshadhi Chamari KANNANGARA (Sri Lanka)
Miss Sawsan Abdelgadir AWAD ABDELAZIZ (Sudan)
Miss Kulwadee WIWATSAWATDINON (Thailand)
Ms Tugba ADIGUZEL KARGIN (Turkey)
Mrs Yuliia HLUKHONETS (Ukraine)