Tuesday, October 3, 2023

The WTO Chairs Programme issued a call for applications today, 3 October, to expand the network of academic institutions from developing and least-developed economies currently in the Programme. The call follows on from the announcement by Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala last year that institutions would be admitted more frequently into the Programme. The target regions are Middle Africa, Western Africa, Western Asia, Oceania, and Central America and the Caribbean, which are currently under-represented by the Chairs Programme. Institutions from eligible WTO Members, acceding countries, and observer governments may apply.

Future calls for applications will also target specific world sub-regions based on the level of representation achieved following each expansion.

Launched in 2010 as a capacity-building programme, the Chairs Programme is implemented through partnership agreements between the WTO and selected academic institutions. The programme supports trade-related academic activities at universities and research institutions in developing and least-developed countries. The WTO provides financial, scientific and technical support to its partners over a period of four years in research, curriculum development and outreach. Upon completion of this cycle, institutions remain part of the network of WTO Chairs, which today comprises a total of 35 institutions worldwide.

Chairs participating in the programme will be selected through a competitive process conducted by the WTO Secretariat with the support of the Chairs Programme Academic Advisory Board, an external body of multidisciplinary international trade experts.

Eligible candidates are invited to complete their applications by 11 December 2023 through the Chairs Programme Platform .