The Diagnostic Toolkit for assessing IP technical and financial cooperation needs in LDCs

1. The Diagnostic Toolkit for assessing IP technical and financial cooperation needs in LDCs Intellectual Property Strategies and Sustainable Development UNCTAD- ICTSD Expert Meeting Monday 24th November 2008

2. Background on the Diagnostic Toolkit • According to its Decision of 29 November 2005, the TRIPS Council requested LDCs to provide comprehensive information, preferably before 1 January 2008, as to their individual needs for assistance in implementing their TRIPS obligations for the purpose of facilitating targeted technical assistance and financial cooperation. • As a contribution to this process, ICTSD, in cooperation with Saana Consulting, launched a project to undertake, upon request, needs assessment studies in LDCs aimed at identifying their needs for financial and technical co-operation in prevision of their future implementation of TRIPS Agreement. • Sierra Leone and Uganda, upon their request, were selected as the first two pilot countries for the IP technical assistance needs assessment project. • The project developed a diagnostic toolkit tailor-made to assess the IP technical and financial cooperation needs of LDCs.

3. Objectives and characteristics of the Toolkit • Provide a common framework for a comprehensive IPRTA needs assessment and medium term implementation strategy, unique to individual LDCs. • Tailored to LDC context and pro-development implementation of TRIPS Agreement by July 2013. • Transparent and participatory –can be used by all stakeholders, consultants, recipients and donors. • Basis for effective dialogue with national stakeholders as well as development partners.

4. The consultative process in developing the Toolkit • National stakeholder consultations in Sierra Leone and Uganda in July 2007. • LDC Consultations in Geneva: • Geneva dialogue on Improving IP Technical Cooperation for LDCs (May 2007). • Presentation of the toolkit at the LDC Group coordination meeting at the WTO where formal feedback on the project and the toolkit were received.

5. What does the diagnostic toolkit cover? • National development context • IP policy and legal framework • Infrastructure for IPR administration • Enforcement & regulation regime • Promoting innovation, creativity, technology transfer and access to knowledge –IP for development → In each area, the toolkit provides advice on key issues and challenges for LDCs, as well as a checklist of questions to understand the existing situation and assess needs for assistance and capacity building strategically over the medium term

6. Applications of the Toolkit in Uganda, Sierra Leone and Rwanda • Uganda and Sierra Leone both submitted a communication to the WTO TRIPS Council, titled ‘Priority Needs for Technical and Financial Cooperation’ (Respectively, IP/C/W/500, 9 October 2007 and IP/C/W/499, 3 October 2007). • These submissions provide an overview of the needs of both countries in terms of policy, legislation and administrative reform taking into account the development context of each country." • Sierra Leone and Uganda submitted follow up communications in 2008 (Respectively IP/C/W/510, 27 May 2008 and IP/C/W/523, 22 October 2008) where the needs assessment was translated into national capacity building programmes on trade and IP. • Current application of the toolkit in Rwanda.

7. Thank you ! htpp:/ictsd.net/