WTO Principles, Negotiations and Institutional Functioning: 6-7 March, 2008

Workshop Synopsis & Agenda

I. INTRODUCTION
The ‘Collective for Research and Training on Development – Action’, in collaboration with ‘Green Line’ and ‘Rassemblement Démocratique pour les Femmes au Liban’ is organizing a ‘Gender & Trade Capacity Building Workshop’ on March 6 – 7, 2008.
This workshop is organized by the support of Oxfam Québec /Canadian International Development Agency at the Crowne Plaza Hotel – Hamra, Beirut.

The workshop is facilitated by Ms. Mariarosaria Iorio – IGTN, Geneva Office Director – and responsible for analysis and monitoring of WTO trade negotiations and their implications for gender relations.

II. OBJECTIVE
1. This workshop aims at building the awareness and capacities of NGOs on the gendered impact of trade agreements and economic reform in Lebanon, through providing tools to analyze and influence dynamics of international trade rule-making in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

III. METHODOLOGY
1. The methodology is based on group simulations, and will be participatory.
2. It will demand previous reading from participants.

At the end of the workshop participants will have visualized emerging challenges and the complexities of the world trading system. This is in view of advocating for gender policies with a larger multidisciplinary perspective.

IIII. PROGRAM

DAY 1 - MORNING

09:15-10:00 Welcoming Remarks and objectives of the two day-training CRTD.A – Green line & Oxfam Quebec
10:00-10:45 Participants’ and resource person (s) present their background and expectations for the workshop
11.45-11.30 From the GATT (1947) to the WTO (1995): Overview of the Political Economy of Trade and Institutional Changes
11.30-12.30 WTO Institutional Functioning, Principles, Procedures and Decision-Making, including on accession
12.30-14.00 Working Lunch to prepare for group questions/case study

DAY 1 - AFTERNOON

14.00-16.00 Groups work on case study and group questions

Coffee available as of 15.30

16.00-18.00 Groups present their conclusions in plenary.

DAY 2 - MORNING

09:15-09:45 Preparation for the simulation exercise
09.45-12.30 Group work
12.30-14.00 Working Lunch

DAY 2 - AFTERNOON

14.00-16.00 Groups work

Coffee available as of 15.30

16.00-18.00 Groups present their conclusions in plenary

PRELIMINARY SUGGESTED READINGS

1. Basic WTO Principles, available at: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/fact2_e.htm
2. Recommendations by the Task Force on Aid for Trade contained in document WT/AFT/1 available at: www.wto.org.
3. Summary of Contributions from Inter-Governmental Organizations: Aid For Trade Task Force. Document WT/AFT/W/17, June 2006.
4. Rodrick Dani (2001) “The Global Governance of Trade As If Development Really Mattered” Background Paper for Trade and Sustainable Human Development Project. United Nations Development Programme, New York.
5. The Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and Aid for Trade, Finding the policy link, Mariarosaria Iorio, IGTN Geneva Office, 2006. Available at: www.igtn.org/705.