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Introduction

The technical cooperation programme aims to promote awareness and understanding of the plurilateral °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) and the relationship between trade and  domestic government procurement policies. It also seeks to enhance participants' knowledge about related °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ work and activities, in this area, and related developments at the bilateral and regional levels, to promote the exchange of information and experience-sharing among participants, and to identify and discuss challenges faced by them.

The activities mainly include:

• national workshops on the GPA;
• regional workshops on the GPA;
• workshops and symposia on the GPA in Geneva;
• GPA-related components in broader °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ technical cooperation activities, including the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ's advanced and regional trade policy courses.

To facilitate and extend participation, the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Secretariat is also working on the development of an e-learning course on government procurement, which will soon be available as part of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ ECampus courses.

The technical cooperation activities typically include modules on:

• the economic and social significance of government procurement;
• developments in the region in which the workshop is being conducted;
• the basic architecture of the GPA;
• GPA coverage issues;
• procedural aspects of procurement and their relation to transparency, competition and non-discrimination;
• developing country issues, including the role of special and differential treatment; and
• compliance issues, including both domestic review procedures and the application of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Dispute Settlement Understanding in relation to the GPA.

In addition, the activities may also cover specific aspects, such as  the prevention and detection of collusive tendering, the prevention of corrupt practices, sustainability in government procurement and the importance of electronic procurement tools.

All °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Secretariat technical cooperation activities on the GPA follow an interactive format, emphasizing small group practical exercises in addition to question and answer sessions and traditional lectures. The practical exercises permit participants to reflect on national objectives in this area in addition to deepening their understanding of relevant °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ activities and instruments.

The activities frequently involve significant cooperation with other international organizations, regional bodies, expert bodies from °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ members and academic institutions. Such organizations include the World Bank, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the national governments of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ members and observer countries in the relevant regions.

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How to request a national seminar 

Within the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Secretariat, technical cooperation is coordinated by the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC), based on the technical assistance and training plans. To request a national seminar on government procurement, the government of the member should submit an online request to the ITTC and consult with the GPA team of the Secretariat on arrangements. More information is available on the webpage of ITTC.

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Technical cooperation events 

The list of GPA-related technical assistance activities can be viewed at: