You are cordially invited to apply for the upcoming facilitated course on “Next Generation Trade Facilitation”, to be held between 15 November and 2 December, offered virtually. Taking the course is free and is expected to involve approximately 3-6 hours of self-paced learning, plus 4.5 hours of interactive live sessions. Participants will receive a UN course certificate upon successful completion.
This introductory course will guide through digital, sustainable and resilient trade facilitation measures and emerging issues for efficient trade facilitation, based on the topics and measures included in the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation (UNTF Survey), a joint initiative by all UN Regional Commissions - ECA, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP and ESCWA.
Please apply by 11 November 2022.
Introduction
Trade facilitation is key to making international trade more efficient and inclusive. Much progress has already been made in enhancing transparency and simplifying trade procedures, with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) providing a basic set of measures for all countries to implement. However, more efforts are needed to make trade easier for all, as well as more resilient to crises. In this context, this course will introduce digital trade facilitation measures that go beyond the requirements of the WTO TFA. It will also introduce sustainable trade facilitation measures that can support the effective participation in trade of groups with special needs, such as SMEs and women traders. Based on the UNTF Survey (www.untfsurvey.org), the course will also cover trade finance facilitation measures, and discuss measures to be taken during and in preparation for a crisis, such as the recent COVID-19 crisis.
This course will suit policymakers, practitioners and academia, who would like a broad introduction to a range of trade facilitation measures that can better support digital transformation and sustainable development.
Course format
The course is conducted as a facilitated online e-learning course. The expected time required to complete this course is approximately 3-6 hours for self-paced learning before the live sessions, plus 4.5 hours of interactive live sessions.
The participants will participate in three interactive live sessions (24, 29 and 30 November 2022, each for 1.5 hours). During these live sessions, participants are offered opportunities to raise questions and ask for clarification. Live sessions will involve experts from ITC, European Commission and the World Bank Group as well as national and private sector experts.
Before the live sessions, the participants are expected to complete the online course modules at their own pace. There are 10 modules in total and each module contains one main video (approximately 15 minutes) and supplementary materials (experts’ interviews and a list of reading materials). The participants are expected to take online quizzes for each module. Participants with prior knowledge of trade facilitation and the WTO TFA may skip the first 3 video modules but are still required to take the corresponding quizzes in order to receive the final certificate.
Note that this course is offered for the first time on a pilot basis, and participants are requested to kindly note down any feedback on the content of the course and quizzes for improvement. Upon attending the live sessions, providing feedback and passing the quizzes, participants will get a certificate of completion for the course.
About the course facilitator
Dr. Jiangyuan Fu is an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean (International collaboration) at the School of Law, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. She has been working on the regulation of agricultural trade, trade facilitation and FTA negotiations. She has led the data collection and validation of the UNTF Survey since 2018.
Please visit https://www.unescap.org/events/2022/facilitated-online-course-next-generation-trade-facilitation for the application.
We look forward to your participation.