Division for External Offices and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Coordination

The Division supports the Deputy Director General of the Regional and National Development Sector in his overall coordination of the seven WIPO External Offices in Algeria, Brazil, China, Japan, Nigeria, the Russian Federation and Singapore.  As such, the Division ensures the coherent operation of the External Offices as extended arms of the Organization in the field which are fully integrated into the Organization’s work.  The Division focuses on ensuring that the External Offices operate effectively, efficiently and that they add value and contribute to mandate implementation in a complementary way that avoids duplication and is sustainable.

The Division is also responsible for coordinating and enhancing WIPO’s support for and assistance to three overlapping categories of Member States that face unique sets of challenges in achieving economic growth and sustainable development: the 45 Least Developed Countries (LDCs); the 32 Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs); and the 39 Small Island Developing States.  In doing so, the Division ensures that WIPO’s activities and projects benefit these Member States and are coherent, targeted, needs-driven and result in tangible outcomes on the ground and contribute to implementing the respective UN Programmes of Action for the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.  The Division works closely with colleagues across WIPO and engages with the UN System so that intellectual property can drive innovation and creativity and build prosperity for people and communities in LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, in support of national development goals.

Our activities include:

• Organizing meetings, providing mechanisms and instituting processes that connect the External Offices with work units across WIPO Headquarters, ensuring they enhance support for Member States and stakeholders in their areas of responsibility.
• Connecting LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS to WIPO’s services, tools, platforms and offerings, including through developing and coordinating specific packages of Deliverables which contribute to implementing the respective UN Programmes of Action for these three groups of countries.
• Supporting LDC Member States in the process of graduation through the provision of tailored support packages.
• Building awareness of intellectual property as a powerful tool for growth and development through outreach and targeted communication.
• Engaging with UN processes concerning LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS and highlighting the importance of intellectual property for growth and sustainable development.
• Developing and implementing specific projects and activities that assist LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS leverage intellectual property to build prosperity for people and communities on the ground.