Executive Course for Ambassadors of the African Group: Navigating the Global IP Architecture

The Geneva Centre on Knowledge Governance, in coordination with the Program on Information Justice & Intellectual Property at the Washington College of Law, are pleased to announce their Executive Course for Ambassadors of the African Group.

Program Overview

• Dates: July 16-17, 2026 (following the conclusion of the WIPO General Assembly)
• Location: Geneva Graduate Institute Maison de la paix Meeting Centre
• Objective: To equip ambassadors and senior officials with the technical and strategic insights needed to play a leadership role in advancing negotiations in 2026–2027 involving intellectual property matters, focusing on health, education. genetic resources, and digital equity.
• Participants: Limited to the executive level in African missions, including Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives, Chargé d’Affaires, or Deputy Permanent Representatives (initially limited to one per mission, with additional nominations to be considered based on availability of places). 

• Convenors: African Group, represented by the South African Mission to Geneva, Centre on Knowledge Governance, Geneva Graduate Institute
• Languages: Course will be conducted in English. Simultaneous interpretation is being arranged. Please indicate any request for interpretation in a language other than English in the application form.
• Chatham House Rule. To facilitate candid discussions between ambassadors and experts on sensitive negotiating positions.
• Resource Briefs: The convenors will create short resource briefs with links to relevant materials for each section of the course. 
• Final report. The faculty will prepare short summaries of each topic with links with relevant resources to be distributed after the end of the course. 

Registration link (for African Ambassadors and Senior Diplomats):  https://knowledgegov.org/course/ipdev

Draft Agenda

1. Opening
   Welcome: Marie-Laure Salles, Director, Geneva Graduate Institute
   Opening Remarks:Ambassador Mzukisi Qobo, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the WTO and WIPO
   Message of Support: H.E. Dr. Girma Amente, Permanent Representative of the African Union to the United Nations Office in Geneva and Other International Organizations
   Keynote: Daren Tang, Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization
2. Origins, Purpose and Political Economy of Intellectual Property
   History and political economy of the evolution of IP over time (including antecedents of IP), from its roots in royal franchises, to its objectives to create markets and incentives and introduce new products. The rights and responsibilities associated with IP. 

3. Law and Economics of Intellectual property
   Types of intellectual property: Patents, trademarks, copyright, geographic indications and others. Economics of IP, including monopolies and pricing issues. Rights holders and trading of rights.

4. The Development Agenda and the Role of Africa
   Introduction to WIPO. Relations between WIPO, WTO, WHO. The origins of the Development Agenda at WIPO. The role of developing countries in achieving progress in IP negotiations, including TRIPS/Doha, Marrakech, GRATK.

5. Copyright and the Creative Industries; Innovation and Access to Knowledge
   Copyright in expressive works, including academic publishing and music. Challenges facing Africa in the knowledge economy, including ownership and access. SCCR and current work on Limitations and Exceptions and on Broadcast.
   
6. Patents and Medicines; Innovation and Access
   Patents and innovation in pharmaceuticals. Challenges and opportunities for Africa. Access to medicine and pandemic responses. The Standing Committee on Patents at WIPO and related negotiations at WTO, WHO.
   
7. Traditional Knowledge and Genetic Resources
   Defining GR, TK and TCE. The GRATK treaty and beyond. The dilemmas of protection and access in Africa.
   
8. IP and Artificial Intelligence
   Artificial intelligence, research and the public interest. Challenges of market concentration. AI sovereignty issues and access to training data. Moral and remuneration rights of creators. IP in AI created works.
   
9. Conclusions and Strategic Considerations
10. Course Evaluation