Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which institutions are eligible to apply?
What are the 2012 TPO Network Award categories?
What are the benefits of participating in the TPO Network Awards?
What is the focus of this year's awards?
How many awards can an institution apply for?
May a TPO re-submit a previous application?
How does the application process work?
When are the results announced?
ITC’s TPO Network Awards are open to all trade support institutions that are officially recognized as the national organizations for trade promotion. These organizations are commonly known as Trade Promotion Organizations or TPOs.
The TPO Network Awards will be granted to TPOs from four different country groupings. The countries, according to the United Nations classification system are grouped into:
- Least Developed Countries (LDCs);
- Developing Countries;
- Developed Countries;
- Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
- News of your participation can be used for national public relations purposes, to demonstrate your effectiveness to policy-makers and increase your influence with stakeholders;
- Recognition by your peers;
- As a winner, you will be entitled to use the TPO Network Award winner logo on your corporate communications;
- As a winner, your TPO Network Award success will feature prominently on the TPO Network website (www.tponetwork.net) and in ITC’s promotional activities.
The 2012 TPO Network Awards – Excellence in Export Development Initiatives – focus on key processes required to offer an effective export development initiative and on the overall impact of the initiative.
The award will be granted to the TPO that demonstrates outstanding performance in the use of innovative and efficient systems and procedures for an export development initiative that has produced a demonstrable impact on the competitiveness of enterprises and/or sustainable exports.
The key areas assessed are:
- Determining the needs for the export development initiative;
- Performance monitoring of the initiative;
- Confirming the consistency and compatibility of the export development initiative with the overall strategy of the TPO;
- The demonstrated effectiveness of the initiative.
Part 3 of the application form and guidelines, GUIDELINES FOR CREATING YOUR SUBMISSION, provides detailed information on the areas under assessment and the evaluation criteria for each area. All candidates are advised to carefully review this section before finalising and submitting their application.
TPOs may only submit one application in the country category in which they belong: Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Developing Countries, Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.
A TPO may re-submit their previous application provided that the initiative is still current. It should be noted that the guidelines and review criteria change. Therefore the updated application must also comply with the instructions in the 2012 application form and guidelines in order to be considered by the Adjudicating Panel.
TPOs that wish to participate in the awards competition must submit their applications no later than 15 June 2012 in accordance with the application guidelines provided. Applications are to be sent by email to
wtpo-awards@intracen.org. Full details for submitting an application are provided in the application guidelines (pages 4-12). Applications are forwarded to the Adjudicating Panel for evaluation soon after the closing date.
The Application Form and Guidelines can be downloaded from the TPO Network website
www.tponetwork.net, or obtained in hard copy from:
Trade Support Institutions Strengthening Section
International Trade Centre
54-56 Rue de Montbrillant
Geneva 1202, Switzerland
The results will be announced during the 9th TPO Network World Conference. More information about the conference is forthcoming.