| Description: |
At the instance of the Government of the Republic of Zambia, WIPO is providing technical assistance in a project aimed at the revision and final update of the national IP Policy of the former.
The first phase of the project entailed the preparation by Consultants commissioned by WIPO, of a detailed baseline survey and a midterm review report which outlined the scope of the existing policy, including areas of IP activity which were not covered by the existing Policy and demonstrated the extent of implementation of the policy objectives, identifying the successes as well as the challenges relating to implementation of the Policy. The findings and recommendations were presented for validation by stakeholders at a meeting which also discussed the broad elements for inclusion in the updated Policy and an Implementation Strategy.
The next phase involved the preparation of the draft revised Policy which would also require validation by stakeholders at a national Forum to be organized by WIPO in collaboration with the Government of Zambia. Owing to the inability of the Government to revert timeously with comments on the revised draft Policy, the finalization field mission could not be organized within the timeframe envisaged by the conditions spelt out in the Terms of Reference for the Individual Contractual Services under which the Consultants were hired.
However, due to the extensive examination by stakeholders of the proposed elements for inclusion in the draft Policy, thus covering the bulk of the work, it has been agreed that this next phase will entail a three day field mission to Lusaka to complete work on the draft revised Policy in consultation with the National IP Steering Committee and to present the final draft to stakeholders for validation. The Consultants would only be fulfilling the final stages of their obligations under the existing contract at no additional expense to WIPO. Please find attached copies of the extended ICS contracts for you |