The World Trade Organization (WTO) has officially opened the accreditation process for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) wishing to attend its 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), scheduled to take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from 26 to 29 March 2026.
Registered NGOs will be allowed to attend the plenary sessions of the conference, though without speaking rights. Applications are accepted from organizations “concerned with matters related to those of the WTO,” as outlined in Article V, paragraph 2 of the WTO Agreement.
NGOs interested in attending must complete a two-step registration process. First, organizations must submit an online registration form, including evidence (such as reports or publications) demonstrating their work on WTO-related issues. This requirement is waived for NGOs that have previously attended at least one WTO Ministerial Conference. The deadline for submitting organizational registration is 15 December 2025 (midnight, GMT) via the WTO registration portal.
Once an organization’s registration is approved, it can register up to four individual representatives. The deadline for individual registration is 26 February 2026 (midnight, GMT). Successful registrations will receive final confirmation, and the list of accredited NGOs will be shared with all WTO Members.
This process ensures that NGOs with expertise in trade and related matters can contribute to the discussions at MC14 while maintaining transparency and alignment with WTO rules.
Related Posts
