technologies, goods, and services. More specifically, the government can use its purchasing power to promote services that will be developed for uses beyond government and advance the production of certain goods and services for solutions to existing problems. In this context, government procurement rules can be strategically utilised with respect to promoting IP and innovation. In Rwanda, procurement should be strategically used in order to promote local brands, inventions and creative works. The government should also adopt proactive measures with respect to dealing with the IP created by contractors working for the government. In such cases, the government has the option of taking the ownership of the IP created or share it with the contractor. Ownership of the IP by the government allows the government to license or determine the future exploitation of the IPRs, in particular, where the government wants to transfer the know-how and technology to potential local suppliers or in cases of public interest, such as supply of educational materials. 7.3 Strategies for Participation in International IP Negotiations and Organisations While IPRs remain territorial, the nature of the rights and the requirements for enforcement are today largely determined by the requirements of multilateral treaties and decisions in international organisations. The TRIPS Agreement and the various WIPO administered treaties, to which Rwanda is party, and the decisions in WTO, WIPO as well as other international agencies. The achievement of the overall policy goal in the area of IP and the realisation of the specific policy objectives set will, therefore, both depend on the nature and requirements of any new treaties as well as Rwanda’s engagement in the relevant organisations. In particular, the objectives related to facilitating the upgrading of technological skills, facilitating access to foreign technology and access to essential goods and services will significantly depend on the international environment. Though Rwanda has been an active participant in the Council for TRIPS at the WTO and, at times in WIPO, the realisation of its IP Policy objectives will require a more active engagement in IP negotiations in WTO, WIPO and IP related policy-making in WHO, FAO, UNESCO and WCO, among others. Considering, the stated priorities in health and agriculture particular emphasis, in the short-term should be focused on the processes linked to the implementation of the WIPO Development Agenda, the WHO Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights and the implementation of FAO’s International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). In terms of engagement in negotiations, Rwanda’s active participation will be helped by working through and with the African Group in the various agencies as well as participating in various issue-based alliances – South-South and North-South. Beyond shaping policy and ensuring that international processes reflect the requirements of Rwanda’s policy objectives, such engagement will ensure that Rwanda can procure the needed technical and financial assistance from the international partners to pursue its IP objectives. 7.4 Needs-based and Coordinated Technical Assistance and Capacity Building The implementation of Rwanda’s IP Policy objectives will require significant scaling-up of the country’s technical and human capacities on IP as well as the financial resources. While the country has some level of technical and human capacity in this area and has shown itself ready to commit financial resources to STI, additional technical, human and financial resources will still be required. To procure the relevant and suitable assistance requires Rwanda not only to be proactive is seeking this assistance but having clarity on its priorities and coordinating delivery and evaluation. The needs assessment diagnostic, which has already been undertaken with the support of the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), has laid a firm basis for going forward. The needs assessment should be submitted to the WTO Council for TRIPS as early as possible. The implementation of the resulting programme will be a critical component in helping achieve the various IP Policy objectives. 20