G/SPS/GEN/2198  
 
19 February  2024 
(24-1478) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
 
 
UPDATE ON THE STANDARDS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) promotes improved food safety, animal 
and plant health capacity in developing countries and helps imports and exports to meet 
SPS requirements for trade, based on international standards. It operates as a funding mechanism 
and global p artnership for dialogue  and learning on SPS capacity developmen t.2 
1.2.  The STDF identifies good practi ce in thematic areas that cut across food safety, animal and 
plant health, and trade , drawing on the input of STDF partners, donor organizations and 
beneficiaries . Outputs include practical and user-friendly knowledge products (briefing notes, 
publications , events, videos , etc.), available in English, French and Spanish . 
1.3.  STDF founding partners, relevant organizations and beneficiaries from across agriculture, 
health, trade and development come together in the STDF Working Group  to share information on 
ongoing and planned SPS initiatives and programmes, and review applications for new project and 
project preparation grants. The next meeting is scheduled on 20 -21 June 2024. Ms Sarah Brunel 
from the IPPC Secretariat was elected cha irperson of the STDF Working Group in 2024.  
1.4.  This document provides a brief update on STDF's activities and projects. Delegates are 
encouraged to visit the STDF website  to view and become familiar with STDF 's work , download 
briefing notes and other publications . Delegates are also encouraged to subscribe to STDF's monthly 
newsletter here. 
2  UPCOMING AND RECENT STDF EVENTS  
2.1.  On 20 March 2024 , on International Francophonie day and during the SPS Committee week, 
the STDF will organize a panel discussion on the importance of SPS capacity de velopment in French -
speaking countries ( 1.30 - 2.45pm  at the WTO, Room S3 and online). The event will showcase the 
results and good practices from STDF projects on the ground and explore opportunities to further 
strengthen SPS capacity. More information on  the event, including the programme, speakers and 
how to register online, is available here. 
2.2.  The STDF will actively participate in the upcoming Global Review of Aid for Trade , which will 
take place from 26 to 28 June 2024 at the  WTO under the theme "Mainstreaming Trade ". The Review 
will provi de an opportunity to highlight opportunities to strengthen SPS capacity in developing 
countries, so that they can fully participate in international and regional trade. The SPS Committee 
will also meet during that week. On 27 June  2024 , the STDF is planning to host an evening 
reception to celebrate STDF's 20th anniversary, for which all SPS delegates will be invited.  
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  
2 The STDF was established in 2004 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (F AO) of the United 
Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), the World 
Bank and the WTO, which houses and manages the partnership. It also benefits from active engagement and 
participation of the Secretar iats of Codex Alimentarius and the International Plant Protection Convention 
(IPPC).  G/SPS/GEN/2198  
 
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  2.3.  On 18 January 2024, the STDF hosted a webinar with Grow Asia on how public -private 
partnerships (PPPs) play a vital role in driving the transformation of our food systems.  Grow Asia 
highlighted examples of partnerships focused on agri -food innovation, resp onsible investing, 
women's economic empowerment, and climate change adaptation. ASEAN provided valuable insights 
into its engagement with the private sector, including examples related to SPS e -certification and 
digital solutions within the ASEAN single wi ndow platform. To explore the session further, access the 
recording here. 
2.4.  On 10 December 2023, the STDF hosted a side-event  at COP28, together w ith STDF founding 
partners, FAO and the World Bank. The dialogue explored how investing in SPS capacity supports 
more sustainable agri -food systems and markets that protect biodiversity and the environment and 
are more resilient to climate change. The even t built on previous STDF work on climate change and 
SPS systems, including a series of climate change webinars  in 2022, and a  new STDF briefing note  
on the topic, issued in November 2023.  
2.5.  On 5 and 6 December 2023, the STDF organized two side -events at UNCTAD's eWeek . The first 
event , organized with the International Seed Federation, the International Grain Trade Coalition and 
the OECD highlighted the role of digital te chnologies in managing risk and ensuring efficient agri -
food markets. The second event , organized in collaboration with UNCTAD and the Permanent Mission 
of Italy in Geneva, shed light on the impact of trade regulations in e -commerce/digitalization on men 
and women and how such measures can provide new opportunities or create new barriers for women 
to access and benefit  from e -commerce.  
3  KNOWLEDGE WORK  
3.1.  The STDF identifies and promotes good practice across all its activities and projects to improve 
SPS capacity development outcomes. Some of this work takes place in virtual practitioner groups 
that bring together stakeholde rs for in -depth discussions on topics that cut across the areas of food 
safety, animal and plant health, and trade. This includes work on Public Private Partnerships  (PPPs) 
to strengthen SPS capacity, the use of Good Regulatory Practice s (GRPs) to improve compliance 
with the SPS Agreement , and a  focus on Trade Facilitation  to reduce SPS -related trade costs, 
including electronic SPS certification ( SPS eCert ). 
3.2.  In 2023, the STDF issued a Gender Action Plan  that outlines how the STDF promotes a more 
inclusive approach to improve the results and imp act of STDF's work in facilitating safe trade. The 
plan aims to advance and support women 's capacity to meet SPS requirements and promote greater 
attention to gender mainstreaming in SPS capacity development work led by members of STDF 's 
global partnership  and other organizations.  
3.3.  The STDF also started work to assess and learn how (and to what effect) the environment, 
biodiversity and climate change have been integrated across STDF's work, as well as SPS capacity 
development work led by STDF partners and ot her members. Th e report is scheduled for completion 
in June 2024 and will draw key findings, conclusions, and recommendations to improve 
mainstreaming of the environment, biodiversity, and climate change into future SPS capacity 
development.  
3.4.  To inform and improve SPS planning and decision making , the STDF has developed an 
evidence -based framework that developing countries can use to prioritize SPS investments for 
market access  (P-IMA). The approach is being applied in STDF and other SPS projects, resulting in 
additional SPS investments and market access for agri -food products.  An external evaluation  of the 
P-IMA framework  in February 2024 unpacked the results, experiences and learning from its use 
globally.  The report made recommendations to address challenges with P -IMA's use, including to 
build more synergies with SPS capacity evaluation tools, strengthen relationships to institutionalize 
P-IMA and support resource mobilization, and improve monitoring, evaluation, and learning.  
4  EXTERNAL STDF  EVALUATION  
4.1.  An external evaluation of the STDF started in September 2023 and is expected to be completed 
by May 2024. The purpose of the evaluation is to objectively assess the results and impact achieved 
by the STDF, based on the OECD DAC criteria, and ca pture key lessons learned. The Secretariat will G/SPS/GEN/2198  
 
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  inform the Committee  on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations at the Committee meeting 
in June 2024.  
5  STDF FUNDING  
5.1.  The STDF provides funding for the development and implementation of collaborative and  
innovative SPS projects. Since its inception, the STDF has devoted 6 3% of its project resources to 
Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Of all STDF projects, 49% ha ve benefited Africa, 25% the Asia-
Pacific region and 17 % the Latin America -Caribbean  region, w hile 8% are classified as global, 
benefiting all developing countries. An  overview of all on -going project and project preparation 
grants  (PPGs)  is provided in Annex 1 . 
5.1  Project development  
5.2.  PPGs, normally up to US$50,000, are available to help beneficiaries articulate their SPS needs 
and develop technically sound and sustainable project proposals. PPGs can be requested to: (i) apply 
SPS capacity evaluation  and prioritization tools; (ii)  prepare feasibility studies before project 
development to assess the potential impact and economic viability of proposals in terms of costs and 
benefits; and (iii) develop project proposals for funding by STDF or other donor s. 
5.2  Project implementation  
5.3.  The STDF funds projects  that promote compliance with international  standards and 
requirements. Preference is given to projects that: (i)  identify, develop and disseminate good 
practice in SPS  technical cooperation, including innovative and repl icable approaches; (ii) apply 
regional and cross -cutting approaches to address SPS constraints; and (iii) implement collaborative 
approaches across food safety, animal and plant health, and trade. Beneficiaries must contribute to 
STDF projects from their o wn resources, either in the form of financial or in -kind contributions (such 
as staff time, use of premises, vehicles or other existing assets ). 
5.3  How to apply for funding?  
5.4.  Applications for STDF funding can be made at any point in the year but should be rece ived at 
least 60 working days in advance of each Working Group meeting to be considered at that meeting. 
The next deadline s for the submission of applications are 1 March and 9 August  2024  
(for consideration in June  and November 2024, respectively) . Furthe r information is available on the 
STDF  website . 
RECOMMENDED STEPS TO APPLY FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE STDF  
1. Browse the funding webpage  for information (aims, eligibility criteria, etc.) on PPGs 
and PGs.  
2. View examples of previous projects:  
• PPGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/proje ctpreparationgrants  
• PGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants  
3. Consult relevant stakeholders in the country/reg ion 
4. Send a brief concept note of your potential project for comments to: 
STDFSecretariat@wto.org  
5. Fill out an application form and submit it electronically before the deadline to: 
stdf.funding@wto.org  G/SPS/GEN/2198  
 
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  ANNEX  1 
ONGOING STDF PROJECT S AND PROJECT PREPARATION GRANTS (PPGS)  
1  COUNTRY PROJECTS  AND PPGS  
Country  STDF reference  
and hyperlink  Project / PPG name  
Bangladesh  STDF/PPG/831  Prioritizing SPS investment s in Bangladesh  
Bhutan  STDF/PPG/734  Strengthening Bhutan's border inspection and control 
capacities  
Burkina Faso  STDF/PPG/859  Strengthening Burkina Faso's sesame and cashew export 
capacity  
Cabo Verde  STDF/PPG/869  Strengthening food safety control capacities  in Cabo Verde  
Ecuador  STDF/PPG/709  Prioritizing SPS investments in Ecuador using the P -IMA tool  
Egypt  STDF/PPG/720  Establishing an avian influenza -free compartment in Egypt  
Ghana  STDF/PPG/909  Improving food safety and market access in Ghana's spice 
value chain  
Grenada  STDF/PG/880  Enhancing SPS capacity and market access for Grenadian 
soursop expor ts 
Guinea  STDF/PG/498  Strengthening Guinea's phytosanitary system  
India STDF/PG/517  Strengthening the spice value chain in India to improve 
market access  
Indonesia  STDF/PPG/860  Reducing histamines in pole and line c aught tuna in 
Indonesia  
Jamaica  STDF/PG/759  Enhancing food safety capacity of the pepper value chain in 
Jamaica to increase market access  
Kyrgyz Republic  STDF/PG/569  Enhancing food safety of fruits and vegetables in Kyrgyzstan  
Mali STDF/PG/611  Improving the safety of smoked fish in Mali  
Nigeria  STDF/PG/845  Improving SPS compliance to boost Nigeria's export capacity  
Nigeria  STDF/PPG/817  Evaluating  phytosanitary capacity  to improve the plant 
health system in Nigeria  
Papua  New Guinea  STDF/PG/553  Enhancing trade for cocoa farmers in Papua New Guinea  
Senegal  STDF/PG/672  Improving shellfish safety in Senegal to boost market access  
Sri Lanka  STDF/PPG/721  Strengthen ing food safety and quality compliance in  select 
Sri Lankan spices  
The Gambia  STDF/PPG/921  Scaling up the P -IMA tool in The Gambia  
Uganda  STDF/PPG/847  Sustainably managing aflatoxins in maize using a systems 
approach in Uga nda 
Zambia  STDF/PPG/789  Building phytosanitary capacity of cross -border  traders in 
Zambia  
 
  G/SPS/GEN/2198  
 
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  2  REGIONAL PROJECTS  AND PPGS  
Region/countries  STDF reference  
and hyperlink  Project / PPG name  
Africa  
Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, 
Tanzania, Uganda  STDF/PG/807  Managing scale insects in fresh fruits in East Africa  
Botswana, Kenya, 
Mozambique, South Africa, 
Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe  STDF/PG/694  Harmonizing regulations and mitigating pesticide 
residues in the SADC region  
Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, 
Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, 
Rwanda, South Sudan, 
Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, 
Zimbabwe  STDF/PG/809  Managing invasive potato pests in Eastern and 
Southern Africa  
Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, 
South  Africa  STDF/PPG/765  Mobile food safety laboratories in Southern Africa  
Mali, Senegal  STDF/PG/665  Piloting v TPA programmes to improve public health 
and trade in West Africa 
Mozambique, South Africa  STDF/PG/567  Establishing fru it fly-free areas in Southern Africa  
Rwanda, Uganda  STDF/PG/842  Piloting a vTPA  programme in East Africa to 
improve food safety in horticulture and fisheries  
Asia and Pacific  
Bangladesh, India, Iran, Lao 
People's Democratic Republic , 
Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, 
Samoa, Thailand  STDF/PPG/858  Piloting One Health to manage aflatoxin in Asia  
Bangladesh, Cambodia, 
Indonesia, Lao People's 
Democratic Republic, Nepal, 
Sri Lanka  STDF/PG/634  Mitigating pesticide residue through promotion of 
biopesticides in Asia  
Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao 
People's Democratic Republic , 
Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, 
Viet Nam  STDF/PG/755  Strengthening phytosanitary compliance to boost 
seed trade in the Asia Pacific  
Cambodia, Lao People's 
Democratic Republic, Viet  Nam STDF/PG/619  Safer spices:  food safety and market access for 
peppercorn  
Cambodia, Lao People's 
Democratic Republic, 
Philippines, Viet  Nam STDF/PG/798  Improving biosecurity and control of African swine 
fever in four ASEAN countries  
Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue,  Papua 
New Guinea , Samoa, Solomon 
Islands, Tonga , Vanuatu  STDF/PPG/935  Advancing apiculture for economic development in 
the Pacific Islands  
Latin America and Caribbean  
Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, 
Costa Rica, Dominican 
Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, 
Guatemala, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru  STDF/PG/753  Mitigating chemical residu es in Latin America 
through the promotion of biopesticides  
Argentina, Colombia, 
Costa  Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru  STDF/PG/716  Improving food safety risk analysis capacity in Latin 
America  
Belize, Honduras  STDF/PG/682  Piloting the use of vTPA in Central Am erica 
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, 
Peru STDF/PG/838  Strengthening regional pest surveillance on banana 
farms in the ANDEAN community  
CARICOM countries  STDF/PPG/733  Prioritizing SPS investments in the Caribbean using 
the P-IMA tool  
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru , 
Trinidad and Tobago  STDF/PG/577  Coordinating management of cadmium levels in 
cocoa in Latin America and the Caribbean  
Colombia, Ecuador  STDF/PG/681  Mitigating high levels of cadmium in cacao in 
Colombia and Ecuador  
Dominican Republic, Haiti  STDF/PG /751 Strengthening the phytosanitary and food safety 
system in key value chains  G/SPS/GEN/2198  
 
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  Region/countries  STDF reference  
and hyperlink  Project / PPG name  
Global  
All developing countries  STDF/PPG/782  Applying remote food safety inspection practices for 
improved trade  
 
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