G/SPS/GEN/1733  
 
15 October 2019  
(19-6679) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
UPDATE ON THE STANDA RDS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT FA CILITY  
NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT1 
This document provides a brief update on the work of the Standards and Trade Development Facility 
(STDF) since the last meeting of the Committee  in July  2019. Delegates  are encouraged to visit the 
STDF website to view  and learn from STDF activities and projects , download STDF briefing notes 
and other publications , and subscribe to STDF 's mailing list  to receive regular updates on STDF work  
(http://www.standardsfacility.org ). 
1  EXTERNAL EVALUATION OF THE STDF  
An independent external evaluation of the STDF was c arried out by Nathan Associates from 
September 2018 to July 2019, with a particular focus on the impact and results achieved by the 
STDF during the period 2014 to 2018. The final report  emphasizes the continued added value of the 
STDF and sets out fresh re commendations to shape its future direction.2 Highlights from the 
evaluation's findings and conclusions include, inter alia :  
• "The STDF is responding to the needs of developing countries in its focus on building SPS 
capacities to enable and unlock trade."  
• "The STDF and the STDF Secretariat have delivered outputs and results beyond what might 
be expected given their budget and resources."  
• "The Secretariat is regarded as efficient, effective and responsive by founding partners, 
donors and other stakeh olders."  
On 17 June  2019,  the STDF Policy Committee3 discussed the report 's recommendations to scale 
and sustain the STDF , which are currently being implemented. In parallel, members are developing 
a new five -year strategy for the STDF (2020 -2024), which will aim to further maximis e the impact 
of its unique structure . The STDF will continue to work on cross -cutting SPS knowledge topics, 
developing recommendations and identifying good practice, and help developing countries in 
preparing and implementing inno vative and collaborative SPS projects,  captur ing and disseminating 
the lessons learned . More information on the new STDF strategy will be made available at the first 
meeting of the Committee in 2020.  
2  AID FOR TRADE GLOBAL  REVIEW  
The STDF organized a well-attended thematic session on 4 July  during the WTO/OECD Aid for 
Trade Global Review 2019,  entitled  "Investing in SPS capacity for safe trade and sustainable 
development".  The session , moderated by Ms Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, Director of the FAO office 
in Geneva, brought together public and private  sector experts from the cinnamon  sector in Sri Lanka, 
the flower industry in Uganda and the shrimp sector in Guatemala. They shared their  experiences 
with the audience and highlighted: (i) the importance to communicate with high -level decision 
 
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 report is available on the STDF website:  http://www.standardsfacility.org/evaluations . 
3 The Policy Committee provides oversight on STDF's strategic direction. It consists of high -level 
representatives of STDF's partners (FAO, OIE, World Bank Group, WHO and WTO), selected donor  members 
(currently: Sweden, The Netherlands and the United States) and SPS experts from developing countries . G/SPS/GEN/1733  
 
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  makers the need to invest in SPS capacity; (ii) the value of these investments for the domestic 
agenda; and (iii) building the sustainability of inte rventions through strong public -private 
partnerships and co -funding of programmes. More information about the thematic session  is 
available on the STDF website.4 
3  WTO PUBLIC FORUM – NEW STDF FILM  
During the recent WTO Public Forum (8 -11 October), the STDF r eleased a new film and 
interview series "Trading Forward: Adapting to a Changing World".5 The interviews feature partners, 
donors and developing country experts speaking on the current global landscape and what more is 
needed to facilitate safe, inclusive trade. The film sets out how in order to meet the UN Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs), investing in SPS capacity in developing countries is vital for people to 
share in the benefits from trade.  During the Public Forum, participants could also visit STDF's stand 
in the WTO Atrium where samples of Sri Lankan dried fruits, Tajik apricots and sheanut butter 
products from Nigeria were offered  to participants . 
4  PRIORITIZING SPS INV ESTMENTS FOR MARKET ACCESS: P -IMA 
The STDF continues to help developing countrie s in SPS planning and decision -making through 
application of the P -IMA framework .6 Work is on-going in Madagascar (STDF/PPG/575)7 and the 
framework will also be applied in Ecuador  shortly  (STDF/PPG/709) .8 An STDF project 
(STDF/PG/606)9 to assist selected COMESA members states in using the framework to mainstream 
SPS investments into their agriculture, trade, and environment planning and financing frameworks, 
including the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development P rogramme  (CAADP), i s underway 
(co-funded by the Enhanced Integrated Framework) . 
5  INFORMATION SESSION ON STDF REGIONAL MRL  PROJECTS – 7 NOVEMB ER 2019  
On 7 November  2019, the STDF will organize a lunchtime session  to present the findings and 
recommendations of an independent ev aluation of three STDF projects in ASEAN (STDF/PG/337)10, 
Africa (STDF/PG/359)11 and Latin America (STDF/PG/436) .12 Under these projects, g overnment 
authorities partnered with multinational pesticide manufacturers, industry associations,  farmers and 
internati onal partners (including the Codex Secretariat, IR -4/Rutgers University and the United 
States Department of Agriculture) to carry out coordinated and complementary pesticide residue 
studies. This collaborative approach generated data to support new Codex M RLs for minor -use crops 
(like dragon fruit, mango, papaya and avocado) and the registration of new, improved, low -risk 
pesticides for farmers.  
6  LIBRARY  
The STDF Library13 is an online information repository providing quick and easy online access 
to a variety of information resources focused on SPS technical cooperation and capacity building. 
Delegates are encouraged to submit relevant documents to the Secretariat 
(STDFSecretariat@wto.org ) for inclusion in the Library, including: project documents and final 
reports, training materials, project evaluations/reviews, SPS capacity needs assessments, cost -
benefit analyses, case studi es, relevant research papers, and other articles on SPS capacity 
development . The Library complements and includes links to other information systems and 
databases developed and maintained by STDF partners, donors and other organizations.  
 
4 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/stdf -aid-trade -global -review . 
5 See: https://www.youtube.com/c/STDFvideos . 
6 See: http://www.standardsfacility .org/prioritizing -sps-investments -market -access -p-ima. 
7 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/PPG -575. 
8 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/PPG -709. 
9 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/PG -606. 
10 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/PG -337. 
11 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/PG -359. 
12 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/PG -436. 
13 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/library . G/SPS/GEN/1733  
 
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  7  PROJECT DEVELOPME NT 
The STDF provides advice and support to applicants on issues related to SPS project 
development and finances project preparation grants (PPGs). PPGs, normally up to US$50,000, are 
available to help applicants articulate their SPS needs and develop techn ically 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 propo sals in terms of costs and benefits; and (iii) develop project proposals for 
funding by donors and/or the STDF.  
A total of 97 PPGs  have been approved and funded by the STDF since its inception. Information 
on on -going and completed PPGs is available on the STDF website.  
8  PROJECT IMPLEMENTATI ON 
Project grant (PG) financing for projects is also available from the STDF. Favourable 
considerati on is given to projects that: (i) identify, develop and disseminate good practice in SPS -
related technical cooperation, including the development and application of innovative and replicable 
approaches; (ii) apply regional approaches to address SPS constra ints; and/or (iii) implement 
collaborative approaches across food safety, animal and plant health and trade.  Beneficiaries must 
contribute to the project from their own resources, either in the form of financial or in -kind 
contributions such as staff time,  use of premises, vehicles or other existing asset s. 
A total of 93 projects  have been approved for STDF funding since its inception. Information 
on on -going and completed projects is available on the STDF website.  
Since its inception, the STDF has devoted 65% of its project and PPG resources to LDCs and 
other low -income countries (OLICs). The STDF continues to meet its target to devote at least 40%  of 
its project and PPG resources to LDCs and OLICs. In particular, the allocation of PPG resources to 
LDCs and  OLICs remains high (i.e. 7 1% of the overall budget for PPGs).  
49% of the number of STDF projects and PPGs has gone to Africa, 24% to Asia -Pacific, 15%  to 
Latin America -Caribbean, and 2% to other regions (Middle East and Europe). In addition, 10% of 
the ST DF projects and PPGs are classified as global.  
Applications for STDF funding can be made at any point in the year but should be received at 
least 60 working days in advance of each Working Group meeting to be considered at that meeting. 
The next deadline f or the submission of applications is 10 January 2020 . Further information on 
eligibility criteria, application forms, etc. is available on the STDF website.  
RECOMMENDED STEPS TO FOLLOW WHEN SEEKING PG OR PPG FUNDING 
OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE STDF:  
1. Browse the webpages for information (aims, eligibility criteria, etc.) on: 
• PPGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/project -preparation -grants  
• PGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/project -grants  
2. View examples of  previous  projects : 
• PPGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectpreparationgrants  
• PGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants  
3. Carefull y read the guidance note for applicants:  
http://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDFGuidanceNote_English_FINAL_2015.pdf  
4. Consult relevant stak eholders in the country/region.  
5. Send a brief concept note of your potential project for feedback on eligibility and 
likelihood of funding  (STDFSecretariat@wto.org ). G/SPS/GEN/1733  
 
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  6. Fill out an application form and submit it e lectronically before the deadline:  
• PPGs: 
http://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/PPGApplicationForm_English_FINAL_2015.doc  
• PGs: 
http://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/PGApplicationForm_English_FINAL_2015.doc  
 
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