G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
10 November  2022 
(22-8401) Page: 1/29 
Committee on Agriculture  
    
 
  
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION ON MEASURES CONCERNING THE POSSIBLE 
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE REFORM PROGRAMME ON LEAST -DEVELOPED  
AND NET FOOD -IMPORTING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
Revision  
The present note updates the information in the Secretaria t note G/AG/W/42/Rev. 22 dated 
24 February  2022 on the implementation of the Decision on Measures Concerning the Possible 
Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on Least -Developed and Net Food -Importing Developing 
Countries  (NFIDC Decision).  Following a brief introduction on the  follow -up process to the 
NFIDC  Decision as a whole (Part  1), this paper sets out the substantive provisions of the Decision 
and provides information regarding their implementation (Part 2). 
 
 
 
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.   G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
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  TABLE OF CONTENTS  
 
1   MONITORING OF THE FOLLOW -UP TO THE NFIDC DECISION  ................................ ...... 3 
2   PROVISIONS OF THE NFIDC DECISION AND IMPLEMENTATION  ................................ . 4 
2.1   Food aid  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  5 
2.1.1   Review of Food Aid Levels and initiation of Food Aid Negotiations  ................................ ... 5 
2.1.1.1    Review of food aid levels  ................................ ................................ .......................  6 
2.1.1.2    Initiation of food aid negotiations  ................................ ................................ ...........  7 
2.1.2   Concessionality of Food Aid  ................................ ................................ ......................  8 
2.2   Technical and financial assistance  ................................ ................................ ................  9 
2.3   Differential treatment in the framework of an agreement on export credits  ......................  10 
2.4   Access to the resources of the international financial institutions  ................................ .... 10 
2.4.1   Ability to finance commercial imports  ................................ ................................ ....... 10 
2.4.1.1    International food price  developments and food import bills of LDCs and NFIDCs  .........  11 
2.4.2   Access to the facilities of the IMF and the World Bank  ................................ ................  18 
Annex 1: List of notifications under Article  16.2 of the Agreement on Agriculture 
(Table  NF:1) for the reporting years 1995-2021 ................................ ................................ .. 20 
Annex 2: Summary of Table of NF:1 Notifications  ................................ ................................  22 
 G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
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  1  MONITORING OF THE FOLLOW -UP TO THE NFIDC DECISION  
1.1.  In 1995, the Committee on Agriculture established notification requirements under which donor 
Members are required to submit data on food aid donations (quantity and conces sionality) as well 
as information on technical and financial assistance and other relevant information on actions taken 
within the framework of the Decision on Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the 
Reform Programme on Least -Developed and  Net Food -Importing Develop ing Countries 
(NFIDC  Decision).2 
1.2.  The annual monitoring of the follow -up to the NFIDC Decision in accordance with Article 16 of 
the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) and under paragraph 18 of the Working Procedures of the 
Committee is an important element in the work of the Committee.3 It is undertaken on the basis, 
inter alia, of Table NF:1 notifications.  
1.3.  Table NF:1 notifications are required by all donor Members in respect of actions taken within 
the framework of the NFIDC Decision.  Annex 1 summarizes the record of Members' Table NF:1 
notification s for the  implementation years 1995 to 20 21.4 The list of notifying Members include 
signatories of the  Food Aid Convention5 as well as  other Members that have identified themselve s 
as food aid donors in their Table NF:1 notifications.  
1.4.  Pursuant  to the discussions during  the annual NFIDC monitoring exercise in November  2018, 
Annex  2 includes a summar y of the information reported in donor Member s' latest 
NF:1 notification s.6  
1.5.  In 1996, the Committee established a WTO list of net food -importing developing countries.7 
The list is regularly reviewed during the March meetings of the Committee.  The latest change to the 
list was agreed at the  September  2020 meeting of the Committee to i nclude Samoa among the 
beneficiary developing countries wi thin the framework of the NFIDC  Decision8. The list currently 
contains 3 2 developing country Members (NFIDCs) in addition to least -developed countries  (LDCs) 
as recognized by the United Nations.9 
1.6.  In December 2000, the Committee was instructed by the General Council10 to examine possible 
means of improving the effectiveness of the implementation of the NFIDC Decision.11 The 
Committee's report12 on this question  was approved by the Doha Ministerial Conference in 2001, 
and included, inter alia , a recommendation for the establishment of an Inter -agency panel of 
financial and commodity experts to examine the issue of short -term difficulties by NFIDCs and LDCs 
in fina ncing normal levels of commercial imports of basic foodstuffs.  The panel report, which was 
submitted in June 2002, included an examination of specific proposals submitted by a  group of 
seventeen WTO NFIDCs.13 
 
2 See G/AG/2, pages 33 -34. 
3 According to the Working Procedures, the annual monitoring exercise is to be undertaken at the 
November meetings of the Committee.   
4 The list does not include "nil returns" where Members have submitted Table NF:1 notifications stating 
that no food aid or technical/financial assistance was provided or t hat the Table NF:1 notification requirement 
was not applicable.  
5 A series of multilateral cooperation instruments in the form of the Food Aid Convention remained  in force 
from 1967 to 2012 . The latest in the series is the Food Assistance Convention (FAC) which entered into force on 
1 January 2013.  
6 See Paragraph 2.7 of G/AG/R/90.  
7 See G/AG/3 and G/AG/5.  The decision to establish this list was t aken on the understanding that " being 
listed would not as such confer automatic benefits since,  under the mechanisms covered by the Marrakesh 
Ministerial Decision, donors and the institutions concerned would have a role to play " (G/AG/R/4, paragraph  17). 
8 The 2020 review of the NFIDC list , originally scheduled for the March 2020 meeting,  was undert aken 
at the September meeti ng of the Committee due to the COVID -19 pandemic.  
9 See G/AG/5/Rev.1 1. 
10 See WT/L/384.  
11 See progress reports to the General Council on such consultations in G/AG/7 and G/AG/10.  
12 See G/AG/11.  
13 See proposals (G/AG/W/49 and G/AG/W/49/Add.1 and G/AG/W/ 49/Corr.1) and Inter -agency panel 
report (WT/GC/62 , G/AG/13).  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
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  1.7.  Between 2003 and 2006, the Committee on Agricul ture also considered at its regular meetings, 
a proposal by the African Group calling for developed -country Members to, inter alia , contribute to 
a revolving fund for normal levels of food imports.14 In September 2004, the Committee decided to 
revert to th is matter on the basis of the recommendation contained in its report to the General 
Council on Implementation -Related Issues.15 Informal consultations specifically dedicated to that 
proposal were also held in May 2005 and in February 2006, as part of the d iscussions on 
implementation -related issues.  The outcome of the consultations is reflected in the Committee's 
follow -up report to the General Council.16 
1.8.  The Ministerial Declaration on the Emergency Response to Food Insecurity17 adopted at the 
Twelfth Sessi on of the Ministerial Conference (MC12) on 17 June 2022 mandates a  dedicated  work 
programme under the auspices of the Committee on Agriculture to examine ways for the NFIDC 
Decision to be made more effective and operational and to, inter alia , consider the  needs of LDCs 
and NFIDCs to increase their resilience in responding to acute food instability  by considering the 
best possible use of flexibilities to bolster their agricultural production and enhance their domestic 
food security as needed in an emergency . The discussions on the elaboration of the work programme 
and specific thematic areas to be considered thereunder have been ongoing  in the Committee , 
including based on written contributions18 by Members .  
2  PROVISIONS OF THE NFIDC DECISION AND IMPLEMENTATION  
2.1.  The NFIDC Decision states:  
"Ministers recognize  that the progressive implementation of the results of the Uruguay 
Round as a whole will generate increasing opportunities for trade expansion and 
economic growth to the benefit of all participa nts." ( Paragraph  1 of the NFIDC  Decision)  
"Ministers recognize  that during the reform programme leading to greater liberalization 
of trade in agriculture least -developed and net food -importing developing countries may 
experience negative effects in terms o f the availability of adequate supplies of basic 
foodstuffs from external sources on reasonable terms and conditions, including short -
term difficulties in financing normal levels of commercial imports o f basic foodstuffs." 
(Paragraph  2 of the NFIDC Decisio n) 
2.2.  The other four paragraphs of the NFIDC Decision contain a number of specific agreements in 
the areas of food aid, technical and financial assistance, differential treatment within the framework 
of any agreement on agricultural export credits, and a prov ision regarding access to the resources 
of the international financial institutions.  In the following sections, these provisions are individually 
examined with regards to their implementation, based on the information available to the 
Secretariat . 
2.3.  Developing country Members eligible as beneficiaries within the framework of the NFIDC 
Decision have regularly emphasized the need of an effective implementation of the Decision.  During 
the 2014 NFIDC annual monitoring discussions19, the Africa n Group urged  Members to improve  the 
implementation of the NFIDC Decision to effectively achieve its intended objectives.20 On that 
occasion some Members also emphasized the importance of establishing strong disciplines in the 
area of export competition in general and international food aid in particular. The need to improve 
the implementation of the NFIDC Decision was highlighted again by the NFIDC Group during 
the 2016 and 2018 annual monitoring ; the Group also presented some specific suggestions to  
reinvigorate the annual monitoring exercise.21 During the 2019 annual monitoring exercise, the 
NFIDC Group called for further measures to enable LDCs and NFIDCs to address rising food security 
 
14 Paragraph 52 of TN/CTD/W/3/Rev.2 refers.  
15 See G/AG/16, paragraph 19(c). Progress reports relating to the African Group proposal are contained 
in G/AG/17 and G/AG/17 /Corr.1; G/AG/20; and G/AG/22.  
16 See paragraphs 11 -12 of G/AG/16/Add.1 dated 13 June 2006.  
17 WT/MIN(22)/28 - WT/L/1139  
18 G/AG/W/223, G/AG/W/224 and  G/AG/W/225. Based on request from Members , the Secretariat  
presented a room document on 'Treatment of LDCs and NFIDCs under WTO Agriculture Rules' in RD/AG/94.  
19 Section 2.1 of G/AG/R/76 refers.  
20 Specific suggestions made by the Africa Group towards an improved implementation of the 
NFIDC  Decision are included in paragraph 2.3 o f G/AG/R/76.  
21 Paragraphs 2.2 to 2.7 of G/AG/R/83 and paragraph 2.8 of G/AG/R/90 refer.  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
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  challenges, despite the increase of food imports by LDCs and NF IDCs in the period between 2008 
and 2017. 22  
2.4.  At the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference  (MC10)  in Nairobi, Ministers  reaffirmed their 
commitment to fully implement the NFIDC Decision.23 WTO Ministers at MC -10 simultaneously 
adopted the Decision24 on export co mpetition  which states that nothing in this Decision  can be 
construed to diminish in any way the existing commitments contained in the NFIDC  Decision nor 
shall the monitoring and  review  of the latter be affected .25  
2.1  Food aid  
2.5.  In light of paragraphs 1 and 2 of t he NFIDC Decision quoted above,  
"Ministers  accordingly agree  to establish appropriate mechanisms to ensure that the 
implementation of the results of the Uruguay Round on trade in agriculture does not 
adversely affect the availability  of food aid at a level which is sufficient to continue to 
provide a ssistance in meeting the food needs of develop ing countries, especially 
least-developed and net food -importing developing co untries." (chapeau to paragraph  3 
of the NFIDC Decision)  
2.6.  The MC 10 Decision on export competition also includes disciplines on international food aid. In 
the context of the thrust of the NFIDC Decision being the availabi lity and adequacy of food aid, the 
Decision on export competition in relation to  international food a id disciplines says:  
"Members  reaffirm their commitment to maintain an adequate level of international food 
aid, to take account of the interests of food aid recipients and to ensure that the 
disciplines contained hereafter do not unintentionally impede th e delivery of food aid 
provided to deal with emergency situations. "26  
2.7.  Members, as a part of the MC10 Decision on export competition, also agreed to review the 
provisions on international food aid contained therein within the regular Committee on Agricultu re 
monitoring of the NFIDC Decision.27  
2.8.  Ministers at MC12 reaffirmed the disciplines on export competition in the Agreement on 
Agriculture, as well as the Nairobi Decision on export competition, i ncluding especially those on 
International Food Aid, and enc ourage d donor countries to undertake efforts to make food available 
to poor and vulnerable countries, including through the WFP . 28 
2.1.1   Review of Food Aid Levels and initiation of Food Aid Negotiations  
2.9.  In order to work towards the objective enunciated in the chapeau of paragraph  3 of the 
NFIDC  Decision, Ministers agreed:  
"(i) to review the level of food aid established periodically by the Committee on Food 
Aid under the Food Aid Convention 1986 and to initiate negotiations in the appropriate 
forum to establish a level of food aid commitments sufficient to meet the legitimate 
needs of developing countries during the reform programme [...]" (paragraph 3(i) of 
the NFIDC Decision)  
 
22 Paragraph 2.6 of G/AG/R/93 refers.  
23 Paragraph 25 of the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration (WT/MIN(15)/DEC) refers.  
24 Ministerial Decision on Export Competition in doc ument WT/MIN(15)/45 - WT/L/980 refers.  
25 Paragraph 3 of WT/MIN(15)/45 - WT/L/980 refers.  
26 Paragraph 22 of WT/MIN(15)/45 - WT/L/980 refers. Similar commitment "to maintain needed levels" 
of international food aid may also be found in paragraph 30 of the MC -10 Decision.  
27 Paragraph 32 of WT/MIN(15)/45 - WT/L/980 refers.  
28 Paragraph 7 of WT/MIN(22)/28 – WT/L/1139 refers.  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
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  2.1.1.1   Review of food aid levels  
2.10.  The Food Aid Conventions remained in operation from 1967 to 2012 in a long series of 
multilateral co -operation instruments.  The commitments of donor countries under the Food Aid 
Conventions were specified in terms of minimum annual contributions and provided a safety net in 
terms of internati onal food aid availability.  Under the Food Aid Convention 1999, the latest in a 
series of such Conventions, the combined minimum annual volume and value commitments of donor 
Members stood at 4.8 million tonnes (in wheat equivalent) and EUR 130 million.  
2.11.  The Food Aid Convention  1999 e xpired on 30 June 2012. On 1  January 2013, a new Food 
Assistance Convention (FAC) came into effect. The FAC expand ed the traditional focus of previous 
Food Aid Conventions and include d all forms of food assistance (in -kind donati on of eligible products, 
cash transfers, cash -based or commodity -based vouchers, as well as nutritional interventions) 
towards meeting the needs of the most food insecure and vulnerable populations.  Each donor 
country, party to the FAC, assume s annual comm itment of food assistance (i.e. the "minimum annual 
commitment" ) in terms of value or quantity or a combination of both to be notified to the 
FAC Secretariat.29 Under the FAC , the current annual commitments of the donor parties are set in 
monetary terms.  The 2022 annual commitments levels of the parties who have ratified, accepted or 
approved the FAC are as set out below:  
Donor  Commitments in 20 22 
Australia  AUD 80 million  
Austria  EUR 1.495 million  
Canada  CAD 250 million  
Denmark  DKK 203 million  
European Union  EUR 350 million  
Finland  EUR 6 million  
France  EUR 112 million  
Japan  JPY 10 billion  
Korea, Republic of  KRW 46 billion  
Luxembourg  EUR 4 million  
Russian Federation  USD 15 million  
Slovenia  EUR 30,000  
Spain  EUR 10 million  
Sweden  SEK 200 million  
Switzerland  CHF 34 million  
United States of America  USD 2.5 billion  
Source:  http://www.foodassistanceconvention.org/commitments.aspx .  
2.12.  The food aid shipments by donor s under the Food Aid Convention  often exceeded their 
combined minimum annual commitments. Similarly under the Food Assistance Convention  (FAC), 
the donors have consistently fulfilled their annual FAC commitments.30 According to the latest  annual  
report  for2020, all FAC Parties  fulfilled or substantially exceed ed their commitments  by collectively 
contributing to more than  USD 6 billion.31  
 
29 The parties may modify their minimum annual commitments sub ject to notification to the 
FAC Secretariat.  
30 The contribution by the International Grains Council (IGC) on behalf of the Food Assistance 
Committee during the 2020 Annual monitoring exercise refers (G/AG/GEN/173).  
31 2020 Narrative Report on food assistance by FAC donors is available at: 
https://www.foodassistanceconvention.org/en/reports.aspx . G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
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  2.13.  Food aid data is currently being collected through a variety of channels. Under the review 
process of the Committee on Agriculture including the follow -up to the NFIDC Decision and the 
agreed notification requirements32, quantitative food aid data is reported in donor Members' 
Table  ES:3 notifications (and in some cases in Table ES:1 in respect of products in the export subsidy 
schedules33 of the relevant Members). At the same time, Table NF:1 notifications include volume tric 
or monetary data on the provision of food aid in favour of the beneficiary net food -importing 
developing countries (NFIDCs)  and least developed countries (LDCs).34 Annex 2 to this background 
note includes a summary of the information on food aid  notified by donor Members in their annual 
NF notifications.  In the context of the annual dedicated discussions on export competition in the 
Committee on Agriculture, the Secretariat prepares background documents35, including on 
international food aid, drawing information from Members' relevant export subsidy (ES) notifications 
as well as Members' replies to the annual export competition questionnaire (ECQ)36.  
2.14.  Secretariat in its previous revisions of the background note had regularly included year -wise 
data until 2014 on food aid shipment quantities, including by recipients (e.g. LDCs, NFIDCs), based 
on the WFP International Food Aid Information System (INTERFAIS). The WFP has since discontinued 
the INTERFAIS and the collection of global food aid flow da ta. Since the discontinuation of 
INTERFAIS, the FAO has been exploring to develop a food aid data collection system to monitor and 
report on global food aid transactions. During the 2018 annual monitoring exercise, the FAO reported 
on the status of their e fforts towards the development of a monitoring system to collect data on 
international food aid.37 
2.15.  The Secretariat also liaises with relevant international organizations to enhance transparency 
of global food aid deliveries.  The WTO Secretariat organized a n Information Session for 
WTO Members on internation al food aid on 24 June 2019. During the session, the  WTO Secretariat 
and participants from  other relevant international organizations38 provided an overview of the 
current landscape of disciplines as well as the monitoring and data collection practices with regard 
to international food aid and food assistance. The Session also focused on the issue of enhanced 
transparency of donors' food assistance  policies and strengthened collaboration among the relevant 
international organizations.  
2.1.1.2   Initiation of food aid negotiations  
2.16.  At the Doha Ministerial Conference, Ministers approved the following recommendation of the 
Committee  regarding the reneg otiation of the Food Aid Convention, 199939 : 
"[…] that early action be taken within the framework of the Food Aid Convention 1999 
(which unless extended, with or without a decision regarding its renegotiation, would 
expire on 30 June 2002) and of the UN W orld Food Programme by donors of food aid to 
review their food aid contributions with a view to better identifying and meeting the 
food aid needs of least -developed and WTO net food -importing developing countries".  
(G/AG/11, Part B paragraph 3 I(a) refers)  
 
32 G/AG/2 and G/AG/2/ Add.1.  
33 In most cases, the export subsidy reduction commitments for scheduled products have been brought 
down to 'nil' or zero pursuant to the Nairobi Decision on export competition making the requirement in Table 
ES:1 notifications to submit food aid data for su ch products inapplicable.  
34 Members' notifications may be consulted on the Agriculture Information Management System 
(AG-IMS) at: http://agims.wto.org/Pages/Default.aspx .  
35 Refer to documents in the G/AG/W/125/ series.  
36 Annex of WT/MIN(15)/45 -WT/L/980 refers. After the expiry of the 5 -year grace period provided under 
footnote 17 of the Nairobi Decision, the requirement to submit a response to the Questionnaire is applicable to 
all Members.  
37 Paragra ph 2.13 of G/AG/R/90 refers.  
38 The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food Assistance 
Convention (FAC) , and t he Organization for Economic Co -operation and Development (OECD).  
39 The follow -up by WTO Members on the renegotiation of the Food Aid Convention 1995 are described 
in the previous revisions of this note.  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
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  2.17.  The Food Aid Convention 1999 was to expire on 30 June 2002.  Initially, the Food Aid 
Committee had first decided to extend the Convention on an annual basis for two years . In June 
2004, it decided to undertake its renegotiation with the aim of bringing int o effect a " more effective 
instrument to provide food to those identified needs when food aid is the most appropriate response ". 
In view of the relationship between the review process in the Food Aid Committee and the 
negotiations underway in the WTO, the Food Aid Committee later decided that conclusive 
recommendations on the new Convention should await the outcome of the WTO negotiations.  In 
these circumstances, the Food Aid Convention  1999 continued to be extended on an annual basis 
while informal deliber ations were pursued between its members  on its renegotiation . At its 103rd 
Session  in December 2010 , the Food Aid Committee launched the formal process of renegotiati ng 
the Food Aid Convention 1999 . The new Food Assistance Convention  (FAC)40 was adopted on 25 
April 2012.  It was opened for signature on 11  June 2012 and entered into force on 1 January 2013.  
2.18.  The FAC expands the scope of FAC donors' food assistance commitments beyond food and 
seeds.  Some of the principles of the FAC include a focus on  food assistance effectiveness and 
accountability, involvement of beneficiaries in the needs assessment, and an enlarged list of "eligible 
products" and "eligible activities" (including the provision of cash and vouchers and nutritional 
interventions).  It addresses both short -term emergency assistance as well as long -term 
rehabilitation and development objectives.  Article 3 of the FAC sets out the relationship between its 
provisions and the existing or future WTO rules, particularly on international food ai d. The Decision 
on export competition adopted a t MC-10 includes specific disciplines on international food aid.41 
Some of these food aid disciplines in the MC -10 Decision also make a reference to the FAC.42  
2.1.2   Concessionality of Food Aid  
2.19.  To the end stated in  the chapeau of paragraph 3 of the NFIDC Decision, Ministers agreed:  
"(ii) to adopt guidelines to ensure that an increasing proportion of basic foodstuffs is 
provided to least -developed and net food -importing developing countries in fully grant 
form and/or  on appropriate concessional terms in line with Article IV of t he Food Aid 
Convention 1986 […] ". (paragraph 3(ii) of the NFIDC Decision)  
2.20.  At the Doha Ministerial Conference, Ministers approved the recommendation that:  
"WTO Members which are donors of food a id shall, within the framework of their food 
aid policies, statutes, programmes and commitments, take appropriate measures aimed 
at ensuring: […] (ii) that all food aid to least developed countries is provided in fully 
grant form and, to the maximum extent  possible, to WTO net food -importing developing 
countries as well". (G/AG/11, Part B paragraph 3 I(b) refers)  
2.21.  Under the Food Assistance Convention (FAC), no less than 8 0% of a party's committed food 
assistance to eligible countries and vulnerable populatio ns43 shall be in fully grant form , where the 
donors are expected to exceed this percentage share progressively . 
2.22.  The i ssue of food aid to be in fully grant form came up frequently in the NFIDC annual 
monitoring discussions .44 In the agri culture negotiations on international food aid  under the export 
competition  pillar, Members specifically considered the question of providing food aid exclusively in 
fully grant form.  The Decision on export competition adopted  at MC-10 requires Members to ensure 
that all international food aid is in fully -grant form.45 
 
40 Accessible at http://www.foodassistanceconvention.org/convention/FoodAssistance.pdf . Submissions 
by the IGC made at the annual monitoring exercises also includes details about the thrust and activities of the 
FAC.  
41 "International Food aid" section on pages 6 -7 of document WT/MIN(15)/45 - WT/L/980 refers.  
42 Refer specifically to paragraphs 28 and 30 of document WT/MIN(15)/45 - WT/L/980.  
43 "Eligible country" and "eligible vulnerable populations" are defined in Article 4 of the FAC.  
44 Refer, for example, to paragraph 2.5 of G/AG/R/76.  
45 Subparagraph 23.b of document WT/MIN(15)/45 - WT/L/980 refers.  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
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  2.23.  Members ' Table NF:1 notifications specifically include  information on whether the food aid was 
provided "in fully grant form or appropriate concessional terms ". Annex 2 includes a  summary of 
such information reported by donor Members  in their latest Table NF:1 notifications.  Most donor 
Members in their NF notifications have reported the provision of food aid to the recipient countries 
in fully grant form. In the recent NF notifications, the Un ited States has indicated that:  
"Food assistance under Title II, Food for Progress, and Food for Education programs 
is provided in fully grant form. " (G/AG/N/ USA/160 refers)   
2.2  Technical and financial assistance  
2.24.  To the end stated in the chapeau of paragraph 3 of the NFIDC Decision Ministers agreed:  
"(iii) to give full consideration in the context of their aid programmes to requests for the 
provision of technical and financial assistance to least -developed and net food -importing 
developing countries to improve their agricultural productivity and infrastructure."  
(paragraph 3(iii) of the NFIDC Decision)  
2.25.  The Doha Ministerial Conference called on developed country Members to continue to give full 
consideration , in the context of their aid programmes , to requests for the provision of technical and 
financial assistance by least -developed and net food -importing developing countries that could 
facilitate improve ment in  their agricultural productivity and infrastructure.  This recommendation 
reflects the fact t hat technical and financial assistance is essentially a bilateral matter between 
donors and recipients based on requests made by recipient countries.  Technical and financial 
assistance by Members under paragraph 3(iii) of the NFIDC Decision is reported in their Table NF:1 
notifications.  Column 5 of Annex 2 includes a summary of technical and financial assistance notified 
by donor Members  in their  latest Table NF:1 notifications.  
2.26.  Furthermore, the Doha Ministerial Conference approved the recommendation:  
" [...] that, in support of the priority accorded by least -developed and net food -
importing developing countries to the development of their agricultural productivity and 
infrastructure, the WTO General Council call upon relevant international development 
organizations, including the World Bank, the FAO, IFAD, the UNDP and the Regional 
Development Banks to enhance their provision of, and access to, technical and financial 
assistance to least -developed and net food -importing developing countries, on terms 
and co nditions conducive to the better use of such facilities and resources, in order to 
improve agricultural productivity and infrastructure in these countries under existing 
facilities and programmes, as well as under such facilities and programmes as may be 
introduced."46 
2.27.  The initial responses from the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, 
FAO and the World Bank were circulated in 2002.47 Since then, a number of IGOs have regularly 
updated the Committee on Agriculture on their respective init iatives and action plans in this area.48 
2.28.  During the 2019 annual monitoring exercise, t he Inter -American Institute for Cooperation on 
Agriculture (IICA) reported on its technical cooperation activities to  support Latin American and 
Caribbean (LAC) countries  in the area of food and nutrition security.  The IICA reported that it works 
with its member States to develop policies and strategies to strengthen institutional frameworks in 
the areas of international trade and regional integration, family farming, food safety and quality, 
bio-economy and climate resilience.49  
 
46 G/AG/11, Part B paragraph 3 II(b) refers .  
47 See G/AG/W/57 and G/AG/W/57 /Add.1.  
48 Refer, for example, to G/AG/GEN/71, G/AG/GEN/ 76, G/AG/GEN/78, G/AG/GEN/90, G/AG/GEN/93 , 
G/AG/GEN/94, G/AG/GEN/96, G/AG/GEN/97 , G/AG/GEN/100, G/AG/GEN/107, G/AG/GEN/111 , G/AG/GEN/121 , 
G/AG/GEN/123, G/AG/GEN/123/ Corr.1  and G/AG/GEN/136 . 
49  G/AG/GEN/154 refers . G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
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  2.29.  The 2020 annual exercise was conducted in t he wake of the COVID -19 pandemic when 
the FAO reported on its COVID -19 Response and Recovery Programme covering seven priority areas,  
includ ing targeted actions towards 'boosting smallholder resilience for recovery' in least -developed 
and other vulnerable countries.50  
2.30.  Ministers at MC12 acknowledged the importance of providing technical and financial 
assistance to LDCs and NFIDCs, including through international and regional financial institutions, 
with a view to improving their agricultural productive capacity, infrastructure and access to 
agricultural inputs.51 
2.3  Differential treatment in the framework of an agreement on export cred its 
2.31.  In light of paragraphs 1 and 2 of the NFIDC Decision quoted above, Ministers agreed:  
"[…] to ensure that any agreement relating to agricultural export credits makes 
appropriate provision for differential treatment in favour of least -developed and net 
food-importing developing countries".  (paragraph 4 of the NFIDC Decision)  
2.32.  At the Doha Ministerial Conference, Ministers reaffirmed the commitment above and approved 
a general understanding regarding procedures for the development of disciplines pursuant to Article 
10.2 of the Agreement on Agriculture and the related provisions of the NFIDC  Decision (G/AG/11, 
Part A paragraph 4).  Accordingly, work within the WTO on the question of agricultural export credits 
was undertaken in the framework of both the regular  meetings of the Committee on Agriculture and 
in the Special Session negotiations on the basis, inter alia , of the tabled proposals and other inputs, 
including with respect to special and differential treatment in favour of developing countries.52 
2.33.  The MC10 Decision on export competition , inter alia, includes disciplines in the area of export 
credits , export credit  guarantees or insurance programmes. Provisions towards a more favourable 
treatment of least -developed and net food -importing developing countries are included under 
"Special and Differential Treatment " (S&D) part of the disciplines.  The S&D provisions provide for a 
longer repayment allowance for least -developed and net food -importing developing countries for the 
acquis ition of basic food stuffs. 53 Pursuant to the transparency requirements in  Annex to t he Nairobi 
Decision on export competition , Members provide information, inter alia , on maximum repayment 
terms as well as export destinations in respect of their export f inancing support programmes.54  
2.4  Access to the resources of the international financial institutions  
2.34.  In the NFIDC Decision, Ministers further recognized that:  
"[…] as a result of the Uruguay Round certain developing countries may experience 
short-term diffi culties in financing normal levels of commercial imports and that these 
countries may be eligible to draw on the resources of international financial institutions 
under existing facilities, or such facilities as may be established, in the context of 
adjust ment programmes, in order to address such financing difficulties.  In this regard, 
Ministers take note of paragraph 37 of the report of the Director -General to the 
CONTRACTING PARTIES to GATT 1947 on his consultations with the Managing Director 
of the Inter national Monetary Fund and the President of the World Bank 
(MTN.GNG/NG14/W/35)".  (Paragraph  5 of the NFIDC Decision)  
2.4.1   Ability to finance commercial imports  
2.35.  The issue of financing of commercial imports of food by LDCs and NFIDCs has been regularly 
considered  in the annual discussions on the follow -up to the NFIDC Decision. The Inter -agency panel 
 
50 G/AG/GEN/174 refers . 
51 Paragraph 9 of WT/MIN(22)/28 – WT/L/1139 refers.  
52 See, for example, G/AG/16 and G/AG/16/ Add.1 . 
53 Refer specifically to paragraph 17 of WT/MIN(15)/45 - WT/L/980.  
54 The information provided by Members within the context of an annual dedicated discussion on export 
competition is regularly compiled by the Secretariat (background notes in the G/AG/W/125/ document series 
refer).  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 11 - 
 
  report provided a detailed examination of the question of financing food imports by NFIDCs 
and LDCs.55  
2.36.  The S&D disciplines in the area of export credits, export credit guarantees or insurance 
programmes included in the MC -10 Decision on export competition also acknowledge and address 
"exceptional circumstances" that may be faced by LDCs and NFIDCs in respect of financing of normal 
levels of commercial impor ts of basic foodstuffs and/or in accessing loans by financial institutions.56 
2.4.1.1   International food price  developments  and food import  bills of LDCs and NFIDCs  
2.37.  At various stages of the Committee's annual monitoring exercise, international observer 
organizatio ns have commented on the development of international food prices and their impacts 
on LDCs and NFIDCs.57 They have also reported on various actions undertaken in response to food 
security -related risks arising from developments in food prices and food pri ce volatility.  
2.38.  Global actions to address food insecurity in general and food price volatility in particular, were 
also adopted within the G -20 framework. Recognizing the importance of timely and accurate market 
and policy information and transparency towards meeting the challenges posed by price volatility, 
the G -20 agriculture ministers agreed to launch the Agriculture Market Information System (AMIS) 
with a view to encourage policy dialogue and coordination of policy responses, and to bu ild data 
collection capacity in participating countries. The AMIS Secretariat is housed in the FAO and other 
international organizations including the WTO contribute to the System.58  
2.39.  The FAO also regularly monitors and reports on overall trends in cereal imports and cereal 
import bills in LDCs and NFIDCs. During the 202 1 exercise, the FAO provided a detailed overview of 
the current global market situation and international price trends for major food commodities. The 
report also included information on the  evolution of domestic food prices and food import bills in net 
food-importing developing countries, and shared recommendations to, inter alia , mitigate the 
exacerbated vulnerabilities of food systems in NFIDCs.59  
2.40.  The previous revisions of the document ha ve regularly included information on the evolution 
of the Grains and Oilseeds Index (GOI) of the IGC, a trade -weighted measure of international 
(export) prices at key origins, spanning grains, oilseeds and rice markets. In view of the significant 
contribut ion of grains, rice and oilseeds in LDCs and NFIDCs food imports, trends in the IGC GOI can 
be considered a useful indicator in assessing trends in food import bills of these Members.60 As 
chart 1 below shows, grains, rice and oilseeds prices mostly trende d lower from the latter part of 
2012 through to 2016. While production uncertainties and adverse weather events led to occasional 
gains in the subsequent four years, price advances during that period were relatively modest and 
brief in nature, with the Ind ex largely fluctuating in a relatively narrow range. To some extent, this 
was partly because of the existence of ample global stocks. However, with world inventories 
tightening, export prices have maintained a stronger tone more recently. Apart from rice, world 
markets mostly strengthened in the period since the onset of the COVID -19 pandemic in early 2020. 
While supply chain disruptions contributed to some of the upside, gains were also driven by a 
rebound in global demand, along with less -than-ideal cropp ing weather across a number of key 
exporters. Support also stemmed from heightened political tensions and conflict in the Black Sea 
region and associated uncertainties about the viability of export flows of grains and vegetable oils in 
 
55 See WT/GC/62 – G/AG/13, in particular, Chapter II, Section A and the Conclusions in Chapter III. See 
also the contribution by UNCTAD in G/AG/GEN/68, pp. 16 -18. 
56 Paragraph 17 of WT/MIN(15)/45 - WT/L/980 refers.  
57 See, for example, the observations by the FAO, IGC, OECD, WFP, IMF, UNCTAD and World Bank on 
rising food prices and possible impacts on LDCs and NFIDCs. The statements and contributions by international 
observer organizations can be found in the G/AG/GEN/ -- document series.  During the 2009 -11, the WFP reported 
in detail on the activities and initiatives aimed at addressing global food insecurity and malnut rition 
(G/AG/GEN/90, G/AG/GEN/94 and G/AG/GEN/110). Similarly, in 2014, the OECD elaborated on the role of trade 
to food security paying specific attention to the dimensions of availability  and accessibility  and also on the relative 
cost of food imports in  the total import bill of LDCs and NFIDCs (G/AG/GEN/123 and Corr.1).  
58 The initial focus of AMIS is on four grains that are particularly important in international food markets, 
namely wheat, maize, rice and soybeans. For more details please refer to http://www.amis -outlook.org/amis -
about/en /. 
59 G/AG/GEN /198 and corrigendum refer.  
60 The global export prices and the GOI do not account for freight and transportation charges which 
constitute a substantial part of the overall import cost.  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 12 - 
 
  particular. As a con sequence, the Index touched a more than nine -year peak in early 2022, stoking 
fears about rising import bills and poor and vulnerable countries' access to food. Although 
international food prices have since eased to levels last seen prior to the Black Sea conflict, also 
linked to broad -based worries about the potential for a protracted global economic slowdown, prices 
of most foodstuffs are still high and are likely to remain subject to upward pressure from a range of 
factors. These include low stocks for s ome commodities, high energy and fertilizer costs, poor 
weather in several key producing/exporting countries, and risks associated with the unresolved 
political conflict.  
 
2.41.  During the 2021 monitoring exercise, the IGC provided an overview of global grain t rade 
volumes and prospects for 2022 -23 for wheat, rice, maize, and soybean.61 
Chart 1: the IGC Grains and Oilseeds Index (GOI)* (2000 -2022) 
 
* IGC Grains and Oilseeds Index composition: wheat ( 27%), maize (2 4%), barley (4%), sorghum  (1%), 
rice (7%), soybeans (3 4%), rapeseed/canola (2%). See http://www.igc.int  for more details. 
January  2000 = 100. 
Source:  International Grains Council (IGC).  
2.42.  The annual monitoring discussions have specifically  referred to overall trend s in cereal imports 
and cereal import bills in the context of the monitoring of the food security situation in LDCs 
and NFIDCs  and their ability to finance food imports . Cereals indeed form an important part of the 
import  food basket of LDCs and  NFIDCs  as is evident from Table 1 below.   
 
61 G/AG/GEN /197 refers. Based on request by Members at the 15 -16 March Committee meeting, the 
IGC als o submitted a supplementary report in G/AG/GEN/1 97/Add.1 focusing on the impact of the Russia -
Ukraine conflict on the global grains and oilseeds market, including production, consumption and trade 
forecasts.  
G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 13 - 
 
  Table 1: Share of cereals in total agriculture imports during 20 12-2021 (% terms)  
 
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 
LDCs 17.9 20.5 21.7 20.1 20.9 23.7 22.9 21.9 22.6 24.2 
NFIDCs  25.3 21.7 24.8 22.9 22.9 22.9 23.4 23.8 24.7 23.8 
Source:  UN COMTRADE database (reported data, complemented by mirror data . 2021 mirror data are 
estimates .). 
2.43.  During the annual NF discussions in the November 2018 meeting of the Committee, Egypt 
requested the Secretariat to examine the evolution of agriculture and food imports of LDCs 
and NFIDCs in order to better inform the annual monitoring discussions. Accordingly, the S ecretariat 
considered the imports of cereals, dairy, fruits and vegetables, meats, and oilseeds and vegetable 
oils (hereinafter referred to as 'food basket ')62 in respect of LDCs63 and NFIDCs . Chart 2 below shows 
the share of food product or product groups comprising the food basket in the total imports of LDCs 
and NFIDCs. Imports of cereal s followed by of oilseeds and vegetable oils contribute predominantly 
to the overall import bills of LDCs and NFID Cs.  
Chart  2: LDCs and NFIDCs imports of individual products in the food basket  (2021) 
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE database (reported data, complemented by mirror data . 2021 mirror data are 
estimates .). 
2.44.  Charts 3 to 7 below show trends in LDCs and NFIDCs imports of individual products or product 
groups comprising the food basket over the period 20 12 to 2021. As import figures are presented in 
value  terms  (US dollars ), changes in commodity import prices and  exchange rate movements  may 
also have influenced trends in imports.  
 
62 Composition of the "food basket" in terms of the HS Chapters is as follows: meat ( Chapter 2), dairy 
(Chapter 4), fruits and vegetables (Chapters 7 and 8), and oilseeds and vegetable oils (Chapters 12 and 15 ). 
63 Imports data of LDCs used in Section 2.4.1 corresponds to WTO LDC Members.  
G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 14 - 
 
  Chart 3: LDCs and NFIDCs i mports of cereals during 20 12-2021 
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE database (reported data, complemented by mirror data .2021 mirror data are 
estimates .). 
Chart 4: LDCs and NFIDCs i mports of meat during 20 12-2021 
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE database (reported data, complemented by mirror data . 2021 mirror data are 
estimates .). 
Chart 5: LDCs and NFIDCs i mports of dairy during 20 12-2021 
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE database (reported data, complemented by mirror data . 2021 mirror data are 
estimates .). 
G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 15 - 
 
  Chart 6: LDCs and NFIDCs i mports of fruits and vegetables during 20 12-2021 
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE database (reported data, complemented by mirror data . 2021 mirror data  are 
estimates.).  
Chart 7: LDCs and NFIDCs i mports of oilseeds and vegetable oils during 20 12-2021 
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE database (reported data, complemented by mirror data . 2021 mirror data are 
estimates .). 
2.45.  Charts 8 and 9 below present the import values of LDCs and NFIDCs of all agricultural products 
(as per the AoA definition) as well as of products comprising the food basket. For both the LDC s as 
well as the NFIDCs , the average share of imports of the food basket commodities in the overall 
agricultural imports is about 50%.  
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
LDCs 1,665 1,953 2,439 2,262 2,506 2,406 2,360 2,874 3,323 3,150
NFIDCs 4,074 4,026 4,590 4,858 5,117 5,107 4,847 4,944 5,333 5,66201,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,000USD millions
LDCs NFIDCs
G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 16 - 
 
  Chart 8: LDC i mports of products in the food basket and of all agricultural products 
(average data based on 201 9-21) 
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE data ( reported data, complemented by mirror data . 2021 mirror data are 
estimates .). 
Chart 9: NFIDC  imports of products in the food basket and of all agricultural products 
(average data based on 201 9-21) 
 
Source:  UN COMTRADE data (reported data, complemented by mirror data . 2021 mirror data are estimates ). 
2.46.  Table 2 includes data, individually in respect of all LDC and NFIDC Members, on total imports 
of products constituting the food basket as well of all agricultural products based on 
the AoA definition. The table also includes values of total merchandise imports and exports. A 
comparison of food imports (in column 2) with total merchandise exports (in column 5) might provide 
a rough indication of the adequacy of foreign exchange reserves to fi nance food imports.  
02,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,000
Afghanistan
Angola
Bangladesh
Benin
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Central African Republic
Chad
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Gambia
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Lesotho
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mozambique
Myanmar
Nepal
Niger
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Solomon Isds
Togo
Uganda
Tanzania
Vanuatu
Yemen
ZambiaUSD millions
Total Agriculture (AoA) imports Total imports of the Ag food basket
02,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,00014,00016,000
Antigua and Barbuda
Barbados
Botswana
Côte d'Ivoire
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Egypt
El Salvador
Eswatini
Gabon
Grenada
Honduras
Jamaica
Jordan
Kenya
Maldives
Mauritius
Mongolia
Morocco
Namibia
Pakistan
Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the…
Samoa
Senegal
Sri Lanka
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Venezuela, Bolivarian…USD millions
Total Agriculture (AoA) imports Total imports of the Ag food basketG/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 17 - 
 
  Table 2 - Overall trade profile of LDCs and NFIDCs (Average data based on 2 019-2021) 
Members  
 
 
 
 
(LDCs and NFIDCs)  Total imports of 
items included in 
the agriculture 
food basket  
 
(USD million)  Total Agriculture 
(AoA) imports  
 
 
 
(USD mi llion)  Total 
merchandise 
imports  
 
 
(USD million)  Total 
merchandise 
exports  
 
 
(USD million)  
1 2 3 4 5 
LDCs  
Afghanistan  984 2,293  6,833  1,544  
Angola  1,224  2,015  10,064  29,664  
Bangladesh  7,035  11,430  59,029  46,334  
Benin  753 962 2,928  907 
Burkina Faso 216 486 4,383  4,232  
Burundi  57 122 800 154 
Cambodia  204 1,644  18,949  18,544  
Central African 
Republic  18 48 319 117 
Chad 26 124 1,038  1,996  
Democratic Republic 
of the Congo  451 865 7,399  14,371  
Djibouti  819 1,218  6,271  212 
The Gambia  144 269 889 59 
Guinea  525 979 4,768  9,549  
Guinea -Bissau  63 139 360 189 
Haiti 715 1,175  4,240  1,248  
Lao People's 
Democratic Republic  105 654 4,334  5,057  
Lesotho  87 245 1,016  724 
Liberia  241 347 11,931  1,344  
Madagascar  362 628 3,495  2,581  
Malawi  122 267 2,215  839 
Mali 245 639 4,429  6,035  
Mauritania  526 810 3,295  2,979  
Mozambique  882 1,133  7,452  4,619  
Myanmar  1,042  2,409  16,966  16,727  
Nepal  1,296  1,844  11,149  1,171  
Niger  398 708 2,505  1,894  
Rwanda  367 605 3,543  1,375  
Senegal  1,173  1,815  8,552  4,437  
Sierra Leone  188 361 1,302  740 
Solomon Islands  31 66 404 587 
Togo 189 350 2,274  1,021  
Uganda  537 841 7,095  3,743  
Tanzania  409 750 9,481  5,824  
Vanuatu  25 64 288 166 
Yemen  1,950  3,344  9,354  1,060  
Zambia  154 299 4,897  7,224  
NFIDCs  
Antigua and Barbuda  40 99 860 156 
Barbados  138 337 1,585  380 
Botswana  321 872 7,174  5,656  
Côte d'Ivoire  1,106  1,914  11,227  11,829  
Cuba 997 1,403  4,613  1,695  
Dominica  15 38 522 40 
Dominican Republic  1,701  3,508  21,189  10,952  
Egypt  11,678  14,540  70,906  32,716  
El Salvador  1,239  2,440  12,309  5,854  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 18 - 
 
  Members  
 
 
 
 
(LDCs and NFIDCs)  Total imports of 
items included in 
the agriculture 
food basket  
 
(USD million)  Total Agriculture 
(AoA) imports  
 
 
 
(USD mi llion)  Total 
merchandise 
imports  
 
 
(USD million)  Total 
merchandise 
exports  
 
 
(USD million)  
1 2 3 4 5 
Eswatini  103 239 1,224  1,516  
Gabon  267 442 2,140  6,147  
Grenada  44 101 440 31 
Honduras  718 1,912  11,160  7,412  
Jamaica  403 1,003  5,279  1,315  
Jordan  2,209  4,081  19,295  8,538  
Kenya  1,957  2,801  17,403  6,204  
Maldives  269 473 2,303  177 
Mauritius  414 928 4,991  1,697  
Mongolia  238 757 6,090  8,146  
Morocco  3,841  6,703  51,418  31,290  
Namibia  213 629 5,673  5,058  
Pakistan  5,824  8,681  56,243  24,927  
Peru 3,036  5,135  41,010  48,458  
Saint Kitts and Nevis  16 41 304 72 
Saint Lucia  51 106 1,049  1,619  
Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines  43 88 323 57 
Samoa  49 92 375 42 
Senegal  1,173  1,815  8,552  4,437  
Sri Lanka  1,431  2,414  18,861  12,004  
Trinidad and Tobago  449 942 5,658  7,110  
Tunisia  1,634  2,335  20,248  15,194  
Venezuela, Bolivarian 
Republic of  1,036  2,016  6,727  
 8,415  
Source:  UN COMTRADE  data (reported data, complemented by mirror data . 2021 mirror data are estimates ). 
2.4.2   Access to the facilities of the IMF and the World Bank  
2.47.  The question of access to the resources of the international financial institutions has been the 
subject of a detailed examination by an Inter -agency panel of financial and commodity experts 
in 2002.64 
2.48.  In the context of the Committee's annual monitoring exercise in Decemb er 2001, the  IMF 
reiterated its position regarding the question of access to its resources by stating:  "With existing 
facilities and resources, the Fund is in a position to meet any balance of payments needs of our 
members that may arise from higher world food prices. "65 In November 2009, the IMF described its 
reformed lending framework66 for LDCs and  NFIDCs, under which support was channelled  through a 
new instrument under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT).  The Contingent Financing 
Facility (CFF) was eliminated.67 In November 2012, the IMF informed the Committee about additional 
strengthening and streamlining of its various concessional financing and lending instruments. The 
IMF also considered that the reformed financing architecture was better tailored to diverse needs of 
the recipient countries, and reported that since the beginning of the global economic crisis in 2008, 
it had assumed 138 new lending commitments amounting to US D 534 billion (gross ) and disbursed 
USD 154 billion.68 
 
64 See WT/GC/62 – G/AG/13.  
65 See G/AG/GEN/49, page 8.  
66 See G/AG/GEN/90.  
67 See G/AG/GEN/94.  
68 See G/AG/GEN/107.  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 19 - 
 
  2.49.  The p osition of the World Bank regarding the issue of access to short -term multilateral 
financing was initially outlined in November 1997 as follows:  
"The World Bank continues to monitor the progress of liberalization resulting from the 
implementation of commitments made under the Uruguay Round Agreement.  A number 
of recent studies using different methodologies and assumptions confirm that the long 
run impacts of the Uruguay Round agreement on agricultural prices will be relatively 
small certainly far smaller than the price increases that have been experienced in recent 
years.  Given the small size of the shocks resulting from the Round and the Bank's 
substantial headroom above current IBRD loans outstanding, it seems clear that the 
Bank wi ll be in a position to meet any additional demands generated by the Round for 
loans on IBRD terms.  
In response to the Ministerial Decision, a Working Group involving the World Bank, the 
Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme and the IM F met in 1995 
to address the special needs of least developed and net food -importing countries.  The 
Working Group reviewed the range of facilities available for additional financing needs 
for developing countries in the event of world price shocks and prod uction shortfalls and 
provided a report to the WTO in late 1995.  Given the wide range of facilities and the 
small price impacts expected to arise as a consequence of the Round, and the difficulty 
involved in distinguishing Uruguay Round impacts from other shocks, it did not seem 
appropriate to establish a special Uruguay Round adjustment facility." 
(G/AG/GEN/15,  page 3) 
2.50.  In more recent years, the World Bank has focused on the strengthening of the food security 
of developing countries and has developed strate gies to deal with food price instability and its 
negative impacts.  In cooperation with development partners, the World Bank studied ways to use 
commodity price insurance mechanisms as a tool to anticipate food crises, both at the farm and at 
the government  level.  According to the World Bank, food insecurity was best addressed through 
programmes designed to raise the purchasing power of the poor; reduce their exposure to negative 
income shocks; and improve the functioning of the global food distribution and food aid systems.69 
In November 2009, the World Bank reported on the launching of a Global Food Crisis R esponse 
Programme (GFRP) to mitigate the effects of soaring costs and to help countries adapt to higher and 
more volatile food prices.  In 2011, the Bank  informed the Committ ee that an allocation of US D 
288 million would be made towards increasing livelihood protection as a rapid response measure 
under the Horn  Regional Drought Response Plan.70 
 
 
69 See, for example, G/AG/GEN/71 (pp. 15 -17) for a detailed description of ex ante risk management 
systems (price related and weather  related) and recently -launched joint WFP -World Bank pilot projects; 
and G/AG/GEN/73.  
70 See the contributions of the World Ban k in G/AG/GEN/90 and G/AG/GEN/96.    
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 20 - Annex 1: List of n otification s1 under Article  16.2 of the Agreem ent on Agriculture (Table  NF:1) for the reporting years 1995 -2021 
Year Argentina  Australia  Canada  Cuba  European  
Union  Indonesia  Korea, 
Republic 
of Japan  New 
Zealand  Norway  Russia n 
Federation  South  Africa  Switzerland  United  
States  United  
Kingdom  
1995  ARG/10  AUS/5  CAN/11  CUB/4  EEC/9    JPN/15  NZL/6  NOR/6   ZAF/7  CHE/23   
 
1996  ARG/10  AUS/13  CAN/18  CUB/5  EEC/21  & 
Add.1    JPN/27  NZL/13  NOR/19  & 
Corr.1   ZAF/9  CHE/23  USA/7   
1997  ARG/10  AUS/21  CAN/25   
EEC/21 &  
Add.1    JPN/33  NZL/17  NOR/20 &  
Corr.1   ZAF/17  CHE/23  USA/20   
1998  ARG/10  AUS/25  CAN/34  CUB/14  EEC/25    JPN/46  NZL/25  NOR/26   ZAF/24  CHE/23  USA/21   
1999  ARG/10  AUS/32/Rev.1  CAN/42   EEC/35    JPN/68  NZL/26  NOR/33    
CHE/30  USA/31   
2000  ARG/15  AUS/39  CAN/52   EEC/35    JPN/78  NZL/30  NOR/34 &  
Corr.1   ZAF/39  CHE/30  USA/46   
2001  ARG/21  AUS/48  CAN/52   
EEC/46 &  
Add.1    JPN/87  NZL/39  NOR/37   ZAF/42  CHE/30  USA/52   
2002   AUS/51  & 
Corr.1  CAN/57  CUB/24  EEC/46 &  
Add.1    JPN/107  NZL/39  NOR/42   ZAF/50  CHE/30  USA/52   
2003   AUS/57  CAN/57   EEC/50    JPN/125  & 
Corr.1  NZL/40  NOR/42   ZAF/56  CHE/39  & 
Corr.1  USA/56   
2004   AUS/60  CAN/67   EEC/56    JPN/125 &  
Corr.1  NZL/45/Rev.1  NOR/44   ZAF/60  CHE/39  & 
Corr.1  USA/65   
2005   AUS/68  CAN/72   EEC/56    JPN/144  NZL/56 &  
Corr.1  NOR/44   ZAF/67  CHE/39 &  
Corr.1  USA/65   
2006   AUS/71  CAN/81   EU/1   JPN/145  NZL/56  & 
Corr.1  NOR/44   ZAF/69  CHE/53  USA/65   
2007   AUS/75 &  
Corr.1  CAN/88  CUB/34  EU/2   JPN/145  NZL/60  NOR/54/Rev.1   ZAF/72  CHE/53  USA/76   
2008   AUS/81  CAN/93   EU/3   JPN/160  NZL/60  NOR/54/Rev.1   ZAF/72  CHE/53  USA/76   
2009   AUS/84  CAN/93   EU/4   JPN/172  NZL/68  NOR/60   ZAF/82  CHE/64  USA/83   
2010   AUS/93  CAN/100  CUB/43  EU/15    JPN/180  NZL/71  NOR/62   ZAF/82  CHE/64  USA/90   
2011   AUS/93  CAN/100  CUB/46  EU/15    JPN/199  NZL/77  NOR/68   ZAF/82  CHE/64  USA/97  & 
Corr.1   
2012   
AUS/93   CUB/46  EU/21    JPN/229  NZL/82  NOR/70   ZAF/82  CHE/76  USA/98   
2013   
AUS/98  CAN/115  & 
Corr.1   
EU/21  IDN/48  & 
Corr.1  JPN/229  NZL/95  NOR/79   ZAF/82  CHE/76  USA/105/Rev.1   
2014   AUS/105  CAN/115  & 
Corr.1  CUB/55  EU/27  IDN/49 &  
Corr.1  JPN/229  NZL/95  NOR/84  RUS/7  ZAF/89  CHE/76  USA/113   
2015   AUS/108 CAN/132  CUB/55  EU/32  IDN/50   JPN/229  NZL/95  NOR/88  RUS/14  ZAF/102 CHE/81 & 
Corr.1  USA/116   
 
1 The Table lists notifications circulated as of 28 October  2022.    
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 21 - Year Argentina  Australia  Canada  Cuba  European  
Union  Indonesia  Korea, 
Republic 
of Japan  New 
Zealand  Norway  Russia n 
Federation  South  Africa  Switzerland  United  
States  United  
Kingdom  
2016   AUS/119 CAN/133   EU/42  IDN/51   JPN/229  NZL/101  NOR/93  RUS/17  ZAF/103 CHE/85  USA/119   
2017   AUS/124 CAN/130   EU/49    JPN/2 66 NZL/114  NOR/100  RUS/20  ZAF/104 CHE/86 /Rev.1  USA/1 29  
2018   AUS/134  CAN/152   EU/54  IDN/62  KOR/74  JPN/2 67 NZL/115  NOR/10 7 RUS/2 5  CHE/97 USA/1 45  
2019   AUS/143    EU/60 &  
Corr.1   KOR/75  JPN/2 68 NZL/123  NOR/113  RUS/2 8  CHE/105 USA/1 46  
2020      EU/67   KOR/86  JPN/2 69 NZL/128  NOR/118  RUS/33  CHE/112 USA/160   
2021      EU/73   KOR/87   NZL/135   RUS/36   CHE/118   GBR/10  
Notes: i) A blank cell indicates that no notification was received for the reporting year concerned.  
 ii) An annual NF notification requirement is applicable only when actions within the framework of the NFIDC Decision are taken in  the relevant year. A "nil return" is not 
required in the absence of such actions.  
 iii) Notifications stating no actions were taken within the framework of the NFIDC Decision  are not included.  
 iv) Annual reporting periods ("year") differ among Members.  Notification symbols in the table refer to notifications in the G/AG/N/ -- series.  
   
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 22 - Annex 2: Summary of Table of NF:1 Notifications  
Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and NFIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
Australia  G/AG/N/AUS/1 43 
(10 March 202 2) covering the 
financial year 201 9-20 Australia provided AUD  91.92 million in 
food assistance to LDCs and NFIDCs in 
the form of cash -based support to the 
UN World Food Programme for 
emergency relief. For a breakdown by 
recipient countries, please refer to the 
notification.  All food assistance was 
provided in fully grant form.  Australia p rovided AUD 321.32  million for 
programmes within the ambit of the Decision, 
including AUD 227.14  million directed to LDCs 
and NFIDCs.  
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs 
and Trade (DFAT) is primarily responsible for 
delivering Australia's aid prog ram.1 This aid 
program includes work to improve agriculture 
and rural development in LDCs and NFIDCs. 
The Australian Centre for International 
Agricultural Research (ACIAR) also assists  LDC 
and NFIDCs through its Global Program.2 
ACIAR 's purpose is to achieve more productive 
and sustainable agricultural systems for the 
benefit of developing countries and Australia, 
through international agricultural research 
partnerships.  
The bilateral and regional technical and 
financial assistance (that covers majority of 
Australia's aid) was approximately AUD  
104.3 million, focussing on agricultural 
productivity and sustainability; crop storage; 
environmental management; developing 
markets; provision of infrastructure related to 
food security and assisting coun tries adjust to 
changes in trade patterns.  
In 20 19-20, ACIAR directed AUD 104.18 million 
to programmes within the ambit of the 
decision, of which AUD 68.04 million was 
directed to programmes in LDCs and NFIDCs. 
See Annex C for a breakdown of ACIAR’s 
admini stered expenditure for 2019 -20.. 
Australia also supports scholarship students 
from LDCs and NFIDCs on agriculture, forestry 
and fisheries.  Outside of Australia’s food aid 
and financial assistance 
delivered by DFAT and ACIAR, 
a number of Federal and 
State Government agencies 
("Other Government 
Departments") sponsored 
official exchanges with 
developing countries on 
agriculture and food security, 
totalling around AUD 19.64 
million in 2019 -20, of which 
AUD 0.38 million was directed 
at LDCs and NFIDCs.  
 
1 Detailed information on Australia 's aid program is available at  https://dfat.gov.au/ . 
2 Detailed information on ACIA R's Global Program is available at  https://www.aciar.gov.au/ .   
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 23 - Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and NFIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
Canada  G/AG/N/CAN/1 52 
(23 June 2022 ) covering the 
calendar year 201 8 Total food assistance reported under 
the Food Assistance Convention (FAC)3 
was CAD 400.1  million, of which 
around CAD 2 89 million was directed to 
NFIDCs and LDCs. Food assistance 
incorporates a mix of tools, including 
provision of eligible products, cash, 
vouchers, nutritional interventions, and 
livelihood protection in emergency and 
early recovery situations. . For a 
breakd own by recipient countries, 
please refer to the notification.  All food assistance was 
provided in fully grant form.4  Canada provided humanitarian assistance 
funding (including food assistance) to help 
those affected by natural disasters and 
complex emergencies in 57 countries.  
In terms of geographical distribution of the 
food assistance for 201 8, 59% of Canada's 
food assistance went to sub -Saharan Africa, 
almost 30.5% went to the Middle -East and 
Northern Africa (MENA), 8.2% went to Asia, 
1.8%  went to the Americas and 0.5% went to 
Europe. Canada provided l ong-term support of 
CAD 50 million over five years to WFP for for 
school feeding programming in conflict areas 
continued for protracted humanitarian contexts 
in the Democratic Republic of the C ongo, Niger, 
Syria and Lebanon . 
Canada allocated CAD 1 47 million to 
International Development Research Centre 
(IDRC) which undertook disbursements in the 
agriculture sector totalling CAD 4.7 million . A 
review for FY2017/2018 of IDRC identified 
some 14 proj ects4 in agriculture and related 
sectors, in LLDCs and NFIDCs with a value of 
CAD 2.34 million (about 49.5% of all 
disbursements in agriculture) .  For a 
breakdown by recipient countries, please refer 
to the notification.  Canada provided its food 
assistance  in 2018 through 28 
UN agencies and NGOs.5 The 
WFP continued to receive the 
majority of Canada's food 
assistance funding, 
amounting to 61.5% of 
Canada's total food assistance 
allocations in 2018. 
Micronutrient Initiative and 
the Canadian Foodgrains 
Bank G/ AG/N/CAN/152 - 6 - 
respectively received 12% 
and 6% of Canada's 
contribution. The remainder 
was provided to Action 
Against Hunger, the ICRC and 
other Canadian and 
international NGOs.  
 
3 As a signatory to the 2013 Food Assistance Convention (FAC), Canada established a minimum annual food assistance level of CAD  250 million.  
4 Since 200 8, Canada has fully untied its food assistance budget, opening up 100% of its food assistance budget to international procure ment and supporting the purchase 
of food in developing countries.    
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 24 - Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and NFIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
European 
Union  G/AG/N/EU/ 73(1 March  2022) 
covering the  calendar year 
2021 The total food assistance and nutrition 
funding allocations for LDCs and 
NFIDCs was close to EUR 434 million n 
which was spent mostly on products, 
logistics, support operations and 
transport, flanking measures and 
measures to monitor imp lementation of 
humanitarian food assistance and 
nutrition programmes, as well as 
livelihoods protection programmes. In 
addition to this amount,  close to  
EUR 20 million of assistance were 
provided in the form of multi -purpose 
cash transfers . The proportion of this 
amount that was ultimately spent for 
food and nutrition purposes cannot be 
known with certainty, but is estimated 
to represent at least  one third of the 
total transfer.5 In total, food assistance 
or multi -purpose cash transfers were 
provided for v ulnerable, food and 
nutrition insecure populations in 57 
countries or territories, of which 39 
were LDCs or NFIDCs of which 40 were 
LDCs or NFIDCs.  For a breakdown by 
recipient countries, please refer to the 
notification.  All food assistance was 
provided fully in grant form.  
Local and regional purchase 
was encouraged , whenever 
possible, with a view to 
avoid harmful effects of 
imported food on the local 
markets.  The European Commission provided the 
reported food assistance to the most 
vulnerable victims of natural and man -made 
disasters. The allocation of assistance was 
decided firmly based on needs and in line with 
the fundamental humanitarian principles of 
humanity, neutrality, impartiality and 
independence.  The implementation of the 
food assistance funded by the 
European Commission was 
carried out by UN agencies 
and other international 
organizations, international 
NGOs and the Red Cross/Red 
Crescent family.  
Indonesia  G/AG/N/IDN/ 62 
(15 October  2019) covering 
the calendar year  2018 - - Indonesia held international training on 
processing technology of agricultural 
husbandry products for african countries 
(Participants: South Africa, Burundi, Burkina 
Faso, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, 
Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, 
Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe).  
 
In addition, Indonesia provided assistance in 
the form of 1 00 units of hand tractors to Fiji 
amounting to 5.8 billion IDR.  - 
 
5 In 2010, the EU adopted its Humanitarian Food Assistance Policy , which captures the shift from food aid to food assistance so as to cover the acute food and nutrition 
needs of the most vulnerable populations in the most efficient and effective manner.    
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 25 - Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and NFIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
Japan  G/AG/N/JPN/2 69 
(13 April 2022) covering the 
calendar year  2020 Japan grants funds to be used to 
purchase food and granted 
USD 22.6 million in 20 20 for food 
purchase. For a breakdown by recipient 
countries, please refer to the 
notification.  All the funds were granted in 
fully grant form.  Japan provided grant aid of USD 37.95  million 
and USD  79.93  million in technical cooperation. 
In addition, Japan provided ODA loans (grant 
element more than 25%) worth USD 105.07  
million towards technical and financial 
assistance.  Japan provided grant aid of 
USD 119.52  million and 
USD 122.90  million in 
technical cooperation to 
developing countries 
(including aid given to 
Eastern Europe and 
graduated countries). In 
addition, Japan provided ODA 
loans (grant element more 
than 25%) worth 
USD 313.43  million to 
developing countries  
Korea, 
Republic of  G/AG/N/KOR/ 87 (17 February 
2022) covering Calendar year 
2021 Korea, Republic of provided food aid  
through the World Food Programme to 
the following countries (in USD 
million): Kenya : 4.10; Yemen : 14.51; 
Ethiopia : 11.52; Uganda : 8.56; Lao  
People's Democratic Republic : 1.26. All Korean  food aid is 
provided in fully grant form.  - - 
New Zealand  G/AG/N/NZL/1 35 
(18 October 202 2) covering 
the financial year  2021/22 New Zealand provides humanitarian 
support through many channels, 
including grants (including 
un-earmarked core funding and 
funding earmarked at the country 
level), deployable technical as sistance, 
relief supplies, and early recovery 
projects through in -country partners 
such as non -government organisations.  
  
In 20 21/22, New Zealand's core 
funding to multilateral agencies  (WFP, 
CGIAR - Consultative Group on 
International Agricultural Research , 
and IFAD ) amounted to 
NZD 11,000,000. Emeregency food aid 
in response to appeals included  
NZD 7,400,000 through international 
organizations and the grant 
contribuctions  may have included 
food aid.  All financial support for food 
aid was in full grant form.  New Zealand provided a total of 
NZD 23,793,121  and NZD  1,000,000  in 
technical and financial assistance in the Pacific 
and African region s respectively,  through the 
global/regional channels. Under the bilateral 
channels, New Zealand provided 
NZD 5,045,627  to Pacific countries, 
NZD 15,025,300  to Asia and NZD  3,179,265  to 
Africa and Americas.  The New Zealand Aid 
Programme funds 
scholarships and Short -Term 
Training Awards to students 
from developing countries 
who wish to study at New 
Zealand institutions. It also 
provides support to the 
University of the South Pacific 
in Suva, Fiji.  
 
In addition, New  Zealand 
diplomatic posts supply 
information relevant to 
accessing the New Zealand 
market to developing country 
exporters.    
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 26 - Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and NFIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
Norway  G/AG/N/NOR/1 18 
(27 September 2021 ) 
covering the calendar 
year 2020 Norway provides food aid in the form of 
economic assistance through 
organizations such as WFP that 
includes long term development 
programmes as well as emergency 
relief aid.  Norway 's total contribution to 
food aid amounted to NOK  2,153 
million in 2020 .  All food aid was provided in 
fully grant form.  Norwegian development assistance included:  
a) 934 million channelled through the World 
Food Programme which included 
NOK 300 million as 'core contribution' and 
NOK 634 million towards 'multi -bilateral 
support'. Of the multi -bilateral support, 
275.3  million is directed to LDCs.  
b) As a part of long -term d evelopment 
programmes, Norwegian bilateral aid to 
selected DAC sectors (e.g. agriculture, fishing) 
and partners amounted to around 
NOK 1,183 million  (including aid channelled 
through the WFP) and NOK 1,057 million 
(excluding aid channelled through the WFP)  
c) Bilateral food -related emergency relief aid to 
LDCs (including bilateral and mult -bilateral 
assistance) amounted to around 
NOK 336 million . 224 million  of the 
multi-bilateral aid to LDCs is channelled 
through the World Food Programme.  - 
Russian 
Federation  G/AG/N/RUS/ 36/Rev.1  
(27 September 2022  ) 
covering the calendar  year 
2021 Russia provided or financed food aid 
worth USD  14 million to LDCs, 
USD 4 million to NFIDCs and 
USD 22 million to other countries. The 
food aid was channelled through 
the WFP. All food aid was provided in 
fully grant form.  
 - - 
South Africa  G/AG/N/ZAF/ 104 
(15 September 2021 ) 
covering the calendar 
year 2017 - - South Africa provided:  
- ZAR 7 million to the WFP for Humanitarian 
Assistance in the Republic of Somalia;  
- ZAR 8 million to the WFP for Humanitarian 
Assistance in the Republic of Sierra Leone; and  
- ZAR 8 million to the WFP for Humanitarian 
Assistance in  the aftermath of Hurricane Irma 
and Maria in the Caribbean Islands.  
- ZAR 3 million to FAO in response to 
emergency appeal to address continental food 
insecurity challenge in Africa; and   
-ZAR 10.98 million through the African 
Agricultural Development Programme (AADP) 
for technical assistance for the purpose of 
Dairy Production in Mozambique, Zambia and 
Malawi.  -   
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 27 - Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and NFIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
Switzerland  G/AG/N/CHE/ 118 
(8 August  2022) covering the 
calendar year 20 21 Food assistance consists of cash 
transfers for food aid distribution 
programmes and, in a few isolated 
cases, of cash transfers related to the 
purchase of dairy products of Swiss 
origin .6 Food assistance is 
complemented by Switzerland's global 
advocacy efforts and its commitment to 
tackling the root causes of hunger, for 
example through support to 
agricultural research, promotion of 
small -scale farmers and reduction of 
post-harvest losses . 
 
In the area of food assistance, 
Switzerland works in close partnership 
with international organizations, in 
particular the World Food Programme 
(WFP). In 20 21, it contributed to 
approximately in the area of food 
CHF 75.2 million to the WFP.  
 
Food aid is not allocated on the basis of 
the criteria of LDCs or NFIDCs. Swiss 
funds for food assistance operations 
are instead allocated in accordance 
with the following criteria: needs 
(populations affected, urgency and lack 
of funds), potential synergies with 
other Swiss programmes, or the 
presence of a Swiss cooperation office.  
For details of funds allocated to LDCs 
and NFIDCs for food and nutritional 
assistance, please refer to the 
notification.  All food aid was provided on 
fully grant terms.  Switzerland's offici al development 
assistance  (ODA) amounted to CHF 3. 59 billion 
in 2021. Through its development aid, 
Switzerland supports the work of developing 
countries with a view to improving the 
standard of living of their people, strengthening 
their capacity to assume  greater responsibility 
and ensuring their development by their own 
means.  
 
The SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and 
Cooperation) is responsible for the general 
coordination of technical and financial for 
developing countries. .  
The SECO (Economic Cooperation and 
Development Division of the State Secretariat 
for Economic Affairs)  implements the economic 
and trade policy measures related to 
development cooperation with middle -income 
countries in particular. Through cooperation 
with countries in transition, the SDC and SECO 
both lend their support to a sustainable 
transition towards  democracy and the market 
economy.  
Swiss humanitarian aid and emergency 
assistance by the SDC takes a number of 
forms: the mobilization of specialists from the 
Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) and other 
crisis units; the distribution of food aid through 
Swiss relief agencies and the World Food 
Programme (WFP); and the granting of 
financial support to International Committee of 
the Red Cross (ICRC) activities and UN 
humanitarian organizations. The SDC also 
supports non -governmental humanitarian 
organization s working in the field.  - 
 
6 Switzerland has been a contracting party to the Food Assistance Convention  (FAC) since 2012 . As of 2022, Swiss financial contributions are no longer linked to the 
purchase of products in Switzerland.    
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 28 - Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and NFIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
United 
Kingdom  G/AG/N/GBR/107 (8 March 
2022) covering calendar year 
2021 The UK primarily provides food aid 
assistance through grant form and 
does not donate actual food products .  All UK funding for food 
assistance is provided as 
untied cash -based support 
to the UN World Food 
Programme (WFP) and other 
partners  including United 
Nations Development 
Programme, CARE 
International, International 
Committee of the Red Cross 
and the United Nations 
Children’s Fund . Funding is 
provided fully in grant form.   
The UK Foreign, 
Commonwealth and 
Development Office (FCDO) 
is responsible for 
administering the majority 
of the UK Overseas 
Development Aid (ODA) 
budget  ,with the aim to 
reduce poverty, limit the 
impact of humanit arian 
crises and lead in the fight 
against climate change.8 All financial assistance provided by the UK is in 
grant form.  In 2021 calendar year, the UK 
spent a total of GBP 119,097,959  on 
emergency food ai d for LDCs and NFIDCs    
covering  provision and dis tribution of food; 
logistical costs; cash and vouchers for the 
purchase of food; non -medical nutritional 
interventions for the benefit of crisis -affected 
people, including refugees and internally 
displaced people in developing countries in 
emergency situat ions. In addition , GBP 
8,706,334 of spend was provided for Food Aid 
and Food Security Programmes  which  covers 
supply of edible human food under national or 
international programmes including transport 
costs, cash payments made for food supplies; 
project fo od assistance aid and food assistance 
aid for market sales.  
 
The proportion of th e amounts that were spent 
for food and nutrition purposes cannot be 
calculated with certainty due to the broad remit 
of UK food aid partners. For total UK funds 
allocated for Food aid and food security 
programmes and Emergency food aid to LDC 
and NFIDCs in 2021 by beneficiary country 
please refer to the notificaiotn.  - 
 
7 The United Kingdom notes in its notification that " the data provided in this NF:1 notification is provision al as the United Kingdom (UK) is awaiting the finalised publication 
of the official Statistics on International Development data later in 2022."  
8 Food assistance provided by the Government of Jersey is channeled through Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA). The Overseas Aid & Devel opment Commission (part of the States 
of Guernsey) funds agricultural projects in the developing world through Grant Aid Awards to  charities (registered with one of the Charity Commissions of Great Britain) working 
overseas.    
  G/AG/W/42/Rev.23  
 
- 29 - Member  Latest Notification  Quantity of food aid provided to 
LDCs and NFIDCs  Indication of the 
proportion in fully grant 
form or appropriate 
concessional terms  Technical and financial assistance under 
Paragraph 3(iii) of the Decision  Other relevant information 
with respect to actions 
taken within the 
framework of the Decision  
1 2 3 4 5 6 
United States 
of America  G/AG/N/USA/1 60 
(1 December 2021 ) covering 
the fiscal year 20 20 The total quantity of food assistance 
provided to LDCs and NFIDCs was 
1,361,744  tonnes9. 
For a breakdown of food aid 
commodities, please refer to the 
notification.  Food assistance under 
Title II, Food for Progress, 
and Food for Education 
programs was provided in 
fully grant form.  The following measures were reported10: 
a) U.S. Department of State assistance to 
agriculture amounting to USD  786,096 ,000 
that included expenditures on crop production, 
livestock production, resource management, 
infrastructur e, policies and planning, training 
and extension, and agribusiness credit;  
b) The Department of Agriculture allocated 
USD 1,590,000 , USD  2,800,000 , and 
USD 5,625,979 to the Borlaug Fellowship 
Program, the Cochran Fellowship Program and 
the Emerging Markets  Program respectively.  
c) U.S. contributions to multilateral 
organizations with an agricultural emphasis 
(e.g. UNDP, FAO, WFP) amounted to 
USD 4,165,601,439   
d) Peace Corps funds to support agricultural 
volunteers amounting to USD  10,307,500 , 
(LDC share equalling USD  8,800,500 and 
USD 1,507,000 for the NFIDCs). Volunteers 
provide technical assistance, inter alia , to 
produce agricultural products and by -products, 
increase agricultural productivity, safely use 
agricultural chemeicals , and process, sto re or 
market agricultural goods and by -products.  
e) Value of food assistance used in 
development programmes amounted to 
USD 688,614,908 . The amount represents the 
USD value of the commodities donated under 
Title II, Food for Progress, and Food for 
Educatio n food aid programs that were 
monetized. The amount includes 
USD 297 million of Title II funds; 91%.  of 
Title II developmen programmes were in LDCs 
and NFIDCs.  WTO developing countries, 
LDCs and NFIDCs benefited 
from the U.S. Government 
officially -supporte d export 
credit guarantee programs 
worth USD  2,117,800,833 . 
Note:   Based on the latest Table NF: 1 notification s circulated  by Members  up to 11 November  2022. 
 
__________  
 
9 Includes some regional groups, within which is a least -developed or net food -importing country.  
10 All of the figures reported represent budgetary obligations or estimates for the reporting period.