G/SPS/GEN/1843  
 
16 October 2020 
(20-7149) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
 
 
UPDATE ON THE STANDARDS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
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 June 2020. 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  (at the bottom of the STDF homepage) 
to receive regular up dates on STDF work  (see: http://www.standardsfacility.org ). 
1  IMPLEMENTING STDF 'S NEW  STRATEGY  (2020 -2024)  
1.1.  The new STDF Strategy (2020 -2024)2 "Safe and Inclusive Trade Horizons for Developing 
Countries ", launched in January this year, consolidate s and build s on STDF 's strengths and 
performance , and aims to further develop the partnership and expand its reach and resources. In the 
coming years, the STDF will further strengthen  its role as a global platform for dialogue and learning 
on SPS capacity development.  The STDF will also continue to finance the development and 
implementation of collaborative  and innovative SPS projects , with the potential to influence and 
catalyse SPS improvements.  
1.2.  On 13 October 2020, the STDF Working Group discussed the impact of the COVID -19 pandemic 
on STDF's operations, including the risks faced and the mitigation measures taken across STDF's 
global p latform, knowledge work and project portfolio since the March 2020. The Secretariat will 
provide a further update on its COVID -19 webpage shortly.3 
1.2  Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning  
1.3.  On 13 October 2020, the STDF Working Group adopted a new Monitoring, Ev aluation and 
Learning (MEL) Framework to accompany the Strategy. The MEL F ramework provides a results -
based management approach  to track progress in achieving results  and provide feedback on the 
management of the Facility . It will strengthen planning, impl ementation, monitoring, evaluation and 
reporting, and will also help to identify and integrate key experiences and lessons into new STDF 
work. Simple web -based surveys  will be used to elicit targeted data to help assess the results 
achieved by the STDF at the programme goal, outcome, and output level. This may also  include 
surveys of SPS Committee delegates  to collect qualitative data on the results and impacts of STDF 's 
work. The new MEL Framework will be available shortly on the STDF website.4 
1.3  Communicating results  
1.4.  On 13 October 2020, the STDF Working Group also updated the STDF's  Communications 
(COMMS) Plan  to support the delivery of the new STDF Strategy  and the accompanying MEL 
Framework. The  Plan provides an overview of key communications areas for the STDF including 
 
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 See: https://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_Strategy_2020 -2024.pdf . 
3 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/stdf -partnership -updates -covid-19. 
4 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/ key-documents . G/SPS/GEN/1843  
 
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  objective and audience, products and channels, resourcing, monitoring evaluation and learning. The 
updated COMMS Plan will also be availab le shortly on t he STDF website.5 
2  STDF KNOWLDEGE PLATFORM  
2.1.  The STDF continue d its work on the selected cross-cutting thematic topics  below , with the aim 
to identify and promote good practices and improve SPS capacity development outcomes. This work 
is taking place in virtual practitioner groups, which convene interested STDF founding and other 
partners, donors and SPS experts from developing countries.  Each topic has its own dedicated STDF 
webpage.  
2.2  Prioritizing SPS Investments for Market Access: P -IMA 
2.2.  The P-IMA framework  is an evidence -based approach to help inform and improve SPS planning 
and decision making, and m obilize public, private and/or donor resou rces for SPS investments.  The 
framework is being applied in several developing countries through project and project preparation 
grants (PPGs) . The Secretariat also initiated a review and update of the P -IMA user guide  to improve 
its practicality and user -friendliness , and to allow for virtual training on the P -IMA framework.  
2.3.  Delegates who would like to know more about - or benefit from - application of the P -IMA tool 
can visit the STDF website6 or contact Mrs Roshan Khan in the STDF Secretariat 
(roshan.khan@wto.org ). 
2.3  Public Private Partnership  (PPP)  
2.4.  Building on previous  STDF work on PPPs , the Secretariat continued to identify, collect and 
compile new ex amples of PPPs in the area of SPS capacity (across food safety, animal health and/or 
plant health ) to facilitate safe trade. To help collect additional PPP examples  the Secretariat issued 
a call for case stories in English, French and Spanish.7 The Secretariat encourage s SPS delegates to 
share PPP examples and further distribute this survey with their respective networks . 
2.5.  Earlier this year, the Secretariat had issued a survey on existing and/or planned regulatory 
frameworks and practices related to voluntary third -party assurance (vTPA) programmes (including  
quality management systems, assurance schemes or certification programmes) in food and feed 
safety , in cooperation with IICA and UNIDO . The Secretariat will pro vide more information on this 
STDF/UNIDO/IICA work during the SPS Committee Thematic Session on Voluntary Third -Party 
Assurance as part of National SPS Control Systems on 3 November 2020.  
2.6.  On 9 June 2020 , the STDF in collaboration with UNIDO organized an on line global discussion 
on vTPA programmes and the importance of accreditation.  More than 230 participants worldwide 
joined the webinar . Key questions focused on the potential of vTPA approaches to respond to the 
new challenges posed by COVID -19, opportunities to increase trust across the public and private 
sector s, and key experiences from countries that are  using vTPA approach es were discussed .8 
2.7.  Delegates who would like to know more about STDF's PPP work can visit the STDF website or 
contact Mrs  Marlynne Hopper in the STDF Secretariat ( marlynne.hopper@wto.org ). 
2.4  Good Regulatory Practice  
2.8.  STDF's work on the use of Good Regulatory Practice (GRP)  aims to provide guidance and 
develop a practical checklist for developing countries to ensure that SPS measures are "fit for 
purpose" and avoid the creation of non -tariff barriers. This work seeks to identify good practices and 
recommendations to enhance the development and implementation of SP S measures in order to: 
(i) strengthen the effectiveness of regulatory interventions; (ii) improve compliance with 
 
5 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/key -documents . 
6 See: https://www.sta ndardsfacility.org/prioritizing -sps-investments -market -access -p-ima. 
7 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/public -private -partnerships . 
8 See: https://www.unido.org/news/partnering -improve -food-safety -outcom es-accreditation -and-role-
vtpa-programmes . G/SPS/GEN/1843  
 
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  international standards and the SPS Agreement; and (iii) ensure health protection while facilitating 
trade.  The Secretariat  aims to present t his work on the margins of a Committee meeting in 2021 . 
2.9.  Delegates who would like to know more about STDF's GRP work can visit the STDF website9 or 
contact Mrs Marlynne Hopper in the STDF Secretariat ( marlynne .hopper@wto.org ). 
2.5  Electronic SPS certification  
2.10.   The STDF continued its work on promoting and supporting the transition in developing 
countries to paperless SPS systems, which can improve traceability throughout SPS supply chains, 
lower food waste, cut trade times and costs, and help to build trust among trading partners. 
Particularly, STDF's work is focuse d on increasing the use of electronic SPS certificates (SPS e-cert), 
includin g through innovative and collaborative projects  with the IPPC, OIE and other partners .10 On 
23 September 2020, the STDF organized a webinar, attended by 260 participants, to showcase the 
results of the STDF -funded ePhyto project and discuss next steps in s caling up the ePhyto solution.11 
The Secretariat also continued to convene the eCert Advisory Committee (ECAC), which saw a 
keynote presentation from the European Commission on the newly established connection between 
the ePhyto system and the EU Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES).  
2.11.   Delegates who would like to know more about STDF's work on SPS  eCert can visit the STDF 
website or contact Mr  Simon Padilla in the STDF Secretariat ( simon.padilla@wto.or g). 
3  PROJECT DEVELOPMENT  
3.1.  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 technically sound and sustainable 
project proposals. PPGs can be requested to: (i) apply SPS capacity evaluation and prioritization 
tools; (ii) prepare feasibility studies before project development to assess the potential impact and 
economic viability of proposals in terms of costs and benefits; and (iii) develop project proposals for 
funding by donors and/or the STDF.  
3.2.  A total of 108 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.  
4  PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION  
4.1.  Project Grant (PG) financing for projects is also available from the STDF. Favourable 
consideration 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 constraints; 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 assets ). 
4.2.  A total of 102 projects  have been approved  for STDF funding since its inception. Information 
on on -going and completed projects is available on the STDF website.  
4.3.  Since its inception, the STDF has devoted 66% 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. 69% of the overall budget for PPGs).  
4.4.  48% of the number of STDF proje cts and PPGs has gone to Africa, 25% to Asia -Pacific, 16% to 
Latin America -Caribbean, and 2% to other regions (Middle East and Europe). In addition, 9% of the 
STDF projects and PPGs are classified as global.  
 
9 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/good -regulatory -practice . 
10 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/SPS -eCert. 
11 See: https://standardsfacility.org/ephyto -webinar . G/SPS/GEN/1843  
 
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  5  HOW TO APPLY FOR FUNDING?  
5.1.  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 for the submission of applications is 25 Decembe r 2020 . 
5.2.  The STDF launch ed a new online application system which replace d the traditional form of 
receiving grant proposals via email . Further information on the system, eligibility criteria, etc. is 
available on the STDF website.  
RECOMMENDED STEPS TO FOLLO W 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. Carefully read the guidance note for applicants:  
https://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDFGuidan ceNote2020.docx   
4. Consult relevant stakeholders 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 ). 
6. Fill o ut an application form and submit it electronically 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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