G/SPS/GEN/1653  
 
12 October  2018 
(18-6335) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
 
UPDATE ON THE STANDA RDS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT FA CILITY  
NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT1 
This document provides a brief update on the activities and projects of the Standards and Trade 
Development Facility (STDF) since the last update to the meeting of the SPS Committee in July 2018 
(G/SPS/GEN/162 7). Delegates  who would like to know more about the STDF are encouraged to visit 
the STDF website to view the projects and download STDF briefing notes and publications.2 
Delegates are also encouraged to subscribe to the STDF mailing list 
(http://www.standardsfacility.org ). 
1  FACILITATING SAFE  TRADE  
1.1.  The Secretariat shared lessons and experiences from STDF's work  on reducing  SPS procedura l 
obstacles at borders and facilitating  safe and efficient trade  during the SPS Committee workshop on 
SPS Control, Inspection and A pproval  Procedures on 9-10 July 2018. On that occasion, t he STDF 
also issued a new briefing note on "Facilitating safe trade:  protecting he alth, reduci ng SPS trade 
costs".3 
1.2.  The Secretariat continues to share information on its trade facilitation work in different fora, 
including meetings of STDF partners and other relevant organizations . The STDF initiated the 
organization of a regional workshop for government officials from selected SADC countries on  Border 
Agency Cooperation  on 14-16 November 2018 . Organizations participating include FAO, OIE, World 
Bank Group , World Customs Organizations and the WTO, as well as the Codex and  IPPC Secretariats. 
The workshop will aim to raise awareness on the linkages between the TFA and SPS Agreement  and 
explore ways in which coordinating border clearance processes can facilitate trade, while 
ensuring/reinforcing human, animal or plant life an d health. Specific attention will be given to 
improving cooperation among border agencies in transit countries.  
2  PRIORITIZING SPS INV ESTMENTS FOR MARKET ACCESS: P -IMA 
2.1.  Work in the STDF continues on STDF's P -IMA framework, which offers an evidence -based 
appro ach to inform and improve SPS planning and decision -making processes.4 Two P -IMA focused 
PPGs are ongoing in Tajikistan (STDF/PPG/561)5 and Madagascar (STDF /PPG/575) .6 In addition, in 
September 2018 the STDF started a project to help selected COMESA members states in  using  the 
P-IMA framework to mainstream SPS investments into agriculture, trade and environment planning 
and financing frameworks , including the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Plan 
(CAADP ) (STDF/PG/606).7 This STDF  project will be implemented in partnership with the Enhanced 
Integrated Framework (EIF) . 
                                                
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: http://www.standardsf acility.org/ . 
3 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/Briefing_Facilitating_safe_trade.pdf . 
4 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/prioritizing -sps-investments -market -access -p-ima. 
5 See: http://www.st andardsfacility.org/PPG -561. 
6 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/PPG -575. 
7 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/PG -606. G/SPS/GEN/1653  
 
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  3  GOOD REGULATORY PRAC TICES  
3.1.  The STDF continued  its work on Good Regulatory Practices (GRP) to analyse how GRP can 
improve the quality and effectiveness of SPS m easures in develop ing countries . The main objective 
of this work is to bring the subject of GRP (in an easily understandable form) to the attention of 
policy -makers and staff of SPS regulatory authorities in developing countries, as well as t he private 
sector. An internatio nal consultant  was contracted and is currently working on a study on GRP in the 
SPS area, based on desk research, key informant interviews and analysis. A small peer review group 
– comprised of interested STDF partners and other relevant/int erested organizations – was created 
to review and comment on the work produced by the consultant . 
3.2.  An STDF  briefing note on the use of GRPs to improve the development, implementation and/or 
periodic review of SPS mea sures and regulatory frameworks is also e nvisaged in due course.  More 
information on this work is available on the STDF website.8 
4  EVALUATION: LEARNING  LESSONS FROM STDF PR OJECTS  
4.1.  An independent meta -evaluation of STDF projects w as published in July 2018.9 The study 
shows that in terms of performan ce STDF projects score highly on relevance, effectiveness, 
efficiency. Sector development projects demonstrate greater contribution to impact and 
sustainability than technical assistance and instituti on building projects, since sector development 
projects can work with various stakeholders through the whole value chain and, importantly, reach 
out directly to small producers. Technical assistance and institution building projects may be more 
appropriate for testing tools and approaches in multi -country setti ngs, but have to be designed 
carefull y to be able to demonstrate contribution s to impact or sustai nable results.  
4.2.  The STDF partnership is reviewed every five years by  an independent evaluator. 
On 1 September 2018, the STDF initiated a c omprehensive external  evaluation, conducted by  
Nathan Associates ( https://www.nathaninc.com/ ). The evaluation is assess ing the impact and the 
results achieved by the STDF over the p eriod 2014-2018 and identify ing experiences and lessons 
learned . The evaluation will  also include recommendations to inform the development of a new 
strategy for the STDF for 2020  and beyond . The evaluation is scheduled to be completed by 1 March 
2019. The final report will be circulated to the SPS Committee.  
5  LIBRARY  
5.1.  The STDF Library10 is an online information repository providing quick and easy online access 
to a variety of information resources focused on SPS technical cooperation and capacity building. 
Delegates  are encouraged to submit relevant documents to the Secretariat 
(STDFSecretariat@wto .org) for inclusion in the Library , including: project documents and final 
reports, training materials, project evaluations/reviews, SPS capacity needs assessments, cost -
benefit analyses, case studies, relevant research papers , and other articles on SPS ca pacity building. 
The Library complements and includes links to other information systems and databases developed 
and maintained by STDF partners, donors and other organizations.  
6  PROJECT DEVELOPMENT  
6.1.  The STDF provides advice and support to applicants on issu es 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 r equested to: (i) apply SPS capacity eval uation 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 projec t proposals for 
funding by donors and/or the STDF.  
6.2.  A total of 92 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.11 
                                                
8 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/good -regulatory -practice . 
9 See: http://www.standardsfacility. org/sites/default/files/STDF_Meta -evaluation_EN.pdf . 
10 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/library . 
11 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectpreparationgrants . G/SPS/GEN/1653  
 
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  7  PROJECT IMPLEMENTATI ON 
7.1.  Project g rant (PG) financing for projects is also available from the STDF. Favourable 
consideration is given to projects that: (i) ide ntify, develop and disseminate  good practice in 
SPS-related technical cooperation, including the development and application of innov ative an d 
replicable approaches;  (ii) apply regional approa ches to address SPS constraints ; and/or 
(iii) implement collaborative approaches across food safety, animal and plant health and trade.  
7.2.  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.  
7.3.  A total of 89 projects  have been approved for STDF funding since its inception. Information 
on on -going and completed project s is available on the STDF website.12 
7.4.  Since its inception, the STDF has devoted 66% of its project and PPG resources to LDCs and 
other low income countries (OL ICs). The STDF continues to meet its target to devote at least 40% 
of its project and PPG resource s to LDCs and OLICs. In particular, the allocation of PPG resources to 
LDCs and OLICs remains high (i.e . 75% of the overall budget for PPGs).  
7.5.  Forty-nine per cent of the number of STDF projects and PPGs has gone to Africa, 24% to Asia -
Pacific, 15% to Latin America and the Caribbean, and 2% to other regions (the Middle East and 
Europe). In addition, 10% of the STDF projects and PPGs are classified as global.  
7.6.  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 in order to be considered at that 
meeting. The next deadline for the submission of applications is 14 December  2018 . 
Further  information on eligibility criteria, application forms, etc. is available on the STDF website.  
RECOMMENDED STEPS TO FOLLOW WHEN SEEKING PG OR PPG FUNDING 
OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE STDF:  
1. Browse the webpages for information (aims, eligi bility criteria, etc.) on: 
• PPGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/project -preparation -grants  
• PGs: http://www.standar dsfacility.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:  
http://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDFGuidanceNote_English_FINAL_2015.pdf  
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 out 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/fil es/PGApplicationForm_English_FINAL_2015.doc  
 
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12 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants .