G/SPS/GEN/1558  
 
28 June 2017  
(17-3456) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
UPDATE ON THE OPERAT ION OF THE STANDARDS  AND 
TRADE DEVELOPMENT FA CILITY  
NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT1 
1  OVERVIEW  
1.1.  The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) is a global partnership that supports 
developing countries to implement international food safety,  animal and plant health standards, 
guidelines and requirements, and improve their ability to gain and maintain market access. The 
STDF acts as a coordination and knowledge platform. It identifies and disseminates good practice, 
leverages resources and wor ks on coordinated, coherent solutions to enhance SPS capacity 
building. The STDF also provides support and funding for the development and implementation of 
collaborative and innovative SPS projects.  
1.2.  The STDF was established by the Food and Agriculture Org anization of the United Nations 
(FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the World Bank, the World Health 
Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), which houses and manages the 
STDF Secretariat and Trust Fund. Many other orga nizations involved in SPS -related technical 
cooperation, donors contributing to the STDF trust fund, and developing country experts, 
participate actively in STDF's work. This also includes the Secretariats of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission and the Inter national Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).  
1.3.  This document provides a brief update on STDF activities and projects since the last meeting 
of the SPS Committee in March 2017. Delegates who would like to know more about the STDF are 
encouraged to visit the S TDF website to view the projects and download STDF briefing notes and 
publications. Delegates can also subscribe to the STDF mailing list 
(http://www.standardsfacility.org ). 
1.4.  The next STDF Working Group meet ing will be held on 30-31 October 2017 . 
2  STDF 2016 ANNUAL REP ORT 
2.1.  The STDF recently published its 2016 Annual Report, which illustrates how the STDF 
continues to deliver collaborative solutions in SPS capacity building to support developing countries 
and con tribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The full scope of 2016 activities 
highlights STDF 's strong convening power, its role as a leading knowledge hub and how the 
partnership is able to leverage wider resources and networks. Highlights inc lude: 
 Highly rated Working Group in March and October with 40+ partners, donors, developing 
country experts and other organizations as part of STDF's leading knowledge platform;  
 New STDF film "Cocoa: a sweet value chain", on how to keep the cocoa value cha in safe, 
premiered at the World Cocoa Conference and used in training events worldwide;  
 Seminar on good practices in e -certification for 150 representatives from WTO Members, 
international organizations, industry and global business, building on trade faci litation 
work;  
 Outreach and training sessions on P -IMA with SPS delegates, generating positive 
feedback and high interest in using the framework, including in developing project 
applications in 2017;  
                                                
1 This do cument 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/SPS/GEN/1558  
 
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   EIF/STDF study and briefing note shared on supporting Le ast Developed Countries to 
analyse SPS issues in Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies and identify capacity building 
needs;  
 New STDF briefing note published on "Women in SPS capacity building" highlighting how 
STDF projects and knowledge tools focus on sup porting women farmers, producers and 
traders;  
 22 SPS capacity building projects from Africa, Asia -Pacific and Latin America and the 
Caribbean at various stages of implementation;  
 STDF Secretariat participated in over 55 events worldwide, reaching more than  
3,800  public and private sector stakeholders with an interest in SPS issues, promoting 
dialogue and knowledge transfer.  
3  TRANSITIONING FROM P APER -BASED TO AUTOMATED S PS SYSTEMS  
3.1.  As part of the 6th Aid for Trade Global Review, the STDF will organise an infor mation session, 
on the current state of play in SPS e -cert and its role in facilitating safe trade, as well as the 
potential of the Internet of Things to transform how SPS risks are managed within supply chains. 
The objective of the session is to have an i nformed dialogue on the use of new technologies in the 
context of SPS compliance and trade, identify best practices, and consider challenges and 
opportunities for future action to support developing countries, to benefit from new technologies.  
3.2.  The session will be held on 12 July  from 15:30 to 17:00 (Room W)  - on the margins of the 
SPS Committee. Delegates are highly encouraged to attend. More information on the program and 
speakers is available on the STDF website.2 
4  BRIEFING NOTES AND R ESULTS STORIES  
4.1.  As par t of its role to share available know -how and SPS -related good practice, the STDF 
regularly issues briefing notes on issues of interest. Earlier this year, a briefing note entitled 
"Partnering with the private sector: delivering SPS outcomes" was issued. T he note examines how 
STDF projects are improving the private sector's capacity to implement SPS measures and take 
advantage of trade opportunities.3 
4.2.  A briefing note on SPS e -Cert is being prepared for distribution at the Global Aid for Trade 
Review (see ab ove) and SPS Committee. Recently, the STDF also issued a background paper to 
provide practitioners in the SPS area involved in trade transactions with basic information on the 
concept of paperless trade, the role of SPS e -cert, and how it relates to other trade procedures.4 
4.3.  The STDF continues to prepare and issue project results stories under the title "Driving SPS 
capacity, delivering results", highlighting the results and impacts of STDF projects on the ground in 
Africa, Asia and Latin America.5 
5  JOINT EIF /STDF ANALYSIS  
5.1.  The STDF and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)6 recently finalized and published a 
joint study that analyses the coverage of SPS issues in EIF Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies 
(DTIS) and identifies good practice for future studies and their implementation. The study makes 
practical and strategic recommendations to improve the analysis on SPS issues in the DTIS 
process, enhance capacity to implement SPS -related actions and to promote synergies between 
EIF and STDF -related processes. This includes recommendations to make better use of relevant 
SPS-related capacity evaluation tools and to consider ways to actively engage SPS agencies and 
ministries at national level as well as international organizations (such as FAO, OIE and IPPC) in 
the DTIS process.  
                                                
2 See: http://www.st andardsfacility.org/A4T_Review_2017 . 
3 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/partnering -private -sector . 
4 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/SPS_Ecert_Backgroundpaper.pdf . 
5 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/stdf -results -series . 
6 The EIF  is a trade capacity building programme for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). For more 
information, see: http://www.enhancedif.org/en/about/how -does-it-work. G/SPS/GEN/1558  
 
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  5.2.  The final study, as well as a short EIF/STDF briefing note highlighting the scope, findings and 
recommendations of this joint work, is available on the STDF website.7 A joint EIF/STDF 
presentation on this work was held at the EIF Steering Committee in May 2017.  
6  PRIORITIZING SPS INV ESTMENTS FOR MARKET ACCESS (P -IMA)  
6.1.  STDF's user guide "Prioritizing SPS Investments for Market Access (P -IMA): A framework to 
inform and improve SPS decision -making processes" was published in 2016. To date, the 
framework has been used to prioritize SPS investment options in a number of developing countries 
that differ considerably in the scale and diversity of their food and agricultural exports, and the 
range and magnitude of SPS capacity -building needs.8 The expe riences highlight several benefits, 
for instance to facilitate public -private dialogue on SPS matters, increase political awareness about 
the benefits of strengthening SPS capacity, inform and improve national SPS planning and 
decision -making processes, su pport project design and leverage additional funding resources.  
6.2.  In March 2017, the STDF Working Group approved a request from Madagascar to apply the 
P-IMA framework and prioritize SPS investment needs in key value chains with export potential. 
Regional tr ade bodies such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) 
have also expressed a strong interest in the framework.  
6.3.  The P -IMA user guide, as well as a short briefing note, is available for download on the 
STDF  website.9 Delegates from dev eloping countries who would like to have more information on 
how to use and benefit from the P -IMA framework are encouraged to contact the STDF Secretariat.  
7  VIRTUAL LIBRARY AND YOUTUBE  
7.1.  The STDF Virtual 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. Countries are encouraged to submit relevant documents to the Secretariat 
(STDFSec retariat@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 articl es on SPS capacity 
building. The Library complements and includes links to other information systems and databases 
developed and maintained by STDF partners, donors and other organizations.  
7.2.  STDF's YouTube channel includes links to all STDF films such as "S afe Trade Solutions" and 
"Cocoa: a sweet value chain". It also includes links to many other relevant SPS films.  
8  PROJECT DEVELOPMENT  
8.1.  The STDF provides advice and support to applicants on issues related to SPS project 
development and finances project prepara tion 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.  
8.2.  A total of 86 P PGs 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 In March 2017, 
the STDF Working Group approved five new PPGs (see table 1). Depending on financial resources 
available in the STDF trust fund, the STDF Working Group may approve additional PPGs for funding 
at its next meeting in October 2017.  
                                                
7 See http://www.standardsfacility.org/sps -in-dtis. 
8 Belize, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Uganda, Viet Nam and Zambia.  
9 See: http://www. standardsfacility.org/p -ima. 
10 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/library . 
11 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/proje ctpreparationgrants . G/SPS/GEN/1558  
 
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  Table 1: PPGs approved in March 2017  
Number  Title of PPG  STDF funding 
(US$)  
STDF/PPG/498  Application of the IPPC Phytosani tary Capacity Evaluation Tool 
in the Republic of Guinea  50,000  
STDF/PPG/566  Improving post -harvest practices to reduce aflatoxin 
contamination in maize in Burkina Faso  47,500  
STDF/PPG/575  Prioritization of SPS investments for market access and value 
chains in Madagascar  50,000  
STDF/PPG/576  Feasibility study for value addition in the fruit and vegetable 
sector of Sri Lanka  49,500  
STDF/PPG/593  Improving the safety and quality of Penja pepper in Cameroon  34,460  
 
9  PROJECT IMPLEMENTATI ON 
9.1.  Grant financing for  projects is also available from the STDF. Favourable consideration is given 
to projects that: (i) identify, develop and dissemination good practice in SPS -related technical 
cooperation, including the development and application of innovative and replicabl e approaches; 
(ii) apply regional approaches to address SPS constraints; and/or (iii) implement collaborative 
approaches across food safety, animal and plant health and trade.  
9.2.  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.  
9.3.  A total of 80 projects  have been approved for STDF funding since its inception. Information 
on on -going and completed PGs is available o n the STDF website.12 In March 2017, the STDF 
Working Group approved four new projects (see table 2). Depending on financial resources 
available in the STDF trust fund, the STDF Working Group may approve additional projects for 
funding at its next meeting i n October 2017.  
Table 2: Projects approved in March 2017  
Number  Title of PPG  STDF funding 
(US$)  
STDF/PG/447  Enabling market access of agricultural products in Tajikistan  786,121  
STDF/PG/477  Improving sanitary capacity and facilitating export trade of 
livestock and livestock products from Ethiopia  795,450  
STDF/PG/503  Implementing a systems approach in pest risk management 
and market access negotiations (Beyond Compliance Global)  580,474  
STDF/PG/578  Creation of an online system for inspection, control an d 
supervision of establishments that produce food of animal 
origin (Costa Rica)  91,951  
 
9.4.  Since its inception, the STDF has devoted 66% of its project and PPG resources to LDCs and 
other low income countries (OLICs), as shown below in Figure 1. The STDF con tinues 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. 75% of the overall budget for 
PPGs).  
                                                
12 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants . G/SPS/GEN/1558  
 
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  Figure 1: STDF projects and PPGs ( US$)  Figure 2: STDF Projects and PPGs (number)  
       
  
9.5.  Figure 2 above indicates that 49% of the number of STDF projects and PPGs has gone to 
Sub-Saharan Africa, 23% to Asia, and 16% to Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, 
10% of STDF projects an d PPGs are classified as global.  
9.6.  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 th e submission of applications is 4 August 2017 . 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 our PPG http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectpreparationgrants  and PG 
http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants  webpag es for examples of previous 
projects.  
2. Carefully read our guidance note for applicants:  
http://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDFGuidanceNot e_English_FINAL_2015.pdf  
3. Consult relevant stakeholders in the country/region.  
4. Send us a brief concept note of your potential project for feedback on eligibility and 
likelihood of funding ( STDFSecretariat@wto.or g). 
5. Fill out an application form  and submit it electronically before the deadline :  
 PPGs: 
http://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/PPGApplica tionForm_English_FINAL_201
5.doc  
 PGs: 
http://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/PGApplicationForm_English_FINAL_2015.
doc 
 
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