WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/45 
4 June 2009 
 
 (09-2687) 
Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries  
  
 
OVERVIEW OF PROGRESS IN THE STANDARDS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT 
FACILITY 
 
Note by the Secretariat
1 
Overview of the STDF 
 
1. The Standards and Trade Development Facility (S TDF) is a global programme in sanitary and 
phytosanitary (SPS) capacity building and tec hnical cooperation established by the Food and 
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).  A range of other organizations - incl uding the International Trade Centre (ITC), the 
Organization for Economic Coope ration and Development (OECD), the United Nations Industrial 
Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 
(UNCTAD) – as well as donors and developing countries also participate in the Facility.
2 
2. The STDF has two main aims: 
• to assist developing countries enhance their expertise and capacity to analyze and implement 
international SPS standards, improving their hum an, animal and plant health situation, and 
thus ability to gain and maintain market access;  and  
• to act as a vehicle for awareness raising on the importance of SPS issues, coordination among 
technical cooperation providers, the mobilization of funds, the exchange of experience and the 
dissemination of good practice in relation to the provision and receipt of SPS-related technical 
cooperation. 
3. This document provides an overview of STDF activ ities since the last report to the LDC Sub-
Committee meeting in October 2008, in relation to the four areas of STDF’s Operating Plan for 2009: 
(i) coordination3; (ii) project development; (iii) project funding; and (iv) information dissemination. 
Coordination 
4. The STDF Secretariat is preparing three major events in the second half of 2009.  On 22-23 
September 2009 , the World Bank Development Research Group and the STDF will organize an 
expert seminar in Washington D.C to discuss new deve lopments in climate change and trade, and the 
implications for SPS risks.  The event will addr ess key issues related to climate change, including 
effects on agriculture trade and the regulatory reform s needed to adapt to th ese changes, as well as the 
expected SPS impacts.  Presentations will consider  how climate change may require countries to 
upgrade their SPS systems to deal with emerging ch allenges, and the implications for SPS technical 
cooperation.  More details are available on the STDF website: www.standardsfacility.org.  
                                                      
1 This document has been prepared under the Secret ariat's own responsibility and without prejudice to 
the positions of Members and to their rights and obligations under the WTO. 
2 More detailed information on the STDF can be found on www.standardsfacility.org. 
3 It is worth noting that the STDF's coordination mandate is not LDC specific. WT/COMTD/LDC/W/45 
Page 2  
 
  5. On 29-30 September 2009
, the STDF will co-host with ECOWAS a donor workshop in 
Bamako, Mali, on the implementation of a regional acti on plan to control fruit fly in West Africa, in 
close collaboration with the World Bank, the Eu ropean Commission (EC) and the Europe-Africa-
Caribbean-Pacific Liaison Committee (COLEACP).   The meeting will gather donors, regional 
institutions with expertise in fruit fly control, national plant protection services and other concerned 
stakeholders from West Africa.  The workshop w ill review findings and recommendations of ongoing 
preparatory work by COLEACP on priority actio ns and implementation arrangements and aim to 
mobilize resources to implement a coordinated response to control fruit fly in the region. 
6. Finally, on 30 October 2009, the STDF will organize a workshop in Geneva (back-to-back 
with the meeting of the SPS Committee) on the use of economic analysis to inform SPS decision-
making.  The workshop will discuss the cost / benef it ratio of investing in SPS systems in order to 
prevent animal diseases, plant pests and food safety problems as opposed to the costs of control.  
Recent research analysing economic aspects of inv estments in SPS capacity building in particular 
areas will be presented, as well as relevant less ons and experiences from developing countries. 
7. As part of the preparations for the even t on climate change and SPS risks, the STDF 
Secretariat participated in a seminar on "Food and Environmental Security: The role of food and 
agricultural trade policy" in Salzburg on 10-11 May 2009 organized by the International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council (IPC).  At a su bsequent meeting of the ICTSD-IPC Platform 
"Climate change, agriculture and trade:  Promo ting policy convergence" on 12 May, the Secretariat 
made a presentation on the impact of climate change  on food safety, animal and plant health and the 
development and implementation of standards.  The meeting explored areas at the nexus of climate 
change, agricultural and trade policy in the run-up to the meeting of the United Nations Framework 
Convention on Climate Change to be he ld in Copenhagen in December 2009. 
8. The STDF also participated in a high-level mee ting and training week organized by the EC to 
launch its "Better Training for Safer Food in Afri ca" (BTSF-Africa) Initiative at the African Union's 
(AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 30 March to 2 April 2009.  As part of the EC- 
funded "PAN-SPSO" programme
4, the STDF and the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal 
Resources (AU/IBAR) will jointly organize two semina rs in Nairobi (13-16 July) and Bamako (20-23 
July), respectively, to provide in-depth training to SPS officials from the AU Commission and several 
regional economic communities.  The training will be provided by representatives from WTO, Codex, OIE and IPPC.  Meetings have also been held  with representatives from the UK National Resources 
Institute (NRI) to collaborate on the development of a tool for the assessment of potential impact of 
SPS measures by developing countries (based on causal chain analysis techniques). 
9. The STDF continues to strengthen the linkages with other trade-related and/or SPS-specific 
initiatives.  As part of an Aid-for-Trade activity in  Peru, funded by the Inter-American Development 
Bank (IADB), the STDF was involved in examini ng the need for and provision of SPS-related 
technical cooperation.  A balance sheet on outsta nding SPS priority needs and a list of concrete 
technical assistance projects were  presented at a National Aid-for-Trade Dialogue held in Lima on 3 
March 2009, which identified enhanc ement of SPS performance as one of the Aid-for-Trade priority 
areas.  The final STDF report is available on the STDF website. 
Project development 
10. Project preparation grants (PPGs) are a key mechanism for future STDF programme 
development.  PPGs help overcome constraints face d by developing countries in the articulation of 
                                                      
4 PAN-SPSO is a joint initiative of th e AU/IBAR and the EC that aims to contribute to the reduction of 
poverty and enhanced food security  in Africa through greater access of African countries to international 
markets for agricultural products.  PAN-SPSO specifically  seeks to facilitate effective involvement of African 
countries in the activities of the OIE, IPPC and Codex during the formulation of international standards.  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/45 
 Page 3 
 
 
  their needs and are a mechanism for ensuring synergy with other on-going initiatives, in particular the 
Enhanced IF and the Aid for Trade initiative.  Great er reliance is placed on the use of PPGs to provide 
a basis for donor interventions and as a vehicle for the mobilization of funds. 
11. As of 31st May 2009, a total of 33 PPGs have b een approved and funded by the STDF since 
its inception. 21 out of 33 of approved PPGs (or 64%) since the STDF's inception have benefited 
LDCs. See figures 1 and 2 below. 
12. At the STDF Working Group meeting in Februa ry 2009, two PPGs were approved, one of 
which (STDF 262) was benefiting LDCs: 
• STDF 262:  Renforcement du contrôle des mala dies animales et préparation à l'accès des 
viandes sahéliennes aux marchés des pays de l'Afrique du Nord;  and 
• STDF 286:  Accessing new markets by reducing phytosanitary risk through participatory 
research and expansion: the Clean Stock Program in ornamental plants in Costa Rica. 
Summary charts PPG 
Figure 1: Figure 2: 
STDF PPGs by budget
Benefiting 
LDCs
$404,210
60%Rest of  the 
wo r l d
$265,765
40%STDF PPGs by number of projects
Benefiting 
LDCs
21
64%Rest of the 
wo r l d
12
36%
 
Project funding 
13. As of 31 May 2009, a total of 36 projects have  been approved for STDF funding.  Of these 
projects, 14 have directly benefited LDCs.  As Fi gure 4 demonstrates, 39% of projects benefit LDCs 
(when accounted for by number of projects). This fi gure climbs to 45% when accounted for by project 
budget.  This demonstrates that projects benefiti ng LDCs account for an above average share of STDF 
projects.  
14. At the STDF Working Group meeting in February  2009, two new projects were approved for 
funding: 
• STDF 267:  Devising a National GAP Programme  and a Commercial GAP Standard in the 
Philippines; and 
• STDF 287:  Information sharing initiative on the actions to control fruit flies in Sub-Saharan 
Africa:  publication of a newsletter (COLEACP). WT/COMTD/LDC/W/45 
Page 4  
 
   
Summary charts PG 
Figure 3: Figure 4: 
STDF projects by budget
Benefiting 
LDCs
$5,201,465
45%Rest of the 
world
$6,264,912
55%STDF projects by number of projects
Benefiting 
LDCs
14
39%
Rest of the 
wo r l d
22
61%
 
 
Other statistics on Project and Project Preparation Grants  
 
15. An overview of the current status of STDF pr ojects and PPGs benefiting LDCs is provided in 
Annex I .  Since its inception, the STDF has devoted 53%  of project resources to LDCs and Other Low 
Income Countries (OLICs), as shown in Figure 5.  Figure 6 indicates that 52% of all STDF projects 
and PPGs have been implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa, 16% in Latin America and the Caribbean 
and 12% in Asia.  In addition, 14% of  projects can be classified as global. 
Figure 5: Figure 6: 
STDF Projects and PPGs (US$)
Others
47%
LDCs/OLICs
53%STDF Projects and PPGs (number)
Sub-Saharan 
Africa
52%
Asia
12%Global
14%Other
6%Latin America 
& Caribbean
16%
 
16. Applications for STDF funding can be made at any point in the year but should be received 
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 project proposals is 10 September 2009.  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/45 
 Page 5 
 
 
  Information dissemination 
17. The STDF developed a short film to raise aw areness among policy and decision-makers about 
the importance of SPS issues and promote SPS capacity building.  With stories from Benin, Belize, Thailand and Viet Nam, the film illustrates how some  countries are rising to the challenge of meeting 
food safety and animal and plant health requirement s to be able to benef it from trade in food and 
agricultural products.  In Belize, the film looks at efforts to control the Medfly pest. In Benin, the 
focus is on sanitary and hygiene problems in shrimp sector. In Thailand, Viet Nam and Geneva, the 
film addresses the impact of avian influenza on pub lic health, livelihoods and trade, and explains how 
countries use the SPS Committee to shar e information and address their trade concerns.  The film is 
available on DVD in English, French and Spanish. 
18. A number of improvements and updates were made to the STDF website 
(www.standardsfacility.org
) and additional changes are underway.  These changes include the 
addition of new pages on SPS needs of developing countries and sources of technical cooperation.  
Country SPS briefings, compiling information on SPS constraints and priorities, for 19 countries are 
available on the site.  Partners and donors are en couraged to use the STDF website to exchange 
information on their work in the SPS area. 
19. A new STDF publication on SPS-related capacity evaluation tools was published in February 
2009.  It provides information on sectoral tools, de veloped by international organizations in the area 
of food safety, animal and plant health, as well as cross-sectoral tools and related methodologies.  
This publication is a useful reference for all those interested in evaluating capacity needs in the SPS 
area.  The document is available in print and on the STDF web site ( www.standardsfacility.org ).  
Moreover, the fifth issue of the tri-annu al STDF newsletter has been published.   
20. Finally, the STDF Secretariat also participated in the Codex Regional Coordinating 
Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA) held in Accra,  Ghana from 24-27 February 2009, and in the 18th 
Geneva Week for non WTO-resident members and observers held in Geneva from 25-29 May 2009, 
where presentations on STDF current and future work were given.  
  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/45 
Page 6 ANNEX 1:  SELECTED PROJECTS AND PROJECT PREPARATION GRANTS BENEFITING LDCs 
 
List of STDF project preparation grants (PPGs) bene fiting LDCs –21 out of 33 PPGs benefiting LDCs (or 64%)  
 
Project 
number Title Beneficiary Description Implementing 
agency Budget (US$) Start 
date/ end 
date Status 
STDF  46 Implementation of 
Codex standards (WHO Africa) Benin and 
Tanzania Assist WHO Africa to develop 
a project proposal to support selected African countries to 
implement Codex standards. Kenza Le Mentec 
J. Claude Cheftel 19,000 Aug-06 
Aug-07 Completed 
STDF  52 Post-harvest 
contamination in Malawi and 
Zambia Malawi and 
Zambia Develop a project proposal to 
address post-harvest contamination problems in the 
paprika and groundnut sectors 
in Malawi and Zambia.  Project based on IF DTIS. Gordon Shephard 20,000 Feb-07 
Aug-07 Completed 
STDF  63 Strengthening 
Capacity and 
Information 
Exchange for Food 
Quality and Export Promotion in West 
Africa: A Regional 
Perspective Benin Apply the FAO/WHO 
"Guidelines to Assess 
Capacity Building Needs in 
Official Food Control 
Systems".  Lois C. Laleye 20,000 Jun-05 
Jul-05 Completed 
STDF  64 Develop a project 
proposal to 
strengthen SPS 
capacity in Djoubti Djibouti Field research and design of 
project in the livestock sector 
in Djibouti.  Project based on 
needs identified in IF DTIS report. Greg Sullivan 20,000 May-05 
Aug-05 Completed 
STDF  65 Develop a project 
proposal to 
strengthen SPS capacity in Guinea  Guinea Develop a project proposal 
that builds on the UNCTAD 
evaluation of costs of compliance in the tropical fruit 
sector.   UNCTAD 20,000 Jun-05 
Aug-05 Completed  
   WT/COMTD/LDC/W/45
 Page 7Project 
number Title Beneficiary Description Implementing 
agency Budget (US$) Start 
date/ end 
date Status 
STDF  66 Develop a project 
proposal to 
strengthen SPS 
capacity in Mozambique  Mozambique Develop a project proposal 
that builds on the UNCTAD 
evaluation of costs of 
compliance in the tropical fruit sector.  Project based on needs 
identified in IF DTIS report. UNCTAD 20,000 May-05 
Aug-05 Completed 
STDF  69 Develop a project 
proposal to strengthen SPS 
capacity in Yemen  Yemen Survey of SPS issues in the 
fisheries sector and project design.  Project based on 
needs identified in IF DTIS 
report.  Tim Huntington 19,700 Oct-05 
Nov-05 Completed 
STDF  88 Strengthening SPS 
human resource 
capacity  Nepal Evaluation of the training 
needs of Nepal's SPS 
authorities and design a 
training programme. FAO 20,000  Completed 
STDF 101 Capacity 
evaluation of 
national food 
control system in 
Eritrea  Eritrea Apply FAO/WHO "Guidelines 
to Assess Capacity Building 
Needs in Official Food 
Control Systems" and design a 
project. Arpad Ambrus, 
Centre for Plant 
Protection and Soil 
Conservation, 
Ministry of 
Agriculture, Hungary 20,000 Jan-06 
Mar-06 Completed 
STDF 102 SPS constraints 
and export 
diversification project preparation 
grant  Mali Enhance SPS capacity in the 
fruit and vegetable sector. Malika Bounfour 20,000 Mar-06 
May-06 Completed 
STDF 103 Rwanda 
Horticulture Export Standards Initiative 
(RHESI) Rwanda Enhance SPS capacity in the 
fruit and vegetable sector. Daniel Clay 22,000 Feb-06 
May-06 Completed  
  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/45 
Page 8 Project 
number Title Beneficiary Description Implementing 
agency Budget (US$) Start 
date/ end 
date Status 
STDF 113 Survey of food 
safety needs in 
Burundi  Burundi Apply the FAO/WHO 
"Guidelines to Assess 
Capacity Building Needs in 
Official Food Control Systems" to survey the food 
safety situation in Burundi and 
develop a trade-related project. WTO/ Burundi 
Standards Bureau 
Mohammed Majdi 20,000 Sep-06 
Nov-06 Completed 
STDF 126 Assistance to 
establish a 
horticulture industry 
organization in 
Tanzania  Tanzania Develop a business plan and 
facilitate the establishment of 
a horticulture association in Tanzania TAHA 5,500 Jul-06 
Sep-06 Completed 
STDF 127 Strengthening the 
capacity of the 
Benin Chamber of 
Commerce to track 
SPS-related 
development in exports markets Benin Establish an information 
centre within the Benin 
Chamber of Commerce to 
ensure that firms are aware of 
SPS measures affecting their 
existing or planned exports Stefan Skrzypczak  20,000 Nov-06 
Feb-07 Completed 
STDF 165 Improving fruit 
production SPS 
controls in Madagascar Madagascar Assist Madagascar to establish 
pest-free places of production.  CTHA Centre 
Technique 
Horticole d'Antananarivo 20,000 Feb-08 
TBC Ongoing 
STDF 191 Enhancing Sierra 
Leone's national 
SPS capacity Sierra Leone Design a national SPS 
framework.   CARANA 
Corporation 20,000 Jan-07 
TBC Ongoing 
STDF 221 Improving the 
competitiveness of 
suppliers in 
Burkina Faso national, regional 
and international 
markets Burkina Faso Identify specific SPS issues 
and constraints affecting 
sesame production and exports 
and develop a project proposal aimed at overcoming these 
constraints and improving 
market access. Tidiane Traore 20,000 Jan-09 
Apr-09 Ongoing  
   WT/COMTD/LDC/W/45
 Page 9Project 
number Title Beneficiary Description Implementing 
agency Budget (US$) Start 
date/ end 
date Status 
STDF 234 Design of Lao 
GAP scheme Lao PDR Create institutional 
infrastructure to ensure market 
access for agricultural 
products from Lao PDR Andrew Wilson 18,410 Aug-08 
Jan-09 Completed 
STDF 242 Elaboration of SPS 
needs expressed in 
the IF DTIS of 
Comoros Comoros Assess SPS human resource 
and infrastructure needs based 
on the IF DTIS and formulate 
a proposal to improve the competitiveness of the lychi 
and lobster sectors.   Chokri Damergi 20,000 Feb-09 
Apr-09 Ongoing 
STDF 262 Renforcement du 
contrôle des maladies animales 
et préparation à 
l'accès des viandes sahéliennes aux 
marchés des pays 
d'Afrique du Nord Mali/ Niger/ 
Burkina Faso Review of regional strategy to 
strengthen veterinary services CILSS (Comité 
permanent inter-etats de lutte contre 
la sécheresse dans 
le Sahel) 19,600 TBC 
 Awaiting 
contracting 
STDF 268 Harmonization of 
the legal, 
regulatory and institutional 
framework for an 
SPS control management 
system Tanzania Strengthening the relevant 
legislation and improving 
institutional coordination.  An improved management system 
would help in raising 
confidence among trading partners, stimulating economic 
growth and alleviating 
poverty. NRI University of 
Greenwich  
John Eric Orchard 20,000 May-09 
TBC Ongoing 
  
  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/45 
Page 10  
List of STDF projects (PGs) benefiting LDCs – 14 out of 36 PGs benefiting LDCs (or 39%)  
 
Project 
Number Title Beneficiaries Description Implementing 
Agency Budget in US$ Implemen
-tation Status 
STDF  13 Development of 
Regional Action 
Plans to Enhance 
Veterinary 
Capacity in East 
and West Africa Mali, Ethiopia and 
Djibouti Develop regional strategies to 
strengthen veterinary capacity 
in East and West Africa with 
emphasis on improved 
surveillance, reporting, control 
and implementation of international standards. OIE 305,000 Oct-06 
Jul-08 Completed 
STDF  48 Improving shea 
and cashew nut 
production in Benin through the 
application of good 
agricultural practice Benin Apply good agricultural 
practices to overcome 
problems of mycotoxin contamination in shea and 
cashew nut production.   CRA- 
Agonkanmey 
(Centre de Recherches 
Agricoles 
d'Agonkanmey) 470,575 Jun-08 
May-09 Ongoing 
STDF  65 Develop a 
private/public 
safety control system for the 
horticultural export 
sector in Guinea Guinea Assist the public and private 
sector to meet official and 
commercial standards for fruit and vegetable exports through 
development of a safety 
control system.  Project developed based on IF DTIS 
report. UNCTAD 530,300 Dec-05 
Feb-09 Completed 
STDF  69 Improved capacity 
to ensure safety and quality of 
Yemeni seafood 
products Yemen Assist the Yemen Seafood 
Exporter's Association to improve the quality and safety 
of Yemeni seafood products.   YSEA (Yemeni 
Seafood Exporters Association) 408,750 Aug-07 
Dec-09 Ongoing 
STDF 126 Support for the 
establishment of 
the Horticulture Development 
Council of 
Tanzania Tanzania Assist the Tanzanian 
horticulture sector to address 
SPS issues. TAHA 268,755 TBC 
 Awaiting 
contracting  
   WT/COMTD/LDC/W/45
 Page 11Project 
Number Title Beneficiaries Description Implementing 
Agency Budget in US$ Implemen
-tation Status 
STDF 127 Support for SPS 
information systems in Benin Benin Improve information flows on 
SPS requirements, particularly in the private sector in Benin. Benin Chamber of 
Commerce 374,790 Jul-08 
Jun-10 Ongoing 
STDF 134 Capacity building 
to improve fish 
trade performance of selected West 
African countries Benin, Mauritania, 
Senegal, Sierra 
Leone and The Gambia Improve knowledge and 
awareness of SPS issues in the 
fisheries sector in five West African countries.  FAO 469,000 Mar-08 
Feb-10 Ongoing 
STDF 145 Rwanda 
Horticulture Export Standards Initiative 
(RHESI) Rwanda Increase Rwanda’s exports of 
fruit, vegetables and flowers in international and regional 
markets.  Michigan State 
University (MSU) 526,647 May-07 
May-09 Ongoing 
STDF 146 Strengthening 
phytosanitary controls in Mali 
(with a focus on 
mango exports) Mali Expand international market 
access for fresh produce from Mali through improved 
phytosanitary control capacity. 
Project developed based on IF DTIS. Ministry of Trade 
(IF management unit) and FAO 518,800 Jan-07 
Dec-09 Ongoing 
STDF 170 Strengthening the 
capacity of government SPS 
officials in Nepal Nepal Train government officials on 
implementation of SPS measures.  Project supports 
Integrated Framework (IF) 
Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS).  FAO 357,900 Apr-08 
Mar-10 Ongoing 
STDF 230 Establishment of 
Pest Free Areas for 
Lethal Yellowing Disease in 
Coconuts  Mozambique Build phytosanitary capacity 
to implement international 
standards to manage LYD in palms and thereby expand 
market access for coconuts. FAO 385,528 TBC 
 Awaiting 
contracting 
STDF 246 Development of 
SPS Action Plan for Cambodia Cambodia Identify actions to be taken to 
enhance the SPS system in Cambodia. FAO 193,000 Apr-09 
Apr-10 Ongoing  
  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/45 
Page 12 Project 
Number Title Beneficiaries Description Implementing 
Agency Budget in US$ Implemen
-tation Status 
STDF 255 Regional initiative 
on the fight against fruit flies in West 
Africa West Africa Conduct tests in pilot mango 
orchards using different fruit fly control and other 
Integrated Pest Management 
techniques to monitor and control fruit fly populations in 
8 pilot countries.  CIRAD (Centre de 
Coopération Internationale en 
Recherche 
Agronomique pour le Développement) 279,620 Apr-09 
May-10 Ongoing 
STDF 287 Information 
sharing initiative on the actions to 
control fruit flies in 
Sub-Saharan Africa: publication 
of a newsletter 
(COLEACP) Sub-Saharan 
Africa Information newsletter on fruit 
fly. COLEACP 
(Comité de Liaison Europe-Afrique-
Caraïbes-Pacifique 
pour la Promotion des Exportations 
horticoles ACP) 112,800 Jun-09 
Apr-11 Ongoing 
 
 
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