WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49 
9 March 2011 
 (11-1178) 
Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries  
  
 
OVERVIEW OF PROGRESS IN THE STANDARDS AND TRADE  
DEVELOPMENT FACILITY (STDF) 
 
Note by the Secretariat
1 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) aims to improve the capacity in 
developing countries to meet international sanita ry and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements and to 
increase the effectiveness of high-quality SPS-relate d technical cooperation.  In doing so, the STDF 
contributes to improved food safety, animal and pl ant health, economic growth, poverty reduction and 
food security in developing countries.  Its work programme focuses on the following five output areas:  (i) development of high-quality tools and information resources to support SPS capacity 
building for use by beneficiaries, donors and other organizations;  (ii) dissemination of experiences 
and good practices in SPS capacity building;  (iii) SPS issues and priorities addressed by other trade 
capacity building programmes at the country level;  (iv) improved capacity of beneficiaries of STDF 
projects to analyse and implement international SPS requirements;  and (v) improved capacity of 
beneficiaries to identify SPS needs and formulate project proposals. 
2. This document provides an overview of STDF ac tivities in support of its work programme 
since the last report to the LDC Sub-Committee mee ting in March 2010.  It also highlights activities 
that the STDF plans to undertake in 2011 and it  provides an overview of past and on-going STDF 
projects and project preparation grants benefiting Least-Developed Countries (LDCs).  
3. The STDF is a joint initiative of the Food an d Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World 
Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the Worl d Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO) and 
the World Trade Organization (WTO).  The WTO provides the secretariat for the STDF.  Other 
participating organizations include the Intern ational Trade Centre (ITC), the United Nations 
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Industrial Development 
Organization (UNIDO).  Representatives of donors contributing funds to the STDF and 
representatives of developing countries, includi ng LDCs, are also members of the Facility. 
II. STDF ACTIVITIES IN 2010 
A. 
SPS INDICATORS  
4. The STDF prepared a draft Technical Working Paper on the development and application of 
SPS indicators to track and measure performance of  national SPS systems, in collaboration with the 
Organisation for Economic Coopera tion and Development (OECD).  In July, the STDF organized a 
technical working meeting on this topic in Geneva , attended by over 80 expert s, including 16 persons 
from developing countries and Regional Economic Comm unities (RECs) in Africa, sponsored by the 
                                                      
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. WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49 
Page 2  
 
  STDF.  Participants discussed and reviewed the dr aft paper and made recommendations on next steps 
to carry this work forward in 2011 through p ilot testing activities in selected countries.   
5. More specifically, participants agreed on the value of a results-based management approach 
to assist SPS practitioners in developing countries to measure the performance of their national SPS 
systems, and on the use of the logical framework in this context.  There was consensus that one size 
does not fit all and that indicators should be adapted by countries depending on their particular 
circumstances.  The importance of ensuring synerg ies with FAO, OIE, IICA and other organizations 
that are developing and applying  capacity evaluation tools (which provide useful baseline data) was 
underlined.  Background documents  and presentations from the technical working meeting are 
available on the STDF website.   
B. 
PUBLIC -PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS  
6. The STDF initiated new work on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the SPS area, a topic 
of increasing interest to many stakeholders in the SPS community.  This work included an 
international workshop in The Hague on 4-5 October,  organized in collaboration with the Ministry of 
Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of The Nether lands (LNV) and the World Bank Institute (WBI), 
on the potential role and value of PPPs in fac ilitating agricultural development and market access, 
with a focus on PPPs in support of SPS capacity and co-regulatory approaches.  A desk study on PPPs 
focused on SPS capacity building and co-regulatory approaches is under preparation.   
7. A total of 95 experts attended the workshop,  comprising representatives of public sector 
agencies in developed and developing countries, in ternational and regional organizations, donors, the 
private sector (including multinational companies such  as Cargill, Nestle and Metro, as well as private 
sector associations and companies from Africa, Asia and Latin America) and research/academic 
institutions.  Presentations and plenary discussions fostered an extensive dialogue across the public 
and private sector on the policy considerations and implementation issues related to such partnerships, 
considering drivers and working modalities, challenges, innovations and good practices.  
Presentations and speeches deliver ed at the workshop are available on the STDF website.  An STDF 
Briefing (N° 6, November 2010) was produced in En glish, French and Spanish summarizing the main 
findings and conclusions. 
C. REGIONAL SPS FRAMEWORKS AND STRATEGIES IN AFRICA  
8. The STDF prepared and disseminated the r esults of a scoping study on regional SPS 
frameworks and strategies in Africa.  The study concludes, inter alia , that there is potential for the 
African Union (AUC) and the Regional Economic Comm unities (RECs) to play a coordinating role in 
SPS issues at the regional/sub-regional level.  Ho wever, certain conditions must be in place, 
notably:  (i) increased SPS capacity, including core SPS staff, in the AUC and RECs;  (ii) high-level national support for the work of the AUC/RECs an d commitment of national institutions to regional 
coordination;  and (iii) clarity and consensu s on SPS capacity needs and priorities, based on 
consultation with all concerned publ ic and private stakeholders.  The STDF had informal meetings 
with the AUC and the RECs on the margins of th e EU-funded Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) 
initiative in October and November to discuss how to take forward the recommendations in the report.  
The full report is available on the STDF website.   
D. 
STDF FILM  
9. The STDF produced an eight minute "short" ve rsion of the STDF film "Trading Safely:  
Protecting Health, Promoting Development", as we ll as a three minute video clip about the mission 
and functions of the Facility.  These films were produced in English, French and Spanish using 
existing video footage, and have been shown at a number of SPS events organized by the STDF and  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49 
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  others.  The STDF also initiated the production of  Arabic, Chinese and Russian versions of the 
"Trading Safely" film (both the 30 minute and eight mi nute versions), with the financial support of the 
Safe Supply of Affordable Food Everywhere (SSAFE) Initiative.  All of the STDF film materials have 
been posted on the STDF website. 
E. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION  
10. The STDF launched a new and improved website ( http://www.standardsfacility.org ) in July, 
with enhanced content and functi onality, new features, and a more contemporary look.  In addition, 
the STDF introduced an electronic distribution service in March.  This service allows those interested 
to subscribe to an e-mail list to receive news  about new STDF publications, as well as current and 
planned STDF activities. 
11. Three STDF newsletters were produced in 2010 (Mar ch, June and October) in an effort to 
share information on SPS capacity building activ ities implemented by the STDF, as well as other 
SPS-related news.  The newsletters we re distributed in hard copy at a number of SPS events including 
WTO SPS Committee meetings.  In addition to the STDF Briefing on PPPs in the SPS area (see 
paragraph 7 above), another Briefing was publis hed on "Mobilizing Aid for Trade for SPS-related 
Technical Cooperation in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region".   
F. PARTICIPATION IN OTHER INITIATIVES  
12. The STDF continued efforts to draw attention to  the Facility as an example of "Aid for Trade 
in action" (at an issue-specific level) and to highl ight the impact that SPS measures can have on the 
ability of developing countries to gain  and/or maintain market access.  This included participation in 
Aid for Trade events, including the ECOWAS Aid for Trade Review in Abuja in January 2010, and 
the Aid for Trade Ministerial for the Special Progr amme for the Economies of  Central Asia (SPECA) 
in Baku in December 2010. 
13. Collaboration with the Enhanced Integrated Fr amework (EIF) in the preparation, validation 
and update of Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies (D TIS) (Tier 1) and project development (Tier 2) 
is essential to STDF's coordination role and to the achievement of STDF's target to devote at least 
40 per cent of project grant resources to LDCs and Other Low Income Countries (OLICs).  In 2010, 
observer status was granted to the STDF to partic ipate in EIF Board meetings for agenda items of 
relevance to the STDF, while the EIF Secretaria t participated as an observer in Working Group 
meetings.  In addition, the DTIS template in cludes a reference to th e STDF (and the use of 
SPS-related capacity evaluation tools).  In 2010, STDF members reviewed the draft DTIS documents 
of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kiriba ti, Timor Leste, Togo and Tuvalu and provided 
comments to the EIF Secretariat. 
14. The STDF actively engaged with the Better Tr aining for Safer Food (BTSF) in Africa 
programme funded by the European Union (EU).  Th e STDF continued to provide strategic advice to 
the "PAN SPSO" project funded by the EU and implemented by the African Union/Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources, in collaboration with  the African Union/Inte r-African Phytosanitary 
Council.  The STDF actively participated in a large number of other external events organized by its 
partners, donors and relevant organiza tions and initiatives, as part of c ontinuing efforts to ensure that 
SPS issues are properly addressed.  These included regional development banks as well as the Trade 
Facilitation Facility, managed by the World Bank. 
III. OVERVIEW OF PLANNED ACTIVITIES IN 2011  
15. In December 2010, the STDF Policy Committee adopted a revised STDF Operating Plan for 
2011.  The plan continues to put major emphasis on STDF's role as a vehicle for coordination and WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49 
Page 4  
 
  information exchange on SPS-related technical cooperation.  The Operating Plan for 2011 is available 
on the STDF website.  The Policy Committee also agr eed on the development of a new STDF strategy 
and work programme for 2012 and beyond.  In this re gard, a brief survey on the future direction of the 
STDF was circulated to the members of the STDF Working Group, including the LDC representative, and other relevant stakeholders. 
A. 
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS TO INFORM SPS DECISION -MAKING  
16. In 2011, the STDF will continue its work on the use of economic analysis to inform SPS 
decision making and resource allocation, building on the STDF workshop on this topic held in October 2009.  A consultant, Mr Spencer Henson,  recently developed a framework to apply the 
"Multi Criteria Decision Analysis" (MCDA) approach in the SPS context.  This framework will be 
pilot tested in 2011 in three countries in Africa (M alawi, Mozambique and Za mbia), one in Asia and 
one in Latin America (countries to be selected) in order to refine the methodology and develop a set 
of practical tools for staff of authorities responsible fo r food safety, animal and plant health, and trade.  
These will include a manual on the MCDA framework, as well as training materials on its application 
for use by developing country experts.  Following th e pilot testing exercise at the country level, three 
regional training workshops will be organized to equip SPS experts in each region with knowledge 
and skills to apply the MCDA methodology.  The firs t workshop is tentativel y planned in August in 
Johannesburg, South Africa. 
B. 
SPS INDICATORS  
17. The STDF plans to pilot test a set of prelimin ary indicators to measure the performance of 
national SPS systems, based on the logframe's interv ention logic, in selected developing countries.  
This work will build on the results of the technical working meeting on this topic in July 2010 and the 
aforementioned draft STDF/OECD Technical Working Paper. 
C. NATIONAL SPS COORDINATION IN AFRICA  
18. The STDF will shortly publish a study on nationa l SPS coordination mechanisms in Africa, 
based on desk research and a series of meetings with stakeholders in inter alia  Burkina Faso, 
Namibia, Tanzania and Uganda.  The study will analyse existing SPS coordination mechanisms in a 
number of countries in Africa and propose a set of practical guidelines to inform the future establishment of such mechanisms  and enhance national-level SPS coordination.  The study will 
complement a previous study completed in 2010 on regional SPS frameworks and strategies in Africa 
(see paragraph 8 above).  
D. 
FRUIT -FLY CONTROL  
19. The STDF will continue to monitor developmen ts regarding implementation of the Regional 
Action Plan to control fruit fly in West Africa - in  close collaboration with the World Bank.  It will 
also continue to assist in the mobilization of extern al resources to implement (selected parts) of this 
plan, notably in the wider context of Aid for Trade.  The Regional Action Plan was originally validated by participants (public and private sector, research institutes, etc.) at a regional workshop in 
Bamako in September 2009 organized by the Ec onomic Community of West African States 
(ECOWAS), the STDF and the World Bank, in collabor ation with the Government of Mali.  The plan 
foresees a leading role for ECOWAS through es tablishment of a management unit to monitor 
implementation of the plan by donors and other relevant organizations/initiatives.   
20. The STDF will also continue to monitor fruit fly developments in Eastern and Southern 
Africa.  In May 2010, a video conference entitled:  "Fruit fly threats and management" was organized 
by the World Bank and GlobalHort with participati on of interested parties from Ethiopia, Kenya,  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49 
 Page 5 
 
 
  Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa. Participan ts agreed:  (i) on the urgent need to stop the 
continued southward spread on invasive fruit fly;  (i i) to set up/improve national surveillance systems;  
and (iii) to initiate research in cluding on potential mitigation measures.  However, progress on these 
issues since May 2010 has been slow.  
E. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION  
21. The STDF will continue to disseminate informa tion through its series of STDF briefings, as 
well as the tri-annual STDF newsletter.  Additiona l publications on trade, climate change and SPS 
risks (highlighting key issues from the STDF seminar on this topic in 2009), the use of economic analysis to guide SPS decision-making (based on the consultancy report pr oduced in 2009) and on 
SPS-related PPPs (based on the research work current ly undertaken) will be completed and shared on 
the STDF website.  A revised version of a prev ious STDF publication on SPS-related capacity 
evaluation tools (issued in 2008) will also become available.  The STDF will also develop an on-line 
"Virtual Library" which will contain relevant SPS -related electronic documentation, including needs 
assessments, technical and meeting reports, research  papers and articles from various publishers and 
sources. 
F. 
PARTICIPATION IN OTHER INITIATIVES  
22. The STDF will continue its collaboration with a wide range of other activities and initiatives 
in the area of SPS-related technical cooperation to monitor developments, ensure synergies, share 
experiences and ensure maximal coordination.  This  includes initiatives of partners, donors, observers 
and other initiatives such as Aid for Trade and the EI F.  The STDF plans to participate in at least two 
targeted training workshops on project design in th e context of results-based management in selected 
LDCs organized by the EIF Secretariat in collaborati on with the Centre for In ternational Development 
and Training (CIDT) of the University of Wolver hampton.  The objective of STDF's involvement in 
these training events is to work with SPS bene ficiaries on the ground to improve the overall quality 
and "ownership" of a number of SPS-related proposals.   The first training workshop is scheduled in 
March 2011. 
IV. STDF PROJECTS  
Project development 
23. Project preparation grants (PPGs) are a key mechanism for future STDF programme 
development and help overcome constraints faced by  developing countries in the articulation of their 
needs.  The main criterion wh en awarding PPGs is the likelihood that the project developed may 
receive funding by the STDF or from another fundin g source, e.g. a bilateral donor.  Up to US$30,000 
for project development is available through the STDF.   They also assist in ensuring synergies with 
other on-going initiatives, in particular the EIF and the Aid-for-Trade Initiative and in mobilizing 
funds to implement resultant project activities. 
24. Since its inception, 45 PPGs have been approve d and funded by the STDF (as of the end of 
February 2011).  Twenty-nine PPGs have exclusively be nefited LDCs.  At its meetings in March, July 
and October 2010 the STDF Working Gr oup approved five PPGs benefiting LDCs: WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49 
Page 6  
 
  • STDF/PPG/308:  Developing an SPS action plan for the Central African Republic ; 
• STDF/PPG/323:  Enhancing the Safety and Quality of  Agricultural Products in Senegal ; 
• STDF/PPG/328:  Needs assessment and strategy for th e development of Liberia's SPS system ; 
• STDF/PPG/329:  Support to Public and Private Sector for SPS Implementation in Nepal ; and 
• STDF/PPG/335:  Strengthening the capacity for phytosan itary controls in the floriculture 
sector in Uganda . 
Project funding 
25. Limited grant financing is available for projects which address underlying issues of SPS 
capacity building through innovative, preventative and rep licable pilot projects, in particular in LDCs 
and other Low Income Countries (OLICs), and on a regi onal basis.  Grant financing is also available 
for projects which aim to address gaps in SPS information, develop training materials or improve co-ordination among SPS technical co-operation providers .  Projects are preferably in the range of 
US$150,000 and US$600,000.  Beneficiaries are required to meet part of the cost of the implementation of projects - either through financial or in-kind contributions – at levels dependent on 
their country classification in the OECD Developmen t Assistance Committee List of ODA recipients.   
26. Since its inception, 47 projects have been approved for STDF funding (as of the end of 
February 2011). Of these projects, 16 have ex clusively benefited LDCs.  At the STDF Working 
Group meetings in March, July and October 2010, tw o projects approved for funding benefited LDCs:  
• STDF/PG/302:  Support to the cabbage sector in  the Niayes Region of Senegal ;  and 
• STDF/PG/309: Strengthening SPS capacity in Guinea-Bissau . 
27. An overview of the current status of all STD F projects and PPGs benef iting LDCs is provided 
in Annex I.  Since its inception, the STDF has de voted 51 per cent of project resources to LDCs and 
Other Low Income Countries (OLICs), as shown in Figure 1 below.  Hence, the STDF continues to 
meet its target to devote at least 40 per cent of Facility project resources to LDCs and OLICs.  Figure 2 indicates that 57 per cent of the number of STDF projects and PPGs has gone to Sub-Saharan 
Africa, 14 per cent to Latin America and the Cari bbean, and 12 per cent to Asia.  In addition, 
12 per cent of STDF projects and PPGs can be classified as global. 
     Figure 1: STDF projects and PPGs (US$)      Figure 2: STDF Projects and PPGs (number) 
 
51% 49%STDF Projects and PPGs (US$)
LDCs / OLICsOthers
  
57%
14%12%12%5%STDF Projects and PPGs (number)
Sub-Saharan AfricaLatin America & 
CaribbeanAsiaGlobalOther
 
 
 
    
  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49 
 Page 7 
 
 
  28. 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 Gr oup meeting in order to be considered at that 
meeting.  The next deadlines for the submission of applications in 2011 are 8 April and 22 July, 
respectively. 
 
_______________ 
  
  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49 
Page 8 ANNEX 1:  PROJECTS AND PPGs BENEFITING LDCs 
 
List of PPGs benefiting LDCs  
 
Ref. No.  Status Title Objective Beneficiary Implementation 
budget (US$) 
STDF/PPG/046 Completed Implementation of Codex standards 
(WHO Africa) Assist WHO Africa to  develop a project 
proposal to suppor t selected African 
countries to implement Codex standards Benin and 
Tanzania $19,000 
STDF/PPG/052 Completed Post-harvest contamination in Malawi 
and Zambia Develop a project proposal to address 
post-harvest contamination problems in 
the paprika and groundnut sectors in 
Malawi and Zambia (based on IF DTIS) Malawi and 
Zambia $20,000 
STDF/PPG/061 Completed Strengthening SPS capacity in Cambodia Conduct fieldwork in Cambodia to 
develop a project proposal Cambodia $20,000 
STDF/PPG/063 Completed Quality control for agricultural products 
in Benin Apply the FAO/WHO "Guidelines to 
Assess Capacity Building Needs in 
Official Food Control Systems" Benin $20,000 
STDF/PPG/064 Completed Strengthen SPS capacity in Djibouti Conduct field research and design of 
project in the livestock sector in Djibouti 
(based IF DTIS) Djibouti $20,000 
STDF/PPG/065 Completed Strengthen SPS capacity in Guinea  Develop a project proposal that builds on 
the UNCTAD evaluation of costs of 
compliance in the tropical fruit sector 
(based on IF DTIS) Guinea $20,000 
STDF/PPG/066 Completed Develop a project proposal to strengthen 
SPS capacity in Mozambique  Develop a project proposal that builds on 
the UNCTAD evaluation of costs of 
compliance in the tropical fruit sector.  
(based on IF DTIS) Mozambique $20,000 
STDF/PPG/069 Completed Develop a project proposal to strengthen 
SPS capacity in Yemen  Conduct a survey of SPS issues in the 
fisheries sector and pr oject design (based 
on IF DTIS) Yemen   $19,700 
STDF/PPG/088 Completed Strengthening SPS human resource 
capacity  Conduct evaluation of the training needs 
of Nepal's SPS authorities and design a 
training programme Nepal $20,000  
   WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49
 Page 9Ref. No.  Status Title Objective Beneficiary Implementation 
budget (US$) 
STDF/PPG/101 Completed Capacity evaluation of national food 
control system in Eritrea  Apply FAO/WHO "Guidelines to Assess 
Capacity Building Needs in Official 
Food Control Systems" and design a 
project proposal Eritrea $28,690 
STDF/PPG/102 Completed SPS constraints and export 
diversification project preparation grant  Enhance SPS capacity in the fruit and 
vegetable sector Mali $20,000 
STDF/PPG/103 Completed Rwanda Horticulture Export Standards 
Initiative (RHESI) Enhance SPS capacity in the fruit and 
vegetable sector Rwanda $22,000 
STDF/PPG/113 Completed Survey of food safety needs in 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 proposal Burundi $20,000 
STDF/PPG/126 Completed Assistance to establish a horticulture 
industry organization in Tanzania  Develop a business plan and facilitate 
the establishment of a horticulture 
association in Tanzania Tanzania $5,500 
STDF/PPG/127 Completed Strengthening the capacity of the Benin 
Chamber of Commerce to track SPS-
related development in exports markets 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 Benin $20,000 
STDF/PPG/165 Completed Improving SPS controls in fruit 
production in Madagascar. Assist Madagascar to establish pest-free 
places of production Madagascar $20,000 
STDF/PPG/191 Completed Enhancing Sierra Leone's national SPS 
capacity Design a national SPS framework Sierra Leone $20,000 
STDF/PPG/221 Completed Improving the competitiveness of 
suppliers in Burkina Faso's national, 
regional and international markets Identify specific SPS issues and 
constraints affecting sesame production 
and exports and develop a project 
proposal to overcome these constraints 
and improve market access Burkina 
Faso $20,000 
STDF/PPG/234 Completed Design of Lao P.D.R Good Agricultural 
Practice scheme Create institutional infrastructure to 
ensure market access for agricultural 
products from Lao PDR Lao PDR $18,410  
  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49 
Page 10 Ref. No.  Status Title Objective Beneficiary Implementation 
budget (US$) 
STDF/PPG/242 Completed Elaboration of SPS needs expressed in 
the IF DTIS of Comoros Assess SPS human resource and 
infrastructure needs based on the IF 
DTIS and formulate a project proposal to 
improve the competitiveness of the litchi 
and lobster sectors Comoros  $20,000 
STDF/PPG/262 Completed Strengthening veterinary services and 
promoting market access of animal 
products from Sahel countries to North 
African markets Review a regional strategy to strengthen 
veterinary services Mali, Niger, 
Burkina 
Faso $19,600 
STDF/PPG/268 Completed Harmonization of the legal, regulatory 
and institutional framework for an SPS 
control management system Strengthen SPS-related legislation and 
improve the institutional management 
system Tanzania $20,000 
STDF/PPG/302 Completed Support the competitiveness of cabbage 
in the Niayes region Improve the quality of cabbage by 
putting in place systems which will 
follow GAP schemes, facilitate 
traceability and HACCP Senegal $25,631 
STDF/PPG/308 Awaiting 
contracting Developing an SPS ac tion plan for the 
Central African Republic (CAR) Develop an SPS Action Plan for the 
CAR to enable the country to maximize 
its participation in the multilateral 
trading system through the protection of 
consumers from food safety risks, animal 
and plant health Central 
African 
Republic $30,000 
STDF/PPG/309 Completed Technical assistance to the Ministry of 
Trade and Industry to assist in the 
preparation of a proj ect to build the SPS 
management system Assist the Government in evaluating its 
bio-security situation through the 
application of the bio-security capacity 
evaluation tool developed by FAO Guinea 
Bissau $30,000 
STDF/PPG/323 Awaiting 
contracting Enhancing the Safety and Quality of 
Agricultural Products in Senegal  Develop a project proposal to addresses 
the issue of pest surveillance and 
application of good agriculture practices 
to enhance Senegal's potential of 
horticultural exports Senegal $30,000 
STDF/PPG/324 Completed Needs assessment and strategy for the 
development of Liberia's SPS system Re-define Liberia's SPS framework by 
streamlining the number of ministries 
responsible for standards-related issues 
to a single national competent authority Liberia $30,000  
   WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49
 Page 11Ref. No.  Status Title Objective Beneficiary Implementation 
budget (US$) 
STDF/PPG/329 Awaiting 
contracting Support to Public and Private Sector for 
SPS Implementation in Nepal  Develop a project to strengthen SPS 
capacity in the public and private sector 
in Nepal, as a means to increase agri-
food exports and reduce the import/entry 
of low quality products Nepal $30,000 
STDF/PPG/335 On-going Strengthening the capacity for  
phytosanitary controls in the floriculture 
sector in Uganda Develop a national surveillance 
programme to monitor and control pests 
affecting the sector in order to maintain 
and further enhance market access Uganda $30,000 
 
 
 
List of STDF Projects benefiting LDCs  
 
Ref. No.  Status Title Objective Beneficiary Implementation 
budget (US$) 
STDF/PG/013 Completed Development of Regional Action Plans 
to Enhance Veterinary  Capacity in East 
and West Africa Develop regional strategies to strengthen 
veterinary capacity in East and West 
Africa with emphasis on improved 
surveillance, reporting, control and 
implementation of international 
standards Mali, 
Ethiopia and 
Djibouti $305,000 
STDF/PG/048 On-going Improving shea and cashew nut 
production in Benin through the 
application of good agricultural practice Apply good agricultural practices to 
overcome problems of mycotoxin 
contamination in shea and cashew nut 
production Benin $455,575 
STDF/PG/065 Completed Develop a private/public safety control 
system for the horticultural export sector 
in 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 Guinea $530,300 
STDF/PG/069 Completed Improved capacity to ensure safety and 
quality of Yemeni seafood products Assist the Yemeni Seafood Exporter's 
Association (YSEA) to improve the 
quality and safety of Yemeni seafood 
products Yemen $398,750  
  WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49 
Page 12 Ref. No.  Status Title Objective Beneficiary Implementation 
budget (US$) 
STDF/PG/126 On-going Establish the Horticulture Development 
Council of Tanzania Assist the Tanzanian horticulture sector 
to address SPS issues Tanzania $253,755 
STDF/PG/127 On-going SPS information system in Benin Improve information flows on SPS 
requirements, particularly in the private 
sector in Benin Benin $359,790 
STDF/PG/134 Completed Capacity building to improve fish trade 
performance of selected West African 
countries Improve knowledge and awareness of 
SPS issues in the fisheries sector in five 
West African countries Benin, 
Mauritania, 
Senegal, 
Sierra Leone 
and The 
Gambia $469,000 
STDF/PG/145 Completed Rwanda Horticulture Export Standards 
Initiative (RHESI) Increase Rwanda’s exports of fruit, 
vegetables and flowers in international 
and regional markets Rwanda $526,647 
STDF/PG/146 Completed Strengthening phytosanitary controls in 
Mali (with a focus on mango exports) Expand international market access for 
fresh produce from Mali through 
improved phytosanitary control capacity. 
Project  based on IF DTIS Mali $518,800 
STDF/PG/170 Completed Strengthening the capacity of 
government SPS officials in Nepal Train government officials on 
implementation of SPS measures.  
Project based on IF DTIS Nepal $347,900 
STDF/PG/230 On-going Establishment of Pest Free Areas for 
Lethal Yellowing Disease (LYD) in 
Coconuts in Mozambique Build phytosanitary capacity to 
implement international standards to 
manage LYD in palms and thereby 
expand market access for coconuts Mozambique $326,528 
STDF/PG/246 Completed Development of SPS Action Plan for 
Cambodia Identify actions to be taken to enhance 
the SPS system in Cambodia Cambodia $178,000  
   WT/COMTD/LDC/W/49
 Page 13Ref. No.  Status Title Objective Beneficiary Implementation 
budget (US$) 
STDF/PG/255 Completed Regional initiative on the fight against 
fruit flies in 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 Benin, 
Burkina 
Faso, Ghana, 
Guinea, 
Ivory Coast, 
Mali, 
Senegal, The 
Gambia $279,620 
STDF/PG/283 On-going Support for SPS risk assessment in the 
mango export sector Improve Mali's capacity to comply with 
international and private SPS standards 
in the mango sector Mali $423,400 
STDF/PG/302 Awaiting 
contracting Support to the cabbage sector in the 
Niayes Region of Senegal Increase the production of cabbage and 
hence exports to the sub-region by 
controlling the spread and impact of two 
specific pests and assisting producers in 
meeting the Maximum Residue Limit 
established by Codex Senegal $273,895 
STDF/PG/309 Awaiting 
contracting Strengthening SPS capacity in Guinea-
Bissau Strengthening SPS capacity of technical 
services at national and regional level 
and updating SPS-related legislation Guinea 
Bissau $274,300 
 
 
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