Conference Room Document 94 English only

second fao/who global forum of food safety regulators

Bangkok, Thailand, 12-14 October 2004

STANDARDS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY

A joint initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health, the World Bank, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization

THE STANDARDS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY

At the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Doha in November 2001, the Executive Heads of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Trade Organization (WTO) issued a joint communiqué expressing their commitment to explore new financial mechanisms for assistance for developing countries. From this commitment the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) was born.

The STDF is both a financing and a co-ordinating mechanism. It provides grant financing for developing countries seeking to comply with international SPS standards and hence gain or maintain market access. It also provides a forum for dialogue on SPS technical assistance issues among the five partner organizations and donors.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The STDF provides funds for two types of grants: project preparation grants and project grants.

Project preparation grants aim to turn good ideas into projects. Preparation grants for up to US$20,000 are available for project development. The STDF may also award these grants to revise interesting project proposals from eligible beneficiaries. The project preparation grant aims to act as a bridge between the identification of technical assistance needs and the development of coherent project proposals which may be picked up by the STDF or by other donors.

The STDF will also fund projects. The size of grants will typically range from between US$300,000 and US$600,000. Applicants must assume some of the financial cost of projects, although not of project preparation grants. In the case of projects from Least-Developed Countries a maximum of 90 per cent of project cost may be financed from the STDF. For other developing countries, a maximum of 75 per cent of project cost may be financed from the STDF.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

• Public sector entities with responsibility for SPS measures or policy either in their own right or in co-operation with the private sector (including regional or international bodies).
• Private sector entities and/or partnerships.
• STDF partner organizations (FAO, OIE, the World Bank, WHO and WTO).
• Not for profit non-governmental organizations with expertise in the SPS area operating in developing countries with a partner organization in a developing country.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

To be eligible, projects or project preparation grants must address one of the following three themes:

• Theme 1: SPS capacity evaluation and planning tools, including the need for and implications of international standards and their application;
• Theme 2: Capacity building for public and private organizations, notably with respect to market access;
• Theme 3: Information sharing on standards and technical assistance activities.

The main objective of the project must be to:

1. enhance capacity to meet official or commercial requirements in the sanitary and phytosanitary field and/or to
2. better protect human and animal health and plants against disease and pest hazards related to cross border trade.

Projects should not exceed two years in duration. The proposal must indicate how the results of the project will be made available for wider use.

HOW TO APPLY?

Proposals must be submitted in the prescribed formats and templates. Application forms are available on the STDF website: www.standardsfacility.org and are included at the end of this information sheet.

Projects will be awarded on a semi-annual basis. Each project will be examined in the light of eligibility criteria for the STDF (see STDF website for more information). Project proposals must be sent directly to the STDF secretariat at the WTO.

Applications must be received at least 45 working days before each project review meeting.  Should an application be received after that date, it will be considered for the next project cycle.

STDF project submission closing dates:

• 8 December 2004 (for February 2005 project evaluation cycle)
• Friday 1 July 2005 (for September 2005 project evaluation cycle)

FOR MORE DETAILS

Take a look at the STDF Website: www.standardsfacility.org or e-mail the STDF Secretary at [email protected] or [email protected]

PREPARATION GRANT APPLICATION FORM

1. Prospective project title
2. Requesting government/agency or private body
3. Collaborating government(s)/agency
4. Project objectives Describe the objectives of the proposed project in general terms. Attach description of project background and rationale.
5. Preparation activities Describe the means by which the project proposal is to be prepared e.g. in-house activity, consultant study, etc
6. Private/public sector co-operation Detail the role, if any, that will be played by the private sector in the preparation of the project
7. Partner institutions involved If appropriate, identify STDF partner institutions who will be involved and describe the nature of that involvement.
8. Preparation project inputs Specify total cost of preparing project proposal (maximum US$20,000). Attach breakdown of proposed uses of preparation grant funds.
9. Non-STDF contributions If appropriate specify any financial contributions expected from sources other than STDF.
10. Timetable Show proposed commencement and conclusion dates (maximum duration of preparation phase six months?)

GRANT APPLICATION FORM

1. Project title
2. Requesting government/agency or private body
3. Collaborating government(s)/agency
4. Project objectives Attach description of project background and rationale.
5. Project activities Itemise main elements here and attach a detailed work plan, dissemination plan and evaluation plan.
6. Private/public sector co-operation Detail the arrangements for public/private sector co-operation, if any, in the project.
7. Partner institutions involved If appropriate, identify STDF partner institutions who will be involved and describe the nature of that involvement.
8. Project outputs Specify outputs clearly and in detail and show relationship to key STDF objectives including capacity enhancement, improved market access and trade opportunities, poverty reduction, linkages to country or regional program development priorities, public-private co-operation, innovativeness, demonstration effects, etc.
9. Project Impact Specify the expected impact the project will have on market access, the SPS situation and poverty reduction. Identify how the project will fit with existing bilateral or mulitalteral donor projects and programmes, examine the sustainability of the proposed action and, where possible, suggest where the project may be replicated
10. Project inputs Specify total project cost. Attach detailed breakdown of proposed uses of funds.
11. Non-STDF contributions Specify your financial contribution to the project. Applicants from Least-developed countries must cover at least 10% of project costs from their own resources. Applicants from other developing countries must cover at least 25% of project costs from their own resources.
12. Timetable Show proposed commencement and conclusion dates (maximum project duration two years)