The 2015 annual report gives an overview of STDF’s results delivered against the agreed targets and indicators of the STDF Work Plan (2015-2016), based on the STDF’s Medium-Term Strategy and its Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework.

STDF: Celebrating 10+ years of delivering results

Launched in 2003 with US$517,000 seed-funding from the World Bank and WTO, the STDF has come a long way. “The STDF answers an essential need. When I visit developing countries business people often tell me about the difficulties they face in meeting required standards. It is one of the most frequent issues I hear. By helping developing countries to improve their food safety, animal and plant health capacity, the STDF supports them to overcome these problems and gain market access. In this way the STDF partnership has accomplished a great deal. It has delivered 140 projects to help developing countries improve their SPS capacity and enhance trade in food and agricultural products. It has provided significant support to the most vulnerable, as 50% of project resources are dedicated to LDCs. And it promotes the exchange of information and good practice in SPS capacity building.” Roberto Azevêdo, WTO Director-General, Reception to mark 10 years of the STDF at WTO on 25 March 2015.

The STDF in 2015: Progress Update

In 2015, the STDF worked to enhance the effectiveness of SPS capacity building in developing countries, which is the key outcome set out in the logframe. To achieve this, the STDF carried out a range of targeted and coordinated activities, which supported STDF’s four strategic output areas. The annual report also documents the findings and conclusions from a survey of STDF members and observers on the strong performance of the STDF Working Group and STDF Secretariat, as well as on the recognized achievement of STDF’s outcome and outputs, in line with the Work Plan’s indicators.

In December 2015, STDF members and observers shared views in a survey on the achievement of STDF’s outcome and outputs, as well as on the performance of the Working Group and Secretariat. Findings showed that STDF partners and other Working Group members and observers overall appreciate STDF’s work on coordination/knowledge exchange and project development/funding. Responses showed that members and observers contribute to the work of STDF, inform networks about STDF and use STDF outputs in a variety of ways. STDF’s work on good practice was appreciated as relevant and useful. Overall STDF was seen to make an important contribution to SPS capacity building in developing countries. The survey provides a range of insights to inform STDF’s future work plans.

How STDF supported effective SPS capacity building in 2015

In 2015, the STDF continued to promote coherence and coordination in the planning and implementation of SPS capacity-building activities to enhance the results of technical cooperation. Enhancing the effectiveness of SPS capacity-building is vital to strengthen the ability of developing countries to implement international standards, meet SPS import requirements of trading partners and gain and maintain market access. By bringing together the SPS expertise and skills of its founding partners and other organizations, the STDF provides a unique forum to exchange information, encourage collaboration and synergies in SPS capacity building, enabling stakeholders involved to achieve more effective and sustainable results together than would be possible alone.

Executive summary

In 2015, the STDF’s global partnership implemented a wide range of activities to deliver on its expected results. This was thanks to the strong support of the STDF partners (FAO, OIE, World Bank, WHO and WTO) as well as the IPPC and Codex Secretariats; the 11 donors who contributed US$4.7 million in 2015; six STDF developing country experts; observer organizations (including the African Union, CABI, IICA, IDB, ITC, OECD, OIRSA, UNIDO, UNCTAD); and diverse stakeholders supporting STDF project development and implementation work globally.

Over the year, the STDF worked to enhance the effectiveness of SPS capacity building in developing countries, the key outcome defined in its logical framework, in order to increase the capacity of developing countries to implement international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, guidelines and recommendations to gain and maintain market access (STDF’s programme goal). Progress towards STDF’s outcome and programme goal is expected to contribute to the STDF’s vision of sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, food security and environmental protection in developing countries. As such, the STDF is supporting the global community’s Sustainable Development Goals, which were agreed upon in 2015, in particular addressing Goals 1, 2, 8, 10, 14, 15 and 17.

The STDF implemented a range of targeted and coordinated activities, in support of its four strategic output areas. Highlights of the work programme in 2015 included:

• STDF Policy Committee approved a new Medium-Term Strategy for 2015-2019 to support the Facility in delivering results.

• Two highly-rated Working Group sessions, which again showcased STDF as a leading knowledge platform to share experiences and identify good practice with key topics such as SPS electronic certification to be developed in 2016.

• Identification of examples of collaborative approaches to SPS capacity building, illustrating how actors in the SPS arena have built on STDF’s work and activities, drawing on the partnership’s convening power and network of expertise as well as learning from STDF’s experience as a multi-stakeholder partnership and trust fund.

• Well-received guidance, recommendations and linkages in topics such as: Prioritizing SPS investments for market access (P-IMA): an innovative decision-support tool rolled out in 10 developing countries; Implementing SPS measures to facilitate safe trade; together with a high-level panel on SPS measures and trade facilitation at the 5th Global Aid for Trade Review.

• Five Project Preparation Grants approved to support project development and five Project Grants approved to strengthen SPS capacity and enhance market access. The focus was on projects that identify and disseminate good practices, implement innovative and replicable approaches, and promote collaborative and regional approaches. Least Developed Countries and other low income countries continued to benefit the most.

• Reaching out to share information and experiences to build SPS capacity in developing countries through STDF Secretariat participation in over 18 events across all regions; the production and sharing of the new “Safe Trade Solutions” film; updates to the Virtual Library and STDF website, which received nearly 4,000 visitors from across 100 countries.

Moving forward beyond 2015, the STDF will continue to nurture and sustain its active partnership, which drives the success of the initiative including for the partnership to better support outreach efforts. Greater focus will go to measuring and communicating the STDF’s results through userfriendly materials, including results stories and lessons learned, as well as raising STDF’s visibility. At the same time the STDF will look at targeted assistance for applicants of STDF funding and explore how to leverage additional external funding for projects developed through STDF PPGs. Efforts will also be made to bring on more donor support to ensure implementation of the remaining years of the STDF’s Medium-Term Strategy, 2015-2019.

---

STDF Medium-Term Strategy (2015-2019)

In January 2015, the STDF Policy Committee, hosted by the OIE at its headquarters, approved a new Medium-Term Strategy for the STDF for 2015-2019 to support the Facility in delivering results. The Medium-Term Strategy sets out the vision, goal, outcome and outputs of the STDF and serves as a framework and roadmap for STDF partners, donors, observers, the wider STDF network and developing country partners and beneficiaries. The Strategy is supported by a bi-annual work plan and budget, a monitoring and evaluation framework, and a logframe.