STDF Facilitating Safe Trade to Meet the Global Goals: How can developing countries benefit from the STDF Strategy for 2025-2030?

Date: 20 march 2025
Location: Online

STDF Event on the Margins of the WTO SPS Committee.

In 2025, the STDF launches its new Strategy for 2025-2030: Facilitating Safe Trade to Meet the Global Goals. Building on 20 years of safe trade results, the STDF continues its focus on support to developing and least developed countries to meet international standards and facilitate safe and inclusive trade, that contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

The STDF's programme goal and impact are strongly aligned to the WTO SPS Agreement and SPS Committee. Since 2004, the STDF has supported several innovative and collaborative projects on many of the topics identified in the Sixth Review of the Operation and Implementation of SPS Agreement (G/SPS/W/370/Rev.3). For instance, STDF projects have addressed challenges and opportunities related to SPS regulatory practices, systems approaches, digitalization and IT tools, and the development of Codex MRLs. Recognizing the knowledge and learning generated through STDF's work, the draft report of the Sixth Review recommends that "Working with the STDF, Members should continue to support engagement with developing and LDC Members, including through technical assistance, capacity building and South‑South cooperation to support implementation of the SPS Agreement…..".

This event offers an opportunity to showcase the synergies between the work of the STDF and the SPS Committee. Through the lens of an STDF regional biopesticides project in Southern Africa, it will unpack the approach at the heart of STDF's Strategy and theory of change, and show how developing countries can benefit more in the future from STDF grants, knowledge and good practices.