PRESS RELEASE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Ireland Contributes EUR 200,000 To Advance
Safe And Inclusive Trade In Developing Countries
Ireland is contributing EUR
200,000 (approximately CHF 187,400) to support the Standards and Trade
Development Facility (STDF) in strengthening sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)
capacity in developing countries. This brings Ireland’s overall contribution to
the STDF since 2007 to over CHF 3.8 million.
This contribution will
enable the STDF's global partnership to deliver on its new Strategy
for 2025-2030 "Facilitating Safe Trade to
Meet Global Goals", which focuses on
strengthening SPS capacity as a pathway to safer and more inclusive trade.
It will support the STDF's efforts to enhance food safety, and animal and plant
health systems in countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America
and the Caribbean so that producers and traders, including women and youth, can
unlock market opportunities and benefit more from global agri-food trade.
WTO Director-General Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala said: "My sincere thanks to Ireland for this important
contribution, which will contribute to strengthening SPS systems in developing
and least-developed countries, enabling farmers and producers to meet
international standards, reduce trade barriers and connect to global markets.
By advancing safer food and more resilient agricultural practices, Ireland’s
support will translate into higher incomes, healthier communities and more
sustainable trade."
Ireland’s Minister of State
for International Development and the Diaspora, Neale Richmond, stated: "Supporting
the STDF is an investment in safer food systems, stronger economies and more
inclusive trade. I am pleased that this contribution demonstrates Ireland’s
long-standing commitment to prioritising those furthest behind, as well as to
building a fairer and more sustainable global trading system."
The STDF's work aligns with
Ireland's development cooperation programme priorities on food systems
strengthening, health and gender equality, contributing to the achievement of
the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The STDF’s Gender Action Plan promotes inclusive approaches that benefit women and men equally across
agricultural value chains. In Senegal, for instance, a project is integrating gender considerations into SPS capacity development,
enabling women – who play significant roles in agricultural value chains – to
actively participate in enhancing export potential.
In today’s world where
climate change, conflict and insecurity continue to make people increasingly
vulnerable, strengthening SPS capacity for safe trade facilitation offers a
pathway to sustain development and growth across communities and in developing
countries worldwide.
To
date, the STDF has funded more than 260 projects benefiting
developing countries. Eligible countries are encouraged to apply for STDF
project and project preparation grants. Details on how to apply are available here.
The STDF is a global multi-stakeholder partnership
that promotes safe and inclusive trade. It was established by the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Bank Group, the
World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health
(WOAH), and the WTO, which houses and manages the partnership.
In support of the United Nations' Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), the STDF responds to evolving SPS needs, drives
inclusive trade and contributes to sustainable economic growth, poverty
reduction, food security and resilience to climate change.
END