Ireland has announced a contribution of EUR 200,000 (approximately CHF 187,400) to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to help strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) systems in developing countries. This latest funding brings Ireland’s total support to the STDF since 2007 to more than CHF 3.8 million. The contribution will help implement the STDF’s new 2025–2030 strategy, which focuses on improving SPS capacity as a foundation for safer and more inclusive trade. It will also support efforts to enhance food safety and strengthen animal and plant health systems, enabling producers and traders, including women and youth, to better access global agri-food markets.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed the announcement, noting that Ireland’s support will help farmers and producers meet international standards, lower trade barriers, and strengthen agricultural resilience. She emphasized that this investment in safer food systems will ultimately improve incomes, health, and sustainability in developing regions.
Ireland’s Minister of State for International Development and the Diaspora, Neale Richmond, highlighted the importance of supporting the STDF as a way to foster inclusive trade and sustainable economies. He underlined Ireland’s ongoing commitment to prioritizing vulnerable communities and contributing to a fairer global trading system.
The STDF’s initiatives align closely with Ireland’s broader development cooperation goals, particularly in food systems, health, and gender equality. A notable example is a project in Senegal that integrates gender considerations into SPS capacity development, empowering women to play more active roles in agricultural value chains and enhance export potential.
At a time when climate change, conflict, and global insecurity are intensifying vulnerabilities, strengthening SPS systems has become crucial to safeguard livelihoods and promote sustainable growth. To date, the STDF has supported over 260 projects in developing countries, offering funding and technical assistance for SPS-related capacity building.
The STDF operates as a global partnership led by organizations including the FAO, World Bank, WHO, WOAH, and WTO. By addressing evolving SPS needs, it supports inclusive trade, strengthens resilience to climate risks, and advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of poverty reduction, food security, and sustainable economic growth.
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