A total of EUR 200,000 (CHF 220,000) will go to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF). This global partnership brings together public and private sector organizations across agriculture, health, trade and development to enhance collaboration, share experiences, and promote sanitary and phytosanitary capacity development in developing and least developed countries. The STDF supports and finances projects in these countries to help farmers, processors, exporters, and governments comply with international standards and connect with global markets.

Ireland will allocate a further EUR 200,000 (CHF 220,000) to help government officials from LDCs and small, vulnerable economies undertake ten-month secondments in their respective missions in Geneva. Twenty interns are currently participating in the 2021 French-Irish Mission Internship Programme. The officials take part in the WTO's work in Geneva and have the opportunity to represent their countries at WTO meetings.

Thanks to a contribution of EUR 40,000 (CHF 43,000), a number of officials from LDCs will be able to take part in the 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva in the week of 30 November. Ireland's donation will help to cover travel expenses, such as air tickets and hotel accommodation. The LDC Trust Fund benefits from contributions from multiple WTO members and is set up for each Ministerial Conference to increase LDC participation at the event.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “The participation of LDCs' trade officials in the 12th Ministerial Conference will be crucial to deliver concrete negotiated results, thereby helping spread the benefits of trade more widely. I thank Ireland for helping to ensure that multilateral negotiations are truly inclusive.”

Ambassador Gaffey said: “Through our renewed support, we confirm Ireland's commitment to strengthening the participation of LDCs and small, vulnerable economies in the work of the WTO and in global markets. This is especially important as we prepare for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference and as we work together to recover from the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Overall, Ireland has donated EUR 13 million (CHF 14.1 million) to the various WTO trust funds over the past 20 years.