The German contribution will be used to develop and support projects that will strengthen the ability of small-scale farmers, producers, traders and governments to access global and regional markets for food and agriculture products, in line with the STDF's Strategy for 2020-2024. This investment in food safety, animal and plant health capacity is critical for developing countries, not only to support economic recovery but also longer-term resilience against COVID-19 and similar shocks, as highlighted in the STDF's latest film “Shaping A Safer World”.

The COVID-19 crisis provides a clear reminder of the ease and speed at which pests and diseases can spread worldwide and the inter-connectedness of global supply chains. It also underlines the value of the STDF's multi-stakeholder approach for addressing critical health and trade challenges, including meeting sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards. By investing in safe trade systems and scaling up assistance for developing countries, including through its projects, the STDF is supporting their economic recovery.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “I thank Germany for its continued generosity. The STDF is a concrete example of Aid for Trade in action, working at specific issues such as SPS compliance and agriculture which are highly relevant for many developing countries.”

Germany's Ambassador to the WTO, Dr Bettina Waldmann, said: “Germany recognizes the need to support developing and least developed countries that have been and still are particularly affected by the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The STDF is a very useful tool to facilitate the integration of such countries into international trade. A special thanks to all who work towards that aim day after day. Together we can achieve something meaningful.”

The STDF is a global multi-stakeholder partnership to facilitate safe and inclusive trade, contributing to sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction and food security. The STDF promotes improved food safety, animal and plant health capacity in developing countries. This helps imports and exports to meet SPS requirements for trade, based on international standards. By bringing together the SPS expertise and skills of its founding partners, donors and other organizations, the STDF provides a unique forum to exchange information and encourage collaboration and synergies, enabling the stakeholders involved to achieve more effective and sustainable results together than would be possible alone.

The STDF founding partners are the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the WTO. It also includes the secretariats of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).