Up to US $1,000,000 Available Under Project Grants 2024

The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) has announced Project Grants (PG) to enhance food safety, animal and plant health capability, and compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards.

These awards are expected to help address SPS concerns or issues affecting international commerce.

The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) sponsors programs that help developing countries enhance their sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) capabilities to allow safe trade.

Funding Information: The STDF grants up to $1,000,000 in project grant funding.

What can be Sponsored through STDF Projects?

The budget may contain expenses for:

• Technical knowledge may include the costs of engaging project staff and national or foreign consultants (details on the day rate or fee and the number of days to be worked should be provided).
• Travel may include international or domestic airfares (in economy class) for consultants, per diem (based on official UN rates), local transit, vehicle rental, and so forth.
• Training costs may include expenses for organizing and delivering training workshops, venues, participant travel/accommodation, training materials, and so on.
• Minor equipment items: which may comprise IT, laboratory, or other equipment items required to produce the specific project outcomes (which should not exceed 10% of the overall STDF contribution to the project).
• Other typical running expenses (such as phone calls and photocopying). Contingency costs (about 5% of the project budget) might be budgeted to cover unexpected expenses.

What cannot be Sponsored with STDF Projects?

The STDF does not offer financing for:

• Buildings, vehicles, and major equipment items, except information technology, laboratory, and minor equipment items, are required to meet the project’s particular outputs and purpose (see bullet (iv) above).
• Laboratories. The STDF will only consider funding essential items of equipment required to upgrade existing laboratory capacity to implement specific project outputs. Project proposals that contain the purchase of laboratory equipment must explain how this has been weighed against present laboratory capacity in the country or region, as well as the availability of qualified personnel to operate new equipment.
• Basic scientific research.
• Salaries for employees are regular.

Project Grants 2024 Eligibility Criteria

The following groups can apply for STDF funding:

• Public sector entities (including regional or worldwide agencies) are responsible for SPS actions or policies, either independently or in collaboration with the business sector. The STDF fosters the development of initiatives and activities through public-private partnerships.
• Private sector entities can operate independently or in collaboration with the public sector. Legally recognized farmers’ organizations, trade and industry associations, and other enterprises fall under the category of private sector.
• Non-profit non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with SPS expertise and a presence in the relevant recipient nation or countries, in collaboration with the public and/or private sectors.
• STDF partners.

NOTE: The application deadline is 02-Aug-24, for additional information, please click here to visit STDF.