Monday, 21 March 2022
14:00-15:00 CET
WTO room S2 and Zoom (French/English)
WATCH THE RECORDING OF THE SESSION HERE
BACKGROUND
The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) has supported more than 65 national and regional projects in Francophone Africa since its creation, representing around 30% of all STDF-funded projects and 34% of total resources.
The success of these projects lies in their collaborative and holistic approach. To ensure long-term impact, technical assistance aimed at strengthening sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) capacities should take developmental, social and environmental aspects into consideration, in all targeted sectors.
The pandemic revealed the ease and speed with which pests and diseases can spread across the world, as well as the interconnectedness of global supply chains, underlining the importance of reinforcing food safety, plant and animal health as global public goods.
PURPOSE
By looking at the experience of two STDF-funded projects – one focusing on maize in Burkina Faso and the other on Penja pepper in Cameroon – speakers will explore the impact of SPS technical assistance in increasing exports and supporting long-term socioeconomic benefits. This session is designed to highlight best practices and lessons learned to encourage and develop SPS capacities, support coordination and cooperation, and create synergies with other initiatives.
FEATURED PROJECTS
Lessons learned from the project "Reducing aflatoxin contamination in maize in Burkina Faso" (STDF/PG/566), implemented by the National Implementation Unit of the Enhanced Integrated Framework of Burkina Faso, will focus on the impact of SPS capacity building and food security at the regional level, as well as the importance of public-private partnerships at the national and international levels.
The project "Improving SPS capacity along the Penja pepper value chain in Cameroon" (STDF/PG/593), which was the first product in sub-Saharan Africa to receive a Geographical Indication, is designed to facilitate market access and reduce poverty among actors along the value chain. This project, implemented by the Europe-Africa-Caribbean-Pacific Liaison Committee (COLEACP), aims to support stakeholders in meeting international market requirements while retaining the traditional quality of Penja pepper.
PROGRAMME
14:00 – 14:05 Welcome remarks:
Mr. Jean-Marie Paugam, Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO)
14:05 – 14:10 Introduction and scene-setting:
Mr. Simon Padilla, STDF Secretariat
14:10 – 14:20 Case 1: Meeting food safety requirements of maize in Burkina Faso
Mr. Soulemane Pierre Sodre, Coordinator, National Implementation Unit of the Enhanced Integrated Framework, Burkina Faso
14:20 – 14:30 Case 2: Tackling SPS risks to meet market requirements for Penja pepper in Cameroon
Mr. Jean-Marie Sop, Secretary-General of the Penja Pepper Geographical Indication Group (GR-IGPP), Secretary-General of COLEACP and President of the project Steering Committee STDF/PG/593
14:30 – 14:50 Questions and answers
14:50 – 15:00 Closing remarks:
Mr. Christophe Blanc, Agricultural and Fisheries Attaché, Permanent Mission of France to the WTO
Ms. Carolyn MacLeod, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Canada to the WTO
Moderator: Mr. Simon Padilla, STDF Secretariat
