Apply for FAO/WHO Codex Trust Fund

The CTF is a development partnership located at the heart of the global Codex system and is based on a mandate given directly by all Codex Member Countries, comprising developing and transition economy countries, developed countries as well as FAO and WHO.

The Codex Trust Fund:

• focuses explicitly on supporting more effective engagement of developing and transition economy countries in the Codex system.
• has direct entry into the national Codex systems of developing countries, in particular through national Codex Contact Points and national Codex coordinating structures.
• has access to the internal capacities and external networks of the Codex Secretariat and its parent organizations FAO and WHO.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is the international food standards-setting body, comprised of 189 Members, including 188 Member Countries and 1 Member Organization (EU). It is part of the joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. The Codex Secretariat is hosted by FAO. Codex is mandated to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in the food trade.

Funding Information

• Amounts of funding made available to different countries/groups of countries (in the case of a group application) will differ according to needs of the country/groups of countries and activities being supported. Multi-annual support is capped at three years maximum.
• Maximum budgets that will be allocated to any individual country for a full 3 years of support are capped at US$150,000.
• Maximum budgets that will be allocated to group applications will follow a logarithmic discounting table. Total funding for three years of support to a group application is capped at:
  • US$ 272,894 for an application with 2 countries;
  • US$ 352,309 for an application with 3 countries;
  • US$ 411,095 for an application with 4 countries.

What can Applicants Apply for?

• Activities that are within CTF scope:
  • National workshops involving policy and decision-makers from key sectors and stakeholder groups aimed at securing political and economic support for Codex activities.
  • Twinning between a country with well-functioning national Codex structures, and a less-experienced country.
  • A Codex expert could work to assist in the establishment of a national plan of action for strengthening Codex engagement.
  • Building capacity on how to participate effectively in Codex work using different delivery methods e.g. experienced trainers, e-learning, blended learning, training focused on specific technical areas.
  • Capacity building activities on basic understanding of the risk analysis process in Codex and understanding certain committees, the role of JECFA, JEMRA, JMPR, JEMNU or ad hoc expert meetings, and how to contribute to the process.
  • Codex “coaching”. Working with a recognized expert in a specific Codex area before, during and after a session of a specific Codex committee, to help build understanding of and improve capacity to participate effectively in both the committee in question, and in any future standard setting process.
  • Elaboration of documents e.g. working procedures to enhance Codex work at country level.
  • Physical participation of maximum two (2) delegates at Codex meetings.
  • Time-limited technical support to assist in how to prepare a technical piece of work.
  • Communication activities that target key stakeholder groups; translation of key Codex documents into a local language is allowed, where justified and when cost is reasonable.
  • The development of basic national Codex websites.
  • Specific and targeted technical and/or financial support to the collection and/or generation of data.
  • Activities aimed at understanding priority Codex texts.
• Activities that are not within CTF scope:
  • Strengthening laboratories.
  • The drafting of food law reviews, developing food policy.
  • Training on Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs) or Good Hygiene Practices (GHPs).
  • Rapid alert system/food safety emergency response.
  • Data generation that is not directly linked to Codex standard-setting work of priority interest.
  • Physical participation/delegations to Codex meetings that are not aligned with other planned CTF activities or that do not target committees related to national priority sectors.
  • Budget support that cannot be sustained after CTF e.g. office space, hiring of staff.
  • Incentives for participation in national meetings (e.g. meetings of the National Codex Committee).
  • General communication activities that do not target key stakeholders who have the ability to influence food safety at a national level, e.g. communication activities aimed at schools or the general public.

Who can apply?

Applications will be accepted from:

• Individual countries that are eligible for support from the Codex Trust Fund.
• Groups of countries where all countries included in the group application are eligible for support from the Codex Trust Fund.
• At present, a country that has had an application approved cannot subsequently apply for funding of a second project; it is no longer eligible.

Types of Applications

• Individual Country Application
  • The purpose of the Diagnostic Tool is to provide a framework for self-assessment of the current status of national Codex capacity.
  • The diagnosis of Codex capacity in the country is carried out using a national consultative process and is coordinated by the official Codex Contact Point (CCP).
  • As part of the process of developing a solid application at country level, CCPs may approach FAO/WHO Regional Officers and/or FAO/WHO technical officers at country level (where relevant) to discuss different aspects of a proposed application and to elicit their guidance and advice.
• Group Application
  • After undertaking a diagnosis of the national Codex programme using the “Diagnostic Tool”, countries with similar gaps and needs may group together to address these common issues. These are good grounds for a group application. Part of the rationale in the application would include explaining the link and complementarity between individual country and group activities.
  • Ideas for group applications may also result from discussions between countries during Codex meetings.

For more information, visit World Health Organization.