Country Projects

GE-TOP Chile: Sustainability Standard for the Chilean Agriculture Sector​

This project aims to assess how a national eco-labelling programme in the food and wine sector could create sustainable trade opportunities for Chile. The study includes an assessment of the Green Economy profile of the country, identifies challenges for eco-labelled products to access international markets, assesses the social, economic and environmental impacts of national food and wine production, and develops recommendations on a national eco-labelling program. (Partnership Fundación Chile).​

GE-Top Ghana: Identifying opportunities for solar energy exports​

This report focused on identifying opportunities for solar energy exports from Ghana to neighboring countries, in order to promote regional clean energy integration. The first study, Ghana – Solar Export Potential Study, assessed the technical and financial feasibility, as well as the socioeconomic and environmental impacts, of solar energy exports from Ghana. The second report was launched in April 2016. Both reports were produced in partnership with The Energy Centre at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, and benefitted from support from four national ministries and other key national and regional stakeholders. ​

GE-TOP Peru: Peru's Sustainable Trade Potential: Biodiversity-based Products​

This project analyzed the opportunities and challenges for improving bio trade value chains to augment the sustainability of production and access to international markets. It started in 2013 with the study "Peru's Sustainable Trade Potential: Biodiversity-based Products." In the second phase in 2014, UNEP and partners have produced a study to support the implementation of the National Biotrade Strategy and its Action Plan, consisting of 13 native biodiversity-derived products and their social, economic, and environmental profiles. The study highlights their contribution to the transition towards a green economy.​

GE-TOP South Africa: Organic Agriculture​

This project assessed sustainable trade opportunities arising from a shift to organic farming in the agricultural and agro-processing sector in South Africa. The study assessed the challenges and opportunities of sustainability standards and certification to access international markets (focus on EU-EFTA) and evaluates costs and benefits of sustainability certification for organic agriculture. It also analyses the contribution of organic production as a driver for economic growth, meaningful employment creation, and environmentally friendly production practices. It has revived discussions on organic agriculture in South Africa and shed light on the under-supply in organic produce of many EU-EFTA markets. (Conducted with Trade Law Centre NPC (tralac)).​

GE-TOP Vietnam: Sustainability Standards in the Vietnamese Aquaculture Sector​

This project analyzed the export potential for sustainably certified aquaculture products and related challenges in Vietnam. These products are expected to open up new export markets with higher value addition through price premiums. The first phase in 2013, with the study "Sustainability Standards in the Vietnamese Aquaculture Sector", identified the social, economic, and environmental benefits of sustainability certification for processors and farmers. In the second phase in 2014, UNEP worked with partners on an Action Plan to use trade in sustainably certified aquaculture as an engine for the national green growth agenda. ​

The first phase took place with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), in consultation with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE). The second phase has been done in partnership with the IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative and the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD). This Action Plan builds on the recommendations of the "Sustainability Standards in the Vietnamese Aquaculture Sector" study and a series of subsequent consultations with relevant stakeholders and government ministries.​