Output 1 - Research Analysis and Research Report:
The Research Analysis endeavors to deepen the understanding of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) and their role as a tool for fostering market development and trade. Moreover, it is aimed to comprehensively examine both the opportunities and challenges inherent in the implementation of VSS. By delving into these aspects, the analysis aims to provide actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders with a focus on APEC member economies. The research analysis report will contain a minimum of 20 pages in length (excluding annexes), and will comprise the following sections:

1.1 Diagnostic report: This section will offer a general overview of VSS and address challenges in implementing VSS in particular for APEC member economies (for example VSS acting as trade barriers in certain cases). This will be based on prior APEC Projects related to VSS, as well as UNFSS publications and research papers from UNFSS Academic Advisory Councilmember universities, as well as material from APEC member economies. Duration: 1,5 months.

1.2 Survey Analysis: It will conduct an online survey to gather information on challenges related to VSS, areas where VSS can be leveraged, challenges in implementing VSS as it pertains to the WTO Agreements, among other findings. The analysis will be compiled in this section.. Duration: 3,75months.

The Research Analysis report will not be an APEC publication but will be distributed to SCSC members and participants of 15th SCSC Conference prior to the conference as background information. The findings of the Research Analysis will be included in the Final Project Report.

Output 2 - Dissemination15th SCSC Conference:
Preparation and delivery of 15th SCSC Conference discussions to be held face-to-face in Lima, Peru. To disseminate the findings of the research, provide an exchange of knowledge and gather feedback from the APEC member economies. Preparation: 3 months; 15th SCSC Conference: 2 days.

15th SCSC Conference:
Leveraging Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) to strengthen APEC member economies’ trade partnerships and economic cooperation.

The event aims to:
1.Provide knowledge on the various VSS in the APEC region.
2.Discuss issues related to VSS in selected sectors in the APEC region and sharing of best practices on implementation of VSS by APEC member economies.
3.Present the Research analysis and report on Leveraging VSS to Strengthen the APEC member’ trade.
4.Propose Policy recommendations to SCSC for consideration. The two days Conference will be organized as follows:
Session 1: Understanding Voluntary Sustainability Standards: introduction, emergence and evolution of VSS, drivers behind the rise of VSS, stagnation of VSS
Session 2: How VSS Work: Setting Sustainability Standards, ensuring compliance with standards (conformity assessment and compliant system).Traceability
Session 3 VSS in International Trade: market access regulation (including WTO SPS and TBT agreements), trade policy, public procurement and due diligence,
Session 4: Breakout session to identify gaps and opportunities through discussion on topics such as key challenges/ issues/ research findings/ case studies, and reflect on practical application to their home economies.
Session 5: Key learnings and Future perspectives in the context of APEC Economies

Output 3 - Final Project Report:
The Final Project Report will include the findings of the research analysis and report, summary, key learnings and conclusions of the 15th SCSC Conference as well as policy recommendations to provide guidelines in the manner of learning outcomes and considerations to explore future perspectives in the context of APEC Economies. The length of the report will be 30 to 40 pages (excluding annexes and references). The Final Project Report will be an APEC publication and it will be published electronically on the APEC website.

Duration: 2 -3 months.

Outcomes:
1) Increased knowledge and understanding of the participants of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) includingrelated opportunities and challenges of their implementation.

The knowledge and understanding will be measured by % of participants reporting increased knowledge andunderstanding of VSS in the Post-event Survey.

2) Strengthened capacities of the participants in evaluating how VSS could contribute to sustainable trade and serve as a cooperation mechanisms among APEC member economies when VSS are based on science and follow internationally agreed methodologies.

This outcome will be measured by the % of participants reporting their capacities were strengthened related to how VSS could contribute to sustainable trade in the post-event survey.

Beneficiaries:
Beneficiaries of this project include policy makers, accreditation bodies, certification bodies and industry players, SMEs and trade promotion bodies.

This project focuses on policymakers at this initial stage as project participants. Policymakers, which include those involved in the WTO Agreements, trade facilitation, agriculture, and commodities, are expected to benefit from this project. Through better understanding of VSS, policymakers will be able to better assist at the relevant levels involved in the supply chain.