Evaluate UN budgets and programmes as an AI Secretary-General

Operationalization of the Special Programme to support institutional strengthening at the national level to enhance the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management

In view of the increased need for sustainable, predictable, adequate and accessible financing for the chemicals and waste agenda, the Executive Director of UNEP made a proposal for an Integrated Approach to financing sound management of chemicals and waste, that was presented at the 27th session of the UNEP Governing Council, in February 2013. The UNEP Governing Council, in its Decision 27/12 on Chemicals and waste management, welcomed the integrated approach and underscored that the three components of an integrated approach, mainstreaming, industry involvement and dedicated external finance, are mutually reinforcing and are all important for the financing of sound management of chemicals and waste. The first session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-1), in June 2014, in resolution 1/5 on Chemicals and Waste, further adopted the terms of reference for a Special Programme, to be funded by voluntary contributions, to support institutional strengthening at the national level to enhance the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). The Special Programme is one of two complementary elements of dedicated external financing under the integrated approach, with the GEF being the other element. The Special Programme is part of the subprogramme 5 on chemicals and wastes in UNEP’s Programme of Work, as it provides dedicated support to institutional strengthening at the national level towards the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, the Minamata Convention and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). It specifically addresses expected accomplishment (a) that countries increasingly have the necessary institutional capacity and policy instruments to manage chemicals and waste soundly including the implementation of related provisions in the multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). The present project document is pursuant to UNEA-1 resolution 1/5 that requests UNEP to provide a Special Programme trust fund and a secretariat to deliver administrative support to the Programme. The main outputs will include: servicing of the Special Programme Executive Board and management and administration of the Special Programme Trust Fund including provision of operational arrangements (project management and administrative support) in line with the objectives of the Special Programme terms of reference. The project’s expected outcome is to ensure that sound chemicals and waste management is adequately addressed in international, regional and national decision making and affirmative actions are taken by countries to manage chemicals and waste soundly.