The Special Programme periodically issues calls for applications to fund projects aimed at strengthening institutions for the rational management of chemicals and waste.

The aim of the Programme The aim of the Special Programme is to support institutional strengthening at national level, as part of an integrated approach to financing sound management of chemicals and wastes, taking into account each country's national development strategies, plans and priorities, in order to increase sustainable public institutional capacity for sound management of chemicals and wastes throughout their life cycle. Institutional strengthening under the Special Programme will facilitate and enable the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the Agreement and the Global Framework on Chemicals.

Scope of the special programme

• The Special Programme should avoid duplication and a proliferation of funding and financing mechanisms. the administration and finance activities that do not fall within the mandate of the Global Environment Facility.

A special programme project :

• This is a national project designed and implemented by the applicant.
• Strengthen the long-term capacity of the ministry or ministries concerned
• Has a sustainable funding mechanism or plan to ensure long-term viability
• Emphasis on participation multi-sector
• Improving chemical and waste management to mitigate negative impact
• Engaging with private sector stakeholders
• To promote an environment conducive to the ratification and implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the Minamata Convention and the implementation of the Global Framework on Chemicals as part of a cross-cutting approach.
• Coordinates the implementation of national policies, strategies and programmes for the rational management of chemicals and waste
• Includes a gender mainstreaming component and encourages consideration of gender equality and UNEP protection standards
• Emphasise the collection of gender-disaggregated data where appropriate
• Create synergies with other related initiatives in the country in the context of the ongoing reform of the United Nations development system

Information on funding

• The Programme Trust Fund can provide support of between $50,000 and $275,000 per project proposal per country, including the inception workshop, any administration costs, monitoring and evaluation costs and financial audit. Under certain circumstances, an applicant country may request up to a maximum of $500,000.

Expected results

• The expected outcome of the Special Programme is to strengthen the capacity of national institutions to do the following:
  • Develop and monitor the implementation of national policies, strategies, programmes and legislation for the rational management of chemicals and waste;
  • To promote the adoption, monitoring and enforcement of legislation and regulatory frameworks for the sound management of chemicals and waste;
  • Promote the integration of sound management of chemicals and waste into national development plans, national budgets, policies, legislation and implementation frameworks at all levels, in particular by filling gaps and avoiding duplication;
  • Work in a way that is multi-sectoral, effective, efficient, transparent, accountable and sustainable over the long term;
  • Facilitate multi-sector and multi-stakeholder cooperation and coordination at national level ;
  • Promoting responsibility, accountability and private sector involvement ;
  • Promote the effective implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the Minamata Convention and the Global Framework on Chemicals;
  • Promote the cooperative and coordinated implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the Minamata Convention and the Global Framework on Climate Change. products chemicals at national level.

Activities

• Activities funded under the Special Programme may include the following:
  • Identify national institutional capacities, weaknesses, gaps and needs, and strengthen institutional capacity where necessary;
  • To strengthen institutional capacities for planning, developing, undertaking, monitoring and coordinating the implementation of national policies, strategies and programmes for the sound management of chemicals and waste;
  • Build institutional capacity to improve progress reporting and performance evaluation;
  • Promote an environment conducive to the ratification of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and the Minamata Convention;
  • To enable the design and operation of institutional structures dedicated to promoting the rational management of chemicals and waste throughout their life cycle;
  • Strengthen institutional capacities to promote measures to support all aspects of the sound management of chemicals and waste, including more specific thematic areas identified at national level and covered by the instruments.

Eligibility criteria

• Support from the Special Programme will be available for developing countries, taking into account the special needs of least developed countries and small island developing states, and for countries in transition, with priority given to those with the least capacity.
• Applicants will be eligible if they are party to one of the relevant conventions or have demonstrated that they are in the process of preparing for ratification of one of the conventions.
• Applications will include the identification of related national measures to be taken to ensure the long-term sustainability of the national institutional capacity supported by the Special Programme.

For more information, visit United Nations Environment Programme website.