Suva, Fiji, was the venue for two back-to back workshops: the Regional Workshop on National Implementation Plans, held from 4 to 6 April 2016, and the Inception Workshop of the GMP Pacific Islands GEF, project held from 6 to 8 April 2016. Featuring 18 participants from 14 Pacific Islands Countries, jointly organized by the University of the South Pacific, BRS Secretariat and UNEP Chemicals and Waste Branch, the workshop was financially supported by the GEF GMP Pacific project and the NIP project executed by UNEP.
The Pacific region is extremely diverse and parties to the Stockholm Convention experience a very wide range of challenges for implementation, including management of E-waste and pesticides. These issues and more were discussed by the NIP workshop participants during two days which covered inventory taking, addressing priorities and writing effective action plans.
The project “Continuing Regional Support for the POPs Global Monitoring Plan under the Stockholm Convention” aims to measure the presence of POPs in the Pacific sub-region and to strengthen countries’ capacity for POPs monitoring. Discussed were details on the activities and responsibilities of principal actors and relevant stakeholders in project implementation, including a detailed workplan, timetable and budget.
Next steps for parties in the region include continued work on national inventories and setting of priorities as well as following up on the workplan to implement the agreed GMP activities.
For more information on Stockholm Convention NIPs see the BRS website or contact Ms.Katarina Magulova at Katarina.magulova@brsmeas.org.
For information on the project “Continuing Regional Support for the POPs Global Monitoring Plan under the Stockholm Convention” visit the UNEP website, or contact Ms. Jacqueline Alvarez at Jacqueline.alvarez@unep.org.