The BRS Secretariat organised an informal brainstorming session of Stockholm Convention implementing agencies and other partners in Geneva, 17 November 2019, to identify cooperative strategies for maximising impact and boosting implementation.

With a view to enhancing cooperation and boosting implementation of the Convention, and therefore increasing impact on the ground, a large number of implementing agencies and other stakeholders gathered in Geneva to informally plan for the period 2018-2022.

In addition to the BRS Executive Secretary and staff, representatives attended from the Basel Convention Regional Centre for South East Asia (Indonesia); the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO; the Global Environment Facility, Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP); the Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland; the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO); and UN Environment.

Taking a solutions-oriented approach and recognising that business-as-usual is not sufficient to meet current and future challenges, the group sought to identify priority areas and actions in light of reduced funding and ever-expanding scope of activities. Opportunities for raising awareness of the Convention’s many successes were also identified.

The outcomes of the meeting will be shared with Parties in an Information Document, with a next meeting planned to be held during the BRS Triple COPs, 29 April to 10 May 2019, in Geneva, Switzerland.

For more information, please contact BRS Programme Manager Frank Moser on email: frank.moser@brsmeas.org.