To download this document (in MS-Word format):

1. At its first session, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee asked the Secretariat to prepare a number of documents pertaining to technical and financial assistance for consideration at its second session. Among the documents requested was a description of existing global, regional and bilateral programmes providing technical and financial assistance with regard to the management and elimination of chemicals, including, but not limited to, those of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the World Bank, regional development banks, members of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC), (the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)), other intergovernmental organizations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and multilateral and bilateral assistance programmes (UNEP/POPS/INC.1/7. para. 62(a)).

2. In response to this request, the Secretariat has prepared the following brief summary of existing bilateral and multilateral technical and financial assistance programmes involving capacity-building for chemicals management and elimination. It is based on readily available information, including a number of papers featured in the documentation for the third meeting of the Intersessional Group of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety scheduled to be held in December 1998 in Yokohama, Japan.

3. Significant technical and financial assistance is potentially available. However, it may be difficult to direct this assistance towards capacity-building for the reduction and elimination of persistent organic pollutants. The Committee may wish to consider the most effective means of utilizing existing sources of and mechanisms for assistance to ensure that countries develop sufficient capacity to comply with the future global convention on persistent organic pollutants.

4. Information on bilateral assistance programmes pertaining to chemicals management has been collected by OECD through a survey of its member Governments. The results are in the 'Second OECD survey of development assistance activities for capacity-building' which is being circulated in document UNEP/POPS/INC.2/INF/5. The survey summarizes information reported by OECD member countries on assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for capacity-building in chemicals and pesticides management.

5. Overall, the survey indicates that 17 OECD countries (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America) and the European Commission supported 230 projects from 1996 to 1998. Of these projects, 128 were managed by international development agencies and 102 by national ministries or agencies. In the recipient countries, most of the projects were administered by national ministries or institutes responsible for agriculture, forestry or environmental protection. In 153 cases, support went to an individual country. In 50 cases, groups of countries or geographical regions received assistance.

6. Of the projects supported, 101 involved pesticides management, 43 industrial chemicals management and 39 both sectors. Types of activities included education, training and awareness-raising (139); guidance document development (56); legislation or regulation development (51); community participation (49); and research design and conduct (45).

7. IOMC participating organizations conduct many technical assistance activities aimed at building chemicals management capacity. These activities are described in the second edition of the IOMC "Inventory of activities - Summary report", which has been circulated as UNEP/POPS/INC.2/INF/6. In addition to the activities listed as supporting implementation of Programme Area E of Chapter 19 of Agenda 21, 'Strengthening of national capabilities and capacities for management of chemicals', capacity-building activities can also be found under the other programme areas, in particular Programme Area D, 'Establishment of risk reduction programmes'.

8. IOMC member organizations support chemicals management capacity-building in many areas, including: chemical accidents; public awareness and education; environmental management in the chemical industry; risk management decision-making; implementation of the UNEP London Guidelines and FAO Code of Conduct; environmental health aspects of toxic chemicals; analytical quality assurance; clinical toxicology; mutual acceptance of data; national profiles of chemicals management capacity; development of comprehensive national chemicals management programmes; ecotoxicology and environmental monitoring; safe use of pesticides; and diagnosis and treatment of pesticide poisoning. To promote such programmes, IOMC member organizations provide or support: technical training and other education programmes; study tours and fellowships; expert advice and assistance; equipment, information and software; core funding for institution-building or strengthening; awareness-raising; and technology transfer.

9. Among organizations providing multilateral financial assistance, there are a limited number of programmes specifically addressing the management and elimination of chemicals. However, chemicals management may be a component of larger projects, as is sometimes the case with pest and pesticide management activities which may be part of some agricultural projects.

10. Information the Secretariat collected on existing multilateral financial assistance programmes for capacity-building in the field of chemicals management and elimination is provided in UNEP/POPS/INC.2/INF/7. In brief, this information indicated increased interest in financing activities to build capacity for the management and elimination of chemicals.

11. GEF is undertaking or planning the financing of six or more projects consistent with the 'Outline of a UNEP project portfolio on persistent toxic substances' (UNEP/POPS/INC.1/INF/14). If approved, these projects could total US$ 15 million in GEF financing.

12. UNDP supports activities promoting reduced pesticide use and waste minimization through innovative means. It plans to support projects aimed at developing lowland and irrigated rice production systems that reduce malaria and schistosomiasis vector populations with zero or minimal use of pesticides.

13. The World Bank supports the development of environmental institutions, including those involved in pollution control, as part of its environmental loan portfolio of nearly US$ 11 billion. It also establishes policies that guide all its lending activities, including policies aimed at promoting sound environmental management. For example, the Bank can only finance the purchase of a pesticide when it is justified under an integrated pest management approach. In addition, the Bank develops guidance and reports on environmental management topics of interest.