UNDP | Energy and Environment

UNDP’s MPU/Chemicals Unit

The MPU/Chemicals Unit, part of the Energy and Environment Group at the Bureau of Development Policy based at the UNDP headquarters in New York, builds on its network of expertise, knowledge and successful experience to support initiatives in the area of sound management of chemicals.

The MPU/Chemicals team is made up of programme coordinators with expertise in relevant technical, economic and political sectors. The team assists governments and industry to design, implement, monitor and evaluate the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and the reduction and elimination of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). MPU/Chemicals also helps countries recognize and assess opportunities for incorporating the sound management of chemicals into MDG-based national development policies and plans.

The MPU/Chemicals team has six programme officers located in New York and three regional programme coordinators located in Panama, Slovakia and Thailand who support Montreal Protocol programming in Central America, Europe and the CIS, Africa, and Asia and the Pacific. Over the years, MPU has developed a network of technical experts, as well as regional and national consultants, who provide expertise to partner countries and are brought in to advise on projects.

UNDP’s MDG Support Services

At the 2005 UN Summit, countries made a strong commitment to develop MDG-based national development strategies. UNDP, as the UN System’s MDG campaign manager, is rolling out MDG Support Services (MDGS) in 60 countries before the end of 2007 to help countries put the MDGs at the core of their development planning.

The MDG Support Services aims to assist countries in preparing MDG-based national development strategies by delivering services around the following three pillars:

Pillar 1 – MDG-based diagnostics, needs assessments and investment planning;
Pillar 2 – Widening policy options; and
Pillar 3 – Strengthening national capacity to deliver

The UNDP Environment and Energy Group provides national governments with support, through the provision of policies and instruments, to better integrate environment and energy considerations and objectives into MDG-based National Development and Poverty Reduction Strategies and helps catalyze environment finance for sustainable development.

Within this context and with the support of funding secured through the GEF and the MLF, UNDP has been supporting initiatives at the national level that promote the Sound Management of Chemicals. These activities assist countries in reducing and eliminating Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), phasing-out of Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) and reducing and preventing chemical pollution of international waters. Following the adoption of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management in February 2006, UNDP will also support countries in taking up SAICM priorities.

With regard to Sound Chemicals Management, the MDG Support Services that UNDP will provide to countries to help them integrate Sound Chemicals Management into MDG-based Development Policies and Plans are integrated into the three MDGS pillars outlined above as follows:

UNDP’s Donors

Taking only UNDP’s chemicals portfolio into consideration (e.g. activities with regard to ozone depletion, persistent organic pollutants, chemical pollution of international waters, integration of SAICM priorities and all other chemicals’ related activities), UNDP’s major donors in this area are:

Multilateral Fund (MLF): The Multilateral Fund was established by a decision of the Second Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and began its operation in 1991. The main objective of the Multilateral Fund is to assist developing country Parties to the Montreal Protocol whose annual per capita consumption and production of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) is less than 0.3 kg (referred to as Article 5 countries) to comply with the control measures of the Protocol. UNDP is one of the four 'implementing agencies' and has (as of 31 Dec 2005) managed a total of 1813 projects funded under the Multilateral Fund (net project approvals of more than 446 Million US$). From a phase-out perspective this MLF funding represents the elimination of 56,049 tonnes/yr of ODS.

Global Environment Facility (GEF): the GEF established in 1991, helps developing countries fund projects and programmes that protect the global environment. GEF grants support projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. UNDP was designated by the GEF as one of its three Implementing Agencies. As of 31 Dec 2005, UNDP had managed a “GEF chemicals” portfolio (ozone layer, persistent organic pollutants and chemical pollution of international waters) of more than 230 million US$.

Bi-lateral donors: UNDP partners with a number of donor countries that engage in bilateral programming under the Multilateral Fund (e.g. Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA), or that provide support to assist countries in the integrations of SCM into MDG-based plans.

Note: a significant amount of co-financing, provided by governments, bi-lateral donors, private sector partners, NGOs, foundations etc. has been also mobilized for chemicals management related projects, but is not included in the figures mentioned above.