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Mainstreaming Sound Management of Chemicals into MDG-based plans

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The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), adopted in February 2006, supports the achievement of the WSSD goal to ensure that, by the year 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health. The Strategic Approach promotes cross-sectoral governance for the sound management of chemicals at the national/local levels and identifies the need for the establishment of stronger links between chemicals management and development planning priorities, processes and plans of developing countries.

To help countries improve their chemicals management, UNDP assists national governments through its MDG Support Services (e.g. provision of policies and instruments and assistance in catalyzing environment finance for sustainable development) to better integrate Chemicals Management into MDG-based National Development and Poverty Reduction Strategies.

 

Integrating SCM into MDG-based plans - UNDP Activities

Technical Guide for Mainstreaming the Sound Management of Chemicals (SMC) in MDG-based Policies and Plans With the support of Norway, a guidance document is being finalized that will help national governments and UN Country Teams to recognize and assess opportunities for mainstreaming the Sound Management of Chemicals in Millennium Development Goal-based national development policies and plans, as well as in projects. The guidance document is intended to be a work in progress and results of stakeholder consultations, as well as lessons learnt from its application in a number of pilot countries will be incorporated on an ongoing basis. More…

Programme support in taking up SAICM priorities The Implementation Committee of the SAICM Quick Start Programme (QSP) Trust Fund approved three UNDP projects (of which two in partnership with UNEP) that will assist the governments of Equador, Macedonia and Uganda in enabling the implementation of the Strategic Approach. Development of similar programme support for other countries is currently underway. The objectives for the projects are to work with the UNEP/UNDP Partnership Initiative to begin implementing the generic next steps for strengthening the countries' domestic sound management of chemicals regimes consistent with SAICM, including:

  1. Qualification of the links between priority major chemical management problem areas and human health and environmental quality;
  2. Identifying what areas of each country's national SMC governance regime needs strengthening most urgently;
  3. Development of a realistic phased plan for strengthening each country's national SMC governance regime;
  4. Assistance to quantify the costs of inaction/benefits of action in planning/finance/economic language regarding major chemical management problem areas drawn from objective 1 above; and,
  5. Propose a path forward to mainstream the highest priority SMC issues into each country's development planning processes and plans.

Partnership initiatives UNDP has established partnerships and initiatives with UNEP (UNDP-UNEP partnership initiative) and the World Bank (UNDP-WorldBank SAICM Side Event) in support of countries’ activities to improve their chemicals management while drawing on the unique experiences and capacities of the agencies.

Support to international co-operation and co-ordination efforts towards improved chemicals management UNDP has been supporting the SAICM process through participation in Preparatory Committees and inter-sessional meetings, provision of funds and cooperation with other UN agencies. UNDP is part of the Implementation Committee for the SAICM Quick Start Programme (QSP) Trust Fund and is participating in the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) as an observer organization. More…

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Managing Chemicals for Sustainable Development

Improper labeling, storage and use of chemicals are significant causes of poisoning in developing countries. Yearly, many children die as a result of chemical poisoning in the home or at work through involvement in activities such as agriculture and mining. In addition to acute poisonings, chemical pollution of the air, soils, water and food increase the incidence, prevalence, rate of mortality and costs of certain pediatric diseases.

Sound Management of Chemicals, combined with better nutrition, can improve children's living conditions, decrease their sensitivity to chemicals and reduce child mortality.


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