The Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in Small Island Developing States (ISLANDS) Programme is supporting 33 island nations in the Atlantic, Caribbean, Indian and Pacific regions to improve chemicals and waste management. ISLANDS will safely dispose of over 200,000 tonnes of hazardous products and 17,000 tonnes of toxic chemicals, including POPs. It will also lead to the avoidance of nearly 90 tonnes of mercury. Through co-finance activities it will avoid over 300,000 tonnes of marine litter - mostly plastics.

UNDP is the implementing agency for the ISLANDS Indian Ocean Project, which includes the four countries of Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives. These Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are working to improve import/export controls on hazardous chemicals and products and build safer/greener alternatives in agriculture, health and tourism supply chains. They will build integrated national and regional management systems for solid, medical and other hazardous waste, including POPs. The four SIDS will execute the project in their territories through their national governments.