LocationsUzbekistan and UNDP Launch New GEF-Funded Project to Strengthen Chemicals and Waste Management
June 25, 2026
The Republic of Uzbekistan continues to advance its commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development through strengthened action on hazardous chemicals and waste management.
Following the historic Eighth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), held in Samarkand, a new project titled “Supporting Implementation of the Stockholm Convention through the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste in Uzbekistan” has been approved by the GEF. The project will be jointly implemented by the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
With a total budget of USD 4.95 million, the project will be implemented through 2031 and aims to strengthen national capacities for the environmentally sound management of chemicals and waste while supporting Uzbekistan in fulfilling its obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
Uzbekistan holds a significant place in global efforts to address hazardous chemicals and waste. The country, like many others in the region, continues to face the legacy of historical contamination from industrial activities and the use of obsolete pesticides. Persistent organic pollutants remain among the most serious threats to environmental sustainability and public health, as they can accumulate in ecosystems, affect biodiversity, and pose long-term risks to human well-being.
The new initiative will support the modernization of monitoring systems and laboratory capacities, improve mechanisms for the management of hazardous chemicals and waste, assist in the identification and remediation of contaminated sites, and strengthen technical expertise and interagency cooperation.
The project is expected to directly benefit approximately 10,000 people, including 5,000 women. Key environmental outcomes include the environmentally sound removal and disposal of 565 tonnes of POPs-contaminated solid and liquid waste and the safe elimination of 150 tonnes of obsolete pesticides.
By addressing legacy pollution and strengthening national systems for chemicals and waste management, the project will contribute to protecting public health, preserving ecosystems, and advancing Uzbekistan’s transition toward a greener and more sustainable future.
