/ POPs Enabling Activities
Republic of Guinea Bissau /

Project Identifiers

1. Project Number:
Not yet assigned / 3. GEF Implementing Agency:
United Nations Environment Programme
2. Project Name:
Enabling Activities for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs):
National Implementation Plan for Guinea Bissau
4. Country eligibility (a country is eligible if it has signed the Stockholm Convention):
Guinea Bissau signed the Stockholm Convention on 24/ 04/ 2002
5. Country: The Republic of Guinea Bissau
6. Name of GEF national operational focal point and date the endorsement letter (attached) was signed:
Mrs Matilde da Conceição Gomes Lopes, General Director for the Environment
B.P. 225 Bissau
(Praça Cheguevara, CP: 399
Tel: +245 20 62 57
Fax: +245 22 10 19 / 20 17 53
(Endorsement letter signed by Mrs. Isabel Pereira Gomes –Secrétaire d’Etat- on 6 March 2003 and confirmed on 16 May and 30 June 2003).

Summary of Project Objectives, Activities, and Expected Outcomes

7. Project objectives:
Within the overall objective of the Stockholm Convention, which is to protect human health and the environment from POPs, the project will:
  1. Prepare the ground for implementation of the Convention in Guinea Bissau;
  2. Assist Guinea Bissau in meeting its reporting and other obligations under the Stockholm Convention;
  3. Strengthen Guinea Bissau’s national capacity to manage POPs and chemicals generally.
The project will be executed in a manner to ensuring the overall improvement of chemical safety in Guinea Bissau.
8. Project activities:
To respond to the concerns of the Stockholm Convention INC6 and ensure comparability with other NIPs, the project activities will follow the step-wise process set out in the GEF “Initial Guidelines for Enabling Activities for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants” and consolidated in the draft document “Guidance for Developing a National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention”. In summary, these activities are:
  1. Establishment of a national coordinating mechanisms and organization of the NIP development process;
  2. Assessment of national infrastructure and capacity (including a National Chemicals Management Profile, which also takes into account the POPs component) and establishment of POPs inventories;
  3. Setting of priorities and determination of national objectives related to Stockholm Convention and overall chemical safety;
  4. Formulation of a National Implementation Plan and specific Action Plans and strategies as required by the Stockholm Convention; and
  5. Endorsement of the National Implementation Plan by stakeholders.

9. Project duration: 27 months
10. Project expected outcomes:
  1. National Profile for Chemicals Management, including the POPs component, inventories of POPs, and assessment of national capacity to implement the Stockholm Convention;
  2. National Implementation Plan, including specific Action Plans and strategies required under Articles 5 and 6 of the Stockholm Convention;
  3. Strengthened chemicals and POPs management infrastructure;
  4. Capacity to meet reporting obligations under the Stockholm Convention; and
  5. Awareness on all national levels and communication tools and materials.

11. Estimated total budget (in US$ or local currency):
US$ 462,800(In kind contribution of Guinea Bissau: US$ 12,000)
12. Amount being requested from the GEF (in US$ or local currency):
US$ 450,800

Information on institution submitting project brief

13. Information on the organization in Guinea Bissau submitting the proposal:
The State Secretariat of Natural Resources and Energy is responsible for the promotion and coordination of all activities related to the environment and natural resources. It is mandated to ensure sanitation and protection against pollution from human activities. Under the responsibility of the State Secretariat of Natural Resources and Energy, the General Environment Direction is the body entrusted with the implementation of environmental policies defined by the ministerial council.
The General Environment Direction is specifically in charge of:
  • Elaboration of the national environmental plan (NEP);
  • Implementation of sectoral policies defined in the NEP;
  • Conservation of natural resources;
  • Protection of protected areas through the creation and maintenance of national and natural parcs;
  • Implementation of environmental conventions signed or ratified by Guinea Bissau (Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Basel Convention, Rotterdam Convention, Stockholm Convention, Abidjan Convention, Vienna Convention, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Wetlands, Bamako Convention);
  • Education and awareness raising on environmental issues;
  • Water sanitation.

14. Information on the proposed executing organization:
The General Environment Direction will be the lead executing organization in collaboration with a multi-stakeholder body.
15. Date the proposal was submitted to a GEF Implementing Agency: 30/06/03
16. Date the proposal was submitted to the GEF Secretariat:9/07/03
17. Date the proposal was approved:
18. Date of first Disbursement:

Information on Implementing Agency:

19. Implementing Agency contact person:
Mr Ahmed Djoghlaf
Director, Division of GEF Coordination
UNEP, Nairobi.
Tel. (254 2) 624165 Fax (254 2) 624041
E-mail:

1

Project Justification and Goal

Guinea Bissau is a signatory of the Stockholm Convention and committed to its successful implementation. Guinea Bissau is aware of the striking needs in terms of capacity and information needed for the protection of health and environment. This project will lead to the Elaboration of the National Profile for Chemicals Management, including the POPs component, and the National Implementation Plan (NIP) for the Stockholm Convention and will constitute the founding elements of capacity enhancement. It will also embrace the development of appropriate strategies to making it possible to identify and manage, reduce or eliminate POPs.

Despite some scattered control measures on POPs and pesticides, in Guinea Bissau, little is known on the circulation of these chemicals in the country. Also little human resources are available in the country and the project is expected to “enable” the environment department for sustained chemical control. The capacity building component of this project is hence significant with a little higher involvement of international experts for knowledge transfer.

Most of the evidence gathered on this subject concerns the use and the improper use of pesticides in the agricultural sector. The elaboration of the National Profile for Chemicals Management, including the POPs component, on the present state of national capacities for chemicals management is therefore a first necessary step that will lead to the subsequent development of a National Implementation Plan (NIP) under the Stockholm Convention on POPs.

The project will aim at identifying the strength and weaknesses of chemical management capacity in Guinea Bissau, at determining approaches to compensate the weaknesses, and will put in place a mechanism for implementation of the Stockholm Convention in Guinea Bissau. This will be accompanied with the creation of sustainable capacity for meeting its reporting and other obligations under the Stockholm Convention and strengthening the national capacity to manage POPs and chemicals generally.

The NIP will describe the manner in which Guinea Bissau will implement its obligations to eliminate or reduce POPs sources in the country in conformity with the Stockholm Convention.

Project Description and Expected Outcomes

Project Activities

The project will start with the structures established under the recently initiated UNEP/USEPA Chemical Information Exchange Network (CIEN), particularly the stakeholders group identified (see Annex 1). The involvement of this stakeholder group in the National Coordinating Committee will ensure integration of the chemical information system within the NIP activities and will secure benefits from the work already done.

In view of the very limited capacity and human resources in Guinea Bissau, it is planned to organize a study tour for the main responsible persons in chemical management. The purpose is that study tour will be to learn from the experience of a developed country in chemical control and risk management issues.

The project will be compounded with a strong awareness raising effort aiming both at the decision makers and the workers and the public. This will be achieved through radio and television programmes with the participation of experts who will inform of the chemical, wastes and POPs issues. The production of video products and “on the field” visits and debates will also be organized wide spread sensitisation about the health and environment risks of the use of chemicals.

An additional regional component has been included to promote regional communication and networking. All countries of the region that are working on their NIPs will be brought together to develop communication arrangements and establish a NIP follow up network that will serve during the action plans implementation. It is thus anticipated that the group will be able to discuss and identify common interest and projects that can be implemented jointly.

The project activities will be conducted in five steps as follows:

Step 1: Determination of Coordinating Mechanisms and Organization of Process

The following activities will be performed in this step:

1.1National Coordinating Committee (NCC) and Project Coordination Unit (PCU):

1.1.1Establishment of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) and the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) on POPs Management in Guinea Bissau including all relevant stakeholders

1.1.2Evaluation of capacities and needs (human, technical and logistic resources) of the NIP focal unit and the NCC.

1.2Definition of roles and responsibilities of stakeholders (public administration, civil society, NGOs, universities and private sector).

1.3Organization of a NIP initiation meeting.

1.4Development of a detailed workplan with the identification of available local expertise for the different steps of NIP development.

1.5Awareness Raising Activities:

1.5.1Preparation of basic information material and initial awareness raising package

1.5.2Initiation of awareness raising programmes among workers and the general public.

Outputs from Step 1

  1. Project Coordination Unit and National Coordinating Committee established and strengthened.
  2. Roles and responsibilities of government agencies and other stakeholders are agreed on.
  3. Detailed workplan available.
  4. The national focal unit and the National Coordinating committee have a roster of local technical expertise.
  5. The elaboration of the NIP is launched and decision makers and general public are sensitized.
  6. Programmes for awareness raising among workers and the general public.

Step 2: Establishment of POPs inventories and Assessment of National Infrastructure and Capacity.

The national infrastructure and capacity for the management of chemicals, and in particular POPs, need to be determined at the onset of the NIP development. Since Guinea Bissau does not have a National Profile, effort will be made to develop a full National Profile for Chemicals Management, including the POPs component, and an assessment of the available destruction capacity of stocks and wastes in accordance with Article 6 of the Stockholm Convention.

The following activities will be performed in this step:

2.1National Profile for Chemicals Management and Its POPs Component: Elaboration of the National Profile for Chemicals Management, including the POPs component, by a task team established for that purpose. This activity will be undertaken by national experts with the assistance of international expert(s), possibly from UNITAR.

2.2Preliminary National POPs Inventory:

2.2.1Establish and train task teams for the development of POPs inventories, data

generation, data gathering and the validation of data.

2.2.2Develop preliminary inventories with data on import/export, uses, distribution, wastes, stockpiles, and POPs containing equipment of intentionally produced POPs, as well as sources of non-intentionally produced POPs.

2.2.3Develop preliminary inventories of POPs stockpiles, wastes and contaminated sites, and the available management approaches and conditions.

2.2.4Develop a preliminary inventory of POPs emissions into the environment.

2.3Establishment of POPs Information System: Elaboration of a POPs information system based on and strengthening the structure put in place under the UNEP/USEPA Chemical Information Exchange Network (CIEN) project.

2.4Capacity Building Needs and Human Health and Environmental Issues Assessment:

2.4.1Prepare an assessment of POPs levels and impacts on human and the environment.

2.4.2Assess legal, institutional, administrative and technical aspects of POPs management and their efficiency as well as training needs.

2.4.3Assess the implementation of relevant international agreements and possible synergies.

2.4.4Assess the national capacity to establish/adopt the Best Available Techniques (BAT) and the Best Environmental Practices (BEP) for the POPs sources categories.

2.4.5Assess the socio-economic impacts of the reduction/elimination of POPs including the needs for an improved and controlled distribution network of safer alternative technologies and practices.

2.4.6Assess national capacities for the research/development relevant to POPs and their alternatives, including indigenous knowledge and practices.

2.5Study tour of National Coordinator and appropriate task team leaders to build the knowledge required for a better understanding of POPs management issues.

2.6Regional workshop for communication arrangements and the establishment of a NIP follow up network

Outputs from Step 2

  1. Enhanced capacity of local staff.
  2. A comprehensive National Profile for Chemicals Management, including the POPs component is developed.
  3. Preliminary inventories for POPs in use and stockpiles and waste are developed.
  4. The chemical information exchange network is strengthened and a dedicated information management system on POPs is established.
  5. Assessment reports are available on:
  • POPs levels and impacts on human and the environment.
  • legal, institutional, administrative and technical aspects of POPs management and their efficiency.
  • national capacity to establish/adopt the Best Available Techniques (BAT) and the Best Environmental Practices (BEP) for the POPs sources categories.
  • the socio-economic impacts of the reduction/elimination of POPs and relevant considerations regarding the alternative substances, technologies and practices.
  • national capacities for the research/development relevant to POPs and their alternatives, including indigenous knowledge and practices.

Step 3: Priority assessment and objective setting

Using the outcome of previous steps, the NIP groups will determine national priorities and objectives related to POPs management. They will also assess the need for specific derogations under the Stockholm Convention and they will evaluate the options for their continuation or termination.

The specific activities will be:

3.1Training of members of the project team in priority assessment and objective setting procedures.

3.2Development of criteria for prioritization, taking into account health, environmental and socio-economic impact, as identified in Step 2, and the availability of alternative solutions and options to reduce emissions.

3.3Establish priorities and objectives on POPs reduction/elimination options.

3.4Assess the need for exemptions relevant to Guinea Bissau and the needs for their continuation/cessation.

3.5Review of priorities and objectives for their endorsement by stakeholders.

Outputs from Step 3

  1. List of prioritization criteria.
  2. National priorities and objectives with regards to priority POPs issues.
  3. Report on exemptions under the Stockholm Convention Article 4.

Step 4: Formulation of National Implementation Plan and Action Plans on Specific POPs

The following activities will be performed in this step:

4. 1.Task Teams: Convene and train Task Teams to elaborate elements of the NIP and issues specific to their tasks, based on their drafted terms of reference. This activity will be facilitated with the assistance of international expert(s) and a planning workshop for all involved actors will be organized.

4. 2.Planning workshop of the National Coordinating Committee and task teams to provide guidance on the goals.

4. 3.Identification of Available Management Options: Based on the review steps 2 and 3 outputs this activity will include:

4.3.1 Review of problems and barriers (legal, institutional, financial, technical, etc) and elaboration of approaches and actions to overcome them.

4.3.2. Identification of actions for overcoming the needs for specific exemptions.

4.3.3 Determination of technology transfer needs and the development of know-how about alternatives and indigenous practices.

4.3.4. Estimation of the cost of necessary investments.

4. 4.Draft Action Plans and Strategies: These will include the development of indicators of projects evaluation, estimated costs and incremental cost, in particular:

4.4.1 Action plans for PCBs elimination and POPs pesticides still in use (Dieldrin, and Heptachlor);

4.4.2 Action plans for identification and destruction of obsolete POPs pesticides, considering the ongoing Africa Stockpiles Program, limit DDT use to the control of pathogenic vectors and release reduction of unintentionally produced POPs;

4.4.3 Strategy for management of POPs stocks and POPs containing wastes and the capacities for the identification of contaminated sites; and

4.4.4 A national strategy for information exchange, public education, communication and awareness raising, taking into account risk perception of POPs by the public, particularly the least educated.

4. 5.Integration of the Action Plans and strategies in the NIP.

Outputs from Step 4

  1. Reports on removing the barriers to an efficient implementation of the Stockholm Convention obligations aimed at POPs elimination, release reduction and the elimination of stocks and wastes are identified.
  2. Reports on programmes aiming at information exchange, public education, communication and awareness raising are identified.
  3. Reports on strengthening regulatory, institutional and technical capacities are identified.
  4. Reports on steps for overcoming specific exemptions or justifications for their maintenance.
  5. Mechanisms for technology transfer, know how acquisition and/or the adoption of alternatives and traditional practices are established
  6. Required investment costs are estimated
  7. A draft implementation plan based on the identified priorities and strategies included in step 3.
  8. The goals, workplan and performance indicators are established
  9. Total costs of activities and estimation of incremental costs is derived.

Step 5: Endorsement of National Implementation Plan by Stakeholders

The following activities will be performed in this step:

5.1The draft NIP is circulated to major stakeholders for review.

5.2Review and revision of the document as necessary and appropriate.

5.3Preparation of an information document for decision makers, the private sector and public interest groups that includes requests for the resources (human, financial, technical, etc.) required for implementation.

5.4Advocacy activities including a series of meetings for decision-makers, potential donors, the private sector and other key partners to approve the final draft of the NIP and to obtain commitments from stakeholders for implementation of the NIP.