Download Country: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Project name

Country: Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
Project name:
“Strengthening
Capacities of Civil Society
Organizations for
National and Regional
SAICM Implementation in
the Eastern Europe,
Caucuses and Central
Asia region”
Project Type: MultiCountry
Duration: 4/30/2009 –
4/29/2012
QSP Awarded funding:
$160,000
In-kind Funding:
$38,000
Other Funding:
Round: 4nd
Executing Agency (If
any): UNITAR
ID: QSPTF/ 08/4/NGO/08
IV.16.C.CEEAP NGOs
Executive Summary: This project aimed at assisting project countries to strengthen CSO (civil society organisations)
capacities to ensure their meaningful participation in SAICM implementation at the national and regional levels. Through
strengthening the capacity and involvement of CSOs in national and regional SAICM implementation, the participating
organizations (and through them the public in general) increased their understanding of, and strengthen the foundations
of sound chemicals management. This project greatly assisted Belarus, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Kazakhstan in the
successful implementation of SAICM and chemicals-related international and regional agreements, such as the
Stockholm Convention. During project implementation partners shared their experience and best practices in providing
information to the broad public, to the far distant communities living outside country capitals and industrial cities. Rural
communities, people directly affected by unsound chemicals management, people facing lack of access to information
were successfully approached by CSO partners. Project partners demonstrated good level of expertise and knowledge on
sustainable chemicals management, national chemical legislation and international negotiations. They shared their
experience in raising capacity of stakeholders working on chemical issues, in organizing chemical related discussions,
round tables and press conferences. Project partners revealed very serious problems related to chemicals management
in the target countries. These problems were summarized in the reviews prepared by the CSO partners and presented at
the NGO Forum in Astana in 2010. These reviews helped other EECCA NGOs better understand the situation in their
countries and reveal similar problems they might have on chemical safety. The discussion on Sound chemicals
management as an inherent part of sustainable development and poverty eradication held at the CSO Forum helped
project partners and other EECCA NGOs better understand the link between chemical safety and Green Economy and
prepared them for further discussions which were held during preparation towards Rio+20 Global Summit. Round table
held in the frame of the project on the link between chemical safety and green economy demonstrated great interest
among different stakeholders and showed NGO capacity and understanding of this important connection between
chemical management and green economy.
Impact: The project helped a lot in building capacity of CSO partners as well as other CSO groups involved into project
implementation. More than 40 NGO representatives from 10 EECCA countries participated in the regional CSO Forum on
SAICM in 2010. They received valuable information on SAICM history and new developments; SAICM emerging policy
issues; synergy between chemical agreements; needs assessment and identification of mechanisms for efficient
dissemination of information on SAICM among the general public. Lessons learned from different EECCA NGOs working
on the implementation of SAICM projects in CSO partner countries and beyond were discussed. Good practice examples
were shared which helped improve and strengthen the capacity of CSO partners as well as other CSO groups participated
in this project. NGO experience in working with government authorities and business/industry was highlighted. Good
practice examples were discussed as well as obstacles and constraints faced by NGOs. Collaboration with international
intergovernmental organizations was raised. NGOs emphasized the importance of collaboration with IGOs from both
financial and capacity building reasons.
Replicability: Deliverables produced in the frame of project made a serious background for project sustainability. The
CSO Strategy on Stakeholder Involvement in SAICM Implementation in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan became a
valuable regional resource. As it was decided at the CSO Forum on SAICM an editorial group was formed to broaden the
scope of the CSO Strategy so that it would meet the requirements of NGOs from the whole EECCA region.
Sustainability: Project significantly contributed in raising the capacity of CSOs in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan to
address issues of chemical safety in the frame of SAICM implementation which helped CSOs to initiate new projects and
activities on chemical safety. These activities were supported by different donors and organizations and helped to elevate
sound chemicals management in the targeted countries.
Stakeholder Participation: Project helped a lot in building capacity of CSO partners as well as other CSO groups
involved into project implementation. More than 40 NGO representatives from 10 EECCA countries participated
in the regional CSO Forum on SAICM. They received valuable information on SAICM history and new
developments; SAICM emerging policy issues; synergy between chemical agreements; needs assessment and
identification of mechanisms for efficient dissemination of information on SAICM among the general public.
Lessons learned from different EECCA NGOs working on the implementation of SAICM projects in CSO partner
countries and beyond were discussed. Good practice examples were shared which helped improve and
strengthen the capacity of CSO partners as well as other CSO groups participated in this project. NGO
experience in working with government authorities and business/industry was highlighted. Good practice
examples were discussed as well as obstacles and constraints faced by NGOs. Collaboration with international
intergovernmental organizations was raised. NGOs emphasized the importance of collaboration with IGOs from
both financial and capacity building reasons.
Lessons Learnt: 1. Better information dissemination on SAICM and other issues of chemical safety among CSO
groups is needed, especially among those CSO groups which face lack or no internet access or which are located
in the far distant areas;2. Media should be better involved in providing information on chemicals to the public as
well as in promoting NGO activities on chemical safety; 3. Strengthening NGO-government cooperation on
chemical safety is needed.