9 November 2011, Geneva, Switzerland. In the context of the third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on Mercury (INC3), held in Nairobi from 31 October to 4 November 2011, UNITAR participated in a side-event on "Financing implementation of the future mercury instrument" at lunch-time on Monday 31 October 2011.  In order to give delegates a fuller picture of some of the possible elements that may be relevant in designing a financial mechanism for the mercury instrument, a moderated panel discussion was held with  members from some relevant existing funding mechanisms and secretariats or implementing organizations for some of the relevant chemicals andwaste related instruments.During the panel discussion a number of key questions were posed to panel members in order to bring out their experience andviews on the issues involved. The keyquestions related to eligibility and access provisions, funding needs within the various instrumentsand how these are met, experience on linkages between funding, and compliance and governanceissues.

The panel members included:

• Mr. Marco Gonzalez, Executive Secretary, Ozone Secretariat
  
• Mr. Jim Willis, Executive Secretary, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
  
• Mr. Jonathan Krueger, Acting Programme Manager of the Chemicals and Waste Management Programme, UNITAR, as an implementing organization for the SAICM Quick Start Programme
  
• Mr. Ibrahima Sow, Chemicals Cluster Coordinator, Global Environment Facility (GEF).

In February 2009, the Governing Council of UNEP agreed on the need to develop a global legally binding instrument on mercury; UNITAR supports a range of mercury-related training and capacity building activities in a variety of countries.