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Our Portfolio

The current projects of the Chemical and Waste Management Programme comprise:

  • Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM): In February, 2006, the International Conference on Chemicals Management endorsed the Strategic Approach setting the stage for continued assistance to countries to meet the SAICM's 2020 goal of sound chemicals management. UNITAR offers assistance to countries for a variety of identified enabling activities for SAICM
  • Mercury:  Since 2007, UNITAR has delivered training in countries on the development of mercury emissions inventories. UNITAR also supports countries to accelerate the ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and prepare initial assessments for implementation of the Convention.
  • Nanotechnology: Working within the framework of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC), UNITAR has implemented since 2009 a range of activities to support developing countries to raise awareness on nanosafety issues and consider the implications of nano-based and nano-containing products traded across borders.  Core funding for these activities has been generously provided by the Government of Switzerland.
  • Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR): The goal of UNITAR’s PRTR Programme is to assist countries in the design and implementation of national PRTRs through multi-stakeholder processes. In collaboration with IOMC, UNITAR developed a 6-step training methodology to design a national PRTR system.
  • Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm Conventions: To support implementation of the Stockholm Convention, UNITAR assists countries to strengthen the fundamentals of chemicals management in a number of areas; provides technical assistance in specialised areas such as PCB management and implementation of the Basel Ban Amendment; and encourages integrated approaches involving all relevant ministries and stakeholders.
  • Waste Management: The International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC UNEP), in collaboration with UNITAR, have prepared "Guidelines for the development, review and updating of national waste management strategies".
  • Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS): In response to growing requests from developing countries for capacity development to implement the GHS, UNITAR and ILO initiated in 2001 the "UNITAR/ILO Global GHS Capacity Building Programme". The Programme provides training on the development of situation/gap analyses, national GHS implementation strategies, legislation, chemical hazard classification, labelling, safety data sheets (SDS), as well as related support measures such as comprehensibility testing.