Background:
Jamaica signed the Stockholm Convention in May 2001 and ratified it in June 2007. In July 2011 the National Implementation Plan (NIP) was completed and submitted to the Convention Secretariat. Since the signature of the Stockholm Convention, Jamaica has made substantial progress to achieve Convention objectives related to identification, prevention, reduction and elimination of persistent organic pollutants and waste.

Goals, objectives and activities:
There is an established link between poverty and the increased risk of exposure to toxic and hazardous chemicals. Exposure of vulnerable people to toxic chemicals is often strongly correlated to geography, where low income populations typically reside in places considered undesirable, such as areas in the proximity to a factory, landfills, site incinerators and/or hazardous waste dumps (UNDP, 2011). In Jamaica, some of these situations are present. The Government of Jamaica is desirous to address these situations as part of its development agenda aimed at improving the lives and livelihoods of the Jamaican population, one such key initiative bein the update of the NIP. The overall goal of the NIP updating exercise is to contribute to the protection of human health and the environment from the risks posed by the unsound use, management and release of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

The objectives of the project are a) to comply with Article 7 of the Stockholm Convention by updating the National Implementation Plans on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs); Article 7 of the Convention states that Parties shall “review and update, as appropriate, its implementation plan on a periodic basis and in a manner to be specified by the decision of the Conference of the Parties”; b) to comply with Article 15 of the Stockholm convention by providing statistical data on production, imports and exports of new POPs; and c) to strengthen national capacities in activities related to the updating of the NIP.

National capacities related to new POPs need to be assessed, in particular regarding the preparation of inventories, as well as the management and disposal or elimination of these substances, and a capacity building program that needs to be built accordingly. The project will support the strengthening of national capacities in the mentioned lines.
The project will be implemented around four components:

1- Initiation of the process of reviewing and updating the NIP .
2- Assessment of the national infrastructure and capacity for the management of all POPs, development of New POPs’ inventories and updating initial POPs’ inventories.
3- Development of Action Plans for New POPs and updating of Action Plans for initial POPs including gaps analysis
4- Formulation, endorsement and submission of updated NIP.

The project will be implemented by UNDP Jamaica under the guidance of UNDP Regional Centre -GEF Unit and in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC). A Project Coordinator will be employed to manage the implementation of activities in the project.

At the international level, the project will include:
a) UNDP Regional Center-GEF Unit: will provide technical support through UNDP Jamaica and also provide the global perspective and experience from other countries.
b) Others: such as internationally accredited experts to provide capacity strengthening on new POPs, etc.

At the national level, the project will include:
a) The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation as national executing agency for the project, whose role is to coordinate the NIP update actions. This includes technical support and guidance from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)
b) The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of Health, which will address concerns regarding pesticide POPs.
c) Ministry of Industry,Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries which will address issues related to the fabrication/use/disposal of items possibly contaminated with POPs, such as: electronic parts, industrial sheets, interiors, wires, furniture stores, etc.
d) Ministryof Energy, which will address concerns regarding management of PCBs.
e) Minstry of Local Government and Community Development, National Solid Waste Management Authority, which help to address the management and disposal of POPs.

Project Details

GEF Project ID
10130
Country
Jamaica
Implementing Agencies
United Nations Development Programme
Approval FY
2019
Status
Completed
Region
Small Islands Developing States
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation
GEF Period
GEF - 7
Project Type
Enabling Activity
Focal Areas
Funding Source
GEF Trust Fund

Financials

USD
Co-financing Total
0
GEF Project Grant
250,000
GEF Agency Fees
23,750

Timeline

Received by GEF
01 Nov 2018
Project Approved for Implementation
03 Apr 2019
Project Closed
28 Sep 2022