Between 7 March and 11 March 2022, the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention provided the platform for a wide range of institutions to organize pre-COP online side events ahead of the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 4.2). COP 4.2 marked the first appearance of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASGM) on the agenda since the inception of the COP series on chemicals and waste. This has become important given that ASGM represents the largest source of mercury emissions into the environment.
(Download : SGP-presentations-Mercury-side-event---Harmonized)
On 7 March, the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme (SGP) , implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), hosted a side event entitled “Community-based actions to combat mercury contamination: experiences and lessons learnt from GEF Small Grants Programme”. Approximately 100 people joined the side event from different parts of the world. SGP’s Global Manager, Ms. Yoko Watanabe moderated the event, with opening remarks from Mr. Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Director - Nature, Climate and Energy and Executive Coordinator, Environmental Finance – UNDP, and Ms. Marianne Bailey, Programme Management Officer for Capacity Building and Technical Assistance - Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Watch the full recording of this event here.
A panel discussion included stakeholders from the public sector and civil society organizations. Mr. Roger Baro, Director of Pollutions and Environmental Risks Prevention, Burkina Faso was the first speaker, and his presentation emphasized SGP’s efforts in mercury management in Burkina Faso particularly how small grants have been used to promote awareness raising and policy support. Following this, Dr. Nicola Bird, Executive Director, Integrated Health Outreach, Antigua and Barbuda spoke about similar community level initiatives in Antigua and Barbuda with a focus on research, awareness raising and capacity building. Mr. Ram Charitra Sah, Executive Director, Center for Public Health and Environmental Development, Nepal provided an example of how civil society organizations are contributing to reducing mercury contamination in the health sector using a Nepalese case study. The last presentation was made by Ms. Anne Nakafeero, Focal Point of Mercury Convention, National Environment Management Authority, Uganda who provided examples of how SGP is using small grants and technical support to empower communities to avoid and/or prevent Mercury misapplication. She also emphasized how SGP’s work is influencing policy on chemicals and waste in Uganda, thus highlighting UNDP’s community to cabinet approach.
SGP’s Global Manager, Yoko Watanabe thanked all stakeholders for their strong support of SGP’s work and their commitment to addressing critical development challenges including Mercury contamination. She indicated that the session brought to light key initiatives implemented by different stakeholders, current challenges, and the need for strong partnership across different sectors. In her final remarks, Ms. Watanabe added that, SGP looks forward to exploring partnership opportunities to scale up good practices from local to global levels. She added that, it is only through collective efforts at different scales that we can make significant progress in addressing mercury contamination.
SGP’s Mercury brochure is available here.
SGP mercury management project in Ukraine.