Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BC COP-15, RC COP-10, SC COP-10) were held in-person between 06 June and 17 June 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland. On 9 June, the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), hosted a side event entitled “Plastics and Circular Economy—Community Solutions”. The session was moderated by Mr. Kasper Koefoed, Programme Advisor, Chemicals and Waste, UNDP, with opening remarks from Dr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary for the BRS Conventions, and Ms. Evelyn Swain, Senior Environmental Specialist, Programmes Unit, Global Environment Facility

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A panel discussion included community leaders, Senior government representatives, and UNDP. The first speaker, Dr. Sulan Chen, Programme Advisor, GEF SGP, provided an overview of UNDP’s Community to Cabinet Approach to Plastics Management with some examples of innovative projects. Following this, H.E. Dr. Mohammad Khashashneh, the Secretary General of the Ministry of environment, Jordan, talked about local plastics and waste management in Jordan. Next, Mr. Nguyen Nhu Trung, Depart of Waste Management, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Vietnam, spoke about community to cabinet efforts in plastics and waste management in Vietnam and some progress made so far in addressing the plastic crisis. The final presentation was given by Mr. Roger Baro, Director of pollution prevention and environmental risks, Ministry of Environment, Energy, Water and Sanitation, Burkina Faso. He highlighted some examples of how SGP is supporting communities to take appropriate waste management practices and how these local actions are influencing national policy on plastics and waste management in Burkina Faso.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Kasper Koefoed encouraged stakeholders to support SGP to achieve the impressive goals of the innovation programme. This programme is currently being piloted in 15 countries. He added that we need to work together to build more inclusive societies while reducing and reversing the impacts of plastic pollution.

SGP Seychelles marine plastic project- community members prticipating in beach clean up and waste sorting activities.