The mission of HEIN as a CSO is the adoption of ecologically sound practices that will prevent abuse and sole reliance on Hazardous chemicals and pesticides. HEIN is an Information and Action Network for the adoption of Best Environmental Practices (BEPs) for the Sound Management of Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides.
The project is to raise awareness of and share the health concerns resulting from local exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants, and in particular, their impact upon women and, through them, upon future generations. Therefore, recognizing the vulnerability of a rapidly growing population with a low level of awareness, the need for active Civil Society participation to complement the already established Institutional framework for the sound management of Chemicals is imperative.

To complement government efforts towards International Chemicals Management the primary function of the project is to develop strategies of implementation and to identify roles and responsibilities for different stakeholders in the effective and sound management of chemicals (to meet SAICM 2020 goal) in general and UPOPs, and waste in particular in The Gambia. Deliberate consideration will be given to women and children as the most exposed group.

Specific objectives

The overall objective is to support the national framework for the protection of human health and the environment from the negative effects of POPs, through among other issues the Strengthening of National Capacity for the effective and sound management of chemicals in general and POPs in particular.

The primary objective of the project is to develop a systematic and participatory program that will compliment national effort to meet obligations for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention (SC) on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and to continue pursuance of the 2020 goal of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) that The Gambia is party to.

We will therefore seek to:

? To build capacity through training and the establishment of Method and Result Demonstration at three vegetable production schemes to demonstrate the use of ecologically sound pest management techniques (including the use of alternatives to chemicals) that will immensely reduce reliance on the use of Pesticides on vegetables. This is to reduce the number of harmful pesticides on vegetables in The Gambia.
? To create a well sensitized citizenry on the negative consequences of injudicious use of chemicals with particular reference to POPs through meetings with members of Regional Advisory Committees and other stakeholders at Brufut (WCR), Illiasa (NBR) and Kiang Karantaba (LRR)
? To continue sensitization and training of fish smokers with a view to reduce global UPOPs emission thereby meeting the Gambia?s obligation as party to the Stockholm Convention on POPs.

Hence, the project aims to reduce UPOP emission and use of chemicals; and relates very well to the GEF/SGP Classification of local to global coalitions for chemicals and waste management under the primary focal area of Chemicals and Waste Management.

Project Activities

The following are the main planned activities, and where there should be sub activities, as specified in the approved work plan and budget.

1. Establishment of Method and Result Demonstration plots at 3 communal gardens;
2. Training of extension agents in the preparation of alternatives to synthetic pesticides;
3. Field demarcation and land preparation of demonstration plots;
4. Farmer Training, Crop husbandry, Data collection, monitoring and evaluation;
5. Meeting with Regional TAC and stakeholders as part of the public sensitization;
6. Community Radio sensitization;
7. Sensitization and training of fish smokers;
8. Assess capacity of previously trained smokers;
9. Assess the use of chemicals among previously trained communities.