COORDINATING CENTRE - Uruguay CONTENTS

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2 CONTENTS 1. IDENTIFICATION AND ADDRESS OF THE CENTRE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SCOPE OF THE COORDINATING CENTRE DIAGNOSE AND EVALUATION OF REGIONAL NEEDS Regional status of the Conventions Regional survey on hazardous substances and waste management Coordination at country level Issues to improve Identified needs INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY OF THE COORDINATING CENTRE Human resources Financial Resources External resources Administrative resources IMPORTANCE OF THE COORDINATING CENTRE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE BASEL CONVENTION Vision Recipients of the Activities of the Coordinating Centre OBJECTIVES ACTIVITY PLAN Strategic lines of action Essential Functions of the Coordinating Centre (Activity1-A1) Strategic Action Line: Strengthening of the Coordinating Centre and its relation with the Regional Centres of Latin America and the Caribbean Programme: Business Opportunities Programme: Marketing Programme: Communication Strategic action line: Development and strengthening of awareness programmes on hazardous wastes Strategic action line: Strengthening of national capacities of the counties of the region for the implementation of the obligations of the Convention through training and technology transfers EXPECTED RESULTS ENDORSEMENT BY MEMBER COUNTRIES ASSUMPTIONS AND UNCERTAINTIES FINANCIAL PLAN FOR THE TERM CONTACTS PLAN MONITORING AND EVALUATION ANNEX I ANNEX II Business Plan

3 1. IDENTIFICATION AND ADDRESS OF THE CENTRE BASEL CONVENTION COORDINATING CENTRE FOR TRAINING AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN - URUGUAY Director: Mrs. Marisol Mallo, Chemical Engineer. Location: Laboratorio Tecnológico del Uruguay (LATU) Address: Avenida Italia 6201, CP 11500, Montevideo, Uruguay Telephone: (5982) , Int. 183 / 158 / 159 Fax: (5982) Int marisol.mallo@dinama.gub.uy, marsha@adinet.com.uy Website: 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Coordinating Centre for Training and Technology for Latin America and the Caribbean was established by the Framework Agreement between the Uruguayan government and the Secretariat of the Basel Convention on January 30 th, 2004, and it operates in the facilities of the Laboratorio Tecnologico del Uruguay (LATU), a public institution subject to private sector laws, through an agreement between the Ministry of Housing, Land Planning, and Environment (Ministerio de Vivienda, Ordenamiento Territorial y Medio Ambiente, MVOTMA) and LATU. During the term the consolidation and strengthening of the Coordinating Centre continued as did the activities and projects tending to promote synergies with chemicals and clean technologies. Among the most relevant activities of the term were: The FAO-BCCC-SBC Project: Inventory of capacity for the destruction of obsolete pesticides and treatment of contaminated sites in Latin America and the Caribbean. (March 2005). Regional workshop on the capacity for analysing persistent organic contaminants in Latin America and the Caribbean. (Montevideo, 5-9 September, 2005, with the participation of delegations from 21 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean). Project on training municipal technicians in environmentally sound hazardous waste management. Pilot project on minimizing the impacts of hazardous wastes (an activity on the subject of clean technologies is being held with the Brazilian National Centre of Clean Technologies). The objective of the Business Plan for the Term is to continue carrying out the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration and the strategic Plan of the Basel Convention (To 2010), attending to local needs and realities. The activities and projects proposed uphold the lines of the previous plan and build on the experience acquired, while embracing the vision of the Coordinating Centre of its consolidation, along with the Regional Centres, as the leading institution for the Latin American and Caribbean countries in the process of capacity building, strengthening and specialization toward minimizing health and environmental risks by means of integrated hazardous waste and substances management, within a framework of sustainable development. The plan is formulated contemplating the need to conceptualise the projects, programmes and activities of an integrated hazardous waste and substances management scenario, paying attention to the life cycle of substances and products; hence, its execution is expected to contribute facilitating the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm conventions. Business Plan

4 The Coordinating Centre sees itself as an strategic actor, facilitating the processes of national and regional capacity building and strengthening through training of the key actors in environmentally sound hazardous waste and substances management, as well as the preparation and divulgation of specialized information. The execution of regional projects, in coordination with the Regional Centres, is thought to be a basic strategy for the transference of technology and successful experiences. Strategic plans for this period: Strengthening the Coordinating Centre and its relationship with the Regional Centres as to position the network of Basel Convention Centres as leaders in the control and environmentally sound management of hazardous substances and wastes. Developing and consolidating hazardous waste awareness and diffusion programmes, integrating all of the areas covered by the Basel Convention. Strengthening of the national capacities of the countries of the region for the implementation of the obligations imposed by the Convention through training and technology transfers, as to minimize the generation of waste and prompt the environmentally sound management of hazardous substances and wastes, minimizing health and environment risks while seeking synergy in the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. The budget for consists of USD 114,000, corresponding to the Coordinating Centre s essential activities, and USD 2,678,000, corresponding to the activities and projects whose execution during the term is considered possible. For the execution of these projects and activities, a number of cooperation agencies have been preliminarily identified one of the very first activities of the term being negotiating agreements that allow for the availability of the necessary funds. The support of the Secretariat is considered essential in securing agreements. 3. SCOPE OF THE COORDINATING CENTRE The scope of the Coordinating Centre, circumscribed to Latin America and the Caribbean, includes: 1. The Sub-regional Centres of South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, with seat in Argentina, El Salvador, and Trinidad and Tobago, respectively. 2. The countries of the region, of which the following have ratified the Convention: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Annex I presents information on the Competent Authorities of the member countries of the region. Business Plan

5 4. DIAGNOSE AND EVALUATION OF REGIONAL NEEDS Ever since the Third Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (1995) the Coordinating Centre has kept close contact with countries of the region, in particular: Regional meetings, organized by the Coordinating Centre, on specific topics, having a high rate of participation by countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, and with substantial attendance of government officials. In these events, the participants present their countries situation, discuss, and take part in preparing proposals. Specific consultations, information requests, and project presentations, which have allowed the Coordinating Centre to be kept updated on regional needs. 4.1 Regional status of the Conventions Annex II presents a complete list of the countries of the region, indicating their status as to membership of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. This information is summarized in the following chart. 100% 90% 80% Situation (of Latin American and Caribbean Countries) Relative to the Conventions (% of countries) 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% NO ACTION SIGNED RATIFIED 20% 10% 0% BASEL STOCKHOLM ROTTERDAM Source: Parties to the Basel Convention ( The Rotterdam Convention ( Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants ( (August 2006) 4.2 Regional survey on hazardous substances and waste management In January 2004 the Coordinating Centre organized a regional survey, whose results were presented during the workshop in the, Promotion of the Coordinated Implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions in Latin America and the Caribbean (financed by the Swiss Government). Attended this workshop 64 delegates from the ministries of the environment, health, agriculture and foreign affairs of 28 countries of the region, along with NGOs, industrial chambers, the Executive Secretary of the Basel Convention, the Executive Director of UNEP Chemicals and representatives of other international institutions. The survey was conducted by means of a questionnaire sent to the 33 countries of the region plus information that become known through the delegates presentations and during the discussions in the workshops. The objective of the survey, whose approach was one of integrated management of hazardous waste and substances, was: Business Plan

6 Evaluating priorities and needs in integrated hazardous waste and substances management. Identifying advances, such as plans, strategies and coordination. Strengthen exchange and cooperation. As a result, responses from 20 countries were obtained, which were analysed trying to identify the opportunities for advancement and the different levels of action, evaluating strategies, tools, and procedures used in hazardous waste and substances management. The results are outlined below Coordination at country level Different levels of coordination were identified in the different countries surveyed. The levels are: Intra-institutional and inter-institutional coordination. Integration of stakeholders: community, regional and local governments, the private sector (industry, trade, etc.), the academic sector, and research centres. Regional coordination. The areas in which there are more experience of coordination are: Pesticide management, in a more advanced stage of coordination than industrial substances and hazardous waste. Implementation of programmes for specific substances and waste management (PCBs, DDT, etc.), for which coordination arrangements have been developed. Inter-institutional coordination plans for integrated POP management are being developed, associated, mainly, to national plans for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention Issues to improve The main challenges in the advancement of integrated substances and waste management are: Complementing and unifying activities, human, financial, and technical resources for greater efficiency. Securing greater access to information and training through greater exchange of information and national and regional experiences. Developing and optimising procedures and harmonize the normative. Developing and optimising monitoring means for the control of illicit traffic of hazardous substances and waste. Broadening the response and decision making power at the national level. Improving access to financial resources for specific projects. Obtaining access to technology Identified needs The next list summarizes some issues the region needs to address to advance toward the environmentally sound management of hazardous substances and wastes. Business Plan

7 Evaluating the technologies used in the final disposal of wastes, promotion of BEP and BAT and initiatives tending to the minimization of hazardous waste generation. Implementation of means for controlling the traffic and trade on dangerous substances and wastes. Evaluating the means and strategies for the implementation of the Conventions. Creating awareness in the stakeholders in hazardous substances and waste management. Training and exchanging information, through technical assistance from regional and international bodies (workshops, consultation, information exchange). Creating adequate analytical capacity regarding hazardous substances and wastes (human resources, infrastructure, equipment). Developing inventories and registries of substances and wastes, considering their different states (trade, production, importation, exportation). Strengthening technical capacities, information systems, libraries, guidelines, workshops and conferences. Developing, updating, and enacting regulations for an effective application. 4.3 Survey of the Regional Municipalities Within the project, Training of municipal technicians in environmentally sound hazardous waste management, completed during 2005, the Coordinating Centre surveyed the profiles and training needs of the municipalities of the region, and used this information, contemplating the needs of the region, in preparing environmentally sound hazardous waste management training programmes. The survey, in that instance, was circumscribed to Latin American countries, obtaining a total of 46 responses from 14 countries. The main findings of the survey are outlined below. Even though in most countries the issue of hazardous waste is in the orbit of national government, 53% of the municipalities reported waste control to be under their direct jurisdiction, and 40% said not to be acting in coordination with their national government. 62% of the municipalities have no established relation with the Competent Authority of the Basel Convention, and in some cases no knowledge whatsoever of the Convention itself. 95% of the municipalities see the problem of hazardous waste as important or very important. Training in hazardous waste is minimal. In the majority of the cases, less than 10% of the personnel are trained, though there is an important manifestation of interest in receiving training, be it through a traditional classroom or distance education format. These results confirm the advisability of conducting training activities in hazardous waste management that involve not only national authorities but the municipalities. 4.4 General considerations As mentioned above, the Coordinating Centre has established different types of contacts with the different countries of the region, using various means, which has made possible for the Coordinating Centre to have an up-to-date view of the general situation of the region. This Business Plan

8 knowledge has been and presently is an essential input in developing activities and projects, allowing to adequate the scope of each subject. Nonetheless, a systematic survey of the requirements of the region that allows for permanent updates is of the essence. It must be considered that information gathering in precise and concrete form, comprising all the aspects of hazardous substances and waste management, requires a considerable effort on behalf of the institutions receiving the request, which generally have severe limitations (as in human resources). Furthermore, in most countries of the region there is an imposing limitation in the availability of information at a central level regarding hazardous substances and waste management, i.e. the agencies inquired sometimes do not have the information required or it is held, fragmented, by various organizations, which makes it difficult to come up with regional diagnoses. This situation has lead to state in this business plan a strategy for advancing in the surveillance and systematisation of information regarding hazardous substances and waste management. 5. INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY OF THE COORDINATING CENTRE 5.1 Legal status The Coordinating Centre for Training and Technology for Latin America and the Caribbean was established by the Framework Agreement between the Uruguayan government and the Secretariat of the Basel Convention, in concurrence with the Conference of the Parties, in Montevideo on January 30 th, Then, it is a national institution with a regional role which operates under Uruguayan laws and regulations. Per the aforementioned agreement, the Ministry of Housing, Land Planning and Environment designated LATU to house the Coordinating Centre. Among the functions of the Coordinating Centre is the coordination of Regional Centres with seat in Argentina, El Salvador, and Trinidad and Tobago. The creation of a Steering Committee shall be established to advise the Coordinating Centre on the development and implementation of the activities relevant to its regional coordinator role. The Committee shall be conformed by the Directors of the Regional Centres (South America, Central America, and the Caribbean), a representative per country of each region, the Director of the Coordinating Centre, and a representative of the Uruguayan Ministry of the Environment. 5.2 Human resources Director: Projects Director: Secretary: Mrs. Marisol Mallo, Chemical Engineer Mr. Javier Martinez, Chemical Engineer, M.Sc. Ms. Marsha Marroche Collaborators: The Coordinating Centre counts with the support of a group of qualified specialists who have contributed in the different activities and projects conducted, who adhere to the vision of the Coordinating Centre and who are aware of the different aspects of the relevance of the Conventions in the region. Mrs. Jacqueline Álvarez, Chemist Pharmacist, Chief of the Hazardous Substance Department of the National Environment Direction (DINAMA) Business Plan

9 Mr. Marcelo Cousillas, Lowyer, International Consultant on Environmental Legislation, Professor of environmental law at the Universidad de la República and legal advisor to the DINAMA. Mr. Fernando Lugris, BA in International Relations, Consultant to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with ample experience in negotiation of multilateral agreements, especially regarding chemicals. Mrs. Rosario Lucas, Chemical Engineer, technician of the DINAMA, expert in environmental laboratories and PCBs. Mr. Pablo Gristo, Chemical Engineer, technician of the DINAMA, expert in contaminated sites and waste management. Mrs. Verónica Gonzalvez, Chemical Engineer, technician of the DINAMA, expert in POPs. Mrs. Liliana Borzacconi, Chemical Engineer, M.Sc-Phd., Professor of the Chemical Engineer Institute at the Universidad de la República, expert in waste treatment and training programmes. Mrs. Claudia Cabal, Engineer, expert in project management and PCBs. Mrs. Marise Kéller, Chemical Engineer, expert in clean technologies, consultant to the Cleaner Production Centre at the Universidad de Montevideo, worked with the Coordinating Centre in the project Minimizing the impacts generated by hazardous wastes. Mrs. Laura Márquez, Chemical Engineer, worked with the Coordinating Centre in the project Minimizing the impacts generated by hazardous wastes. 5.3 Financial Resources For basic operation of the Coordinating Centre in the term , the Uruguayan government, through the Ministry of the Environment and LATU, is to contribute the amount of USD 94,000. The Secretariat of the Basel Convention is to disburse the amount of USD 20,000 to complete the Coordinating Centre s basic operating budget. See Chart for Activity 1, under point External resources The plan involves seeking technical and financial cooperation by the countries of the region, institutions, and international agencies. During the term several institutions have cooperated with the Coordinating Centre. The International Development Research Centre (CIID/IDRC) in particular, through the Environmental Management Secretariat for Latin America and the Caribbean (EMS) has been a strategic partner and has financed many projects of the Coordinating Centre, partnership that is to be maintained. UNEP Chemicals has collaborated with the execution of a series of training and technical exchange activities, and is seen as key in future activities. FAO has collaborated in the execution of projects related to pesticides and the Rotterdam Convention, and it is possible that it keeps collaborating in that area technically and financially. It is expected that other cooperation agencies such as GTZ may back the Coordinating Centre s training activities and projects through a framework agreement. The input of external resources by means of technical assistance is also considered. Business Plan

10 5.5 Administrative resources The Coordinating Centre has the faculty of signing agreements through LATU and has access to its administrative services, being able to make any and all kind of acquisitions and contracts. It also has an independent cost central, allowing for transparency in found management. The Coordinating Centre has the faculty to prepare MOUs and projects documents. 6. IMPORTANCE OF THE COORDINATING CENTRE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE BASEL CONVENTION 6.1 Vision The vision of the Coordinating Centre is its consolidation, together with the Regional Centres, in a network of leader institutions for Latin America and the Caribbean in capacity building, strengthening and specialisation for minimizing health and environmental risks associated to the use of hazardous substances and in hazardous waste management, within a framework of sustainable development. The Activities Plan for has been prepared so that its execution contributes to the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration and the Strategic Plan of the Basel Convention. The Plan contemplates the necessity of conceptualising the projects, programmes, and activities in a setting of integrated hazardous substances and waste management, attending to the lifecycle of substances and products; hence, its execution is expected to contribute to the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. The Coordinating Centre sees itself as an strategic actor, facilitating the processes of national and regional capacity building and strengthening through the training of key actors in the environmentally sound management of hazardous substances and wastes, as well as the preparation and divulgation of specialized information. The execution of regional projects, in coordination with the Regional Centres, is thought to be a basic strategy for the transference of technology and successful experiences. In this term, emphasis will be placed in strengthening the capacity of the Centres, and the Coordinating Centre in particular, as to, in cooperation with the Secretariat, become a strategic actor, facilitating the processes of national and regional consultation and systematically collect information to provide efficiently and effectively services in cooperation and technical assistance and so endeavour for better waste management and the reduction of associated risks. 6.2 Recipients of the Activities of the Coordinating Centre National and Municipal Authorities: Focal Points and Competent Authorities, national or municipal public entities connected to environmental issues, hazardous substances and waste management, control of international traffic of hazardous substances and wastes. Productive and Service Sectors: Industries, agricultural activity, mining, trade chambers, industrial associations, laboratories. Business Plan

11 Waste Management Sector: Companies related to the transport, treatment, recycling, storage, final disposal, and transboundary movement of hazardous wastes. Scientific Community: Universities, technological institutes, research centres and laboratories. Civil Society: NGOs, media, schools, and the general public. 7. OBJECTIVES 1. Strengthening the capacity of the Coordinating Centre as to, along with the Regional Centres and the Secretariat, improve the assistance to the countries of the region in the implementation of the objectives of the Basel Convention in the context of regional realities. 2. Improving the quality and quantity of information at regional level on the management of hazardous substances and wastes to the effect of allowing for the permanent evaluation of the efficacy of the measures implemented as a result of the obligations acquired by adhering to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. 3. Assisting the countries of the region improve the national capacities for the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes, integrating the obligations arising from the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. 4. Train local actors in environmentally sound integrated management of hazardous substances and wastes, emphasizing the implementation of preventive measures and the development of pilot projects on integrated management of hazardous waste resulting from mass consumption products and attending to the priority waste streams. 5. Improving the management of healthcare wastes through training and technology transfers and the adaptation of successful experiences in the region. 6. Evaluating the regional situation regarding the generation and management of electric and electronic wastes (e-waste) and assist the countries in the implementation of programmes for the minimization and environmentally sound management of such wastes in the spirit of the principle of extended responsibility. 7. Improving the capacities of the region for the evaluation of the levels of exposition to persistent organic contaminants and heavy metals. 8. Contributing to strengthen the processes of decision making in the countries of the region for the treatment and final disposal of hazardous wastes, in particular persistent contaminants, and promote the adoption of clean production technologies 9. Expanding the level of information and improving the training of NGOs and the media in issues relating to preventing the generation and environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes. Business Plan

12 8 ACTIVITY PLAN 8.1 Strategic lines of action The Coordinating Centre has defined a series of strategic lines of action as to attain the objectives stated in point 7. These lines of action are the frame for the macro-activities to be developed in the plan, which includes the essential activities for the operation of the Coordinating Centre and a set of programmes, projects, and activities for every specific strategic line of action. The strategic lines of action for this period are: Strengthening the Coordinating Centre and its relation with the Regional Centres of Latin America and the Caribbean as to position the network of Basel Convention Centres as leading institutions in the environmentally sound management of hazardous substances and wastes. Developing and strengthening awareness programmes in hazardous wastes management, integrating all of the areas covered by the Convention. Strengthening of the national capacities of the countries of the region in the implementation of the obligations emerging from the Convention through training and technology transfers as to minimize health and environmental risks by means of minimizing the generation of hazardous wastes, their environmentally sound management, and capitalizing on the synergy of the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. The strengthening of the Coordinating Centre and the Regional Centres will be based on the consolidation of the mechanisms for consultation and information exchange and a systematic search for agreements that translates into future sustainability and facilitates the execution of complementary projects between the Coordinating Centre and the Regional Centres that attend the requirements of the region. The strengthening of the awareness programmes for the control and environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes will complement the development, design, and publication of technical materials especially designed for the different target audiences, and the use of electronic media for universal access, maintaining a dynamic and updated website. The Coordinating Centre will promote the strengthening of the institutions responsible of enforcing and controlling the transboundary movement and management of hazardous substances and wastes, broadening the category to include the municipalities, in order to improve the implementation of the Convention. The approach in all actions tending to the strengthening of national capacities will be that of an integrated management of hazardous substances and wastes, covering all stages of their life-cycle and emphasising the implementation of preventive measures. In view of the main issues, the Coordinating Centre has formulated a group of projects and programmes in the following areas: Environmentally sound management of healthcare wastes. Cooperation with the municipalities in the environmentally sound management of waste. Persistent organic contaminants. Electric and electronic waste (e-waste). Business Plan

13 In addition, and regarding the manifest requirements of the region, there have been formulated a series of projects tending to improve the availability of information necessary to evaluate the measures implemented, and strengthening the participation of the population through training and awareness programmes. The essential functions of the Coordinated Centre and the development of the programmes, projects and activities for each specific strategic action line are next outlined. 8.2 Essential Functions of the Coordinating Centre (Activity1-A1) The operation of the Coordinating Centre entails the activities its essential functions determine, as well as those necessary to negotiate and sign agreements and implement activities and projects relating this plan s action lines and programmes. The staff of the Coordinating Centre is conformed by a Director, a Projects Director, and a Secretary. The Coordinating Centre also counts on the cooperation of a group of consultants in technical, legal, and operative matters from the Ministry of the Environment. The Coordinating Centre s infrastructure includes an independent facility of fifty square meters, complete with office equipment and fixtures suited for office work and meetings. The facility has broadband internet connection and is liked to the intranet of the LATU. The conference room accommodates 300 people and there are additional rooms for work groups. The maintenance costs associated to the infrastructure, communications, intranet, and supplies are covered entirely by the Coordinating Centre s host, LATU. The costs associated to the salaries of the Director, Projects Director and Secretary are covered by the Ministry of the Environment of Uruguay. The costs associated to materials, publications, and travelling expenses are included in the operative costs, and it is proposed they are funded by the Basel Convention. Chart I: Coordinating Centre Operative Costs MVOTMA LATU SBC Total Director Projects Director Secretary Advisors Locale Communication Services / maintenance Supplies Printed matter Travel expense Sub total TOTAL (USD) Business Plan

14 8.3 Strategic Action Line: Strengthening of the Coordinating Centre and its relation with the Regional Centres of Latin America and the Caribbean The implementation of this strategic action line will be developed through the following programmes: Business opportunities. Marketing. Communication: systematic communication with the South America, Central America and the Caribbean Centres and the countries of the region Programme: Business Opportunities Negotiations with various institutions will be sought through technical and financial cooperation agreements, giving the countries information on possible sources and forms of financing. This programme comprises, basically, the following activities: Negotiating with cooperation agencies and contributors. Implementing framework agreements with other institutions and organizations. Negotiation with cooperation agencies and contributors (Activity 2-A2) Objective: Securing funds for the implementation of regional projects and identifying sources for national projects and activities. Specific Tasks: Identifying contributors, lines and forms of financing. Establishing contact and start negotiation. Formulating proposals of concrete projects. Formalizing the agreements. Informing the countries about the possibilities of specific forms of financing. Expected results: Three successful agreements per year. Indicator: Number of negotiations undertaken. Budget: Included in the Coordinating Centre s operating budget. Implementation of framework agreements with other institutions and organizations (Activity 3-A3) Objective: Reaching agreements with institutions with similar or complementary action lines for carrying out common projects. Specific Tasks: Identifying institutions. Formulating Proposals. Signing intent agreements. Expected results: One framework agreement signed per year. Indicator: Number of framework agreements singed per year. Budget: Included in the Coordinating Centre s operating budget. Business Plan

15 8.3.2 Programme: Marketing The programme implies preparing and executing a marketing proposal to keep the Centre present in the countries of the region, cooperation agencies, events, fairs, and expositions. Promoting the Coordinating Centre and the network of Centres (Activity 4-A4) Objective: Keeping the image of the Coordinating Centre up to date and promote its and the Latin American and Caribbean Centres services and activities in different forms. Specific tasks: Updating and maintaining the Coordinating Centre s website. Coordinating and compatibilising promotion actions with the Regional Centres as to improve the services offer. Providing the service of promoting the activities and projects executed by the countries of the region. Publishing and distributing promotion materials and preparing electronic newsletters aimed at promoting the services and activities of the network of Centres to the stakeholders. Expected Results: Promoting at least two activities or projects per year by countries of the region. Executive Unit: The Coordinating Centre. Indicator: Number of visits to website, number of promotion activities actually carried out or projected, number of publications actually published or planned. Budget: USD 10,000, included in the Coordinating Centre s operating budget. Participation in regional and international events (Activity 5-A5) Objective: Achieve a better position for the Coordinating Centre and the Regional Centres through different forms of participation. Specific Tasks: Identifying events of interest and form of participation (personal presence, through materials, stands, bulletins, etc.). Securing resources and event participation. Expected results: Participation in two events per year. Executive Unit: The Coordinating Centre. Indicator: Number of instances of participation by the Coordinating Centre. Budget: USD 10,000, included in the Coordinating Centre s operating budget Programme: Communication Systematic Communication (Activity 6-A6) Objective: Strengthening the interaction between the Centres in issues relating to programmes and projects, progress of business plans, negotiations with donors, discussion of documents relative to the Centres, and participation in meetings of the different bodies of the Convention. Maintaining a systematic and documented consultation mechanism for the counties of the region. Business Plan

16 Description: the projected communication system sets two types of communication instances: Steering Committee meetings and distance contacts. The issues to be addressed relate to the programmes and projects, progress of business plans, negotiations with donors, discussion of documents relative to the Centres, and participation in meetings of the different bodies of the Convention. Specific Tasks: Periodic communication. Developing tools that facilitate communication and information exchange through the internet. Securing resources for the meeting of the Steering Committee. Holding at least one biannual meeting of the Steering Committee, actual or by videoconference, according to available funds. Having at least one biannual consultation of the countries of the region. Compiling and making available a database with consultation information. Expected Results: Consolidation of an efficient and effective communication (exchange) system that permits interaction between the Centres on at least three strategic issues per year and a biannual meeting. Having a biannual consultation of the countries of the region. Executive Unit: The Coordinating Centre. Indicator: Number of issues analysed per year by the Centres, number of actual Committee meetings, number of consultations implemented. Budget: USD 15,000. Implementation of a consultation system on regional needs aimed at improving the management of hazardous substances and wastes (Project 1-P1) Objective: Developing a consultation methodology and implementing an information system that permits improving the level of information and keeping up to date with the needs of the countries of the region on hazardous substances and waste management, serving as a base for the support strategy of the network of Centres of Latin America and the Caribbean and helping evaluate the measures implemented. Macro-activities: Defining what key information to gather. Identifying the national actors involved in the management of hazardous substances and wastes at national and local level. Developing a set of indicators for the management of hazardous substances and wastes. Surveying the availability of information at national level and the necessity of systematisation. Making a methodological proposal for the systematisation of key information. Developing a system of information that supports the key information by means of freeware software. Implementing two information systematisation pilot projects in two countries of the region. Developing a regional consultation on the methodological proposal. Adjusting the methodology and preparing a methodology guideline on information systematisation. Producing a diagnose report and regional action proposal for improving the level of information. Business Plan

17 Scope: Latin America and the Caribbean. Executive unit: The Coordinating Centre and Regional Centres. Span: 18 months. Budget: USD 95, Strategic action line: Development and strengthening of awareness programmes on hazardous wastes Training for NGOs and the media (Project 2-P2) Objectives: Developing a training programme aimed at NGOs and the media on integrated hazardous waste management, hazardous substances management, and the mass communication of associated risks. Macro-activities: Surveying regional information and training requirements, identifying existing initiatives. Preparing a database with information from national and regional NGOs concerned with issues relating to hazardous substances and wastes. Preparing a database of the leading media in the countries of the region. Designing a strategy dealing with the issues of training and materials preparation for the different target audiences. The materials will be composed of course materials proper and materials specifically devised for awareness development and promotion. Offering a distance education course for NGOs and one for people in the media. Offering classroom courses in two countries of the region. Preparing a proposal for permanent training and awareness development initiatives for the region and a methodological guideline for its national implementation. Scope: Latin America and the Caribbean. Executive unit: The Coordinating Centre. Indicator: Number of media people trained, number of NGO members trained, training evaluation results. Span: 12 months. Budget: USD 90, Strategic action line: Strengthening of national capacities of the counties of the region for the implementation of the obligations of the Convention through training and technology transfers There have been devised, within the reach of this action line, a series of activities and projects tending to cover the following areas: Strengthening the control of the transboundary movement of hazardous substances and wastes. Training in environmentally sound waste management. Training in the implementation of integrated waste management plans. Training in clean production technologies. Synergy of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. Business Plan

18 Strengthening the control of the transboundary movement of hazardous substances and wastes (Project 3-P3) Objective: Strengthening the concrete aspects of the control of transboundary movements of hazardous substances and wastes in six countries according to their specific needs. Promoting the exchange of knowledge and sharing experiences between the countries of the region. Description: The Coordinating Centre will prompt the Competent Authorities of the countries of the region to present projects for the execution of a programme of strengthening of the outstanding institutions in the control of transboundary movements of hazardous substances and wastes (customs, Competent Authorities, etc). A country for each sub-region will be selected for its proposals to be executed. The proposals should strengthen the control of transboundary movements and transit of the hazardous substances and wastes subject to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions. Macro-activities: Formulating the reference framework for the presentation of the proposals by the countries and establishing the selection criteria. Receiving the proposals and selecting the beneficiaries. Establishing the administrative mechanisms for the transfer of funds to the beneficiaries. Executing the project, preparing a report and monitoring the programme in the countries selected. Evaluating the results and preparing a proposal for the divulgation of the experiences in the countries of the region. Preparing support materials for the countries exporting hazardous wastes. Implementing the divulgation of the results and experiences. Executive unit: The Coordinating Centre and the selected countries. Indicator: Number of countries executing the project over those selected. Span: 24 months. Budget: USD 250,000. Regional workshop on the legal aspects of the implementation of the international environmental conventions of Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (Activity 7-A7) Objectives: Analysing the legal aspects of the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions as to facilitate their enforcement and compliance by the countries of the region. Exchanging experiences regarding legal instruments and other aspects integral to the national legislation on chemical substances and hazardous wastes, especially those norms relative to the national implementation of the international conventions. Identifying synergies within the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions relative to relevant legal matters regarding implementation and compliance. Specific Tasks: Preparing and organizing the workshop, surveying legal information relative to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and national legislations on chemical substances and hazardous wastes. Business Plan

19 Holding a three-day workshop in Montevideo, during the first quarter of 2006, with delegations of up to two people per country. Publishing reference materials on the results of the workshop, in Spanish and English. Scope: Expert government legal advisors or government officials in charge of the application and implementation of the international environmental conventions of Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm from Latin America and the Caribbean. Executive unit: The Coordinating Centre, UNEP Chemicals, OFEFP Switzerland. Budget: USD 150,000. Training of municipal technicians and technicians from other institutions (Activity 8-A8) Objectives: Training municipal technicians and technicians from other key institutions in hazardous waste management. Description: This activity involves giving continuity to the training service that begun in 2005 with the project, Training of municipal technicians in the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes. Specific tasks: Offering the training service and identifying possible strategic partners. Securing the resources to finance the courses. Realization of the convocations. Giving distance education courses. Indicator: number of courses actually given, number of trained people. Budget: USD 10,000. Model management systems for the revaluation, recycling or treatment of hazardous wastes generated as a result of consumption of certain goods (Project 4-P4) Objective: Improving hazardous waste management practices relating to the waste generated as a result of mass consumption. Macro-activities: Training technicians from the waste management sector in environmentally sound waste management practices and sustainable production and consumption. Strengthening the links between local actors and national authorities responsible for waste management and facilitate the relation between the private and public sectors. Implementing three demonstrative projects on the management of hazardous waste streams generated as a result of mass consumption, to include a pilot plant for the revaluation-recycling-treatment of wastes. Selected waste streams will be along the lines defined by the Convention for this term. Divulgating successful experiences of the region. Scope: Latin America and the Caribbean. Executive unit: The Coordinating Centre, countries selected for the execution of pilot projects. Span: 36 months. Budget: USD 568,000. Business Plan

20 Training and technology transfers in the environmentally sound management of solid healthcare wastes (Project 5-P5) Objective: Improving the local management of solid healthcare wastes through training the personnel in charge of managing and controlling the said wastes and divulgating successful experiences. Macro-activities: Evaluating regional weaknesses in solid health care waste management. Surveying the region for successful solutions in the different stages of the process, including the normative, origin-classification systems, and treatment by different technologies as to divulgate successful experiences. Preparing training materials tailored to the region on the environmentally sound management of solid healthcare wastes. Training the personnel in charge of managing and controlling solid healthcare wastes in environmentally sound management practices through three regional workshops and three distance education courses. Scope: Latin America and the Caribbean. Executive unit: The Coordinating Centre. Span: 24 months. Budget: USD 200,000. Minimization of the generation of electric and electronic wastes (e-waste) (Project 6-P6) Objective: Strengthening national capacities in order to implement programmes for the minimization and environmentally sound management of e-waste through the application of the principle of extended responsibility. Macro-activities: Evaluating local problems related to the waste stream in question. Estimating the quantities and types of wastes generated and the main causes for their generation. Identifying critical aspects. Preparing a technical guideline for the development of national instruments for minimizing the generation of e-waste and implementing national management plans for post-consumption wastes. Holding a training workshop. Preparing a distance education course aiming at the implementation of postconsumption management plans. Scope: Latin America. Executive unit: The Coordinating Centre in cooperation with the Argentina Centre (subject to confirmation). Span: 18 months. Budget: USD 170,000. Training in the detection of persistent organic contaminants in wastes and environmental matrixes (Project 7-P7) Objectives: Improving the information and training of national technicians of the countries of the region in the detection of persistent organic contaminants and metals in wastes and environmental matrixes. Business Plan

21 Macro-activities: Preparing materials on sampling and analysis techniques for persistent organic contaminants and metals in wastes and environmental matrixes. Developing three regional workshops on sampling and analysis techniques, including practice. Implementing an information system of regional capacities for CPO sampling and analysis. Executive unit: The Coordinating Centre and specialized laboratories to be acknowledged as partners in the execution of this project. Span: 12 months. Budget: USD 250,000. Technical alternatives in hazardous waste management in Latin America and the Caribbean, with special emphasis on persistent organic contaminants (Project 8-P8) Objective: Technical-economic-social evaluation of alternatives in the disposal of hazardous wastes, tending to the development of tools that contribute improving decision making, considering waste characteristics and installed capacity. Adequate selection being a key element in minimizing health and environment risks and minimize environmental liabilities associated with poor management Macro-activities: Updating the survey of waste management alternatives in use in the countries of the region and evaluating installed capacities. Evaluating environmental and socio-economic techniques emphasising: Revaluation of wastes Incineration Co-processing wastes in clinker ovens Physical-chemical treatments Final disposal Waste export Regional workshops, aimed at decision making bodies (three workshops, one per region). Identifying critical management aspects. Preparing technical criteria for the selection of alternatives. The criteria should be based on waste categories and should include minimum quality standard specifications, and provide for operation and control for each alternative pre-determined as viable. Prepare a database based on the type of waste using reference technical documents on treatment and final disposal of hazardous wastes. Preparing a methodological manual for the selection of alternatives in hazardous waste management. Seminar-workshop aimed at decision makers on hazardous waste management alternatives. Preparing divulgation materials on hazardous waste management alternatives and their application at the international level. Scope: Latin America. Executive unit: The Coordinating Centre. Span: 24 months. Budget: USD 450,000. Business Plan