The Minamata Convention on Mercury has approved five projects in the First Round of its Specific International Programme amounting to $1 million.
Co-Chairs of the Governing Board of the Specific International Programme of the Convention, Sam Adu-Kumi (Ghana) and Reggie Hernaus (The Netherlands), who made the disclosure in a statement on the Convention’s website on Monday, October 8, 2018, said that the projects were approved on Wednesday, October 3.
The successful projects were submitted by Argentina, Armenia, Benin, Iran and Lesotho.
The Specific International Programme is aimed at improving the capacity of developing-country Parties and Parties with economies in transition to implement their obligations under the Convention.
“On behalf of the Board, we would like to congratulate these applicants,” stated Adu-Kumi and Hernaus, adding: “We noted the high interest in the Specific International Programme, and would like to commend all the applicants, whether successful or not in the First Round, for having prepared high-quality submissions despite the short time frames.”
In total, 19 applications, from 18 Parties, were received by the deadline. According to the Board, it was heartened that applications were received from all regions, including from least developed countries and from small island developing states.
The Co-Chairs added: “The Board would also like to sincerely thank Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States for their contributions to the First Round of the Specific International Programme.
“The Board was unfortunately not in a position to satisfy all requests for funding in this round. Given the high interest shown we hope to be able to launch the next round soon and in this regard would like to encourage those in a position to do so to contribute to a robust next round of the Programme.
“The Board will present its full report to the Conference of the Parties at its second meeting.
“On behalf of the Board we would also like to thank the Government of Norway for the gracious invitation to convene this meeting in Oslo.”
The Minamata Convention on Mercury, under Article 13, sets up a Specific International Programme to support capacity building and technical assistance.
The Governing Board of the Specific International Programme met in Oslo, Norway, from October 2 to 3 to review applications to its First Round.
The Members of the Governing Board of the Specific International Programme are:
- For Africa: Sam Adu-kumi (Ghana) and Younous Adoum Abdallah (Chad)
- For Asia and the Pacific: Prasert Tapaneeynagkul (Thailand) and WTB Dissanayake (Sri Lanka)
- For Central and Eastern Europe: Kaupo Heinma (Estonia) and Anahit Aleksandryn (Armenia)
- For Latin America and the Caribbean: Florencia Grimalt (Argentina) and Nero Cunha Ferreira (Brazil)
- For Western Europe and Others: Reggie Hernaus (The Netherlands) and Atle Fretheim (Norway)
