About
Many developing countries are unable to fulfil their obligations as signatories of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) because they lack capacity to address increasingly complex scientific and technical issues. Developing countries are facing a variety of obstacles, including inadequate human, financial, and technical resources. These constraints severely impact their ability to implement MEAs. Thus, the project is based on the recognition that ACP countries have different levels of capacity related to the implementation of MEAs and in that there are a lot of opportunities for South-South Cooperation between the ACP regions.
In order to address this pressing issue, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have joined forces with the European Commission (EC) and the ACP Secretariat (African, Caribbean, Pacific Group of States Secretariat) and regional organisations, namely, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Union Commission (AUC) to enhance the capacity of African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries to improve the implementation of specific MEAs.
Thus, the objective of the Programme is to enhance capacities within ACP countries to comply with Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in order to improve the countries' management of their environment and natural resources. The long term intended impact of the work is to reduce the adverse effects of loss of biodiversity, and contribute to the sound management of chemicals, including the adequate disposal of waste and obsolete pesticides.
Phase 1 of the ACP MEAs project (ACP MEAs 1) financed by the EU’s 9th EDF started implementation in March 2009 and completed its activities by February 2014 with great achievements.
Phase 2 (2014-2017)
Phase 2 (ACP MEAs 2) of the present project is financed by the 10th EDF and builds on lessons learned and experiences gained from Phase 1. It also builds on the achievements of Phase 1 to further enhance the capacity of the ACP countries. Phase 2 focuses on two specific clusters of MEAs: biodiversity and the sound management of chemicals and waste.
Phase 2 of the program will run at a total cost of Euro 11 million for a period of 4 years (2014-2017) having commenced on the date of signature of the contribution agreement between European Commission (EC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on 10 December 2013, and in accordance with the period of execution of the EC – ACP Secretariat Financing Agreement. The EC has a seperate agreement with FAO under which it pursues its specific sub-component.