African Development Bank launches chemicals and waste management initiative

AFRICA – The African Development Bank Group has unveiled a transformative initiative to address hazardous chemical waste in 11 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) across Africa.

This project, titled “Scaling-up Investment and Technology Transfer to Facilitate Capacity Strengthening and Technical Assistance for the Implementation of Stockholm and Minamata Conventions in African LDCs – Phase 2” (AFLDC-2), marks a significant step toward sustainable chemicals and waste management on the continent.

Participating countries include Angola, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.

Through a collaborative, multistakeholder approach, the AFLDC-2 project will enhance regulatory frameworks, strengthen enforcement capacities, and promote environmentally sound practices to combat pollutants like Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and mercury.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) will finance the project with a US$21.3 million grant, supplemented by co-financing from African Development Bank-supported urban, agriculture, and agro-industry projects in these nations.

This initiative is the African Development Bank’s first venture funded solely under the GEF’s Chemicals and Waste Focal Area, representing a milestone in financing innovation for sustainable chemicals management.

African LDCs face mounting challenges due to limited regulatory frameworks, inadequate waste infrastructure, and insufficient enforcement.

POPs, including pesticides, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), and pollutants from open waste burning, have accumulated alarmingly.

Mercury, a toxic element used in batteries, lamps, and dental amalgams, adds further risks to human health and the environment.

The AFLDC-2 project aligns with global efforts to mitigate these threats, adhering to international agreements like the Rotterdam, Stockholm, Minamata, and Basel Conventions, as well as the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).

It seeks to eliminate obsolete chemical stockpiles, reduce toxic emissions, and promote circular economy practices.

The initiative emphasizes capacity-building at national and regional levels, fostering knowledge-sharing and sustainable waste management solutions.

The outcomes are expected to deliver extensive environmental and public health benefits, helping participating countries fulfill their commitments under global conventions.

Gareth Phillips, African Development Bank Manager for Climate and Environment Finance, lauded the initiative’s approval, “The AFLDC-2 project is a pivotal step in Africa’s fight against hazardous chemicals and waste.

“As the Bank’s first project under GEF’s Chemicals and Waste Focal Area, it sets a precedent for future efforts. We are honored to lead this transformative initiative towards a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient Africa.”

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