Specific International Programme to support Capacity-Building and Technical Assistance

The Specific International Programme to support Capacity Building and Technical Assistance (SIP) is one of the two components of the financial mechanism of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, together with the Global Environment Facility (GEF). It was defined by Article 13 of the Convention, and in 2017 the First Conference of the Parties (COP-1) decided on its duration and the arrangements for its operation (Decision MC-1/6). As requested by decision MC-1/6, UNEP established the Specific Trust Fund, effective 1 January 2018, to receive funds for the SIP.

Third Round: Nine projects approved (2020-2021)

SIP projects can support implementation of a range of activities from mercury waste management to phasing out mercury-added products, improving mercury inventories, developing and updating legal frameworks, developing and strengthening laboratory networks, delivering trainings and raising awareness on the impact of mercury on human health and the environment.

The Governing Board of the Specific International Programme met online from 9-13 August 2021 to review applications to its Third Round. Please read the statement by the Co-Chairs, Mr. Prasert Tapaneeyangkul and Mr. Reggie Hernaus.

Nine Projects Selected by the Governing Board for the Third Round

• Burundi: Capacity building support for the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury in Burundi. Read more about the project here.
• Cuba: Improvement of information on inventories of mercury use and the environmental cycle in Cuba to support the implementation of the Minamata Convention. Read more about the project here.
• Gabon: Facilitating capacity-building with technology assistance and technology transfer for monitoring and managing mercury in Central Africa. Read more about the project here.
• India: Development of Institutional and Regulatory Framework for Implementation of Minamata Convention in India.
• Iran: Improving capacity building program for the replacement of mercury containing lamps in order to implement Minamata Convention in Islamic Republic of Iran.
• Jordan: Environmentally Sound Management of Mercury-Containing Wastes and Reduce the Use of Mercury-Containing Products in Jordan. Read more about the project here.
• North Macedonia: Strengthening national capacities for Minamata Convention implementation with focus on development of strategy for assessing the sites contaminated with mercury. Read more about the project here.
• Rwanda: Strengthening the Institutional Capacities for Rwanda to implement Minamata Convention. Read more about the project here.
• Senegal: Strengthening the legal framework and institutional capacities of ECOWAS countries (Senegal, Togo and Burkina Faso) for the implementation of Articles 3 and 4 of the Minamata Convention. Read more about the project here.

The Third Round of applications to the Specific International Programme opened for submissions on 15 December 2020. Applications needed to be submitted by Thursday, 18 March 2021. Eligible Parties were invited to submit their applications for project funding between USD50,000 and USD250,000 following the Application Guidelines and using the following forms:

Form A - Project Application    Form B - Project Budget     Form C - Letter of Transmittal

To support and clarify the development of the applications, the Secretariat held several webinar sessions in English, French and Spanish.

Contributors to the Specific Trust Fund (2020-2021)