The need for relevant capacity strengthening for effective participation in the POPs global monitoring plan was pointed out by many of the Parties. The Secretariat is therefore developing efforts to identify and support training and capacity building opportunities for representatives of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
The following is a compilation of priority capacity strengthening needs as identified during the regional organization group inception workshops:
Human capacity strengthening:
- Data management (analysis, interpretation and communication)
- Sampling techniques, sample preparation and analytical procedures
- Validation of analytical methods
- In-laboratory training (PCDD/F)
Improving QA/QC:
- Standard operation procedures
- Participation in inter-laboratory tests
- Reference materials
- Laboratory consumables
Acquisition of analytical equipment:
- Improving of detection limits
- Improving of instrumentation to sample and analyze all Stockholm Convention POPs in GMP matrices (human milk and ambient air)
- Replacement of obsolete equipment
Elements of capacity strengthening are included in all activities the Secretariat is supporting or facilitating. In addition the following specific capacity strengthening activities were supported:
Multi country projects with GEF support
During the regional workshops on implementation of the global monitoring plan Parties were encouraged to elaborate multi-country project proposals in support of the implementation of the global monitoring plan for POPs. A representative from the UNEP Division of GEF Coordination took part in the regional workshops to facilitate this process. Regional project proposals are being elaborated and submitted to GEF Secretariat for consideration of approval. The projects are implemented by UNEP through the Chemicals Branch, Division of Technology Industry and Economics.
Summer School of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
The 3rd and 4th Summer School of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology was organized by RECETOX (Research Centre for Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University) in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention and other relevant institutions. The programme of the group B (Sampling, analysis and monitoring of POPs) is designed to provide capacity building in support of implementation of the Global Monitoring Plan on POPs under Article 16 of the Stockholm Convention.
The Stockholm Convention Secretariat supported 11 participants to the 3rd Summer School and will support up to 13 experts from developing countries and countries with economies in transition to take part in this programme also in July 2008 with the view to:
- Enhance knowledge in regions with limited capacity;
- Build on and further strengthen relevant existing capacity (e.g., through involving laboratories/ institutions which already are involved in ongoing monitoring activities under GMP );
- Provide input and support to the regional activities of the global monitoring plan for Stockholm Convention effectiveness evaluation
In-laboratory training
The Secretariat is supporting in-laboratory training and capacity building in the laboratories of Science and Technology Branch of Environment Canada of two experts from developing countries, involved in air monitoring activities; one from Uganda and one from Brazil. The costs for this training will be shared by Environment Canada and the Secretariat.
The expert from Brazil will focus on passive air samplers. He will work with Environment Canada chemists on the preparation of PUF-disk type passive air samplers for field deployment in Brazil. He will also be trained on analysis of target compounds (organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls) by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). This training is in support of operating GAPS sites in Amazonas, Brazil, as part of regional implementation of the global monitoring plan in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region.
Training of the expert from Uganda will be focused on preparation of air sampling media for hi-volume and passive sampling, extraction of the media, gas chromatographic analysis of POPs using GC-electron capture and bench top mass spectrometry and data interpretation. The training will also include interpretation (graphics, back trajectories) of older air results for POPs from Uganda based on data collected in the period 2000-2003. This training will enable continuity of air quality measurements at the Lake Victoria site in Uganda. It is expected that data trends from 2000-2003 will be available as result of this training.