Paragraph 4 of Article 12 of the Stockholm Convention, calls for  the establishment, as appropriate, of arrangements for the purpose of providing technical assistance and promoting the transfer of technology to developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition relating to the implementation of the Convention. These arrangements are to include regional and subregional centres for capacity-building and transfer of technology  to assist developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition to fulfil their obligations under this Convention.

As a follow up, the Conference of the Parties at its second  meeting adopted terms of reference for regional and subregional centres for capacity-building and transfer of technology under the Stockholm Convention as well as criteria for evaluating their performance. At its third meeting the Conference of the Parties  adopted terms of reference for the process of selecting regional and subregional centres for capacity-building and transfer of technology.