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Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology
Transfer for Arab States in Egypt
Business Plan (DRAFT)
2013-2015
THE 22 ARAB STATES SERVED BY BCRC-EGYPT
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Table of Contents
TITLE Page No.
List of Tables 3
Abbreviations 4
Executive Summary 6
I - Information on the Centre 6
A – Vision 7
B – Background on the Centre 7
C – Governance 8
D – Contact information 9
II – The Centre and the Basel Convention 9
A – Performance of the core functions 9
B – Opportunities for improvement 10
C – Cooperation with the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions 11
D– Joint activities 11
E – Partnership Activities 13
III – Regional Needs Assessment 13
A –Problems to be addressed 13
B –Needs 14
C –Specific Country Needs 14
IV – Proposed activities 20
A - Governance activities 22
B – Capacity Building of BCRC-Egypt 23
C– Institutional and Technical Capacity Building of the
HZW Department in the Member Countries
24
D – Regional Cooperation Activities 33
E – Awareness Activities and Dissemination 33
F. Financial information 36
Annex
I – List of focal points and endorsement 38
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List of Tables
TITLE Page No.
Table (1) Arab Parties and Signatories to the Basel Convention
(as of September, 2010)
7
Table (2) Specific needs/requests of member countries 16
Table (3) Summary of Proposed activities and expected outputs under the four
category areas
23
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ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
BAT Best available technologies
BC Basel Convention
BCCC Basel Convention Coordinating Centre
BCRC Basel Convention Regional and Coordinating Centre
BCRC-Egypt Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer
for the Arab States located in Cairo
BCTF Trust Fund for the Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention Trust Fund)
BDTF Trust Fund to Assist Developing and other Countries in Need of Assistance in
the Implementation of the Basel Convention (Technical Cooperation Trust Fund) BEP
Best environmental practices
BOT Build-Operate-Transfer
CCOHS Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
CEDARE Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe
CEHM Cairo University Centre for Environmental Hazard Mitigation
CEITL Countries with Economies in Transition
CMPP Moroccan Cleaner Production Centre
COP Conference of the Parties (of the Basel Convention)
DAC Development Assistance Committee of OECD
EAL European Accreditation Centre of Laboratories
EC European Community
EEAA Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency
EEAA EMSEA Egyptian Ministry of state for Environmental Affairs
ENCPC Egypt National Cleaner Production Center
ESM Environmentally Sound Management
ETTIC Egypt Technology Transfer and Innovation Centers
EU European Union
FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
FINAS Finnish branch of EAL
GEF Global Environment Facility
GEO Global Environmental Outlook
GHS Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
HS Harmonized System on Customs Control of WCO HSE UK Health and Safety
Executive UK
HW Hazardous waste
HWM Hazardous Waste Management
ILO International Labour Organisation
ISWA International Solid Waste Association
LAS League of Arab States
LDCs Least Developed Countries
MDGs Millennium Development Goals
MEA Multilateral Environmental Agreement
METAP The Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program
MFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs
MoE Ministry of the Environment
MoU Memorandum of Understanding
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
MTI Egypt Ministry of Trade and Industry
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MTR Mid-Term review
NEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s Development
NGO Nongovernmental organisation
NIP National Implementation Plan of SC
OECD Organisation for Economic Development
OEWG Open-ended Working Group of the BC
OSH Occupational Safety and Health
OSHA American Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PACE Basel Convention Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment
PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PD Project Document
PIC Prior informed consent
POPs Persistent Organic Pollutants
PPP Public-Private Partnership
PSC Project Steering Committee
RAC/CP Regional Activity Centre for Cleaner Production, Barcelona
RC Rotterdam Convention
SAICM Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management
SBC Secretariat of the Basel Convention
SC Stockholm Convention
SCC Steering Committee of the Centre
SIDS Small Island Developing States
SME Small and medium enterprises
StEP Solving the E-Waste Problem initiative
UAE United Arab Emirates
ULABs Used-lead acid batteries
UN United Nations
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
UNEP/MAP United Nations Environment Programme – Mediterranean Action Plan
UNEP/ROWA United Nations Environment Programme – Regional Office for West Asia
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Programme
WB World Bank
WCO World Customs Organization.
WEEE Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
WHO World Health Organisation
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The current business plan covers the period from 2013 to 2015. It entirely reflects ongoing and
planned activities linked with the activities proposed for Phase II of the Finland funded project. The
main focus of the business plan; 2013-2015, is to consolidate achievements of the previous business
plans and complement the capacity building efforts initiated by the BCRC-Egypt and are ongoing
since the year 2000.
The Finnish Government approved funding a second phase for the project that will focus on common
priority needs, produce most effective impact, and achieve cost efficiency. Some of these needs may
require the intervention in the form of training workshops, on-the job training (piloting), and hands-
on training, while others may be addressed through posting training material on the BCRC-Egypt
website. As the member countries have extremely different financial capacities of each member
country or group of countries. Further, the intervention should also address the low/poor public
awareness on hazardous waste management aspects in most of the member countries, including HW
health impacts.
Although Phase I intervention has significantly contributed to the credibility of BCRC-Egypt, it still
needs to further strengthen its credible technical expertise and it needs to solve the problem of
financing its services in a sustainable manner to be independent of donor funds. This would allow it
to play an advisory role in national HW policy, in strengthening the Arab voice in the corresponding
international forums, and in assisting member countries in utilizing the SBC trust funds established
under the Convention for funding specific topics, as SBC does not provide for specific financing
package or technical assistance for developing countries. Developing the sustainable mechanisms of
the BCRC-Egypt within this Phase II of the Finnish funding would allow the Centre to support its
member countries in specific policy and implementation issues and to establish a stronger regional
network of expertise to be shared between the countries.
Accordingly, the current business plan main focus on five broad category areas including project
governance, capacity building of the centre, institutional and technical capacity building of the
countries of the region, regional cooperation and awareness raising and dissemination. These five
category areas are based on the needs of the region and aim to consolidate the results of the previous
activities of the Centre, further enhancing the subsequent national initiatives and efforts monitored
towards noticeable results. Complementary activities proposed include; Health care wastes, oil and
gas wastes, electrical and electronic wastes (e-wastes) and combating illegal trade in wastes and
hazardous chemicals controlled by international conventions. Also, more support tools (e.g. data
bases, training manuals, e-learning) and awareness raising and dissemination will be developed and
promoted. The project will also support the centre to approach the private sector, and to establish
concrete partnership with the industry sector, and will seek cooperation with the MEAs secretariats
to co-implement relevant activities.
In planning for the second phase of the project, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested
from UNDP Egypt to assume the responsibility of the financial management to support the BCRC
that is based in Cairo in implementing the project while BCRC will continue to receive technical
backstopping from SBC.
I – Information on the Centre
A - Vision
BCRC-Egypt is credible Regional Centre capable of providing Quality Sound Management of
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Hazardous Wastes services and consultations acknowledged by the 22 member Arab countries, by
the SBC, and by the COP.
B - Background on the Centre and current State of BCRC-Egypt
In 1995, by Decision III/19 of the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties, Egypt was selected
to host the Basel Convention Sub-Regional Centre (BCRC) "for Arabic-speaking countries in Africa,
and in 2002, Decision VI/9 extended the geographic coverage to serve the other Arabic-speaking
countries. Currently, BCRC-Egypt is serving the 22 Arab States in Africa and West Asia, as show in
Table 1 in addition to Iraq and Palestinian Authority. The Egyptian Government instituted BCRC
Egypt within one of the most outstanding academic and research institutions in the region; that is, the
Cairo University. The university is providing BCRC-Egypt the office space and staff for its
operation. The Staff of the Centre includes Technical Officer, financial officer and a
Secretary/Admin Assistant. The Egyptian Ministry of state for Environmental Affairs (EMSEA)
collaborated with the Cairo University in the physical establishment and operation of the centre. The
BC focal point hosted in the EMSEA is closely linked with the BCRC-Egypt and mediated the
financial support from the Ministry. The BCRC Egypt is also fully supported by the Egyptian
Foreign Ministry.
Table (1): Arab Parties and Signatories to the Basel Convention (as of September, 2010)
TARGET COUNTRIES Signature Ratification Status* 1 Algeria 15.09.98(a) 2 Bahrain 22.03.89 15.10.92 3 Comoros 31.10.94(a) 4 Djibouti 31.05.02(a) 5 Egypt 08.01.93(a) 6 Jordan 22.03.89 22.06.89(AA) 7 Kuwait 11.10.93 8 Lebanon 21.12.94 9 Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 12.07.01(a) 10 Mauritania 16.08.96(a) 11 Morocco 28.12.95(a) 12 Oman 08.02.95(a) 13 Qatar 09.08.95(a) 14 Saudi Arabia 22.03.89 07.03.90 15 Somalia 26.07.10(a) 16 Sudan 09.01.06(a) 17 Syrian Arab Republic 11.10.89 22.01.92 18 Tunisia 11.10.95(a) 19 United Arab Emirates 22.03.89 17.11.92 20 Yemen 21.02.96(a)
(a) Accession; (AA) Approval
The BCRC-Egypt plays a key and strategic role in the Arab region to implement the Basel
Convention and its amendments, and to enhance their knowledge of hazardous wastes issues and to
address their lack of inventories on waste generation and other infrastructural deficiencies which are
expressed in the priority needs of the countries. It provides capacity building, development of
awareness and training programs and their implementation in regional and country specific settings
including research and development; information management through websites/newsletters with
information for the countries being served; project development and implementation; facilitation of
technology assessment and transfer and bring to bear experience in partnership with industry. The
projects, programmes and activities proposed for the period covered by this business plan is intended
to consolidate the gains of the past, build on the experiences acquired and enhance the vision of the
Centre, which, as the Regional Centre for the Arab region, is to strengthen the countries in the region
on environmentally sound management (ESM) of hazardous waste through the process of training,
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awareness raising, technology transfer, information management and exchange and consulting.
Currently, BCRC-Egypt is serving 22 Arab States in Africa and West Asia (Algeria, Bahrain,
Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman,
Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab
Emirates and Yemen).
Since the year 2000, BCRC-Egypt has been implementing regional activities supported by
Secretariat of the Basel Convention (SBC), UNIDO, Stockholm Convention (SC), and the
Government of Finland. The activities covered several technical and institutional capacity building
issues in the region, including sound management of hazardous wastes, the Basel Convention and its
protocol on liability and compensation, landfills, inventory of hazardous wastes , illegal traffic,
liquid hazardous waste management, e-waste assessment, and many other issues of hazardous waste
management. The activities included more than 30 training workshops and 20 pilot projects. All
countries of the region, except Somalia, benefited from the activities implemented by the Centre.
In addition to the workshops and pilot projects, BCRC-Egypt developed and published guidelines
adapted for the region on: landfills, used oils, liquid hazardous wastes, and on conducting national
inventories for hazardous wastes. BCRC-Egypt also translated into Arabic, with Swiss funds, the
Guidelines on used and end-of-life mobile phones prepared by the Mobile Phones Partnership
Initiatives (MPPI) of BC/UNEP. The Centre is also regularly publishing a bi-annual newsletter
promoting public awareness and exposing emerging HWM related issues. BCRC-Egypt has been
cooperating with regional organizations like UNEP/MAP, UNEP/ROWA, the Centre for
Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), and Regional Activity
Centre for Cleaner Production (RAC/CP) of Barcelona in implementing its activities throughout the
period 2006-2010. BCRC-Egypt is also actively participating in the activities of the Basel
Convention Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE).
Networking of the BCRC-Egypt with other BCRCs, UN bodies and Regional Organizations with
common interest is on-going and will be an emerging and important issue that will be further
strengthened and explored in view of resource mobilization and the transfer of know-how to the
countries of the region.
C - Governance
The BCRC-Egypt came into official existence following the approval of the Egyptian Peoples'
Assembly on the 22/5/2005 to the Presidential decree number 81/2005 which approves the
framework agreement signed between the Egyptian Government (represented by Egyptian
Environmental Affairs Agency, EEAA) and the Secretariat of the Basel Convention (SBC) in 24th
,
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October 2004. This agreement came into force on the 22nd
, June 2005.
The Framework Agreement signed in October, 2004, between the Government of Egypt and the
Secretariat of the Basel Convention, on behalf of the parties, set forth the terms and conditions under
which BCRC-Egypt acts as a Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology
Transfer pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Basel Convention and related decisions of the
Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention. Following the ratification of the Framework
Agreement by the Egyptian Parliament in 2005, BCRC-Egypt had its own structure and bank
account with flexibility to assign part- time consultants and administrative staff for implementing
projects and other capacity building activities. The BCRC- Egypt structure includes a Steering
Committee of the Centre (SCC) with membership of the representatives of four rotating member
countries (currently Djibouti, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain), the host country, Egypt, the
representative of the Secretariat of the Basel Convention, and the Director of BCRC-Egypt.
The framework set forth the terms and conditions under which an institution in the Arab Republic of
Egypt shall act as a Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer
pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Basel Convention and related decisions of the Conference
of the Parties to the Basel Convention.
The Centre is having the capacity, in accordance with the national laws and regulations of the Arab
Republic of Egypt to contract; acquire and dispose of movable and immovable property; and institute legal
proceedings. Moreover, according to the framework agreement; the activities of the Centre relevant to its
regional role shall be carried out under the general guidance and in close coordination with the Secretariat,
and a Steering Committee is established to advise the Centre on the development and implementation of
the activities of the Centre relevant to its regional role and to enhance national support to its activities from
the Parties served by the Centre.
The Steering Committee is composed of five members nominated by the Parties served by the Centre
through a process of consultations, for a period of four (4) years. The representative of the Arab
Republic of Egypt is one of the five (5) members. The Steering committee meets at the beginning of
each calendar year to endorse the year plan and review the progress achieved.
D - Contact Information Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer
Prof. Dr. Mostafa Hussein Kamel Ahmad Mostafa (Director)
Cairo University Hostel,
Building #1, Giza Egypt
Postal Code: 12612
P.O. Box : 336 Al Orman
Tel: +(202) 35715 115, Fax: +(202) 3570 1015
Email: cairo@bcrc-egypt.com, Website: www.bcrc-egypt.com
II – The Centre and the Basel Convention
A - Performance of the Core Functions
BCRC-Egypt with support from the SBC and the Finland government has been working actively
since 2006 implementing more than 30 workshops and 20 pilot projects in selected Arab countries of
the region based upon the needs and collaboration with the centre, and putting into consideration
priorities of the Basel Convention Strategic Plan 2012-2021. However, activities with focus on
institutional capacity building for the Basel Convention competent authorities/focal points in the
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region have been also implemented.
BCRC-Egypt has been working in cooperation with the countries in the region in light of the core
functions of the Basel Convention Regional Centres established according to decision VI/3 of the
Conference of the Parties.
The contribution of the Basel Convention Regional Centres towards the implementation of the Basel
Convention and its Strategic Plan has been recognized by the Parties of the Basel Convention in
decision OEWGVI/2. Among the basic activities implemented were Reviewing Hazardous Waste
National legislations in member countries, training on strategic planning for hazardous wastes
management, training on recycling of used oils, on e-waste management, on conducting national
hazardous wastes inventories and on other core issues connected with the implementation of the
Basel convention and its strategic plan. On the other hand, BCRC-Egypt developed/adapted
guidelines addressing the priority needs in the region, such Guidelines on Hazardous wastes Land
filling in hyper dry areas, re-refine and reuse of waste mineral oil, on conducting national inventories
of hazardous wastes, and guidelines on liquid hazardous wastes management. Many workshop and
training activities were followed with pilot activities to consolidate the experience and to
demonstrate lessons learned. All these contributed to the improvement of qualifications and
awareness hazardous wastes competent authorities in the region and among specialists and people,
fostering of partnership with industry and business on the environmentally sound management of
hazardous wastes.
B - Opportunities for Improvement
A project document signed by the UNEP, the SBC, and the BCRC-Egypt Director in October, 2004,
constituted the legal instrument for the funding and implementation of the major project "A Better
Environment for Human Health and Well-being" for building the capacity of the region towards
adopting sound management of hazardous wastes and efficient implementation of the Basel
Convention provisions. This project aimed to further improve the environmentally safe management
and the control of trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes in the Arab states by developing
BCRC-Egypt into sustainable regional knowledge and service Centre on Hazardous Wastes (HW)
issues for Arabic speaking countries.
During Phase I of the Finnish Fund, and despite the almost total lack of contributions from most
member countries, BCRC-Egypt, with support from the SBC, implemented 8 training workshops and
15 pilot projects addressing many of the hazardous waste management priority needs in the member
countries. These capacity building activities benefited about 20 out of the 22 Arab countries. A Total
number of 264 individuals were trained via the training workshops, of which ladies comprised 63
(about 23.8%) in the period March, 2006 to October, 2008. More had on-the-job training via the 15
pilot projects implemented. Among the 20 Arab countries that benefited from the project activities,
eight countries, including Egypt, benefited from the 15 pilot projects.
The Centre’s assessment of this phase indicates that awareness has been on a gradual increase. From
the assessments of the training and awareness activities carried out so far, it is evident that more has
to be done for the next three years through consolidating the achievements already made in the first
phase in line with the needs of the region.
One of the most significant achievements of Phase I, however, has been significantly enhancing the
credibility of BCRC-Egypt as a competent regional centre capable of providing quality HWM
training and consulting services to the countries of the region, as evidenced by several MoUs and
service contracts signed with UNEP/MAP, UNEP/ROWA, RAC/CP of Barcelona, and The Egypt
National Cleaner Production Centre (ENCPC), a joint initiative between the Ministry of Trade and
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Industry (MTI) and UNIDO. Also a MoU was signed with the Centre for Environment and
Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE).
BCRC-Egypt needs to further strengthen its credible technical expertise and it needs to solve the
problem of financing its services in a sustainable manner to be independent of donor funds. This
would allow it to play an advisory role in national HW policy, in strengthening the Arab voice in the
corresponding international forums, and in assisting member countries in utilizing the SBC trust
funds established under the Convention for funding specific topics, as SBC does not provide for
specific financing package or technical assistance for developing countries. This is difficult before
the BCRC has developed credible in-house expertise in the field.
Improving the performance of the BCRC-Egypt is directly linked with building the capacities of the
member countries to understand hazardous wastes and their impacts and in exposing these member
countries to opportunities to improve their hazardous waste management systems through
cooperation with the centre. This cannot be achieved without;
1- Develop a permanent structure for all BCRC-Egypt, clarify the main umbrella the centre is
working under and reflect this explicitly in the framework agreements, and assume basic
operation cost and propose mechanism to secure it.
2- Carefully develop terms of reference of permanent staff of the centre and insist to match
nominations from host countries with these nominations.
3- Develop and oblige personnel of the BCRC to take capacity building training both technical and
administration guided by the SBC. It is also recommended that SBC should arrange with the
donors study tours aim at exposing BCRC to relevant technologies before these BCRC can be
fully utilized in effective training and technology transfer in their regions.
4- Equip and empower BCRC to act as accreditation office and to collect fees on behalf of the SBC
from companies, NGOs, and institutes seeking accreditation to practice Sound Management of
Hazardous Waste.
5- Assist the BCRC-Egypt develop its financial strategy and in its implementation.
6- Basel Convention Focal points in the region facilitate interaction of BCRC with the industry
sector.
C - Cooperation with the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
Complying with the decision VIII/8 of the Conference to the Parties of the Basel Convention in
regard to the cooperation and coordination among the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm
conventions, it is important to highlight that BCRC-Egypt was involved in the implementation of
activities with other MEAs Secretariats in addition to working with the CP/RAC of Barcelona.
These activities include the participation in regional workshops coordinated by other conventions
and the organization of a regional workshop in cooperation with other Secretariats. At the regional
level BCRC-Egypt is an active participant in all meetings convened by the league of Arab
States/Arab team following up with the implementation of MEAs and in the Arab SAICM
coordination meetings.
BCRC-Egypt is looking forward to increasing the cooperation with all MEAs secretariats and with
other coordination centres.
D - Joint activities
Throughout its work since 2005, BCRC-Egypt established partnership, jointly, with several regional
and international organizations, and kept all interested and affected parties informed with the BCRC-
Egypt activities and interest through its web site and through the newsletter published biannually.
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Among most important partnerships is the partnership with UNEP/ROWA and UNEP/MAP for
developing the regional strategy and action plan for combating illegal trade in waste and chemicals
controlled by international conventions. In addition, BCRC-Egypt participated with CEDARE in the
e-waste Forum. Currently BCRC-Egypt is developing activities in the framework of the Partnership
for Action on Computers and Equipments (PACE).
N.B: Several MoUs were signed between BCRC-Egypt and major regional entities, such as
UNEP/MAP, and UNEP/ROWA. Examples of these are:
1. A Tripartite MoU among BCRC-Egypt, the United Nations Environment Programme Regional
Office of West Asia (UNEP/ROWA), and Yemen Environment Protection Authority (Yemen-EPA)
was signed in 2006 to support holding the Arab Regional Workshop on the Sound Management of
Used Oils and the Management of Wastes from the Oil/Gas Sectors that took place in Yemen on
11-13 December 2006, and to support related pilot project on oil and gas hazardous wastes
assessment in Yemen.
2. A MoU was signed on September 15th, 2007 (effective until September, 2008), between BCRC-
Egypt and the Coordinating Unit for the Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) for
collaboration on activities related to the development of a Regional Strategy and Action Plan for
Combating Hazardous Wastes Illegal Traffic and Dump in the Arab Region, whereby BCRC-
Egypt was to organize a regional workshop for member states to assess the status of combating
the illegal traffic of hazardous waste in the Arab region in the framework of the development of a
comprehensive regional strategy and action plan for combating hazardous wastes illegal traffic
and dump in the Arab region.
3.A MOU with the Egyptian NGO “Day Hospital Institute for Rehabilitation and Development
(DHIRD)” to organize and hold the “Regional Workshop for Promoting the Sound Management of
Hazardous Wastes within the Context of the Basel Convention Among Regions NGOs” in April
29th-30th, 2008.
4.A MOU was signed on October 14th, 2009 (effective for 3 months), between BCRC-Egypt and the
Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention and the Rotterdam Convention of UNEP, whereby the
Centre was to assist these Secretariats in organizing a 3-day (17-19 November 2009; Cairo, Egypt)
joint workshop entitled “Joint Workshop on the Rotterdam and the Stockholm Conventions for
effective participation in the work of the Review Committee- CRC (Chemical Review Committee of
the Rotterdam convention) and POPRC (POPs Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention)”.
5.A MoU was signed on October 14th
, 2009, between BCRC-Egypt and RAC/CP, Barcelona, whereby
the Centre is to cooperate with the RAC/CP in CP activities in the Arab region. During the
RAC/CP Meeting on October 20-21, 2010, BCRC-Egypt was assigned translating technical
documents relevant to its activities into Arabic. The assignment is confirmed, the budget is to be
determined during December, 2010, and the assignment is to start in January, 2011.
6.A MoU was signed on May 6th, 2010, between the BCRC-Egypt and ENCPC to cooperate within
the SAICM QSPTF funded project “Assessment and Capacity Building in Chemicals and
Chemicals Waste Management in Egypt” executed by UNIDO. BCRC-Egypt is a main partner in
the Project and will assist ENCPC in producing a compilation of chemical management systems
existing in two industrial cities in Egypt, participate in training programs and workshops
organized by ENCPC, as well as disseminate findings to BCRC member countries to promote ESM
of hazardous waste. The BCRC is to provide its services on a contractual basis and in phases
spanning the period May, 2010 to December, 2011.
7.BCRC-Egypt is cooperating with the Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Training and
Technology Transfer for the African Region in Nigeria on producing a project document for the
Small Grant Programme- Synergy to implement Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
through the regional and sub-regional centres. The programme aims at providing technical
assistance for capacity building of the eligible Parties in implementing their obligations under the
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three Conventions through their Regional mechanisms, with emphasis on activities focused to
capacity building among the Parties of the sub-Saharan Africa, LDCs (Least Developed Countries)
and SIDS (Small Island Developing States).
8.BCRC-Egypt is to sign an MoU with the Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab
Region and Europe (CEDARE). CEDARE, UNEP/ROWA, StEP (Solving the E-Waste Problem)
Initiative, and the Moroccan Cleaner Production Centre (CMPP) will organize the second E-Waste
Management Forum: “Green Business Opportunities” (E-waste 2010), 23-24 November 2010, in
Marrakech, Morocco, to which the Director of BCRC-Egypt is invited and will promote BCRC-
Egypt’s activities by making a presentation of the results of pilot projects implemented under the
Phase I of the Finland funded project in assessing e-waste and e-waste recycling facilities in
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. While this does not represent direct in-cash resource, it
indirectly serves the promotion purposes of BCRC-Egypt and bears some the required costs for
promoting the Centre’s activities.
These activities represent potential opportunities and mechanisms for synergy with the Stockholm
Convention and complement those proposed for Phase II of the Finnish fund. Part of the Finnish
fund will therefore be directed to some of these activities to partly support publication of e-material
and national and regional BC-SC synergy success stories and attending related conferences and
workshops.
E - Partnership activities
The possibility to expand the functions of the Centre in order to promote the integration of ESM of
hazardous wastes in public-private partnerships is relatively low because of the lack of culture and
information on public-private processes. Nevertheless, the Centre has been participating in activities
in order to work with the private sector with small and medium companies. In addition BCRC-Egypt
will develop activities in the framework of the Partnerships for Action on Computers and Equipment
(PACE).
III – Regional Needs Assessment
A. Problems to be addressed
The core problem in the Arab countries is that inadequate hazardous waste management in these
countries generates considerable public health and environmental problems, including contamination
of soil and water. It also prevents the countries of the region from meeting their obligations under the
Basel Convention. The situation mandates that BCRC-Egypt provide cost-effective and efficient
means of the member countries, especially those not having the resources and capacities needed, to
implement effectively the provisions of the Basel Convention on their own. The most direct
consequences of the countries' difficulties in complying with the requirements of the Basel
Convention are environmental degradation and the effects on public health. The problem underlying
this difficulty is inadequate hazardous waste management, which, in turn, has manifold intricately
linked causes:
Inadequate legislation.
Incomplete administrative structures and mechanisms.
Lack of sufficient control procedures.
Fragmented wastes management strategies.
Incomplete (or no) hazardous wastes inventories.
Inability to treat hazardous wastes in an environmentally sound manner.
Weak technical capacity.
Insufficient manpower and training.
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B. Needs
At the outset of Phase I of the Finland funded project, the common needs of countries of the region
were that the infrastructure for management of hazardous wastes- including legislation,
administration and disposal- were patchy, despite the fact that the region had been host to a number
of hazardous waste management and cleaner production projects sponsored by international and
bilateral donors over previous decades. This strongly argued for a step-by-step approach to set in
place the basic information, as well as the legislative and administrative requirements before a
comprehensive practical waste management strategy could be formulated.
The main needs common to all countries of the region- as identified in a feasibility study, country
reports to SBC, and reports available from the countries- were:
Guidance in setting up hazardous waste criteria.
Pointers on efficient means for drawing up hazardous waste generation inventories and
inventories of existing hazardous wastes disposal options and entering these into database
systems.
Guidance in drafting legislation that transposes Basel Convention provisions into national
law, in terms of both waste management and shipment requirements. Assistance in
developing documentation systems for hazardous wastes generation, transport and disposal.
Information exchange concerning best practice in managing various types of hazardous
wastes.
Information exchange regarding waste minimization and cleaner production techniques.
Know how for liquid hazardous waste management
Regulations for land disposal of hazardous waste
Capacity building for Sound management of e-wastes
Guidance in surveying for information and national reporting to the Basel Convention.
Guidance in elimination of POPs wastes.
BCRC-Egypt, with support from SBC and the Government of Finland, has managed to address
many of the needs through capacity building activities in the form of regional workshops and pilot
projects, production of technical guidelines, legislative documents, translations and adaptation of
international technical and legislative documents to the Arab region, and awareness material.
C. Specific Country Needs
In addition to some of the above common needs of the region, the following country-specific needs
have been identified (Table 2) during the activities of Phase I of the Finland funded project 2006-
2008 and its extensions into 2010, the meetings carried as part of the Mid-Term assessment during
Phase I (January, 2008), the BCRC-Egypt 2009-2011 Business Planning Consultation Meeting of
Feb., 2009, the appraisal of the Project Document for Phase II (July, 2010), information collected by
BCRC-Egypt from communication with and questionnaires sent to national focal points, and updated
Country Fact Sheets published on the SBC website. However, as the specific needs of the member
countries dictate many of the activities of the proposed project, as well as their design, the hereafter
listed needs (Table 2) are planned to be further revised and updated through Phase II of the Finnish
project. This revision is essential for at least five reasons:
1. Only 7 countries have provided information for SBC to compile their fact sheets (Algeria,
Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Qatar, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates); the most recent data
sheets date back to October, 2011.
2. The low response of some national focal points.
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3. Some of the needs are based on requests from the most active participants in BCRC-Egypt’s
activities.
4. The needs of the less active participants are mainly based on BCRC-Egypt’s reports and on
their national reports to SBC dating back to 2001-2006, which BCRC-Egypt has compiled
from the SBC online database during the preparation of this project document.
5. The specific needs of the countries which have not reported to SBC (or their reports have not
yet been posted by SBC), or their information is not included in the SBC online database, or
have not participated in the activities of BCRC-Egypt, or have not communicated information
to BCRC-Egypt were either tentatively determined by BCRC-Egypt on the basis of old
feasibility studies or could not be realistically determined at all.
Table (2): Specific needs/requests of member countries
Member Needs
/requ
ests Algeria Is in May 2008, Algeria has a strong HWM legislation in place, but - needs
management plans of specific hazardous waste such as waste pesticide,
pharmaceutical wastes, PCB waste and cyanide waste.
- It also needs focus on the issue of marine pollution and technology transfer.
- has no HW disposal facilities.
Bahrain As in October, 2011, Bahrain has a strong HWM legislation in place, but - has
no Transboundary Movement Reduction Measures (Legislation, regulations
and guidelines, nor Economic instruments/ initiatives, nor Measures taken by
industries/waste generators)
- needs more practical activities: training on site of facilities, e.g. Nasreya
landfill
- The Bahraini Environmental Affairs (EA) lacks analytical
capabilities for waste identification, assessment and classification, and
advisory services on waste management.
- Needs on-the-job support for BC reporting
- Needs training on the trip-ticket system for HW transfers.
- Training for both Ministry of the Environment (MoE) and custom
authorities.
- A waste specific problem in Bahrain is the oily ballast wastewater and
sludge from ships.
- Aluminium dross waste containing cyanide.
- Oily waste and oil spill waste
- Bahrain is using the US-EPA TCLP leaching test, yet Industry needs
training in defining what is HW.
- Needs guidelines for HW analysis.
- wants practical case studies and reports on success stories.
- wishes that BCRC would translate the WB manual for management of
hazardous chemicals into Arabic.
Comoros Needs not yet identified
Djibouti - has no HW disposal or recovery facilities.
- Border control not yet established; Harmonized System on Customs Control
of the World Customs Organization (HS) not used.
- needs training and capacity building on the management of
hazardous wastes in accordance with the Basel Convention, including
municipal and medical wastes.
- needs training programme for the custom officers.
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Egypt As in October, 2011, Egypt has a strong HWM legislation in place
- has some hazardous waste generation data but inventory of hazardous
waste has not been done. Hazardous wastes imports are banned. Although
national legislation for waste management is extensive, a hazardous
wastes strategy is being developed.
Iraq Needs not yet identified
Jordan - Pilot projects to deal with problems, such as collection, treatment and
disposal of specific hazardous wastes (e.g., pesticide wastes).
- Training implementation of the Basel Convention, operation of central
facilities for treatment and final disposal of hazardous wastes, establishment
of computerised system for operations related to the management of
hazardous wastes.
- needs for training industry in HW classification
- needs development of a “road map” for implementing BC.
- Training in management of waste from nanotechnology, lead in paints,
mercury from household devices
- E-waste recycling in practice.
- Co-processing of HW in industry such as cement kilns,
- training in reporting and trans-boundary documents. Kuwait - has no national definitions of HW or other wastes.
- has no legislation or policy for reducing and/or eliminating the generation
of HW and other wastes.
- lacks a complete waste inventory and specific waste legislation and
control and monitoring procedures.
- needs assistance in rehabilitation of old landfill sites.
Lebanon - has no national definitions of HW or other wastes.
- is working to halt wastes imports and develop cleaner production standards.
- Hazardous wastes have not yet been specifically defined, however, and
- Needs assistance to prepare the national waste inventory.
- Needs assistance to formulate and establish waste management regulations,
and define the options for treatment and disposal of wastes.
- has no HW or other wastes disposal or recovery facilities.
- No Export restrictions for recovery or final disposal.
- No Transit restrictions.
Libya Arab
Jamahiriya
- needs for training on problems with pesticides, PCB, expired drugs, oily
waste.
- needs BCRC to support technology transfer of building a HW landfill.
- Interested in visiting existing sites of HW landfills, such as Nasreya in
Egypt, and is willing to pay for the services.
- Drilling mud waste management is a priority in Libya.
Mauritania Had a successful technical assistance from BCRC to prepare national
legislation on HW.
- has some gold mining, could include some chemical risks with cyanide.
- Training of customs officers.
- Training in medical waste management.
- needs a basic training course on HW management targeting selected
officers who could later act as trainers themselves.
- needs subsequent advanced level courses for HWM.
- Mauritania and Tunisia are interested in exchange of civil servants, e.g.
Mauritania could benefit from on-the-job training in Tunis. Twinning is
also welcomed.
- Has problems with English documents and prefers French or Arabic.
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Morocco As in October, 2011, Morocco has a strong HWM legislation in place, but
- has no Measures taken by industries/waste generators to reduce
Transboundary Movement.
- has no installations for HW or other waste disposal facilities.
- Accepts imports of non-hazardous wastes for recovery subject to
authorization from the competent authority.
- has hazardous wastes generation data available and lists hazardous wastes
in its National Solid Waste Management legislation. An import prohibition
has been put in place through legislation based on the Basel Convention.
Environmental waste standards are currently being developed backed up by
a fund.
- Needs training on design and management of Secure recovery/disposal
facilities.
Oman - has hazardous wastes generation data and uses the Basel lists to determine
what constitutes hazardous wastes.
- Waste regulations based on a licensing system are in force, and specific
systems are being established to deal with crude oil and military wastes
specifically.
- BC notification and movement document forms used, but with problems.
- No HW recovery facilities.
- Needs training in design and management of recycling facilities.
- Border control established, but Harmonized System on Customs Control of
the World Customs Organization (HS) is not used.
- BC notification and movement document forms used, but with problems.
- Transit restrictions do not exist. Qatar As in October, 2011, Qatar has a strong HWM legislation in place.
- has a partially available inventory of hazardous wastes
- needs technical assistance and training in preparing legislation to deal with
hazardous waste management, as well as in various HWM related fields.
Saudi Arabia Has wastes legislation in place, as well as economic instruments to
encourage cleaner technologies.
- Hazardous waste generation data are not available; however, a project in
collaboration with the World Bank is aiming at assessing current generation
of liquid, gases and solid pollutants, including hazardous wastes from
industrial facilities.
- Needs training on secure disposal and
recycling facilities.
Somalia Needs not yet identified
Sudan - needs training and capacity building on the management of hazardous
wastes in accordance with the Basel Convention, including municipal and
medical wastes.
- needs a training programme for the custom officers.
- needs pilot project addressing the problem of asbestos wastes in deserted
towns of Halfa north of Sudan.
Syrian Arab
Republic
Has made progress in hazardous waste management.
- needs capacity building in development of hazardous waste inventory,
management of specific wastes such as agricultural waste and waste oil from
industry.
- needs a programme for recycling and establishment of secured landfills.
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Tunisia As in October, 2011, Tunisia has a strong HWM legislation in place, but
- has no HWM Technical Assistance and Training Available in the country.
- is planning a hazardous wastes landfill.
United Arab
Emirates
As in October, 2011, United Arab Emirates has a strong HWM legislation in
place, but
- Has no HWM Technical Assistance and Training Available in the country.
- There is a plan to establish the Clean Production Centre of the United
Arab Emirates.
Yemen - Export restrictions for recovery do not exist.
- BC notification and movement document forms used, but with problems.
- needs training in the safe management of pesticides, oily waste, plastic bags
and controlling illegal dumping of shipwrecks.
- Training on reporting to BC.
- Needs a basic training course on HW management targeting selected
officers who could later act as trainers themselves.
- needs subsequent advanced level courses for HWM.
- interested in exchange of civil servants with Tunisia and could benefit from
on-the-job training in Tunisia.
The needs/requests of the member countries vary widely, based on Table (2). They include needs for
capacity building and training in:
1- Legal drafting.
2- National reporting to SBC.
3- Basic training in HWM.
4- Training of customs officers and control of illegal HW dumping, e.g. shipwrecks.
5- Management of medical waste.
6- Planning, designing, and managing HW disposal/recycling facilities.
7- Development of HW inventories.
8- Management and/or recycling of specific waste (Mercury, Asbestos, waste oil,
cyanide, drilling mud waste, pesticides, PCB, expired drugs, e-waste).
9- Analytical HW identification and classification.
Further, few of the member states have not yet adopted the Harmonized System on Customs Control
(HS) of the World Customs Organization, which makes addressing customs control issues more
difficult. Also, education is required on the HW component of the Globally Harmonized system of
Classification and Labelling (GHS) in relation to its predecessor “Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS)” in well-established OSH (Occupational Safety and Health) systems and its implementation
utility in supporting BC and other international chemicals agreements and conventions, e.g. the
Rotterdam Convention, the Stockholm Convention, the Montreal Protocol. For instance, knowledge
of the GHS is essential in HW identification for customs officers.
Several member countries, including Jordan, specifically requested BCRC-Egypt to develop a
roadmap for member countries for implementing BC. To this end, BCRC-Egypt’s efforts can first be
directed to clarifying the entire picture of HW management, including the details of the process from
source to recycling/disposal. This would include HW identification and classification, legislative
infrastructure, technical capacities required, details on HW minimization and source separation,
details of transport requirements and forms to be used, ToR of contractors, details of process control
and enforcement, emergency response plans, technical specifications of disposal/recycling facilities;
their operation and monitoring, HW component of GHS. This can be affected, for instance, through
BCRC-Egypt compiling and designing a comprehensive, modular online HWM template illustrating
the entire process in Arabic.
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This wide variety of needs dictates that the Finnish intervention in Phase II was designed to target
sub-regional groups of common needs to address most of priority needs, produce most effective
impact, and achieve cost efficiency. Some of these needs may require the intervention in the form of
training workshops, on-the-job training (piloting), and hands-on training, while others may be
addressed through posting training material on the BCRC-Egypt website. As the member countries
have extremely different financial capacities, the intervention should provide solutions
commensurate with the financial capacity of each member country or group of countries. Further, the
intervention should also address the low/poor public awareness on hazardous waste management
aspects in most of the member countries, including HW health impacts.
A first step in designing an efficient intervention, however, is updating the needs of the member
countries prior to commencing the intervention. This has been carried out since the beginning of the
Phase II, wherein member states are contacted by BCRC-Egypt and its Director, for providing
updated information and this is among the objectives of BCRC-Egypt Director tours for personal
meetings with focal points of less developed and less active member countries, as many of the
member states indicated that personal meetings are a better approach in encouraging supply of
information than mailed or e-mailed questionnaires. The tours also target identifying and promoting
contributions (in kind or in cash) from other member countries, particularly oil rich states.
Regarding the Stockholm Convention, 19 out of the 22 Arab countries have ratified the Convention.
Only 9 out the 22 Arab countries (about 41% of member states) were able to develop and present
their National Implementation Plans (NIP) to the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention and
started to take measures towards implementation; these are Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt,
Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia. Some of these countries are currently revising
them. The remaining countries are either developing their plans or plan to develop them.
Regarding SAICM, only 17 of the member countries are eligible for funding by the Quick Start
Program (QSP); Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are not eligible because
they are not listed on the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list of recipients for
Official Development Assistance; Somalia is not eligible because it has not nominated a SAICM
National Focal Point. As at August, 2010, 9 individual countries (Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti,
Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, and Yemen) have received funding from the Quick
Start Program (QSP) for governments to support SAICM capacity assessment, capacity building,
assessment and upgrading of National Implementation Programmes, and sound management of
chemicals. Further, Djibouti, Mauritania, and Syria each are participants of three multi-country
projects funded by the SAICM QSP Trust Fund for governments. The only civil society body that
received funding from the QSP was the Egyptian NGO “Day Hospital Institute for Development and
Rehabilitation”.
Hazardous waste management must be seen in the context of the general level of development in
solid waste management and industrial pollution control. Policies and good practices must be in
place in both of these environmental sectors before enforcement of appropriate HW legislation can
be implemented. Also certain elements of chemical legislation, analytical capacity and border control
are requirements for being able to comply with the Convention. Some of the target countries have
serious gaps in these sectors and HW policy can only be developed successfully as one front of a
broader move in these fields.
While the Phase I intervention has significantly contributed to the credibility of BCRC-Egypt, it still
needs to further its credible technical expertise and it needs to solve the problem of financing its
services in a sustainable manner to be independent of donor funds. This would allow it to play an
advisory role in national HW policy, in strengthening the Arab voice in the corresponding
international forums, and in assisting member countries in utilizing the SBC trust funds established
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under the Convention for funding specific topics, as SBC does not provide for specific financing
package or technical assistance for developing countries. This is difficult before the BCRC has
developed credible in-house expertise in the field.
Many donors and regional institutions are supporting selected countries in building their capacity in
environmental management and administration. In many cases the weakness is that the international
technical assistance used is not contributing to the development of sustainable institutional capacity
in the recipient countries. Also exchange programs bringing junior experts to highly developed
countries for adopting good practices are often unsuccessful because the experiences gained are
poorly adoptable in developing countries and the junior experts are not in a position to change the
current systems.
Developing the sustainable mechanisms of the BCRC-Egypt within Phase II of the Finnish funding
would permit the Centre to support its member countries in specific policy and implementation
issues and to establish a stronger regional network of expertise to be shared between the countries.
IV – Proposed activities
Most of the planned (proposed) activities in the concept paper developed for Phase II of the Finland
Funded project are listed in Table 3 that include the following five category areas:
Governance activities
Activities devoted for Capacity building of the centre
Activities for Institutional and technical capacity building of the HZW departments in the
member countries
Regional and international cooperation
Awareness raising and dissemination
Table (3): Summary of Proposed activities and expected outputs under the five category areas
Category Area Activities Outputs
1- Project Governance Preparation and holding of steering
committee meetings of the centre and the
project
Meetings minutes and decisions on the
development and implementation of the project
Preparation and facilitation of the Project
review and evaluation missions.
Actions to be taken to improve project implementation and
reporting.
Periodic reporting To the government of Finland, UNDP, The SBC and League
of Arab States and Cairo University.
Facilitate Project auditing In coordination with UNDP, Government of Finland and the
SBC.
2. Capacity building of the
Regional Centre
1. Capacity building for technical and
admin staff via training
Trained Centre staff and efficient operating centre.
2.Develpoment of Centre Resources and
assets via equipment purchasing and
linkage with stakeholders
Developed Resource Centre serving better the host and
member countries of the centre.
3. Acquiring and implementing
professional accounting system
Efficient accounting and financial reporting
4. Recruitment of Short Term
Consultants and Experts expenses
Efficient experts reports
5. Conducting Scholarships Program for
young Arab scholars
Trained young Arab scholars and Facilitating exchange of
knowhow between universities in Finland and Egypt on HW
issues
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6. Analytical services for HW
identification and classification
• List of HW analysis services available.
• Price list.
• No of analysis provided to public/private clients.
• Technical guidelines and recommendations for Arab
countries for HW classification and standardization.
3.Institutional and Technical
Capacity building for BC
focal points and Competent
authorities in the member
countries
1. Green Customs Initiative For ports
officers and customs officials in the
prevention and control of illegal
trafficking in chemicals and hazardous
waste
Strengthened capacity of the customs, port authorities and
government officials in the field of control and monitoring of
illegal traffic and circulation of hazardous wastes and in
accordance with the procedures set forth in the Basel
Convention
2. Safe Management of Healthcare
Wastes
An Overview about the international sustainable wastes
management policies, principles and best practice guidance
for sustainable medical waste management, to define the
difficulties the Arab states may face through the process of
medical wastes management and to elaborate discussions
about the best Waste management planning.
3. Developing hazardous waste
management plan for SMEs
Plans for management of HZW from SMEs in two selected
Arab Countries and experience propagation through the rest
of the countries.
4. Oil and Gas Waste Management To have the participants fully introduced to sustainable
wastes management policies and principles
5. HW Identification and Classification
workshop
To have a fully trained officers on HW identification and
classification
6. National Reporting of Basel
Convention for Arab States
Attention was drawn to the importance of the national
reporting and also showed that most of the Arab states needs
more work to efficiently fulfil their national report
requirements. National reporting to BCS has improved in
quantity and quality.
7. Environmentally sound management
of electrical and electronic wastes (e-
waste)
Better planning and management of the e-waste problem
in the region.Report on best approaches in e-waste
management; e-waste Assessment reports for selected
countries.
8. Development of Inventory of
electronic and electrical waste in Arab
countries
Improve some of the Arab countries national reporting
regarding E-waste.
9. Development of sound management
campaign of household waste
Involvement of the private sector in the management and
protection of the environment and Reduce the negative effects
of this sector to the health of citizens and the environmental
field. 10. Development of manuals and
guidelines related to the sound
management of hazardous waste in the
Arab countries
- Number of publications.
-Dissemination by Arab League and other regional
organizations.
11- Training on safe management of
POPs.
Trained experts on the management of POPs waste
Improved implementation of the Basel and Stockholm
Conventions.
promoted ESM of PCBs through the coordinated
implementation of the Basel Convention and the Stockholm
Convention with particular focus on protecting the health of
vulnerable groups, including women
12- Mercury and Asbestos activities Trained experts, Trained trainers, New short course
developed and tested.
13- Developing hazardous waste
management plan for SMEs
Plans for management of HZW from SMEs in two selected
Arab Countries and experience propagation through the rest
of the countries.
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14- Developing data base for hazardous
wastes, hazardous wastes management
options, information for Arab Countries,
international hazardous waste facilities
and best management practices
Tools to be used by executives, enforcement officers,
institutions, industrial sectors and decision makers.
Accessible HZW management data base to all member Arab
Countries.
15- Pilot study on Bioremediation of
hydrocarbon contaminated soils
Report on effective bioremediation technologies and uses.
Enhance the research capacity of the BCRC-Egypt
Gulf countries suffering from oil exploitation contamination
further involved in BCRC-Egypt activities.
16- Training on GHS (Globally
Harmonized System of Classification
and Labelling of Chemicals)
Trained experts, Trained trainers, New short courses
developed and tested.
Increased awareness by governments on GHS.
4. Regional Cooperation 1- Complete and Update the Regional
Strategy and action plan for combating
illegal trade in hazardous wastes and
hazardous materials governed by
international conventions.
Regional strategy updated
Regional strategy adopted by the countries of the region
Regional strategy and action plan implemented in at least 6
countries.
2- Developing Region's HZW
management legislation.
HZW management Arab legislation developed and adopted.
Capacity of the Parties to enforce the provisions of the Basel
Convention on the monitoring and control of trans-boundary
movements of hazardous waste enhanced
5- Awareness raising and
dissemination.
1- Maintain the BCRC-Egypt website Website maintained, and awareness material for specific
HZW problems for all executive and public levels;
Documents in Arabic language that can be used by executives
and technicians for implementing Environmentally Sound
Management of hazardous wastes.
Web based interactive material on specific and priority
HZW streams management
2- Translation and Publications
3-Publishing regularly the newsletters
4- Developing e-learning material
5- Produce educational material for a
variety of audience
Details regarding the objectives, and expected results and outputs of these five category areas are
outlined below.
A- Governance Activities The activities of the Centre relevant to its regional role is carried out under the general guidance,
monitoring and coordination by the Centre Steering Committee (CSC) and in close coordination
with the Secretariat of the Basel Convention. The ultimate authority in managing projects such as
the Project funded by the Finnish Government rests with the BCRC, in line with the guidance by
the Centre Steering Committee (CSC) and the Project Steering Committee (PSC), donor grant
guidelines, UNDP and decisions of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention.
The Centre keeps the Focal Points of the Basel Convention of the Parties served by the Centre, the
Secretariat, the donor country, non-governmental organisations, entities, private sector
organisations, academic institutions or other organisations which participate in the activities of the
Centre, regularly informed of its activities.
The Secretariat coordinates the activities of the Centre with the work of other Basel Convention
Regional Centres as well as with the relevant activities of the Parties to the Basel Convention,
International Organisations, programmes, funds and other institutions established by relevant
global and regional conventions as mandated by the decisions of the Conference of the Parties to
the Basel Convention.
BCRC Steering Committee met during COP 11 in April – May 2013, Geneva,
Switzerland in addition to bilateral consultation with the 18 Arab countries focal points to
finalize the composition of the BCRC steering committee and to review the center and
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action plan of the project. It was approved that the CSC would be composed of four focal
points that rotate every four years plus the host (Egypt) and the rest of the Arab countries
can attend the CSC meetings as observers. This round, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Sudan and
Djoubiti were elected. The structure of BCRC steering committee was elected as
following:
- The Center steering committee Chairman: Saudi Arabia focal point
- The Center steering committee Vice-Chairman: Sudan focal point
- The Center steering committee Rapporteur: Egypt focal point
- Also five ex officio should attend the CSC meeting:
o BCRC Director
o The representative of the Secretariat of the Basel convention
o The representative of the Arab League
o President Cairo University (Observer)
o Vice President for Environmental Affairs , Cairo University (Observer)
The Project Steering Committee (PSC)
It was agreed in the meeting held in Cairo University on 23 May 2013 including
representatives for Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egyptian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Basel Convention National Focal Point for Egypt and UNDP, that the PSC will
be composed of the same members of the CSC in addition the representative of the
Government of Finland, the representative of the Egyptian Ministry of the Foreign affairs
and the Representative of UNDP.
Meanwhile, as agreed in the coordination meeting in May 2013, the PSC meetings will be
held back to back with COP meetings and in the years that there will be no COP
meetings, it will be held back to back with the Chemicals Focal Points Group meeting of
the League of Arab States.
B- Capacity building for BCRC-Egypt The Centre’s capacity has to continue to be enhanced so as to be able to undertake the challenges
of meeting the expectations of the countries in the Region. The national staff work closely with the
all experts (national and international) hired and the BCRC-Egypt director so they get on the Job
training and are joining the BCRC-Egypt as permanent staff at the end of Phase II. The officers
assist the centre in planning, marketing and executing training programs and are key players in
following up with marketing the BCRC-Egypt services to secure operation resources for the centre
sustainability.
The new premises of BCRC-Egypt that was allocated by Cairo University President within the
University campus, was fully established, equipped and furnished. Excellent staff capable of
designing, monitoring and reporting, financial management and synergy of hazardous substance
related to BC and others, such as Stockholm and Rotterdam conventions, were recruited.
The Centre Director leads, with the assistance of the Technical Officer, on projects development to
mobilize more funds for BCRC, meanwhile he provides opportunities for junior staff to attend more
workshops, seminars and conferences related to topics relevant to BC and others conventions and to
work as trainees in BCRC-Egypt. BCRC-Egypt hired excellent accountant and financial officer
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capable of dealing with the requirements of UN organizations and conventions
Under the emerging needs, the centre works closely with the industry and other private sectors, and
in order to increase the efficiency of the BCRC-Egypt staff and experts, and establish proper links
and work interest. BCRC-Egypt needs to have an efficient vehicle for field activities. A provision
for an ordinary vehicle is thus foreseen for Phase II field activities to increase the mobility and
efficiency of the staff for field activities. It is also foreseen to support BCRC-Egypt with some
sampling equipment and some protective cloths to use during sampling and during field visits to
HZW sites.
Partnerships agreements between BCRC-Egypt and also other centres were prepared, signed, and
they are in the process of their efficient implementation. Also BCRC-Egypt has started up the
process of hiring short term regional and local experts in different disciplines to provide technical
services and be marketed to attract more financial resources.
Analytical services for HW identification and classification
BCRC-Egypt director proposed in the Second Steering Committee meeting, that instead of
spending the budget allocated for renewing the old outdated equipments that have been in the
CEHM laboratory, BCRC-Egypt set up a plan for the establishment of a brand new internationally
accredited laboratory, with a specialized HW lab unit that is providing common analytical services
and interpretation for HW identification and classification. The lab will provide analytical services
for all Arab countries. Cairo University has already donated an entire building within the university
to accommodate that lab. The steering committee approved BCRC-Egypt proposal and demanded
the director to proceed with his proposed plans. Additionally, they officially expressed their deep
gratitude towards Cairo University, represented by its President, Prof. Gaber Nasar, for its
generous contribution in building up such a new advanced lab that will serve the Arab countries
various needs, which in turn, will fulfil the targets of the project funded by the Finnish
Government concerning the implementation of Basel Convention.
In the framework of the synergies that are targeted by BCRC-Egypt with different BC regional
centres around the world, BCRC-Egypt is in the process of officially signing an MOU between
BCRC-Egypt and the BCCC in Nigeria for the English speaking African countries, for technical
knowledge exchange between the two centres, especially the Centre in Nigeria has already
established an internationally accredited lab in Lagos, which BCRC-Egypt target to replicate in
Cairo. The centre will recruit staff from the Arab countries for the BCRC new lab and will provide
them with necessary training to build their capacities to enable the team to efficiently run the lab.
The lab establishment is expected to start in mid-2014 and is expected to last for 6 months. The
official opening of the lab is expected to be at the beginning of 2015.
C- I n s t i t u t i o n a l and Technical Capacity Building of the HZW Departments
in the Member Countries As indicated in several instances, most of the Basel Convention Focal points in the countries of the
region are poorly staffed, while enormous responsibilities constitute an overburden. The proposed
activities herein will focus on increasing the efficiency of these focal points to meet the challenges
of their jobs. It is expected that increasing the capacities of the focal points will improve
management of hazardous wastes and the implementation of the Basel convention.
Technical capacity building will comprise activities related to priority waste streams of the Strategic
Plan for the implementation of the Basel Convention such as:
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Green Customs Initiative For ports officers and customs officials in the prevention and control
of illegal trafficking in chemicals and hazardous wastes
Safe Management of Healthcare Wastes
Developing hazardous waste management plan for SMEs
Oil and Gas Waste Management
HW Identification and Classification workshop
National Reporting of Basel Convention for Arab States
Environmentally sound management of electrical and electronic wastes (e-waste)
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) wastes
Mercury wastes, and
Asbestos wastes.
While Institutional capacity building will comprise the activities related to developing tools that
can be used to improve the efficiency of the competent authorities for Basel convention and other
MEAS; these are:
Development of Inventory of electronic and electrical waste in Arab countries
Development of sound management of household wastes
Development of manuals and guidelines related to the sound management of hazardous
waste in the Arab countries
Access to information through establishing the BCRC-Egypt HZW management Data base
Developing SMEs' HZW management plans
Research on bioremediation Technology
Experience with the countries of the region reveal that in general most countries have training
capacity associated with environmental management in general. However, the quality and relevance
of curricula to hazardous waste management issues varies considerably. Potential expertise exists in
most countries which through targeted support can serve as in-country resources for the delivery of
training programmes. The potential, however, require nurturing and support from BCRC-Egypt
through a combination of development of an appropriate curricular, training of trainers approach,
support for country and sub-regional networking as well as knowledge sharing/management aimed at
enhancing training delivery competences. Through this approach the learning process can be fast
tracked. Training has been seen as a component which should go in parallel to the implementation of
defined waste management strategies and programmes. Most of the activities linked to the
institutional technical capacity building will comprise both training and follow up pilot project
activities.
Proposed Events These workshops will be held as a fruit of the personal efficient communications between BCRC-
Egypt director and the Arab countries. Arab countries clarified their urgent needs to the center
director and accordingly, BCRC-Egypt proposed a future plan to fulfill all the Arab needs.
a- The National Workshop on Green Customs Initiative For ports officers and customs officials
in the prevention and control of illegal trafficking in chemicals and hazardous waste
Aims
Strengthen the capacity of the customs, port authorities and government officials in the field of
control and monitoring of illegal traffic and circulation of hazardous wastes and in accordance with
the procedures set forth in the Basel Convention on this matter
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Participants
Representatives of the Customs Department and ports, Ministry of Environment, Federation of
Industries and others.
Number of Participants: 30-40 persons
Proposed Date: October 28-30, 2013
Estimated budget: US$ 10,000
b- The Regional Workshop on National Reporting of Basel Convention for Arab States
(This workshop will address the annual national reporting of the Arab members under Basel
Convention.)
Aims:
1- To raise the efficiency of focal points and homelands rationing officials for information
gathering and preparation of national reports submitted annually to the General Secretariat of
Basel Convention
2- To define of difficulties faced by a number of countries to provide information on the
management of hazardous waste to public aspirations and in accordance with Article 13,
paragraph 3, of the Convention.
3- To assist the participating countries in meeting their reporting obligations under Basel
Convention;
4- To provide guidance on methods of developing national inventories.
5- To establish networking opportunities and information exchange within countries in the
region as well as with relevant international bodies and other stakeholders.
6- A steering Committee meeting will take place in the evening of 16th
of December, to discuss
2014 work plan.
Participants:
National Focal points responsible for the collection of information and for the preparation of the
national reports that are submitted annually to the Secretariat of Basel Convention.
Number of Participants: 22 persons
Location: Egypt
Proposed date: December 16-17th, 2013
Estimated budget: US$ 22,562
c- The Regional workshop for Safe Management of Healthcare Wastes
Aims:
1-Introduction to sustainable management of medical wastes
International sustainable wastes management policies, principles and best practice guidance
for sustainable medical waste management.
Waste generation patterns (quantities, sources, types, etc.)
Potential environmental and public health impacts.
2- Risk assessment and mitigation
Auditing
Consignment
Containment and transport
Effective segregation
3-Waste management planning
Waste minimization
Waste management options:
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o High and low temperature treatment systems
o Disposal
Behavior change
Developing site, regional and national plans
Participants
National technical officials responsible for or involved in the Safe Health Care Waste Management.
Number of Participants: 30-40 persons
Location: Egypt
Proposed Date: December, 19-22th, 2013
Estimated budget US$ 30,000
d- The Second Regional Workshop on National Reporting of Basel Convention for Arab States
(This workshop will address the annual electronic national reporting of the Arab members under
Basel Convention.)
Aims:
1- To raise the efficiency of focal points and homelands rationing officials for information
gathering and preparation of national reports submitted electronically annually to the General
Secretariat of Basel Convention
2- To define of difficulties faced by a number of countries to provide information on the
management of hazardous waste to public aspirations and in accordance with Article 13,
paragraph 3, of the Convention.
3- To assist the participating countries in meeting their reporting obligations under Basel
Convention;
Participants:
National Focal points responsible for the collection of information and for the preparation of the
national reports that are submitted annually to the Secretariat of Basel Convention.
Number of Participants: 22 persons
Location: Egypt
Proposed date: March 28-30th
, 2014
Estimated budget: US$ 25,625
e. The Regional Symposium on Principles of Sustainable Waste Management
Aims
Introduction for Types of waste
Environmental and health effects of poor waste management
Waste management around the world
How to reduce waste
Repair, refurbishment, remanufacture
Recovery and Recycling
Energy from Waste Landfill
Policy and legislation
Regulation and enforcement
Effective collection
Behavior chance / public engagement
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f. Oil and Gas Waste Management Regional Workshop
Aims
Introduction to sustainable waste management
Sustainable wastes management policies and principles
Waste management hierarchy
Oil and gas industry
Potential environmental impacts
International legislation and standards
Environmental management options and tools
Environmental management plans
Waste Management
Oil waste arising issues
Waste management options
Developing a site waste management plan
c. The Regional Training on E-waste Management for Managers for African and Asian Arab
countries in Synergy with BC centers in Africa and Asia
Aims
The aim of this training is to be the capacity of managers and policy makers responsible for the E-
waste sector in the African and Asian Arab countries. This course will be implemented in
cooperation with the BC Centers in Africa and Asia. The Training will cover the following:
-The Scale of the problem
E-waste in Africa – overview
Exports from developing world – legal and illegal
Poor e-waste management practices
Environmental effects
Health effects
- International activities and best practices
Basel and Bamako
Exemplar national legislation
Developing policy and legislation for e-waste management
Guidelines
-SM for e-waste
Repair and reuse
Recycling
Disposal
Producer responsibility
Protecting environment and human health
Green jobs and Millennium Development Goals
g. The Regional Training on HW Identification and Classification workshop
Aims 1- Raise the efficiency of contact points and homelands rationing officials on HW identification and
classification
2- Definition of the difficulties faced by a number of countries for HW Identification and
Classification.
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3- Awareness of Hazardous waste identification and Classification process i.e. hazardous waste
listings and hazardous waste characteristics
h - Inventory of electronic and electrical waste in Arab countries
Most of the Arab states struggle with their annual national reporting of the Basel Convention. E-
waste is one of the priority issues in implementing the Basel Convention because of the logarithmic
growth of its generation. Conducting national E-wastes inventories is a core element to improve
timely and complete national reporting. BCRC-Egypt can help few Arab states to develop their
national e-waste inventories. In turn, this will definitely improve their national reporting. The main
objective to assist Arab countries (one from Africa and one from Asia) where no statistical data are
collected, in collaboration with two NGOs, in fulfilling their reporting obligations under the Basel
Convention, as regards national inventories of E-waste.
i - The pilot project for the development of sound management of household waste, Cairo -
Egypt
In the framework of the operational activities of BCRC-Egypt, it arranged to fund a pilot project to
develop sound management of household waste in Cairo - Egypt due to the increasing diversity and
quantity of household waste there. This should result in:
* Involvement of the private sector in the management and protection of the environment.
* Reduce the negative effects of this sector to the health of citizens and the environmental field.
j - Pilot project "Development of manuals and guidelines related to the sound management of
hazardous waste in the Arab countries
k- For the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs):
POPs fall within the interest of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions. Import and export of the ten
intentionally produced POPs is severely restricted by the Stockholm Convention. After all substance
specific exemptions have ceased, import and export is allowed only for the purpose of
environmentally sound disposal under restricted conditions.
The Stockholm Convention lays down an obligation to all Parties to develop and endeavour to
implement a plan for the implementation of its obligations under the Stockholm Convention
(National Implementation Plan, NIP). Most (19 countries out of 22) of the Arab Countries signed the
Stockholm Convention. Among the member Arab Countries, only seven countries (Algeria, Djibouti,
Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco were able to develop and present their NIPs to the
Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention and started to take measures towards implementation. Some
of the countries who submitted their NIP are currently revising them (e.g. Egypt). The remaining
countries are either developing their plans or plan to develop them.
It is proposed that BCRC-Egypt assist the Arab Countries to revise/update their NIPs, and build the
capacity of the rest of the countries to properly develop their plans. In order to achieve good results,
it is proposed that BCRC-Egypt gather and review NIPs prepared for the seven Arab Countries and
plan sub-regional capacity building workshop activities. These activities will be followed by pilot
activities in two selected Arab Countries. The pilot activities will be planned in consultation with the
selected member countries and regional and international stakeholders. Possible pilot activities can
include;
Identify the existing National measures related to POPs;
Assess their efficiency and sufficiency in meeting the obligations of the Stockholm
Convention;
Identify needs for further measures;
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Establish a plan for implementing the further measures;
Identify and strengthen links and potential synergies between POP management and other
environmental policies and other policy fields; and
Increase awareness on POPs and their control measures.
These pilot project activities will be followed by a workshop to test the Basel Convention Technical
guidelines on the environmentally sound management of POPs wastes in collaboration with the
Secretariat of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions.
l- For the Mercury and asbestos waste Streams
Mercury and asbestos waste streams are gaining a lot of interest and concern among the international
community and inside the Arab region. They were added to the strategic plan focus areas in 2006. It
was planned that guidelines for asbestos wastes and training materials for its sound management be
developed with emphasis on measures to be taken in disaster-prone areas. It was also noted that
BCRCs should plan and implement activities to promote awareness among local residents and of
municipalities on the issue and to develop related pilot activities to assist in controlling the impact of
these types of wastes.
For Mercury wastes: The SBC, as requested by the ninth meeting of the conference of the parties in
Bali in 2008, is developing in cooperation with UNEP chemicals, i) partnerships around the theme of
environmentally friendly technologies and awareness raising regarding avoidance, use and disposal
of mercury wastes; ii) capacity-building and technical assistance programmes to reduce and prevent
pollution from mercury; iii) guidelines on environmentally sound management of mercury wastes
with emphasis on the development of sound disposal and remediation practices.
BCRC-Egypt will therefore take a leading role in the region to promote awareness regarding the
asbestos and mercury waste streams through pilot activities in two selected countries and then
promote the experience gained from these pilot activities in a regional workshop.
Pilot activities that can be implemented at the national level may include;
Identify the existing National measures related to the two waste streams.
Identify needs for further measures and promote them.
Establish a plan for implementing the further measures proposed.
Identify and strengthen links and potential synergies with the Rotterdam convention and
other mechanisms agreed by the governments.
Increase awareness on the two waste streams and their control measures.
m- Training on the GHS system
The sound management of chemicals is an important capital for protecting human health and the
environment. One important tool for supporting chemical safety is the Globally Harmonized System
of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The GHS as a tool for facilitating the
implementation of chemicals conventions has also been highlighted in recent international
discussions (such as SAICM).
In Africa, the importance of the GHS has been highlighted in the Action Plan of the Environment
Initiative of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). The importance of the GHS
was demonstrated by the conclusion of the Regional SAICM Workshop for Africa in 2005 in Cairo.
From the workshop recommendations, several important points were raised on the need for further
GHS training and awareness raising for countries in the region. However, it has been noted that lack
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of resources and capacity, as well as lack of awareness on the GHS, are obstacles to GHS
implementation.
The elements in the GHS supply a mechanism to meet the basic requirement of any hazard
communication system, which is to decide if the chemical product produced and/or supplied is
hazardous and to prepare a label and/or Safety Data Sheet as appropriate. Regulatory authorities in
countries adopting the GHS will thus take the agreed criteria and provisions, and implement them
through their own regulatory process and procedures rather than simply incorporating the text of the
GHS into their national requirements. Understanding the GHS system thus provides countries with
the regulatory building blocks to develop or modify existing national programs that address
classification of hazards and transmittal of information about those hazards and associated protective
measures. This helps to ensure the safe use of chemicals and of hazardous wastes as they move
through the product life cycle from "cradle to grave."
Training on GHS has been identified by many Arab Countries as a priority need for enforcement
officers, environmental executives and for industry. BCRC-Egypt is planning to compile GHS
related training materials and to do two regional training workshops for trainers and for enforcement
and executives from the customs, the industry and environment sectors. The planned activities will
greatly help in reducing the risk associated with handling hazardous chemicals and wastes and will
contribute indirectly to the waste control and minimization objectives.
n- Access to information through establishing the BCRC-Egypt Data base
Information constitute the backbone of any decision making process. The availability of an enhanced
web site for the BCRC-Egypt will help greatly information publication and dissemination. BCRC-
Egypt has produced in Arabic language guidelines, reports and information that were very useful to
the member Arab Countries. During Phase II of the project more information and technical material
will be produced. Accordingly, a more efficient website was developed to have a data base that holds
in an easy access interface all results, outputs of the BCRC-Egypt, and other related links, linked to
such web site. The BCRC-Egypt intends to prepare a data base that will contain fact sheets regarding
hazardous waste management in the member countries, guidelines produced by the BCRC-Egypt,
web links to valuable information/other data bases, awareness material and other related information.
Preparation of countries fact sheets and data entry will comprise an important part of the
development of the BCRC-Egypt data base. BCRC-Egypt will need to allocate for data entry or
operators.
Many Arab Countries which lack the facilities to deal with specific types of wastes (especially
PCBs) requested information regarding international companies that accepts hazardous waste
shipments from developing countries. It is therefore intended to compile a data base for regional and
international facilities (within the EU) accepting hazardous wastes and makes this compilations
available through BCRC-Egypt website.
In order to have an effective and efficient website BCRC-Egypt will need to upgrade its information
technology hardware. It is therefore planned to acquire new hardware server.
The development and expansion of the existing information management capability of BCRC-Egypt
is also central to the elevation of the quality of decisions made on the basis of properly collected and
analysed information. The activity will strengthen the institutional capacity of the region in addition
to building the capacity of the BCRC-Egypt.
o- Promoting SMEs' HZW management plans:
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Although it is becoming increasingly common for large scale organizations to set ambitions
environmental targets and to take accordingly necessary measures, the same cannot be extended to
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are widely considered as an important engine
for economic growth and employment throughout different regions of the world. SMEs are also an
important contributor to environmental pollution. Scarcity of resources and unfamiliarity with the
available environmental sound management tools are common features among SMEs. Data
regarding the contribution of the SMEs to the hazardous waste problem in the Arab region are hardly
available. A common believe that SMEs contribute much to the hazardous waste problems in the
Arab region is shared among many executive and experts from the region.
During Phase I of Finland funded project, BCRC-Egypt assisted Morocco to assess the waste
problem from SMEs in Marrakech, and in developing a relevant waste management plan. Also,
under the umbrella of the Basel Convention Ministerial Declaration as well as the COP 6 adopted
Strategic Action Plan, funding was provided (with additional financial support from the Swiss
Agency for Development and Cooperation) to Jordan for the development of a guide for
management of wastes from SMEs. From November 2003 to April 2005, the Royal Scientific
Society (RSS, Jordan) and Sustainable Business Associates (SBA, Switzerland) developed the first
Guide for Hazardous Waste Management in order to help SMEs tackle the problem of the sound
management of hazardous wastes in an environmentally and economically viable manner (preventive
actions).
The Guide was initially developed for Jordan, building on existing know-how through the
application of an integrated life cycle approach to hazardous chemicals and hazardous wastes by
encouraging the adoption of environmental friendly practices and by tackling the problem of
hazardous waste generation at its source.
BCRC-Egypt will work closely with both the Jordanian and Moroccan authorities to transfer the
knowledge gained during these important activities to other Arab Countries who need them. A
consultant will be used to identify and prioritize SME sectors to address and to develop screening
questionnaire to share with the BC focal points in the 22 member Arab Countries. Based on the
response to the initiative of the BCRC-Egypt, two or three selected countries will be subject to pilot
activities to collect field data in collaboration with local environmental authorities and industrial
federations. BCRC-Egypt then will encourage and assist the countries subjected to the field activities
to put their SMEs waste management plans and will further develop relevant guidelines to be used
by other beneficiary countries.
p- Pilot study on bioremediation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated soils
The problem of soils and beaches contaminated with hydrocarbons is common in many oil producing
countries in the region. The current practice for decontamination is to incinerate the soils either
locally or in Europe. Currently the EU has been stringent and may not continue to accept such soils
from outside the EU. The current activity proposes bioremediation as alternative and proposes to
examine its viability. Successful bioremediation or decontamination will also protect nearby natural
resources and inhabited areas from contaminated run off and leachate of contaminated areas. The
expansion to new areas became an emerging must to meet the population growth needs in many
countries of the region, and thus rehabilitation of contaminated areas became an important issue.
To the BCRC-Egypt Knowledge, bioremediation have not been implemented for cleaning
hydrocarbon contaminated soils except for very few cases. It is also known that bioremediation use
in our region is mainly for waste water treatment.
BCRC-Egypt proposes for Phase II of the Finland funded project, an activity that will focus on
identifying international sources for supplying bioremediation technologies for hydrocarbon
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contaminated soils and will try to acquire samples of different microbes for testing on contaminated
soils and screen the best effective microbes for each specific soil. This proposed activity will
enhance the research capacity of the BCRC-Egypt and will feed the BCRC-Egypt with information
to be added to the its data base which contribute to the regions capacity building.
D- Regional Cooperation Activities The area of Regional Cooperation witnessed several important activities during last years. One of
the most important was the development of a framework for a regional strategy and action plan for
combating illegal trade and dump of hazardous wastes and hazardous materials controlled by
international conventions in the Arab territories. Among the regions organizations which
collaborated with the BCRC-Egypt in implementing pilot activities for developing that strategy was
the League of Arab States. Phase I of the Finland funded project also contributed to other
international endeavours carried out by the WCO, UNEP/MAP, and UNEP/ROWA.
BCRC-Egypt is aiming to collaborate, in implementing many of its activities, with regional and
international bodies, including:
1 - Department of Environment and Sustainable Development at the Arab League.
2 - Regional Office of the UNDP in Cairo.
3 - Many NGOs.
4 - Cairo University.
5 - The Egyptian Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs.
6 - World Customs Organization
7 - The Finnish government
8 - PACE
9 - The Egyptian Ministry of Telecommunications.
10 - Cairo University Special units, though signing official agreements between BCRC-Egypt and 8
Special units of Cairo University, such as Cairo University Conferences Centre and Cairo University
Languages and Translations Centre. These agreements will allow mutual benefits between these
unite and BCRC-Egypt, through which BCRC-Egypt will have the opportunity to use the services of
these units with high margin of discount, up to 50%. This, in turn, will save a big amount of the
project money that may have been spent on such services.
Another regional cooperation activity will focus on developing and endorsing regional hazardous
waste legislation as this has been identified as an emerging need to protect the countries of the
region from the impact of illegal trade in waste and in hazardous chemicals. The development of the
legislation will also protect those countries which do not have national legislations for hazardous
wastes and rely largely on Environmental legislations frameworks which usually do not provide
enough legal protection.
E- Awareness Activities and Dissemination
Awareness and dissemination are the essential mechanisms for implementing effective waste
management programs. The needs of the region reflect the lack of Hazardous Waste Management
(HZWM) awareness within the political and governmental leadership of the stakeholder countries
including the private sector. Few of the senior officials are even aware of the BCRC or its
objectives. There is therefore a need to continue to stimulate awareness and commitment within this
sector which is crucial in the successful undertaking initiation and undertaking of future HZWM
programmes.
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The project in Phase I utilized many tools for raising the awareness at different levels of audience,
executives, politicians and decision makers. BCRC-Egypt is keen to have its activities publicized
in newspapers and TV channels.
Also BCRC-Egypt will recruit a professional company to design and develop a new website for
the centre. The website should be able to introduce all the news, activities and structure of BCRC-
Egypt. Also the website will provide users with all Basel convention documents and guidelines.
Also all BCRC-Egypt activities multimedia shall be uploaded on the website. Furthermore, the
website will have a specific section for each of the 22 Arab countries which BCRC-Egypt serves,
with all data related to the country status in the light of Basel Convention. The Centre director will
update the centre steering committee in its meeting on the pilot launching of the new website
(bcrc-egypt.com). Also BCRC-Egypt will set up social accounts for the centre, to facilitate the
communication between the centre and the Arab members, such as Facebook, twitter and
YouTube.
Other important awareness activities will include;
a- Translations and publications
Translation, publication and dissemination of outreach materials are important tools for the transfer
of knowledge and technology. BCRC-Egypt translated and produced many valuable guidelines and
reports during phase I of the Finland funded project. Plans to continue its translation, publication
and dissemination of important outreach material during Phase II of the project are considered.
Among most important documents foreseen for translation into Arabic language are from the
publication lists of Basel Convention, the Stockholm Convention, the World Bank, and from the
Publications of Regional Activity Centre for Cleaner Production. BCRC-Egypt puts a target of
900 pages of translation throughout the three year project period. BCRC-Egypt will not restrict
itself to the mere translation of the publication to be selected, but will adopt the translated
documents to the region's conditions to the best. BCRC-Egypt will make sure before take the
decision for translation that the publication selected for translation has not translated into Arabic
language at all.
The translation and publication activities will promote the use of BCRC-Egypt services and
outputs in addition.
b- E-learning
E-Learning, or online learning, stands for all forms of Internet-enabled and/or computer supported
learning. It refers to the use of computer and computer network technologies to create, deliver,
manage and support learning, usually independent of specific locations or times. E-Learning can
involve complete online courses, where all aspects of learning, from learner enrolment to tuition
and support take place online. At the other end of the e-Learning spectrum, these elements may
well take place in a face to face situation, with only the learning resources available on the internet.
E-learning through the semantic web is becoming increasingly popular among various age groups
and among different specialization categories. BCRC-Egypt through the various proposed
activities and utilizing the Phase I achievements and materials maintained has a good potential to
develop e- learning courses to promote through its web site. The e-learning courses that will be
developed by the BCRC-Egypt will be used to generate resources to the centre on the long term. It
is planned to develop at most our courses during the proposed three years of the project. The areas
for developing e-learning courses include; e-waste management, Persistent Organic pollutants,
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liquid hazardous wastes and on BAT and BEP for hazardous wastes management.
With these activities, the centre is striving to become knowledge and excellent center to assist in
the implementation of the Basel and Stockholm conventions, and the Strategic Approach to
International Chemical Management (SAICM).
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V – Financial Information (optional)
A – Financial information about the Centre
Table (4): BCRC-Egypt operation cost for the (2013-2015) years period (Host
Country in kind contribution)
GOE/BCRC- MAC SBC Total
Egypt
Director * 36,000 36,000
Secretary 9,000 9,000
Offices 36000 36,000
Communication 3000 9,000
Maintenance 1,000 3,500
Others 1,000 3,000
Publications 5,500
Traveling 5000 30,000
Sub total 91000
TOTAL in U$S 132000 *In the first phase of the project, the past director used to receive monthly financial return. However, since the start of the second phase, and due to the obstacles that faced the start of the second phase, the current director is no longer receiving such return. Accordingly and since the phase II of the project is processing efficiently, it is planned that the financial return of the current Director will be discussed in the next CEC and PSC meetings to acknowledge that the director should receive a financial return with the value estimated by both committees.
B – Main partner institutions
Table (5)
Financial Resources Cairo University
Current main sources of funding The Egyptian Ministry of States for
Environmental Affairs (EMSEA)
Government of Finland,
Development Cooperation.
UNEP/SSC
UNIDO
Potential future sources of funding World Bank
Parties in the region
Others
External Resources SBC/UNEP
SSC/UNEP
Current key partners and
MSEA
stakeholders Parties in the region
Donors
Governmental departments
Key Partners and stakeholder in the Industries
future Academic institutions
Non-governmental organizations
BCRC-Egypt Business Plan 2013-2015
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C – Proposed budget for the activities of Phase II
Table (6)
Service Budget ($)
Training services 304632
Technical Assistance on HW management 351524
Information dissemination for Arab countries
87530
Analytical services for HW identification and classification
160361
Institutional development of BCRC-Egypt 589994
Total 1494041
BCRC-Egypt Business Plan 2013-2015
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ANNEX 1
Contact info for BC focal Points in the Arab countries
1 Algeria Role: BC FP
Job title: Sous directeur de la coopération dans le domaine de l’environnement
Department: Direction Générale des Relations Économiques et de la Coopération
Internationales / Direction Générale de l'Environnement
Institution: Ministère des Affaires Étrangères
Postal address: Plateau des Anassers – Kouba
Alger
Algeria
Phone: +213 560 15 57 37
Fax: +213 21 50 43 22
Email: tewfikmahi@hotmail.com
Role: BC CA
Job title: Directeur
Department: Direction de la Politique Environnementale Industrielle
Institution: Ministère de l'Aménagement du Territoire, de l'Environnemnt et de la Ville
Postal address: 4 Rue des Quatre Canons
Alger
Algérie
Phone: +213 771 628 992
Fax: +213 314 328 57
Email: baba.mate@hotmail.com
2 Bahrain Mr. Abdel Mohsin Al Mohmoud
Role: BC FP
Job title: Head
Department: Waste Management Section
Institution: Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and
Wildlife
Postal address: P.O. Box
32657Isa
Bahrain
Phone: +973 17 38 66 15
Fax: +973 17 92 02 13
Email: mohsinm@pmew.gov.bh
Role: BC CA
Job title: Director General
Department: Environment and Wildlife Protection
Institution: Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and
Wildlife
Postal address: Isa
Town
Bahrain
Phone: +973 1738 65 55
Fax: +973 17 38 65 56
BCRC-Egypt Business Plan 2013-2015
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3 Comoros Role: BC CA, BC FP
Job title: Point Focal National
Department: Direction Général de l’Environnement
Institution: Vice-Présidence en Charge du Ministère de l’Environnement
Postal address: Ex-CEFADER
B.P. 41
Moroni
Comoros
Phone: +269 321 94 86
Fax: +269 775 00 03
Email: youssouf_elamine@yahoo.fr
4 Djibouti Role: BC CA, BC FP
Job title: Secretary General
Institution: Ministry of Housing, Urban Affairs, Environment and Land Planning
Postal address: MHUEAT
P.O. Box 11
Djibouti
Djibouti
Phone: +253 35 85 22
Fax: +253 35 16 18
Email: adouale@yahoo.fr
5 Egypt Role: BC CA, BC FP
Job title: General Director / Basel Convention Focal Point
Department: Hazardous Chemicals and Waste Department
Institution: Ministry of Environment
Postal address: 30 Misr Helwan Road
P.O. Box 11728
Cairo
Egypt
Phone: +202 2 525 6452
Fax: +202 2 525 6475
Email: adelshafei@gmail.com, othmanadel@rocketmail.com, adelshafei@eeaa.gov.eg
Role: BC CA
Department: Transit Control Department
Institution: Suez Canal Authority
Postal address: Irshaad Building
Ismailia
Egypt
Phone: +2064 391 00 00
Fax: +2064 391 47 84 / 85
Role: BC CA
Department: Department of Environment and Sustainable Development
Institution: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Postal address: Maspiro, Corniche EL Nile
Cairo
Egypt
Phone: +20 2 25 74 78 46
Fax: +20 2 25 74 79 36
BCRC-Egypt Business Plan 2013-2015
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6 Iraq Role: BC FP
Job title: Senior Chief Chemist, Focal Point to Basel
Convention
Department: Assement and Monitoring Service Department
Institution: Ministry of Environment
Postal address: Al-Magrib Street
Baghdad
Iraq
Phone: +964 790 272 7426
Email: tag_alnuaimi@yahoo.com
Role: BC CA
Job title: Deputy Minister
Institution: Ministry of Environment
Postal address: Baghdad
Iraq
Phone: +964 790 111 6410
Email: kamal_162@yahoo.com
7 Jordan Role: BC CA, BC FP
Job title: The Secretary General
Institution: Ministry of Environment
Postal address: P.O. Box 1408
11941 Amman
Jordan
Phone: +962 6 552 19 41
Fax: +962 6 535 00 84
Email: moenv@moenv.gov.jo, faljunidi@yahoo.com, mkhashashneh@yahoo.com
8 Kuwait Role: BC CA, BC FP
Job title: Director General
Institution: Environment Public Authority
Postal address: P.O. Box 24395
13104 Safat
Kuwait
Phone: +965 482 12 84
Fax: +965 482 1284
Email: cham97@epa.org.kw
menezi@epa.org.kw
s.taqi@epa.org.kw
9 Lebanon Role: BC FP
Job title: Head of Department of Chemical Safety
Department: Service of Environmental Technology, Department of Chemical Safety
Institution: Ministry of Environment
Postal address: Lazarieh Building - 7th floor, Block A-4 New
P.O. Box 11-2727
Beirut
Lebanon
Phone: +961 1 97 65 55 ext. 408
Fax: +961 1 97 65 30
Email: v.sassine@moe.gov.lb Vivian.sassine@gmail.com
Role: BC CA
Job title: Directorate General of Environment
Institution: Ministry of Environment
Postal address: Lazarieh Building - 7th floor (Room 7-42)
P.O. Box 11-2727
Beirut
Lebanon
Phone: +961 1 97 65 12
Fax: +961 1 97 65 30
Rola.sh@moe.gov.lb
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10 Libya Role: BC CA, BC FP
Department: Administration
Institution: Environment General Authority (EGA)
Postal address: El Gheran
Tripoli
Libya
Phone: +218 21 311 18 64
Fax: +218 21 487 02 66
Email: douggha57@yahoo.com
11 Mauritania Role: BC CA, BC FP
Job title: Directeur
Department: Direction des Pollutions et des Urgences Environnementales
Institution: Ministère de l’Environnement et Développement Durable
Postal address: Rue 21-185 No. 834
B.P. 170
Nouakchott
Mauritania
Phone: +222 22230556
Fax: +222 45243138
Email: aloueimine01@yahoo.fr, environnement@environnement.gov.mr
molayelmomen@yahoo.fr
Fax: +222 45243139
Tel: +222 27095829
12 Morocco Role: BC FP
Job title: Directeur de la Surveillance et de la Prévention des Risques
Department: Secrétariat d'Etat chargé de l'Eau et de l'Environnement
Institution: Ministère de l'Energie, des Mines, de l'Eau et de l'Environnement
Postal address: 9. Avenue. Al Araar
Secteur 16, Hay Ryad
Rabat
Morocco
Phone: +212 5 37 57 66 46
Fax: +212 5 37 57 66 45
Email: chalabi@environnement.gov.ma
Role: BC CA
Job title: Direction de la Surveillance et de la Prévention des Risques
Institution: Secrétariat d'Etat auprès du Ministère de l'Energie, des Mines, de l'Eau et de
l'Environnement
Postal address: 9, avenue Al Araar
Secteur 16, Hay Riad
Rabat
Morocco
Phone: +212 37 57 06 55
Fax: +212 37 57 04 71
Email: farahbouqartacha@yahoo.fr
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13 Oman Role: BC FP
Job title: Acting Director
Department: Environmental Inspection and Control
Institution: Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs
Postal address: P.O. Box 323
100 Muscat
Oman
Phone: +968 2 440 4792
Fax: +968 2 440 4899
Email: saleh854@yahoo.com, meca.dgea@gmail.com
Role: BC CA
Job title: Managing Director
Department: International Cooperation Department
Institution: Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs
Postal address: P.O. Box 323
100 Muscat
Oman
Phone: +968 24 404 817
Fax: +968 24 69 1232
Email: picmeca@hotmail.com, meca.dgea@gmail.com
14 Palestinian
Authority
Mahmoud Abu Shanab
Tel: +970599674801
+9702403495
Fax: +970224034942
Email: ma_shanab@yahoo.com
15 Qatar Role: BC CA, BC FP
Job title: Head of Pollution Control Section
Institution: Ministry of Environment
Postal address: P.O. Box 7634
Doha
Qatar
Phone: +974 44204149
Fax: +974 44207000
Email: amibrahem@moe.gov.qa
16 Saudi Arabia Role: BC CA, BC FP
Institution: Meteorology and Environmental Protection Administration (MEPA)
Postal address: P.O. Box 1358
21431 Jeddah
Saudi Arabia
fax: +96 62 6511 424
tel: +96626536222 mobile 00966565500707
Email: smz2002@hotmail.com
17 Somalia Mr. Mohamed Osman
Ministry of Environment
Telephone: (252 1) 53 86 58 or 56 15 24
Telefax: (25) 420 273 66 19
18 Sudan Role: BC CA, BC FP
Job title: Secretary General
Institution: Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources
Postal address: Gamaa Street
P.O. Box 11488
Khartoum
Sudan
Email: hcenr2005@yahoo.com
aliknfa@hotmail.com
Tel: +249912297292
+ 24918377716
Fax: + 249183787617
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19 Syria Role: BC FP
Department: General Commission for Environmental Affairs
Institution: Ministry of Local Administration and Environment
Postal address:
Damascus
P.O. Box 3773
Syrian Arab Republic
Phone: +963 11 231 86 82
Fax: +963 11 231 86 83
Email: omoen@syrgov.sy, rulaabazeed@yahoo.com
Role: BC CA
Institution: Ministry of Local Administration and Environment
Postal address: P.O. Box 3773
Mazraa, Damascus
Syrian Arab Republic
Phone: +963 11 446 59 05
Fax: +963 11 446 10 79
Email: env-min@net.sy
20 Tunisia Role: BC CA, BC FP
Job title: Directeur de l'Environnement Industriel
Department: Direction Générale de l'Environnement et de la Qualité de la Vie
Institution: Ministère de l'Environnement et du Développement Durable
Postal address: Centre Urbain Nord - Boulevard de la Terre
1080 Tunis
Tunisia
Phone: +216 70 728 644
Fax: +216 70 728 655
Email: dgeqv@mineat.gov.tn
21 UAE Role: BC CA, BC FP
Job title: Chemical Engineer
Department: Chemical and Hazardous Waste Department
Institution: Ministry of Environment and Water
Postal address: P.O. Box 1509
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 4 2148 547
Fax: +971 4 2565 5822
Email: rialawar@moew.gov.ae
22 Yemen Role: BC CA, BC FP
Job title: Chairman
Institution: Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
Postal address: Al-Zbyri Street
P.O. Box 19719
Sana'a
Yemen
Phone: +967 1 207 817
Fax: +967 1 207 327
Email: alialdobhani@yahoo.com, alialdobhani@gmail.com, baselyemen@gmail.com