Pag

e1

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

Pag

e2

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

Pag

e3

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

Pag

e4

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

Pag

e5

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

Pag

e6

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

Pag

e7

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,

Pag

e8

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

,

Pag

e9

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

Pag

e10

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

Pag

e11

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.

Pag

e12

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

Pag

e13

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.

Pag

e14

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.

Pag

e15

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.

Pag

e16

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.

Pag

e17

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.

Pag

e18

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.

Pag

e19

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

Pag

e20

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

Pag

e21

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.

Pag

e22

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

Pag

e23

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

Pag

e24

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:

Pag

e25

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

Pag

e26

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:

Pag

e27

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

Pag

e28

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.

Pag

e29

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;

Pag

e30

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

Pag

e31

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:

Pag

e32

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

Pag

e33

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.

Pag

e34

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,

Pag

e35

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).

Pag

e36

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

Pag

e37

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

Pag

e38

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

Pag

e39

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

Pag

e40

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

BCRC-Egypt Business Plan 2013-2015

Pag

e41

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

BCRC-Egypt Business Plan 2013-2015

Pag

e42

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

BCRC-Egypt Business Plan 2013-2015

Pag

e43

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