Enabling activities related to the Implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the Republic of Belarus

The overall project objective is to develop a National Implementation Plan (NIP) for POPs issues with the assistance of international organisations so that Belarus effectively addresses the reduction and elimination of persistent organic pollutants consistent with the protection of human health and the environment from the effect thereof, and meet its obligations under the Stockholm Convention. Within this overall objective the following specific objectives have been identified.· - Develop and adopt a comprehensive country driven NIP for reduction and elimination of POPs compliant with the provisions of the Stockholm Convention, including Article 7. - Assess the adequacy of the national regulatory framework and enforcement capacity to meet the country’s obligations under the Convention, identify possibilities for enhancing the current regulatory framework and produce recommendations for institutional strengthening to ensure enforcement. - Strengthen national institutional and technical capacity as required to undertake implementation of the NIP, meet Convention compliance and reporting obligations, facilitate effective information exchange, and participate fully as a Party to the Stockholm Convention in the long term. - Achieve a high level of awareness of the POPs issue and sustained ownership respecting the NIP and international obligations among decision makers. - Achieve a high level of public and stakeholder participation in the development and implementation of the NIP.·Establish a potential for environmental and health POPs monitoring as an integral part of the national environmental and social/hygienic monitoring systems. - Provide the basis for expedited financing of NIP implementation measures through preparation on the basis of the NIP action plans for specific POPs of a portfolio of investment and capacity related technical assistance proposals potentially eligible for grant financing under the Convention’s permanent financial mechanism and co-financing through financing opportunities offered within the World Bank Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) framework and such opportunities as may be available from other international sources.