BRS Secretariat Vision, Mission and Strategic Direction (2018-2019)

Introduction

We, the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions (BRS Secretariat), as three leading Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) on hazardous chemicals and wastes, present our vision, mission and strategic direction for the period 2018-2019, in line with the decisions of the conferences of the parties and the focus of the United Nations (UN) to become more effective in addressing global challenges of the sound management of hazardous chemicals and wastes, within the UN Sustainable Development Agenda by 2030.

The BRS Secretariat has its origins from the omnibus decision taken in 2013 (BC.Ex-2/1, RC.Ex-2/1 and SC.Ex-2/1), when the conferences of the parties to the three legally autonomous conventions agreed to the matrix-based management approach and organization of the secretariats of the Basel and Stockholm conventions and the UN Environment Programme (UN Environment)-part of the Secretariat of the Rotterdam convention.

The need for the BRS Secretariat to increase its support to Parties, strengthen regional centres and address the sound management of hazardous chemicals and wastes within its mandate was further highlighted at the 2017 COPs.

The adoption, by the UN General Assembly, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 (seventeen) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which address poverty, hunger, inequality, climate change and sustainable consumption and production have direct relevance to the BRS Secretariat’s important work on chemicals and waste management.

This document elaborates our vision and describes how we will achieve our mandates and address the needs of the Parties to the three conventions, within this global context. It will also provide a basis for us to remain focused on our goals and measure the effectiveness of our actions.

Mindful of UN fundamental values, ethics and applicable UN rules and regulations[1], the secretariat, when implementing the program of work of three conventions, seeks to maintain a strong client focus, and to carry out our functions in a synergistic and cost-effective manner. We continue to aspire to respond more effectively to Parties’ needs and expectations, through innovations and highly specialized expertise, whilst ensuring inclusivity, equal participation of all Parties, accountability and transparency in our daily work, focusing on the protection of human health and the environment – in line with the respective decisions of each of the Conferences of the Parties for each Convention (COPs).

This strategic document shall also guide our interaction with our partners, including the private sector, as we engage in addressing the challenges of implementation of the conventions at the global, regional and national levels, by all relevant stakeholders.

To deliver on this ambitious strategy, we shall work within a matrix-based organisation that shall promote teamwork and professionalism, respect, communication, gender and regional balance, integrity and trust-building.

  1. COPs Decisions;
  2. BRS Secretariat Workplans;
  3. Resource Mobilization Strategy;
  4. Communications Strategy;
  5. Technical Assistance Programme.

Vision

The BRS Secretariat is recognised as the lead and respected partner, on the global MEA governance and within the UN system, of the sound management of hazardous chemicals and wastes, in view of protecting human health and the environment from the adverse effects of hazardous chemicals and wastes, at the global, regional and national level.

Mission Statements

The mission of the BRS Secretariat is to:
  1. While actively working towards the effective protection of the environment and human health, through the effective and sound management of hazardous chemicals and wastes, we strive to:
  2. Enhance our work with Parties and all relevant stakeholders to bring about implementation of the conventions and synergies at the global, regional and national levels;
  3. Continue to deliver efficient, cost-effective and synergistic services to Parties, including technical assistance, scientific support, legal, administration and financial resources oversight services, governance activities, conference and information services ;
  4. Further develop and implement a resource mobilization strategy to facilitate national implementation of the conventions, in particular by developing country-Parties, Parties that are countries with economies in transition and small island developing states;
  5. Enlarge and strengthen cooperation with all relevant stakeholders, including with international bodies and the private sector, notably through partnerships and an effective network of regional centres;
  6. Create further awareness to place the sound management of chemicals and waste among the issues to prioritize in order to effectively protect human health and the environment, within the context of the global development agenda, notably to achieve the SDGs through a pollution-free planet.

Broad Strategic Goals

In decisions BC-13/24, RC-8/17, SC-8/27, the conferences of the parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions adopted the programmes of work for the biennium 2018-2019. The Secretariat developed workplans for the implementation of the decisions taken at the 2017 COPs meetings, which are reflected in these broad goals below.

Cooperation with Partners

  • Resource mobilization and greater involvement of industry:

o    Mobilize resources and support (including from the private sector) for the implementation of the BRS Conventions programmes of work;

  •  Strengthen relationship and cooperation with UN Environment, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC), the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention, and other relevant intergovernmental organizations as they relate to the implementation of the BRS Conventions (e.g. the World Customs Organization, the World Trade Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, etc.).
  • Regional centres and technical assistance:

o    Support and strengthen the Basel and Stockholm Convention regional centres;

o    Implement the technical assistance programme agreed by the 2017 Conferences of the Parties;

  • Knowledge management

o    Enhance the information sharing through qualitative knowledge management on the BRS Conventions and sound management of hazardous chemicals and wastes; From science to action:

o    Further enhance science-based action in the implementation of the BRS Conventions at the global, regional and national levels;

  • Public Awareness raising, outreach and communication:

o    Raise public awareness, reach out and communicate effectively and efficiently on the BRS Conventions and the important role they play in the global chemicals and waste agenda.

Rotterdam Convention

  • Intersessional work on the process of listing chemicals:

o    Facilitate the intersessional work to review the cases in which the COP was unable to reach consensus on the listing of a chemical; to develop options for improving the effectiveness of the process; to develop proposals for enabling improved information flows that support the prior informed consent procedure for those chemicals;

  • Compliance:

o    Support the Bureau and Parties intersessionally in resolving outstanding issues with a view to facilitate the possible adoption of compliance procedures and mechanisms by the Conference of the Parties at its next meeting;

  • Increasing notifications of final regulatory actions:

o    Assist Parties in order to enhance the qualitative and quantitative exchange of information in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, by submitting notifications of final regulatory action for banned or severely restricted chemicals;

  • Chemical Review Committee (CRC) process:

·         Support the CRC to review notifications of final regulatory actions and proposals for listing severely hazardous pesticide formulations in accordance with Articles 5 and 7 and support the process for listing in Annex III to the Convention;

  • Effectiveness of the Convention:

o    Enhance the effectiveness of the Rotterdam Convention.

Stockholm Convention

  • Listing of Chemicals:

o    Support the process for the entry into force of the amendments to Annexes A and C;

o    Support implementation of the Convention for newly listed chemicals;

  • Effectiveness evaluation:

o    Support the effectiveness evaluation process, including generation of information through existing arrangements and mechanisms under the Convention;

  • Best Available Techniques (BAT)/Best Environmental Practices (BEP):

o    Support work of experts on BAT/BEP in the process for revising and updating the guidelines and guidance documents;

  • Compliance:

o    Support the Bureau and Parties intersessionally in resolving outstanding issues with a view to facilitate the possible adoption of compliance procedures and mechanisms by the Conference of the Parties at its next meeting;

  • Financial Mechanism:

o    Strengthen the financial basis of all three conventions through the review of the financial mechanism and assessment of Parties’ funding needs under the Stockholm Convention as well as through the identification of possible elements of guidance from the Stockholm Convention to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that also address the relevant priorities of the Basel and Rotterdam conventions;

  • National Implementation Plans (NIPs):

o    Facilitate assistance to Parties in developing and updating NIPs including through the development of guidance documents;

  • POPs Review Committee (POPRC) process:

o    Support the POPRC to review proposed chemicals in accordance with Article 8 and support the process for listing in Annex A, B and C to the Convention.

Basel Convention

  • Ban Amendment:

o    Assist Parties in ratifying the Ban Amendment, so that it may enter into force;

  • Expert working group on environmentally sound management:

o    Facilitate the development and implementation of an Environmentally Sound Management Toolkit to support the environmentally sound management of hazardous and other wastes;

  • E-Waste:

o    Develop and support implementation of technical guidelines and tools to support the environmentally sound management of e-waste;

  • Development and update of technical guidelines:

o    Develop and update technical guidelines on persistent organic pollutants and mercury wastes;

  • Compliance:

o    Facilitate the work of the Basel Convention Compliance Committee;

  • Reporting:

o    Work with Parties to improve the efficient and timely delivery of annual national reports;

  • Illegal traffic:

o    Facilitate assistance to Parties in their efforts to prevent and combat illegal traffic; enhance synergies between the BRS Conventions on illegal traffic;

  • Household Waste:

o    Develop innovative solutions for the environmentally sound management of household waste, notably through the establishment and development of a partnership.

  • Marine litter:

o    Develop innovative solutions for the environmentally sound management of marine litter and microplastics.

Annex

Organization and operational aspects of the BRS Secretariat(s)

The BRS Secretariat

The Secretariats of the Basel and Stockholm conventions are administered by UN Environment and are located in Geneva, Switzerland. The Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention is jointly administered by UN Environment and the FAO. It is based both in Geneva, Switzerland, and in Rome, Italy.

While respecting the legal autonomy of each Convention, the Secretariat of the Basel and Stockholm conventions, as well as the UN Environment-part of the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat, functionally formed a single Secretariat in 2012, following a matrix structure approach in order to serve all three conventions in an integrated manner.

Among its main functions, the Secretariat are to prepare for and service meetings of the conferences of the Parties and their subsidiary bodies, to receive and convey information, to assist or facilitate assistance to Parties upon request and to coordinate with other international bodies, etc.

The budgets of the BRS Conventions and secretariat staffing are determined by the conferences of the Parties, and are funded by assessed contributions from Parties, based on the United Nations scale of assessment. Voluntary contributions generously provided by Parties and other donors supplement the implementation of mandated program of work activities for the three conventions,

Operational aspects of the BRS Secretariat

The operational aspects of the BRS Secretariat are as follows:

  • Executive Office
  • Provide strategic direction and consolidate role of the Secretariat internationally
      • Leadership
      • Executive direction
      • Management, oversight and monitoring
      • Synergies coordination
      • International cooperation
  • Administration and Resources Oversight Branch
    • Resource mobilization
    • Coordination with the financial mechanism under the Stockholm Convention
    • Finance and budget
    • Human resources
    • Administration
    • Legal and corporate
  • Science and Technical Assistance Branch
  • Focus on scientifically sound and robust outcomes/outputs as the basis for the work of the conventions
  • Provide technical and scientific input
  • Manage the scientific work required by the conferences of the parties and their respective subsidiary bodies
  • Manage the development of technical documents, including guidelines and guidance
  • Manage the collection, review, assessment and evaluation of scientific and technical information
  • National reports, notifications and exemptions
  • Support national and regional implementation through the technical assistance programme
  • Develop and manage the technical assistance programme for the conventions
  • Needs assessment (including national implementation plans, national action plans, etc.)
  • Capacity-building and training activities (including projects, workshops, webinars, on-line training, development of training tools and materials etc.)
  • Governance Branch
  • Management and coordination of meetings of the conferences of the Parties and their subsidiary bodies
  • Legal and governance, including compliance, strategic issues, Country-Lead Initiative, partnerships and regional centres 
  • Conference and Information Services Branch
  • Information and conference services, including knowledge management and information technology
  • Knowledge management
  • Web content management and QA/QC
  • Public awareness and outreach, communication

[1] http://www.un.org/en/ethics/standvalue.shtml