On 10 June 2025 (14:00–16:30 CEST), the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP), under the UNEP-led and GEF-funded Global NIP Update project, hosted a regional roundtable on “National Implementation Plans: Research needs and opportunities in Africa.”
This virtual roundtable explored how research and technical capacity can enhance the development and implementation of National Implementation Plans (NIPs) under the Stockholm Convention across Africa. While NIPs are vital for managing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), they often remain disconnected from existing scientific expertise and institutional knowledge. This session aimed to bridge that gap.
Organized in collaboration with the BRS Secretariat, Stockholm Convention Regional Centres, and leading experts, the event brought together national authorities, researchers, and laboratories.
Objective
Promote stronger integration between NIP development and the research and technical community, including regional centres and laboratories
- Showcase relevant POPs-related research and monitoring work carried out in Africa and its value for shaping informed policy responses
- Identify country-specific research needs and technical gaps that hinder the development and implementation of effective NIPs
- Encourage partnerships between national authorities, research institutions, SC regional centres, and laboratories to support sustained, evidence-based chemicals management
- Facilitate regional dialogue and knowledge exchange to advance collaborative approaches for addressing shared POPs challenges
Target audience
Stockholm Convention Official Contact Points and National Focal Points (especially from project countries)
- National officials and experts reviewing and updating NIPs
- POPs researchers, academics, think tanks, laboratories
- Practitioners involved in POPs inventory and management
- Representatives of regional centres
- Members of NIP National Coordinating Mechanisms, Project Coordination Units, and Thematic Task Groups
Featured speakers
Dr. Agustin Harte, BRS Secretariat, Switzerland
- Dr. Subramanian Sevgan, Principal Scientist, ICIPE, Kenya
- Professor Jana Klánová, SCRC RECETOX, Czech Republic
- Dr. Gevao Bondi, Environment Protection Agency, Sierra Leone
- Mr. Saidy Motladiile, Principal Chemist, National Environmental Laboratory, Botswana
- Professor Borhane Mahjoub, National Institute of Research and Chemical-Physical Analysis Biotechpole Sidi-Thabet, Tunisia
- Dr. Gilbert Kuepouo, Copenhagen Adult Education Centre / IPEN Africa, Cameroon
- Professor Jonathan O. Okonkwo, Tswane University, South Africa
- Professor Gan Zhang, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
- Professor Guorui Liu, Zhejiang Normal University / RCEES, China
- Dr. Ovokeroye Abafe, Brunel University, United Kingdom
- Professor Jun Huang, Tsinghua University, China
- Moderator: Dr. Roland Weber, POPs and NIP expert, POPs Environmental Consulting
The event was held in English. Simultaneous interpretation to French, Spanish, and Russian was provided.
This event is organised within the framework of Component 4 of the GEF-funded and UNEP-led project (GEF ID 10785) “Global Development, Review and Update of National Implementation Plans (NIPs) under the Stockholm Convention (SC) on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).”
Contact
Ms. Anastasiya Buchok, Senior Project Associate, GGKP, Global NIP Update
[email protected]
Dr. Roland Weber, POPs and NIP Expert, POPs Environmental Consulting
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Roland-Weber-2
[email protected]
Watch the recording in English