LocationsIndian Ocean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) including Comoros, Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius are consolidating their efforts to better manage hazardous and chemical wastes in their respective countries.
Launch of ISLANDS Indian Ocean Regional Project
June 13, 2024
The Indian Ocean component, managed by the United Nations Development Programme, focuses on Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles. Its aim is to harmonize national measures undertaken by these four SIDS to address their waste management challenges.
Photo: UNDP Mauritius / Stéphane Bellerose
June 12, 2024 – A 3-day inception workshop was launched in Port-Louis today to kick-off the ISLANDS Indian Ocean Regional Child Project. The opening event saw the participation of key stakeholders from the UNDP; delegates from the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change of Mauritius; representatives of Agence Française de Développement; the Indian Ocean Commission; Business Mauritius, and stakeholders from the four Indian Ocean small island developing states (SIDS).
SIDS face unique challenges in managing chemicals and waste due to their limited land areas, dense populations, and scarce resources. Being largely dependent on imports, and relying heavily on tourism, SIDS are experiencing a rapid influx of diverse and complex imported goods, resulting in a rise in hazardous and toxic waste, which they struggle to manage effectively. The ISLANDS project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and led by the United Nations Environment Programme globally, aims to support them in protecting their populations and fragile natural ecosystems from hazardous chemicals and waste such as Persistent Organic Pollutants and Highly Hazardous Pesticides. This initiative spans across 33 SIDS in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Atlantic, and Pacific regions and will benefit nearly 10 million people.
This regional project will benefit 940,341 people in the Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean component, managed by the United Nations Development Programme, focuses on Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles. Its aim is to harmonize national measures undertaken by these four SIDS to address their waste management challenges. This regional project will ultimately benefit 940,341 people, contributing in the safe disposal of 16,261 tons of contaminated materials and preventing 8,000 tons of marine plastic litter across the 4 SIDS.
In her opening speech, Ms. Xiaofang Zhou, Director of the UNDP Chemicals & Waste Hub, expressed her gratitude to the numerous partners who collaborated with UNDP in the design, validation, and approval of the regional project. Ms. Zhou emphasized the critical importance of coordinated efforts and a holistic approach among all stakeholders, including national actors like the private sector and local authorities, to ensure positive outcomes for the communities in the Indian Ocean SIDS.
Ms. Amanda Serumaga, UNDP Resident Representative for Mauritius and Seychelles, highlighted the significant economic costs of improper hazardous waste handling in SIDS in this region, particularly affecting health, the environment, tourism, and fisheries. She stated that the UNDP Mauritius and Seychelles Multi-Country Office will collaborate with the lead implementing partner and responsible parties of the project and with regional stakeholders, to ensure the project's success, ownership, sustainability, and development impact.
On behalf of the Honourable Kavydass Ramano, Mr Beedassy, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change of Mauritius, acknowledged the catalytic support and guidance of UNDP and the Global Environment Facility for this project. He stated that the ISLANDS project will address the gaps in waste management of Mauritius through a multi-pronged approach. The project will allow to establish effective mechanisms to control the import of chemicals; ensure the environmentally sound disposal of hazardous waste; prevent the build-up of potentially harmful material via effective life cycle management systems in partnership with the private sector, and ensure the knowledge generated under the project is disseminated and applied.
The first day of the workshop also included presentations by Mr. Charles Nyandiga, ISLANDS Indian Ocean Project Executive – UNDP Regional Team Leader for Africa; Ms. Clara Mottura, ISLANDS Indian Ocean Regional Project Manager; Ms. Charlotte de Bruyne, UNDP Regional Technical Advisor, and Mr. Anfani Msoili, Head of Department, Ecology & Energy Transition, Tourism and Migration, Indian Ocean Commission among other facilitators.
The second day will focus on experience sharing from representatives of the 4 SIDS of the Indian Ocean region and field visits to hazardous waste facilities in Mauritius, while the third day will address Circular Economy and pollution measures in SIDS.
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