Eliminating the existing stockpiles of obsolete pesticide, and establishing measures to prevent recurrence of similar obsolete stockpiling in the future.
The Africa Stockpiles Programme (ASP) was launched in September 2005. Its objectives were to eliminate the existing stockpiles of publicly-held Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and other obsolete pesticides, and to put in place measures to prevent recurrence of similar obsolete pesticide stockpiling.
The programme was to be implemented in a number of African countries over a 12-15 year period on a rolling basis. The programme was to be implemented by a broad partnership of collaborating organizations, including FAO, World Bank, WWF, PAN UK and PAN Africa. The first phase of ASP covered seven countries: Ethiopia, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, and South Africa.
At the country-level, projects include the following components: safeguarding and disposal of obsolete pesticides; prevention of pesticide accumulation; and local capacity building.
The ASP provides technical support for implementation, supervision and monitoring of country activities, knowledge management, awareness raising, strategic studies and outreach services across countries, and funds for programme coordination.
Important results have been achieved so far under the ASP-Phase 1, including the inventory of approximately 4,800 tons of obsolete pesticides and associated waste as well as a large number of contaminated containers; implementation of prevention, communication and awareness-raising activities; and the development of toolkits for the Country Environmental and Social Assessment, M&E and procurement of waste disposal services.
With the support of international NGOs (WWF, PAN-UK and PAN-Africa) and national NGO networks, wide reaching awareness campaigns and outreach programmes targeted at farming communities and other relevant stakeholders are being undertaken to ensure that farmers, traders and other relevant populations are aware of the danger of improper pesticide management. Education of journalists, use of media campaigns and development and dissemination of clear informative products has been empowering communities on the continent.
Through these and other activities, the ASP has been active in enhancing human and environmental health, and contributing to more sustainable livelihoods and better food security. There has been significant improvement of civil society capacity to actively promote sustainable pest management and engage in pesticide issues, including monitoring health and environmental impacts and advocacy and promotion of relevant international conventions.
NGO networks, which had been established in all countries, have made constructive contributions to prevention planning and mainstreaming into national policies, and have carried out a number of field surveys of stockpile sites, health and environmental impacts and pesticide handling practices, and promoted widespread media coverage of the programme.