POPs enabling activities for the Republic of Bolivia

UNIDO Proposal (22.01.2002)

Project Summary

Project Identifiers
1. Project Number: / 4. GEF Implementing Agency/Executing Agency with Expanded Opportunities:
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
2. Project Name:
Enabling activities to facilitate early action on the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the Republic of Bolivia / 5. Country eligibility:
The Republic of Bolivia is a signatory to the Convention.
3. Country:
Republic of Bolivia
6. Name of GEF national operational focal point and date of endorsement (letter attached):
Mr. Hernan Cabrera Francidakiz
Vice Minister for Environment
Natural Resources and Forestry Development
La Paz, Bolivia
Date:17 December 2001
Summary of Project Objectives, Activities, and Expected Outcomes
7. Project objectives:
The objective of this enabling activities proposal is to develop and formulate a National Implementation Plan (NIP) and thereby strengthen national capacity and enhance knowledge and understanding amongst decision makers, managers, the industry, and the public at large on POPs. By achieving this objective the Republic of Bolivia will be prepared and enabled to meet the obligations of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Specifically, the project will:
  1. Allow the Republic of Bolivia to meet its reporting obligations under the Stockholm Convention;
  2. Prepare the ground for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention;
  3. Strengthen national capacity to manage POPs and strengthen chemicals management capacity in general;
  4. Maximize government commitment and facilitate ratification of the Stockholm Convention.

8. Project activities:
Annex B to the Guidelines for Enabling Activities for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants suggests a step-wise process to be followed in developing the National Implementation Plan. These steps are detailed by a sequence of activities. The main activities, which will be followed by the Republic of Bolivia, are to:
  • Identify contaminated sites by POPs through national capacities
  • Undertake preliminary inventories of sources, use, management, stocks, transportation, disposal and emissions of POPs listed in Annexes A and B to the Convention.
  • Prepare a preliminary report on sources, use, management, stocks, transportation, disposal and emissions of POP and identify suitable alternatives for POPs management, including options for final disposal as described in Article 6 of the Convention;
  • Prepare the National Diagnosis for the Use and Management of POPs
  • Develop an Action Plan for the reduction of releases of unintentional by-products; Article 5 of the Convention outlines some of the elements that should be included in this plan such as an inventory of current and projected releases, an assessment of enforcement capacity and adequacy of laws and policies to meet the obligations to the Convention of reducing by-product emissions and to develop strategies to meet these obligations.
  • Build capacity to report every five years on progress in phasing out PCBs as described in Annex I part II of the Convention;
  • Build capacity to report to the Conference of the Parties (COP) on total production, import and export, as per Article 15 of the Convention;
  • Build capacity to assess the need of continuation of specific exemptions and preparation of their reporting/extension;
  • Support communication, information exchange, and awareness raising through multi-stakeholder participatory processes, as described in Articles 9 and 10.

9. Project duration: 2 years
10. Project expected outcomes:
Capacity created according to national environmental policies and management practices to initiate implementation of the Stockholm Convention through the National Implementation Plan, which will be developed and formulated by following the above-mentioned steps and appropriate activities.
11. Estimated total budget:US$ 479,430
12. Amount being requested from the GEF:US$ 479,430
Information on the institution submitting the Project Brief
13. Information on the organization submitting the proposal:
UNIDO, as the specialized agency of the United Nations in industrial development assisting developing countries and countries with economies in transition, has participated in all those Interagency Cooperative events that led to the intergovernmental negotiations for the preparation of the Framework Convention on POPs. UNIDO participated in the first two international meetings on POPs held in Vancouver, Canada and Manila, the Philippines, in 1995 and 1996, respectively. UNIDO also participated in the relevant meetings of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) and the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC). UNIDO also participated in all five Intergovernmental Negotiating Committees (INC) for an International Legally Binding Instrument for Implementing International Action on Certain POPs meetings. The 15th GEF Council included UNIDO among the executing agencies with expanded opportunities for implementing GEF projects. In 2001, UNIDO has become a member of the GEF Inter-Agency Task Force on POPs. According to the decision of the 17th GEF Council Meeting held in Stockholm, UNIDO has the mandate to submit enabling activity projects directly to GEF.
14. Information on the proposed executing organization.
The Vice Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Forestry Development, (VENRFD) belonging to the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Planning (MSDP), through the General Directorate of Impact, Quality and Environmental Services (GDIQES) will be in charge of executing the project and to provide the technical elements for the development of related national policies.
The Vice Ministry is in charge of implementing law 1333 and related regulations (environmental management, preservation of forest areas, biodiversity, land management and the preservation of other natural resources). The GDIQES is responsible for the control and follow-up of all environment-related activities and projects.
Detailed information on the national institutions that will be involved in the implementation of the project is attached as Annex 1.
15. Date the proposal was submitted to a GEF Implementing Agency/Executing Agency with Expanded
Opportunities: 17 October 2001
16. Date the proposal was submitted to the GEF Secretariat: 24 January 2002
17. Date the proposal was approved:
18. Date of first Disbursement:
Information to be completed by the Implementing Agency/Executing Agency with Expanded Opportunities.
19. Implementing Agency with Expanded Opportunities contact persons:
1.Mr. Angelo D’Ambrosio
GEF Focal Point
Managing Director
Sectorial Support and Environmental Sustainability Division (SES)
UNIDO, D1556, Vienna International Centre,
Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. BOX 300
1400 Vienna, Austria
  1. Mr. Zoltan Csizer
POPs Focal Point
Director, Cleaner Production and Environmental Management Branch (PEM)
Sectorial Support and Environmental Sustainability Division (SES)
UNIDO, D1215, Vienna International Centre,
Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. BOX 300
1400 Vienna, Austria
Project Description

The project description serves to explain how the project will be executed based on discussions held between Government officials from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (through the Vice Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Forestry Development) and UNIDO. This narrative part describes the context in which the step-wise process of activities, which is elaborated in the GEF Initial Guidelines (GEF/C.17/4), Annex B, takes place.

Its structure is as follows: A brief background describes the environmental setting of the Republic of Bolivia and is followed by the project objective. The activities are grouped to describe the existing situation in the Republic of Bolivia in terms of the managerial, technical, and social infrastructure that is in place, or intended to be put in place, for the preparation of the National Implementation Plan. The managerial aspect includes the discussion of the project implementation structure as well as the coordination and organization of the NIP development process. The technical aspect includes three activities, namely the establishment of POPs inventories and the assessment of national infrastructure and capacity, the setting of priorities and the determination of objectives for POPs management; and the formulation of a National Implementation Plan. The social aspect relates to issues of stakeholder identification and participation, information dissemination, and social and participation issues.

A more detailed background on the Republic of Bolivia’s situation with regard to POPs is provided in the attachments. Annex 1 provides a summary of the capacity of the Executing Agency. Annex 2 provides a detailed description of the status of the 12 POPs in the Republic of Bolivia, and Annex 3 presents a work plan, which follows the suggested sequence of activities attached to GEF’s Guidelines, and provides the basis for the proposed budget.

In September 1996, Bolivia was selected to form part of the second implementation group of pilot programs to develop National Profiles in developing countries and economies in transition. The profile was developed in response to the establishment of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) as part of the International Conference on Chemical Safety.

This National Chemical Safety Program (PNSQ) was developed on the basis of the framework of Agenda 21 drawn up in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, the mandate of Law 1333 on the Environment in Chapter V, Art. 30 and the National Profile for the Management of Chemical Substances (PNMSQ).

The following weaknesses were identified:

-The potentially exposed population is unaware of the environmental risks in the use and handling of POPs. Lack of trained technical human resources to support awareness campaigns in the public and private sectors.

-Institutional weakness (in controlling the trade, use and handling of chemical substances that are banned in their countries of origin)

-High poverty rate in rural areas, which implies economic and financial weakness with regard to implementing policies and taking strategic action

-Lack of effective programmes and activities to implement occupational health and safety measures, particularly in activities related to agriculture, livestock and agro-industrial activities.

As a result, the MSDP decided to promote a national diagnosis of the POPs situation in Bolivia for the development and formulation of the National Implementation Plan:

-Developing a plan for the regulation and control of POPs, including multisectorial activities such as: regulating and standardizing the marketing, use and handling of POPs

-Preparing guidelines and manuals on the use and handling of POPs and occupational health and safety.

-Launching a public awareness programme on the use and handling of POPs (information campaigns, awareness and consensus-building at the national, sectorial, regional and local levels)

For this purpose, the Republic of Bolivia signed the Stockholm Convention and asked for UNIDO’s support in the formulation of the POPs Enabling Activities Project Document.

Project Objective(s)

The objective of this Enabling Activities proposal is to develop and formulate a National Implementation Plan (NIP) and thereby strengthen national capacity and enhance knowledge and understanding amongst decision makers, managers, the industry, and the public at large on the situation and management of POPs in the Republic of Bolivia. By achieving this objective the Republic of Bolivia will be prepared and enabled to meet the obligations of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Specifically, the project will:

  1. Allow the Republic of Bolivia to meet its reporting obligations under the Stockholm Convention
  2. Prepare the ground for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention;
  3. Strengthen national capacity to manage POPs and strengthen chemicals management capacity in general; and
  4. Maximize government commitment and facilitate ratification of the Stockholm Convention.

Project Activities

Coordination and organization of the NIP development process

The Government of the Republic of Bolivia has selected VENRFD through GDIQES as the agency responsible for developing and formulating the NIP and will be the implementing national agency and focal point for the enabling activities project. A detailed description of the responsibilities and the structure of these Ministries are given in Annex 1.

Throughout the project life of two years, a special unit will operate at the national level to co-ordinate the activities of the project. A National Project Co-coordinator (NPC) will be nominated to be responsible for the co-ordination of project activities. He/she should inform the executing agency at national and international level about the execution of the work plans, project timetable, specific tasks, etc. The NPC should inform the agencies about work achievements and shortcomings during project implementation. An international Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will be nominated to assist in the sustainable implementation of the project. He/she should report to UNIDO and work for the project on a part-time basis. The CTA will assist the NIP development in other neighboring countries and thereby will provide for an exchange of experience and expertise between these selected countries. The CTA should be technically qualified in the subject and should provide overall guidance on project management. The NPC will ensure adherence to the work plan, which is elaborated during the first phase of the project. His/her main responsibilities will include advisory services and the monitoring of all technical aspects of the project as well as the financial control of the project execution. The NPC will work in close co-operation with the CTA.

A Steering Committee, formed by different governmental and non-governmental institutions, chaired by the GDIQES, will define the work plan for the implementation of the enabling activities project. The Steering Committee will hold meetings on a regular quarterly basis to discuss issues related to chemicals, such as new draft legislations, action plans on the storage, use and management of chemicals, residue management, etc. The Committee will serve as the forum where all stakeholders, ministries, associations, NGOs, private sector representatives, etc. will present their opinions and suggestions.

The Committee is responsible for providing guidance, monitoring and evaluating the work of the Executing Agency. The Steering Committee will review, comment on and approve the work plan to be implemented. Strong emphasis will be put on the involvement of the private sector and civil society during project execution. All decisions of the Committee, such as respective responsibilities, timelines and the budget (based on the tenders) will be clearly communicated to the concerned. Activities, requiring expertise not available at the executing agency will be implemented through sub-contracts. Tenders will be published in the main newspapers of the country. Submitted tenders will be reviewed and evaluated by the Steering Committee based on an evaluation system, prepared and agreed to by the Steering Committee. It will include the review of all applicants’ level of expertise, human and financial resources and previous work done in this field.

Monitoring of project execution will be undertaken by UNIDO based on quarterly progress reports and periodic visits to the project site. A mid-term evaluation will be undertaken at the end of the first year of project implementation under the supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor. It will evaluate the efficiency of the project management, including outcomes, budget and timelines. The Steering Committee will study the evaluation report and will take corrective actions for improvement.

Inventories and assessments

The Project Team, consisting of the NPC and the CTA, will be responsible for the setting up of task teams. These task teams will receive extensive training on how to identify stocks and contaminated sites as well as on inventory procedures. The training will mainly focus on the required inventories and on the identification of these POPs chemicals as they have been qualified as the Republic of Bolivia’s main environmental concern. The technical reports, going to be prepared by the teams, will contain detailed information on the present state of the POPs under scrutiny. The following expertise is required for undertaking POPs-related inventories and assessments:

  1. Research Team for retrieving information from authorities such as the National Statistical Institute, Environmental Inspectorates, relevant ministries, key industrial enterprises and NGOs. The team will be responsible for undertaking inventories of the export, import, use and distribution of POPs.
  1. Emission Expert Team, consisting of experts experienced in evaluating the degree of emissions of pollutants to undertake inventories of POPs releases into the environment.
  1. Contamination Expert Team, consisting of experts experienced in evaluating polluted areas for assessing the presence of contaminated sites, obsolete stocks, disposal and treatment alternatives. In order to ensure optimal coordination one Research Team member will always participate in this team.
  1. Institutional Expert Team for assessing infrastructure, enforcement, monitoring and R&D capacities and needs and requirements for POPs management.
  1. Health Expert Team for assessing the impact of POPs on the population’s health and to offer advisory services to diminish the population’s exposure to POPs.

The Government prepared the National Chemical Profile in 1997. This profile includes a diagnosis of the situation in the country: problems, activities being carried out and alternative solutions. In November 2001, the VERNDF initiated a database on chemicals utilized per productive sector in Bolivia. This database will show the existence of chemicals in the country for better management practices. Despite this previous work done it is necessary to up-date, as part of this project, the National Chemicals Management Profile (NCMP) to assess and diagnose the existing infrastructure for the sound management of chemicals. The findings of this NCMP will serve as a crucial input into the development of specific action plans and strategies for the NIP. Strengthening of chemical safety and management as emphasized in Chapter 19 of Agenda 21 is closely linked to this activity.

Priorities and objectives for POPs management

The current status of POPs pesticides, industrial chemicals and unintended by-products in the Republic of Bolivia is reflected in the following table:

Name of chemical / Regulation and Date
DDT / Supreme Decree 10283 dated 05/1972 prohibits importation and exportation.
Ministerial Regulation dated 8 February 1994 prohibits use.
Supreme Decree 24176 dated 4 December 1995 establishes the maximum admissible parameter values for water reception bodies.
PCBs / Use, importation and exportation are not regulated.
Supreme Decree 24176 dated 4 December 1995 establishes the maximum admissible parameter values for water reception bodies.
Aldrin / Supreme Decree 10283 dated 05/1972 prohibits importation and exportation.
Ministerial Regulation dated 8 February 1994 prohibits use.
Supreme Decree 24176 dated 4 December 1995 establishes the maximum admissible parameter values for water reception bodies.
Dieldrin / Supreme Decree 10283 dated 05/1972 prohibits importation and exportation.
Ministerial Regulation dated 8 February 1994 prohibits use.
Supreme Decree 24176 dated 4 December 1995 establishes the maximum admissible parameter values for water reception bodies.
Chlordane / Supreme Decree 10283 dated 05/1972 prohibits importation and exportation.
Ministerial Regulation dated 8 February 1994 prohibits use.
Supreme Decree 24176 dated 4 December 1995 establishes the maximum admissible parameter values for water reception bodies.
Endrin / Supreme Decree 10283 dated 05/1972 prohibits importation and exportation.
Supreme Decree 24176 dated 4 December 1995 establishes the maximum admissible parameter values for water reception bodies.
Name of pesticide / Supreme Decree 10283 dated 05/1972 prohibits importation and exportation.
Ministerial Regulation dated 8 February 1994 prohibits use.
Supreme Decree 24176 dated 4 December 1995 establishes the maximum admissible parameter values for water reception bodies.
Heptachlor / Supreme Decree 10283 dated 05/1972 prohibits importation and exportation.
Ministerial Regulation dated 8 February 1994 prohibits use.
Supreme Decree 24176 dated 4 December 1995 establishes the maximum admissible parameter values for water reception bodies.
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) / Supreme Decree 10283 dated 05/1972 prohibits importation and exportation.
Mirex / Supreme Decree 10283 dated 05/1972 prohibits importation and exportation.
Toxaphene / Supreme Decree 10283 dated 05/1972 prohibits importation and exportation.
Ministerial Regulation dated 8 February 1994 prohibits use.
Dioxins / Not regulated
Furans / Not regulated

The facts presented below provide an overview of the main problems that need to be addressed: