The project will be implemented by the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with financial support from the GEF. The total budget of the initiative amounts to USD 4.95 million. The project is scheduled to run through 2031 and aims to strengthen national capacities for the environmentally sound management of chemicals and waste while supporting Uzbekistan’s implementation of its obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

Today, the management of hazardous chemicals and waste is an increasingly important environmental priority. Like many countries in the region, Uzbekistan continues to address the legacy of environmental contamination associated with past industrial activities and the accumulation of obsolete pesticides. Persistent organic pollutants pose a significant threat to ecosystems, biodiversity and human health due to their ability to persist in the environment for long periods and accumulate in living organisms.

The project includes the modernization of national monitoring systems and laboratory infrastructure, the enhancement of mechanisms for managing hazardous chemicals and waste, the identification and remediation of contaminated sites, as well as the strengthening of the technical capacities of relevant institutions and the promotion of interagency cooperation.

The project is expected to directly benefit approximately 10,000 people, including 5,000 women. Key environmental outcomes include the environmentally sound treatment and disposal of 565 tonnes of solid and liquid waste contaminated with persistent organic pollutants, as well as the safe destruction of 150 tonnes of obsolete pesticides.

The implementation of the project will represent an important step towards reducing environmental risks, protecting public health, and preserving natural ecosystems. The initiative will also make a significant contribution to achieving Uzbekistan’s national environmental objectives and advancing the country’s transition towards a greener and more sustainable future.