PROJECTS

Executive Summary

This was the first IMPEL workshop held outside of Europe and was jointly organised by IMPEL TFS, the Secretariat Basel Convention, the Basel Convention Regional Centres and the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana.

The aims of the workshop were to:

• Establish a network of contacts between European states and African countries, and
• Launch the SBC E-waste Africa project component on enforcement

Key issues identified during the workshop included:

• African countries do not have domestic legislation to provide customs and environmental officials with the necessary powers to detain and to return containers of illegal shipments;
• A model of law on hazardous waste (with focus E-wastes) that could be adopted by each country should be developed;
• Good communication, collaboration and information sharing is essential for preventing illegal shipments.

The following outcomes were agreed:

• Basel Convention focal points and Basel Regional and Coordinating Centres will be used to create a functional; and sustainable network in Africa to facilitate information sharing and collaboration;
• Each country participating in the enforcement component of the SBC E-waste Africa project (Benin, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria and Tunisia) will identify a ‘training group’ of relevant enforcement authorities: at least from Customs, Port Authorities, and the Ministry of the Environment/Basel Convention competent authority to participate in a ‘train the trainer’ programme which will take place in Europe;
• A training curriculum will be developed, in cooperation with BCCC-Nigeria and SBC, and the participating countries.  IMPEL TFS will host the train the trainers programme at two European ports during the latter half of 2010.  BCCC-Nigeria in cooperation with relevant BCRCs will lead the organization and training meetings in the participating African countries in cooperation with IMPEL TFS.