Funded work across 14 Pacific Islands to reduce hazardous and chemical waste has now been extended to June 2028. Participating in the GEF ISLANDS Programme which has since completed a mid-term review, these 14 Pacific islands are now propelled into the acceleration phase.
The Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in Small Island Developing States Programme, funded by the Global Environment Facility, also known as the GEF ISLANDS is supporting 33 island nations to safely dispose of around 119,599 tonnes of hazardous products, 1,523.5 tonnes of persistent organic pollutants (POP’s) and prevent nearly 99.1 tonnes of mercury from polluting the environment. There are Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Pacific ISLANDS projects.
Starting in 2020, the GEF ISLANDS is working to make an impact in the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The fourth steering committee of the GEF ISLANDS Project was held in March this year, confirming accelerated action is the best way ahead to 2028.
"This project has had inherent challenges, and this meeting is at a critical point which allows the countries to prioritise activities to move ahead to completion,” said Ms. Jewel Batchasingh, Environmental Specialist from GEF.
“This project is a watershed project for chemicals and waste in the Pacific Region and success is the only option.”
The GEF ISLANDS project is USD 20 million with the extension to 2028 being at no extra cost. Funded by GEF, implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme, in the Pacific the Project Management Unit is the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
The Steering Committee endorsed clear priorities, those being to activate disposal at scale, bundle procurement regionally for greater efficiency, install milestone dashboards for enhanced monitoring, and further strengthen capacity to undertake the work.
"UNEP is pleased to work closely with the 14 countries to improve chemicals and waste management in the region. The project has had a slow start, but momentum is growing. Expectations are high but with the active engagement of the project partners and the national teams, objectives will be reached,” said Mr. Ludovic Bernaudat, Head of GEF Chemicals and Green Chemistry Unit at UNEP.
Mr. Subrata Sinha, Acting Head for the Pacific Subregional Office, UNEP, further emphasised UNEP's continued support for the project at the fourth Project Steering Committee meeting.
"Regional cooperation for Pacific subregion is very important to address the hazardous waste including supporting capacity building, technology, and legal framework. UNEP is committed to assist the Pacific SIDS,” said Mr Sinha.
The Mid-Term Review, conducted by an independent evaluator provided valuable insights for strengthening project delivery. While the project's strategic relevance was rated "Highly Satisfactory" and financial integrity remains strong, the review identified opportunities to accelerate operational activation.
The steering committee celebrated significant milestones achieved over the last 12 months, demonstrating strong momentum despite the complexity of coordinating across 14 island nations. The Project Management Unit has expanded to strengthen delivery capacity, and major procurement processes have been activated, marking a shift into active delivery phase.
"We have made important progress, and now we must work together to accelerate delivery. Together, we can conclude this ISLANDS project successfully for our region," said Mr Anthony Talouli, Director of Waste Management and Pollution Control of SPREP.
"With the foundations now firmly in place, we are ready to shift into an acceleration phase focused on highest-impact delivery and system activation."
The meeting concluded on Friday, 6 March, with unanimous endorsement of transforming the remaining period into an "Acceleration Phase." With the project extended through June 2028, member countries committed to accelerating implementation to maximise environmental impact across the Pacific region. The project is aligned with Basel, Stockholm, and Minamata Conventions.
The Fourth Project Steering Committee Meeting of the GEF ISLANDS Pacific Project was held from 5 to 6 March in Nadi, Fiji. Representatives from the 14 Pacific Islands, the Global Environment Facility, United Nations Environment Programme and SPREP attended the meeting that say delegates engage in detailed discussions on the MTR's core recommendations, endorsing key decisions for the path forward.