Elena Lymberidi-Settimo Project Manager, European Environmental Bureau (EEB) International co-coordinator, Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG)

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1 Contributing to the preparation/implementation of the Minamata Convention, with a focus on developing strategies to implement the product phase out provisions and national action plans for artisanal and small scale gold mining EEB/ZMWG African Regional conferences May 2017, Brackenhurst Hotel, Nairobi Elena Lymberidi-Settimo Project Manager, European Environmental Bureau (EEB) International co-coordinator, Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG)

2 European Environmental Bureau Europe s largest network of environmental citizens organisations around 140 civil society organisations including a growing number of European networks from more than 30 European countries Over 40 years of EU environmental policy expertise EEB tackles Europe s most pressing environmental problems, sustainable development, good governance, participatory democracy and the rule of law in Europe and beyond. Zero Mercury Working Group Founded/co-coordinated since 2005 EEB and MPP Over 95 NGOs from more than 50 countries Aim: Reduce/(where feasible) eliminate mercury supply, use, emissions, exposure, implementing the Minamata Convention

3 Result 6: Field based projects to implement Minamata Treaty on Mercury EC DEVCO / FAO Capacity Building Related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries phase 2 (ACP/MEAs2), July 2014 December 2017 Seven partner NGOs Project coordination team and 4 NGOs 4 African countries MPP (US), NRDC (US), groundwork (S.Africa) Mauritius: Pesticides Action Network Mauritius (PANEM), Nigeria: Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development(SRADev), Tanzania :AGENDA for Environment and Responsible Development Ghana: Friends of the Nation (FoN) Nigeria and Mauritius for mercury products phase out Tanzania and Ghana for Artisanal Small Scale Gold mining (ASGM)

4 Elements of the project Contact with respective governments Consultations with all relevant stakeholders Country specific project plans Focusing work on Mauritius and Nigeria, towards phasing out mercury added products Focusing work on Tanzania and Ghana, towards developing National Action Plans(NAPs) for phasing out mercury use in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining(ASGM) Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) implemented in all countries. NGO partners part of the Steering Committees of the MIA projects and of the ASGM NAP projects.

5 Mauritius and Nigeria towards Mercury Added Products(MAP) phase out Close cooperation with the governments and implementing UN agencies; Project Advisory Committees (PAC) formally established to guide national implementation. gov. reps, NGOs, experts, UN agencies Stakeholder workshops National studies on the mercury free / Convention compliant products Input to/development of a Legal Gap Analysis on product related legislation Development of national draft laws A draft checklist developed for Governments on steps to take towards phasing out mercury added products

6 Overall ZMWG work Representation and presentations at key events EEB/ZMWG and African NGOs involved in other mercury related projects Additional projects focusing on phasing out mercury in products in Ivory Coast, Kenya (SSNC/SIDA), South Africa (Min.Env.Germany) ZMWG treaty ratification guidebook EEB/ZMWG partners also involved in other projects/activities which complement and can contribute to the results of this project.

7 Expectations of the meetings Share experiences Learn from the challenges Provide new information/tools to facilitate Governments work Contribute to the effective and efficient implementation of the Minamata Convention to reduce mercury supply, use, emissions and exposure.

8 Thank you for your attention!