Between 2006 and 2008, ChemSec cooperated with and gave support to NGOs in the Global South, mainly in Africa, and in Eastern Europe. From 2009 and onwards, this funding programme will be carried out solely by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.

ChemSec supported projects during 2008

Establishing the link between deforestation due to gold mining activities and the issue of climate change
Organisation: WAHLI
Country: Indonesia
In this project, WAHLI linked deforestation, as a result of gold-mining activities, with the issue of climate change. Through studying and informing about the impact of gold mining on health, economy and the environment, WAHLI aimed to push policy makers to reduce mining expansion and stop deforestation. For the project to have a long-term and wider effect, WAHLI also monitored the recently adopted regional regulation on mercury.

Empowering consumers by raising awareness on products that are hazardous to the environment and to human health in Uganda
Organisation: NAPE - National Association of Professional Environmentalists
Country: Uganda

Consumer protection in Uganda remains a big challenge to achieving sustainable health and environment management. NAPE's project focused on the creation of public awareness and influencing policy, legal and institutional frameworks. The project aimed to assess current laws on consumer products as well as looking at possible impacts of harmful consumer products on the environment and health, -particularly children, women and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Evaluation of the presence of chemical pollutants produced by industrial activities in the lower basin of Chillon River
Organisation: RAAA - Red de accin en agricultura alternativa
Country: Peru

The overall goal of the project was to reduce the exposure of hazardous chemicals and improve the living conditions of the population within the Chillon valley in Peru. Health statistics from the area showed a high prevalence of allergies and respiratory diseases. An environmental evaluation was carried out that focused on industrial activities that generate pollutants, such as metal-, paper-, textile and tannery industries.

Mercury-free elementary and high schools in the Philippines: a pilot project
Organisation: BAN Toxics!
Country: Philippines

The project aimed to make teachers and students in elementary and high schools more aware of the need to remove toxics and use safer alternatives. This understanding is critical to changing the perspectives and ways of educational institutions so that they can become allies to drive change regarding mercury at the national level. The project utilized the success of the prior pilot projects as a tool to convince the Philippines government to prohibit the use of toxics in elementary and high schools.

Industrial effluent management and pollution monitoring
Organisation: TAEE - Tanzania Association of Environmental Engineers
Country: Tanzania

This project contributed to the reduction of environmental pollution from industrial discharge of heavy metals in Dar es Salaam and consequently helped reduce related health problems. TAEE carried out a situation analysis to identify the location, number and types of polluting industries and the communities in close proximity to such industries. The analysis also included identifying other stakeholders and the formation of a network of stakeholders to implement strategies including monitoring pollution and carrying out advocacy campaigns against industrial pollution.

Status, management and awareness of the mercury problem in Nepal
Organisation: CEPHED - Centre for Public Health and Environmental Development
Country: Nepal

The lack of data, education, awareness and adequate policies and legislation regarding mercury usage and imports in Nepal is significant. The broad objective of this project was therefore to study and raise awareness on mercury ? its import, use, management and related impacts on health and the environment. The project aimed to advocate for alternatives, demand management, standards and a phase out strategy for mercury in support of a "mercury free policy".

Reducing Environmental and Human Health effects of Industrial heavy metals in Tanzania - Phase II
Organisation: Envirocare
Country: Tanzania

During the first phase of this project Envirocare produced a report on the mismanagement of chemicals within textiles and tanneries industries with the result that the responsible authority decided to act and closed down one of the factories for investigation. Envirocare also found gaps in legislation and coordination between stakeholders, lack of public participation, and that no efforts were taken to protect exposed groups. The second phase builds on these findings and aims at increasing the effect of their activities through a multi-stakeholder approach to increase awareness about the legislated right to a safe environment.

Mitigation of Industrial Wastewater Pollution in Mwembesongo Ward, Morogoro - Phase II
Organisation: EMT - Environmental Management Trust
Country: Tanzania

The project aimed to improve the water quality in the Ngerengere River providing drinking water for 7000 villagers in the Morogoro area in Tanzania. The polluted river is the sole source of water for villagers living down-stream. The project focused on making industries owners more aware of their obligation to safeguard the environment and on having treatment facilities installed within industrial premises in Mwembesongo for treating industrial effluents before being released into the environment.

Raising awareness on the effects of industrial chemicals in Uganda - Phase II
Organisation: PROBICOU - Pro-Biodiversity Conservationists of Uganda
Country: Uganda

The project aimed to raise awareness on safe use and proper management of industrial chemicals in Uganda. The first phase of the project observed that the level of public awareness on the negative effects of poor management of industrial chemicals is still very low. The second phase of the project aimed to raise awareness on toxics such as PVCs, PCBs and heavy metals primarily within health institutions, institutions of higher education and policy makers, but also among the general public.

Pilot project to strengthen capacities of beauty salons workers, and advocate the implementation of existing regulations to promote safer management of toxic chemicals in cosmetics and related products in Yaound?, Cameroon
Organisation: CREPD - Research and education centre for development
Country: Cameroon

The project aimed to increase awareness of toxic chemicals with an emphasis on mercury in cosmetics in Yaound?, Cameroon. By communicating with workers at beauty salons and with the general public, CREPD wanted to promote safer management of toxic chemicals. CREPD also advocated for the implementation of existing regulations on cosmetics labelling and the limit of the concentration of toxic chemicals such as mercury in cosmetics.

Mainstreaming chemical pollution prevention in small and medium-sized enterprises in Kenya - Phase II
Organisation: iLima - Kenya
Country: Kenya

In an effort to complement the government?s implementation of SAICM, iLima carried out a second phase of a project that sought to mainstream chemical pollution prevention in the Juakali (informal) sector. The project targeted SMMEs that deal with chemicals such as spray-painters of vehicles and paint formulators. The second phase involved continued education and awareness on pollution prevention and safe chemical management. This was done by editing, translating and printing of chemical safety educational materials into Kiswahili and by establishing partnerships with micro-credit institutions to make it easier for SMMEs to undertake cleaner and safer production.

Proposal on National Mercury Forum - "Developing Multi-stakeholder Strategy to address Mercury use problems in Tanzania." Phase II of the mercury in gold mining-project
Organisation: AGENDA
Country: Tanzania

This was the second phase of a project aiming at reducing environmental and health effects from the use of mercury, primarily in small-scale gold mining. The second phase aimed at gathering responsible authorities, gold mining associations and other stakeholders to a National Mercury Forum. The forum generated information and experience sharing from on-going initiatives addressing mercury use problems in Tanzania.

Toxic free baby products: Advocacy campaign in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine
Organisation: EcoAccord
Country: Russia

The overall goal of the project was to eliminate dangerous substances in children's products (toys) in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine by 2020. Through the project, EcoAccord targeted governments, manufacturers and vendors of baby products as well as parents, teachers and communities to raise awareness on toxic chemicals and on how to recognize and avoid unsafe exposure to toxic toys.

Lead in paints in developing countries - an unfinished agenda. Global study to determine lead in paints in 10 developing countries and associated campaign for its removal.
Organisation: Toxics Link
Country: India

Toxics Link has through surveys found that the use of lead in paints is an unfinished agenda in developing countries. This project aimed at exposing the problem by conducting a global sampling of lead in paints with the help of IPEN NGO partners in 10 different countries. Based on the results national advocacy campaigns were carried out aimed at phasing out lead from paints in the participating countries where lead-containing paint is found.

Pollution Prevention and waste minimization using Non-cyanide alternative in Galvanizing Industry
Organisation: DHIDR - Day Hospital Institute for Development and Rehabilitation
Country: Egypt

Untreated or insufficiently treated waste water from the metal plating industries in Egypt causes releases of cyanide, chromium and other hazardous substances - polluting the surrounding environment and the Nile river. Despite good alternatives to cyanide within the galvanization industry, operators have not been persuaded to shift to better alternatives. The project aimed at identifying industry hot spots and conduct Environmental Impact Assessment as a basis for further action.