Rabat, Morocco – The Africa Stockpiles Programme (ASP) organized a 2-day Stakeholders Forum in Rabat , October 17-18, 2007 to discuss progress and expansion of the continent-wide effort aimed at eliminating existing stockpiles of obsolete pesticides and preventing their future accumulation. 

 

The ASP was created as a response to many African countries which were requesting assistance with their obsolete Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) pesticides stockpiles, recognizing that they pose serious threats to the health of both rural and urban populations, especially the poorest of the poor, and contribute to land and water degradation.

 

“The Rabat Stakeholders Forum has marked an important milestone in the evolution of the Africa Stockpiles Programme,” noted Professor Abou Thiam from the Pesticide Action Network PAN-Africa. “It has offered us an opportunity to assess progress, and chart a forward-looking strategy for eliminating the threats posed by stockpiles of obsolete pesticides on the African continent.”

 

The ASP is a multi-stakeholder partnership established to bring together skills and expertise of multi-national organizations, international non-governmental organizations, governments and industry. Participants, including representatives of African Governments, international institutions, civil society and the plant science industry reported on the status of the ASP in seven initial countries and plan for the future and expansion of the programme into additional countries in the coming months.  Currently the ASP is being carried out in Ethiopia, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Tunisia. In all countries the process of safeguarding the obsolete pesticide stocks is highly advanced and disposal will soon begin. Additionally, all countries are about to develop prevention strategies to avoid future accumulations of stocks and promote a better management of pesticides.

 

The scope of the ASP is 10-15 years, implemented over a series of projects, at an estimated total clean-up and prevention cost of US$ 250 million. Current funding comes from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and various bi-lateral donors. Planning and preparatory activities for the next group of probably 8 priority countries to participate in Phase 2 of the ASP are underway. The ASP Implementation Committee (ASPIC) comprises representatives of the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), CropLife International (CLI), Pesticide Action Network (PAN UK and PAN Africa) and WWF.

 

Contact:  Mr. M. Chouibani

Ministère de l'Agriculture, du Développement Rural et des Pêches Maritimes,

Avenue Hassan II,

BP 1308, Rabat, Morocco

Email: chouibani-m@menara.ma