Tanzania

Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste

Project Story

Tanzania spearheads efforts to raise awareness of toxic chemicals 

Project Summary

Most of the industrial, agricultural and consumer chemicals used in Tanzania are imported. A number of challenges still remain towards achieving sound management of chemicals and wastes. These include low level of awareness, substandard occupational health conditions particularly to agricultural and industrial workers, limited national capacity to monitor chemicals of concern, and the emerging oil and gas sector introducing additional concerns. The challenges demonstrate the need to prioritize the development of institutional capacity building to address the inherent health and environmental risks. The project aims to enhance national institutional capacity to develop, monitor and enforce policy and regulatory framework for the sound management of chemicals and wastes throughout their lifecycle.

The project will be implemented through a multi-sectoral partnership involving institutions with a lead role in chemicals and waste management and whose mandates and competence correspond to the proposed project activities. These include the Vice President’s Office and the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) (environment sector); Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (health sector); Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI) (agriculture sector); and Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA) (labour sector).

Project Objectives

The project will undertake the following measures:

• Formulate a national strategy on chemicals and waste management
• Develop regulations on the control and management of mercury
• Carry out institutional capacity needs assessment; training regulatory authorities, agriculture extension officers and municipal councils
• Develop a national database on chemicals and wastes