Mandate

Article 16, paragraph (1) (g), of the Basel Convention provides that the functions of the Secretariat include receiving and conveying information from and to parties on sources of technical assistance and training, available technical and scientific know-how, sources of advice and expertise and availability of resources, with a view to assisting them, upon request, in such areas as the handling of the notification system of the Convention; the management of hazardous wastes and other wastes; environmentally sound technologies relating to hazardous wastes and other wastes, such as low- and non-waste technology; the assessment of disposal capabilities and sites; the monitoring of hazardous wastes and other wastes; and emergency responses.

The overall goal of the technical assistance is to strengthen the capacities of Parties, particularly developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition, to implement the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions. The technical assistance plan for the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions is available here. The Programme of Work and budget for the Basel Convention is available here.