Meet the champions of POPs research and management in Africa!

Following the GGKP Africa Regional Roundtable on POPs Research Needs and Opportunities held on 10 June 2025, we’re thrilled to share the contact list connecting you with Africa’s leading experts and institutions in POPs research and management. Whether you’re looking to strengthen laboratory networks, bridge research and policy, or spark new collaborations, this list will be your avenue to Africa’s most innovative minds and impactful projects.

If you missed the roundtable, you can watch the video recordings here: https://www.greenpolicyplatform.org/webinar/national-implementation-pla…

?POPs Monitoring and Microplastics Research in Indonesia – A Contribution from CENTER

During the Asia Roundtable on POPs Research Needs and Opportunities held on 17 June 2025, several insightful presentations were shared by invited speakers. Due to limited time, however, some attendees were unable to present during the live session.

We are pleased to share a presentation from Mr. Aldeno Rachmad Ika, International Project Manager at the Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research (CENTER)—Taiwan’s first certified dioxin laboratory and one of the largest ISO-certified academic environmental labs in the region. Established in 1999, the CENTER has been recognized internationally for its excellence in POPs analysis, ranking among the top 3 laboratories worldwide in QA/QC performance for multiple sample types, including fish, sediment, soil, and food products.

This presentation outlines CENTER’s ongoing collaborative research in ASEAN, particularly Indonesia, including:
• POPs and PFAS contamination in surface waters and sediments in Jakarta
• Microplastics and plastic additives in seawater and desalinated water in Jakarta Bay
• Environmental exposure in landfills, cattle, and seafood systems
• Proposed studies on microplastics in green mussels from North Sulawesi

? For collaboration inquiries, please contact Aldeno Rachmad Ika at: [email protected]
Stay tuned for more knowledge-sharing opportunities via Green Forum.

Greetings to all champions of POPs management!

Since early this year, the GGKP team has been rolling out a quarterly knowledge update newsletter—a curated space where we spotlight inspiring stories from the field, key developments under the Global NIP Update Project (GEF 10785), and the latest tools and resources designed to support your work.

Missed a newsletter issue? No worries! You can catch up on the Q4 2024 and Q1 2025 editions right here.

And don’t miss our fresh-off-the-press Q2 2025 newsletter—packed with new insights, country highlights, and practical knowledge to boost your impact.

Let’s keep the momentum going—because managing POPs is a global effort, and knowledge is our most powerful ally.

Q4 2024 issue is available here: https://mailchi.mp/ggkp/ggkp-q4-2024-knowledge-update-gef-id-10785-cura…
Q1 2025 issue is available here: https://mailchi.mp/ggkp/ggkp-q4-2024-knowledge-update-gef-id-10785-cura…

Montenegro's Journey in POPs Inventories
What does it take for a small country with limited resources to advance with developing an inventory of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?

At the recent GGKP Roundtable on POPs Inventories, Montenegro shared its experience—proving that close inter-institutional collaboration can overcome even the toughest technical challenges.

Key issues faced:
- Lack of historical registers for electronic devices like CRT monitors
- Gaps in end-of-life data for vehicles and electronics
- Discrepancies in e-waste data—by a factor of ten!
- Exposure risks among informal workers, especially the RAE population

? “Thanks to Customs administration data, we were able to compile an inventory for smaller electric and electronic devices. This is a notable improvement compared to the previous inventory.” — Danijela Šuković, Center for Ecotoxicological Research Podgorica

Despite data challenges, Montenegro is proactively engaging stakeholders, conducting household surveys, and planning outreach workshops for vulnerable communities involved in e-waste handling.

?Their approach to estimating HBCD in waste, based on import analysis and literature data, is a smart workaround to limited data, paving the way for better-informed policies.
? Read the full blog for more on Montenegro’s path toward safer POPs management, awareness efforts, and inventory innovation:
?https://thegreenforum.org/blog/inventory-brominated-pops-montenegro-ins…
? Hats off to the team in Montenegro behind this effort and RECETOX strongly supporting the project —proof that cooperation and commitment can drive progress in even the most complex environmental challenges.

Series of NIP Dialogues are hosted by GGKP as a part of GEF funded and UNEP- led project "Global NIP Update" (GEF ID 10785)

Join this opportunity for a critical conversation on gender and chemicals management!

The Global Framework on Chemicals Secretariat invites government representatives and stakeholders to a webinar on its Gender Action Plan (GAP).

- 30 May 2025
- 14:00–15:30 CEST
- RSVP now: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JxxQioVDQyewEhPuaIluIA#/reg…

Learn how the GAP aims to advance gender equality in decision-making and implementation across the global chemicals and waste management agenda. This interactive session will include insights from global experts and space for stakeholder input.

Chemicals management is a complex task—so where does gender fit into the picture?
While the science and regulation of hazardous chemicals often dominate the conversation, gender is frequently overlooked. Yet women face unique and often disproportionate risks from chemical exposure—whether in workplaces, homes, or communities. In this NIP Dialogue, Dr. Olga Speranskaya from HEJ Support unpacks why gender matters, how current policies fall short, and what meaningful gender integration can look like in National Implementation Plans (NIPs).

Watch the video interview for a more detailed conversation on why gender-responsive approaches are essential for building safer, more inclusive systems.