Quick Start Programme

The International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) decided in Resolution I/4 to establish the “Quick Start Programme"  with the objective to “support initial enabling capacity building and implementation activities in developing countries, least developed countries, small island developing States and countries with economies in transition.”

From 2006 until 2019 the Quick Start Programme supported 108 developing countries through 184 projects to produce and use chemicals in ways that minimise adverse impacts on the environment and human health.

An amount of 47.6 million USD was mobilised through the Fund. Projects addressed various aspects of chemicals management by different actors. Governments, regional economic integration organizations, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, including industry, foundations, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders, contributed to the QSP Fund. The Executive Board met regularly to oversee execution of the projects.

The projects portfolio included 54 least developed countries and small island developing States and 40 countries in Africa, 30 countries in Asia-Pacific, 28 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and 10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Projects have been multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral and addressed all three QSP strategic priorities.

The independent evaluation of the Quick Start Programme completed in September 2015, concluded that the Programme had demonstrably met, and in many cases exceeded, its objective of establishing enabling environments for the sound management of chemicals at the national levels. QSP projects have been successful in raising awareness and building institutional capacity for the sound management of chemicals at the national level, and projects have increasingly moved towards mainstreaming and multi-sectoral approaches in recent years.

About the programme