Sierra Leone National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

This National Implementation Plan (NIP) for Sierra Leone is prepared to elaborate the current situation on POPs and commitments and actions that it intends to undertake in the management and control of POPs for the period of 17 years beginning 2008. Moreover, it should help Sierra Leone to meet its obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
The main objective of the NIP is to prepare comprehensive and realistic action plans for effective management of POPs chemicals and to reduce and or eliminate the use and release of POPs. The development of the NIP is intended to yield the following objectives: (a) To achieve the commitment of the Government to the objectives of the Stockholm Convention for effective management of POPs chemicals; (b) To provide the basis for monitoring the action plans and strategies Sierra Leone has committed to undertake; (c) To review and update as appropriate its implementation plan on a periodic basis and in a manner to be specified by a decision of the Conference of Parties; (d) To utilise and, where necessary, establish the means to integrate the National Implementation Plan for Persistent Organic Pollutants appropriately into the sustainable development strategies; (e) To cooperate directly or through global, regional and sub-regional organisations, and consult the national stakeholders, including women's groups and groups involved in the health of children, in order to facilitate the development, implementation and updating of the NIP; (f) To facilitate public awareness, information, education and participation in POPs management issues, and overall improvement in environmental and public health protection. The national priorities have been established under the NIP: A. Legal framework 1) Establishing laws governing the importation, storage, use and disposal of POPs pesticides 2) Creating a law enforcing body on POPs pesticides regulations 3) Building the capacity of the law enforcing body on POPs pesticides B. Sensitisation/awareness rising 1) Sensitising the public on the importation, storage, use and disposal of POPs pesticides and their containers 2) Sensitising the public on the effects of POPs pesticides on the human health C. Capacity building 1) Strengthening of existing laboratories to ensure effective data analysis of POPs pesticides 2) Developing effective methods of use, storage and disposal of POPs pesticides and their empty containers 3) Developing an effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism to update inventories of POPs. D. Implementation 1) Involvement of all stakeholders in POPs management under the supervision of the law enforcing body 2) Development of alternatives to POPs pesticides through research.