UNITAR has been a global leader in capacity building since 1963, providing over 500,000 learning initiatives annually. Through its Division for Planet, UNITAR’s Chemicals and Waste Management Programme supports countries in the implementation of international agreements related to chemicals and waste, including:

• Basel Convention (transboundary movement of hazardous waste)
   
• Rotterdam Convention (prior informed consent for trade in hazardous chemicals)
   
• Stockholm Convention (eliminating persistent organic pollutants, POPs)
   
• Minamata Convention (mercury)
   
• Global Framework on Chemicals

UNITAR’s Chemicals and Waste Management Programme provides support to governments and stakeholders to strengthen their institutional, technical, and legal infrastructure and capacities for the sound management of chemicals. The Programme has a rich experience in developing guidance and training material, to support countries’ needs, on topics like national waste management strategies and governance, national assessments and plans, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), plastics management, mercury, and pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs). As of 2026, UNITAR will be the host of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) Secretariat. 

The IOMC, established in 1995, is a long-standing inter-agency coordination mechanism that strengthens international cooperation on chemicals and waste management by aligning the work of key global institutions, including FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, WHO, OECD, UNITAR, the World Bank Group, and the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions. Through coordinated action, the IOMC supports countries with scientific, technical, legislative, and financial tools to advance the sound lifecycle management of chemicals and waste, contributing to human health, environmental protection, and sustainable development. 

Geneva is home to several conventions and UN bodies mandated to advance safe chemicals and waste management, including the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions, the Minamata Convention, the WHO, ILO, UNECE, UNEP, a World Bank Regional Office and the IOMC Secretariat, as well as local chemicals-focused entities, such as Geneva authorities and private sector recycling facilities, making it an ideal hub for this immersive learning experience.