UNEP Special Programme Elearning Platform

Special Programme Trust Fund

The Special Programme, also known as the Chemicals and Waste Management Programme, provides funding to governments for institutional strengthening. Find out more on our website or through the Frequently Asked Questions below.

Special Programme eLearning Courses

These courses aim to help countries applying for or implementing a Special Programme project.

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Special Programme Projects Database

The Programme is currently funding projects from several countries spanning 4 world regions. We invite you to learn more about the major chemicals and waste issues and possible solutions that are being implemented by current and past projects

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Special Programme Trust Fund?

The Special Programme (SP) provides funding to governments for projects aiming to strengthen chemicals and waste management.

More specifically, the SP’s overarching goal is to provide financial support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to enhance their sustainable institutional capacity to develop, adopt, monitor and enforce policy, legislation and regulation toward effective Chemicals and Waste Management.

In order to be selected for funding, all projects submitted to the SP should be characterized by the elements depicted below.

What amount of support is available?

The Special Programme Trust Fund may provide support from US$ 50,000 to US$ 250,000 per project proposal, including possible administration fees and monitoring and evaluation and financial audit. In exceptional circumstances, an applicant country may request up to a maximum of US$ 500,000.

Is any beneficiary contribution required?

SP applications must include a beneficiary contribution of at least 25% of the total requested amount to the total project budget. So if a country is asking for USD$100,00 from the SP, it must contribute with an additional USD$25,000 - bringing the total budget of the project to USD125,000 This contribution can be in cash or, most often, an in-kind contribution which means that is it in the form of staff time or covering meeting logistics etc. The Executive Board may reduce that percentage, commensurate with consideration of the specific national circumstances, capacity constraints, gaps and needs of the applicant

Are there any budget limits or caps?

Yes – according to the relevant financial rules and regulations there are recommended caps on a few budget classes.

Personnel and contractual services costs – 50 per cent of total budget;
Specialised and technical equipment – 10 per cent;
Administrative fees – maximum of 5 per cent;
Monitoring, evaluation and audit– should not exceed USD 15,000 in total.

What is the maximum duration of a project?

Projects should be fully completed within three years.

What is the application deadline?

The deadline for the submission of applications is 7 August 2022.

In order to provide further assistance to countries that are interested in applying for funding, the Special Programme Secretariat stands available to provide technical and logistical support to facilitate the drafting of project applications, for example through convening virtual meetings and teleconferences between relevant stakeholders in each country who will be involved in project design and implementation.

In what language should I submit my application?

The Executive Board of the Special Programme works in English and all project applications therefore must be submitted in English.

Where do I find the application forms?

The complete set of application forms can be downloaded here: https://www.unenvironment.org/explore-topics/chemicals-waste/what-we-do/special-programme/applying-funding-through-special

Applications must include:

The duly signed Project application form
A project budget form
Endorsement letter from the Official focal point
Letters of support from the project partners confirming its/their role(s)
Projects with an implementing organization/institution, a letter from the organization/institution confirming its role (if relevant)
Annexes providing any relevant additional information regarding the measures and activities to be funded

Is any guidance provided to project applicants?

The SP secretariat has provided 2 types of guidance for project applicants, available for free and at any time:

Downloadable PDF {mlang37}available on the SP Secretariat's website
{mlang 38}Freely available SP eLearning Course
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