Criterion 1.1 - Core Indicator 1: Extent of strengthened government capacity and coordination mechanism to support development and implementation of National Strategies for Chemicals and Waste Management as a result of funding from the Special Programme - Second Independent Assessment of the Closed Projects under the Special Programme Report (December 2024)

Six countries demonstrated progress on this criterion: Angola gathered data on waste streams and piloted marine microplastics studies, though evidence was lacking. The Gambia advanced hazardous waste and asbestos tracking, while South Africa created a robust database linked to regulatory frameworks for emerging contaminants. India developed a POPs inventory under the Stockholm Convention, Iran conducted a chemical inventory at Lavan Oil Refinery, and Kazakhstan developed a National Profile for Chemicals Management, identifying regulatory gaps.