The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) organised an online webinar as the first consultations on lead sources and management in African countries on Wednesday 10 July 2024.
The aim of the consultation is to explore the feasibility of a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach by low and middle income countries national governments to manage sources of lead exposure, with the objective to:
- facilitate the exchange of information among African countries on existing lead management activities and needs;
- understand sources of lead exposure and applicable regulations identified at the country or regional level;
- present examples of coordinated multi-sectoral lead management approaches, including country-level efforts, the UNICEF Lead Toolkit, the US Federal Lead Action Plan and the EPA Lead Strategy and Local Lead Action Plan Guide;
- discuss current barriers and opportunities for lead exposure reduction action, including a coordinated and multi-sectoral lead management approach.
Recording are available, presentations will be made available on this page soon.
Agenda:
Moderator: Ms. Angela Bandemehr, Senior International Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of International Affairs, Office of International and Tribal Affairs, US EPA
2:00 – 2:10 – Welcome and introductions
UNEP, Chemicals and Health Branch
US EPA, Office of International Affairs
2:10 - 2:40 – Setting the scene on lead management
- Overview of Lead Pollution Issues in Africa, Ms. Emily Nash, UNEP Lead management expert
- Examples of coordinated multi-sectoral lead management approaches, Ms. Angela L. Bandemehr, Senior International Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of International Affairs, Office of International and Tribal Affairs, US EPA
2:40 – 3:15 - Panel discussion – Country Representatives
- Ms. Letitia Abra-Kom Nyaaba, Environmental Protection Agency Ghana – Country-level lead action plan
- Mr. Stephen Kuyeli, Director of Technical Services, Malawi Bureau of Standards – Lead in paint
- Mr. Abdulhamid Makame, Mining Engineer, Vice President’s Office, Division of Environment, United Republic of Tanzania – Electronic waste management
- Mr. Lemesa Hirpe Wari, Head of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Study Desk, Ethiopia – Lead-acid battery management
- Dr. Livinus Nnamdi Nwankwo, Basel Convention Desk Officer, Federal Ministry of Environment of Nigeria – Lead-acid battery management
3:15 – 3:40 - Panel discussion – International Organizations and Civil Society Representatives
- Mr. Alexander Mangwiro, Programme Management Officer, Regional Coordinator, Chemicals, Waste management & Air Quality Sub-programme, UNEP Africa Office
- Dr. Valerie Zartarian, Co-chair of the US Government International Lead Exposure Working Group, US EPA
- Ms. Nafisatou Cissé, Program Manager, Team Leader, Lead Exposure Elimination Project (LEEP)
- Dr. Casey Bartrem, Senior Technical Advisor, United States Agency for International Development Lead Working Group
3:40 – 3:55 – Questions and Open Discussion
All participants
3:55 – 4:00 – Conclusions and Final Remarks
