The Africa Institute has established a significant regional footprint since its inception, evolving into a pivotal mechanism for the environmentally sound management of hazardous chemicals and wastes in Anglophone Africa.
Key Milestones
October 2009: Establishment
Established as an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) based in Pretoria, South Africa. Serves as both a Basel Convention Regional Centre (BCRC) and Stockholm Convention Regional Centre (SCRC).
2016: SADC PCBs Elimination
Launch of the major regional project “Disposal of PCB oils contained in transformers and capacitors” across 12 Southern African countries. An ongoing initiative assisting countries with Stockholm Convention obligations.
2020: SA PCB Project
Initiation of the “Environmentally Sound Management and Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)” project specifically for the Republic of South Africa.
2025: Strategic Plan
Launch of the comprehensive Strategic Plan 2025-2028 to guide the Institute’s growth, institutional capacity strengthening, and regional impact over the next four years.
Completed Initiatives
The Institute has successfully executed numerous projects that have enhanced the region’s capacity:
- Mercury Initial Assessments: Successfully closed enabling activity projects in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, and Namibia, paving the way for the early implementation of the Minamata Convention.
- NAP-ASGM: Finalized National Action Plans for Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining in Burundi, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Kenya, Eswatini, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- Small Grants Programmes: Implementation of various small grants projects in collaboration with BRS Convention Secretariats, directly improving waste management at local levels.
Current Regional Footprint
Active Member States
Our core governance footprint now includes nine ratified member countries:
Ongoing Strategic Projects
African ChemObs
Implementing “Integrated Health and Environment Observatories” in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
National Implementation Plans (NIPs)
Assisting Uganda, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Gambia in updating their NIPs under the Stockholm Convention.
Strategic Partnerships
We have forged and sustained critical partnerships to deliver on our mandate:
- Global Conventions: Secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm, and Minamata Conventions.
- UN Agencies: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
- International Partners:
- Government of Sweden via the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI) (Collaboration on GHS and legislation).
- Global Environment Facility (GEF).
- Government of Denmark.
- Government of Finland (through MFA and SYKE).
