BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a527dd96ec22 DTSTART:20190604T120000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20190604T183000Z LOCATION:Helsinki\, Finland SUMMARY:Presentation of upcoming funding opportunities under the SMEP progr amme at World Circular Economy Forum 2019 CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:\n\n​Many aspects of manufacturing pollution are connected to limited application of circularity principles in industry.  In the conte xt of the important public and private-sector participation at the World C ircular Economy Forum 2019 in Helsinki\, UNCTAD and DFID are organizing a brief presentation on the research funding opportunities under the SMEP pr ogramme\, followed by interactive discussion.\n\nSMEP is an important inst rument for the global community to concretely tackle pollution sources in manufacturing sectors prevalent in developing countries\, which could impr ove with applied research. The side-session will stimulate debate to learn and collaborate on the design of research lines to tackle pollution rom l ow and mid-complexity industries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.\n\n The session will connect policy makers\, researchers businesses and other parties with interest in both technology (“hard”) as well as policy ( “soft”) solutions to manufacturing pollution. In specific\, the sessio n aims to:\n\n\nRaise awareness about SMEP and its GBP 20 million endowmen t as an instrument to use circularity approaches to tackle manufacturing p ollution in key income-generating\, job-creating economic sectors in devel oping countries.\nShowcase preliminary findings of the SMEP baseline asses sment.\nLearn from audience experience in circularity-based solutions\, as well as other research initiatives\, as an input to the SMEP programme.\n Promote cooperation with private companies working in the target regions\, in order to enhance the impact of upcoming research calls in early 2020.\ n\n\nBackground\n\nUK-DFID and UNCTAD have launched in 2018 the Sustainabl e Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) programme. The programm e is endowed with a GBP 20 million contribution from DFID to support resea rch aimed at tackling the issue of manufacturing-related pollution in manu facturing sectors present in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Especially \, the programme  aims to assist countries to improve the environmental a nd health impacts associated with manufacturing pollution\, as well as imp rove economic efficiency of the targeted industries. SMEP will run until 2 023.\n\nThe programme will also focus on generating evidence and practical solutions to address the problem of plastic pollution in the ocean\, an i ssue which has gained increased attention due to its adverse effects for t he economy\, ecosystems and human health. A baseline assessment of critica l areas is being undertaken by UNCTAD in 2019\, and full calls for researc h will be published in early 2020.\n\nPhoto credits: Henrique Pacini / Di onísio recicláveis.\n\n\n<\;p>\;<\;img alt="\; "\; src=&qu ot\;/sites/default/files/inline-images/ditc-ted-DFID-Circular-machine-1-40 0.jpg"\; style="\;float:right"\; />\;<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p& gt\;​Many aspects of manufacturing pollution are connected to limited ap plication of circularity principles in industry.&\;nbsp\; In the contex t of the important public and private-sector participation at the World Ci rcular Economy Forum 2019 in Helsinki\, UNCTAD and DFID are organizing a b rief presentation on the research funding opportunities under the SMEP pro gramme\, followed by interactive discussion.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;SME P is an important instrument for the global community to concretely tackle pollution sources in manufacturing sectors prevalent in developing countr ies\, which could improve with applied research. The side-session will sti mulate debate to learn and collaborate on the design of research lines to tackle pollution rom low and mid-complexity industries in Sub-Saharan Afri ca and South Asia.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;The session will connect poli cy makers\, researchers businesses and other parties with interest in both technology (“hard”) as well as policy (“soft”) solutions to manuf acturing pollution. In specific\, the session aims to:<\;/p>\;\n\n<\ ;ul>\;\n<\;li>\;Raise awareness about SMEP and its GBP 20 million en dowment as an instrument to use circularity approaches to tackle manufactu ring pollution in key income-generating\, job-creating economic sectors in developing countries.<\;/li>\;\n<\;li>\;Showcase preliminary find ings of the SMEP baseline assessment.<\;/li>\;\n<\;li>\;Learn from audience experience in circularity-based solutions\, as well as other res earch initiatives\, as an input to the SMEP programme.<\;/li>\;\n<\; li>\;Promote cooperation with private companies working in the target re gions\, in order to enhance the impact of upcoming research calls in early 2020.<\;/li>\;\n<\;/ul>\;\n\n<\;p>\;<\;strong>\;Backgroun d<\;/strong>\;<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;UK-DFID and UNCTAD have launc hed in 2018 the Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SME P) programme. The programme is endowed with a GBP 20 million contribution from DFID to support research aimed at tackling the issue of manufacturing -related pollution in manufacturing sectors present in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Especially\, the programme&\;nbsp\; aims to assist coun tries to improve the environmental and health impacts associated with manu facturing pollution\, as well as improve economic efficiency of the target ed industries. SMEP will run until 2023.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;The pro gramme will also focus on generating evidence and practical solutions to a ddress the problem of plastic pollution in the ocean\, an issue which has gained increased attention due to its adverse effects for the economy\, ec osystems and human health. A baseline assessment of critical areas is bein g undertaken by UNCTAD in 2019\, and full calls for research will be publi shed in early 2020.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;Photo credits:&\;nbsp\;He nrique Pacini / Dionísio recicláveis.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p style="\ ;text-align:center\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeti ng/presentation-upcoming-funding-opportunities-under-smep-programme-world- circular-economy DTSTAMP:20260711T173105Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR