In the scope of the Minamata Convention, UNITAR traveled to Asmera, Eritrea, to launch the project “Minamata Initial Assessment and National Action Plan for Artisanal And Small Scale Gold Mining in Eritrea” in an inception workshop on 25 and 26 July 2017 with the Ministry of Land, Water and Environment (MoLWE).

Workshop Objectives

• Raise awareness of policy makers and the general public on mercury menace and its environmental and health concerns and the need for national action.
• Provide an overview of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
• MoLWE highlights the national status on Mercury management and the various roles that Eritrea played during the negotiations.
• Explain the objectives of the Project on MIA/NAP project and define the roles of partners – UNEP, UNITAR, MoLWE and the local stakeholders
• Establish a National Coordination Mechanism (NCM) and Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) and respective chairs confirmed
• Draft project activity plans

Target Audience

• Government line Ministries and Agencies
• Selected key industry
• Civil Society and Academia

Expected Outcomes

• NCM and SAG established
• Operational Terms of Reference for NCM and SAG reviewed and approved and respective Chairs elected
• Project activity plans developed
• Workshop report and recommendations