Progress report for
Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries (J-PRISM)
Achievement at a glance
(Region)¬ Developed counterparts’ capacity as a trainer
¬ Promoted south-south cooperation
¬ Implemented pilot projects on disaster waste management
¬ Established the “Pacific Island Database of Capacity Development Activities (PIDOC)” system
¬ Developed the “Cleaner Pacific 2025 (regional strategy)” and “Clean Pacific Roundtable (regional committee)”.
(In-country)
¬ Developed community garbage collection system in Vava’u, Tonga
¬ Developed horn collection system in Chuuk State, FSM
¬ Launched subsidy programs on home composting and for Clean School Program, Fiji
¬ Expanded market composting/Eco-Bag initiative/Clean School Programme/Semi-aerobic landfill system
¬ Shared the weighbridge system and container Deposit legislation programme
Challenges faced in implementation
Some challenges were identified, such as a lack of human resources and budget. Challenges that were frequently raised from the counterparts were the things such as insufficient management skills and vague mandates on waste management in the organizations that they were belonging to.The lower priority put on waste management under the National Policy/Plan was also an issue. As a consequence, some of the implementing agencies did not properly carry out technical transfers to improve institutional and individual capacity, and changed the person in charge of waste management frequently.
Another identified issue was the way to conduct systematic monitoring, analyzing and evaluating the activities on the ground conducted by counterparts. With an appropriate feedback on the activities could support the counterparts to develop and modify their action plan, strategy and legislation framework.
Add to what is mentioned in the above, efficiency of various kinds of trainings provided by J-PRISM project should have been monitored and evaluated. Although many of those who participated in a variety of trainings utilized and shared what they learnt with their colleagues and stakeholders in their respective countries as well as in the region, there was no such system to monitor and evaluate the impact of the trainings.
Next Steps
¬ Systematic monitoring and evaluation system on regional trainings have not been established, therefore, impacts on the capacity development cannot be objectively measured. At the process of designing trainings, monitoring process, expected training outcome and utilization of such training outcome should be discussed. In addition a strategic framework of the training plan should be formulated and implemented through the utilization of the PIDOC in collaboration with.¬ The good practices developed by the Project are expected to be expanded to other PICs. Key factors that have contributed to the success and the improvement of these practices should be carefully studied and analyzed in order to develop suitable options and measures that can be applied to the target countries.
¬ J-PRISM and/or relevant agencies have collected data on solid waste management in most PICs, but these data and information are scattering and very difficult to be accessed. Integrated data collection and monitoring system on waste management in the region should be established.
¬ A solid waste management guidebook for practitioners is to be developed by counterparts in the region and will be issued in the end of 2016. This guidebook is expected to be used as a standardized manual on solid waste management in the region.
Beneficiaries
FSM, Fiji, Kiribati, RMI, Palau, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu
Actions
J-PRISM has provided different kinds of opportunities for counterparts in member countries through developing a regional cooperation framework for sustainable solid waste management (Dispatch local experts, Training programs, Study visit and Trainers dispatch, refer to attached documents). In addition, the Project has also been actively engaged in international conferences including the Regional 3R Forum in Asia and the Pacific and the UN SIDS conference. As a result of the above regional activities, the Project was success to train (16) skilled counterparts from member countries.The Project developed a system known as PIDOC. This is the database of regional experts in solid waste management. Main objectives of PIDOC are; 1) to register training details including local resource persons, 2) to strengthen south to south cooperation, and 3) to identify training needs. This system would be utilized by SPREP to strengthen south-south cooperation in the region.
The Project also supported SPREP in developing the “Cleaner Pacific 2025” by providing outcomes from J-PRISM activities and supporting a series of consultation workshops. The strategy includes the “3R + Return” concept as one of its guiding principles and establishment of “Clean Pacific Roundtable” which will have the ability and take place to sustain and expand the regional framework initiated by J-PRISM for waste management and pollution control in the region’s near future.