Project to build the capacity of Cape Verde and Senegal in the control, management and reduction of plastic waste in accordance with the provisions of the Basel Convention

On 9–10 March 2026, the launch workshop for the ‘Project to strengthen the capacity of Cape Verde and Senegal for the control, management and reduction of plastic waste in accordance with the provisions of the Basel Convention’ took place.

This project aims to strengthen the technical, legal and operational capacities of Cape Verde and Senegal to better control, manage and reduce plastic pollution, in line with the requirements of the Basel Convention. It focuses on reducing plastic waste, improving recycling chains and combating illicit trade.

The workshop was attended by relevant technical departments, the private sector, community stakeholders, civil society organisations, and technical and financial partners.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr Abdourahmane Diouf, Minister for the Environment and Ecological Transition; Mr Ralph Payet, Secretariat of the BRS Conventions; Ms Diane Menard of the French Fund for the Global Environment (FFEM); Mr Abdoulaye Diao, Director of the Regional Centre for the Basel Conventions, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions for French-speaking African countries, and Mr Baba Dramé, Director of the Environment. 

During the two-day workshop, a series of presentations were delivered. The first presentation was given by Mr Ki Ohno of the BRS Convention, who provided an update on the Convention’s activities regarding plastic waste. Ms Mehmoosh Azodi focused her presentation on the implementation of the BRS/FFEM project: its role, timeline, deliverables and results. Mr Assane Diop from DIREC reviewed the projects completed or currently underway in Senegal regarding plastic waste. As for Mr Fabrice Clavien, an independent international expert, he presented the scope of the assessment of environmentally sound management and the national plastic waste inventory, as well as the role of stakeholders.

The second day of the workshop was devoted to pilot projects and initiatives in Senegal. The first presentation, given by NEGOMAR, NEBEDY and UNPAS, focused on fishing nets: an overview of the current situation, existing initiatives, constraints and prospects. PROPLAST, CAES and the Centre for Environmental Education and Training (CEFE) also shared their initiatives.

The final stage of the workshop involved discussions on the project’s outcomes and the definition of the next steps.

The workshop was closed by Mr Ralph Payet and Mr Baba Dramé, who expressed their gratitude to all participants for their commitment throughout the two-day event.