The ILO and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have signed an agreement to support improved waste management in the Pacific Island Countries (PIC).

Ms Sachiko Yamamoto, ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Mr Shinya Ejima, Director General, Global Environment Department and Mr Koki Hirota, Director General, Southeast Asia 1 and Pacific Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed the Agreement on 18 February 2011 at the JICA Office in Tokyo, Japan.

The agreement’s key objective is to identify, develop and implement joint activities to improve occupational safety and health (OSH) in waste management, promote capacity building among project counterparts, and facilitate exchange of information and achievements. The ILO will provide technical expertise in OSH (through technical advisory missions) while JICA will provide logistical and administrative support.

The Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries (J-PRISM project) will run for five years, from January 2011. It covers 11 PIC countries, including the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Fiji Islands, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu and Republic of Vanuatu.

J-PRISM follows an earlier project, Waste Minimization and Recycling Promotion Project, which began in the Fiji Islands in 2009.